Micro Robots

About this board game

Micro Robots is a simultaneous puzzle game for 2–99 players that plays in about 20 minutes. Inspired by Ricochet Robots, it challenges everyone to find a route across a changing grid as quickly as possible.

Build the playing area by arranging four boards in a 2×2 square, using either their black or copper sides. Together, the boards create a 36-space grid of dice, with numbers 1–6 and six colors; every number-and-color combination appears exactly once. Roll the color and number dice to determine the transparent robot’s starting location.

Each round begins with another roll to identify the target space. Players then search simultaneously for a route. The robot moves orthogonally to a space that shares either the color or number of its current space. A move from “3-green” can therefore go to a space showing a 3 or any green space, after which the newly reached number and color determine the next options.

• Call out the number of moves in your solution as soon as you find it.
• Demonstrate the route by moving the robot.
• Earn a victory token for an exactly correct claim.
• If the claim is incorrect, give one of your tokens, if you have any, to the player with the fewest.

The former target becomes the next starting space, keeping the challenge moving. Collect five victory tokens to win; if all 25 tokens are distributed first, the player with the most wins, with ties possible.

For an expert challenge, add an intermediate destination: after placing the target token, roll the dice again and solve a route that reaches the rolled space before the final destination. The transparent robot can also be used in Ricochet Robots, where it may pass through a wall for an additional move, subject to specific restrictions.