The Initiative

Players take on the roles of teenagers in 1994 who discover a mysterious meta-game and must navigate both its puzzles and their own developing storylines. Gameplay unfolds through a series of linked chapters; each session begins with a page of an accompanying comic and lasts about 30–60 minutes. Players cooperate to complete missions that combine tactical decisions, resource management, and code-breaking, with success sometimes granting persistent rewards for later chapters. The campaign advances regardless of individual mission outcomes, and knowledge or items gained in earlier chapters influence future scenarios.

Players: 1–4 best 4
Playing time: 30–60 min
Age: 8+
Complexity: 2 / 5

7.2 on Ludoya from $46.99Comic Book / StripDeductionArea MovementCooperative GameVariable Player Powers

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About the game

Design: Corey Konieczka
Art: David Ardila
Andrew Brian George
Chan Chau
Publisher: Unexpected Games

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Full stats in Ludoya

593
Plays logged: 163
Players: 35m 7s
Average play: 75
In collections: 23
On wishlists

7.2/10

from 35 Ludoya reviews

Fun8.0
Interaction6.0
Replayability6.0
Uniqueness8.0
Looks8.0
Accessibility8.0

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Rules questions

Answered from the rulebook by Ludoya's rules assistant.

How many actions do I get on my turn — one or two?

You perform one or two actions on your turn; each action can be either playing an Action Card or using your Special Action. (page 1)

When I play an Action Card, does my card have to be higher than the card already on that action pile?

Yes — when you play a card onto an action card pile, your card's value must be higher than the card on top of that pile. (page 1)

How do I use my character's Special Action?

To use your Special Action you discard two cards from your hand, then resolve the character’s special ability. (page 1)

When do I draw cards, and do I always refill to four?

After taking actions you draw from the resource deck until you have four cards in hand; note that refilling to four is optional while in peril. (page 1)

Which chapter do we start when resuming the campaign?

Start at the topmost unchecked row on the chapter tracker and read the comic on the page listed for that row. (page 1)

After finishing a mission, how do we record the result and find what to read next?

Check the Won or Lost box for that chapter on the tracker, then consult the chapter tracker instructions to see if you must read another page based on that outcome. (page 1)