Info about Roll for the Galaxy:

Official game description:
Following the launch of Race for the Galaxy, Temple Gates Games in association with Rio Grande Games brings Roll for the Galaxy to digital life! Roll for the Galaxy is a dice game of building space empires for 2-5 players. Your dice represent your populace, whom you direct to develop new technologies, settle worlds, and ship goods. The player who best manages their workers and builds the most prosperous empire wins!  
This dice version of Race for the Galaxy takes players on a new journey through the Galaxy, but with the the feel of the original game.  
Designed by Wei-Hwa Huang and Tom Lehmann, this dice version of Race for the Galaxy takes players on a new journey through the Galaxy. Keldon Jones, the developer behind the Race for the Galaxy AI, is at it again with Roll for the Galaxy. This game will feature a new neural network AI that will challenge even the most advanced players.  
**Features**  
*   2 - 5 player with network multiplayer  
*   Asynchronous and real-time multiplayer modes  
*   Advanced neural network AI by Keldon Jones  
*   Nine starting factions, nine starting worlds  
*   Sixty developments and settlements

Release date: Aug 25, 2020

Categories: Digital Board Game, Dice-based Gameplay, Engine Building, Card-based Gameplay, Tabletop Game Comparison, Asynchronous Multiplayer, Worker Placement, Space-themed Setting

Feature scans:
- Proton/Linux: score 15; verdict: Works Well; summary: The available Linux/Proton evidence is strongly positive: users report the game works perfectly on Linux and runs out of the box with Proton 5.0 without problems. Steam Deck feedback is negative but vague and not tied to specific Proton, SteamOS, launch, performance, or workaround failures. No anti-cheat, DRM, launcher, or crash blockers are reported for Linux/Proton.
- Steam Deck: score 75; verdict: Broken on Steam Deck; summary: User feedback presents a split compatibility picture: desktop Linux users report smooth performance with Proton 5.0 out of the box, but Steam Deck users report crashes and poor playability, including a mismatch with the Steam Deck Verified status. The Steam Deck experience is highly frictional due to stability failures.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 0.3h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The two quotes both describe short play sessions for Roll for the Galaxy: one reports that gameplay can fly by in about 15 minutes once the rules are understood, and another reports a play lasting about 5-6 minutes. I use the longer 15-minute figure as the sessionLength estimate, since it is the more typical session-scale report and the 5-6 minute quote describes a single quick play. There is no evidence for a full game-completion duration, a story-completion duration, or a quantified endgame/replayability duration, so those metrics remain null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Players report a steep initial learning curve that resolves into a strongly rewarding game once the rules click, usually after repeated games with the AI or a friend or with prior Race for the Galaxy experience. The tutorial is frequently called incomplete for the most confusing mechanics, so enjoyment tends to arrive after the learning hump rather than immediately.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Playing several games with the ai or a friend until the game's rules and mechanics click
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Steep learning curve for players without prior Race for the Galaxy experience; Tutorial is disappointing and skips the confusing parts, such as choosing phases and dictating dice; Key information like a die's face distribution is not covered by the tutorial; UI hides some information behind button clicks; No privacy during turns when playing with friends via remote play or split co-op
  - Unlock drivers: Continued play with the AI or a friend until the rules are absorbed; Familiarity with Race for the Galaxy, which the game strongly resembles; Tutorial that brings players up to speed quickly and clarifies the phase-selection rules; Discovering undocumented interface features, such as right-clicking or holding a die to see its face distribution
  - Conditions: Whether the player has prior experience with Race for the Galaxy; Whether the player already knows the rules and can skip or skim the tutorial; Whether the tutorial covers the specific confusing mechanics the player needs; Whether the player keeps playing repeatedly with the AI or a friend; Whether the player plays solo/AI versus remote play or split co-op with friends
- Player Archetypes:
  - Solo Digital Board Game Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Convenient solo play and accessible digital board gaming when a physical group is not available.
    - Playstyle: Plays solo against AI or online, occasionally with friends, in flexible sessions.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: sucker for digital board games
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Race for the Galaxy Franchise Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Continuing the Race for the Galaxy lineage and experiencing its familiar mechanics reworked.
    - Playstyle: Draws on prior franchise knowledge to explore the new dice-driven mechanics and compare them to the original.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: fans of the original Roll for the Galaxy
    - Reference games: Race for the Galaxy; Roll for the Galaxy
  - Chill Short-Session Player (buy)
    - Motivation: Relaxing, low-pressure fun that fits into short breaks.
    - Playstyle: Casual short sessions, enjoying the game in a chill, non-competitive manner.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Strategy Depth Seeker (buy)
    - Motivation: Mastering a deep strategy game with multiple viable paths and staying competitively sharp.
    - Playstyle: Engages with the decision space, explores varied strategies, and pursues skilled competitive play.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Roll for the Galaxy


