Game Info
Year
2025
Players
2-4
Age
10+
Playtime
45 min
Complexity
2/5
Collection
Your Tier
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Description
Cooperative disaster rescue game by Matt Leacock where players work as animal rescue specialists to complete missions during earthquakes floods and fires
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Images
GID0452134.jpg
GID0452134_thumb.jpg
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 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–8 of 8
Video wk6YBpx7YUo
Rahdo Runs Through Top List at 40:07 sentiment: positive
video_pk 83658 · mention_pk 211321
Click to watch at 40:07 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Positive, but with reservations
Pros
- Brilliant puzzle and design
- Loved the theme
- Jen enjoys it (a rarity)
- Cooperative gameplay
- Based on real-world animal rescue stories
Cons
- Heavy emphasis on pick-up and deliver gameplay
- Moving around the board is not a favorite mechanic
- Not a fan of roll to resolve
Thematic elements
- Saving animals from real-world rescue situations
- Animal Rescues
Comparison games
- Pandemic
- Thunderbirds
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action Point Allowance — Players have a set number of action points to spend on various actions each turn.
- cooperative play — All players work together towards a common goal.
- Pick-Up and Deliver — Involves moving to locations to collect items or characters and then delivering them elsewhere.
- Roll a Die — Dice are used to determine the success or failure of certain actions, such as rescuing animals.
- Set Collection — Players need to gather specific sets of equipment, specialists, and vehicles to achieve rescue goals.
- Specialization — Players take on roles of different specialists with unique abilities.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- And countryside is a freaking phenomenal.
- This is one of the best engine building games I have played this year.
- It is very likely going to make it into my top 10 games of the year. It is that good.
- My number three of the month is Rising Cultures.
- Number two is Druids of Adora.
- It's classic feld, making a comeback.
- Number one, Furnish Duel.
- A game that will not be coming out until 2026 will very likely make it into my top 10 games of 2026.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video xwoYD9LwIZw
The Dice Tower Analysis at 57:29
video_pk 80681 · mention_pk 197266
Click to watch at 57:29 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Animal Rescue
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- If we transform what's happening into a Q&A, maybe we this would be be what's happening.
- Halfway through, if you guys don't entertain me enough, I will pull out a game and start playing. That's That's the threat.
- I'll never understand it.
- I understand it. I'm just kidding.
- Please don't don't explain it to me.
- Looks toxic.
- Some of the stuff they put out definitely looks like nuclear runoff.
- Okay, everybody. What's going on?
- I hope you're having a fantastic Monday so far, folks.
- Good morning, good afternoon to some of you.
- I guess some of you are in places where it is already afternoon.
- What is that about?
- Question colon and then something that will help me spot your questions.
- I'm also going to make this a little bit bigger here so I can see.
- Volume is okay. You guys can see me
- The area of the hobby I feel is being squeezed out is actually the middle. Those 45 minute to an hour and 15 minute family weight games are the ones that I think have a much harder time making a splash because they require a lot of production.
- I can't review a prototype. So, no, I don't have the time.
- It's not normally the math I'm concerned about because the the the arithmetic is not that complicated. I think it is the a a heavy rules dense euro game tends to be harder to reconstitute the abstractness into concrete thoughts.
- I'm looking to buy an unmatched game, but I don't have much funds to buy multiples. If I had to invest in just one, which one would you recommend?
- Donkey juice. You can really make a meal out of those two words. That's a big part of it.
- It's part of the collective unconscious, says Mike Delisio.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 8omSPve8FCc
Neon Gorilla Interview at 1:56:31 sentiment: positive
video_pk 80211 · mention_pk 194858
Click to watch at 1:56:31 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
highly positive
Pros
- great theme
- co-designer is a real-life animal rescuer
- cool toy factor with vehicles and wooden animals
- part of the Shut Up and Sit Down Presents line
- pandemicesque hook
- full co-op
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Rescuing animals
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative — Full co-op, right? You all win, you all lose.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- It's a tough It's a lot of work. It's a lot of work, a lot of uh time, you know, a lot of upfront costs uh and things like that.
- Because in my mind, crowdfunding was, hey, I'm a I'm a person and I had this dream and I want to get my game out. Not, hey, we're a successful company, but we're going to do this thing because, you know, uh we want to use your money to buy to to get our stuff and then we'll do it and you test the the waters for us.
