Basic Gameplay
Moon Colony Bloodbath is a party game like you’ve never seen it before. It uses Venn diagrams to elicit joy and laughter as well as utter bafflement in players all at the same time. Don’t let me lose you here, this is not some kind of workplace ice breaking game although a variation on this would work brilliantly I would wager.
A Venn diagram works by offering categories that can overlap, and each coloured circle has its own rule related to context (where you find it or how you use it), attribute (colour, weight, size) This is a game that requires someone to run the game, the “Knower”. Unsurprisingly, they know what the secret rules are, and are in charge of ensuring that all the item cards are placed in the correct positions in the Venn diagram.
Basic Gameplay
Moon Colony Bloodbath is a party game like you’ve never seen it before. It uses Venn diagrams to elicit joy and laughter as well as utter bafflement in players all at the same time. Don’t let me lose you here, this is not some kind of workplace ice breaking game although a variation on this would work brilliantly I would wager.
A Venn diagram works by offering categories that can overlap, and each coloured circle has its own rule related to context (where you find it or how you use it), attribute (colour, weight, size) This is a game that requires someone to run the game, the “Knower”. Unsurprisingly, they know what the secret rules are, and are in charge of ensuring that all the item cards are placed in the correct positions in the Venn diagram.
All the other players are in the dark as to what the rules are for each coloured circle. They must deduce from the item cards already placed what they suspect the secret rules are and try to place their items in the correct location in the Venn diagram. Get it right and you get another go, but get it wrong and not only is your turn over, but you also have to draw another card into your hand. You’re racing to get rid of all your cards first to win.
Components
This game centres around the card play, you build up the game as you play. With your fellow players, you trek a path of ever spiralling disaster together round to round. Decisions that you make may make the road harder or easier for you, but essentially all you are trying to do is stay alive. I think that the card art is generally fine, nothing beautiful or ground-breaking. But I love the theme and that runs through the graphic design seamlessly. The cards have a clinical robotic computer look to them, the wording is clear and easy to read and the instructions easy to follow. The game is perhaps not particularly elevated by its components, but they serve the game very well. Everything just works.
Moon Colony Bloodbath has a lot of little cardboard chits. Graphically they are all pretty easy to distinguish, but they also benefit from all being different shapes as well. The cardboard pieces see a lot of action, constantly moving on and off people’s boards so the simple design and clear distinction is essential.
Replayability
The rule combination is changed depending on how difficult you want the game to be. You can select 1, 2, or 3 stars difficulty in each of the three colours which offers a whole host of replayability. The likelihood of the three rules being repeated is slim but add into that the huge stack of item cards that can be used, then I think you’ll never see two games with remotely the same feel to them!
Round Up
If you’re looking for a good looking party game to play with your pals or family that will help everyone to get to know each other better with some snacks a drink or two, then I think Moon Colony Bloodbath could be for you! This has now been moved to my “play with everyone” shelf which are games I feel I could teach quickly to my non gaming friends.
