Tabletop Game Review: A.E.G.I.S.

A.E.G.I.S.

Zephyr Workshop

2-4 Players

Playtime: 20-120 Minutes

“Who doesn’t love combining robots?”

Wargames are a tough genre of tabletop games to get into. They tend to be full of rules, require a bunch of setups, and are expensive. Still, it is one of the most enticing genres, full of potential, fun communities, and endless gameplay.  For those who want to try a fun strategy wargame with little investment, A.E.G.I.S. is a game to consider.

A.E.G.I.S. is a strategy tabletop game that combines mechanics from wargames and combines them with influences from various mechanics mecha shows. A.E.G.I.S. can be played by two to four players on a battle royale-style map. Most of the game’s appeal comes from the team building and combat, both of which are equally important to success.

A game starts with all participating players building a team of robots. Every robot is unique, with different roles and abilities. There are five classes in A.E.G.I.S. : Assault, Evasive, Guard, Intel and Support (Together they spell out AEGIS). Each class is full of tons of robots, giving players around 100 robots to choose from. Choosing a balanced team is essential to success, but players also need to consider the synergy that certain robots have with each other. Like Voltron or other giant mecha shows, your robots can also combine to make stronger robots. Different combinations lead to different robots, which adds more depth to the drafting.

For those who aren’t too keen on pre-game strategy, there are pre-built decks for players to grab and instantly play with. These decks are well-built and allow for players to have a good time with a set of robots with natural synergy. Regardless of what players do prior to actually playing the game, A.E.G.I.S. is accessible for anyone willing to take the time to learn.

Once the game gets going, the turn player will activate, move, and commit their robots to actions. Players will need to be selective in which robots they use on a given turn since they are limited in energy. All movements and actions require energy, and running out of energy prematurely can put a player in a bad spot. Most actions are attacks, which require players to roll dice and achieve certain conditions to land their attacks. The great variety in types of attacks makes every robot feel fresh to play with. Players will need to fully understand the abilities of both their own and their opponent’s robots to avoid any missteps. This is especially so because friendly fire (And support) is in this game.

Of course, not every action is an attack, and there are more ways to succeed in A.E.G.I.S. than just beating down the opponent. Tactical players can repair their own robots, buff and debuff those around them, and even use push and pull abilities to manipulate the field (Or even knock an opponent off the map entirely). If that isn’t enough for players, most of these abilities come with attributes that tweak how they work. Melee abilities can only be used near the target. Heavy actions can’t be used with movement. Some abilities pierce their targets, while others can arc over obstacles to ensure a hit. All of these attributes may be overwhelming at first but feel natural after a couple of plays. Most robots also come with passive abilities, further adding depth to the game.

Even combining robots requires a fair amount of strategy. Players will lose the robots that they use for combining and gain a stronger, better robot with full energy and health. Timing the Combine action perfectly can completely swing a game. If a player waits too long they may lose a certain robot and the opportunity to combine. Making the move too early leads to a feeling of lost opportunity. Every move in A.E.G.I.S. is impactful, making the game feel intense for all players.

Players can win by fully eliminating the competition or depleting their opponent’s pool of energy. The straightforward win conditions are welcome for those who are new to strategy games. There are also alternative game modes for players to enjoy, such as tag-team, “Machine Chess,” and “Point Control.” All of these game modes are enjoyable and add tons of replayability to A.E.G.I.S. There is a remarkable amount of value in this package, making this one of the better buys in the strategy market.

Games of A.E.G.I.S. range from quick to sometimes too long depending on how well the players draft and play. As expected, a player with experience can absolutely devastate newer players, so a handicap of some sort might need to be considered for full enjoyment. Otherwise, it’s hard to find a flaw in A.E.G.I.S. If this is your kind of game, the only thing you might have a gripe with is how accessible it is. It isn’t the most complicated game, but for most this is a positive trait. It does utilize dice, so it’s possible for the game to feel cheap sometimes. Still, the robots are so balanced that the dice likely won’t be the main reason why players succeed or fail.

The overall package looks excellent too. Great inserts keep everything including the 100 robot standees organized. Despite not being miniatures, the standees look great and keep the game affordable. The robot designs are wonderful, drawing inspiration from tons of mecha anime. Every card is full of detail and wonderful art. There are tons of flavor text on the cards allowing for A.E.G.I.S. to have a surprising amount of lore. The board is clean and easy to look at while still resembling a giant arena battlefield.

There is a lot to love about A.E.G.I.S. and the game only gets better the more you play. It’s a perfect marriage of accessibility, presentation, and gameplay.  Anyone remotely interested in the genre should consider A.E.G.I.S.

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