Drillers
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You are at -4. Your mech has enough fuel to ascend, but the best minerals are one level down. You draw the card, dig deeper, and when you return to the surface, you discover someone else has modified the tunnels. Now you have to rethink everything.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Drilling mechs, forgotten mines, and never enough fuel
Drillers comes from Roman Bednář and Adam Španěl for Czech Games Edition, with illustrations by Ondřej Hrdina, Jiří Kůs, Jiří Mikovec, and Jakub Politzer. A mining company has disappeared, the mine is still full of valuable resources, and you are here with your mechs inspired by real industrial vehicles to extract everything you can before you run out of fuel.
Each turn, you choose how to use your cards (they are all multi-purpose), decide whether to descend another level or ascend to sell, and discover that your moves change the opportunities for others. Fuel drops, tunnels open, drones automate logistics if you have credits. The question is always the same: how deep can you afford to dig before you have to ascend?
This is the original English edition from Czech Games Edition: rulebook, cards, and components in English. The iconography does most of the work at the table, but keep this in mind if you play with people who don't speak the language.
What they say abroad
"Every card is multi-use. Every turn is a puzzle."
Every card is multi-use. Every turn is a puzzle.
— Czech Games Edition
It's a newly released game, with few documented plays. What intrigues us is the Future Sight mechanic (see the next card in the deck before drawing it), which promises to transform hand management into something different. We will update this card as soon as we have enough feedback from the community.
— FroGames
Drillers
Solo play is officially supported (1-4 players), but there is still no documentation on how the solo mode works exactly (automaton? dedicated rules? scenarios?). The indirect interaction (your moves change the board for everyone) might lose its bite without opponents, but the puzzle of deck optimization and fuel management remains intact.
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · first reading: based on rulebook and official presentation, updated with first playsWhat you'll find in the mine
Four elements that define the game
Drilling Mechs
Four miniatures inspired by real industrial vehicles. Each has a player board and a dedicated deck. You upgrade them with cards you collect as you descend levels.
Multi-use cards
110 cards including player, action, damage, and event cards — all in English. Each card has multiple functions: you can use it to dig, move, sell, or add it to your engine. Every turn is a puzzle of choices.
Fuel management
The deeper you go, the more fuel you consume. If you run out of fuel before ascending, you lose everything. The tension is constant: the best minerals are always one level deeper.
Logistic Drones
Instead of manually ascending to sell minerals, you can send drones. They cost credits but leave you free to continue digging. Automation that changes strategy.
Recommended sleeves 110 cards in 1 size ▼
If you play often, we recommend protecting cards with clear sleeves to make them last longer.
| Size | Quantity |
|---|---|
| 63.5 × 88 mm | 110 |
| Total cards | 110 |
🎲How to playThe rules in four steps▼
How to play
The flow of each round
Each round is a cycle of choices: decide how to use your multi-purpose cards, where to move in the mine, whether to descend or ascend, whether to sell or continue. Fuel depletes, opportunities change.
Each card has multiple functions. Choose how to use it: drill, move, sell, upgrade. You can't do everything; each choice excludes others. This is the core of the game.
Descend a level (costs fuel), explore new tunnels, collect minerals. Or ascend to sell. Your moves alter the board: open opportunities or close passages for everyone.
If you're on the surface, sell minerals for credits. Use credits to buy better cards and add them to your deck, or activate drones to automate logistics. Your engine grows.
Check if you have enough fuel to ascend. If you run out of fuel underground, you lose all your cargo. Each descent is a calculation: how deep can you afford to dig?
⏱️Your first gameThe chronicle, moment by moment▼
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Setup and first choices
Choose your mech, look at the board, read the three starting cards — they're in English, but the iconography tells most of the story. Someone immediately asks, "does this card do two things?" Yes, all cards do at least two things. Welcome to the puzzle.
First descents
Everyone descends a level, collects minerals, returns to the surface. It seems easy. Then someone opens a side tunnel and changes opportunities for everyone. You realize that every move here also affects others.
First sale and first upgrades
You return to the surface, sell minerals, buy a better card. Your deck starts doing things. Someone gets drones and automates logistics. Strategies diverge: some climb vertically, some invest in automation.
Critical fuel
You're at -5, with just enough fuel to ascend, but there's a rare mineral one level below. You take it. You dig. You ascend with an almost empty tank. Someone at the table says, "I wouldn't have made it." You did, but just for one turn.
End of game
Someone built a perfect engine and scales like a train. Someone got stuck halfway and had to ascend three times. Credits are counted, suicidal descents are laughed at, someone immediately wants to play again with a different mech.
