by Ilse
Hey guys, it's been a while (again), but since the gaming season is in full swing again I felt like giving another update on the games I've played for the first time over these past few months. I very much enjoyed writing in this format last time so I'm continuing the trend, yes it's a trend now since this is the second time! Please keep in mind that these are only opinions and while I use the term 'review' quite a few of these games have been played under 5 times and a first impression may have been a better title for those. It's been a great 3 months with moslty good games and even some great ones so without further ado....
New and noteworthy!
Food Truck Champion
Food truck champion comes in a rather small box but don’t let that fool you, there’s quite a bit of game in there! The multi-card use in this game leads to very interesting decisions to be made because you can only use it for one of the 3 options. The ‘follow the leader’ way the actions work increase player interaction and makes timing of when to do which action important, it drags the game out of the multiplayer solitaire it would’ve been otherwise. Cards are never discarded, they return to the market, making them available for opponents might not always be what you want. The artwork is bright, the theme is present and you get a feeling of accomplishment when you broaden your food truck horizon. The biggest let down here is the component quality, I did not like the tiny wooden popularity markers and the cards were VERY thin. I’m still on the ledge about replayability, I wonder if it stays fun for long. During my one play it did feel like rinse and repeat towards the end but more plays will probably help me decide on that in the future.
[microbadge=1769]Theme
[microbadge=1769]Artwork
[microbadge=1769] Multi card use
[microbadge=1769] Non-mean player interaction
[microbadge=1769] Feeling of accomplishment
[microbadge=1769] Small box, ‘big’ game
[microbadge=1772] Component quality
[microbadge=1772] Replayability?
Roll to the Top!
I mean it, there are not enough roll & write games out there to please me yet, I’d like at least a few dozen more before they might start to bore me. When I saw this on Kickstarter I immediately went for the package deal, well after playing a few test games on the online application that is. A very clever and simple roll and write game where you race to the top of whichever monument / building you have chosen. You place a number at the bottom and the number on top of it must be equal or higher, you can only place a number on top of filled in spaces. It’s an interesting quick game where you want to fill in all the numbers and race to the top but you have to make sure you don’t get you numbers too high, that’ll slow you down near the end! There are many different maps making it more replayable but I do find that it gets repetitive after a little while. Sometimes you can see that you’ll lose a few turns before it’s over which makes the game drag just a little too long. I would recommend this game to the roll and write fans out there, but it’s not one of my favorite roll and writes.
[microbadge=1769] Clever and simple design
[microbadge=1769] Addictive
[microbadge=1769] Accessible
[microbadge=1769] Many different maps
[microbadge=1772] Repetitive
[microbadge=1772] Can drag near the end
VivaJava: The Coffee Game: The Dice Game
Roll & Write games are somewhere on the top of my list of favorite game mechanisms and VivaJava with an appealing theme and look was very welcome on my gaming table. A friend had bought the game and we went through the rules together. The rules are very tiny (English edition) which made it an unpleasant read but once you get playing you forget about that little downside since your quickly drawn in by the light hearted race / dice game VivaJava is. There’s a lot of different abilities in the game which makes it very replayable, and you can’t pursue them all every game so paths to victory can be explored with any combination. Don’t go planning ahead though, what you roll will narrow down your options quite a bit and you have to make the best of that. It’s a light game which doesn’t overstay it’s welcome with a 30 minute playtime and a lot of differentiation between different plays. Artwork is beautiful, works great with 2 and offers more decision making than the average roll & write game. The dice don’t play the game, you still do.
[microbadge=1769] Appealing theme / artwork
[microbadge=1769] light and fast Roll & Write
[microbadge=1769] Enough decisions to make
[microbadge=1769] Fun race
[microbadge=1769] Replayability
[microbadge=1772] Rulebook is tiny
[microbadge=1772]Player aid would be nice (a nice on is included in the German version)
[microbadge=1772]Not as accessible (quite a few abilities to explain to entry level gamers)
Forbidden Desert
I’m cheating a little bit, I’ve played this before a few years ago but it was so far gone it felt like a new game. You’ll rarely see co-operative games in my overviews for the simple reason of me disliking them, but every now and then I make an exception. And every now and then I’m glad I did. Forbidden Desert is a perfectly fine co-operative game with the regular flaws which are more of a people problem than a game problem but I’m not going to talk about that now. I’ve played it a few times with my mom and since we’re both quite relaxed people it was a joy to play. The components of this game is what drew me in the first time, together with the theme which is very nicely implemented. I really feel like we’re racing against time to get out of this desert and find our flying thing (is it plane? I don’t remember). The rules are straight forward, the different complexity levels invite you to take on the challenge several times as do the different player roles making it a very replayable game. I like it most with 2, it gets chaotic with more, communication gets harder and it just takes quite a bit longer to play. Another downside might be when you get unlucky with the cards and get 2 sunburns in a row, that can really throw you of, but it’s not a big issue for me.
[microbadge=1769] Immersive Theme
[microbadge=1769] Nice components/artwork
[microbadge=1769] Very replayable
[microbadge=1769] Challenging enough
[microbadge=1772]Dominant players will take away enjoyment
[microbadge=1772] Chaotic at higher player counts
[microbadge=1772] Luck of the draw
Raiders of the North Sea: Solo Variant
I’m a big fan of Raiders of the North Sea, it’s probably in my top 20 worker placement games and I’ve played quite a few of those. I’m not a sologamer by any means but for the sake of completion I added the solo variant to my collection. Shortly after acquiring the solo variant I had some spare time on my own and was curious enough to get it to the table. I was pleasantly surprised how easily an AI was implemented here, there was hardly any AI control I had to do during its turn. Flip over a card, blocks a location and check if it raids and on to the next turn. It was very fun actually and I had the feeling of a multiplayer game when plunders vanished in front of my eyes. It’s a perfect implementation in my book, but do remember I haven’t seen many solo games before. I might actually get this to the table again in the future, with expansions next time!
[microbadge=1769] Feels like a multiplayer game
[microbadge=1769] AI is easily managed
[microbadge=1769] Plays smooth
[microbadge=1769]Tension still there
[microbadge=1772]It's still more fun to play with real opponents
Cacao
Cacao is a family weight tile laying game and has proven to be very accessible to non-gamers in my groups. There is more to it than just placing tiles because of the workers on the borders of those tiles. They will activate adjacent tiles (once for each worker) making it important to play the most optimal tiles at the right time and trying not to give away too much to opponents. It’s one of those games that’s both enjoyable for gamers and families out there. Nothing new or overly original here but it works like a charm. The theme is a little pasted on making it a rather abstract experience.
