Red Rising, designed by Jamey Stegmaier and Alexander Schmidt, is a strategic hand management game based on the dystopian world of Pierce Brown’s novels. Players represent competing houses, aiming to rise to power by assembling the most synergistic hand of characters. With a mix of card play, tableau building, and resource management, Red Rising offers engaging mechanics but struggles to fully deliver on its ambitious premise.
A Dystopian World in Vibrant Colors
Red Rising’s theme immerses players in a futuristic society divided into 14 castes, represented by distinct card colors. The game’s artwork is stunning, with detailed illustrations that bring the characters to life. The components—including the house tokens, helium crystals, and a custom Rising die—are high-quality, adding to the game’s premium feel.
However, while the theme is deeply rooted in the source material, it may not resonate as strongly with players unfamiliar with the novels. The narrative feels secondary to the mechanics, making the game’s world-building less immersive for newcomers. Despite this, the production quality ensures that Red Rising is visually striking and appealing on the table.
Gameplay: Strategic Hand Management with Layers of Complexity
At its core, Red Rising revolves around managing a hand of character cards and leveraging their abilities for points. Key mechanics include:
Card Deployment: Play a card to a location to activate its ability, then gain another card to optimize your hand.
Resource Management: Balance helium, fleet position, and influence on the Institute to score points in various ways.
End-Game Triggers: The game ends when players meet thresholds in helium collection, fleet advancement, or influence placement.
The interplay of deploying and collecting cards creates an engaging puzzle, as players strive to build the most synergistic hand. However, the reliance on card draw can lead to uneven experiences, with some players feeling limited by luck rather than strategy.
A Mixed Bag of Strategy and Frustration
Red Rising offers a unique blend of strategy and luck, making it a compelling but occasionally polarizing experience. The combination of hand management and resource balancing keeps players engaged, and the quick turns ensure a steady pace.
That said, the game’s reliance on card synergies can create imbalances, particularly if players draw poorly or struggle to find complementary cards. This randomness can detract from the strategic depth, leaving some players feeling frustrated. Interaction is primarily indirect, with competition for cards and resources driving much of the tension.
Red Rising works best at higher player counts, where the increased competition adds dynamism to the gameplay. While it’s accessible to newcomers, experienced gamers may find the strategy overshadowed by the game’s luck-based elements.
Final Reflections: An Ambitious Game That Falls Short
Red Rising is a visually stunning and mechanically ambitious game that offers moments of brilliance but struggles with consistency. While its thematic depth and engaging mechanics will appeal to fans of the novels, the reliance on card draws and occasional imbalance may leave others wanting more.
Who is this game for? Fans of Pierce Brown’s series and those who enjoy hand management and resource-based strategy games will find value in Red Rising. However, players seeking tight, deterministic gameplay should approach with caution.
Final Rating: 7.0 out of 10
Want to check more? Take a look at the videos/reviews below:
- Watch the “How to Play” video on YouTube
- The Dice Tower Review
- Read the rulebook here.
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