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Certain vibes have always been central to the Derelict experience: uncertainty, suspense, off-beat humor, the satisfaction of effective teamwork. But a board game can’t be built on vibes alone. At the same time, an overcomplex rulebook runs the risk of making things a slog and sapping the spontaneity that a ghost ship game demands. As we’ve iterated on Derelict, Liz and I have strived to find a happy medium: gameplay mechanics that offer room for...

What makes “ghost ship” sci-fi media so engaging, in my view, is the sense that, as you first arrive at the floating husk of the ship, you have no idea what to expect. Crew members driven mad? Encamped marauders? Rogue robots? Anything could happen, and — cosmically cut off from any possible aid — you and your crew will need to be adaptable. Therein lies the thrill!

This recognition informed foundational elements of Derelict’s design....

Like shipwrecks on the ocean floor, abandoned spacecraft adrift in the void have long activated the imaginations of both artists and audiences. Sci-fi video games such as Dead Space, Star Wars: Republic Commando, and Alien: Isolation have all employed “ghost ship” settings to oppressively eerie effect , but the thrill of exploring a dodgy vessel light-years away from the nearest reinforcements has not been widely adapted for the board game space. Until now!

With Derelict,...