Rush M.D. (2020) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Rush M.D. is a real-time cooperative board game where players take on the roles of doctors in a busy medical center. The game was released in 2020 by Artipia Games and designed by Anthony Howgego, Konstantinos Kokkinis, and Dávid Turczi. With its unique theme of medical urgency and dexterity-based gameplay, Rush M.D. offers a fresh experience for board game enthusiasts.

Game Components of Rush M.D.

6 modular boards that can be configured in various ways

In-patient and out-patient cards

Diagnostic test cards

Resource tokens (hearts, lungs, livers, plasma, blood, etc.)

Sand timers (8 in total: 1 ‘doctor’ timer per player and 4 ‘nurse’ timers)

Tweezers

Slippery cylinders for a specific diagnostic test

Memory game components

How To Setup Rush M.D.

To set up the game, players arrange the six modular boards in a configuration that suits their playstyle, ensuring efficiency and minimizing congestion. Each player chooses a role or section of the hospital to focus on, though roles can be rotated or played free-form. The sand timers are distributed, with each player receiving a ‘doctor’ timer and the ‘nurse’ timers being shared among all players.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Real-Time Cooperative Play: Players work together under time pressure to treat patients.

Physical Dexterity: Tasks such as arranging slippery cylinders with tweezers and memory games add a physical challenge.

Resource Management: Players manage resources from the pharmacy to complete surgeries and diagnostic tests.

Worker Placement: Actions are performed by placing sand timers on specific action spots on the board.

Objective: The goal is to treat as many patients as possible within the time limit, avoiding failures which result in lost points.

Player Experience

Players experience a fast-paced and interactive game environment where teamwork is crucial. Each player can specialize in a specific part of the hospital’s production line, such as pharmacy management, diagnostic tests, or processing out-patient cards. The game encourages players to focus on their roles but also be ready to assist in other areas to avoid bottlenecks. As players become more proficient, they can adjust the difficulty by rotating roles or adding harder start conditions.

Pros

High Interaction: Players work closely together, enhancing teamwork and communication.

Flexible Setup: The modular boards allow for different configurations, promoting efficiency and reducing congestion.

Variety of Challenges: The game includes diverse tasks such as physical dexterity tests and memory games.

Adjustable Difficulty: Players can set harder conditions or rotate roles for added challenge.

Cons

Complexity: The game can be more complex than similar titles like Kitchen Rush, requiring some learning curve.

Time Pressure: The real-time element can be stressful and may not appeal to all players.

Personal Thoughts on Rush M.D.

Rush M.D. is ideal for players who enjoy real-time cooperative games and are looking for a challenging yet rewarding experience. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate physical dexterity elements and the high-pressure simulation of a medical environment. The game’s flexibility in setup and adjustable difficulty make it accessible to a wide range of players, from casual gamers to experienced enthusiasts. However, it may not be the best fit for those who prefer more relaxed or solo gaming experiences.

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