1 Player
Designer: Scott Almes
Artist: Taylor Stone
Publisher: Button Shy Games
About the Game
The 5th game in Scott Almes partnership with Button Shy of solo only games with simple rules and deep game play, The Royal Limited has some big expectations on it. How successful this little train game is?
Solo Gameplay
On this properly named game, you have a very limited number of turns, 4 to be precise, where you will take actions with a hand of 5 cards. You can either play trains, discarding cards equal to the value, or adding passengers to a train with the same color and activating it. You will also have two specially passengers that have their own unique set of placement rules. When you’re done, you draw 5 more cards and advance the timer. On the end, your score is the number of unused cards and train cars, and your goal is score 0.
Components
Aside from the usual great wallet with great quality cards, I really enjoy the art style of the game. It walks a fine line between elegant and cartoony, which works well with the theme.
The train and passengers are a little wordy, and because the art takes a good space it’s a little crammed. Nothing too bad, but it’s not the best.
Conclusion
The Royal Limited is a very quick but surprisingly thinky game. You have very limited choices, and each misstep is a point you have to deal at the end of the game. On that, there is an incredible elegance in balance. Since there are only 3 colors and 4 unique values, every resource you use you have to account for in terms of opportunities later.
Comparing to the rest of the line, I feel this is on the middle of the pack. Which, on a line this good, is a big big compliment. But, of all of them, I feel this one has the most potential of growing on me, specially as expansions start to come.
Score: 8.5/10
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