Title: Ready Set Bet
Designed By: John D. Clair
Art By: Kirk W. Buckendorf and Athena Cagle
Published By: Alderac Entertainment Group
Released: 2022
Player Count: 2-9
Time to Play: 45-60 Minutes
Ages: 14+
Overview:
Ready Set Bet is easily one of my favorite party games to date. It's a real-time horse race betting game where players aim to make the most money by placing bets on a horse race being run in the game. One player takes on the role of running the race, rolling dice to move horses on the track, while everyone else places bets on which horses they think will place or win. It's fast, chaotic, and an absolute blast.
What's purr-ty cool:
Dual Roles for Double the Fun:
Firstly, there are two distinct roles you can take on during the game. The race runner rolls the dice, moves the horses, and announces the progress of the race. If you're like me and enjoy talking fast, this role is a hoot. Although there's a variant allowing the race runner to place bets, I prefer focusing on managing the race. The other role is the spectator, who places bets during the race. The game accommodates large player counts, and for particularly big groups, you can have people form teams to place bets together. This isn't an official rule, but it's a fantastic way to include everyone.
Well-balanced Gameplay:
The next thing that is great about Ready Set Bet is that the game is well-balanced. The horses move based on the combined total of two dice, with some numbers coming up more frequently than others. To prevent the 7 horse from always winning, other horses receive bonus movements if their numbers are rolled consecutively. This system, with bonuses granted scales with the difficulty of the roll, adding a great dynamic to the game. Additionally, bets are balanced; easier bets pay out less than harder ones. Each bet can only be claimed once, forcing players to decide whether to make early bets and hope for a continued lead or to wait for a surer bet, risking it being claimed by someone else.
Cool Use of Technology:
Lastly, there's a handy dandy app. If you don't want to run the race yourself or if everyone wants to bet, the app can automate the horse races. It even includes cool sound effects, making it feel like a real announcer is calling the race. It's free and a neat addition to the game. I appreciate that the game doesn't rely on the app's existence; you can use it as long as it’s available, but if it ever disappears, you can still play the game without it.
The cat's meow:
"Ready Set Bet has me on the edge of my seat, ready to sit right on top of all the bets! It's my purr-fect blend of chaos and strategy!" - Solo the Spokescat
Disclosure: Pudgy Cat Games was provided a copy of this game in exchange for a review, however, this review reflects the honest thoughts of the author.
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