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Faithful digital board game adaptation (weight 0.75): The digital version is highly faithful to the original board game, capturing the core experience accurately.
- Challenging AI opponents (weight 0.47): The AI provides a tough but fair challenge that scales with difficulty, making it a worthy opponent even on medium settings.
- Fun and quick gameplay (weight 0.36): The game is enjoyable and fast-paced, offering a fun dice-rolling experience.
- Intuitive and clean interface (weight 0.33): The interface is praised for being neat, clean, and easy to navigate, enhancing the overall user experience.
- Great for learning the board game (weight 0.24): The digital adaptation serves as an excellent tool for learning the board game and improving before playing the physical version.
- Strategic dice and card mechanics (weight 0.22): Players can spend extra dice to build cards and use the reassign mechanic for strategic depth.
- Enjoyable strategy experience (weight 0.14): The game is a very fun strategy-card game that provides engaging strategic choices.
- High replayability (weight 0.14): The game offers many hours of replay value, keeping players engaged over multiple sessions.
- Smooth animations and performance (weight 0.14): Animations run smoothly and gameplay is fluid, especially when animation speed is increased.
- Good tabletop app implementation (weight 0.13): The app effectively brings the tabletop experience to digital platforms.
- Fast loading times (weight 0.12): The game loads super fast, allowing quick access to gameplay.
- Solid card game adaptation (weight 0.12): The implementation is excellent and aligns well with the original card game.

Common complaints:
- Crashes and Connection Problems (weight 0.51): Players report frequent crashes and connection errors, especially during online play and remote play sessions. Some experience crashes every few games, and issues persist across devices including laptops and Steam Decks.
- AI Difficulty Inconsistencies (weight 0.45): The AI's behavior varies widely: on higher difficulties it rushes to end the game, while on Easy it often stalls or makes poor decisions. Bots also openly cooperate, making them tough but unrealistic opponents.
- UI and Interface Issues (weight 0.45): The interface is criticized for hiding necessary information behind clicks, being a mobile port, and lacking features like auto-showing card flip sides. The tutorial and in-game explanations are also insufficient.
- Lack of Expansions and Achievements (weight 0.32): Many reviewers note the absence of expansions and achievements, comparing unfavorably to other games like Race for the Galaxy. Even when an expansion exists, it offers minimal content like promo cards.
- Privacy and Online Play Issues (weight 0.31): Online play suffers from privacy leaks during remote play or split co-op, and finding opponents is nearly impossible due to low activity. Some also report minor interaction problems.
- Broken Tiles and Bugs (weight 0.29): Several tiles do not work as intended, such as Investment Credits not reducing development costs. Bugs can have long-term impacts, and not all are cataloged due to their sporadic nature.
- Steep Learning Curve (weight 0.28): New players find the game difficult to learn, especially without prior board game experience. The tutorial is disappointing and doesn't cover confusing aspects like phase selection or dice assignment.
- Too Much Randomness from Dice (weight 0.28): Dice introduce excessive randomness, making tactics less reliable. Players may fail despite good strategy due to unlucky rolls, and the logic behind dice acquisition is unclear.
- Limited Stats and Information (weight 0.23): The game lacks detailed stats such as win/loss tallies, and opponent information is not easily visible without clicking. Some desire more stats and achievements.
- Bland and Lacks Staying Power (weight 0.22): The game feels bland and doesn't have staying power, with some calling it less interesting than Race for the Galaxy due to increased randomness.
- Poor Online Community Activity (weight 0.19): There is not much online activity, making it hard to find opponents. Some resort to other platforms like Dominion online, which is also criticized.
- Time Limit and Turn Speed Issues (weight 0.18): The time limit can be too short if a player is away, and the game speed is fast with no option to wait and observe computer player actions, which matters for anticipation.
- Steam Deck Compatibility Problems (weight 0.14): The game performs poorly on Steam Deck, with crashes particularly when using the touch screen. It is not recommended for Steam Deck players.
- Developer Support and Bugs (weight 0.14): Support is slow to respond, and developers seem to have skipped fixing bugs after finishing the game. Reinstalling doesn't help with critical crashes.
- Asynchronous Play Frustrations (weight 0.14): Asynchronous games often stall due to mandatory actions with no agency, and there is no option to speed up play. Players find it frustrating when games are held up by trivial decisions.
- Missing Physical Dice Feel (weight 0.13): Players miss the tactile experience of rolling physical dice, stating that the digital version cannot replicate the joy of handling custom dice.
- Dice Placement and Resource Collection (weight 0.13): Resource collection on planets may not happen in one turn unless opponent or AI chooses a different phase. Fiddling with dice placement is a chore.
- Color Coding and Visual Clarity (weight 0.12): The color-coded glimmer on dice when not placed correctly is not always obvious, and the graphics are only adequate with higher resolution desired.
- Phase Selection Limitations (weight 0.08): Only one phase can be chosen regardless of player count, unlike Race for the Galaxy where two phases can be chosen in two-player. This limits strategic options.
- Automation Leads to Lazy Play (weight 0.07): The game offers too much automation, leading to lazy and suboptimal play. Players feel disconnected from decision-making.

