For fans of games like Wingspan and Viticulture, the lure of epic adventures can sometimes clash with the reality of limited time (boohoo, adulting sucks!). That's where Rolling Realms by Stonemaier Games swoops in. This compact box game delivers a satisfyingly complex puzzle in a delightful 30-minute package. The game plays 1-6 players, and it has been a welcome guest at every table I bring it to.
When I first learned about this game, I was new to roll and write games. I was very curious, but very skeptical, so I added it to my BGG Wishlist, and my Secret Santa delivered. Secret Santa from 2022, if you are reading this, thank you!
Components:
Well written rulebook
Dry-erase markers – after two years of solid abuse, four of the markers are still in top-notch shape!
Sheet erasers – I love these! They are so good and require no space while traveling
2 hefty large dice
11 Realm cards for six players including games like Between Two Castles, Wingspan, and Viticulture
6 Resource cards
6 Score cards
Setting Up: Ready, Set, Roll!
This game is quick and easy. This game plays well in any situation and it does not need much space. We’ve played it in a plane, a train, camping, at a pub, and at our and many of our friends' homes. The game has almost no set up, which makes it the perfect game to dive into the action. The only downside is that if you have undecided peeps in your life, picking the realms may take a while. For this reason, shuffle them, and pick three at a time. Then you deal the same realms to everyone along with a marker and an eraser. We Chwazi to see who goes first, but in the past we’ve also rolled both dice. Whoever gets the highest number goes first.
Gameplay:
Earn the most stars over 3 rounds
Players take turns rolling two dice (9 times per round) and play simultaneously
Use the dice results on shared realm cards to generate resources (coins, hearts, pumpkins) and earn up to six stars per card
Each realm card has unique abilities that manipulate dice rolls and resource earning
Spend resources to activate bonuses and modify dice results
At the end of the round decide whether you’d like to play with new realms and start the next round
Scoring and Winning:
Players total their points at the end of each round (9 turns)
Add the number of stars for each realm
Add leftover resources (coins, hearts, and pumpkins). Each of these is 1/10 of a point, so if you have 10 left over it’s like having an extra star
Micro-Moments of Magic:
Even when ten minutes are all we have, a single round of Rolling Realms provides a quick mental workout that leaves you energized and wanting more. We call these sessions “micro dosing.”
Expansion Horizons:
Don't get me wrong, the base game itself boasts serious replayability. But that itch for something new seems to always kick in. The promo packs are inexpensive and keep the spark. These miniature booster packs inject a sprinkle of magic into the familiar framework. We usually play two known realms and a new one when wanting to satisfy the, “I want something new itch.”
🎲 Rolling with the Realm:
So, if you're looking for a quick, crunchy, and endlessly replayable game that fits perfectly between those epic large game sessions or a quick 10-minute fix, I suggest that you check out Rolling Realms or the new version Rolling Realms Redux.
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