Let’s Make a Bus Route: The Dice Game (2021) Board Game

Let’s Make a Bus Route: The Dice Game is a board game released in 2021, designed by Takako Takarai. It falls under the transportation category and incorporates gameplay elements such as dice rolling, line drawing, network and route building, paper-and-pencil, and set collection. The game is suitable for 1-2 players, with a runtime of around 30 minutes and recommended for ages 12 and above.

Game Components of Let’s Make a Bus Route: The Dice Game

2 Player boards

1 Map board (double-sided)

6 White dice

1 Black die

1 First player marker

1 Correspondence table

2 Pens + 2 spare

Rule books (Japanese / English).

How To Setup Let’s Make a Bus Route: The Dice Game

To set up the game, each player receives a player board and a pen. The double-sided map board is placed in the middle, and the dice are distributed. Players decide who goes first using the first player marker. The game includes a correspondence table to help players translate the dice rolls into actions. The rule books provide detailed instructions for both Japanese and English speakers.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Dice Rolling: Players roll dice to determine which passengers to pick up and where to take them.

Route Drawing: Players draw their bus routes on the map board using erasable pens.

Passenger Satisfaction: The goal is to create a route that pleases various types of passengers, including tourists, commuters, students, the elderly, and parents with children.

Traffic and Penalties: Players must navigate through traffic conditions and other penalties that can deduct points.

Scoring: Points are earned during and at the end of the game based on the satisfaction of the passengers. The player with the most points wins.

Player Experience

Playing **Let’s Make a Bus Route: The Dice Game** is a breezy and interactive experience. It combines strategic planning with the unpredictability of dice rolls, making each game unique. The game requires players to balance the needs of different passenger groups while managing traffic constraints. The interactive nature of drawing routes on the map adds a fun and tactile element to the game.

Pros

Engaging Gameplay: The combination of dice rolling and route drawing keeps players engaged.

Strategic Depth: Players need to think strategically about which passengers to prioritize and how to navigate traffic efficiently.

Replayability: The game offers high replayability due to the randomness of the dice rolls and the different passenger needs each game.

Easy to Learn: The rules are straightforward, making it easy for new players to jump in.

Cons

Limited Player Count: The game is designed for only 1-2 players, which might limit its appeal for larger groups.

Availability: The game has been known to be out of stock in some places, making it difficult to acquire.

Cost: The game can be expensive due to import costs, especially for players outside of Japan.

Personal Thoughts on Let’s Make a Bus Route: The Dice Game

**Let’s Make a Bus Route: The Dice Game** is perfect for fans of light to medium-weight strategy games, particularly those who enjoy dice games and route-building mechanics. It is an excellent addition to any board game collection, especially for players who appreciate a mix of luck and strategy. However, due to its limited player count and occasional availability issues, it might not be the best fit for everyone. Nonetheless, it offers a unique and enjoyable experience that is well worth the investment for the right audience.

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