Gameplay feedback:
- Multiplayer and AI opponents (weight 0.97): The game supports multiplayer and AI opponents, including online and asynchronous play. Players can also play solo against AI with varying difficulty levels, providing flexible options for different preferences.
- Dice mechanics central to gameplay (weight 0.75): The game heavily relies on dice mechanics, including rolling colored dice with different symbols, assigning dice to phases, and using dice for actions. Dice placement and deckbuilding with dice are also key elements.
- Similar to Race for the Galaxy (weight 0.19): The game shares the same setting and principles as Race for the Galaxy but uses dice instead of cards. This provides a familiar yet distinct experience for fans of the original.
- Multiplayer solitaire style (weight 0.14): The multiplayer mode is described as multiplayer solitaire, with dice and worker management elements. Players may have limited interaction, focusing on their own strategies.
- Phase selection each turn (weight 0.13): Players select phases each turn, with only one phase per turn regardless of player count. This strategic choice dictates the flow of the game.
- Settling new worlds (weight 0.13): Players can settle new worlds with citizens, adding a civilization-building aspect to the game. This contributes to the game's depth and replayability.

Performance notes:
- Frequent Game Crashes Reported (weight 0.34): Numerous reviews report that the game crashes very often, sometimes multiple times per session or during specific actions. This is the most common technical complaint, affecting players across various platforms.
- Stability Issues on Steam Deck (weight 0.14): Players note that the game is not good on the Steam Deck, with crashes occurring almost exclusively when using the touch screen. This suggests specific incompatibilities with the Steam Deck's input methods.
- Connection-Related Crashes (weight 0.14): Connection issues are causing crashes up to five times per game, depending on the player's location or network. Disconnects also occur on laptops without any visible reason.
- Alt+Enter Causes Crash (weight 0.14): Pressing Alt + Enter to enter windowed mode causes the game to crash and close. After the crash, the game cannot be started from the Steam library.
- Good Linux Compatibility (weight 0.13): The game works perfectly on Linux, with one user reporting it runs under Proton 5.0 out of the box without problems. This indicates strong Linux support.
- Crashes During Turn Transitions (weight 0.08): The game crashes almost every time it switches turns, disrupting gameplay flow. This is a specific and repeatable crash scenario.
- Simultaneous Click Crash (weight 0.08): An occasional crash occurs when clicking the left and right mouse buttons at the same time. This is an isolated but reproducible issue.
- Crash Recovery Saves Progress (weight 0.07): Although crashes occur occasionally, the game state is always saved and recoverable, so crashes have never ruined a game. This mitigates the impact of crashes.
- Runs Well Overall (weight 0.07): Some players report that the game runs well, indicating that performance is satisfactory for a portion of the user base.
- Minor Bugs Encountered (weight 0.06): A player encountered two bugs while playing, but no details are provided. These appear to be minor compared to the crash issues.

