Rolling Japan (2014) Board Game

Rolling Japan is a dice-based board game that was released in in 2014. Designed by Ryo Nyamo and featuring artwork by OKAZU Brand, the game falls into the categories of Dice, Number, and Puzzle. With a runtime of 15 minutes and suitable for players aged 8 and up, Rolling Japan offers a fun and engaging gameplay experience for 1 to 99 players.

Game Components of Rolling Japan

A map of Japan divided into 47 prefectures, grouped by six colors (white, black, green, yellow, red, and blue)

Six colored dice and one purple joker dice

Player boards for each participant

Pens or pencils for marking the boards

A bag for drawing the dice

How To Setup Rolling Japan

To set up the game, each player receives a board featuring the map of Japan. The colored dice are placed in a bag. At the start of each round, two dice are drawn from the bag, and players must place the corresponding numbers on their boards according to the color and number rolled.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Dice Rolling: Players draw two dice from the bag each round and roll them.

Number Placement: Players must place the rolled numbers on their board, adhering to the rule that a number can only be placed adjacent to another number if it is different by at most one.

Color Change: Players have three opportunities throughout the game to change the color of a rolled number to fit their board better.

Objective: The goal is to fill in the spaces on the board efficiently while managing the restrictions on number placement. The game lasts for eight rounds, and the player with the best score at the end wins.

Player Experience

Rolling Japan offers a unique blend of luck and strategy. Players must strategically plan their number placements to maximize their scores while navigating the constraints imposed by the previous rolls. The game is quick, lasting about 15 minutes, and can be played with any number of players, making it highly versatile.

Pros

Versatile Player Count: The game supports 1 to 99 players.

Quick Gameplay: Each game lasts approximately 15 minutes.

Strategic Depth: Players need to think ahead to maximize their scores.

Easy to Learn: The rules are simple, making it accessible to new players.

Cons

Luck-Dependent: The outcome is heavily influenced by the dice rolls.

Limited Control: Players have to adapt to the numbers they roll, which can limit their control over the game.

Repetitive Rounds: Some players might find the repetitive nature of the rounds slightly monotonous.

Personal Thoughts on Rolling Japan

Rolling Japan is ideal for those who enjoy light, strategic games with a touch of luck. It’s a great fit for families or groups looking for a quick, engaging game that doesn’t require a significant time commitment. The game’s simplicity and versatility make it an excellent addition to any board game collection, especially for fans of roll-and-write games. However, players seeking games with deeper complexity or more control over the game state might find Rolling Japan less appealing.

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