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Raising Robots

Game ID: GID0259496
Collection Status
Description

Raising Robots is a competitive, simultaneously played, engine-building game.

In Raising Robots, you are a famous inventor seeking to assemble the greatest collection of robots. Each round, you simultaneously choose and perform two or more actions: upgrade, assemble, design, fabricate, recycle. Every action will be performed with a variable amount of power to make the action better or worse. However, the most powerful actions will also help your opponents.

Whoever has the most points after eight rounds wins.

—description from publisher

Year Published
2023
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 7
This page: 7
Sentiment: pos 4 · mix 3 · neu 0 · neg 0
Mentions per page
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Showing 1–7 of 7
Video hLQVs_GnSso Before You Play playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 11944 · mention_pk 35045
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Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
  • Asymmetric inventor abilities add variety and replayability
  • Clear teaching of each phase with direct examples during playthrough
  • Simultaneous phase planning maintains momentum and tension
Cons
  • High complexity with many interacting rules and upgrades
  • The deluxe/pet expansion is discussed but not demonstrated in full gameplay
  • Some players may struggle with resource symbol economy and energy budgeting
Thematic elements
  • education and invention competition; building robots to score points
  • School robotics class / robot lab environment
  • tutorial/teaching commentary with live playthrough
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • asymmetric_inventors — Each player has a unique inventor with a special late-round ability or condition that affects scoring or actions.
  • end_game_scoring — Endgame scoring is driven by class cards and the base scores of robot cards, with additional points from upgrades and resources.
  • energy_and_resources — Energy cards and tokens (batteries, wilds like duct tape) drive what phases you can resolve and how much you can spend on upgrades.
  • simultaneous_phase_selection — At the start of each round, players secretly choose phase cards and reveal them simultaneously, shaping round actions.
  • tableau_building — Players assemble robots onto their personal boards by paying resource costs, creating a tableau of active robots with both basic and upgraded abilities.
  • upgrade_tokens — Tokens permanently upgrade phases or inventors, increasing energy capacity or adding new actions and benefits.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • This game is for one to six players that is primarily a tableau Builder but also features simultaneous card play
  • The main goal in this game is to build various robots onto your player board
  • And finally all of your leftover resources are divided by three and at that point Whoever has the most points wins
  • The round can be done simultaneously and you resolve phases top to bottom
  • You can upgrade your inventor as well
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video myfZ4l02Hyc Three Minute Board Game game_review at 0:17 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 10141 · mention_pk 29840
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Click to watch at 0:17
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
  • Delightful robot art and strong production value that reinforces the theme
  • Energetic energy allocation and phase sequencing feel satisfying and tactile
  • Meaty, thinky gameplay with a high skill ceiling that rewards planning
  • Translates well across player counts and remains engaging as players pursue different goals
  • Cohesive thematic flavor that integrates with mechanics and artwork
Cons
  • Limited direct player interaction after the energy allocation phase can feel isolating
  • Can be dense and intimidating for casual or new gamers
  • Setup and rule complexity may require a dedicated teaching session or reference guide
  • Certain phases can feel fiddly or require careful tracking of tokens and resources
Thematic elements
  • Robot design and invention as a competitive strategy game; resource allocation and optimization underpin the race to produce the most valuable robots and achieve goals.
  • A bustling inventor's workshop where designers craft, upgrade, and optimize robotic concepts to stand out in a crowded field; the setting emphasizes hands-on tinkering, prototyping, and competitive showcase of clever automata.
  • Engine-building, phase-driven progression with asymmetric powers; emphasizes sequencing, planning, and a player-driven arc toward personal achievement on a shared board.
Comparison games
  • Wingspan
  • Wyrmspan
  • Race for the Galaxy
  • Inventors of the South Tigris
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • action selection — Each round players secretly assign a phase card to their available actions; revealed cards determine which phases will occur and which players get to act, creating tension and planning decisions.
  • engine building — Players assemble a chain of powerful interactions by playing cards that synergize, enabling increasingly potent combinations as the round progresses.
  • Goal cards and scoring — Mid-round goal cards award points and can be upgraded; goals provide secondary scoring paths and strategic targets to pursue.
  • Phase cards and yellow cubes — Phase cards interact with yellow cubes that modify or trigger effects; placement dictates which actions become available in that round.
  • Phase-based actions — Phases include fabricate, design, recycle, upgrade, and Assemble; each phase has distinct costs and effects, driving planning and sequencing.
  • Resource management — Multiple resource types (power, batteries, ducts/tape, etc.) must be tracked and spent to activate actions, build robots, and unlock upgrades.
  • Robot building and upgrades — Robots are built by spending resources and power; upgrades enhance capabilities and expand future options, fueling the engine’s depth.
  • Variable player powers — Different inventors grant unique abilities, injecting asymmetry and encouraging diverse strategies across games.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Raising Robots is a delightful looking game
  • the best thing about this game is the robot art my goodness they're just a delight
  • after the energy allocation phase is over there is no player interaction
  • Raising Robots? more like Wingnut
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video uX5bUZ_KU_Q Stower Games top_3_list at 13:43 sentiment: positive
video_pk 7443 · mention_pk 22031
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Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Simultaneous play reduces downtime
  • High-value decisions with shared pacing
Cons
  • Can be complex to teach initially
Thematic elements
Comparison games
  • Cartographers
  • Planet Unknown
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Simultaneous action selection — Players decide actions simultaneously; wins are determined by shared action selections.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • All of our games must play from at least one to five players but a lot of our games also play up to six players.
