Matthew BaileyToday, we have a special “Brucie bonus” review outside of our Halloween series—purely because we played this today, and I don’t want to wait until November to tell everyone about it!
The original “Rolling Realms” started as a side project for board game designer Jamie Stegmaier during tlockdown. He created a print-and-play game that could be played over the internet with just a pair of dice and a printer, making it a wonderful way to stay connected while in isolation. This easy-to-pick-up roll-and-write turned many of Stegmaier’s popular games into mini roll-and-write experiences.
“Rolling Realms Redux” is a standalone game that’s fully compatible with the original. It introduces 12 brand-new realms you can play, bringing the total number of possible realms to quite the variety!
The game consists of three rounds, and in each round, players roll nine sets of two dice. At the beginning of a round, a player randomly selects three realm cards—essentially mini roll-and-write games based on popular board games. Then, you roll two dice and assign their values to two of your three realms, which each have completely different rules. Thematically, they’re wonderfully tied to other board games.
For example, realms are inspired by games like “Libertalia,” “Flamecraft,” “Wonderland’s War,” “Dog Park,” “Meadow,” and “Planet Unknown.” The variety of realms brings endless replayability, each with its own clever mechanisms that mirror the games they represent.
Your goal is to maximize points—six points per realm is typically the maximum—by strategically placing numbers across your realms and using the resources you collect.
After nine dice rolls, players tally their scores, draw three new realms, and start the next round. What makes “Rolling Realms Redux” really stand out is the resource system: as you play, you earn Pumpkins, Hearts, and Coins, which let you manipulate dice values, take extra rolls, or perform other game-breaking actions. This adds a fun, meta layer to the game, making it more strategic than a typical roll-and-write.
Component quality is superb for what is essentially a relatively simple game. The box is nicely compact, and it even comes with a handy travel case, so it’s easy to take on the go without cluttering up your shelf. The box is also large enough to store all the realms you collect—including expansions!
One suggestion I’d make is to encourage players to cover up their work. Since everyone uses the same dice and sheets, there’s the risk that players could copy one another, potentially leading to a draw. This is something kids tend to do, but it’s easy enough to prevent and won’t take away from the experience.
The realm expansion system is another highlight of “Rolling Realms.” For just a few pounds, you can pick up expansions themed around other popular games. I’ve slowly been collecting these expansions and plan to buy more. The creativity behind how these mini-games reflect their larger counterparts is fantastic—there’s a lot of thought put into ensuring that each realm mirrors the core mechanics of its original game.
What sets “Rolling Realms” apart from other roll-and-writes is how it gives you brief, mini-challenges within each realm. The fun comes from juggling these realms simultaneously and maximising your points. It’s quick to set up, easy to teach, and offers a lot of depth. The game also presents great educational opportunities, particularly in terms of logic, math, and problem-solving skills.
Ultimately, “Rolling Realms Redux” is a game that has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a quick, end-of-the-night game or something light yet strategic to kick off a game night, it fits the bill. It’s easy enough for casual gamers while providing enough depth to engage more strategic minds.
I love roll-and-writes, and “Rolling Realms Redux” stands out for its creativity, replayability, and the sheer fun of exploring new realms. It’s an excellent value for money and a game I highly recommend.
Hopefully, you’re okay with me interrupting our spooky programming—I just couldn’t wait until November to give “Rolling Realms Redux” the big thumbs-up!
