Lunaris 45
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The FroGames Card
You have four dice in front of you and a list of potential disasters. Each die solves a problem, each problem pays you in credits. But the more you upgrade your equipment, the less your pay is worth. And in the end, someone laughs, someone else curses.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
You are an expert called to prevent lunar catastrophes. With dice.
Year 2023, historic announcement: LUNARIS 45 will be the first lunar colony managed entirely by artificial intelligence. An ambitious project, potentially revolutionary, but also vulnerable. Someone needs to identify every possible disaster before it happens. Costa and Rôla (Pile Up Games) build a dice puzzle where being good isn't enough: you have to decide how much to invest in your arsenal.
At the table, you are a scientist paid in credits for each problem solved. You roll dice, match their values to problem cards, buy upgrades (more dice, more rerolls, access to other players' dice), and accumulate credits. But there's a catch: the more upgrades you buy, the worse the credit-to-euro conversion rate becomes. In the end, the player who has best optimized the risk-reward ratio wins.
What they say abroad
"The year is 2023 and the world is buzzing with excitement as a groundbreaking new project is announced."
— Pile Up Games
It's a mathematical puzzle disguised as a space disaster. And it works precisely for that reason.
— FroGames
Lunaris 45
The game was designed to work solo: the mechanics remain identical, except that the shared network is yours and you manage the common dice. The experience is complete, perhaps even more fluid (no waiting). It only loses out on direct comparison at the end of the game, but the optimization challenge remains intact.
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews, and gameplay sessionsYour lunar arsenal
Four pillars of catastrophe prevention
Personal dice pool
You start with few dice. Each problem solved gives you credits to buy more. More dice = more possible combinations, but also worse euro conversion. The central dilemma of the game.
Reroll system
You buy additional rerolls with credits. Each reroll allows you to recalculate an unlucky hand. But it costs, and worsens the final conversion. Carefully calculate when it's truly needed.
Shared network
By paying for network access, you can use other players' dice to complete your combinations. Cooperative strategy in a competitive game: sometimes it's better than brute force.
Problem cards
Lunar disasters to prevent: solar storm, AI malfunction, atmospheric loss. Each requires specific value combinations. More difficult = more credits. Choose wisely which ones to tackle.
Come si gioca
Video dimostrativo di gameplay.
🎲How to playThe rules in four steps▼
How to play
The flow of each round
A turn is fast: roll, match, resolve, buy. Then pass. The pace is intense until someone starts over-optimizing.
Roll all the dice in your personal pool. Look at the results. Decide whether to use a re-roll (if you've bought any). Every die counts, but not always as you might think.
Choose a visible problem card on the table. Check if your dice (or those in the shared network, if you have access) meet the required combination. If so, resolve it. If not, pass or use a re-roll.
Each solved problem pays you in credits. The harder the problem, the more credits. But don't be fooled: credits are only valuable if the final conversion is good.
Spend credits to buy extra dice, re-rolls, or network access. Each purchase worsens your credit-to-euro conversion rate. This is the heart of the game: when to stop.
⏱️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 draws
Discover the first problem cards. Someone immediately complains: "This disaster needs three sixes, impossible." You mentally note: maybe it's the right time to buy an extra die. Everyone rolls their dice. Some match immediately, others swear.
First resolutions and upgrades
Someone solves the first problem, collects credits, immediately buys a re-roll. You have the perfect combo but decide to wait: solving NOW worsens the conversion too soon. This is when you realize the game isn't about dice, it's about economics.
The network activates
Someone buys access to the shared network and uses your dice to complete an impossible combo. You realize you had underestimated that feature. Everyone starts looking at other players' dice, not just their own. The table becomes a silent market of opportunities.
Greed strikes
You're halfway through credits, but you've already bought too many upgrades. You do the math: every euro earned now is worth less than before. Someone at the table laughs: "You've burned your conversion." Yes, maybe so. But you still have three turns to fix it. Or to sink completely.
Final tally
End of game: convert credits to euros according to your personal multiplier. Those who bought little win with narrow margins. Those who bought a lot discover that five upgrades cost more than they yield. There's always someone who says, "Next time I'll buy ONE less die." And tries again immediately.
🐸What to know beforehandThree honest things, from friends▼
What to know beforehand
Three honest warnings
The conversion is punitive
The more upgrades you buy, the worse the final multiplier becomes. It sounds like an interesting feature in words, but in practice, it punishes aggressive players. If you buy too much, you risk finishing last even if you've solved more problems. Some players find this counterintuitive and frustrating.
Downtime with slow players
If someone at the table optimizes every single move, the game slows down a lot. There's no interaction between turns, so you just wait. In solo play or with fast players, it runs very smoothly, but with 4 analytical players, it can become a wait.
Multiplayer is weak
The shared network is nice, but interaction remains minimal. There's no drafting, no direct blocking, no competition for limited resources. You essentially play in parallel. If you're looking for a solo puzzle, it's fine; if you're looking for competitive tension, look elsewhere.
🏆Victory and defeatWhat the ending rewards▼
How it ends
How to win and how to lose
The game ends when all problem cards have been resolved or no one can make any more moves. Credits are counted, the personal multiplier is applied, and the player with the most euros wins.
Victory
- Convert credits with the best possible ratio (few upgrades, many credits resolved)
- Use the shared network at the right time to solve impossible problems without buying dice
- Calculate the break-even between upgrade cost and long-term gain
Defeat
- Buy too many upgrades too soon and burn the final conversion
- Get stuck by an unlucky hand with no re-rolls available
- Underestimate network access and be left with unsolvable combos
Lunaris 45 is an economic puzzle disguised as a space disaster. If you like quiet optimization, it works. If you want real interaction, no.
💬Frequently Asked QuestionsQuick answers before checkout▼
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ about Lunaris 45
What mechanics does Lunaris 45 use?
Dice rolling, re-rolling, contracts, set collection. It's an evolved roll-and-write with economic management: you roll dice, match combinations to contracts (problem cards), and use credits to buy upgrades that, however, worsen your final conversion rate. The shared network adds a layer of cooperative optimization.
Does it work well solo?
Yes, in fact, it might be the best mode. The mechanics remain identical (you manage the shared network yourself), there's no downtime, and the optimization puzzle is intact. If you're looking for a brainy 30-minute solo game, Lunaris 45 does the job.
How long does a real game last?
The box says 25-50 minutes. With fast players and 2 people, it's about 30 actual minutes. With 4 players, even with just one slow optimizer, it easily goes over 50. Solo play is very fast, 20-25 minutes.
Is it too complicated for a family game?
No, the rules are immediate: roll, match, resolve, buy. The theme helps (lunar disasters to prevent). The real complexity is in the long-term economic calculation, but that emerges while playing. For a family game with a minimum appetite for optimization, it's good; for small children, no.
Is it available in Italian?
This edition is in English. The text on the problem cards is present but minimal (names of disasters and required combinations). With a basic level of school English or a fan translation of the cards, you can play without problems. The rulebook is in English.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it - and what else they've done.
Lunaris 45 is a resource management and optimization board game for 1-4 players, lasting 25-50 minutes, recommended age 10+. Designed by Costa and Rôla for Pile Up Games (2023), it combines dice rolling, contracts, and a punitive economic upgrade system: the more you buy, the worse your final credit conversion becomes. Sci-fi theme (AI-managed lunar colony), immediate mechanics but with strategic depth. Excellent for solo play, it works as a gateway game for those who want a brainy puzzle without too much interaction. Available on FroGames.it.
Lunaris 45
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
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