Recommendations:
- Strong recommendation from satisfied players (weight 0.36): Numerous reviewers give a thumbs up and highly recommend the game, calling it fun and worth the effort. Some cannot recommend it enough.
- Worth buying if you love board game (weight 0.33): Several reviews state it is a worthy buy if you enjoy the board game, and a no-brainer even at full price for familiar players. It is also recommended for fans of digital board games.
- Frequent crashes hinder recommendation (weight 0.25): Multiple reviewers do not recommend the game due to frequent crashes, and others note technical issues prevent a full recommendation. This is a significant drawback affecting the experience.
- Appeals to Race for the Galaxy fans (weight 0.25): Many recommend the game to those who enjoy Race for the Galaxy or dice and board games. It is seen as a worthy purchase for fans of the series.
- Great for solo or without physical setup (weight 0.14): Reviewers recommend it for those who want to play without willing friends or family or cannot be bothered to set up the physical game. It makes the game more accessible.
- Valuable for multiple paths (weight 0.14): One reviewer suggests trying it if you like a game with lots of different paths to take. Another mentions it's worth the purchase at any price.
- Worth at low price only (weight 0.12): One reviewer says it is worth it only at a low price, otherwise pass. Another would buy again if DLC appears.
- Recommended for known regular partners (weight 0.12): One review advises only getting it if you will be playing with someone you know regularly. Another recommends it to anyone interested after reading the store page.
- Learn with AI or friend (weight 0.07): One reviewer recommends keeping playing with the AI or a friend to catch on. This suggests a learning curve but achievable with practice.
- Preference for BGA (weight 0.06): One reviewer will stick to BGA for now, indicating a preference for the online platform over this game.

