Disclosure: Meeple Mountain received a free copy of this product in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. This review is not intended to be an endorsement.
Adventuring in Arzium
For those who aren’t already familiar with Red Raven Games and Ryan Laukat, it’s a great time to jump in. The ever-expanding catalog of “cozy” games set in the fantastical world of Arzium draws in players of all types. In Arzium, fantastical creatures, dreamy landscapes, and quiet adventures await, whether you’re exploring caverns (Above and Below), searching ruins (Near and Far), riding caravans (Creature Caravan), or, in Roam’s case, waking up the world one cube at a time. These games often feature elements of heavier Euro games that have been streamlined to be easily accessible.
Roam isn’t the newest adventure in Arzium, but the recent reprint of the 2019 release has caught my attention. In Roam, a sleeping sickness has plagued Arzium, causing folks to wander for hundreds of miles. Players are tasked with finding these citizens and returning them home safe and sound. How does it compare to other Arzium titles? Let’s jump in and find out!
Discovering the Lost
Roam is an area majority card game where players activate characters and place cubes to “discover” other citizens. Players start with three characters in their tableau, and once a player has ten, the game ends—the player with the highest points wins.
Each character has a “Tetris”-style pattern that, when activated, places cubes in that configuration on the six-spaced cards that form a 3×2 grid. Once all six spaces on a card have been filled by cubes (from one or more players), the card is claimed by the player with the majority of cubes on it. The card then becomes another usable character in that player’s tableau. In the case of a tie, the tied players bid for the right to claim the card.
Each character also scores a set number of points in the final scoring. If cubes are placed over coins, players earn those coins, which can be spent on gear or extra cube placements. (Some specialized character cards allow for bonus placements.) Gear cards spice things up with one-time powers like swiping coins, nudging out rival cubes, or snagging discounts. These mini boosts can feel clutch when your cube math isn’t quite adding up, and also score extra points at the end of the game.
Roamin’ on Home
Roam is a charming little puzzle that’s easy to teach. I even roped my mom into playing and she has absolutely no experience with board games. She grasped the main game flow fairly quickly and even finished with a competitive score!
The playtime lands in the snappy 30–45 minute range, making it a great contender to start or end a game night. The meat of the game lies in the spatial puzzle of placing cubes to occupy as many cards as possible. Focusing your cubes on just one or two cards almost guarantees you’ll win them—but it doesn’t always lead to a high score.
Because the game is also a race, it’s important to pay attention to where others are placing their cubes. While interaction is low, there’s the natural tension that comes with any area majority game. However, the level of tension isn’t high enough to take away from a cozy game.
We found gear cards to be more impactful than expected. They’re expensive, but they can help make turns more efficient in a game where every placement counts.
Roam delivers a delightfully accessible blend of spatial puzzling and light strategy, set against the richly illustrated and ever-inviting backdrop of Arzium. It’s a perfect introduction to Ryan Laukat’s world for newcomers, and a cozy side quest for seasoned fans. While it may not reinvent the genre or demand repeated plays, Roam succeeds in offering a satisfying, bite-sized adventure that’s as charming as it is clever. For anyone seeking a beautiful, breezy game with just enough bite, Roam is well worth the journey.
Roam details
- Designer: Ryan Laukat
- Artists: Ryan Laukat
- Publishers: Banana Games, DV Games, Lanlalen, Lavka Games, Lotus Frog Games, Lucky Duck Games, Maldito Games, Red Raven Games, Reflexshop, REXhry, Schwerkraft-Verlag, White Goblin Games
- Release Date: 2019
- Player count : 2 - 4
- Age range : 8+
- Time range : 30 - 45 minutes
- Mechanism(s): Action Retrieval, Area Majority / Influence, Auction Compensation, Grid Coverage, Square Grid
- BGG Geek Rating: 7.28548 - converted to Meeple Mountain scale: 3.5.
- More articles about Roam.
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