Evan’s Games is back with Lucky Dog, the lightest game by the publisher to date. With a cute dog theme and incredibly fast games, this one targets younger players and audiences who enjoy rolling dice.
A Brief How To Play
Lucky Dog is a small box with a few modes included. The primary way to play is the Free for All mode. In this mode, 2 to 4 players take turns trying to win the dog’s affection. Players reveal cards at the beginning of their turn, roll five dice, and can reroll the ones they don’t want to keep up to two times. They score points by matching dice results with the parameters on the revealed cards. The cards have various objectives, but they are mostly the types of things that you would see in Yacht Dice. Three of a kind, straights, pairs, and so on. After the player takes their turn, new cards are revealed and the next player takes their turn. The game ends when a player scores 20 points or more, and everyone will get one more turn until the beginning of the first player’s turn. The player with the highest score wins.
In the Cooperative Game mode, players work together but keep their hands secret as they chase their previous high score record. Each player draws cards until they have a hand of 2. They take turns rolling dice, keeping at least one, and passing the rest to their teammate. After all of the dice are kept, players score cards based on the dice results. The goal is to beat their previous high score.
In the 2v2 Team Game, four players form teams and compete against each other. Each player discards and draws cards until they have 2 in their hand. The teams alternate turns, rolling five dice and passing them to teammates to keep and re-roll. Afterward, players score cards based on the dice results. The game ends if either team scores 20 points or more, and the team with the highest score wins.
Lastly, the Solo Game allows a single player to entertain the dog by themselves. The player will reveal cards, roll five dice, and reroll them as usual. Scoring is the same as other modes. Solo players will work to clear the entire deck, and scoring at least four points in a round gives them another turn. Play continues until they either fail or clear the deck.
Pacing and Interactivity
Lucky Dog is a delightful and quick-paced dice game that offers an enjoyable experience regardless of the player count. One of the standout features of Lucky Dog is its excellent pacing, ensuring that players remain engaged throughout the entire experience.
In two-player games, the pacing is particularly impressive, with virtually no downtime between turns. Rolling five dice three times is a breeze, and unlike some roll-and-write games, there’s no need to ponder future rounds. The game keeps the action fast and focused, making it perfect for a quick gaming session. Even with four players, while there may be slightly more downtime, the overall playtime never exceeds 20 minutes, keeping everyone actively involved until the very end.
Lucky Dog‘s competitive mode offers a unique blend of strategy and simplicity. The lack of interactivity might seem like a downside at first, but it adds to the game’s charm. Since players don’t need to plan multiple turns, there’s no real advantage to hoarding cards or trying to obstruct others. Instead, the focus remains on fulfilling immediate needs and making the most out of each turn. Lucky Dog is incredibly light and allows younger audiences to get fully invested in the gameplay.
The cooperative and team play modes introduce an element of secrecy and camaraderie that adds a different element to Lucky Dog. Players must work together, hiding their hands from one another, and rely on intuition and reading each other’s moves to succeed. The lack of direct interaction in Lucky Dog is compensated by the satisfaction of collaborating with teammates to achieve a shared goal.
Replay Value
Lucky Dog‘s pocket-sized design makes it incredibly portable, allowing players to take it anywhere they go. While it may not be a game to play for hours on end, Lucky Dog shines as a fantastic time filler or appetizer to kick off a board game night.
Its compact nature makes Lucky Dog an excellent choice for gaming on the go, making it a perfect companion for outings to breweries or social gatherings. What better way to complement a cold brew than with a game of dice? The simple and easy-to-understand rules ensure that players can quickly dive into the action, even in lively environments like a bustling brewery.
Moreover, the game’s short playtime is a major factor in its replayability. With games lasting around 10 minutes or less, Lucky Dog lends itself perfectly to quick playthroughs. Players can engage in multiple sessions across different days, creating opportunities for spontaneous fun whenever there’s a moment to spare. Whether it’s during a lunch break, while waiting for a friend, or simply during a spare moment at home, Lucky Dog can be easily pulled off the shelf for a quick and enjoyable gaming experience.
Additionally, the game’s straightforward mechanics facilitate a smooth teaching process. Its accessibility allows players to quickly grasp the rules, making it an ideal choice for introducing new players to the world of board games. This feature further enhances its replay value, as it encourages repeat plays with friends and family who may be less experienced in the board gaming hobby.
Theme and Components
Lucky Dog‘s adorable dog theme may not have a direct connection to the act of dice rolling, but it adds a charming touch to this otherwise somewhat abstract game. The theme makes the game more approachable, appealing to players of all ages. To further enhance the thematic experience, the game cleverly names the different combinations of dice rolls. Straights are referred to as “walks,” three of a kind becomes a “chewie,” and having the dice total over 20 is playfully dubbed “zoomies.” These whimsical terms inject a delightful flavor into the game, leaving players with a warm and fuzzy feeling as they play.
Holly Fowler’s art in Lucky Dog is simple yet undeniably cute and colorful, staying true to the charming style often found in other titles by Evan’s Games. The artwork brings the dog theme to life, with playful illustrations that complement the light-hearted nature of the game.
While the prototype copy prevents us from commenting on the component quality, Lucky Dog‘s components are intentionally simple, consisting of just cards and dice. This minimalistic approach aligns perfectly with the game’s accessibility and portability, making it easy to envision the final product maintaining a level of sturdiness and durability suitable for regular play.
Lucky Dog Is Great For Fans Of…
Lucky Dog is a great choice for fans of quick and light games, as its straightforward mechanics and short playtime offer a delightful and fast-paced gaming experience. The adorable dog-themed setting and clever names for dice combinations add a charming and whimsical flavor that appeals to those who appreciate cute and endearing themes. Additionally, its pocket-sized design makes it perfect for gaming on the go for players who don’t always get to play at their table.
Fans of light dice games where they need to make quick decisions should enjoy Lucky Dog. It shares plenty with games like Yahtzee or King of Tokyo, but it offers a much lighter experience for those who don’t want to play a medium-weight game.
Those who enjoy roll and write games like Metro X or Welcome To… but don’t want to write this time will appreciate Lucky Dog.
Finally, players who like cute games, like the other titles from Evan’s Games like Robo Junkyard, Bunny Party, and The Big Pig Game will likely dig this one too, because it’s just as cute.
Lucky Dog will be available on Kickstarter throughout its campaign.
Lucky Dog
Lucky Dog is a lovely and portable dice game that offers quick, accessible gameplay, charming artwork, and versatile modes of play, making it a paw-sitively enjoyable addition to any board game collection.
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Pacing and Interaction
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Theme and Components
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Replay Value
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Enjoyment
