Lab Wars (2016) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Lab Wars is a card game that was released in in 2016. It is designed by Crimzon Studio, Mihajlo Dimitrievski, and Nizar Ilman, with artwork by Alley Cat Games. The game is designed for 2-4 players, with a recommended age of 12 and up. Lab Wars falls under the categories of card game, educational, and party game, and features mechanisms such as hand management, open drafting, rock-paper-scissors, and simulation.

Game Components of Lab Wars

Research Team: 5 lab character cards

Lab Item Cards: Used for building up the lab and creating combos

Action Cards: Variable effects, gained through sabotage or playing the professor card

Sabotage Cards: Decrease Impact points

Impact Cards: Three different types, become more expensive as purchased

Research Points: Used for purchasing Impact cards

How To Setup Lab Wars

Players start with a research team of 5 lab characters and 3 lab item cards in their hand. Each round begins with a rock, paper, scissors mechanism to reveal which character each player will use.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Rock, Paper, Scissors Mechanism: Determine the active character for the round.

Character Activation: Characters activate attacks or bonuses if the targeted character is played by another player.

Sabotage: Successfully sabotaged players gain sabotage cards, reducing their Impact points.

Lab Item Purchases: Players buy lab item cards to create combos for more research points or draw more cards.

Action Cards: Play action cards for various effects.

Impact Card Purchases: Use research points to buy Impact cards, which increase in cost as they are purchased.

Game Objective: Accumulate the most Impact points by the end of the game, which concludes when 2 of the 3 supply cards are depleted.

Player Experience

In Lab Wars, players engage in a competitive environment where building their lab and sabotaging opponents are key strategies. Each turn involves strategic decisions on character selection, lab item purchases, and action card deployment. The game rewards players who can balance resource management, combo creation, and sabotage effectively.

Pros

Engaging Theme: Science-themed gameplay that adds a unique twist.

Strategic Depth: Combos and sabotage mechanics offer depth and replayability.

Competitive: Encourages interaction and competition among players.

Variable Setup: Each game can be different due to the rock, paper, scissors mechanism and random card draws.

Cons

Complexity: May be confusing for new players due to multiple mechanics.

Luck Factor: Random card draws and rock, paper, scissors outcomes can introduce luck into the game.

Short Playing Time: Games last between 30 to 60 minutes, which might be too short for some players.

Personal Thoughts on Lab Wars

Lab Wars is ideal for players who enjoy strategic card games with a competitive edge. It’s suitable for families and casual gamers looking for a game that combines resource management and sabotage mechanics. However, it may not be the best fit for those seeking extremely long or highly complex games. The game’s science theme and accessible rules make it a great choice for young players aged 12 and above.

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