Moon-Bots (2019) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Moon-Bots is a card game designed by Sylvain Aublin and published in 2019 by Blue Orange (EU). The game is set in a science fiction universe where players take on the role of robots battling it out on the moon. With a runtime of 30 minutes, Moon-Bots is designed for 2 to 4 players aged 7 and up.

Game Components of Moon-Bots

Upgrade cards

Four dice in each player color

Four energy markers

Four double-layered player boards

Cards on average card stock

Chunky dice with Arabic numerals

How To Setup Moon-Bots

To set up Moon-Bots, each player chooses a player board and starts with a basic robot that has one attack and one die. The upgrade cards are shuffled and arranged in a marketplace grid of six cards in two rows. Each card has a cost in energy, which also serves as the robot’s life points.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Auction: Dutch: Cards in the marketplace grid have costs that decrease as cards are picked.

Open Drafting: Players draft cards to upgrade their robots.

Player Elimination: Last robot standing wins.

Game Objective

Build and upgrade your robot to be the last one standing in the annual Moon-Bots tournament.

Start with a basic robot and enhance it through a card drafting phase.

Roll dice to determine actions and attacks against other players.

Eliminate players by reducing their energy levels.

Player Experience

Moon-Bots offers a fun and engaging experience that can be completed in 15-30 minutes. The game is simple to learn, with Lindsay picking it up quickly without extensive instruction reading. The artwork is cute and appealing, drawing in players like Megan and Lindsay. The game has a similar vibe to King of Tokyo and Machi Koro.

Pros

Quick Gameplay: Games last between 15-30 minutes.

Easy to Learn: Simple rules make it accessible for new players.

Fun Experience: Combines strategy and luck for an enjoyable game.

Cute Artwork: Attractive and engaging visuals.

Cons

Instructions: Not well-written, which can cause confusion.

Two-Player Issue: Easy for two players to gang up on the player between them, leading to early elimination.

Personal Thoughts on Moon-Bots

Moon-Bots is a great game for families or casual gamers who enjoy light to medium complexity games. It’s ideal for those who like strategic card drafting and dice rolling mechanics. While it has some minor issues, such as the potential for two-player imbalance and not-so-great instructions, it remains a very enjoyable little game that is perfect for a quick gaming session. With its cute artwork and engaging gameplay, Moon-Bots is a solid addition to any board game collection.

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