Far Away is a two-player cooperative board game about discovery, survival, and the crushing loneliness of being the only two humans for lightyears.
Join the Federation Alliance, a bureaucracy with an ambitious charter of mapping new worlds and a minimalist budget. Succeed in a variety of missions on randomly generated worlds with unique ecosystems, without luxuries like radios, landing gear, and medical supplies. Trust in your partner is paramount since, without radios, you can’t communicate (in real life) after separating on the game board.
Survive, and you’ll be rewarded with a meager paycheck. Succumb to the planet, and you’ll find help is too Far Away.
The Far Away Program
The Federation Alliance started the Far Away program nearly 50 cycles ago to discover and explore new worlds. The missions we undertake are of vital importance to galactic prosperity. However, budget setbacks have forced us to reduce operational expenses. That’s where you, the willing explorer, can help!
Explorer Duties
The Federation has several active missions for you to choose. Each offers unique challenges and potential sub-objectives we would love for you to accomplish off-the-clock. Thanks to the randomly generated universe, every mission attempt will be different.
Once you’ve selected a mission and crashed into the planet (landing gear has been deemed “optional”), you must begin surviving. Your goal is to complete the mission and rebuild your ship. You will fail if you die of hunger, loneliness, or multiple grievous injuries. Don’t fail!
Be forewarned: communication will be a challenge. Radios will not be provided, so the only way to communicate with your partner is to be in close physical proximity. Plan ahead! This not only allows you to strategize, but also prevents the psychological meltdown that comes with being alone on an alien world.
Alien Creatures
Each planet has a unique ecosystem. Experts have identified upwards of 32 creatures in the known universe, each with their own behavioral patterns.
Explorers will be tasked to Realistically and Objectively Log Events Performed Logically by Animals and Yourself (ROLEPLAY). Creature behavior is dictated by their diet, temperament, and other factors. Explorers are provided a quick guide to educate them on default creature movement, but we encourage explorers to embrace their inner-alien and log the creature actions with creativity and vibrant storytelling.
The Far Away Recruitment Kit
Your exploration kit can be delivered straight to your home. Inside the 5.75# box, you’ll find over 800 pieces. We have included an instruction manual so you can assemble your spaceship with minimal government intervention. Please register your DNA online so we can credit your account upon mission completion.
"We don't have many games like Far Away. So if this weird, little, complex exploration game about solitude and survival sounds interesting to you, definitely check this one out. I was really quite impressed with it.”
Training Manual
Get a head start on Far Away by reading the program’s documentation.
Reviews and how-to-plays
“As it goes on you feel like you get to know the creatures. It gives the game the sensation of being alive. Feeling like you really are on an unexplored planet.”
“It’s clear Far Away has been lovingly crafted by a talented writer. There’s some real dark humor running throughout the game and it is a fun game. The twists and turns in the missions too - everything’s quite well written and I really enjoyed that aspect of it.”
“One of my favorite things is, it’s kind of like narrating a nature documentary.”
Steph and Michael attempt to play Mission 1 of Far Away from Cherry Picked Games!
We really love this game. Each mission is completely different but still fits to the story and theme. The humor in Far Away is awesome and the game has more then one way to surprise you.
“If you were to play through all of the scenarios and do all of that… You’re getting your money’s worth for sure.”
"We don't have many games like Far Away. So if this weird, little, complex exploration game about solitude and survival sounds interesting to you, definitely check this one out. I was really quite impressed with it.”
Dice Tower Seal of Approval!
“You can see how much attention went into creating each monster.”
“Our only regret was that we hadn't discovered this cracking two-player co-operative game earlier in Coronavirus lockdown.”
"Overall, this game is something special. It produces some amazing stories; even long after playing"
"The way you control the animals was a genius way to automate their actions."
“With extensive variability, a thought-provoking concept, and flavorful mechanics that wonderfully tie it all together, Far Away may take you to a far-flung world, but the trials it presents are anything but alien.”
“I enjoyed thinking about how each animal might act, and memories of wildlife documentaries I watched when I was younger came in handy.”
“The limited communication aspect of the game is really great. I thought it was put in just to make the game more challenging, which it does, but it also does the job of encouraging you to your strategy sessions seriously when you are together. You want to meet up so you can come up with a plan (and be less lonely), but often you’ll want to stay separated so you can get more done. It’s a fun little balancing act.”
A truly unique and dense experience with long missions and optional paths. Great coop campaign.
Recommended!
“Un gioco con dentro un mondo, anzi, con dentro tantissimi mondi.”
“Wonder and discovery feel real with the unexpected creatures that feel very alien-like, but not in a negative way.”
Paper-based Space Modules
Print and Play PDF
By downloading this file, you legally assert all interplanetary discoveries done through the Far Away program are the the property of the Federation Alliance.
This PDF set is pay-what-you-want. Click here to give a PayPal contribution.
AI Module
Replace the ROLEPLAYing creature behavior with nanobots. Compatible with all Far Away creatures. Do not use with cats.
Upgrades
The engineers behind Far Away v1 did not include a plastic tray with their recruitment kits. This was deemed by the internet to be a mistake. Upgrade your original (pre-2022) copy with this inlay and avoid at least 30 plastic baggies.
This tray cannot be shipped outside of the United States.