Debtzilla (2018) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Debtzilla is a cooperative board game released in 2018, designed by Alan Bay and Andy Choo. The game is set in a world where players must work together to combat the monstrous Debtzilla, who threatens the financial stability of the city. With dice rolling, deck building, and variable player powers, players must strategize and work as a team to defeat Debtzilla and save the city.

Game Components of Debtzilla

Player Boards: Working, Shopping, Vigilante, and Boss boards.

Income Cards: Savings, Luxury, Insurance, Budgeting, Debt Refinancing, and three types of Loans (credit card, student, and housing).

Gadget Cards: Basic and advanced cards for manipulating dice rolls.

Villain Cards: Each with scam values and weak points.

Citizen Cards: Representing poor, middle-class, and rich citizens with wealth meters.

Debtzilla Cards: Representing the final boss and its increasing health.

Dice: Used for combat and resolving actions.

Character Cards: Each player has a unique hero with special skills.

Markers and Tokens: For tracking health, wealth, and other game states.

How To Setup Debtzilla

To set up Debtzilla, players first lay out the four main boards: Working, Shopping, Vigilante, and Boss. Each player selects a character card, places their Happiness marker, and receives a starting deck of 10 Income cards (4 Luxury, 3 Credit Card Loans, and 3 Savings). The Villain and Citizen decks are shuffled and set up according to the player count. Gadget cards are placed face down on the Shopping board, with six basic Gadget cards revealed and placed in their designated spaces.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Phases

Working Phase: Players draw 5 cards from their Income decks, collect resources, and either pay off debt or select a new Income card.

Shopping Phase: Players can buy Gadget cards to manipulate dice rolls.

Vigilante Phase: Players cooperate to defeat villains by rolling dice and targeting weak points.

Resolve Phase: Update game state, replace defeated villains and bankrupted citizens, and increase Debtzilla’s health.

Game Objective

Defeat all villains.

Defeat Debtzilla after all villains are defeated.

Avoid having all citizens bankrupted or Debtzilla’s health reaching 99.

Player Experience

In Debtzilla, players take on dual roles: daytime workers managing finances and nighttime vigilantes fighting villains. The game demands strategic balance between accumulating resources, managing debt, and utilizing gadgets to enhance dice rolls. The cooperative aspect encourages teamwork and communication, making each player integral to the team’s success. However, the game’s reliance on dice rolls introduces a significant element of luck, which can sometimes override strategic planning.

Pros

Cooperative Gameplay: Encourages teamwork and communication.

Educational: Teaches about financial management and the dangers of debt.

Dynamic Phases: Each phase offers different challenges and opportunities for strategy.

Replayability: Random events and variable player powers ensure each game is unique.

Cons

Luck-Based: Dice rolls can significantly impact the outcome, regardless of strategy.

Complex Setup: Multiple boards and card decks require careful setup.

Steep Learning Curve: Understanding the various mechanics and interactions can take time.

Personal Thoughts on Debtzilla

Debtzilla is ideal for players who enjoy cooperative games with a mix of strategy and luck. It is particularly suited for those interested in financial management and economics, as it offers a unique educational twist. The game’s theme of balancing everyday life with superhero responsibilities adds a fun and relatable element. However, it may not be the best fit for players who prefer games with minimal luck or those who are easily frustrated by random outcomes. Overall, Debtzilla is a well-executed game that challenges players to manage their finances while saving the world from financial ruin.

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