Steampunk Rally Fusion Review

boardgamequest.com:

We review Steampunk Rally Fusion, a racing board game published by Roxley Games. In Steampunk Rally Fusion, players are building steampunk-inspired race cards trying to get as far along the track as they can.

There’s something I really like about the steampunk aesthetic. The mix of exquisite Victorian age garments augmented with steam-infused mechanical bits has fascinated me since I learned it was a thing. As a mechanical engineer, I enjoy the idea of building crazy contraptions without someone worrying about “scope creep,” “cost,” and “why the hell do you need legs and a giant drill on that tracked vehicle?” Steampunk Rally, and the standalone base game/expansion Steampunk Rally Fusion, allow me to do just that. And then race it down a racetrack until it explodes into a figurative, yet glorious, mushroom cloud of fire and cogs. Because, as the old engineering adage goes, if it isn’t broken—it doesn’t have enough features yet.

Steampunk Rally Fusion is a race played over five phases and lasts until the turn after the first player crosses the finish line in a mechanic that will make a bit more sense later.

The game starts with the Draft Phase. When a card is selected it can be added to your machine or sold for colored dice or cogs. Boost cards can either be similarly sold or tucked under your damage gauge for future use.

Once everyone has selected a card, the remaining are passed to the next player. This continues until all cards have been selected, used, or sold. Parts are attached by connecting at least one of the valve connections on the card. Your machine may also be rearranged at any time to fit new parts or because you have discovered the innate joys of tinkering.

The next phase is the Vent Phase in which cards