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Hit Z Road (2016) Board Game

ByMichail

Hit Z Road is a board game released in 2016 that takes players on a post-apocalyptic journey through a zombie-infested world. Designed by Martin Wallace and published by Asmodee, this game combines elements of fighting, horror, and survival as players bid against each other to secure valuable resources and navigate dangerous encounters.

Game Components of Hit Z Road

  • Player Markers:** Different sizes, including a driver’s license and a fast food reward coupon.
  • Resources:** Represented by colored bottle caps (gas, ammo, adrenaline).
  • Cards:** Adventure cards with scavenging, event, and fight stages; some cards repurposed from other games like Ticket to Ride and Dixit.
  • Dice:** Wooden dice with clear symbols for combat resolution.
  • Tokens:** Wooden tokens, including zomeeples (zombie meeples) with outstretched arms.
  • Rule Book:** Designed to look like handwritten notes on graph paper, including tidbits from the survivor’s journey.

    How To Setup Hit Z Road

    Players start with a colored lead survivor, four grey survivors, and four each of the three resource tokens (gas, ammo, adrenaline). Each player places their bidding marker on the auction board. The game setup involves drawing eight cards and laying them out face-up in four rows of two cards, representing the paths players can choose.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Planning Phase:** Eight cards are drawn and laid out in four paths.
  • Auction Phase:** Players bid resources to determine the order in which they choose a path. The highest bidder gets the first initiative tile, and so on.
  • Encounter Phase:** Players resolve the encounters on their chosen path, which includes scavenging for resources, resolving events, and fighting zombies. Fights can be resolved through ranged attacks using dice rolls or melee combat.
  • Game Objective:** The goal is to have at least one survivor reach Los Angeles by the end of eight rounds. The player with the most points, earned from collected cards and bonus points for resources and survivors, wins the game.

    Player Experience

    **Hit Z Road** offers a tense and strategic experience as players balance resource bidding with the need to survive zombie encounters. The game becomes progressively more challenging as resources become scarcer and zombies more aggressive. The auction mechanic adds a layer of strategy, forcing players to weigh the costs of bidding against the benefits of choosing a favorable path.

    Pros

  • Engaging Theme:** The game’s theme, designed to look like it was created by a child survivor of a zombie apocalypse, is well-executed and immersive.
  • Auction Mechanic:** The bidding system creates a compelling balance between resource management and path selection.
  • Progressive Difficulty:** The game becomes more challenging as it progresses, adding to the tension and excitement.

    Cons

  • Luck Driven:** The game involves a significant amount of luck through card draws and dice rolls, which may not appeal to all players.
  • Player Elimination:** Players can be eliminated from the game, which might not be enjoyable for everyone.
  • Optimal Player Count:** The game is best with four players, with enjoyment diminishing slightly for lower player counts.

    Personal Thoughts on Hit Z Road

    **Hit Z Road** is ideal for fans of zombie-themed games and those who enjoy a mix of strategy and luck. It is particularly suited for groups of four, where the auction mechanic and resource management create a highly engaging and competitive environment. However, players who dislike player elimination or significant luck elements may find it less appealing. Overall, it’s a fresh take on the zombie apocalypse genre, making it a great addition to any board game collection.

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    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl

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