Exquisite Corpses: The Game Unleashed: A Deep Dive into Tiny Onion’s Serial Killer Battle Royale Tabletop Experience

The highly anticipated tabletop game, "Exquisite Corpses: The Game," has officially launched following the immense success of its comic book predecessor. Developed by Tiny Onion, the "Social Strategy Battle Royale Tabletop Card Game" aims to capture the thrilling, cutthroat essence of the comic series in a dynamic and engaging format. The game’s Kickstarter campaign achieved full funding in under a single day, underscoring the significant interest from fans and tabletop gaming enthusiasts alike. As the campaign moves into its stretch goals, James Tynion IV, the visionary behind Tiny Onion and a celebrated comic book writer, sat down to discuss the game’s genesis, his personal gameplay preferences, and the expansive future planned for the Exquisite Corpses universe.

The Genesis of a Serial Killer Showdown

The concept for Exquisite Corpses was born approximately two and a half years prior to the game’s launch, originating from Tynion’s discussions with artist Michael Walsh. "I reached out to Michael Walsh, and I was just like, ‘I’m starting a new company, Tiny Onion, and I have the raw pieces of this idea about a serial killer battle royale,’" Tynion recounted. The initial premise envisioned thirteen of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful families settling their disputes through a brutal, quinquennial contest. This contest involves each family selecting a formidable killer and unleashing them into a small American town, where they must fight to the death.

Walsh, who had previously spearheaded the horror anthology comic series The Silver Coin, bringing in various writers for each issue, recognized the potential for a tabletop game within this dark and compelling narrative. "He’s the one who was like, ‘This would be a really fun card game,’" Tynion recalled, admitting he initially didn’t take the suggestion seriously. However, six months later, Walsh presented a functional prototype of the card game at the first Tiny Onion creative summit. This early version, sketched onto dry-erase cards, was the foundation upon which the current game was built. These original prototype cards are now available as a stretch goal in the Kickstarter campaign, offering a tangible piece of the game’s history. The initial playtesting session, held in Buffalo, New York, marked a significant milestone in the game’s development, occurring approximately two years before its public unveiling.

A Game Designed for Accessibility and Depth

Tynion, while acknowledging a casual gaming background that includes high school and college participation in Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons, emphasized Exquisite Corpses: The Game‘s design philosophy. "It’s a party game. It’s a game that you could play through in 40 minutes with your friends that’s very easy to pick up," he stated. This "easy to pick up, hard to master" approach aligns with Tynion’s vision for Tiny Onion’s tabletop offerings. The game is intended to be approachable for newcomers to the genre while providing enough strategic complexity to keep seasoned players engaged.

The core gameplay loop revolves around a social strategy element, incorporating bluffing and deduction. Each player assumes the role of one of the twelve distinct killers, each possessing unique abilities. During a turn, a player can choose to attack using their basic attack statistic, defend with their basic defense statistic, or utilize their killer’s special skill. An additional layer of unpredictability is introduced through event cards, which are drawn and played without prior knowledge of their effects. Players receive a new event card each time they eliminate another killer at the table.

Killer Dynamics and Strategic Nuances

The diverse cast of killers offers varied strategic approaches. Tynion highlighted how certain killers’ abilities lean heavily into different social dynamics at the table. Characters like Rascal Randy and Layla, whose damage distribution is randomized, make forming alliances or predictable strategies challenging. Conversely, Nurse Pete, a character with a potent healing ability, proved to be a significant balancing challenge during early playtesting, having been the victor of the very first Exquisite Corpses game. His ability to heal himself or others at the table requires careful consideration and strategic deployment.

When asked about his personal favorite killer to play, Tynion expressed a fondness for the Fox Mask Killer. "The nice thing is you get a good sizable hit and that character is left bleeding, and so they continue to take damage turn by turn by turn," he explained. The lingering damage effect, coupled with the character’s inability to remove bleeding, allows for a strategic advantage, especially when applied early in the game.

Gameplay Logistics and Player Engagement

An average game of Exquisite Corpses: The Game is designed to be relatively short, lasting between 30 to 40 minutes. The game accommodates a flexible player count, ranging from 4 to 12 participants. For smaller groups of four players, a variation is available where each player controls two killers, allowing for a more dynamic experience. The website, playexquisitecorpses.com, provides further details and variant rules for different group sizes.

The prospect of hosting Exquisite Corpses game nights at conventions and in local game stores is a significant point of excitement for Tiny Onion. Tynion noted the enthusiastic response from game shops that have been anticipating the release for years, indicating a strong community desire for organized play events.

