- BGG rank
- BGG #7,859
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Samurai: The Card Game
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2009
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,201
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Robot Master
2008
Rules assistance for Robot Master
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 15 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.3/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Robot Master
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Robot Master is a board game released in 2008 for 1–4 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Reiner Knizia and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Tile Placement.
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About the game
A game of strategical placement as players have a deck of 36 robots with six cards each of values 0 to 5, and they want to maximize the value of their rows or columns of robots on a 5x5 grid. The value of a row is the sum of the robots in it, except that a pair of identical robots in a row is worth ten times the face value of a single robot (two 3s gives you 30 points, but of course two 0s is still worthless); place three robots of the same type in a row, however, and they're worth 100 points no matter which type they are. The goal isn't to max out your score, but rather to beat your opponent as whoever has the lowest-valued row or column at game's end loses. Since 11 of the cards don't come into play, you have to play the odds on which robots will shuffle your way. Online Play Jijbent.nl (turn-based, Dutch) YourTurnMyTurn.com (English - turn based) Mindgames.com (solitaire version)
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Cocktail Games
- Hutter Trade GmbH + Co KG
Questions and answers
Robot Master 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 Robot Master is 15 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 Robot Master 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.
Robot Master has a complexity rating of 1.3 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.
Robot Master belongs to these categories: Card Game, Number, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Hand Management and Tile Placement. 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 Robot Master are: Reiner Knizia. 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 Robot Master 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.