[microbadge=1769] Accessible
[microbadge=1769] Quick
[microbadge=1769] Engaging for experienced gamers and casual gamers
[microbadge=1769] Interesting decisions to make
[microbadge=1772] Theme could’ve been anything
[microbadge=1772] Nothing new/original
Holmes: Sherlock & Mycroft
I bought this game because I like the main mechanics in it, Worker Placement and Set Collection. I’m not a big fan of the Sherlock Holmes theme but I could look past it and went on with the purchase anyway. It did not disappoint, Sherlock vs Mortiary is a quick and simple set collection game with quite some replayability since the possible worker placement locations are cards that show up in a different order every session and there are more cards than ‘days’ to reveal them which means not all locations show up every game. Every round a new location is added increasing the options gradually towards game end which makes it an accessible game you can explain on the go. The set collection is fun and the way the scoring works is quite intriguing, you can’t just ditch a complete set because your opponent will score more for it if you do. Thematically this could have been anything, I never had the feeling I was playing a Sherlock Holmes game and that didn’t bother me at all but it might be an issue for some. All in all I would definitely recommend this game.
[microbadge=1769] Elegant WP/Set collection for 2
[microbadge=1769] Accessible
[microbadge=1769] Quick
[microbadge=1769] Engaging
[microbadge=1769] Interesting scoring system
[microbadge=1769] Replayability
[microbadge=1772]Theme isn't present
Hanamikoji
There are a few 2-player games on this list and this one intrigued me most after reading the rules. A random card in the box, only 4 actions and a very straight forward ruleset. All this makes for a very simple yet clever design. Timing is key, at the start you can only take your own cards into account but as the game unfolds more information becomes available and you’ll have to adjust your thinking. The artwork is wonderful and the theme is somewhat original but not really present for me in the gameplay. It’s a tiny box that offers a lot of options.
[microbadge=1769] Beautiful
[microbadge=1769] Clever and simple design
[microbadge=1769] 4 actions, endless possibilities
[microbadge=1769] Lots of positive interaction
[microbadge=1772] Theme isn’t present
[microbadge=1772] Memory aspect present (yet it’s manageable)
Ticket to Ride: New York
Ticket to Ride: New York, or Ticket to Ride in 15 minutes, is basically ticket to ride without any modifications except for some extra points you can score on the map. It’s a tiny map that gets filled up in 15 minutes and works perfectly as a quick filler game. I enjoy Ticket to Ride but sometimes I find it takes just a little too long for what it is, and TTR NY solves that problem perfectly. It’s not easier than it’s big brother so it’s not TTR kids by any means, it offers exactly the same fun things the original game offers and that’s quite fine by me. Will I add it to the collection? Probably not since I already own 2 TTR boxes and have enough filler games on my shelves already, but if I didn’t I would.
[microbadge=1769] Ticket To Ride in 15 minutes without loss of quality
[microbadge=1769] Quick
[microbadge=1769] Fun
[microbadge=1772] Nothing new so no reason for me to acquire it
Wits & Wagers
A lot of older games have made it to the table these past few months and this is one of them, I’ve always been curious about this party game but couldn’t justify adding it to the collection since I don’t have big groups over for games too often. I’m a huge fan of simple party games like this, there is a trivia element which some might dislike but the questions are often so farfetched that it’s a guessing game for the most part. It’s gambling and guessing combined with some funny questions which will have everyone laughing about it in no time. Don’t expect any depth or serious game mechanics, this is just fun in a box.
[microbadge=1769] Easily explained
[microbadge=1769] Perfect for bigger groups
[microbadge=1769] Funny
[microbadge=1772] It’s a guessing game, not a trivia game
[microbadge=1772] Don’t expect depth
Nusfjord
A worker placement game by Uwe Rosenberg which feels a lot like Agricola/Caverna with some neat little twists and a shorter gameplay. It plays very quick but still offers a lot to think about. Different cards can be used every game and this is what adds replayability to the game, otherwise there are no changes from game to game. I like the way the fish contracts work and the way you provide your elders with fish. There are only 2 types of resource and there is a whole lot you have to take into account when using and distributing them. I find it a very elegant resource management game and it actually stands out quite a bit from other worker placement games I’ve played. I found it very refreshing and would love to explore this game a little more.
[microbadge=1769] Shorter Uwe Rosenberg
[microbadge=1769] Elegant resource management design
[microbadge=1769] Fresh, new twists
[microbadge=1769] different strategies viable
[microbadge=1772] Only cards add replayability
[microbadge=1772] While there are some new twists it still feels a lot like his other games
Origami
A game with Origami-folded animals, where do I sign up for a copy? I bought this after I heard a praise about this game from a gaming buddy and again I’m glad to have gotten the advice. Origami fits a lot of replayability in that tiny little box. There are 5 types of animal and in a 2-player game you use 2 types and so on. You can play with any types you want and they all have their own deck with special abilities and combos to discover. A card can be used as payment or can be built, the multi use cards offer some interesting decision making. There is quite some text on the cards which may be a little much for casual gamers at a first glance but after a round or two everyone should have gotten the hang of it making it a rather accessible game. I very much enjoyed my plays of Origami and find it’s a lighter family game that plays well at any player count and offers enough replayability to keep it on the shelves for at least a little longer.
[microbadge=1769] Beautiful artwork
[microbadge=1769] Multi-use cards, interesting decisions
[microbadge=1769] Accessible
[microbadge=1769] Scales well
[microbadge=1769] Plays quick
[microbadge=1772] Quite some text on the cards, not intuitive
Targi
Targi is a meatier 2-player game that’s pretty abstract but offers different strategies with a straight forward ruleset. The replayability lies in the modular board and when which cards / possible combos show up. Buying those cards and using them to your best advantage will lead the way to victory. I found it a very clever gamed and really enjoyed my few plays of it but there are some downsides too. There’s quite some text on some of the cards and a lot of that could have been made clearer with iconography, everyone takes different cards and it’s difficult to keep track of your opponents special abilities at all times. There’s also not much you can do, get resources, buy cards or get some points and do this over and over. It drags on just a little too long to keep it interesting until the end but I’m gladly keeping it in the collection because the positives outweigh the negatives for me in this game.
[microbadge=1769] Replayability
[microbadge=1769] Fun puzzle
[microbadge=1769] Clever
[microbadge=1769] Straight forward ruleset with quite some depth
[microbadge=1772] Quite some text on the cards
[microbadge=1772] Rinse and repeat
[microbadge=1772] Drags a little too long near the end
Karuba: The Card Game
Being a fan of Karuba I could not let the card game pass me by and while it still gives somewhat the same feeling with the tile laying aspect its different enough from its predecessor. There’s a highly interactive bidding part to the game, play the lowest cards and lose 1 of your 2 chosen cards. Tile laying is just as solitaire as the board game but there is no race towards the temples anymore so you can just relax and build your own route without keeping an eye on all the other playerboards. Player count is increased from 4 to 6 players max which works perfectly fine and just like the board game there game doesn’t slow down with increasing player count. It works at all player counts but is most tight at 2 players during the bidding phase. I liked it a lot, if I had to name a downside it’d be the luck of the draw.
