The LOOP (2020) Board Game – Board Game Guys

The LOOP is a cooperative board game designed by Maxime Rambourg and Théo Rivière, and published by Catch Up Games in in 2020. Set in a science fiction theme, players work together to close temporal anomalies and save the world from destruction. The game features unique gameplay mechanics such as cube tower and deck, bag, and pool building.

Game Components of The LOOP

Game Board: Divided into seven eras.

Artifact Cards: Unique cards interacting with the board state.

Energy Cubes: Used for movement and LOOP mechanism.

Dr. Faux’s Clones: Tokens representing the evil scientist’s minions.

Mission Tiles: Randomly placed at the start of the game.

Cube Tower: A mechanism for randomly distributing Rift cubes.

Player Characters: Each with special abilities.

Faux Cards: Resolve various effects during Dr. Faux’s turn.

How To Setup The LOOP

To set up The LOOP, players first arrange the game board, which is divided into seven eras. Mission tiles are randomly placed along the edges of these eras. Each player selects a character with unique skills and starts with a set of Artifact cards. Dr. Faux’s deck is shuffled, and the cube tower is prepared. The game begins with the Faux Phase, where Dr. Faux’s clones are added to the board, an Artifact card is added to one of the eras, and a Faux card is resolved.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Deck Building: Players gather and use Artifact cards.

Time Travel: Players move through different eras.

LOOP Mechanism: Allows players to refresh and reuse cards by spending Energy cubes.

Cube Tower: Randomly distributes Rift cubes.

Threat Management: Manage Dr. Faux’s clones and Rift cubes.

Game Objective

Complete Missions: Players must complete four missions to win.

Defeat Dr. Faux: Destroy Dr. Faux’s time machine by completing missions and other win conditions.

Avoid Game Over: Prevent Dr. Faux’s deck from being exhausted three times, or avoid triggering multiple Vortexes in the same location.

Player Experience

The LOOP offers a dynamic and challenging cooperative experience. Players must work together to manage threats across different eras, utilizing the unique LOOP mechanism to optimize their card play. Each turn involves strategic decisions about card usage, Energy cube management, and navigating the random outcomes from the cube tower. The game’s humor and colorful presentation add to its charm, making it both engaging and visually appealing.

Pros

High Replayability: Multiple scenarios and random elements ensure each game is unique.

Engaging Mechanics: The LOOP mechanism and deck building add depth and excitement.

Visual Appeal: The game’s art and components are vibrant and unique.

Variety in Characters: Each player character has special abilities, offering different play styles.

Solo Mode: Well-tuned solo rules provide a challenging and fun experience.

Cons

Randomness: Can lead to variability in game difficulty and some unpredictable outcomes.

Quarterbacking: Potential issue if some players dominate decision-making.

Samey Feel: Some players find the game starts to feel repetitive after multiple plays.

Complex Setup: The unique layout can make reading mission tiles challenging for some players.

Personal Thoughts on The LOOP

The LOOP is ideal for fans of cooperative games who enjoy strategic depth and unique mechanics. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate deck-building and time travel themes. While it may appeal to fans of games like Pandemic and Spirit Island, it offers enough distinct features to stand out. However, players seeking a more straightforward or casual experience might find The LOOP too complex or punishing. Overall, it is a great addition to any coop enthusiast’s collection, offering a blend of challenging gameplay and entertaining elements.

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