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I was shocked to see this news pop up on social media. Robo Rally is celebrating its 30th anniversary! Yes you read that correctly. I couldn’t believe it but it is true. As part of this celebration they have created a 30th anniversary deluxe set of the game which was released back in August this year and it does look incredible.
I own the original 1994 version of the game (I will add I didn’t pick it up in 1994, I’m not that old!) and it is a firm favourite in our home and a major crowd pleaser due to its unrelenting in-game action. I was introduced to the game in 2011 and I can very vividly remember the experience. My brother introduced me to the game and I believe we had 5 people playing. Within the first turn of phases I had shunted my brother's robot off of the board and reduced him down to two lives. I thought this was absolutely brilliant and was instantly sold on the game. You can imagine my brother wasn’t sharing my feelings.
For those unfamiliar with Robo Rally, it is basically the board game version of the TV show, Robot Wars. However, there is a checkpoint race also occurring at the same time. Players are to navigate their way around an incredibly hazardous board and tag checkpoints along the way. The board will damage you, other players will damage you, you will probably damage you. The beauty of this game is you have to programme your robots five moves for the turn in a blind format, so your opponents cannot see what you are doing, as they are doing the same. The programme moves include moving forwards, backwards (in reverse) as well as turning left, right and U turn. Sounds simple but you have to factor in how the board will move your bot as well as the possibility of being shunted by another player and how that will then impact your play. So, as noted above, I shunted my brother, which knocked him off his expected course and he then drove into a pit, which resulted in a life lost. What a result for me!
All the robots carry an on board laser to which after each movement, if an opponent is in your line of fire you can shoot them and put a damage point on them. 9 damage points will see your bot destroyed and a life lost. Plus, when you start to take 5 or more damage, your programmed moves get stuck on you, because you are so damaged. There is the opportunity to power down for a full turn and repair all damage. However you become a huge target in that turn. You can pick up repair pads as well as modification items that invariably enhance your robot and make it better able to compete. They give a little advantage.
I’m so thrilled to see this wonderful game going strong 30 years on with this anniversary deluxe edition. It’s such an engaging board game full of entertainment and laughter due to its very nature. The set appears to offer higher quality components contained within it as well as new maps which will be a treat to try out. I did spot the flamethrowers as a board element which is new to me, and can only be a bad thing for any bot that gets caught up in them. One of the awesome elements of this game is the way you can make up your own boards. The rules have pre printed races to play, but you can place those checkpoints wherever you want on the board and however you like. Essentially you can make up a track and have a go which is awesome and allows for so much replayability.
Robo Rally has seen several updated editions during its time. In the late 90’s after the original release there were numerous expansion sets that came out (which I would dearly love to get my hands on) which looked absolutely punishing. Avalon Hill had created a masterpiece. In 2016 they tried launching an updated version but I get the impression it flopped, unfortunately. Renegade Games then took the game on in 2023 with a latest edition as well as numerous expansion sets. Now they are celebrating its 3 decade milestone and it really does appear to have gathered a huge amount of momentum in this era of modern board gaming. I definitely want to be trying some of these new expansions!
Happy Birthday Robo Rally and here is to the next 30 years.