B.A.R: Bored Astronaut Racing

B.A.R is an abstract race game for 2 to 4 players. In the game, players attempt to move 2 astronauts through a space station with moving rings. Dice are used to represent power modules that enable astronauts to move, station rings to rotate, or enable the power modules to move themselves. However, the dice are not rolled, but are instead manipulated up and down in power. Players must efficiently control the power modules (dice), station rings (paths), and their astronauts to be the first player to move their astronaut pair to the race end points. The game includes several variations on setup and race style for 2, 3, and 4 player counts.

—description from the designer

On The Origins of B.A.R:

Orbiting a distant moon, the 4 occupants of a small space station sit around a table and stare out into the blackness of space.

“This is unbelievably boring!” an astronaut proclaims suddenly. The other 3 astronauts turn to face the speaker, shocked out of their own boredom. “Seriously… is this what we signed up for? Sitting around a table doing absolutely nothing?”

“We should be doing something adventurous,” a second one says.

“We should be doing something… exciting!” the third chimes in.

“We should be doing something dangerous?” the fourth states with raised eyebrows.

The silence returns to the table, then suddenly all four speak at the same time.

“I’ve got an idea!”

—description from the publisher