Inhuman Conditions: A Game of Cops and Robots

I like this game first off. Its a two player game where one player is interrogating the other to try to find out if they are a robot or a human. It’s basically the interrogation test from the blade runner movies, which this is not a tie in with so it’s definitely not mentioned anywhere, but it definitely reminds me of that And if you’ve seen those films you’ll instantly have a good idea of what this is.It can be a bit confusing to set up and get going the first time since the instructions don’t really fully lay out what all the cards mean in a super clear way so that’s one of my complaints. I also think that the game can be tough for people to know how to act when they’re doing the suspect role. For me the best way to do it is to play to the role of your character card so if it says you are a “robot rights activist” then try to act like that character.Another problem I have is that it can be really really difficult to figure out if the suspect is a robot or not when you’re the investigator. I feel like they could have included some more mechanics to help get you there but as it is it can basically feel pretty much like guess work. It also feels like it really depends on how seriously the suspect takes things. But since they also don’t want to be found out if they are a human it is... a tough problem to figure out. All in all the experience of the game seems to really depend on how into the role play they players are, with more role play being better.The materials are especially nice and set the mood of the game well. Build quality seems very good. I’ve played it a few times and it is still something I want to go back to for sure. I love the mechanic they have where if the suspect is a robot they have something they can’t do which is revealed to them on a card and if they do it they have to perform an action that both players know about or else they will have to act like they are malfunctioning at the end of the game. An example is one card says, “give an answer with only 5 words in it.” So the suspect has to quickly think of how to do this, and the interrogator has to really stay on top of wether or not they heard an answer with only 5 words.Obviously this completely depends on the players being really honest and also realizing when they screwed up so again, this game is better if both players take it really seriously, but it has a lot to offer and is a great two player game, which is always nice to have when large groups can’t be found! Overall I definitely recommend it if you’re ready for a game where you have to do some role play and acting to get anything out of it.

I learned about this game from a board game YouTube channel I follow and had to get it. This game is a lot of fun, but fair warning, the fun depends on the people you play with. For those who like improv, or deception games, this is a perfect match. There are so many different conversation themes and character backgrounds that you could play this a thousand times and it will be different each time. Best part is that a game lasts 5 minutes! For anyone who’s concerned that this is a two player game, there are scenarios in the booklet for playing with a group of people that is a blast.

I introduced this game to my friend group who aren’t too into roleplay, but the theme, components, art, and even the timer app made the atmosphere of this game very easy to get into. Plus, there’s an optional ‘sealed file’ rule that lets you play as yourself, which can be good for new or shy players. This game makes for fun evenings and interesting gameplay/roleplay. The other night, my friend began the game as a patient robot and admitted it to the investigator. He spent the five minutes not convincing the investigator he WAS a human, but rather convincing the investigator to stamp him as one so he could go back to his normal robot life. Was awesome to watch play out. This game definitely isn’t for everyone, but its a good introduction for people who are new to roleplaying for sure.

This is a crackerjack experience for roleplayers - more casual players might find it difficult to get into the proper mindset, and it requires a lot of self-auditing for "patient robots." I recommend a few practice rounds to properly orient both the investigator and the suspect.Otherwise, this is wonderful for improvisational roleplay, and the central tension is extremely compelling. I recently sustained damage to my copy of the game and the creators were kind enough to send me another for free. They're great - and so are you for supporting independent creators. :)

Good game, but takes a lot of brain power to understand. Once you’ve done the suggested “practice run” it makes much more sense. An on-line video of the set-up, rules, etc. would be a real plus. But it is fun being a robot and trying to out wit the investigator. And the scenarios are a riot. “You are a dean of a clown college.” “Insult the investigator twice.” The game is extremely well packaged and the design of the components is very clever. But the instructions take two or three read through, and then you must do the “practice game” to really “get it”. Not a game for lazy headed people.

I bought this game based on a simple description and I was caught completely off guard by how much fun it is. The one catch is that it did take a bit to understand the rules, but once you get it down, it is a quick and easy way to make an entire afternoon disappear while having a blast.

This is an incredibly fun game. Also a great way to find out if your friends are actually robots.You can play it so many times it’s kind of insane.It does take a little bit to get through the instructions, learning the rules and how to play. So worth it though. Definitely one of my all time favorites.

Very, very clever game. Worth it for the design and interesting components alone. Had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs playing with my boyfriend, I have only two (mild) critiques. 1) The rounds with the humans tend to be a bit duller as there isn't much for the human to do and 2) the role of the investigator is really hard! Would still definitely recommend picking it up.

My copy came a little scuffed, because it was in a box with no padding whatsoever. The game itself is fantastic though, and is a great filler for a game night! It's a very good introduction to role-playing and helps people warm up to the idea easily.