Recently, I had the opportunity to play-test a brand-new board game that is currently in its Kickstarter phase. This game was passed on to me by the creator and long-time friend, Francisco Ruiz, so that I could give a proper review. Today, I want to break down exactly what this game is and who it’s for.
Imagine scavenging broken parts to build your own pixel-art mech, then teaming up with those closest to you, only to realize one of you has secretly fallen under the spell of an evil Warlord as you battle to reclaim a stolen kingdom. Junkyard Juggernauts is a Fantasy Adventure board game with custom‑made mechs and tactical combat for 1–4 players. You step into the life of one of four uniquely designed heroes determined to save their homeland from an evil overlord, scavenging “junkyard” scraps to assemble a unique mech before embarking on an epic journey. But beware: the Warlord’s corrupting influence grows with every turn, and one ally will inevitably betray the group from within, turning what feels like a cooperative crusade into a heart‑pounding fight for survival.
Admittedly, I’m not a big board game player, so playing a game with such a deep lore and story was fascinating to me. When I played this with friends, a common statement was “Man… I need this to be a book series!” My brief description above doesn’t do justice to what’s actually in the game’s manual.
Speaking of the manual, this is not a simple 30-minute time-killing, drop-and-play game; it’s a very in-depth game involving a good deal of setup and reading, but the more you play, the combat and story play become much easier to traverse. This game is in-depth and features numerous twists and turns that hook players in a way I’ve not experienced before with board games. This is not Candyland; this is an adventure that will take an investment of time. Reading through the manual really feels like a video game tutorial as it walks you through the story, board setup, combat, and other aspects of the game. This video game vibe continues as you examine not just the combat systems and travel rules, but also the beautifully crafted art.
The game board, character tokens, character cards, and mech cards are all beautifully illustrated by Francisco Ruiz in a pixel art style that enhances the video game vibes. The manual and other game pieces feature gorgeous art by Paul J. Powers. The addition of this art brings home the vibe of old-school game manuals, which often included anime-style renderings of the pixel characters.
So who is this for?
This is a game built for board game lovers. As I said, this game takes an investment of time, but it’s time well spent as you and your friends take an in-depth journey into a fascinating story. For me, the fun really kicks in when one of the players discovers that they are now in league with the Warlord and has to keep it secret as they begin to work out a new strategy on the fly. People who are used to tabletop role-playing games, in-depth board games, and people who have a strong nostalgic love for video games will find a deep love for this game easily. One key aspect that I found particularly fascinating was the inclusion of a solo mode. Sadly, a downfall to many board games is that they do require a group of people to play; however, this has a built-in system for those who may just want to have a relaxing evening to themselves.
If you’re a fan of long, lore-rich adventures and love secret betrayals… this is a game you MUST have on your board game shelf.