In Let's Make a Bus Route (バスルートをつくろう), you and others each control a bus company in Kyoto and are creating new bus lines to respond to the needs of local students, the elderly, and tourists and commuters visiting the city, while also trying to avoid traffic jams. Can you bring people by sightseeing spots while also getting them to their destinations? Which lines will be most pleasing to users?
The game includes a large shared map board, along with five individual player boards. All players draw their routes on the shared board, while taking note of their passengers, sights, and other elements on their individual boards.
To start a round, you reveal a colored bus route at random from the deck. Each player's board has a different combination of colors and required moves, so blue on one board might be go straight one block, while someone else goes two blocks and a third player must make a turn. Players make their moves in turn on the shared map board, then mark the icons of what they've seen at various intersections on their player board. Different types of riders all score differently, and placing checks on your personal board for passengers and areas (sight-seeing spots, stations, universities) before other players do can earn you extra bonus points, so strategically planning your route while keeping in mind your main destinations is very important. Sharing the road with someone else causes traffic, which might lead to penalties. Meet the conditions on public demand cards to score bonus points!
PAXU Haul & Recap!
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Dice game — Mentioned as the type of game.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- this is the only game that I just straight up asked for this is this is actually iconic this is the only game in the history of uh Foster the meele that Jamie went up and just said hey I would really like a copy of that game
- I'm not like super big into RPGs but this is one that could get me into RPGs
- it is literally a pile of squishy poops
- I really wanted to focus this packs on getting um games that are really hard to find in Canada
- unless yeah something drastically changes just financially it does not make any sense for us to go
- we'll see what that other 10% says
References (from this video)
- Charming and adorable.
- Simple to teach.
- Played on a shared board.
- Efficient planning is key.
- Traffic mechanic adds negative points.
- Mitigation mechanic allows route changes.
- Hasn't lost its luster.
- Really good.
- Art style might not appeal to everyone.
- The successor 'Get on Board' replaces writing with sticks.
- Transportation/Passengers
- City/Town
- Next Station London
- Get on Board
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Flip and Write — flip and write game
- mitigation — you can change. So if the route that you have is just something that you can't use, you can change it to one that you can use.
- Pick-Up and Deliver — trying to get particular passengers to the places they want to go.
- Route Building — drawing on that central board
- Shared Board Drawing — everyone is going to be drawing on the same shared board.
- Traffic management — if you are going on a route that someone else is already on, you're creating traffic, which is going to give you negative points.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- This one showed me what a rolling right could be.
- This was kind of a game changer.
- This is one of the most thematic rolling right games.
- This game is good. So good.
- This is a great game.
- I really think this is I this get should get played more again.
- This is a very small very very focused little flip and right game.
- So, so fun. Very good scoring.
- In my opinion, the best flipping right game that is Let's Make a Bus Route.
- This is just such a charming game.
References (from this video)
- unique roll-and-write twist
- short playtime with meaningful decisions
- penalty tracking can be fiddly for some
- Route optimization and traffic management
- Urban transit planning
- Light, strategic
- Get on Board
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Flip/Roll and Write — One shared surface (a bus route) to fill in; players write routes, avoid overlaps to minimize penalties.
- Roll-and-write / flip-and-write — One shared surface (a bus route) to fill in; players write routes, avoid overlaps to minimize penalties.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- It's such a clean idea. It's so incredibly simple. But I love that you can teach this game in a minute.
- This is the game that kind of put Awaken Realms on a map.
- One surface in which you roll or flip and write. In every one of these games, everybody has their own sheet.
References (from this video)
- clever transport-puzzle feel
- shared-board interaction
- traffic tension can feel punishing
- city planning, public transit
- Kyoto bus routes and city landmarks
- playful, strategic
- On Tour
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Network/Route Building — draw numbers to place routes on a shared map
- private vs public objectives — personal goals clash with group efficiency
- rolling rights / route placement — draw numbers to place routes on a shared map
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Sushi Roll is a dice game about eating sushi with such a perfect name that you can't help but feel the makers of 2014's sushi dice should all retire in shame
- I love gambling on trying to collect the best set because if you do it feels like pulling off a full house in poker
- it's not going to appeal to gamers who want strategic depth but if you want a light-hearted social game with big moments age of dirt is one-of-a-kind
- Deep Blue is the year's big family game
- this is the best storytelling board game I've ever played and it's not even close
References (from this video)
- hybrid between rolling right and board game
- dynamic shared-board visualization with 3D components in new version
- urban planning and transit
- New York and London
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Network/Route Building — drawing routes on a common board; asymmetric sheets; no road crossing
- shared-board route drafting — drawing routes on a common board; asymmetric sheets; no road crossing
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- we have 50 000 people there all these brand new games and you know what it really does come down to is relationships and friendships
- Twilight Inscription is a thing
- don't even try to win
- meeting new people and getting outside your little bubble of friends
- these memories you make with people stick with you forever
- the fact that we can connect through games and through technology and then when you do see each other in real life it's a trip