/pic1766273.jpg)
Game Info
Year
1999
Collection
Ratings
Mechanic profile
Not enough video data yet
Vibe profile
How this game feels to play
Description
Ricochet Robots is less of a game and more of a puzzle, which explains why there's such an odd number of solutions possible. There's a four-piece modular board that forms a large room with walls spread around the board. There are also color-coded targets on boards. Placed on top of the surface are four robots. The idea for each turn/puzzle is to get the like-colored robot to a randomly selected target. The trick is that once a robot starts moving, it will continue to move until a wall or another robot stops it. Therefore, players are seeking a sequence of moves for the robots that will enable them to move the required robot to the target in the fewest moves.
Featured Videos
Ask a Rules Question
All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 8
This page: 8
Sentiment:
pos 6 ·
mix 1 ·
neu 1 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–8 of 8
Video pzvrEqYKJ_U
Top List at 3:36 sentiment: positive
video_pk 134623 · mention_pk 383896
Click to watch at 3:36 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Can be used as a party game
- Engaging puzzle
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Hansa Teutonica is my 37th favorite game of all time
- I love games that you know lean heavily into historical things historical periods.
- 18xx games offer something that other games just don't like if you want a really deep economic experience.
- this has probably my favorite mechanism in board games
- I love how weird it is and how brutally economic it is this is container
- I had some of the my my most exhilarating single moments in board gaming from uh dungeon fighter.
- it it just feels like such a Bare Bones economic game where like you need to like ring out profit in small small increments in a very dynamic system as brutally as you can you know.
- but every once in a while I want that I want that like Beautiful Pain and that's what I you know I get from container.
- I admire the hell out of container I I I just wish I liked it more.
- it is a Dungeon Crawl and I generally don't go for Dungeon Crawler like speaking of time tracks if somebody says if you like Dungeon Crawlers try X I would probably not try X however I love dungeon fighter.
- I don't know who doesn't like dungeon fighter.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video QwN_YK8d7E4
Board Gaming Ramblings Top List at 6:45 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 85471 · mention_pk 219109
Click to watch at 6:45 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- It's so simple.
Cons
- You always win.
- It's not that fun for the other players anymore.
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Pathfinding — Robots move in a straight line until they hit a wall, and players find routes to target symbols.
- Simultaneous action selection — Everybody is trying to at the same time think of a route.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Flip 7 is a very silly push a lot game, but it just works.
- It's the only game where I don't teach the rules before we start playing. I just steal a card and say, "Do you want another one? There is 12, 11, 10. You don't want the same one." Boom. Oh, you're out. Haha. You lose.
- But flip seven is just it's even less. Flip seven is just like the perfect breakdown game.
- When it was at its best, Time Stories is one of the most fantastic storytelling vehicles in a board game ever.
- When it was at its worst, it was very bad.
- Dominion is the deck building game. It's like the OG deck building.
- Gloom Heaven we actually finished still one of my favorite experiences in a game ever.
- Basically everything I didn't like Frost Haven has just made better.
- It's a card game. It's a push your luck kind of game.
- So, you're always trying to trick your opponent into trying they can have have a color to themselves or trying to wait as long as possible to see if those good cards come up or just like doing whatever and see what happens.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video VDNun7sdqqc
Adam in Wales - Board Game Design Top List at 7:02 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8848 · mention_pk 26116
Click to watch at 7:02 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Interesting puzzle design
- Satisfying silent thinking phase
- Elegant declaration and verification system
- Works with any number of players
- Engaging for puzzle lovers
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Moving robots to target locations
- Robot factory
- Abstract puzzle
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Minimum moves — Players predict and execute solution in fewest moves
- Puzzle solving — Finding optimal path for robot movement
- Race mechanic — Solving puzzle faster than opponents
- Simultaneous Play — Silent thinking followed by declaration
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- hi i'm adam porter and this is my board gaming vlog and we're looking at my top 100 board games
- i found in a german board game shop i've never heard of it so i was very excited
- there's these nice little stories narratives that come through and they're not in your face nothing's written
- it does feel like you're running a little sort of tavern business in oldie worldy uh sort of germany
- this is just a mind-bending game
- really power grid is way out in front as the best freedom and freeze game
- as far as economic games go it's one of the best ones out there as well
- luna really stuck with me
- it's just really satisfying board game
- it's just fun to sit around the table and all know you're allowed to lie to each other
- really satisfying if you like puzzles
- it's one of the classic gateway games
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video AC0OZsvhWXg
Foster the Meeple Top List at 15:50 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8303 · mention_pk 24385
Click to watch at 15:50 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Sounds fun
- Interested in owning
Cons
- Didn't buy it, now regrets
Thematic elements
- Puzzle solving
- Maze
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Puzzle solving — Be the first to solve a spatial puzzle using hard controlled robots to win
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- We love trick taking games
- This game is so much freaking fun
- I adore GMT games, they are becoming one of my favorite game publishers
- If you remember Vast Crystal Caverns is in my top five games of all time
- We bloody love it
- We can't stop playing
- It's a blimp game not a train game
- That's just work
- I don't think I want to play it
- I'll get it eventually
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video BlyemRcNLdU
Adam in Wales - Board Game Design Review at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 7256 · mention_pk 21471
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Clever, unique puzzle mechanic with high replayability
- Works well with any number of players and as a solo puzzle
- Organic tension despite limited interaction
- Many arena configurations increase longevity
- Good value for serious puzzlers
Cons
- Can be very difficult and intimidating for new players
- Interaction is limited; mostly 'group solitaire'
- Latest edition perceived as expensive with modest contents
- Some rule variations (e.g., diagonal walls) can complicate setup
- Not thematically rich; more abstract than thematic
Thematic elements
- Abstract puzzle of robot navigation and collision avoidance on a tiled board
- A grid-based board with moving robots in a futuristic, abstract environment
- Abstract, puzzle-driven, no strong narrative
Comparison games
- RoboRally
- Mutant Meeples
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Blocking/obstacles — Silver robot and board tokens create obstacles to alter paths and trap opponents.