Expanding the Exquisite Corpses Universe

The future of Exquisite Corpses extends beyond the initial tabletop game release. The first components of the game were initially distributed through polybags accompanying the monthly issues of the Exquisite Corpses comic from Image Comics. This strategy is set to continue with an upcoming miniseries focusing on Rascal Randy, which will also include polybags containing new cards not present in the base set. These expansions will introduce additional killer and event cards, enriching the gameplay experience.

Looking further ahead, the planned second season of the comic book series will serve as a catalyst for introducing twelve new killers to the game. This expansion will translate into twelve new cards for the tabletop game, demonstrating a cohesive development strategy across both mediums. Tynion indicated that further expansions, whether in the form of smaller booster packs or a comprehensive Season Two expansion, are contingent on the ongoing success of the Kickstarter campaign and the game’s overall reception.

Multimedia Aspirations and Thematic Resonance

Beyond the tabletop and comic book realms, Tynion revealed a significant, though currently undisclosed, project. "The biggest thing that I’m excited about I can’t talk about yet," he stated. This alludes to the previously announced development of Exquisite Corpses into a feature film with Lyrical Media. The project has seen considerable progress, and Tynion expressed optimism about sharing further details in the near future. The rapid expansion of Exquisite Corpses into a tabletop game, miniseries, and potential multimedia adaptations within a short timeframe highlights its burgeoning success as a new intellectual property.

The Dark Mythology of Odin

In addition to Exquisite Corpses, Tynion also discussed his collaboration with Marguerite Bennett on the recently released comic series, Odin. This project, which Tynion described as "one that I’ve been discussing with Marguerite Bennett for years," draws inspiration from the film Midsommar. The series explores a narrative where a group of American punk neo-Nazis travel to Scandinavia, driven by a distorted perception of the Norse pantheon. Their encounter with the true nature of Norse mythology and its harsh realities serves as a brutal reckoning for their hollow ideology.

Tynion characterized the series as "cathartic," emphasizing the thematic exploration of characters who attempt to bolster themselves with superficial beliefs but are ultimately revealed as vulnerable and unanchored. The harshness of the Scandinavian landscape becomes a metaphor for the unforgiving consequences of their twisted worldview. The artistic contributions of Letizia Cadonici and Jordie Bellaire, along with the striking cover art by Alex Eckman-Lawn, have been met with widespread acclaim, further solidifying Odin as a noteworthy addition to the comic landscape.

Kickstarter Campaign Details and Editions

The Exquisite Corpses: The Game Kickstarter campaign offers various pledge levels and rewards, catering to different fan preferences. The Civilian Edition provides the core game experience with 12 killer cards, 24 event cards, 6 status effect cards, and the rulebook.

For collectors and enthusiasts, two deluxe editions are available:

• Killer Cache Edition: This edition includes a specialized Killer Cache box with a magnetic clasp, a Kickstarter exclusive reprint of Exquisite Corpses #1 featuring cover art by Ian Bertram, 12 oversized killer cards with new artwork, 24 event cards, premium wooden status effect tokens, 13 pink resin dice in a velvet bag, a pink and orange playmat, and a unique Killer Cache edition exclusive event card.
• Thirteen Families Edition: The premium offering features a Thirteen Families box with a magnetic clasp, a Kickstarter exclusive reprint of Exquisite Corpses #1 with a gold foil cover, 12 oversized killer cards with new foil artwork, 24 event cards, premium metal status effect tokens, 13 gold resin dice in a velvet bag, a black and gold playmat, and a special Thirteen Families edition exclusive event card.

Beyond these editions, the campaign offers rarer rewards, including the opportunity to be drawn into Season 2 of the comic series, original card artwork by Michael Walsh, and the ultimate "Historic Deck" package. This ultimate reward includes 10 original prototype cards from the first Exquisite Corpses summit, a private Zoom session with Walsh, Tynion, and the Corpse Crew, and all three game editions. Retailer packages are also available, offering bulk quantities of 25 and 100 copies. Add-ons, such as blank sketch versions of the cards, further enhance customization options for backers.

Exquisite Corpses: The Game is positioned as a casual tabletop experience, appealing to fans of strategic card games like Magic: The Gathering and social deduction games like Ultimate Werewolf. Requiring only the game cards and dice, the game facilitates intense player interaction as 4 to 12 participants engage in attacks, bluffs, and negotiations until a single killer remains. The inherent replayability, stemming from the dynamic nature of each game, ensures that no two sessions are identical, encouraging repeated engagement.

For those interested in supporting the campaign and learning more, the official Kickstarter page can be found at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tinyonion/exquisite-corpses-the-game. Additional information about the game is available on the official website, https://www.playexquisitecorpses.com/, and updates on all Tiny Onion ventures can be found at https://shoptinyonion.com/.