A Board Game Inspired By Real-World Computer Parts...

Given the week I’ve just had with my own computer this game feels very relevant. Computer Junkyard is a new board game by Dream Egg Games that centres around building your computer out of a load of old and spare parts, and becoming the first player to be able to load the old game that you found that won’t play on your modern machine.

At it’s heart Computer Junkyard is an abstract strategy puzzle game, The game was funded on Kickstarter last year, raising just shy of $250,000. I saw copies at UK Games Expo, and a number of people walking around with them in bags or tucked under their arms, but you should shortly be able to pick up your own copy through retail.

I’ve not managed to play the game, but am looking forward to getting it on to a table and giving it a spin as I’m a fan of puzzle builders, and the theme of Computer Junkyward certainly appeals to me too. Even if my own computer experiences this week have had me thinking of adding to that ‘junkyard’ as opposed to sifting through it to build my own machine…

So, what’s the game about….

You found a box of old computer games at a yard sale and can’t wait to play them with your friends. To your dismay, modern computers won’t run them. Instead, you each race to build your own vintage computer out of spare parts. Welcome to the Computer Junkyard, the perfect place to find all the components you will need! Scavenge for parts, sabotage your opponents, trade with your friends, and do it all with the cash in your pockets. Be the first to complete a computer good enough to run your game!

In Computer Junkyard, players assemble hardware tiles to construct a vintage computer. The first player to have a complete, bug-free computer, which meets the specifications necessary to run their unique computer game, is the winner.

The primary mechanic of Computer Junkyard is the physical assembly of hardware tiles. Each player attaches their hardware together like puzzle pieces, connecting them up to a central motherboard tile to fit within a 9x9 chassis grid.

Players collect hardware by purchasing tiles randomly drawn from the central Junkyard, or by freely making trades with other players. Players begin with a limited amount of money, which they must manage as hardware tiles increase in price as their supplies decrease.

During their turn, players may purchase hardware, attempt to steal hardware from their opponents, or sabotage an opponent by attaching a computer bug tile to their computer.

The game is for 2-4 players, ages 14+, and usually plays in 60-90 minutes.