Creating a sequel to a board game is no easy task, nor should it be. Done well, a board game can bring years of enjoyment if made with smart design, and the concept of a sequel may even seem strange to some. However, Roll for the Galaxy is one of the rare cases where a sequel lives up to the hype of the first game, Race for the Galaxy, and soon it will be available on PC.
In the first game, Race for the Galaxy, released in 2007, players use cards to build their very own galactic civilizations. The cards can represent worlds, technological breakthroughs, and social development. Each game rolls out differently thanks to the depth of choice players have with regards to how they want their civilization to roll out. In the sequel, much of the core concept remains, but there is a radical shift in strategic planning relative to other players with the incorporation of dice to determine moves and resource availability.
While Roll for the Galaxy is without a doubt a great sequel, it can feel ridiculously difficult to learn compared to its predecessor. Matt Cox from Rockpapershotgun sums up my feelings perfectly when he writes, “it’s a nightmare to learn. Even when you get someone in front of you explaining the physical version, who’s good at both the game and teaching it, they’ll probably struggle to explain it to people who are generally experienced at learning board game rules.”
This is no reason to give up however, as this writer has learned that some of the most difficult games to learn are often the most rewarding (though not always). What makes Roll for the Galaxy such an outstanding sequel is its shift from cards, which are mainly kept private, to dice, which all players can see as they roll.
The result is the switching of information from private strategy to large-scale, meta considerations. Now that you can see what everyone is doing, it should be a snap to plan for a win, right? Well, no, because now everyone is cursed with this abundance of information and needs to plan their plays and consider what their opponents are doing. It is a whole lot more head gaming, and it is wonderful.
As the pandemic continues to keep people inside and apart, it seems only logical that more board game developers will take the time to take their best titles and bring them to life once more in a virtual setting. For now, players can click here to sign up for the beta to Roll for the Galaxy, and the original game is on Steam, still on sale, and worth checking out also.
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