Metro 2033: Breakthrough is a board game based on the popular novel and video game series, Metro
The game was released in 2015 by Hobby World and designed by Evgeny Nikitin. It is set in a post-apocalyptic world where players must navigate through the underground metro tunnels in order to survive and complete various objectives.Game Components of Metro 2033: Breakthrough
Rulebook: A 16-page rulebook, available in English for the international version.Faction Tokens: 50 tokens, 10 per color, representing the players’ able-bodied population.Cards: 133 language-neutral cards, including 72 Resource cards, 30 Station cards, 14 Threat cards, 6 Caravan cards, 6 Hero cards, and 5 Faction cards.
How To Setup Metro 2033: Breakthrough
To set up the game, each player starts with a faction card, five cards, and five tokens of their color. Three cards from the deck are placed face-up, and the rest form a single deck. Each player’s tokens are placed above their faction card, representing their available population.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
Player Actions: Each turn, a player can play a card from their hand, discard a card to return tokens, or discard three cards to draw three new ones.Card Types:Resources: Peaceful (blue) and Military (red) resources used for faction quests and settling stations.Stations: Represent new locations to occupy.Threats: Affect all factions and must be defended against.Heroes: Offer benefits when played.Caravans: Facilitate trading and resource management.Objective: The player must increase their population to 10 tokens by managing resources, occupying stations, and defending against threats.
Player Experience
Players take on the role of faction leaders in the Moscow Metro, managing resources, expanding their territory, and defending against mutants. The game is designed to be simple yet engaging, with a gameplay cycle that involves trading, resource management, and strategic card play. The game speeds up towards the end as players acquire more resources and stations, leading to close and exciting finishes.
Pros
Thematic Immersion: The game’s post-apocalyptic theme is well-integrated into the mechanics.Fast-Paced: Games typically last between 30 minutes to an hour.Balanced: Monsters affect all factions, making their use a thoughtful decision.Engaging Endgame: The game accelerates as players grow their factions, leading to suspenseful conclusions.
Cons
Limited Asymmetry: Factions lack significant unique abilities or differences.Arithmetic Focus: The game can feel like an arithmetic exercise at times, reducing thematic engagement.Limited Player Interaction: Beyond shared threats, there is minimal direct interaction between players.
Personal Thoughts on Metro 2033: Breakthrough
Metro 2033: Breakthrough is a solid, simple card game that serves well as a filler or diversion. It is ideal for fans of the Metro 2033 series and those who enjoy set collection and trading mechanics. The game is accessible to a variety of ages and provides a fun, thematic experience without overly complex rules. However, it may not offer the next big thing in gaming innovation, and some players might find the lack of faction asymmetry and deeper player interaction to be drawbacks.
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