The Great Brain Robbery (2000)

The Great Brain Robbery

“The Great Brain Robbery” is a board game designed by James Ernest and released in 2000 by Cheapass Games. It is the fourth game in the Friedey’s series and the first Cheapass board game to come in a sturdy cardboard box. The game is set in a wild west theme and is a sequel to “Give Me the Brain”. In 2001, “The Great Brain Robbery” won the Origins Award for Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Board Game 2000.

Game Components of The Great Brain Robbery

Game Board: Composed of eight double-sided train carriages.

Brain Cards: 25 cards representing different brains with varying intelligence levels.

Pawns: One pawn for each player.

Counters: About 50 generic counters.

Dice: Two six-sided dice.

Print-and-Play Files: Available for free, including the game board, cards, envelope, and rules.

How To Setup The Great Brain Robbery

To set up the game, players start by assembling the train carriages board. Each player selects a pawn and places it at the caboose. The brain cards are shuffled and distributed evenly among the train carriages. Players also need to have the counters and dice ready. The game board changes dynamically as players move forward, with new carriages being added and old ones falling off.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Dynamic Board: The train carriages board changes as players move forward, adding new carriages and removing old ones.

Brain Collection: Players aim to collect the smartest brains by navigating through the train carriages.

Resource Management: Players must manage their time and resources to avoid falling off the back of the train and losing their brains.

Conflict: Players can steal brains from each other, adding a competitive element to the game.

Objective: The player with the smartest brain at the end of the game wins.

Player Experience

The Great Brain Robbery offers a fun and chaotic experience, blending strategy and luck. Players must balance the need to find the best brains with the risk of losing everything if they spend too much time on the train. The dynamic board and competitive interactions keep the game exciting and unpredictable.

Pros

Unique Theme: The game’s zombie-themed train robbery is quirky and engaging.

Dynamic Gameplay: The changing board and competitive brain collection add a high level of replayability.

Accessible: The game is available as a free print-and-play, making it accessible to a wide audience.

Awards: Won the Origins Award for Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Board Game in 2000.

Cons

Out of Print: The game is no longer in print, though it can be downloaded and printed.

Endgame Issues: Some players have noted that the game can have an endless endgame, which can become tiresome.

Personal Thoughts on The Great Brain Robbery

The Great Brain Robbery is ideal for fans of quirky, light-hearted games with a mix of strategy and luck. It’s perfect for groups of 3 to 7 players looking for a fun and competitive experience. While it may have some mechanical issues, the game’s unique theme and dynamic gameplay make it a standout in the board game world. If you enjoy games with a bit of chaos and humor, The Great Brain Robbery is definitely worth checking out.

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