Other player notes:
- Faithful digital board game adaptation (weight 0.78): Reviewers frequently note that the game is a faithful digital version of the physical board game Roll for the Galaxy. This adaptation preserves the core tabletop experience while adding digital conveniences. It is widely recognized as a direct implementation of the original board game.
- Comparison to Race for the Galaxy (weight 0.57): Many reviews compare this game to Race for the Galaxy, noting strong similarities and shared elements from the same developers. Some players find it more random or less interesting, while others prefer it over Race for the Galaxy. The game is seen as a dice-based spin-off that stands on its own.
- Expansions unavailable and anticipated (weight 0.51): Multiple reviewers mention that expansions are not yet available in the digital version, but there is strong desire for them. The Ambition expansion and other real-life expansions are specifically hoped for. Some note that at least one expansion is reportedly coming.
- Physical version exists and is owned (weight 0.3): Many reviewers own the physical board game version, which has expansions. Some bought it about 10 years ago. This familiarity with the tabletop version informs their digital experience.
- Positive developer support and updates (weight 0.27): The developer, Temple Gates, is praised for being responsive and taking good care of the game. Reviewers hope the developers continue to produce content for this adaptation. Some appreciate planned updates and ongoing support.
- Short and fast gameplay sessions (weight 0.19): The digital version allows for quick play sessions, often taking about 15 minutes once rules are understood. This is faster than the physical board game, with some reviewers noting short, quick sessions per play. The first game may take longer, around an hour.
- Game is inexpensive (weight 0.12): The game is described as not too bad on the wallet and inexpensive. This makes it accessible to a wide audience. It offers good value for the price.
- Multiplayer not tested by reviewers (weight 0.11): Several reviewers have not tried the multiplayer or online play features. This suggests that the multiplayer aspect is not a primary focus for some players. It remains an untested area in these reviews.
- Comparison to other board games (weight 0.11): Reviewers compare this game to Wingspan as an engine-building game and to Settlers of Catan with dice. These comparisons highlight its mechanics and genre. It is seen as similar to other popular board games.
- Steam Deck compatibility uncertain (weight 0.1): One reviewer notes that the game is not marked as Steam Deck verified. This indicates uncertainty about its compatibility with the Steam Deck. However, it does run on Linux.
- Request for Dominion app (weight 0.09): One reviewer requests that Rio Grande Games create a good Dominion app similar to the one shut down in 2017. They also mention that the Dominion online browser version is horrible. This is a separate request unrelated to the current game.
- Automation speeds up gameplay (weight 0.08): The app automates bookkeeping and makes the board game run faster. This reduces downtime and improves the overall pace. It is seen as a key advantage over the physical version.
- No automated test suite suspected (weight 0.05): One reviewer speculates that the game seems developed without an automated test suite. This may indicate potential bugs or instability. It is a minor concern raised.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.16): Players are frustrated by frequent crashes, often multiple times per session, and connection issues that disrupt play. There are also complaints about information being hidden behind clicks, mandatory actions in asynchronous games, and missing expansions. Randomness in dice rolling and an ineffective Investment Credits tile add to the frustration.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.16): Satisfaction comes from the game being a solid digital translation of the board game with an easy-to-use interface and competent AI. Features like the Auto button and automated reassignment rules make play quick and smooth. The tutorial and redesigned phase selection strip help players learn efficiently, and single-player options are appreciated.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.13): Players enjoy the fun and faithful digital rendition of the board game, which offers quick and well-balanced gameplay. The implementation works well for live play and AI matches, and the new mechanics from Race for the Galaxy add interest. The random dice element and addictive nature contribute to the enjoyment.
- Disappointment (weight 0.1): Disappointment stems from missing expansions and add-ons, making the game feel bland and lacking staying power. Poor performance on Steam Deck and difficulty finding online players are also issues. The tutorial does not address confusing aspects, and the AI is not as strong as Keldon's AI in the card game.
- Love (weight 0.06): Players love the game for its faithfulness to the board game, gorgeous visuals, and nice sound effects. The digital translation clarifies rules and speeds up play, leading to immediate affection after just one match. Overall enjoyment and appreciation for the implementation drive this emotion.
- Fun (weight 0.06): The game is fun due to its strategic reassign mechanic, dice rolling, and engine-building elements. Players enjoy benefiting from opponents' actions and spending an hour immersed in gameplay.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Appreciation arises from the game being a great way to learn the board game, with finely balanced dice mechanics and good luck mitigation. The beautiful cosmic-style illustrations and content-rich empire management are also valued.
- Excitement (weight 0.03): Excitement is driven by the game being very fun and challenging, with gameplay that can fly by in about 15 minutes once understood.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Admiration is felt because the game is flawlessly converted to the computer screen.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Enthusiasm comes from the many different paths to take and the game being in line with the card game.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Joy is experienced from fun times playing with a spouse when the game is working.
- Irritation (weight 0.02): Irritation is caused by having to frequently load and re-invite back into the game due to crashes.
- Interest (weight 0.02): Interest is sparked because the game is fast and requires careful counting and attention to other players.
- Mild frustration (weight 0.02): Mild frustration occurs when the time limit is too short after being away for more than 3 days.
- Mild enjoyment (weight 0.02): Mild enjoyment is felt because the game is fun in small spurts.
- Mild disappointment (weight 0.02): Mild disappointment is due to an expansion not being available.
- Challenge (weight 0.02): Challenge is provided by AI opponents, with normal difficulty reaching average opponent level and hard being challenging. The AI keeps players on their toes.
- Minor inconvenience (weight 0.02): Minor inconvenience is caused by occasional crashes that require relaunching but are recoverable.
- Confusion (weight 0.02): Confusion arises from unclear requirements for a description in the review form and uncertainty about whether reports reach responsible people. The dice acquisition logic is also unclear.
- Impressed (weight 0.02): Players are impressed because the game blew them away during testing.}