The world ending never looked so good
RUINATION
Designer: Travis R. Chance | Publisher: Kolossal Games
Right off the bat, Ruination faces steep competition. In the realm of ‘dudes-on-the-map games’, it has to contend with the godly presence of Ankh: God of Egypt and Mezo, not to mention the everlasting rule of Risk. The post-apocalyptic theme has been usurped by Mad Max associations, while games like Posthuman Saga or Zona: The Secret of Chernobyl vividly paint the picture of the world after the end in all drab but bloody colours. But Ruination will not be a game that is lost in the wasteland.
In part, this is due to incredible artwork by Roland’s Revenge. It is colourful, energetic, and captivating but also distinctly end of the world-ly. It consistently sets the scene through every part of the game, whether it is the board design or character art. The exile units are a particular stand out. They may be wearing the assortment of random items they scavenged in the wild with make-shift weapons, but they all have unique style and personality.