[microbadge=1769] Quick (15 mins)
[microbadge=1769] Interactive bidding part but solitaire building
[microbadge=1769] Up to 6 players
[microbadge=1769] No downtime
[microbadge=1769] Family friendly
[microbadge=1772] Luck of the draw
Star Realms: Frontiers
If you know the rules for Star Realms you know the rules for Star Realms Frontiers. It’s nothing new but there are different cards so if you’ve gotten too familiar with the original this is a nice addition to shake things up. I own everything Star Realms and have grown to like it over time. It’s an elegant simple head to head combat game with the most basic deckbuilding mechanics there are but it’s just utterly enjoyable in its simplicity. What I liked most from the Frontiers campaign are the Command decks which give every player a personal starting deck and really shake things up and force players to find the best strategies for each commander. This increases replayability a lot and keeps you coming back to figure out new combos.
[microbadge=1769] More of the same (which I don’t mind)
[microbadge=1769] 4 players in the box
[microbadge=1769] Enjoyable in its simplicity
[microbadge=1769] Command decks up replayability a lot
[microbadge=1772] So much SR content released it’s hard to not get lost
[microbadge=1772] Repetitive gameplay
Carpe Diem
It’s a certainty that whenever a Feld gets released a few of my gaming buddies will add it to their collection, this was no exception. I’m not a huge fan of his games overall but I do enjoy most of them and again this was no exception. I liked the easy going tile placement and the way you tried to plan ahead for which tiles to grab. The goals (point cards) are different every game and make for a highly replayable game together with the different layout of the player boards. There are many ways to gain points and it’s a very solid optimization puzzle that I’ll happily play again. It’s nothing groundbreaking or special though and the artwork is very bland which is somewhat of a letdown. A decent medium weight that’ll fit anyone who likes a nice puzzle game with lots of ways to score points.
[microbadge=1769] Replayability
[microbadge=1769] Lots of options for a relatively quick game
[microbadge=1769] Enough depth / strategy
[microbadge=1772] Bland artwork
[microbadge=1772] Nothing new
Downforce
A wonderful and bright looking racing/betting game where you use
cards to move your (and your opponents) cars around the tracks. The game begins and everyone bids for the cars (and drivers) they want to own. Once all vehicles have been sold the game starts and in turn order everyone plays cards to advance the cars on the tracks. On 3 occasions (when a car passes a mark) you can bet on the car you think will win, if you’re right in the end that’ll score some nice points (money. Once the game ends you count money: Prizes your cars gained based on their finishing position minus Paid money for cars plus the money you may have earned during the 3 bidding sessions throughout the game. It’s all straightforward andyou can explain and get to playing in 5 minutes. It’s an elegant design that has you sitting at the edge of your seat until the end. Driver cards with abilities add some replayability to the game but I would have liked to see some different tracks. If you’re looking for some light-hearted fun this is the way to go, this is a super family friendly racing game but might not be for seasoned gamers.
[microbadge=1769] Bright and vibrant artwork
[microbadge=1769] Lighthearted fun
[microbadge=1769] Family friendly
[microbadge=1769] Can be mean
[microbadge=1772] Could use some more tracks/things to increase replayability
Sundae Split
Another set collection game, yay! This time using the I-split-you-choose mechanic which we don’t see all too often and which I haven’t really liked previously (New York Slice was okay though). It’s very easy, divide the cards in as many piles as there are players and place a certain number (depending on player count) face down in those piles. Everyone chooses a pile and the person doing the splitting chooses last. It’s fun and simple, anyone can play and it almost feels like party game. Trying to get those bad cards in the hands of your opponents by misleading them and maybe ending up with those messy cards yourself in the end. Since it’s a card game it doesn’t take up much space and I like that, New York slice took in too much space when playing. It’s still random, you could draw only good cards to split but there might be many bad ones as well. Sometimes there’s just no way to divide it in an ‘opportune’ way for yourself.
[microbadge=1769] Pretty artwork
[microbadge=1769] Accessible
[microbadge=1769] Small footprint
[microbadge=1769] simple yet fun
[microbadge=1772] Luck of the draw
Orbis
This new release from Space Cowboys was available for a demo on a local game fair. I’m always happy to try games on my Essen list prior to the fair as time there is too short every year. Orbis is a very fun tile placement game where every player builds a pyramid like structure in front of them. You build the structure acquiring tiles from the market formed in a 3x3 grid, you pay the costs on top of the tile and add a cube from the tiles color to all adjacent tiles, if you buy a tile with cubes on them already you gain those and may even use them to pay for the tile your taking. To build place a tile it has to be supported by 2 other tiles (unless it’s the bottom row which is max 5 tiles wide) and one of those tiles has to be in the color of the tile you’re placing. Tiles can score you points if the requirements on them are met: supporting on a specific color tile, spending a certain amount of cubes from the market or from your own resource pile, …. On the top of your pyramid you’ll place a god, a number of gods equal to the amount of players +1 is laid open at the start of the game and you can choose to take a god instead of a village tile during any turn. Those gods score points for certain end game condtions: have the most tiles of a specific color, have specific symbols on your tiles, … At the end of every turn you may have a maximum of 10 resources, this may sound like a lot but it’s not, you easily stack up those resources and you have to decide which ones are most valuable at specific times. I found it a very interesting resource management / tile laying game and would very much like to play this again. It’s a fun tactical cube pusher and I felt there were different paths to explore.
[microbadge=1769] Fun puzzle
[microbadge=1769] Tactical but some planning is rewarded
[microbadge=1769] Resource management
[microbadge=1769] Pretty
[microbadge=1772] Replayability with only 5 types of tiles?
[microbadge=1772] AP-sensitive
Luxor
A Spiel des jahres nominee on the list, Luxor is a light family friendly game which you can easily get to the table with kids and non gamer friends and family. You try to do some set collection by moving your adventurers forward on the track, gaining more as the game progresses. You move these adventurers by the use of cards, either the card furthest to the left or furthest to the right in your hand. A new card gets added to the middle at the end of your turn. This movement mechanism is quite fun and definitely a step up from roll & move we’ve all seen too much of in our younger years. It’s engaging and it plays in under an hour not overstaying its welcome. I’d happily play again and am actually looking forward to that.
[microbadge=1769] Family Friendly
[microbadge=1769] Easy Rule Set, engaging play
[microbadge=1769] Quick
[microbadge=1769] Pretty
[microbadge=1772] Might get repetitive
Lowlands
Agricola meets Pandemic: Rising Tide, the way most of the boardgame crowd describes Lowlands. I can’t tell if I agree since I don’t have a lot of experience with the latter. I do have 1 play of Lowlands on my played list now and it was a pleasant experience. There are plenty of buildings open to choose from which makes different strategies possible every session. There’s the building of the dike which adds something new to the very Agricola-like playstyle of Lowlands. I’m not a huge fan of this semi-cooperative part of the game. What I did like was the different value of workers you can place to take actions making those actions ‘better’ with increasing numbers. There was lots of player interaction, somewhat indirect but it definitely was something to consider throughout the game. How expensive would you like the sheep to be, how much do you want to build on the dike and who do you want to help when doing so. I need another play to get a better view of this game, it was just ok for now.