  • We want the heights of six players to be accessible to solo players, partners, and larger game nights alike.
  • Simultaneous play keeps the game moving and prevents downtime from stalling the table.
  • Trick-taking is a great example of short, simple turns that scale well with more players.
  • Planet Unknown is a simultaneous game that plays well up to six players out of the box.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video uX5bUZ_KU_Q Stower Games top_3_list at 13:43 sentiment: positive
video_pk 7443 · mention_pk 22037
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Click to watch at 13:43
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Simultaneous play keeps everyone engaged
  • Dense strategic decisions with clear pacing
Cons
  • Can be heavy to teach; requires careful setup
Thematic elements
Comparison games
  • Cartographers
  • Planet Unknown
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Simultaneous action selection — Players choose actions that affect the robot tableau; actions become available to all players in a shared tempo.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • All of our games must play from at least one to five players but a lot of our games also play up to six players.
  • We want the heights of six players to be accessible to solo players, partners, and larger game nights alike.
  • Simultaneous play keeps the game moving and prevents downtime from stalling the table.
  • Trick-taking is a great example of short, simple turns that scale well with more players.
  • Planet Unknown is a simultaneous game that plays well up to six players out of the box.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video SCtbCV4KruA The Broken Meeple game_review at 1:02 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 7240 · mention_pk 21430
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Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
  • Beautiful, striking artwork and high production value (deluxe components are a plus).
  • Rulebook is clear and easy to learn, with good visual examples.
  • Strong replay value due to many robots, inventors, and upgrade paths.
  • Deluxe version provides upgraded wooden components and sleevable cards.
Cons
  • Heavy reliance on random energy cards; luck can strongly influence round outcomes.
  • Limited player interaction beyond shared resource pools; can feel somewhat solitaire.
  • Card draw scarcity can hinder progress if the right cards don’t appear.
  • Six-player games can get chaotic and lengthy, reducing table-time efficiency.
Thematic elements
  • robot construction, automation, engine-building, resource optimization.
  • A futuristic factory floor where players build robots across three habitats.
  • expository and analytical review of mechanics and components.
Comparison games
  • Wingspan
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Card and inventory management — Energy cards determine action power; decks are drawn and modified, with bonus/bonus-style class cards adding scoring tension and variability.
  • Resource and cube management — Energy cubes and various tokens are earned and spent to trigger actions and progress the engine over rounds.
  • Robot cards and upgrades — Robots provide abilities; upgrades are represented by tokens that can be moved and assigned to robots to boost or modify their actions, with a color-matching constraint (except for one special power).
  • Simultaneous action selection — At each round, players reveal two energy actions from a hand of five, with actions executed in a shared sequence and possible bonuses from a central pool of energy cubes.
  • Solo and two-player variants — The game includes a solo and a two-player mode with simplified AI-like behavior and different scoring dynamics.
  • Three-row action board — The board is organized into three habitats; each row corresponds to a distinct type of action, driving engine-building and resource generation.
  • Upgrades and inventors as progression — Inventors provide unique power twists; upgrades populate the board and allow diverse playstyles, enhancing replay value.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • the rules aren't complicated and the graphic design does a good job of highlighting what things are
  • it's smoother than it looks
  • it's just beat your own score
  • the rule book is very easy to use and very clear
  • this is a solid 7 out of 10
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video e8NDeG-wiqo Foster the Meeple Channel general_discussion at 11:41 sentiment: positive
video_pk 3697 · mention_pk 10900
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Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Adorable robot artwork
  • Engaging engine-building feel
  • Accessible with a strong stage for expansion
Cons
  • As with many engine-builders, some players may crave more depth or interaction
Thematic elements
  • robot construction and automation
  • Futuristic workshop/factory
  • cute, con-bonnie style with a cheerful presentation
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • tableau-building — Inventor cards expand your options and push capabilities
  • worker placement — Place robots to take corresponding actions and gain resources
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • it's just fun and I loved it I could play that all weekend and be completely content
  • I would highly recommend it
  • Washington DC is be EA beautiful I'm capital letters excited to go back
  • the gameplay of Star Wars Unlimited I would say is more fun if you're curious
  • we’re not going to stop won't stop is what some might say
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video PqQWdslDy8I Unknown Channel top_10_list at 0:33 sentiment: positive
video_pk 2207 · mention_pk 6422
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Click to watch at 0:33
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Engaging, thematic robot-building loop
  • Interesting end-to-end combo potential
Cons
  • Rules can be complex for new players
  • Dependent on group coordination
Thematic elements
  • Robot construction, resource gathering, and progression
  • Family-friendly, kids inventing robots; resource-focused sci-fi lite
  • Light, humorous engineering play with modular phases
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • phase activation — Players collectively decide which phases are active for the round
  • Resource management — Gathers and converts resources to build more robots and score points
  • robot line powers — Robots in a line trigger powers when activated, enabling combo-building
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • it's really quick it takes around an hour to play feels like this epic scope
  • the coolest part is during some of those phases you will also activate all the robots in a single line and they have different powers
  • it's one of my favorite Euro games
  • I would put it into another person's collection
  • we played it just last week
  • please be our supporter because it's the best way how we can make these videos and continue making videos
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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