Lab of Fear: Viruses Against You

Greetings from the Heart of Chaos

Ah, mortals, are you ready for the ultimate test? It’s me—the Virus. The most dangerous, cunning, and insidious foe you’ll ever face.

Welcome to THE LAB, the place where I, along with my twisted siblings, await one thing and one thing only: to infect every last cell of your fragile bodies. Here, you are not just players—you are prey. You will fight for each breath, for every second of your miserable life, while I toy with you like a cat with a mouse.

Think you have a chance? You’re welcome to try, but I assure you, you won’t last long.

The Goal: Defeat Me—If You Can

THE LAB is a competitive card game for 3 to 6 players where you will face some of the deadliest microorganisms ever known to humankind.

Your goal? Be the first to collect 10 Cure Points. But don’t get too cocky—every failure to beat the infection adds Infection Points to your score, and each point is a step closer to becoming my next victim. A single wrong move, and I will strike.

Don’t believe me? Try me.

The Lab Awaits

As you prepare to enter my domain, you’ll be given the tools for your survival, though I doubt they’ll do much to help.

Each player receives 3 Marker tokens, 1 Blood Transfusion token, and chooses a Player Board to track their progress—or lack thereof. The first player, known as "Patient Zero," is selected based on who was most recently sick in real life. Yes, I keep track. I’m always watching.

You’ll shuffle the Infection cards and place them in the center, the first step of your downfall. Then, each player will be dealt 5 Treatment Cards. These cards will be your only hope of survival, but even then, your fate is in my hands. The deck of Bad Luck cards will also be shuffled and placed face down, waiting for the right moment to twist the knife in your back.

How Infection Spreads

Once the game begins, Patient Zero starts by creating the Round Deck. They draw cards from the Infection deck to set the stage for the round. Then, players take turns, starting with Patient Zero and proceeding clockwise. On each turn, you’ll pick a card from the Round deck, facing down yet another infection that threatens your life. The goal is simple: fight back using your Treatment Cards. But don’t think it’s going to be easy.

If you cannot handle the infection on your own, you’ll need to call upon your fellow players for help. Of course, you must be cautious—alliances are fragile, and betrayal is a constant undercurrent. Even if you manage to cure the infection, you only earn a Cure Point and perhaps a temporary reprieve. Fail to cure it, and you will suffer—1 Infection Point for each failure. And remember, you must draw up to 5 Treatment Cards to replenish your hand. Your resources are limited, and so is your time.

My Growing Power

In THE LAB, every decision matters. Each Infection card you face can be the end of your journey if you don’t act fast enough. The cards range from common, minor infections to complex, deadly microorganisms that can overwhelm even the most prepared. And just when you think you have everything under control, the Bad Luck cards arrive, shaking your carefully laid plans.

Some of these cards add additional Infection Points, forcing you into an even tighter corner. Others can trigger conditions where even the most effective Treatment cards become useless. The Bad Luck cards are the embodiment of chaos—random, unpredictable, and deadly. They make THE LAB not just a game, but an intense battle of wits and strategy.

Surviving THE LAB requires more than just luck. You’ll need to think strategically, carefully choosing when to work with others and when to go it alone. Blood Transfusion tokens are a powerful tool, allowing you to discard a potentially devastating card from your hand and draw a new one. But these tokens are rare, so use them wisely. You never know when you’ll need them to save your skin—or betray someone else.

Collaboration can help, but it’s always a double-edged sword. When you ask for help from other players, they might aid you, but there’s no guarantee they’ll do it for free. You might have to promise them a favor in return—or worse, they may try to take advantage of your desperation. Each round is a dance between trust and betrayal, strategy and chaos. You may need to make deals with your fellow players, promising to help them later in exchange for their support now. But beware—nothing in THE LAB is ever certain. One player’s gain might be another’s downfall.

Scenarios of Infection

Consider this: you draw a card, and it’s a formidable virus that requires immediate treatment. Unfortunately, you don’t have the right cards to cure it. The clock is ticking.

 What will you do? Risk it and hope for the best, or ask your fellow players for help? But here’s the catch—what if they refuse to help, or worse, actively sabotage you? Every decision is critical.

If you’re not careful, your Infection Points will pile up faster than you can cure them. One failure might seem like a small setback, but if you aren’t careful, those small setbacks will add up, and soon, it’ll be too late. You’ll find yourself cornered, with no way out, as I claim victory.

The Final Test: Survive or Succumb

The game continues until one player reaches 10 Cure Points. But more often than not, it ends much sooner—when the infections prove too much to handle, and one by one, players fall victim to my relentless spread. It’s a race against time, where your survival hinges on your decisions, your alliances, and, of course, your ability to outsmart your opponents.

THE LAB is not just a card game; it’s a test of your strategic skills, resilience, and ability to think on your feet. The constantly shifting dynamics of the game force you to adapt to ever-changing circumstances. You can never get too comfortable because just when you think you’ve won, the game turns on you.

If you’re looking for a game that keeps you on the edge of your seat, where every move counts and every decision could lead to your doom, THE LAB is for you. It’s a unique and thrilling experience that will have you coming back for more—if you survive, that is.

Enter If You Dare

So, are you ready to enter THE LAB?

Accept the challenge, face me head-on, and prove you have what it takes to survive. Show me what you’re made of—or succumb to your inevitable fate, and I’ll add your name to the ever-growing list of my victims. The game is about to begin, and I’m waiting.

With love,
Your Virus.

Play it now on Tabletopia