- They'd look at me like, 'Get another job. Get another job. You're you're in the wrong business, man. This sounds like a sucky business, right?'
- I think the fact that you can market that way and you have a platform, it makes it easier.
- the only marketing that there's two that I well three con that I would stand by conventions of course, I would go to retailers uh and do demos like you know just drive around hit a bunch of retailers do demo nights and things like that and and teach the game there and then three would be free copies to retailers to put in their library and push the game.
- I just feel it really should be for the the dreamer that wants wants their game out there kind of thing.
- the paid preview stuff just doesn't do that well.
- I think we're all just kind of collectively numb to a lot of that.
- I believe everyone I mean they have an audience. So, you know, even if they had a hundred people in their audience, but if you know me sending out review copy and I can get, you know, two three people buy it because of that, I feel like I've made you know I've made my my money back psychologically.
- There's a novelty to that tactile experience of and and being around the table with other people.
- I almost wonder actually is are board games going to continue to get more and more popular the further we go into AI tech, everyone being jacked into the matrix and that will be like this this um this haven for people to actually still have real human experiences with each other next to each other.
- Dogs of War will be the the next uh big hit uh of that line.
- It is great and it's an alien. It's a game about aliens, but also different take. They're not looking to conquer or anything. They're seeking knowledge.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 8omSPve8FCc
Neon Gorilla Interview at 1:58:20 sentiment: positive
video_pk 80211 · mention_pk 194846
Click to watch at 1:58:20 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong cooperative gameplay reminiscent of Pandemic.
- Engaging theme with a real-life connection.
- Tactile components and toy factor.
- Part of the Shut Up and Sit Down Presents line.
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Rescuing animals
- Cooperative
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection — Players choose from a set of available actions on their turn.
- Cooperative — Players work together to achieve a common goal, all win or all lose.
- Specialist Roles — Each player takes on the role of a specialist with unique abilities.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- It's a tough It's a lot of work. It's a lot of work, a lot of uh time, you know, a lot of upfront costs uh and things like that.
- Because in my mind, crowdfunding was, hey, I'm a I'm a person and I had this dream and I want to get my game out. Not, hey, we're a successful company, but we're going to do this thing because, you know, uh we want to use your money to buy to to get our stuff and then we'll do it and you test the the waters for us.
- They'd look at me like, 'Get another job. Get another job. You're you're in the wrong business, man. This sounds like a sucky business, right?'
- I think the fact that you can market that way and you have a platform, it makes it easier.
- the only marketing that there's two that I well three con that I would stand by conventions of course, I would go to retailers uh and do demos like you know just drive around hit a bunch of retailers do demo nights and things like that and and teach the game there and then three would be free copies to retailers to put in their library and push the game.
- I just feel it really should be for the the dreamer that wants wants their game out there kind of thing.
- the paid preview stuff just doesn't do that well.
- I think we're all just kind of collectively numb to a lot of that.
- I believe everyone I mean they have an audience. So, you know, even if they had a hundred people in their audience, but if you know me sending out review copy and I can get, you know, two three people buy it because of that, I feel like I've made you know I've made my my money back psychologically.
- There's a novelty to that tactile experience of and and being around the table with other people.
- I almost wonder actually is are board games going to continue to get more and more popular the further we go into AI tech, everyone being jacked into the matrix and that will be like this this um this haven for people to actually still have real human experiences with each other next to each other.
- Dogs of War will be the the next uh big hit uh of that line.
- It is great and it's an alien. It's a game about aliens, but also different take. They're not looking to conquer or anything. They're seeking knowledge.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 7k94s7g0Slc
Top List at 5:05 sentiment: positive
video_pk 77716 · mention_pk 187669
Click to watch at 5:05 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Requires real cooperation and dialogue
- Good production value with neat vehicles
- Adjustable difficulty through scenarios
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Animal Rescue
- Various regions on a board
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Resource Management — Constantly talking about how to manage your resources and manage the vehicles.
- scenario based — Has sort of multiple scenarios and they escalate in difficulty.
- Vehicle movement — Using vehicles to move to various different regions of the board and rescuing animals along the way.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Most of the time I want to play competitive, but it's really nice to have good games where you can work together and not work against each other.