[microbadge=1769] Many strategies to pursue
[microbadge=1769] Worker-values give a unique take on WP games
[microbadge=1769] Indirect but important player interaction
[microbadge=1769] Feeling of accomplishment
[microbadge=1772] Semi-cooperative building is not my cup of tea
[microbadge=1772]You should remember the resources your opponents gather
Century: Eastern Wonders
Century: Spice Road was a fine game, a medium weight resource management game which offered little excitement but didn’t do anything wrong either. Century: Eastern Wonders follows in its footsteps doing giving exactly the same feeling. Sure it’s fun, but there’s nothing new, there’s nothing exciting. It’s actually Century Spice Road from cards to a board with a few bonuses thrown in that left me lukewarm after playing. I would recommend this game, it’s not bad and an excellent entry level game with bright and sturdy components. Most of the planning starts when the map is laid out, you see the good combo’s for this game and you go one following the route to get the cubes and deliver. It didn’t deliver for me though.
[microbadge=1769] Accessible
[microbadge=1769] Pretty
[microbadge=1769]Straight Forward
[microbadge=1772] Just OK
[microbadge=1772] Rinse and Repeat
Penny Papers Adventures: The Valley of Wiraqocha
Yet another Roll and Write game, nope still not growing tired of them. This is the only one of the Penny Papers Adventures I have played and although I enjoyed it I found it a little random. Other players could easily mess up your plans and I just like to build things on my own, I didn’t like it when someone knocked down my Lego house when I was 8 and I don’t like someone breaking down what I build in games either. It’s not as bad since the game doesn’t take too long and you’re not playing a heavy strategy game but still. I love lighthearted fun, when it’s constructive. In the end this was a fun 15 minutes and I’d play it again but it’s not staying in my collection due to too high randomness and negative player interaction.
[microbadge=1769] Accessible
[microbadge=1769] Pretty
[microbadge=1769] Not the usual roll & write with numbers
[microbadge=1772] Negative player interaction
[microbadge=1772] Random
[microbadge=1772] Counting points in the end can be a task.
Cat'astrophes
I own 2 adorable ragdoll cats and I’m a huge animal lover, I try to avoid games about cats though because they usually only have one thing to offer: cute artwork. I do agree that cute artwork is a bonus but there has to be a game there too! There is a game here but it’s just a random party game. It’s nothing new and it’s not really engaging but because of the cute artwork it does get played easily and it doesn’t overstay it’s welcome with an average playtime of 20 minutes. The more the merrier is applicable here because it raises the interaction a party game like this needs. It will probably stay in my collection for the occasional family gathering or meetup with friends.
[microbadge=1769] Cute artwork
[microbadge=1769] Lighthearted fun
[microbadge=1772] Take That (but hey it’s a party game!)
[microbadge=1772] Nothing new or noteworthy
Spring Meadow
The last release in the Rosenberg Puzzle Trilogy, and is it any better than its predecessors? I don’t know really. Cottage Garden wasn’t challenging enough, Indian Summer lost its appeal with the clutter of different bonuses leading to taking any elegance away from the gameplay. Spring meadow is another puzzle game where you place tetris-like pieces on your player board and this time it’s about scoring the most points during the separate scorings, rewarding you a victory marker. The player who collects 2 markers first wins the game. I played it and came in second place by 1 point in 2 out of 3 scorings and even though it’s so close you don’t get anything for it, I came in last place not scoring any victory tiles. This was a rather strange take on scoring for me personally, getting in second 3 times could make you come in last place when the game ends. I liked the puzzling more than I did in the previous games, connecting holes to get bonus tiles but no clutter of bonus actions made it a more elegant game. You only score points for full rows starting from the bottom making a nice tetris resemblance and giving a nostalgic feeling when placing the tiles. There’s a little more to it but I dare to say this is my favorite of the Trilogy and I’d love to get a few more plays in. I do think it won’t have a lot of staying power since you’re always doing the same and it might get repetitive after a few plays.
[microbadge=1769] Relaxing Puzzle
[microbadge=1769] Easy ruleset
[microbadge=1769] Accessible
[microbadge=1769] Tetris-like
[microbadge=1772] Multiplayer Solitaire
[microbadge=1772] Repetitive after a few plays?
Party Bugs
A game about cockroaches going to a dance party, well okay? I didn’t like the looks of the game and would have probably not given this game a second glance but I somehow got seated at a table with this game on it and when a game is on the table you at least try it right. I was pleasantly surprised with how quick and fun it played. I’ve played it 3 times now at 3 and 4 player count, my guess is it works well at all player counts but it gets less chaotic at the lower player counts. You each have 13 cards (value 1 to 13) and draw a hand of 3 cards. Every player plays a card face down, when everyone has decided you reveal the cards and the lowest card gets to choose first. you collect a card already on the dancefloor and once everyone has done so you add the new cards to the dance floor. The goal of the game? Have the lowest total value in cockroaches left. You get rid of cockroaches by making pairs, the cockroaches will leave the party out of embarrassment when someone’s wearing the same costume. The game plays extremely quick and it’s fun trying to figure out what others want and if they’ll play a low card or not. It’s pretty random though and you could get unlucky with the cards you draw, that doesn’t bother me too much since it’s over in about 10 minutes.
[microbadge=1769] Accessible
[microbadge=1769] Funny
[microbadge=1769] Simple yet enjoyable
[microbadge=1769] Scales well
[microbadge=1772] Random
[microbadge=1772] Ugly artwork
[microbadge=1772] Luck of the draw
[microbadge=1772] Repetitive after a few games
Jórvík
An auction game with a mean twists is how I’d quickly describe Jorvik. You can ‘bid’ on items without having the required amount of money just to up the price for opponents. You can up it so far that they can’t even buy it. It’s a constant push and pull between do I want to play for me or do I want to block another player. I quite enjoyed it even though it has a very cutthroat nature. What I disliked though was how it felt repetitive after only a few round. Place workers, buy cards, start over. You build up a nice little engine which is fun but it doesn’t feel rewarding enough. There are also quite a few mean cards shuffled in the deck which I’m not a fan of.
[microbadge=1769] Auction with a fun twist
[microbadge=1772] Mean
[microbadge=1772] Repetitive
[microbadge=1772] Theme pasted on
Wat'n dat!?
Another Party game on the list, you work in teams of 2 to ‘draw’ a given word using a few sticks and disks. No communication is allowed and you each take turns placing a piece to the drawing. We found it fun but difficult, sometimes it lead to utter confusion and laughter but other times we didn’t even know where to start. The concept is interesting, but it’s hard enough visualizing most of the words on your own, let alone do it together with someone without any communication. I’d play it again and it’s fun from time to time but I’ll houserule that the drawers van choose the word they want to draw from the card to make it a little easier.
