In a recent post I discussed what games have been getting to the table most often. One game that certainly fits into that category, yet deserves a discussion all to itself is Mechs vs. Minions by Riot Games. Based on the video game League of Legends, the publisher wanted to create a special gift to its fans by designing a board game based on the popular Multi-player Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game. Mechs vs. Minions is in an interesting category of board games. Although it can be played as a "one-off" game, it is intended to be played as a series of progressively harder missions. As you complete missions, your "mech" character will gain additional ability cards that you can opt to use in the current or future missions. Mechs vs Minions uses the action programming game mechanic. Drafting cards the players select which actions their character can add. Each player has a command line board where the cards are "slotted" which effects the actions of their respective character. The primary function of the cards is to move, turn or attack. Each round starts with a card draft allowing you to add to the command line and thus the functionality of the mech. Mechs must contend with evil minions and other obstacles along the way. The minions can swarm your team and attack every round. Obstacles like oil slicks, spiked walls and lava can interfere with completing each mission. The win condition of each mission may change. Sometimes it has you deliver cargo safely to a location while in others your characters may simply need to make it to a finish area on the map. If (and when) you fail the mission and need to replay it before going onto another. At the conclusion of a successful mission the team is rewarded with the gratification of having beat the mission and can then move onto the next mission as listed in your congratulations message at the end of the mission instructions. Each mission is sealed in an envelope. After winning a mission we enjoy opening the next envelope and getting juiced up about what our next challenge will be.
Each of our group has latched onto a specific mech character in the game. Although there is really no advantage or difference in play, each character has a fully-painted miniature. Even though you can switch up characters each mission, we've each gotten attached to ours. Nikki is Tristana, Jeff plays as Ziggs, Chris is Corki and I'm Heimerdinger. This past week Nikki, Jeff, Chris and I completed Mission #9. It's hard to believe we started on Mission #1 more than a year ago. Next, will be Mission #10, which is stated to be the final mission... however there seems to be a mysterious eleventh envelope with potentially more to do??? We'll have to successfully complete the mission to find out what's in that last envelope. Online there is even an option to create your own custom missions, allowing for even more fun after completing what comes in the box. Speaking of what's in the box... there are a few surprises here and there. One of the impressive things about this game is the box and components themselves. You can see the extreme care the publisher took to create vacuum-formed plastic inserts. The way all the pieces fit into the multiple trays and the way the trays fit together into the box is some kind of an engineering miracle! Sound like I'm overselling it? Believe me, once you get this behemoth of a box open and unearth all the treasures within and then see how nicely its all organized ... you will understand that I'm not overselling. What a fun game. Speaking for me and my neighbors, we have really enjoyed this experience and are excited about trying other cooperative mission or campaign-based games. Nikki and Jeff just backed one on Kickstarter, but it'll be another year before we'll get to see that. Until then, there's the new The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle Earth game that we might try. Let us know if you suggest any good cooperative mission or campaign games in the comments. If you'd like to learn more about Mechs vs. Minions, check out the link below to their site: https://na.leagueoflegends.com/en/featured/mechs-vs-minions
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