I’m a huge Star Wars fan, let’s just get that out of the way now. I grew up playing “X-Wing” on the PC. In those days, you installed games via 3 1/2 disks and created a boot disk so you could boot the PC to DOS in order to have enough memory to run your games. This was “before the dark times, before the Empire.” Still, it was light-years ahead of DOS Text Adventures. Anywho, fast-forward through about two-dozen “Star Wars” games later and we come to “Star Wars: Outer Rim” and later its expansion, “Unfinished Business”. This game focuses more on the scum and villainy as opposed to plight of the Rebel Alliance against the Empire. Kind of like Mos Eisley Spaceport, because you’ll never find a more wretched hive…I’ll stop now.
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Sadly, my “X-Wing Miniatures” and “Star Wars Armada” phase is on hiatus, as Aidalee doesn’t really care for miniature games with tactical planning. With Vinnie having spread his wings and moved several months ago, I relied on Tabletop Simulator for my “X-Wing” fix. When I got my copy of “Snap Ship Tactics” I was really excited as it boasted a solo mode with AI programming. I’d finally be able to use my laser tool and 3×3 rubber mat again. In the end, I wasn’t disappointed. Special thanks to Scott over at Snap Ships Tactics for sending the core / starter game over for review purposes. As always, press copies or not, paid coverage or not, my opinions remain my own.
Most of us tabletop gamers are familiar with “Pandemic” and “Forbidden Island” as they are (what I consider to be) staples in the cooperative genre. Instead of curing diseases or getting off a sinking island, what if you all had to work together to outwit an alien tesseract that was removing bits of itself to destroy Earth? To make matters worse, Will Smith and Jeff Goldbloom aren’t around this time to blow up a mothership. I’m pretty sure I’ve used that joke before, so props if you can find it in a previous article. I’m old and don’t remember such things. Special thanks to Kurt over at Smirk & Dagger Games for providing me with a copy of the game for review purposes.
You folks have no idea how much I had been anxiously awaiting this one. I backed this beast of a game on Kickstarter in late 2022 and finally received it (Second Edition) late 2023. Oh, it didn’t disappoint! I only backed the core game as I wasn’t sure in 2022 if I would have liked it enough to invest hundreds of dollars into all of the expansions. Part of me wishes I had but alas, I was unemployed and awaiting a decision on my disability case (still am). Any-who, for the uninitiated, let’s take a quick look at what makes this game tick.
I recently binged “The Big Bang Theory” and always wondered if anyone would make a game out of “Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock”. While not involving reptiles or Vulcans, “Dominus Charta” does add hammers to the mix, along with some abstract movement rules a la “Chess” & “Checkers”. It supports two players and takes about a half hour to an hour to play. Before we get started I’m required by FTC regulations to disclose that I was paid to cover this game, however any and all opinions are my own. The only thing paid for was my time and expert opinion.
I’ve played my share of Euro games and you know what? The older I get, the less patience I have to learn games with 30 page rule-books. Twenty-five year-old me would never have hesitated, but as a forty-something tired adult, I often welcome a more simpler diversion. “Trio” is such a game, featuring only 36 cards making learning the game easy. It supports 3-6 players and is appropriate for ages 8+. The average play time clocks around 15-30 minutes. Despite the game being quick and easy, make no mistake…there’s still a bit of thinking (and luck) involved if you want to pull ahead and win. Special thanks to Jason Schneider from Happy Camper Games for providing me with a copy to review. Before we begin I’m required by FTC regulations to disclose that I was paid to cover this game, but any and all opinions remain my own. The only thing paid for here was my time.
2023 has come and is on its way out the door, but my memories of this year will always remain bittersweet.
Like Gamewright, GoVenture has quite the history of creating educational products. GoVenture includes “software applications, educational games, simulations, mobile, apps, board games, card games, blended games, ebooks, and a massively multiplayer online game”, according to their official website. Today we’ll be looking at “Food Truck Entrepreneur”, a tabletop game revolving around delivering food to customers (and other places) to gain XP and claim victory. Before we begin I’m required by FTC regulations to disclose that I was paid to cover this game, however any and all opinions are my own.
