The Rocketeer: Fate of the Future is a small board game that was published in 2022, and I'm not really sure why. It's based on the 1991 film, but it's a year late for the film's 30th anniversary, and in any case there wasn't much of an anniversary celebration that I'm aware of. But none of that really matters. I bought the game because The Rocketeer is one of my favorite films, based on one of my favorite comic books.
The game was designed by Prospero Hall, the design collective known primarily for what I call "Barnes & Noble games," light strategy games based on recognizable film and television properties that you would expect to see tastefully displayed at your local mall book store. This is not a criticism. These types of games frequently serve as gateways to get new players into the board gaming hobby, and to do that effectively, these games need to be easy to play, visually stunning, and remind players of the the intellectual property they're based on. The Rocketeer: Fate of the Future does all of that very well.
It's a two player game. One player controls the heroes: Cliff Secord, his girlfriend Jenny, and his irascible mechanic friend Peevey. The other player controls the villainous Neville Sinclair and his henchmen, gangster Eddie Valentine and hulking brute Lothar. All the memorable characters from the film are covered. The game consists of playing cards that move the various characters along the board, where they gain resources, fight to take possession of the plans to the fabulous rocket pack, and most importantly, draw Finale cards that provide victory points based on where everyone is at the end of the game.
Once you get past the theme, the actual game play is a bit too simple to be really interesting. If it weren't based on a beloved film, the game would be mediocre at best. But that's the point. It is based on a beloved film, and it evokes that film at every turn, from the 1930s style graphic design to the stunning artwork that reflects the characters without looking too much like the actors -- the decision not to use still photos from the actual film was a good one, as the artwork plays on hazy memories of the movie rather than the possible reality that it may be a little dated and not quite as good as we remember it being.
The real stroke of genius, though, is that the movie's plot is essentially about the characters running around to to different locations and fighting over the plans to the fabulous rocket pack. While it may not be a brilliant game in and of itself, it is an excellent simulation of the film. And that's all a game like this needs to be.
- The Rocketeer: Fate of the Future official website
- The Rocketeer: Fate of the Future on BoardGameGeek