- Essentially turns the regular game of Santorini into a bit of a cooperative campaign puzzling game.
- If you want an introduction to deduction games, I think a carnivore did it is really fun for that reason.
- I like cooperative games that have real cooperation, that have real dialogue to them.
- I had an epic day playing The Elder Scrolls where we were playing it for like 5 6 hours and it was awesome and it was so memorable and it is a great game.
- This is essentially this game is taking the pandemic system and making a new game out of it.
- You cannot communicate when you're placing cards down.
- It is a cooperative polyomino tile laying game, and there aren't that many cooperative polyomino games.
- It has gotten compared to The Crew, and I think the comparison is appropriate.
- It is full of a bunch of dumb puns, which makes it silly and fun, too.
- You know, it's one of those games where it's like you you're not guaranteed of a win in in Ham Hell Singh, which I like about cooperative games.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 0kNO4TzeUnU
Video Essay at 8:30 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 66077 · mention_pk 160601
Click to watch at 8:30 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- colorful and thematic pieces
- well-integrated physical components (vehicle spaces, animal pieces)
Cons
- eco-conscious concerns about plastic components
- logistical/production trade-offs (plastic vs wood) discussed at length
Thematic elements
- Bay Area-inspired backdrop rescuing animals in disasters
Comparison games
- Pandemic
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- cooperative play — players work together as an animal rescue team
- resource and vehicle interaction — pieces must fit into vehicle spaces; pieces can be either animals or tokens
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Miniatures are cheap to produce and they sell extremely well because they are seen as a premium item and can be priced accordingly.
- What I can do, however, is dispel the idea of the value of miniatures. They are not as expensive as the price of board games with miniatures would lead you to believe.
- It's like you're speaking different languages. In other words, when you play a video game, you can connect with something emotionally, but you don't get to own it physically.
- The onus should not be on the consumer. It should be on the industry itself.
- I am a big fan of bonnets, and also bees, but not together. I couldn't help but notice that when I purchased the Iron Fist Alexander miniature, it looked really cool.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video mitUaTG4oos
Board Game Animal Top 10 List at 2:48 sentiment: positive
video_pk 35908 · mention_pk 107508
Click to watch at 2:48 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Faith in Matt Leacock’s track record
- The animal rescue theme is appealing and timely
Cons
- As with any big-coop design, can be heavy for casual groups
Thematic elements
- Compassionate, cooperative play
- Animal rescue and care
- Cooperative problem-solving with a rescue theme
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Cooperative Game — Players collaborate to save animals under theme-driven constraints.
- cooperative play — Players collaborate to save animals under theme-driven constraints.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Enthrone could be the sleeper hit of 2025, who knows—I'm calling it now.
- These five look genuinely interesting with everything from racing and tile placement to auction abstract strategy and area majority.
- I am very excited for this, and the ocean is an incredible realm to dive into for that kind of game.
- Hadrian's Wall is one of my all-time favorite games and this is taking Hadrian's Wall to the next level.
- The artwork looks fantastic and the cover alone tickled me.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video RzGtp7w8Aso
TheGameBoyGeek - Hi Quality Hi Energy Board Game Reviews Top 10 List at 1:09 sentiment: positive
video_pk 28203 · mention_pk 82662
Click to watch at 1:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Awesome theme and beautiful components
- Strong cooperative communication and planning
Cons
- Theme-heavy may constrain players seeking lighter cooperatives
Thematic elements
- rescue operations and vehicle planning
- urban animal rescue missions with planning logistics
- cooperative, mission-based outcomes
Comparison games
- Pandemic
- Forbidden Island
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Compound Scoring — progress is determined by completing three missions within time.
- cooperative logistics planning — players plan routes, vehicles, and rescues to meet mission goals.
- End Game Bonuses — bonuses for matching rescues with equipment and personnel.
- Mission-based scoring — progress is determined by completing three missions within time.
- variable bonuses — bonuses for matching rescues with equipment and personnel.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- "Where's Waldo? The cooperative game that you can play with kids."
- "This is one of those games where it's like yes, it feels familiar."
- "It's a really good cooperative game where you're trying to work together to kind of like place everything there."
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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Showing 1–8 of 8