In many games, we build thriving civilizations until the end of the game. In “Moon Colony Bloodbath,” we do that only at the beginning: We set up mines and shelters, grow fruit, and open hotels—but then, inevitably, everything that can go wrong does. Our own robots turn against us, and the population of our colonies is steadily decimated. The “bloodbath” in the title remains abstract in the game: in the end, whoever still has people left wins. The appeal lies in the planning: a central deck of cards is played through repeatedly, with all effects affecting all players simultaneously. Whoever prepares well for accidents, hunger, and rampant bureaucracy through card placement and resource management will have that decisive edge in the end.
Jury statement:
A game with excellent design, in which there is no waiting time because everyone takes their turn simultaneously. It features a surprising amount of social criticism: We are steering toward the abyss with our eyes wide open and ruthlessly pursuing our own advantages. Nevertheless, hope dies last.
