Rattus (2010) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Rattus is a board game released in 2010 by designers Åse Berg and Henrik Berg. The game is set in medieval Europe, where players take on the roles of different classes trying to survive the Black Death pandemic. With its unique theme of rats spreading disease, Rattus offers a fresh and interesting gameplay experience.

Game Components of Rattus

Game board featuring a map of Europe and Northern Africa

Population cubes in different colors

Rat tokens

Plague disks

Class cards (Knight, Peasant, Monk, Merchant, King, and Witch)

Plague pawn

Expansion components (Pied Piper, Africanus, Academicus, Guilds & Inns) in the Big Box edition

How To Setup Rattus

To set up Rattus, players start by placing four population cubes on the board, two in each of two territories. Each region is seeded with a starting rat token. The game board is scaled depending on the number of players, with some areas not used in games with fewer players. Six class cards are placed in the center pool, and the plague pawn is positioned to indicate where the next outbreak might occur.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Objective: Survive the plague by maintaining the most population cubes on the board.

Turn Structure: Players take three quick actions per turn, including selecting a class card, adding population cubes to the board, and resolving the plague if necessary.

Class Cards: Each card grants special abilities but increases the risk of losing population to the plague.

Plague Resolution: When the total population in a region meets or exceeds the number on a rat token, the plague disks are resolved, removing population cubes based on the icons on the tokens.

Game End: The game ends when all plague disks are exhausted or one player has all their population cubes on the board. The player with the most population cubes wins.

Player Experience

Rattus is known for its quick gameplay and minimal downtime, making it an enjoyable and light experience. Players must make strategic decisions about where to place their population cubes and which class cards to use, all while trying to manipulate the plague to harm their opponents. The game includes humorous moments, especially when a well-timed plague disk wipes out a large number of population cubes.

Pros

Good Gateway Game: Easy to learn and play.

Simple but Strategic: Provides interesting decisions without being overly complex.

Quick Gameplay: Games are typically short and fast-paced.

Scales Well: The game adapts to different player counts.

Humorous Moments: The game can be quite entertaining, especially with well-timed plague outbreaks.

Cons

Lower Replay Value: Some players may find the game too light or repetitive.

Not a Deep Strategy Game: Lacks the complexity and depth of heavier strategy games.

Theme May Be Off-Putting: The theme of the Black Death could be unpleasant for some players.

Personal Thoughts on Rattus

Rattus is ideal for players looking for a light, fun, and quick game that still offers some strategic depth. It’s a great introduction to Euro games and is particularly enjoyable with a full complement of players. However, it may not satisfy players seeking a more complex or immersive gaming experience. The game’s ability to balance simplicity with strategic choices makes it a great addition to any board game collection.

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