Rise (2022) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Rise is a city-building board game designed by Christian Opperer and published by dlp games in in 2022. The game allows 2-4 players to compete against each other to build the most prosperous city through strategic decision-making and resource management.

Game Components of Rise

Tracks: 10 double-sided track boards, plus one victory point tracker, totaling 11 track boards.

Action Cards: Three decks of action cards, one for each of the game’s three eras.

Event Cards: A single deck of event cards that provide various benefits and penalties.

Player Tokens: Small wooden components to mark player positions on the tracks.

Money: Cardboard coins.

School Tiles: Used for additional track advancements and bonuses[5.).

How To Setup Rise

To set up Rise, players start by shuffling the three decks of action cards and the deck of event cards. The game is divided into three eras, each with its own set of action cards. Players place the action cards and event cards on a thin board according to the turn summary. Each of the 10 double-sided tracks is laid out, and players receive their starting components. The game is played over 12 rounds, with four rounds per era.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics:

Action Selection: Players select one of four action cards each turn, choosing between a free basic action and an upgraded action that costs coins.

Track Advancement: Each action card corresponds to a symbol that allows players to move up a matching track.

Event Cards: Event cards are resolved from left to right, providing benefits or penalties to players who have not yet taken their turn.

Resource Management: Players manage their coins to perform upgraded actions and mitigate penalties.

Game Objective:

The objective is to score the most victory points by advancing on various tracks, such as Science, Culture, and Politics, while balancing other tracks like Satisfaction and Riot. The game ends after 12 rounds, and the player with the most victory points wins.

Player Experience

Rise offers a fast-paced and intuitive gameplay experience with streamlined mechanics. Players enjoy the thrill of moving up multiple tracks, triggering cascading effects, and managing resources efficiently. The game is easy to teach and plays quickly, with a typical game lasting about 35 minutes. However, some players might find the proceedings a bit thin at the end of the game, as the decision space remains relatively consistent throughout the 12 rounds.

Pros

Easy to Play: Simple iconography and minimal rules make it accessible to new players.

High Replay Value: With 10 double-sided tracks, there are 1024 possible track combinations.

Fast Gameplay: Quick turns and overall playtime.

Track Variety: Multiple tracks with different mechanics and benefits keep the game engaging.

Cascading Effects: Moving up one track can trigger movements on other tracks, creating satisfying combos.

Cons

Limited Strategy Depth: The game lacks robust variety in player actions, leading to somewhat predictable strategies.

Thin Endgame: The gameplay feels a bit thin by the end of the 12 rounds.

Penalty Management: Early penalties can be costly, but experienced players can often mitigate these with later game advancements.

Personal Thoughts on Rise

Rise is perfect for fans of track-based games who enjoy the thrill of rapid progression and strategic resource management. It’s an excellent addition for those who like games like Gutenberg and Khora: Rise of an Empire. However, players seeking more complex or deeply strategic games might find Rise a bit too streamlined. For a light, fun, and highly replayable experience, Rise is definitely worth a play.

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