🐸What to know beforehandThree honest things, from friends▼
What to know beforehand
Three things no one tells you
Future Sight: see the next card
Unlike other deck-building games where you draw blindly, here you always see the next card in your deck before drawing it. It changes everything: you can plan combos, decide when to draw, evaluate risks. It's the twist that makes Drillers different from Dominion or Clank.
Fuel is unforgiving
It's not a decorative resource token. It's the physical timer of the game. Descend too far without calculating the return, and you lose your cargo. There's no save, no plan B. Those used to relaxed engine builders need to change their mindset.
It's the CGE English edition
Cards, rulebook, and boards are in English. Iconography does most of the work, and the technical vocabulary is limited (fuel, credits, drill, sell), so it plays well even with basic English. But if you play with people who don't read English, be aware: the explainer will need to translate cards.
🏆Victory and defeatWhat the ending rewards▼
How it ends
How to win and how to lose
The winner is whoever accumulates the most credits by selling minerals and building the most efficient engine. It's not enough to dig deep: you need to ascend, sell, and reinvest.
Victory
- You accumulate credits by selling minerals on the surface
- You build an efficient deck that allows for deep descents and safe returns
- You optimize the risk-reward ratio: you dig just enough without running out of fuel
Defeat (or wasted game)
- You run out of fuel underground and lose all your cargo
- You ascend too early out of fear: you earn little, your engine doesn't grow
- You ignore other players' moves and find yourself with closed tunnels and missed opportunities
Drillers promises a calculated deck-building with constant push-your-luck. It's just released, data is scarce, but the Future Sight mechanic and indirect interaction intrigue us. If you like optimizing and taking risks at the right time — and English at the table doesn't scare you — keep an eye on it.
💬Frequently Asked QuestionsQuick answers before checkout▼
Frequently Asked Questions
Drillers FAQ
What mechanics does Drillers use?
Deck-building (build your deck by buying cards), hand management (choose how to use multi-purpose cards), resource management (fuel and credits), area movement (you move through mine levels), push-your-luck (decide how deep to go before ascending). There's also open drafting (choose cards from a common pool) and delayed purchase (buy when you return to the surface).
Do you need to know English to play?
This is the English edition from Czech Games Edition: cards, boards, and rulebook are in English. The vocabulary is technical but limited (fuel, credits, drill, sell, upgrade), and iconography guides almost all actions. With basic English, you can play smoothly; if playing with someone who doesn't read English, the explainer will need to translate cards the first time.
Is it a difficult game to learn?
Medium-high complexity (3.2 on BGG). The basic rules are clear (play cards, move, collect, sell), but multi-purpose cards require planning, and fuel calculation needs to be done every turn. The first game involves 15-20 minutes of explanation, then it flows. It's not a gateway game, but not a monster either.
Does it scale well from 1 to 4 players?
Yes, it officially supports 1-4 players. Solo play is included in the basic rules. Indirect interaction (your moves change opportunities for everyone) works better with 3-4 players, but the deck optimization puzzle remains solid even solo. Variable duration: 30 minutes per player.
Is it similar to any other games?
If you know Clank! you already have half the mindset (deck-building with push-your-luck and map movement). The difference is Future Sight (seeing the next card) and more punitive fuel management. It's not Dominion with a pasted-on theme: exploration and risk are core mechanics, not decoration.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they've done.
Drillers is a deck-building and resource management board game for 1-4 players, designed by Roman Bednář and Adam Španěl and published by Czech Games Edition. Each game lasts 30-120 minutes (approx. 30 minutes per player), recommended age 12+. Players pilot drilling mechs in an abandoned mine, collect minerals, build their card deck, and manage fuel in a constant push-your-luck system. The distinctive mechanics are Future Sight (seeing the next card before drawing it) and indirect interaction (your moves change opportunities for everyone). Illustrations by Ondřej Hrdina, Jiří Kůs, Jiří Mikovec, and Jakub Politzer. Original CGE English edition, available at FroGames.it.
Drillers
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
📸Do the images match the actual product?
The photos on the website often come from BoardGameGeek and are intended to give you an idea of the game. They may vary slightly from the version you receive. The content declared by the publisher is always binding.
📦Does the content of the box match what is indicated?
We always strive to provide the correct content, but minor variations are possible due to reprints or updates. The information comes directly from the publishers. If you have any questions, please contact us!
⏳How do pre-orders work?
Pre-order the game before release, payment is immediate, and the game is reserved for you. As soon as it arrives, we'll ship it right away! If there are any delays, we'll update you promptly.
🔒Can I trust buying here?
Absolutely! Secure payments, tracked shipments, and a team that loves board games as much as you do. If something goes wrong, we'll do our best to fix it.
🛠There's a problem with my order, what should I do?
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