Our MiniSteel review, what we have to say about the gigantic game in a very small container. The game is very simple, each player has ten life and you want to be the last one standing. You draw cards and everything you do is going to help you attack or defend. Play your opponents and strike when you know you will land the hardest hit. MiniSteel is a solid strategic punch in a very portable and lightweight package.
We took a look across fun, replayability, player interaction, quality and art & style to come up with the overall score for our MiniSteel review. See the breakdown by category below.
FOR MORE: Interview With MiniSteel Creators | MiniSteel Kickstarter Page
– CATEGORY BREAKDOWN –
Fun (7 out of 10)
For the fun section of the MiniSteel review, we award a great 7 out of 10. This game has so much freedom and so many paths of victory that it is almost like playing a card game rather than a strategy board game. Luckily for you, it is the best of all worlds. The game is really fun, if you are looking for something with more and/or something in a specific direction, you could absolutely find better elsewhere.
What this game does is it gives you that nice, consistent, quick fix. Do you attack, do you prepare for defense, do extend yourself and make some bold moves. There is never a shortage of options and that certainly keeps things exciting, game after game.
Replayability (7 out of 10)
For the replayability section of the MiniSteel review, we award a great 7 out of 10. You do not play any of the playing card game or ancient classics (Euchre, Spades, Rummy, Chess, Go) because the rules change, you playing them because they are a tool to put you in a strategic rumble against your fellow. That is exactly what is happening here, zig when they zag and vice versa.
The aforementioned games have more math and transparency with a little less luck so we are not saying MiniSteel is as good a Chess, but it is all about that free-flowing decision waterfall based on what is happening at any given moment. The game will continue to be exciting as long as you have an opponent (or opponents) that challenge you.
Player Interaction (7 out of 10)
For the player interaction section of the MiniSteel review, we award a great 7 out of 10. As we continue to say, this is one of those games that is the vessel for a showdown amongst players. It is an adrenaline shot of a strategy game fix and it will always be what you make of it. If you are not playing with a good group, there is no story or shinny rule distraction that will save you here.
All you are doing is playing cards, and for everything played, there is pretty much a countermeasure. Every decision you make, you have to think “what will my opponent do in response to this”. When that is the question in your mind, clearly player interaction is high.
Quality (9 out of 10)
For the quality section of the MiniSteel review, we award an outstanding 9 out of 10. This is the highest score here, a tough one to get from us, but one that is well deserved. It seems like the biggest thing the designers went for was efficiency. There is so much game packed into so little box that this might possibly be the board game with the most gaming per square inch ever created.
There is so much information be conveyed in so little space, and that takes a high level of quality. As for the components themselves, everything is of a high quality and for a game as portable as this one, it is sure to hold up after lots of travel.
Art & Style (7 out of 10)
For the art & style section of the MiniSteel review, we award a great 7 out of 10. There is really no space for art and style but the creators of this big game in a little box still seem to make due. The colors, the symbols, the information explanations, it is all beautiful, eye catching and exciting.
In a game like this, however, it all comes down to can you tell what is going on with so little real estate informing your decisions. The answer is a resounding yes. Again, there is not much to this game by design, by they still manage to have a consistent fantasy world / time of the knights type of vibe.
– IN CLOSING –
MiniSteel Review | Board Game Halv
Pound for pound, this is a great option. MiniSteel is built to be compact and portable but scratch that strategic itch every time. It succeeds in its mission. This isn't a game with a ton of bells and whistles, it is a simple one that gives you all the tools you need to have a solid showdown with your opponents. It plays like a traditional playing card game but with a board game strategy delivery. This has been our MiniSteel review and we hope you enjoyed it.
Product In-Stock: https://schema.org/InStock
7.4
See the full explanation of the judging criteria here.
