[Note: I received a free copy of this game in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.]
Heist movies are awesome. Building the crew, the meticulous planning, the eleventh hour obstacles to be overcome… and of course, getting away scot-free with your ill-gotten goods. The got and the scot, as no one says.
I love heist movies, and I love playing out heists in roleplaying games. So naturally, I’ve played more than my share of heist-centric board games.
It’s a tough thing to translate. How do you account for all of the variables in a way that’s fun, challenging, and engaging enough to encourage players to return to the table after the heist is done?
A lot of games have tried, and honestly, most of them come up short.
Disco Heist Laundry is one of the best I’ve seen.
First off, let’s give a shout-out to that name. That name is fantastic. You immediately get a sense of what this game is all about.
Set in 1980s Las Vegas, Disco Heist Laundry takes place in three acts, with each player representing a different criminal kingpin. You’re all trying to gather the resources, manpower, and intel necessary to fill your coffers, while avoiding an escalating police presence in the city. The more heists you pull, the more heat you attract.
Look at this board, there’s a lot going on.
You’ve got police barricades blocking streets, henchmen collecting resources, cops and snitches watching out for criminal activity, and the kingpins running the show.
Normally, I don’t particularly enjoy a board with this many pieces and moving parts, but in the case of Disco Heist Laundry, it enhances the game, rather than detracting. The board is BUSY and bright and it feels like chaos in Vegas as you play, watching neon henchmen roam the board as your flamboyant kingpin schemes to rake in stacks of cash.
The gameplay and aesthetics fit together seamlessly.
I adore the management of risk in this game, balancing benefits with consequences. You can feel the noose tighten as your wanted level rises, and even the money laundering (the ultimate goal of the game) comes with consequences that increase police presence and limit your movement around the board.
Plus you can play the game as solo or as adversarial as you like. Yes, the actions of other players can affect your game, but you can focus on the board in front of you and work mostly on your own tasks if you wish.
I appreciate a game where players can determine that level of interaction, according to their comfort level.
Disco Heist Laundry manages to combine the best of heist games and criminal empire games, allowing players to test their mettle at pulling strings across 20 different locations, all under the watchful eye of the cops.
I had an absolute blast playing this game (I actually forgot to take photos during our playtests because I was so into the gameplay), and it will definitely be returning to my tabletop soon.
[Disco Heist Laundry is for ages 14 and up, and it’s available from Rock Manor Games and participating websites, starting at $49.99. It will also be found in this year’s Holiday Puzzly Gift Guide, coming soon!]