- Color-token targets — A color-matched robot must reach a specific target token corresponding to its color.
- Edition variants — Some editions include diagonal walls or other variants that alter optimal paths and strategies.
- Flexible victory conditions — Players can agree on rounds and targets; rules accommodate different play styles and group sizes.
- Group solitaire / multi-player — Game plays solitaire with multiple players competing to solve the same puzzle fastest.
- Sliding movement — Robots move in a straight line until they hit a wall or obstacle; the player cannot stop a robot mid-flight.
- Turn-based speedrun puzzle — A player declares a solution in a fixed number of moves; others attempt to beat it in fewer moves within a timer.
- Variable board configurations — Boards can be assembled in multiple ways to create many distinct arenas (e.g., 96 configurations).
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- ricochet robots is a mini masterpiece really a bit of a classic
- there's not a huge amount of interaction in the game but there is tension there
- it's a fantastic game
- the game is essentially customizable
- it's really difficult
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video miaTx2EupNw
Adam in Wales - Board Game Design Discussion at 10:50 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 6239 · mention_pk 18490
Click to watch at 10:50 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
- Strong puzzle-solving appeal
- Low randomness; high skill
Cons
- Could be abstract for some players
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Movement puzzle on a grid — Robots move in straight lines until they are blocked, creating a puzzle-like challenge.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Dice are not the answer in a first-time design.
- They are toxic. They destroy your first designs.
- Meaningful interesting decisions… the decisions have to mean something.
- Even if you have all sorts of other unique stuff going on in your game that roll for combat just overwhelms it.
- Monopoly has a bit of both, chaotic, entertaining momentarily but ultimately frustrating.
- Event decks can be devastating to your design if they wipe out progress or resources.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video OJUFN0w5670
Adam in Wales - Board Game Design Analysis at 3:59 sentiment: positive
video_pk 6196 · mention_pk 18332
Click to watch at 3:59 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- engaging brainteaser feel
- humor and frustration when a rival solves first
Cons
- solitaire-like tension can feel isolated from others
- repetition can become stale without new puzzles
Thematic elements
- spatial reasoning and movement optimization
- Abstract puzzle arena with robotic pieces
- puzzle-driven, highly cerebral
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- perfect information puzzle — A puzzle where players race to achieve a target position in the fewest moves.
- turnless solo puzzle feel — Although multiple players can attempt, each solves their own puzzle; no direct interference.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the interaction essentially comes from sitting around a table and working on this puzzle together and then comparing your relative skill
- it's interesting to see where Cooperative games are going now
- these are the true solo games you could play by yourself with no problems at all
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 4rOXGmNbvOA
Adam in Wales - Board Game Design Top List at 12:31 sentiment: positive
video_pk 1029 · mention_pk 2903
Click to watch at 12:31 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- strong solo puzzle appeal and competitive variation
- high satisfaction from optimization and planning
Cons
- puzzle focus may not appeal to all players
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Dimension
- Genius Square
- Ricochet Robots (self)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- puzzle-solving with minimal moves — race to move robots to targets on a grid using the fewest moves; emphasizes spatial reasoning and optimization
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's really satisfying because everybody's involved in every turn of the game
- i really like games where i get income throughout the game
- a puzzle is laid out by laying out a series of cards and then we race to fit those different dice into that different orientation shown on the puzzle
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–8 of 8