Image taken from https://boardgamegeek.com/image/7091632/race-to-the-raft

Designer: Frank West
Publisher: The City of Games
Artists: Miguel Da Silva, Frank West

Race to the Raft is a card laying game where players cooperatively help cats avoid spreading fire and deliver them safely to their life saving raft. Every time a card gets added to the board, an oddly shaped fire tile must be placed on the board as well. Instead of placing a card, players can also spend a card to move a cat in a straight line. Once four cards have been utilized this way, another fire tile gets added to the board. Players lose if fire ever overtakes the cats or if they are unable to save any cat(s).

I really appreciate that the standard game is mechanically very easy to learn and play but it can definitely be challenging to win, depending on the scenario. There is also a more difficult variant that can be experimented with to increase that challenge level. Most importantly, I am very impressed with the sheer number of scenarios that are included. There are assuredly over fifty, likely more, and they’re all different and have varying degrees of difficulty. Some can also be played in a campaign; others, in addition to set up changes and goal differences, have specific objectives that need to be met which I really enjoy. Those are my favorite, as they typically require a specific order in which the cats need to arrive on the raft.

Besides the number of scenarios, the inherent variability from game to game is also very high. The boards used are double sided and there are many cards in the decks so no two games will ever be the same, even if you play the same scenario multiple times.

The solo game works really well. There’s nothing to keep up with, but there are a few small changes to the multiplayer rules to ensure it works for solo gaming.

My biggest qualm is in relation to the luck factor. Interestingly, the backs of each type of card indicate which terrain types are most likely to appear. If you know you need to have a red cat reach the raft first, then it’s probably wise to draw cards that have a large section of red terrain on the back. However, not all cards will have every color on it regardless of the size of the terrain on the back. In my experience, this can get a little frustrating, especially when you draw three cards to start the game (at least for solo) and it’s possible none of them have the color you need (this has happened to me if you can’t tell).

Overall, Race to the Raft is a solid, lighter cooperative game that plays pretty quickly, has minimal set up and take down, and plays well solo. It can be a little frustrating at times, but it’s a very fun game otherwise. I have enjoyed playing lots of different scenarios and increasing the difficulty level as I play. So far, it has provided a good challenge without seeming impossible, though I’m sure some of the later scenarios are quite difficult.