[microbadge=1769] Fun team play
[microbadge=1769] Hilarious at times
[microbadge=1769] Plays quick
[microbadge=1769] Addictive
[microbadge=1772] Difficult
Citrus
Citrus is a tile-laying game with a very classic feeling to it, it’s an interesting puzzle with a nice mechanic for drafting the tiles which has a very simple ruleset. The way you manage resources (workers/money) is very tight and timing is essential. There are a few variants to play, shorter and longer game for example. In the end it is very much an area control game with an abstract chess like feel where you can really put your opponent out of play so trying to outsmart your opponent is way more important than only focusing on your own gains. What bothered me here was how repetitive it felt after a few turns, the artwork was rather dull and I couldn’t keep my focus on the game, it didn’t feel engaging at all. I’d play again, but wouldn’t suggest it myself.
[microbadge=1769] Feels like a classic
[microbadge=1769] Interesting puzzle
[microbadge=1769] Interesting resource management
[microbadge=1772] Very abstract
[microbadge=1772] cutthroat area control
[microbadge=1772] Bland artwork
[microbadge=1772] Not engaging
Spirits of the Forest
Spirits of the Forest is a set collection game, I bought the deluxe version and the components were just wonderful. Wooden tiles, the nice expansion thingies, pretty insert, it all looked very promising. Setting up the game is somewhat of a drag, just randomly placing those tiles in a huge grid (not a small footprint here). This is a set collection game where you can only take tiles from the outside borders and you can only grab certain combinations if you want to grab more than 1 tile, making the ‘good’ options during your turn limited and manageable, you do have to watch not to open up tiles for your opponents. You can reserve tiles by placing gems on them but it’s not a 100% guarantee that tile will end up on your side of the table, it will just cost your opponent but it may be worth it. I see that this is a very elegant game where you have to use those gems to influence the other players and where you have to be careful about which cards you make available for them but I couldn’t get over the repetitive and dry feeling of the game. It just lacked enjoyment and couldn’t draw me in at all which is a shame.
[microbadge=1769] Elegant design
[microbadge=1769] Family Friendly
[microbadge=1772] Pasted on theme
[microbadge=1772] Repetitive
[microbadge=1772] Not engaging
Hive Pocket
This game has been sitting on my shelves for over a year, last month it finally got some table-time. I bought it when I was trying to appreciate abstract games which Hive definitely is. The rules are easy but it’s a little confusing to remember what all the bugs do exactly, I’ll probably need a few games to get the hang of it. My first session wasn’t a huge success, my mom joined me and she seems to strongly dislike abstract games like this which I didn’t know, this was the first one I introduced her to. I liked it fine after a few turns and can see how many options there are and the constant push and pull you create between players. I liked it okay but I’ve come to terms that abstract games like this one just aren’t for me and my copy will enter the second hand market soon.
[microbadge=1769] Clever design
[microbadge=1769] Fun thematic implementation
[microbadge=1769] Endless replayability
[microbadge=1772] Hard to remember what the bugs do at first
[microbadge=1772] Not my type of game
My Happy Farm
I took my niece to a local game fair and she saw this game with cutesy artwork and cartoony farm animals, she was seated faster than I can blink. We got a quick rules explanation and it actually surprised me, this sounded like a perfect gateway game. We got to playing, collecting vegetables, planting and harvesting and eventually feeding our animals to make their bellies grow (it’s ridiculously cute). It turned out to be a very accessible family game that’s perfect to introduce people to boardgames. There is some tension to get to the belly-parts first and get the right combination of vegetables planted on your fields but it’s very solitaire for the most part. We played twice in a row and choices were obvious most of the time making it a less engaging experience for real gamers.
[microbadge=1769] Cute artwork
[microbadge=1769] Accessible Gateway Game
[microbadge=1769] Kid friendly
[microbadge=1772] Too simple for experienced gamers
[microbadge=1772] Repetitive
Everdell
Everdell has been hyping a lot the past month, I understand why, it looks wonderful, the components are top notch and it’s an accessible tableau builder. I’ve only played it once and wasn’t convinced of how good this game seems to be if you have to believe the masses. It was just a regular tableau builder for me, sure you can have your worker advancing a season and don’t have to wait until everyone passes for the season and just play straight till the end when you’ve all just ‘passed’ for the entire game. You could just interpret it as a ‘gather workers and gain income’ action. I found that there was a lot of information on the cards and you’re all just watching the cards to figure out those neat combos. A real tableau builder, yes, prone to AP too if you ask me. I don’t like reading too much information on cards, I don’t like having no clue what the opponent is building and I don’t like when it feels too much like multiplayer solitaire which definitely is a feeling I got here. At the pricepoint this game is currently being sold at I do not understand why it sells that well, and I wonder how long it’ll take before those trees start falling apart.
[microbadge=1769] Looks wonderful
[microbadge=1769] Accessible Tableau builder
[microbadge=1769] Interesting mechanic of moving to the next season
[microbadge=1772] Multiplayer Solitaire
[microbadge=1772] AP-prone
[microbadge=1772] Expensive for what’s offered
[microbadge=1772] Tree doesn’t seem sturdy
[microbadge=1772]- Can’t keep track of what opponents are doing
Coldwater Crown
Coldwater Crown is an entry level worker placement game with an original and well implemented theme, the theme however (fishing) does not appeal to me so it was a bridge to cross before I wanted to play the game. It didn’t draw me in right away. Actions are straight forward and thematically everything works, the bait collection is also really fun on top of that. The big letdown for me however was the randomness. The board changes a lot before it’s you turn again and you have no control on the right weight of fish you catch. You can plan ahead just fine but those bonus tokens for catching the right weight are just too much luck based for a game in this setting and I strongly disliked it. I do understand why it is widely enjoyed by the eurogamers in my gaming groups and it is indeed a clever game, the shadow of randomness is too much for me in a game like this.
[microbadge=1769] Well implemented theme
[microbadge=1769] Immersive
[microbadge=1769] Easy ruleset, challenging gameplay
[microbadge=1772] Luck with the weight of the fish you catch
[microbadge=1772] Board shifts too much between turns
Illusion
There is a new type of games releasing lately, games that aren’t really games in my eyes. We started with the Mind and Illusion is a nice addition to the genre. Try to fit a card in the row having a specific color present in an ascending order starting from the left. If someone places a card and you think they placed it wrong the row gets challenged. It’s an exercise to see how much a certain color is present on the cards, where is the fun in that? If I want to sort things I’ll get around sorting my games on my shelves, or my books and it will even be more fun since I’m not guessing where something is supposed to go! My pros and cons are very obvious here:
[microbadge=1769]It's not a game
[microbadge=1772]It's not a game
Brass Empire
Deckbuilders are not really my cup of tea but I saw this one in a clearance and it got compared with Star Realms quite a bit, which I do like, so I decided to take a risk. Sometimes a risk will get rewarded but that wasn’t the case this time, the game dragged on for way too long. It’s been quite a while since playing this and I only remember how repetitive it felt, how mean it felt and how it also felt unpolished for us. We only played twice so maybe it’s a rough diamond or something underneath the surface but with so many good games around nowadays I didn’t take the time to explore it any further.
