Rolling Realms Redux Review

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Rolling Realms Redux

The Cardboard-Based Characteristics

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

Rolling Realms is something I have always been a little bit curious about. I knew it was a roll and write, I knew it has little expansions based on other games and I have always wanted to try it. Where to start though? What to buy? They were always stumbling blocks that I would approach at some point.

Luckily, I have been given a chance by Stonemaier to review the second boxed version of the game, Rolling Realms Redux. So, let’s dig into some history then. In the early days of the Coronavirus pandemic, when getting together to play games was impossible, Jamey Stegmaier created a print-and-play game called Rolling Realms. An easy to pick up game that could be played over the internet with anyone with dice and a printer. Lovely!

So Many Realms to Try

Since its release the game has grown exponentially, there have been two boxed releases, including this one and it now has so many expansions that I think the realm possibility count is up in the thousands. In Rolling Realms, you try to get the most stars in nine realms by playing mini-games varying from minigolf and poker to other board games like Flamecraft or Wingspan. It’s all very inventive.

Rolling Realms Redux is the second boxed version of the game and an expandalone that can be played alone, with any of the expansions or even mixed in with the original Rolling Realms box. It’s all interchangeable and everything works together, is very easy to store and mixes effortlessly. When I got my review copy I did have to buy a few expansions to my favourite games, just to see how the mechanics correlated with the games I knew and enjoyed. Redux comes with Realms for many new games such as Flamecraft and Planet Unknown plus, it comes with a fancy solo mode and a box to store all realms released so far.

In Rolling Realms, every player starts with a stack of all the realms you have, expansions and all. Then one player selects three, at random for the first round. Every other player then looks through their realms and selects the same three to start the game. Grab a pen, the scoring and resource cards and give the chunky pair of dice to anyone who wants them. You are then ready to play Rolling Realms, it is certainly a game that gets set up quickly and uses a minimal amount of components.

Roll and Write Minigames

Each round of Rolling Realms has nine turns. In each of these turns a player rolls a pair of chunky dice and all players use the results on the three realms in front of them. Each die has to be used on a separate realm (unless something states otherwise) and you mark off an option on the chosen realm. Each of these realms has differing rules and they play like the game they are based on. It’s all rather clever and relatively simple but has a lot of choices between the three realms you are currently playing in that round. Maximising each roll is where the meat of the game is, making all three realms work together and using your resources intelligently will decide your fate.

Take Space Base for example, each roll activates a number and you get all the rewards above it. However, much like its bigger brother, you can upgrade each number getting an ever-increasing number of rewards and those elusive stars, which will win you the game. It’s the same with every realm, in Planet Unknown you are placing polyomino shapes to fill in rows and columns of your planet, just like in the original game. I love that you can buy mini-expansions, for games you own and can see the game’s DNA running through these mini-games. A lot has been done to make each realm feel different and somewhat like the big-box game it is based on.

Stars and Resources

Each realm has a way to earn six possible stars, each requiring different rolls and different mechanisms to be activated. As I said though they stay quite true to their big box counterparts and playing each of the three better than the other players will decide the winning player. Along with stars, each realm has ways to gain resources, which can be used to bend the rules of each realm, modify the dice and squeeze out those last few valuable stars.

Hearts, pumpkins and coins can be used to take extra die, put two die in the same realm and even change the results of dice to more preferable values. At the end of each round though they are wiped, with any spare ones being converted into tie-breaking points for the end of the game.

Rolling Realms Redux is a simple game, in a setup and how-to-play fashion. The true game though, how to use each die on each realm, is where the game gets juicy. Do you focus heavily on one realm or spread out? How will you use resources to your advantage and do you hoard them for those sometimes vital, tie-breaker points?

Simple Fun and Great Value for Money

Rolling Realms Redux has been enjoyed by everyone I have played it with. It does a lot with very little and is very well-designed. It is easy to play, quick to set up and supports up to six players. I think the expansion system is superb, adding realms for your favourite games will never get old and working out how they relate to their bigger box counterparts is fun and rewarding. Rolling Realms is also quite good on the wallet too, you get a fair bit of gaming for your hard-earned cash.

I will certainly be keeping my copy of Rolling Realms and will also have an eye on future realms for games I like. Rolling Realms is a perfect starter game, a great end-of-the-night game and will please a large amount of players. It’s easy enough to grasp, yet has enough to satisfy even the most strategic players on our hobby. Roll for the win!

Rapid Reviews Rating

4 out of 5

4

If you want to buy Rolling Realms Redux, you can, from the Stonemaier store here.