Burgle Bros is a cooperative board game designed by Tim Fowers and released in in 2015. The game is set in a high-rise building where players take on the role of a team of thieves attempting to pull off a heist. The game has received positive reviews for its challenging gameplay and replay value.
Game Components of Burgle Bros.
Character cards with special abilitiesFloor tiles for constructing the 3 floors of the bankSafe and Stairway cardsGuard cards and red dice for movementStealth tokensEvent, Loot, and Tool cardsWalls for creating floor layoutsDice for cracking the safes.
How To Setup Burgle Bros.
Setting up the game involves several steps:
Each player selects a character card and chooses one of their special abilities.Players receive 3 Stealth tokens to track how many times they can be spotted by the Guards.The 3 floors of the bank are constructed by shuffling and laying out 42 Floor tiles into 3 decks, each containing a Safe and a Stairway.Walls are placed on each floor according to the rulebook or using the wall randomizer from the Burgle Bros. website.Guard cards are separated into Patrol decks for each floor, with each Guard having a different movement speed indicated by a red die.Players jointly choose a starting tile on the first floor, turn it over, and place their characters on it.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
Game Objective: Crack 3 safes and escape to the Helipad on the top floor without getting caught by the Guards.Gameplay Mechanics:Action Points: Players can take up to 4 actions per turn, such as revealing adjacent tiles, moving, hacking computers, adding dice to a Safe tile, or attempting to crack a Safe.Dice Rolling: Players roll dice to crack the combination of the Safe.Guard Movement: Guards move based on the Patrol deck cards and their movement speed.Event, Loot, and Tool Cards: These cards introduce randomness and challenges or benefits during the game.
Player Experience
Playing **Burgle Bros.** is a highly interactive and tense experience. Players must work together, using their unique character abilities to navigate through the bank, avoid Guards, and crack safes. The game requires stealth, planning, and a bit of luck. Each game session presents different challenges due to the modular board and random events, making it highly replayable. The cooperative nature of the game encourages teamwork and creative problem-solving, adding to its fun and memorable gameplay.
Pros
Cooperative Teamwork: Encourages collaboration and strategy among players.High Replayability: Modular board and random events ensure each game is different.Engaging Theme: The heist theme is well-executed, creating a tense and exciting atmosphere.Balanced Characters: Each character has unique and valuable skills, with no weak characters among them.
Cons
Complex Setup: Setting up the game can be time-consuming due to the numerous components and floor layouts.Luck Factor: Dice rolling and random events can introduce an element of luck that may frustrate some players.Steep Learning Curve: While the rules are easy to learn, mastering the game and optimizing strategies can take time.
Personal Thoughts on Burgle Bros.
**Burgle Bros.** is ideal for fans of cooperative games and those who enjoy strategic planning and high-stakes tension. It is suitable for players aged 12 and above, and the game typically lasts between 45 to 90 minutes. The game’s retro-modern artwork and unique character designs add to its charm, making it a great addition to any board game collection. If you enjoy games like Pandemic but with a heist twist, **Burgle Bros.** is definitely worth checking out.
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