Tabletop Game Review: Sailor Moon Crystal Dice Challenge

Sailor Moon Crystal: Dice Challenge

Japanime Games

Players: 2-8

Play Time: 5-60 Minutes

Sailor Moon Crystal is a reimagining of the classic Sailor Moon series and was received quite well by fans. The franchise is massive, so it’s not surprising that a Sailor Moon few tabletop games would be released. Sailor Moon Crystal: Dice Challenge is a game where two players compete as iconic sailor moon characters to take each other’s dice.

The game is simple and easy to learn. Each player selects a character to play as and takes that character’s corresponding dice. Each character has a unique set of dice as well as a special ability, so play can vary a bit between characters. The powers are usually something simple like an extra turn or adjustments to rolled dice. When the game starts, both players will roll their dice and the player with the lowest number rolled goes first.

Players will take their opponents dice through power and skill attacks. A power attack can be done by using one of your dice to take a die from your opponent with a lower number rolled. Basically, high rolls win in this game. After you take a die, you will reroll the used for the power attack, potentially making your high roll weaker. If doing a power attack isn’t ideal, the player can do a skill attack. To do a skill attack, the player chooses two or more dice that add up to the exact value of one of their opponent’s. Then all of those dice are re-rolled. A round ends when one player runs out of dice, points are scored, then the next round starts.

This continues until a player wins three of the five rounds. The losing player of a round gets a reserve die added to their dice pool. The reserve dice are decided by the character card, so everyone’s main and reserve pools are unique.

The game is incredibly simple, and I’m not too sure it would be anything special without the Sailor Moon property attached to it. While there is a small amount of strategy in this game, there is an awful lot of luck involved. Deciding between power and skill attacks requires some thought, but in most cases, there are limited options due to the way the dice fall. Some players won’t mind this, but Sailor Moon Crystal: Dice Challenge leaves a lot to be desired.

The theme isn’t well utilized either. The character abilities have a slight connection to the actual characters, but they don’t fully embrace the franchise. This game just doesn’t feel like it deserves the sailor moon game. Instead, it feels like a dice game that should be used for gambling in a bar. It’s entertaining, but I don’t think it is anything too special.

Sailor Moon Crystal: Dice Challenge is a serviceable game that relies on the Sailor Moon property to be successful. The rules are too simple and the amount of luck required is a bit much. Still, for Sailor Moon collectors, the game comes with neat gifts like lanyards, but there isn’t any value for those who aren’t fans.