Starcadia Quest: Build-A-Robot Review

Let’s not beat around the bush here, Starcadia Quest is Arcadia Quest but set in space, and as a result, the Starcadia Quest: Build-A-Robot expansion is Arcadia Quest: Pets but set in space. If you take that away from it, is enough left? Well, it turns out yes. 

 Build-a-Robot is a straightforward expansion. You’ll follow the same Starcadia Quest rules, but there are new tiles to expand your map, there are new scenarios with new heroes and enemies, a few additional weapons and upgrades, and importantly, robots. To build your robot, you’ll pick random cards which will dictate the top and bottom of your robot, and once confirmed, you mix and match the miniature pieces to create a physical custom robot.

It wouldn’t be a CMON game if we didn’t comment with some admiration on the miniatures. Not only are the chibi style miniatures impressive, the tiny little robots with their interchangeable heads are both detailed and robust despite their size. Whether inclined to paint them or not, they stand up well and tie in with the fun design of the game.

That’s not to say it’s completely straightforward. The instructions for play don’t seem to answer the initial questions raised, and it takes a while to get into the swing of things. If you can get past that, there’s great fun to be had in making the robot a part of your team, and sending it off into the foray alongside your favourite characters. All the fun of Starcadia Quest, playing the scenarios, fighting the other players with cool weaponry, remains. 

Whilst there’s nothing particularly revolutionary about this expansion, when you consider the genuinely enjoyable new scenarios, cute miniatures, and opportunity to spend more time in the Starcadia Quest world, this represents a fair amount of bang for your buck. A solid addition for fans of Starcadia Quest. 

Play it? Probably

Words by Charlie Pettit

Designer: Eric M. Lang, Fred Perret, Guilherme Goulart, Leo Almeida & Thiago Aranha

Publisher: CMON

Time: 1 hour

Players: 2-4

Age: 14+

Cost: £39

This review originally appeared in Issue 44 of Tabletop Gaming. Pick up the latest issue of the UK's fastest-growing gaming magazine in print or digital here or subscribe to make sure you never miss another issue.

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