Maximum Apocalypse Trilogy: Contents and Starting Scenarios

Quick answer

The Maximum Apocalypse Trilogy bundles all three standalone Maximum Apocalypse games into one discounted box set. Each game plays on its own, so start with whichever theme appeals most, get comfortable with the core survival loop, then add the other two. If you already know you want the full arc, the bundle saves you money over buying separately.

Maximum Apocalypse Trilogy

Maximum Apocalypse is a cooperative survival game where extinction-level events stack on top of each other and your team scavenges, fights, and scrambles to stay alive. The trilogy collects all three standalone games in one bundle, which raises an obvious question: do you buy the whole set or just one box?

This guide covers what the Maximum Apocalypse Trilogy actually contains, how the standalone structure affects your first few sessions, and which scenarios make sense as a starting point. It also covers when a single game or an expansion is the smarter buy instead of the full set.

What the trilogy box set includes

The Maximum Apocalypse Trilogy brings together all three standalone Maximum Apocalypse games from Rock Manor Games in one collection. The key word is standalone: each game is designed to be played on its own, so the bundle is not one giant campaign that requires all three boxes to function. You can open one, learn it, and play it without owning the others.

Because the bundle is priced at a discount compared to buying the three games separately, the main value is straightforward: you get the full trilogy for less than the cost of assembling it piece by piece. If you are already sold on the survival theme and expect to play more than a handful of sessions, the box set is the efficient route.

• Each game in the bundle stands alone; you do not need all three on the table at once.
• The discount only pays off if you actually intend to play through more than one of the three games.
• Check the box contents against the standalone listings if you already own one of the three games.

How to pick your first scenario

Start with the scenario that matches your group's appetite for rules overhead, not the one with the coolest art. Cooperative survival games reward a gentle first session because the loss conditions are punishing and new players are still learning what their characters can do. Pick a scenario with clear objectives and a manageable threat count so the table can focus on the core loop.

If your group already plays heavy co-op games, you can start with a scenario that leans into the survival pressure. If you are introducing newer players, treat the first scenario as a teaching game and expect to lose. Losing early is normal in this series and it teaches the scavenging priorities faster than a rules explanation does.

• New group: choose the simplest objective first and accept a learning loss.
• Experienced co-op table: start with a scenario that pressures resources early.
• Play the same scenario twice before moving on so the rules fade into the background.

Where the RPG and expansions fit

The Maximum Apocalypse line extends beyond the three board games. There is a roleplaying game with a Gamemaster Guide and a Monster Manual, plus board game expansions such as Gothic Horrors and The Few and Cursed. These are separate purchases and they serve different tables, so do not treat them as part of the trilogy bundle.

If your group loves the board game and wants to build custom scenarios, the RPG books are the natural next step. If you want more variety inside the board game itself, an expansion is the better fit. The trilogy box set is the foundation; the rest is optional depth.

• The trilogy bundle covers the three standalone board games, not the RPG books or expansions.
• Buy expansions only after you have played the base games enough to know what you want more of.
• RPG books suit groups that want to write their own scenarios rather than play printed ones.

What to check before you buy the bundle

Before committing to the box set, confirm you do not already own one of the three standalone games. Duplicates are the most common way a bundle stops being a bargain. Also check your shelf space: three games in one collection takes up real room, and if your group only meets monthly, a single box may cover you for a long time.

Finally, be honest about player count and table habits. Cooperative survival games work best with a consistent group that can return to the same campaign-style sessions. If your table rotates players every week, a single standalone game is easier to teach repeatedly than a full trilogy.

• Check your collection for duplicates before buying the bundle.
• Measure shelf space; the trilogy is a multi-box commitment.
• A stable group gets more value from the full set than a rotating one.

Decision rules for buying Maximum Apocalypse

• You are new to the series: Buy one standalone game first, not the trilogy. Learn the survival loop, confirm your group enjoys losing as much as winning, then expand. One box is the low-risk test.
• You already know you want all three: The trilogy bundle is priced at a discount compared to buying the games separately, so it is the cheaper path once you are committed. Bundle only pays off if you will actually play more than one game.
• You own one of the three games already: Check for duplicates before buying the bundle. Buying the remaining standalone games individually may cost less than re-buying what you own. Compare before you click buy.
• You want more variety, not more games: An expansion such as Gothic Horrors adds cards and threats to a base game you already enjoy, which is usually cheaper than a second full box. Expansions deepen; new base games broaden.
• You want to write your own scenarios: The RPG line, starting with the Gamemaster Guide, is built for creating environments and scenarios rather than playing printed ones. Different product, different table.

Products in this guide

• Maximum Apocalypse Trilogy: Brings together all three standalone Maximum Apocalypse games from Rock Manor Games in one collection, priced at a discount compared to buying separately. This is the bundle decision in one line: buy it only if you expect to play more than one of the three games.
• Maximum Apocalypse: Wasted Wilds: The continuation of the cooperative roguelike series, adding two distinct campaigns with new twists around exposure to the elements and interactions with other survivors. If the survival loop is what you want more of, this is the entry that expands it with campaign structure rather than just more cards.
• Maximum Apocalypse: Gothic Horrors: A deluxe expansion including all unlocked stretch goals from the Kickstarter, with 75 cards including the Rapture Expansion. A variety purchase for players who already own a base game and want new threats, not a starting point.
• Maximum Apocalypse RPG: Gamemaster Guide: Gives you the tools to craft your own apocalyptic adventures, examines how to use the RPG rules to create environments and scenarios, and includes several premade scenarios. The right next step for a group that wants to write scenarios rather than play printed ones.

Who should buy which

Best for

• Groups that already enjoy cooperative survival games and meet regularly enough to play through more than one game.
• Players who want the full Maximum Apocalypse arc and prefer paying the bundle discount instead of assembling it piece by piece.
• Tables that like roguelike loss conditions and are comfortable replaying scenarios to learn them.

Not for

• New groups that have not yet confirmed they enjoy punishing cooperative survival gameplay.
• Players who already own one of the three standalone games and would be paying twice for it.
• Groups with limited shelf space or a rotating player base that makes a multi-box set hard to justify.

The Maximum Apocalypse Trilogy is a straightforward value play if you are committed to the series and want all three standalone games at a discount. If you are still testing whether the survival loop clicks with your group, start with a single game, learn the scenarios, and let the table tell you whether the full box set is worth it.