Roadkill (2017) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Roadkill is a card game designed by Lucas Guidetti Perez and published by Helvetiq in in 2017. The game is centered around the theme of animals and features a unique blend of set collection and take that mechanics. It is suitable for players aged 7 and above, and can accommodate 2 to 5 players.

Game Components of Roadkill

Player boards: Each player gets a section of road.

Cards: Live animals, deceased animals, trucks, warning signs, veterinary, honk, and sweeper cards.

Scoring tokens: Numbered from 1 to 4.

How To Setup Roadkill

To set up Roadkill, each player receives a player board representing their section of road and a hand of six cards. Each board has space for 4 cards on either lane. The draw pile is prepared, and the scoring tokens are placed face down.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Keep your road free from deceased animals and trucks while disrupting your opponents.

Card Types:

Live animals: Can be played on the road or over a deceased animal to revive it.

Deceased animals: Placed on an opponent’s board to fill a space or cover a live animal.

Trucks: Cover a deceased animal, preventing further card plays on that stack.

Warning Signs: Occupy an empty space, preventing any other card plays there.

Veterinary: Remove a deceased animal placed over a live one.

Honk: Remove a live animal placed over a deceased one.

Sweeper: Clean all single stacked deceased animals from one side of the road.

Turn Structure: Play a card to your own board or an opponent’s, then draw a card.

Round End: The round ends when all eight spaces of any player’s board are covered or the draw pile runs out.

Scoring: Players count the number of deceased animals and truck cards on their board and in their hand. The player with the lowest number draws scoring tokens, which are then passed to the next lowest player.

Player Experience

Roadkill is a game of fierce competitive play where revenge and backstabbing are the norm. The game is most enjoyable with a larger group, as the board landscape can change dramatically with just a few turns. The scoring mechanism, where tokens are drawn blind, keeps players invested until the very end, as it is impossible to know who is truly ahead.

Pros

Cute Art Style: The Swiss minimalist critters are highly visible and adorable.

Interesting Scoring Mechanism: Keeps the game exciting until the end.

Highly Interactive: Encourages competitive and ruthless play.

Cons

Unpleasant Theme: The game’s theme of animal accidents can be off-putting.

Rulebook Issues: Needs clarification and better translation.

Personal Thoughts on Roadkill

Roadkill is for players who enjoy light strategy and competitive games with a lot of interaction. It’s ideal for groups of 4-5 players looking for a game that combines board management with take-that mechanics. Despite its cute art style, the theme may not appeal to everyone, but the gameplay itself is engaging and fun, making it a great addition to a game collection for those who enjoy a bit of ruthlessness in their gaming experience.

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