Pyramid Arcade: Sandships

Pyramid Arcade: Sandships is the expansion that brings Andrew Looney’s gameplay to Mars, where city conquest is everything. Each player starts with three colored pyramids and chooses a corner of the board to place their ‘spire’, the base of their fortress. The goal is simple: control three cities outside your own base, but the path to it is far more fun than it seems. You roll three dice and, with them, decide three actions in any order. You can transform a pyramid into a sandship, build on your base, extend a ship, or even push another player’s ship. Rolling a pair or triple grants you extra “wild” actions, letting you pick any other option. The game is quick, with 15‑30 minute sessions, and the dice‑rolling mechanic ensures each turn is unpredictable. The aesthetic is futuristic, with Martian cities and sandships that look like miniature spacecraft. The standout component is the Looney Pyramids, giving a playful touch and a unique look. If you enjoy abstract strategy games that blend a bit of luck with a lot of bargaining, Sandships will surprise you. It’s a great add‑on for those who already own the base game, but it also works well with any other Looney Pyramid game. The main drawback is a slightly steep learning curve: transformation and push rules require focus, and the pace can get hectic in four‑player games. Overall, though, it’s an expansion that brings a lot of fun and a uniquely Martian experience without being overly complex.