Ricochet Robots

Overview

Ricochet Robots is a puzzle-solving board game for any number of players, designed by Alex Randolph. Players simultaneously try to figure out how to move a specific robot to a target space on a grid board in the fewest moves possible. Robots slide in straight lines until they hit a wall or another robot (they have “no brakes”). Players mentally plan solutions, then bid the number of moves they need. The player with the lowest bid demonstrates their solution; if successful, they win the chip. The player who collects the most target chips wins.

Components

• 4 Double-sided board quadrants (assembled into a 16x16 grid)
• 1 Plexiglass center-piece (locks the quadrants together)
• 4 Colored robot pieces (Red, Blue, Green, Yellow) with matching tokens
• 17 Target chips (showing a colored symbol matching a target on the board)
• 1 Sand timer (approximately 1 minute)

Setup

1. Join the four board quadrants with either side up, holes toward the center. Secure with the plexiglass center-piece.
2. Place each of the 4 robots randomly on non-target spaces on the board.
3. Shuffle the 17 target chips face-down.
4. Place one target chip face-up on the center-piece to reveal the current target.

Turn Structure

Each round follows this sequence:

1. Reveal Target: Flip a target chip face-up. It shows a colored symbol corresponding to a marked space on the board.
2. Solve Mentally: All players simultaneously study the board and mentally work out how to move the matching robot to the target space. Any robot may be moved as part of the solution, but the correct-colored robot must end on the target.
3. Bid: When a player finds a solution, they announce the number of moves required. This starts the sand timer.
4. Timer Phase: Other players may announce lower bids before the timer runs out.
5. Demonstrate: The player with the lowest bid demonstrates their solution by moving the robots on the board. If correct, they take the target chip. If incorrect, the next-lowest bidder tries.
6. Reset: Return all robots to their positions before the round (or leave them if house rules dictate).

Actions

• Move a Robot: Slide a robot horizontally or vertically. The robot moves in a straight line until it hits a wall or another robot. This counts as one move.
• Bid a Number: Announce how many moves your solution requires. This starts or continues the bidding timer.
• Demonstrate Solution: Physically move the robots to show your solution works.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

• The player who successfully demonstrates the solution with the fewest moves takes the target chip.
• Victory conditions vary by player count:

Players	Chips to Win
2	8
3	6
4	5
5+	Agreed upon (or play all 17 and most wins)

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• No Brakes: Robots slide until hitting an obstacle. You cannot stop a robot in the middle of an open row/column.
• Any Robot Moves Count: To reach the target, you may move any robots (not just the target-colored one) as stepping stones. All moves count toward the bid.
• Ricochet Requirement: The active robot must ricochet (change direction via hitting an obstacle) at least once before reaching the target.
• Colored Walls (variant): Some board versions include colored walls that allow the matching robot through while blocking others.
• Diagonal Walls (variant): Some boards feature diagonal walls that redirect robots at 45 degrees.
• Portals (variant): Some boards include teleportation portals connecting distant board spaces.
• Tie Bids: If two players bid the same number simultaneously, priority goes to… the first to announce (house rules may vary).
• Failed Solution: If a bidder cannot demonstrate their solution in the bid number of moves, the next-lowest bidder tries.

Player Reference

Robot Movement: Slide until hitting wall or robot = 1 move

Round Flow: Reveal target -> All solve mentally -> Bid moves -> Timer starts -> Lowest bid demonstrates -> Winner takes chip

Victory: Collect the required number of target chips

Key Rule: Any robot can move, but the correct-colored robot must end on the target