Rockwell

In Rockwell each player takes the role of a drilling company vying for lucrative contracts with the giant Rockwell corporation. Since Rockwell lacks in‑house teams, it buys stakes in specialized firms and pits them against each other on a flagship project: drilling down to the Earth's core. The win condition is to finish with the most Renown points, earned through three avenues – completing nine predefined achievements, making investments that grant renown, and holding majorities in resources or money at game end.

The game unfolds over three phases that repeat until an end‑game trigger occurs: a majority of players reach the core with their drill crews, or a player completes all nine achievements. Each round starts with a closed‑fist auction that determines the order in which each player's two vice‑presidents are deployed. Depending on the phase a vice‑president is used, they can corrupt rival crews, hire subcontractors to boost drilling power, or conduct market transactions, buying and selling resources.

Drill crews move at a fixed rate – one crew per round – and each crust tile has a resistance value. When the combined power of crews on a tile meets or exceeds that value, the tile is excavated, flipped, and an Extraction card is drawn, distributing discovered resources among the participants. Any indivisible remainder follows a priority chain (mine owner first, then highest drilling power, then the player who triggered the dig). After four rounds, mines placed on excavated tiles generate additional resources.

Beyond exploration, players can invest in upgrades: increase crew power (max 4), place up to three mines, improve mine safety to avoid extraction loss, and enhance crew movement. These choices force a balance between rapid expansion, stable resource income, or focusing on achievements. With a moderate weight (3.2/5) and about 90 minutes of play, Rockwell blends worker placement, area influence, and modular board design, delivering a tense semi‑cooperative experience that appeals to fans of economic and exploration games alike.