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Co-op Dice-Builder RPG2017
Too Many Bones box art
Co-op Dice-Builder RPG

Too Many Bones

A video-game power fantasy crammed into a box of poker chips and custom dice.

3.9 out of 53.9/5

Designed by Adam Carlson and Josh J. Carlson · 2017

Players1-4
Play time60-120 min
WeightMedium-Heavy
Ages12+
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The verdict

If you want the thrill of leveling up a hero without the homework of a giant campaign, this nails it. Just respect the learning curve and the price tag before you commit.

Best for: RPG and video-game fans who love watching a character grow stronger fight by fight.

The full review

What it is

Here's the pitch. You pick a Gearloc, one of four oddball little heroes, and you fight your way across a map toward a final boss called a tyrant. The clever bit is the dice. You don't start with powers, you train them. After each scrap you unlock new ability dice and roll them into your growing pool, so your hero gets visibly stronger fight by fight. Real players keep saying it captures the joy of leveling up in a video game better than almost anything else on cardboard.

The catch

Now the honest part. The rulebook is rough. Reviewers describe it as a wall of text with key rules buried on the player aids instead of the book, and one Euro-gamer admitted he spent a third of his playtime looking things up. The first few games can be painful to teach. It's also expensive, there are no minis for the money, and the character art sits in the uncanny valley enough that some folks flinch. Co-op groups should watch for one person quarterbacking too.

Who it's for

So who's this for? If you love RPGs and that grindy, satisfying climb of a hero getting tougher, and you don't mind a steep first night with the rules open on the table, this earns its shelf space. The combat is sharp, the dice never feel purely random, and it gets better every play. Euro purists chasing a quick clean teach should probably keep walking. Everyone else, dig in.

What other players say

This write-up is grounded in real reviews and player discussion, not just one opinion. A few worth reading:

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