The apocalypse is not outside. It does not come from nuclear fallout or an external threat; the real apocalypse happens inside the bunker. A desperate group of men and women will do whatever it takes to survive, exposing the darkest and most vulnerable side of human nature. Power struggles, paranoia, and betrayal turn survival into a brutal test where dignity and compassion mean little, and only the strongest will prevail.
In Civil Defense: Bunker, players take on the roles of Survivors trapped in a Cold War–era bunker after a looming nuclear disaster. Each character has unique traits and a secret personal objective, which may or may not align with the others. Everyone shares the same ultimate goal: survive long enough until the bunker is safe to leave.
Gameplay unfolds over a maximum of 7 days, with each day divided into three phases:
Morning: resolve night actions, reveal a new Event, and distribute scarce rations.
Afternoon: move through the bunker, negotiate, trade, fight, or plot in secret. Protect vital systems like food, water, and ventilation, or sabotage them to weaken others.
Night: secretly place cards in lockers and backpacks to launch hidden attacks, set traps, or scheme against other Survivors under the cover of darkness.
Victory can be achieved by fulfilling your secret objective before the end of the 7 days. If no one succeeds, the bunker door finally opens and the Survivor with the most Life tokens wins.
—description from the publisher