Far Away: That Time the Explorers [REDACTED] to Succeed
Explore a planet to [REDACTED] and then unexplore it for [REDACTED] in a secretive, entirely legal mission from Far Away.
How does a solo game turn into something special and memorable? [REDACTED] Ha ha! Actually, it comes down to the unknown. I usually know when I’ll generally like a game, but the true gems aren’t easy to spot. Far Away has certainly earned its place, remaining on my solo table for over a month and beating out tons of new arrivals for the spotlight!
Card Quality Update
In some of my previous posts, I mentioned how my cards are noticeably warped. The publisher got in touch with me, and this appears to be the only report of it happening. Replacements are on the way! I just want to make it clear that any component issues appear to be from my copy, rather than the standard. Very good news, indeed!
Spoiler Alert
As usual, the following includes some information about mission 04. It turned out to have some hilarious elements that completely surprised me, so feel free to skip this post! At the same time, this might have been my favorite experience to really solidify my love of the game, and represents the halfway point of the missions if you’re curious to learn more.
Game Overview
Game Name: Far Away
Publication Year: 2020
Designer: Alexander Jerabek
Artist: Jake Breish
Publisher: Cherry Picked Games
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game (Cooperative)
A pair of explorers must work their way through missions in a connected campaign. There are objectives, yet the true challenges come from the random ecosystem and slew of possible creatures. Survival matters, as do all sorts of decisions about how to explore an alien planet!
First Play
January 28, 2023
Complexity
3
Latest Play
February 25, 2023
Expansions
0
Setup Time
10 Minutes
Lifetime Plays
8
Play Time
2 Hours
High Score
N/A
Game Area
50" x 26"
Low Score
N/A
Into Hostile Territory
This might have been my favorite mission yet. Katherine and Samuel were sent to a planet the Federation Alliance accidentally started to use. A corporation already owned it!
Corporate drones patrolled the landscape, threatening to discover this operation that definitely wasn’t a cover up. Nope: This explorer duo was entirely ethical. ENTIRELY!
Setup involved an enormous map with specific elements, and the mission objectives were all about destruction.
Luckily, the local wildlife wasn’t entirely impossible to navigate around. Plenty of alien dangers, though.
Plotting a Course
Loneliness remained a major concern, and this pair had to plan regular meetings to share their plans. It also gave Samuel a chance to boast about his incessant injuries!
Movement was hampered, however, and the facilities to be razed were in opposite areas. What in the world to do?
Well, the main thing was to avoid the drones. Patrols and seekers had their own behaviors. Fortunately, this was all well-known public knowledge so they could be avoided.
Katherine and Samuel went into stealthy mode as they set out to destroy any evidence of the Federation Alliance…
My Favorite Moment
Then, it happened. A moment that had me laughing out loud at my table, and a few cards that continue to make me laugh over the sheer hilarity of the situation!
Everything that can be said is summed up in this photo. Katherine built herself an “Antique” Research Station. Passive ability? Looks authentic. Ha ha!
In other words, the explorers helped establish that the Federation Alliance was here long before the corporation.
Samuel looked on with judgment in his tiny eyes, and he nearly sabotaged the operation in the name of morality!
Attack of the Ruins
This planet featured plenty of ancient ruins, filled with artifacts. And one was a research station, of course. Ha!
Samuel was burdened with this ethical dilemma, or he was just so unused to living life without an injury to his name.
In any event, he found the perfect time to use his special artifact. These slimy beings were much too close to that “antique” ruin and might have destroyed the authenticity.
Instead, the swamps rumbled near this questionable device. The threat was erased, but I’m pretty sure Samuel suffered some loss of hearing. Or smell. Or LOGIC!
That Moment When a Game is the Greatest
This entire time, I’ve often downplayed the roleplaying elements with my explorers. They’ve never really been the stars compared with the variety in the ecosystems and creatures… But it’s quite clear that they’ve developed! Katherine started off as the complete leader, and is now in a questionable ethical standing that’s even making Samuel wonder.