I think most tabletop gamers have played at least one type of “hidden role” game in their lifetime. I have…and in my experience, the more people you have playing, the better. “13th Street Crew”, a tabletop game that’ll be seeking funding through Kickstarter in October 2023, has that “don’t trust anybody” feel about it and a little more. In this case, players are low-ranking members of a large criminal organization all semi-cooperatively competing to advance (by winning the game). Before we begin I’m required by FTC regulations to disclose that I was paid to cover this game, however any and all opinions are my own. The prototype copy provided was sent via “The Game Crafter”, so components and rules may be subject to change.
Hey all! Just dropping a line to share the below video. Curt Covert, Owner of Smirk and Dagger Games, was kind enough to walk us through the core game (The Night Cage) and the expansion currently on Kickstarter (Shrieking Hollow). In summary, it’s a cooperative game where players all win or lose together. They must navigate an everchanging board and avoid the horrors amid the darkness. We had a great time, but don’t take my word for it…go watch the below video to learn more about it!
I imagine that most of us are familiar with the idea of siphoning part of a paycheck to a 401k or some sort of retirement fund. Some of us take a more daring approach in the form of taking risks with the stock market. “PITBULLS”, a board game that will be seeking funding through Kickstarter in Quarter 4 of 2023, has mechanics that remind me of people on Wall Street yelling on trading floors to “buy for” whatever and “sell at” whatever. Luckily (and thankfully), the only risk with “PITBULLS” is losing paper money. Before we get started I should mentioned that the game is still in development and the copy I received was a prototype. I am also required by FTC regulations to disclose that I was paid to cover this game, however any and all opinions are my own. The only thing paid for here was my time.
What do you get when you cross some good ol’ fashion mining with a flicking game? “Can You Dig It” of course! I covered this game a few months ago and I’m here to report that the game is now live on “The Game Crafter”. What’s better, there’s a crowd sale…meaning the more people that buy the product, the cheaper the price gets. I included a fancy chart below that outlines that specifics.
I had the pleasure of meeting with Robert Geistlinger, President of Arcane Wonders, on Tabletop Simulator yesterday. In the video below, he takes me through a full game using the advanced ruleset. We also talk a little about the planned Solo/Co-Op/Campaign mode, the Kickstarter campaign itself, and other juicy tidbits. I really enjoyed the psychological and tactical aspects of the game and can’t wait to get my hands on this title. You still have time to back it, should this tense brawler suit your fancy.
Fancy a strategy game that combines pawns, critical thinking, a game board, and dice? Do you find all those pieces in “Chess” to be a bit too confusing? “Tower Capture”, a game currently retailing on The Game Crafter, may very well scratch an itch you didn’t realize you had. Before I begin I’m required by FTC regulations to disclose that I was paid to cover this game, though as always any and all opinions are my own. The only thing “paid” for here was my time.
You’re on vacation and your kids are not happy having to hunker down in your hotel room because of something something something. Looking back, I remember this situation all too well. “Can You Dig It” (2-5 Players, Ages 12+, Average Play Time = 30 Minutes) comes in a small portable tin case and may be just what you parents need to keep your kids occupied for a short while. Before we begin I’m required by FTC regulations to disclose that I was paid to cover this game, however any and all opinions are my own. This being a preview, rules and components are also subject to change.
One of the most chilling scenes in the original “Lord of the Rings” movies was the one where Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli entered Dwimorberg, The Haunted Mountain in “Return of the King”. I found the whole “army of the dead” thing creepy. There’s also the Nazgûl, or ringwraiths…I find them to be equally as disturbing. “Curse of the Wymer Stones”, a game currently selling on the “The Game Crafter” (TGC), reminded me a little of all that. Here, players will be trying to avoid becoming wraiths themselves as they attempt to get their Wymer Stones and defeat the cursed dwarves. Before we delve into this title, I’m required by FTC regulations to disclose that I was paid to cover this game. As always, any and all opinions are my own. The only thing “paid” for here was my time.