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.
Board Games
All posts tagged Board Games
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.
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.
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.
“Everdell”, “Splendor”, “Wingspan”…these are just a few of the wonderful tableau building games that I’ve had the pleasure of playing in my lifetime. Enter “Earth”, an engine-builder with a very charming and dare I say, earthly theme. It boasts an impressive array of cards and will task players with building a 4×4 grid, much like in “Everdell”. Engine building is probably my favorite gameplay mechanic so I admit I’m probably going to be a bit biased, but being human I suppose that’s impossible to avoid. I love the power creep in engine builders…though 90% of the time these games are typically over just as I get my engine going. The curse of keeping play times at a respectable length, I guess.
While I own and am familiar with the original “That’s Pretty Clever” tabletop roll & write game, I would never claim to have mastered it. After all, it involves dice and we all know how much dice love me. Well, maybe you don’t. If it were legally possible, I’d file a restraining order against dice everywhere. Luckily, plenty of games out there have dice manipulation mechanics that make these kinds of games enjoyable. “That’s Pretty Clever” (TPC), another roll & write, is no exception. Having never played “Twice as Clever” (the sequel / TAC), I was sent “Clever 4Ever” (C4E) and “That’s Pretty Clever Kids” (TPCK) in the mail out of the blue. No press email or note…it just showed up. This is the part where I’d normally thank the developer, publisher, or PR rep who sent it but under the circumstances I’ll just give a blanket “thank you”. Next time send a note!
“Star Tycoon”, hands down, has been my most played prototype game in 2023. It features a number of mechanics that I absolutely love: tableau building, resource management, and an economic market to name the main ones. The game is played over 6 rounds, but a lot can happen in said 6 rounds. Players will be acquiring planets, then slotting developments under those planets to help them build their resource engine. At the same time, they’ll be trying to match the iconography on their planets to their developments to score some bonus VP. If that wasn’t enough, resource values will go up and down based on supply and demand, so cornering a very rare resource in the market can help you buy other resources you’d otherwise need to buy more cards. Factor in partnerships and random events…well, play never gets dull.
I’ve played a lot of economically themed tabletop games. There’s a certain thrill to maneuvering and biding your time so that three turns later, you can cash in with a huge play (often at the disgust / surprise of your opponents). Star Tycoon, a tabletop game that’s seeking funding through Kickstarter, has a little bit of that along with some engine building and card / company management mechanics. It supports 1-6 players / ages 13+ with an average play time of 20 minutes per player.
“Dungeons and Dragons” is great and all, but have you just ever wanted to level an Orc without dragging the experience out across several months? In “GO GREEN: AN ORC’S JOURNEY”, players will be encountering various events and leveling their Orc’s attributes across multiple stages of life (child, grown, old). You’ll encounter events like battling & food fights where you’ll typically go one on one with NPC enemies. Will you survive the onslaught and see your Orc to old age? The game is available in both component ready and print & play editions.