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Avant Carde
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Retrograde
2023
Rules assistance for Retrograde
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 25–35 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.5/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Retrograde
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Retrograde is a board game released in 2023 for 1–4 players, 25–35 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Max Seidman and Mary Flanagan and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Paper-and-Pencil, and Solo / Solitaire Game.
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About the game
Retrograde is a real-time roll-and-write inspired by classic 80s arcade games. Evil Astrodroids are invading earth. Grab the joystick and blast as many as you can. Can you get the high score? Each round, roll your dice as fast as you can. Race to roll combos shown on the target cards, claim the best card, and spend your dice to put the ‘Droids on your sheet out of commission. Be fast, or an opponent might beat you to the card you want. If you're the last player without a card, you can only reroll 2 more times before you're stuck with what you rolled. Depending on the card you choose, you'll collect Coins and power-ups. Blast entire columns of 'Droids to destroy bosses for bonus points. Blast rows of 'Droids to unlock the power-ups you collect. Awards & Honors: BostonFIG Fest // 2022 - Best Family Game
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Questions and answers
Retrograde supports 1–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Retrograde is 25–35 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Retrograde for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Retrograde has a complexity rating of 1.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Retrograde belongs to these categories: Dice, Video Game Theme, and Real-time. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Paper-and-Pencil, and Solo / Solitaire Game. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Retrograde are: Max Seidman and Mary Flanagan. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Retrograde as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.