Kaiju Crush (2017) Board Game

Kaiju Crush is a board game released in 2017 that pits players against each other as giant monsters, known as kaiju, battling it out in a cityscape. The game was designed by JJ Ariosa and Roland MacDonald, and published by Fireside Games. With a runtime of 45 minutes and a suggested age of 10 and up, Kaiju Crush offers a unique mix of fighting and territory-building gameplay.

Game Components of Kaiju Crush

Movement Cards: Each player has a unique Movement Card, and there is one Shared Movement Card accessible to all.

City Tiles: Representing the city, these tiles are crushed and collected by players.

Territory Markers: Used to mark conquered areas on the city grid.

Objective Cards: Provide various scoring opportunities.

Combat Victory Tokens: Awarded to the winners of battles.

Special Ability Cards: One-time use cards with unique powers for each player.

Monster Standees: Representing the kaiju.

How To Setup Kaiju Crush

To set up the game, players start by shuffling and laying out the city tiles to create a fictional city. Each player is dealt one Movement Card, and the fifth Movement Card is placed face-up next to the city grid as the Shared Movement Card. Players also receive a set of Territory Markers and two Special Ability Cards. Four Objective Cards are selected for each game, ensuring varied gameplay.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Limited Grid Movement: Players choose between their own Movement Card or the Shared Movement Card to move their kaiju.

City Tile Collection: Crushing a city tile allows a player to collect it and place a Territory Marker.

Combat System: Intransitive combat resolved through symbols on the Territory Markers, similar to Rock, Paper, Scissors.

Special Abilities: One-time use cards providing unique powers.

Game Objective

Earn the most points by collecting and connecting City Tiles, fulfilling Objective Cards, and winning battles.

Points are awarded for City Tile collections, completed objectives, and Combat Victory Tokens.

Player Experience

Playing Kaiju Crush feels like stepping into a Japanese kaiju film, where giant monsters stomp through cities and battle each other. The game is most enjoyable with four players, as it enhances the competitive and strategic elements. The simplicity of the movement system contrasts with the complexity of the objectives and combat, making each game unique and engaging. Families and fans of light to medium-weight strategy games will appreciate the blend of fun and strategy.

Pros

Unique Movement System: Simple yet strategic movement choices.

Varied Objectives: Each game is different due to the random selection of Objective Cards.

Engaging Combat: Intransitive combat system adds unpredictability.

Affordable: Priced under $30, making it a great value for the content and gameplay.

Educational: Introduces players to the concept of kaiju and Japanese pop culture.

Cons

Limited Replayability with Few Players: Best with four players; gameplay can be less dynamic with fewer players.

Standees Instead of Miniatures: While standees keep the game affordable, some players might prefer plastic miniatures.

Personal Thoughts on Kaiju Crush

Kaiju Crush is perfect for families, casual gamers, and anyone interested in light to medium-weight strategy games. It’s an excellent introduction to more complex board games, teaching strategic thinking and competitive gameplay in a fun, thematic package. The game’s affordability and unique mechanics make it a great addition to any board game collection, especially for those who love the kaiju genre or are looking for a fun, family-friendly game night experience.

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