[microbadge=1769] None for me
[microbadge=1772] Mean
[microbadge=1772] Drags on too long
[microbadge=1772] Felt unpolished
[microbadge=1772] Repetetive
[microbadge=1772] Unintuitive
Thurn and Taxis
A former Spiel Des Jahres always intrigues me, I had heard many positive things and was eager to finally try this game. For me however it fell a little short. It’s a rinse and repeat of taking cards and hoping that the ones you’d like show up. You’ll just make the best of what’s in front of you throughout the game and there is little you can do strategy wise, planning isn’t rewarded. The artwork is bland, there is no (or at least very little) player-interaction and you won’t get sucked in by a nice theme either. It’s a good gateway level game to play with people who don’t actually want to pay attention to what’s going on, because you honestly don’t have to when it’s not your turn. Ticket To Ride replaces this one completely.
[microbadge=1769] Suitable as Gateway Game
[microbadge=1769] Easy to Teach
[microbadge=1772] Multiplayer Solitaire
[microbadge=1772] Bland Artwork
[microbadge=1772] Not immersive
[microbadge=1772] Luck of the ‘draw’
Mint Delivery
A tiny mint tin with an accessible pick up and deliver game? Sure I’ll try that! I quickly encountered the first downside of this game, upon reading the rules I was left with quite a few questions, the rulebook is somewhat lacking, but I guess that’s what happens when you want everything to fit in a tiny tin. Next up the components, all those tiny components juggled together in the box with no way of sorting, there is no room. The map consists of cards which are easily laid out and have a very functional look. The game itself felt rather dull with zero to no excitement, rinse and repeat of doing the same thing over and over until end game was reached. It’s good for what it is, a pick up and deliver game in a tiny tin, but if you’re looking for something a little more decent well it’s going to be bigger than a mint tin.
[microbadge=1769] Practical lay-out / artwork
[microbadge=1769] Cute tin
[microbadge=1769] Fun for a tiny tin game
[microbadge=1772] Repetitive
[microbadge=1772] Not challenging
[microbadge=1772] Size of box > usability
Doodle City
Doodle City is pretty much a Push Your Luck Roll & Write game, when the game starts the map is open and you get the feeling decisions are important but when the game draws to a closing you’ll need specific routes to finish your plans and those might never show up at all, sabotaging everything you thought you were ‘planning’. I got the feeling you don’t play the game, the dice play it. The City Building theme isn’t really present either, you’re just drawing lines on a map but it could’ve been anything. There are many better Roll & Write games out there, certainly since it takes up to 30 minutes to play and it’s just a rinse and repeat of the same action over and over. It’s accessible and it’s not a bad game if you’re in to push your luck but for me it was too luck based for the rather long playtime.
[microbadge=1769] Accessible
[microbadge=1769] Plays up to 6
[microbadge=1772] Luck based
[microbadge=1772] Theme isn’t present
[microbadge=1772] Takes too long for what it is
[microbadge=1772] No real important decisions
Tofu Kingdom
A social deduction game, yay. I don’t remember how I ended up at that table really but I decided to give it a go. The fact that the rules were really confusing didn’t help us at all. Once we finally figured out the (very simple) rules and each got a role to play the game started. With only 3 questions allowed to ask not a lot can go wrong right? Except when people give an answer they’re not allowed to give and you have to start over… 3 times! I was out of patience after that and have no interest in playing this ever again. If you’re in to social deduction games this may be fun as it’s a very simple version of one but otherwise, nothing to see.
[microbadge=1769] Quick social deduction game (for fans of Social Deduction)
[microbadge=1772] 1 mistake and you have to start over completely
[microbadge=1772] Boring
Fantasy Realms
A quick and simple drafting game where you try and have the best combo of cards left in your hand by the end of the game. Draw a card (from deck or discard area), discard a card, there’s nothing more to it. When there’s a certain number of cards in the discard area the game ends and you count the points you’ve gathered from the combination of cards in your hand. I like the principle of this and I see what’s to like: finding the best combos, keeping cards opponents might need, deciding which cards to let go of and planning increases as the discard area unfolds with new cards. For me however it was a miss, there’s so much text on the cards and I just couldn’t keep an overview of everything on the table or in my hand. It was too much bookkeeping to go through and I would’ve preferred some nice iconography. The theme and artwork didn’t appeal to me either making it a non-remarkable gaming session.
[microbadge=1769] Quick and Simple
[microbadge=1769] Many combos to discover
[microbadge=1769] Replayability
[microbadge=1772] Lots of text on the cards
[microbadge=1772] Bookkeeping is a task
[microbadge=1772]Theme and artwork didn’t appeal to me
Dino Race
Taking your niece to game fairs means you get to play some games you’d never look at otherwise, Dino Race is one of those games. You all get cards to ‘race’ through the jungle and make it to the safe (end) tile before the lava of the erupting volcano reaches you. On your turn you can play a card of the type of landscape ahead of one of your dinosaurs to move it up there. When you reach the end you gain points. At the end of your turn you throw a die and there are 3 possibilities. Roll a landscape type and every dino on that type will get a card, roll 2 cards and every player gets 2 cards, roll a volcano and the player with the egg loses all its cards and the next tile gets flipped over to lava (if any dinosaurs are on that tile they die). What ‘egg?’ you might be wondering… Well yes we are trying to get an egg safely to the end of the track as well, once the egg reaches the end location the game is over. Dinosaurs that haven’t finished yet won’t gain any points. There are take that cards where you can throw the egg away, push players back or steal cards from other players. You do not want that egg during the game but you’ll love having it when finishing as it’ll end the game. It was a chaotic family game filled with luck, randomness and take that. This is not a game for me obviously, you hardly have any control of what’s going on and it takes way too long for what it is.
[microbadge=1769] Cute dinosaurs
[microbadge=1772] Luck
[microbadge=1772] Randomness
[microbadge=1772] Take That
[microbadge=1772] Counter intuitive play with that damn egg!
The Mind
Let's all count to 100 together yay, now let's do it again, yay! No, not yay. I do not understand this at all, it's just not a game in my eyes.
[microbadge=1769] It's not a game
[microbadge=1772] It's not a game
Go Nuts for Donuts
A game that gets compared to Sushi Go! a lot which I do understand as the set collection is about the same. However how you gain those cards is very different. Opposed to drafting in Sushi Go you end up with deduction, guessing and bluffing in Go Nuts For Donuts, making it a psychological mind game. I’m not a fan of games like that, and I’m not a fan of Go Nuts for that reason. You can never know what you opponents will do, you can try to guess and figure out what they’ll do but you’ll never know for certain which makes it just a guessing game for me. Playing the wrong card can screw you over big time so don’t get fooled by the pretty artwork, this game can get vicious.
