If you’re reading this review then you’re probably wondering one question. Isn’t Reload just Fortnite the board game?
Let’s jump in
Well firstly, let’s talk about the look. Its design is heavily (some might say oppressively) influenced by Fortnite. A lot of the setup and mechanics are the same. You parachute into the map. You run around collecting loot and weaponry. You try and take people out.
So far, so… Fortnite. It is so clearly influenced by that game.
But then you have the obvious and most glaring difference, and that is the fact that when you die, you don’t get knocked out.
No, no. You reload. And as pedantic as that sounds, it’s a key difference and one that makes this game go from hey that’s kinda fun to oh my goodness, this is amazing. Because in Reload , you don’t have to kill anybody to win. In fact, I’ve played games where I managed to take out so many people. I was a reloading machine…
And I lost.
I lost because in Reload you aren’t trying to be the last person standing. You’re trying to gain the most support from the crowd. And almost every action you do gives you support. Yes, killing someone gives you a lot of support, but it’s hard to do. Instead you can collect and deliver beacons to the central hub. You can trigger traps. You can hurt people (a different, smaller reward than actually taking them out). And lots more.
So in that sense it isn’t a battle royale. It’s more… Edge of Tomorrow?
How to play
Let’s break down a bit about how you play the game in order to help with our comparison.
The game revolves around dice placement (not dice rolling).
You place dice on your player board to do actions. Certain actions have higher values and certain actions have lower values.
After you’ve done your actions, whatever dice you’ve used (you have five of them) are then slid from those actions and lined up in your defensive line highest to lowest.
So far, so… confusing? I know. It’s weird to explain. But this is where the genius comes in. Because as in any battle royale game, the more you do the more likely you are to get spotted. And certain actions are safer than others. Looting a crate is great because it gets you a weapon but it also means you’re loitering around and could be seen. So the die value of that action is 2. Running makes you harder to hit so the die value is 4.
As strange as it is to explain, this does make sense when you sit down and play. Because if someone wants to attack you, they compare their dice to your defensive line. For every dice you’ve placed, your opponent knows its value and can plan accordingly. So the more you do, the more vulnerable you are.
Makes sense?
It’s ok if you say no.
Which brings me to the problems.
I want to start this by saying I love this game. It’s so good. But it has three big issues you need to overcome to enjoy it.
The first is the rulebook. It’s not good. Luckily for us, the fandom helps answer questions. But you don’t want to be jumping onto Boardgamegeek every time you play.
Second is the iconography. There are so many symbols! And though many are intuitive, it’s a daunting prospect for new players.
Thirdly, and this is the ironic one, it looks like Fortnite the board game.
Because at its core, this isn’t Fortnite. And this is a problem because it attracts the wrong crowd. If you want a last-man-standing, battle royale game, this isn’t it. It’s chaotic and beautiful and so much fun. But it’s not Fortnite.
So should I buy it?
It depends on what you want. It’s a weird mix of chaos and strategy, luck and determinism. Depending on how you play, it can be chess or it can be Yahtzee. I’m a huge advocate for this game. But it’s not for everyone. I’d say if what I’ve written interests you, get it. Otherwise, maybe a bit more research is needed.
