Mechs vs. Minions
A cooperative board game of mech command and minion battles.
Mechs vs. Minions, a cooperative board game from Riot Games, came out in 2016 and takes place in the League of Legends universe. Players team up to control mechs, coordinating and sharing commands to reach their goals.
Each player has a Command Line with six slots. They place Command Cards into these slots, then carry out the commands in order from left to right. Commands mostly stay the same, changing only a little each turn. Players must plan ahead and pick the right commands, as danger and tension increase over time.
Key game terms include the Command Line (where command cards are stored), Command Cards (the actions players use), and Damage Cards (penalties for taking damage—some have immediate effects, while others occupy a Command Line slot and cause ongoing problems, making the mech harder to control). Other components are Crystal Shards, Bombs, and Lava Wall Cardboard (objectives), Map Tiles (which form the game board), Mechs (the player units), and Minions (the main enemies).
Play is divided into three phases. During the Player Phase, players plan and execute their command lines. The Minion Phase sees the minions move, spawn, and attack. The Danger Phase is a special part where campaign mechanics advance, such as a lava wall or a boss.
The game is played through a series of campaigns. Some campaigns require players to protect a bomb from minions; others involve escaping a lava wall or defeating a boss.
Mechs vs. Minions was generally well received. Critics praised its creative mix of programming-style gameplay with cooperation, as well as its high product value for the price. However, it was criticized for low replayability, since many players stop after finishing all the campaigns. In response, Riot launched a page where players can create and share their own campaigns.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Mechs vs. Minions
- Designer
- Chris Cantrell, Rick Ernst, Stone Librande, Prashant Saraswat, Nathan Tiras
- Publisher
- Riot Games
- Players
- 2 to 4
- Playing Time
- 60 to 120 minutes
- Random Chance
- Medium
- Skills
- Resource management, Planning
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Mechs vs. Minions is a cooperative game where players support each other by planning and sharing commands to control mechs. Each player has a Command Line consisting of six slots, into which they play Command Cards. These commands are executed in order from left to right and change bit by bit each turn. Players must plan ahead as danger and tension ramp up.
The game includes several key terms: Command Line, Command Cards, Damage Cards (which can have immediate or ongoing effects), and objectives such as Crystal Shards, Bombs, and Lava Wall Cardboard. The map is made of Map Tiles, and player units are called Mechs, while the main enemies are Minions.
Play is divided into three phases: Player Phase (planning and executing command lines), Minion Phase (minions move, spawn, and attack), and Danger Phase (campaign mechanics progress, such as lava walls or bosses). The game is played in a series of campaigns, with objectives like protecting a bomb, escaping a lava wall, or defeating a boss.
Reader's Guide
Mechs vs. Minions was overall received positively, praised for its creative combination of programming gameplay and cooperative play, as well as its high product value relative to its price. However, it was criticized for low replayability, as many players stopped after finishing all campaigns. In response, Riot Games launched a page for players to create and share their own campaigns. The game's significance lies in its integration of the League of Legends universe into a physical board game, and its innovative use of a programming mechanic in a cooperative setting. Its legacy includes inspiring user-generated content and serving as a notable example of a successful video game-to-board game adaptation.
Did You Know?
- Mechs vs. Minions was published by Riot Games in 2016.
- The game uses a Command Line system with six slots for Command Cards.
- Damage Cards can have immediate effects or take up a Command Line slot with ongoing effects.
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