[microbadge=1769] Pretty artwork
[microbadge=1769] Set collection
[microbadge=1772]Guessing game (random)
[microbadge=1772] Vicious/mean
IOTA
Kwatro, a tiny box with a big game inside, at least that’s what was advertised. When reading the rules I was already confused with how to complete rows and it didn’t get any better when playing. It felt very counterintuitive for a simple tile laying game and I couldn’t make sense of it all. This is just one of those games where I simply don’t see what’s going on and I can’t keep overview. It also takes very long to go through the deck making it last for way too long. This is just not my kind of game.
[microbadge=1769] Tiny, portable game tin
[microbadge=1769] Simple ruleset
[microbadge=1772] Counterintuitive
[microbadge=1772] I can’t keep the overview
Steam Time
A pleasant surprise for me during the last few months was Steam Time. It’s a worker placement game that’s already a few years old, hasn’t really hit the top of the BGG charts and would have never made it to my radar. Luckily one of my gaming buddies convinced me to play it after being extremely positive about it and oh boy how fun is this game! This is a constant balancing exercise where you carefully have to plan ahead and try to make the most of what the board offers. What gems are on the board, making for bonuses in next actions, what cards are out to score end game or get bonuses right away, how quick do I want to take an action with my zeppelin blocking the lower situated actions. I’m not going in to detail about gameplay in these mini-reviews and I do realize it might all be a little vague when you don’t know anything about these games but there are some nice overviews out there on the geek, go look them up! If you like medium-weight worker placement with a decent amount of planning and resource management this may be right up your alley. The game is endlessly replayable, plays great with 2, has no negative player interaction and offers all that in about an hour, how amazing is that! Oh and on top of that, it looks good with its vibrant colors and lively artwork. If there is anything negative about it, it’s the set up between rounds, it may be a little fiddly for some but it didn’t bother me.
[microbadge=1769] Pretty
[microbadge=1769] Replayability
[microbadge=1769] 60’ playtime with enough challenge
[microbadge=1769] No negative interaction
[microbadge=1769] Fun balance exercise of resources / planning
[microbadge=1769] Great with 2
[microbadge=1772] A little fiddly
Stone Age
I’m cheating here because it’s not actually a new-to-me game, I played it once before about 3 years ago before I even started logging my plays. I remember enjoying it but that’s about it so it may as well have been new as there was nothing of the rules left in my head. I’d been on the lookout for a price friendly second hand copy ever since but no such luck so I finally caved for a less friendly but still ok priced copy on the second hand market. I wish I had done so 3 years ago honestly, I have already played this 5 times with my mom in just one month. It was an instant hit for her, it’s accessible but still offers enough decision making. There’s dice, so yes you can get unlucky and in a heavier game that would be a breaking point for me but here it’s just pure enjoyment. I like the simplicity, I like the easy-going resource collection. Both the cards and houses are decent strategies and feel rewarding, there is always something one can do. It works like a charm on a 2 player count, sure it’s probably better with more but it’s fine enough with 2. But is it the perfect game? No, it would have been 3 years ago when I just started playing and didn’t have a clue about what other games were out there. Now I crave some more complexity, I like a little more grip on what’s going one, I like to be independent of luck and I appreciate some more differentiation from game to game since you are always doing the same thing over and over. But is it the perfect game in its category? Well yes, if you’re looking for a gateway worker placement this would be my go-to advice!
[microbadge=1769] Perfect Gateway Worker Placement
[microbadge=1769] Elegant in its simplicity
[microbadge=1769] Easy-going
[microbadge=1769] Great with 2
[microbadge=1772] Repetitive after a few games
[microbadge=1772] Luck of the dice
[microbadge=1772] Might drag a little too long per play
Ganz schön clever
A nominee for Kennerspiel des Jahres and a very fun combo producing roll & write game got played for the first time in the last few months. This game is right up my alley and has been bombarded to my favorite Roll & Write game for now. Finding the best combo’s and using your bonus actions to the fullest is just a great way of spending your spare time. Have I mentioned how addictive this is? Even with a beat-your-score solo game this one asks for ‘just one more game’ everytime. You can get unlucky sure, they’re still dice but there’s always something you can do about it. Since you get too choose a die at the end of other players turns and you can use bonuses on their turns it stays interesting even when you’re not the one rolling the dice. Is it a ‘kennerspiel’, no probably not but I don’t care about the politics behind all those nominations/prizes. I’m just happy it got introduced to the big public this way. Also there is an app, and it’s great, go check it out!
[microbadge=1769] Combo-making
[microbadge=1769] Always an option available
[microbadge=1769] Addictive
[microbadge=1769] App implementation is great
[microbadge=1772] None for me
Doodle Rush
Doodle rush is a quick (really quick, 6 minutes/game) sketching game. All players get 6 words to draw and they have 1 minute to do so before a 1 minute guessing round starts. This process is repeated 3 times (with the same 6 words) so everyone has had 3 minutes to draw and 3 minutes to guess. It’s chaotic, you are all yelling possible answers and if you’re lucky enough that someone has heard you, you get the card and score a point. In the meantime your listening to the others guessing your cards and giving those away too. In the end your score is: correct guesses minus your own drawings left in front of you. This is a PARTY game, it has to be chaotic, it has to be light weight and fun and just there for enjoyment. You don’t have to be an artist to join, you just have to try and visualize an item in under a minute, an artist won’t do a great job either! I love it, I love the chaos, fun and interaction. It only takes 6 minutes so it’s over in no-time and I always get asked for another round. I’m very happy to have picked this up but I do hope a Dutch version gets made; making it more accessible for my family and friends.
[microbadge=1769] Fun chaos
[microbadge=1769] Quick
[microbadge=1769] Light
[microbadge=1769] Practical
[microbadge=1769] Real party game
[microbadge=1772] No Dutch version (yet?)
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle
Another Deckbuilder in the list, and another cooperative game, 2 things I usually dislike. For those who are wondering if I placed this in the wrong section, I did not. It is great fun, I very much enjoyed my 9 plays of Harry Potter in under 2 weeks (!) which is extraordinary for me. The reason for playing this so often in such a short amount of time is not because I liked it THAT much but because my partner did. She loves deckbuilders and enjoys cooperative games too so I’m glad we’ve found a game that fits both categories but also fits both of us. Why do I not mind this game? It’s co-op yes but it’s still your hand of cards, which makes it clear that it’s your turn. We talk about main goals and cards that are good to acquire and who we’ll attack first and all that but the details of your turn and how you play it out are for you personally, a big plus for me. The deckbuilding is very basic, nothing new so I don’t mind it nor love it. What drew me in was the scenario based play, it’s addictive to win and get to that next level. Unlike many legacy games I’ve played the rules were clear from the start as is the goal for every session. There’s no frustration about what the hell the point is of this game at all. Defeat the bad guys before time runs out. It’s plain addictive that’s what it is. You can up difficulty levels and add in the expansion for added replayability which we haven’t done yet so far. There are a few downsides though, you can get (un)lucky in when which villains show up making a game significantly easier or harder, there’s the big Hogwarts deck which gets more cards every game but there aren’t that many options to ‘scrap’ or ‘discard’ in this game making it feel a little cluttered at times but that doesn’t kill the buzz for us at all. Talking about thematic integration here is a must and it’s just very well done. I’ve heard people commenting on the pictures on the cards and it not being pretty, I honestly liked the artwork but that will always remain a subjective topic.