On the other hand, Samuel is still as danger-prone as ever, although he finally succeeded in not getting injured! I don’t want to spoil too much, yet there was a moment when I actually could have voluntarily failed the mission by having Samuel do something to give away what Katherine was up to with that converted ruin. And that is just so awesome!
I’m not labeling this a small or inexpensive game by any stretch of the imagination, yet it’s in a very reasonably sized box at a decent price point. For reference, this copy cost around $70 USD. I’ve discovered so much inside the box, though, and it’s not a game I’ll ever master. I would never want to: The stories continue to be the aspect that matters.
Yet don’t think that this is a boring walk across an alien planet. I’ve had to make some strategic decisions with how to use actions, and managing loneliness is not as easy as it might sound. While I have many solo games I love, this one is doing the best thing: Making memories. You think I’m going to forget that “Antique” Research Station?! Ha ha!
Backwards Exploring?
If you’re wondering if I lost my sense of logic with all of these upside-down hex tiles, don’t worry about it! This is actually entirely the wrong way to explore, though.
Actually, this was the gigantic step of unexploring every hex around. All traces had to be erased in short order!
The corporate drones were mainly busy investigating the absolute carnage to the northeast. A couple of species waged war, while others came by to feast on the spoils.
Samuel’s quick thinking protected the lone building that was so fake… Oh, excuse me. “Realistic and authentic.”
A New Best Friend
Katherine was on top of the mission, but Samuel still had to be the center of attention. Devoid of injuries, he found an opportunity to befriend this enormous beast.
No danger here, though! And don’t judge him by that face. I hadn’t done much with domesticated creatures, yet they can be enormously helpful with resource gathering.
Sadly, Samuel missed out on the ride of a lifetime atop his pet, for that was an option that simply didn’t pan out.
Instead, he had to settle on literally flying all over the place with an endless supply of fuel. Go, Samuel, go!
Session Overview
Play Number: 8
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game (Cooperative)
Play Details: Mission 04
Outcome: Win
The aggressive slug-like creatures would have spelled disaster, had they not been in an epic struggle with several other species. Success! This planet had absolutely no traces of the Federation Alliance… Well, except for that fantastic research station backed up by absolutely truthful reports about how Katherine and Samuel were there when they were about negative 27 years old. Such a fun time!
%
1 Play
Affordability
Price & Value
7
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
7
Originality
Design & Theme
6
Quality
Components & Rules
7
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
8
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
10
+ Pros (Positives)
- There are all sorts of stories that develop through play, particularly with the way the creatures interact.
- Every mission is entirely different and often provides an absolutely hilarious objective or other aspect.
- Although the campaign is fixed with a set order to the missions, contingencies add unexpected surprises.
- Various boards provide places for most components, and there are excellent iconography reference guides.
- Roleplaying and creating a narrative are central elements, but decisions are still very meaningful and important.
- Buildings provide all sorts of possible options to help the explorers, sometimes purely for a fun contingency.
– Cons (Negatives)
- Some hexes can get extremely crowded with all sorts of tokens and cards, making it a little tricky to see.
- It’s usually easy to allocate enough space for the hex tiles, but the play area can spread out unexpectedly.
- Missions can take a long time to complete with a lot going on, so it may be best to play over multiple sessions.
- Although the insert is helpful, it feels a little too small for the cards and could have been just a little taller.
Victory Conditions
Complete the Mission
- Overall Goal Progress 100%
Goals and Milestones
Complete mission 00.
Complete mission 01.
Complete mission 02.
Complete mission 03.
Complete mission 04.
Continue the Conversation
What are some of your thoughts about Far Away? Does it remind you of any other solo games? It’s probably pretty clear how much I’m loving this campaign! Know that it’s getting cleared off so Katherine and Samuel can complete those special cover stories… But they will certainly be back for the last half of the missions. Such a wonderful experience!
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