Stats:
No. of players: 1-4
Amount of time to play: 30-60 min
Age requirements: 10+
Set-up time: 5 min

Neuroshima Hex is a hex-based skirmish game for two to four players. Whether your headquarters survives and how many points it has remaining will determine if you win.

Neuroshima Hex Description:

In Neuroshima Hex you play one of five factions. You must destroy your opponent’s headquarters to win.

After choosing the faction you want to play you place your headquarters on the board. Then on your turn you draw up to three army tiles. Then you discard one and play one or both remaining tiles. If you draw three action tiles you may discard them and draw three new ones.

Your army tiles are the heart of this game some are actions and others are units. Units can attack enemies on certain sides of its hex. They might have ranged or melee attacks and they have a number showing the unit’s initiative order. You also have modules that can increase adjacent unit’s initiative or damage.

Battles occur once the board is full or if you play a battle action tile. Units with the highest initiative simultaneously attack first and you keep going down the initiative order until all units have attacked. Headquarters have initiative zero and attack all adjacent enemies.

Your headquarters start with 20 hit points and the first player to eliminate their opponent’s headquarters wins. The game can also end if you play your last tile. If this occurs your opponent gets on more turn and then you have a last final battle. If no one’s headquarters is destroyed the player whose headquarters has the most hit points remaining wins.

Quick Review of Neuroshima Hex:

Neuroshima Hex is a fun, fast-playing, tactical skirmish game. You must pay attention to position and initiative order to play well.

The components for this game are excellent. The art looks good and the rules are full of examples. The units are nice thick cardboard too.

The first thing I like about Neuroshima Hex is the variety that comes in the box. There are five armies and each plays differently. On top of the unique armies there are also a few different game modes for three and four players.

There is also a solo game. Included are 55 cards with Hex Puzzles. You set up the board based on the card and must figure out how to win the battle. The solution is on the back of the card.

This is a review of version 3.0. The difference between this edition and the last one is the art, a couple small rules changes and the included Doomsday army and the solo mode.

If you are looking for a fun and unique skirmish game that plays well with two to four players, I highly recommend Neuroshima Hex. If the game sounds interesting to you, you should give it a try.

Score and synopsis: (Click here for an explanation of these review categories.)
Strategy 4 out of 6
Luck 4 out of 6
Player Interaction 6 out of 6
Replay Value 5 out of 6
Complexity 3 out of 6
Fun 5 out of 6
Overall 5 out of 6