[microbadge=1769] Theme
[microbadge=1769] Well implemented scenario based play
[microbadge=1769] Replayable (increase difficulty / add expansion)
[microbadge=1769] Not sensitive to a dominant player
[microbadge=1769] Rules are clear and concise
[microbadge=1769] Straight forward deckbuilding, no added complexitiy
[microbadge=1772] Hogwarts deck gets cluttered
[microbadge=1772] Luck of the draw (Villains)
Carson City: The Card Game
As a fan of Honshu I was intrigued by Carson City the Card game, the games are very comparable with the card placement rules, how you gain the cards and the introduction of characters however makes for a huge difference. Gaining cards works with a blind bidding system, there are as many landscapes available as the number of players + one character. Everyone has bidding cards from 1-9 and once you use them in a round you can’t use them again. Highest card gets to choose first and ties are broken by order of the symbols on the top of the character draw deck. I found the blind bidding very interesting and you always have an idea when cards are good for your opponents since their tableaus are always visible. The characters offer some extra depth and ways to score points and are a very nice addition to the game. Carson City is always played with at least 4 players. If there aren’t enough players AI’s are added, these are easy to manage and offer quite a challenge without adding any complexity or annoying upkeep. There are many ways to score points and whatever you do, it always feels rewarding.
[microbadge=1769] Exciting bidding system
[microbadge=1769] Characters add depth
[microbadge=1769] Easy to manage AI’s
[microbadge=1769] Plays up to 6
[microbadge=1769] Replayability
[microbadge=1769] Puzzly
[microbadge=1772] You can still end up being last to pick when bidding high
Brass: Lancashire
I saw this on Kickstarter and I never gave this game a second glance before because it just looked so… bland! I must thank Roxley games, if not for them I wouldn’t have known one of the best games I’ve ever played. I’ve only played it 3 times so it may go up or down in appreciation. Do you know how it feels when after playing a game you go over it all again in your head for hours? I have that very rarely but it happened to me after playing Brass and more often than not that’s a good sign. The rules are concise and anything but elaborate. Very straightforward, only a few actions to choose from and 2 resources to work with really. Network building must have never been easier right? Well no, it’s never been this challenging before. With a static map like Brass the replayability lies in the when you draw which cards and what your opponents are doing and that’s the strength of this game. Timing of every single action is so essential, when do you want to make iron or coal available to the market? Do you want to use those ports yourself or provide them for you opponents, do you branch you network out further or will you not need that later on? Will you upgrade now or later? Everything in this game is tight, money mostly at the start, which left me sitting at the tip of my chair throughout every session so far. I’ve played 2-3 and 4 player and loved it with all those playercounts.
[microbadge=1769] How beautiful is this?
[microbadge=1769] Tension
[microbadge=1769] Those Iron Clays
[microbadge=1769] Timing is key, interesting decisions to be made at all times
[microbadge=1769] Captivating
[microbadge=1769] Well implemented theme
[microbadge=1769] Scales well
[microbadge=1772] None so far
Brass: Birmingham
I had to make a double pledge, I was unable to choose between Birmingham and Lancashire so I decided to back both and make a decision after playing them both a few times and see which one would stay in the collection. After playing Brass: Lancashire 3 times I played Birmingham 2 times and oh it’s just as beautifully designed. A resource is added and there are more manufacturing buildings (cotton mills -> Pottery, cotton mill, manufacturer) which are not delivered to ports owned by players anymore. Where you deliver them changes every game since it’s a variable set-up which increases replayability compared to Lancashire. The beer barrels add an extra layer of complexity too. It’s 90% the same game with some nice twists and an extra layer of complexity, I like it just as much as Lancashire and am unable to choose at this point. The reason I’d keep this over Lancashire is the added variability but the reason I’d ditch this for Lancashire is the added complexity, I’ll have more opportunities to get Lancashire to the table then Birmingham (which feels like an expansion really).
[microbadge=1769] How beautiful is this?
[microbadge=1769] Tension
[microbadge=1769] Those Iron Clays
[microbadge=1769] Timing is key, interesting decisions to be made at all times
[microbadge=1769] Captivating
[microbadge=1769] Scales well
[microbadge=1769] Adds some complexity and variability
[microbadge=1772] None so far
Topiary
Every time I tell myself, don’t buy games based on cute box covers and 90% of the time I fail in following my own advice. This time I didn’t, I saw the game a year ago at essen and nearly caved and just bought it because of the box. I wanted to play this afterwards but never got the chance until now and of course, the one time I don’t buy the cute box there’s a good game inside! I really adore Topiary, it’s a fun tile-placement game where you have to make most of your view while trying to block your opponents. It’s so clever yet so simple and I used it as a go to filler game at the end of gamenights these past few weeks. For me it’s a very relaxing game and it’s great to see the garden open up and to try and take advantage of the best positions on the board. It plays good at all player counts but I probably like it best with 2 since you have a bigger influence on the map and not a lot changes before it’s your turn again.
[microbadge=1769] Simple elegant design
[microbadge=1769] Box cover is amazing
[microbadge=1769] Scales well
[microbadge=1769] Filler game with enough depth to be enjoyed by seasoned gamers
[microbadge=1772] AP-prone for some players
[microbadge=1772] I didn’t buy it soon enough!
Reef
Reef is a game I’ve pre-ordered several months ago and was one of my most anticipated games so I was very happy when it finally made it to the table. It’s everything I expected it to be, a great puzzle game that has both a tactical and a strategic depth to is. A rewarding feeling when making multiple combos on your personal board and getting a race like feeling towards the end of the game to finish up as many combos as possible make this game very enjoyable with a lot of positive tension. I’ve only played once and I feel like a need quite a few more plays to explore it further, how much can you plan ahead and how important is it to look at your opponent's board, those are unanswered question thus far, the game played much like a multiplayer solitaire during this first session.
[microbadge=1769] Fun puzzle
[microbadge=1769] Both strategic and tactical
[microbadge=1769] Rewarding combos
[microbadge=1769] Beautiful components
[microbadge=1769] Loads of positive tension
[microbadge=1772] Multiplayer solitaire?
That is all folks, I bet I'll have another nice list of new-to-me games before the end of the year. I'm very much looking forward to Essen Spiel and have started preparing my list on the Tabletop Together Tool, only 3 more weeks!
Thanks for reading!
Ilse
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