Doomsday Bots (2019) Board Game

Doomsday Bots is a board game released in 2019 by Oray Studios. It is designed for 2-4 players, with a recommended player count of 3. The game features action points, dice rolling, and open drafting mechanics, making it a strategic and engaging experience for players aged 10 and above.

Game Components of Doomsday Bots

Game Box: Includes dividers and thick tokens.

Robot Standees: Initial versions were criticized for being small and poorly designed, but final versions are taller and better articulated.

Cards: For drafting and assembling robots.

Dice: A d20 for resolving challenges.

Art and Design: Created by Oray Studios, known for its beautifully drawn and humorous style.

How To Setup Doomsday Bots

To set up Doomsday Bots, players first prepare the game board, which represents the Clock Tower. Each player conducts a quick draft to assemble their robot using the available cards, focusing on three key stats: Intelligence, Power, and Speed. Any unused parts can be set aside to build another robot later. The game components are organized using the provided dividers to keep everything tidy.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Card Drafting: Players draft cards to build and upgrade their robots.

Dice Rolling: A d20 is used to resolve challenges and combat.

Action Points: Players manage their actions to navigate the tower.

Player-vs-Player Combat: Robots can engage in combat with each other.

Semi-Cooperative Boss Fight: Players may need to cooperate to defeat the final boss.

Game Objective

The objective is to be the first player to reach the top of the Clock Tower, retrieve the Boss’s super weapon, and escape with it.

Player Experience

Playing Doomsday Bots involves a mix of strategic robot building and random dice rolls. The game starts with a fun drafting phase where players assemble their robots, aiming for a balance of Intelligence, Power, and Speed. As players ascend the tower, they face various challenges and can engage in combat with other robots. The game has a humorous tone, with robots becoming increasingly damaged and dysfunctional as they progress. The final boss fight introduces a semi-cooperative element, requiring players to work together to succeed.

Pros

Engaging Artwork: The game features superb and humorous artwork by Oray Studios.

Quick Setup: The game sets up quickly, and the dividers help keep components organized.

Fun Drafting Phase: Building the robots at the start is an enjoyable part of the game.

Humorous Gameplay: The game has a light-hearted and amusing atmosphere, especially with the robots’ increasing damage.

Cons

Randomness: The game is heavily dependent on dice rolls, reducing the impact of strategic decisions.

Limited Variety: There is a lack of variety in the cards and mechanics, which can make the game feel repetitive.

Ill-Designed Standees: Initial versions of the robot standees were poorly designed, though later versions improved.

Semi-Cooperative Disparity: The boss fight mechanic feels somewhat out of place with the rest of the game.

Personal Thoughts on Doomsday Bots

Doomsday Bots is a game that will appeal to fans of light-hearted, competitive games with a touch of humor. It is ideal for those who enjoy card drafting and dice rolling mechanics. However, players seeking deep strategic gameplay might find the randomness and limited card variety to be a drawback. The game is best suited for casual gamers looking for a fun, quick play experience with a unique Steampunk setting. Despite its flaws, the game shows promise, and the team at DigiSprite demonstrates potential for future projects.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.