July has come and gone. Lots of new games played this month. Let's jump right into it!
New to me Games:
Karuba - 4 Plays
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The spiel nomination sparked my interest. I was also in need of a light family game. This one knocks it out of the park. Such a simple design but full of interesting decisions. It is multiplayer solitaire but you face the challenges together. That spurred a ton of table talk and good laughs on how well or bad we designed our paths to the temple. Excellent game for its audience and quick to teach and play.
[BGCOLOR=#66FF99] 8/10 [/BGCOLOR] - Into my Collection.
Above and Below - 2 Plays
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You are refugees running away from your village that was burned down by invaders. You start a new village of your own. While growing your new village you find that there are interconnected caverns beneath you. Over 7 rounds you can acquire new village members, build new buildings, harvest some goods, and/or travel into the caverns. You can play the game however you want without ever having to travel beneath your village. But this is where the game gets interesting.
Every time you travel below ground you have a unique encounter (from over 240) and you are presented with choices. After you make your choice your people that traveled roll for their success at completing the option you selected. Some villagers are better at others for completing encounters. Successful encounters reward you with items you can bring back to the village. By the end of the game you will have acquired several new villagers, built a half a dozen or so buildings both above ground and below ground and collected goods to increase income and points generation. It all comes together with beautiful and pleasant artwork. For those looking for a lighter game with some interesting decisions and a little bit of story narrative will really enjoy Above and Below.
[BGCOLOR=#66FF99] 8/10 [/BGCOLOR] - Into my Collection. Near & Far Kickstarter is currently running. Backed!
Tiny Epic Galaxies - 2 Plays
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This is my stab at trying any of the epic games. I figured this was a good place to start since Tiny Epic Galaxies is the best rated. I got two solo plays in and it is quite neat. The AI design is intelligent. It gives you the feel of playing against a real opponent. I really like the planet art and the powers. It is fiddly (small pieces) and the cost is a little high ($25-35) for such a small footprint game. I can't think of another small sized game that is this good. I will use this as my go to travel game.
[BGCOLOR=#66FF99] 8/10 [/BGCOLOR] - Into my Collection
Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar - 2 Plays
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I've been avoiding Tzolk'in for quite some time. The Mayan theme, the art, the gear gimmick, and "heaviness" of the game were not appealing. Boy was I wrong. As with any Euro; theme is just for the art. I don't need theme to sell me on a game. The artwork and production are actually quite good. The gear mechanism is unbelievable good. There is a lot of brain burning and angst when planning your moves. It gets easier with more plays. And after a play or two the rules are quite easy and the gameplay smooth. I'm glad I gave this a try. I'm excited to give this a deeper exploration.
[BGCOLOR=#66FF99] 8/10 [/BGCOLOR] - Into my Collection (Top 20)
Grand Austria Hotel - 1 Play
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I like euro's and this is another great one. There is a balance between getting customers into their rooms and making sure the emperor is satisfied during his visits. I really enjoy the hotel assistants and the added benefits they provide. They help shape your strategy and end game scoring. Iconography can be frustrating and downtime with 4 is unplayable. Keep it at 2-3 and have a strudel blast! Excited to give this one many more plays.
[BGCOLOR=#66FF99] 8/10 [/BGCOLOR] - Into my Collection
Runebound (Third Edition) - 1 Play
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I'm quite good at predicting games I will like. This one was a failure. I was looking for a fun adventure game as there aren't many out there. Runebound seemed like a good place to start. The token chucking is different if unnatural. I really think a Star Wars Imperial Assault Design with dice would have faired better. The game is ridiculously long for what you actually accomplish in the game. It drove me nuts to spend the majority of my turns to move and then acquire an adventure card. That series of events uses all of my actions. Why am I rolling terrain dice for movement? And why is my success of a quest dependent on markers from the common skill deck? I don't mind random elements but Runebound is a hot mess of random that takes way too long to play for that kind of randomness.
[BGCOLOR=#CCCCFF] 5/10 [/BGCOLOR] - Traded Away
Warhammer Quest: The Adventure Card Game - 2 Plays
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Yes! A great adventure game. You are actually making thoughtful decisions and planning the timing of your skills. Combat is simple but satisfying. Acquiring gear cards is exciting. Story elements bring you into the theme. This goes to show you that you don't need a massive board and mini's to get the adventuring feel. Warhammer Quest does it right. Give it a try!
[BGCOLOR=#66FF99] 8/10 [/BGCOLOR] - Into my Collection.
The Prodigals Club - 1 Play
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I respect games that do something different. Worker placements are everywhere and Prodigals Club tries to separate itself from that massive pack. It does however get you to think differently in that you are trying to exchange goods for cheaper goods, lose votes in elections, and piss off members of the high class society. This theme is fresh and the mechanisms are cleanly designed. The artwork is excellent and the component quality on par with any modern euro. Expect plays to run about 2 hours with a decent amount of set up time. There is also some frustrating iconography. But those are relatively minor quibbles for an otherwise excellent game.
[BGCOLOR=#66FF99]8/10[/BGCOLOR] - Into my Collection
The Castles of Burgundy - 2 Plays
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By modern day standards this game is quite ugly and the components as low grade as they get. However, the design is Amazing! If you are a fan of euros this needs to be in your collection. Especially since it can be obtained for less than $30. The use of dice to focus your decisions, workers help mitigate the rolls, and clever tile placement make for one the best point salad games I have ever played. This is really good and def. worth its high rank on BGG.
[BGCOLOR=#009999]9/10[/BGCOLOR] - Into my Collection (Top 20)
Arcadia Quest - 1 Play
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Not sure what I was expecting out of this one. Maybe another dungeon crawl alternative. There are some very fun elements. Exploding dice are exciting. But it is just a silly gimmick. The competitive aspect makes the experience a little tense. Gearing up between scenarios is fun because that is where you make your characters unique. At the end of it I felt let down. The decisions and gameplay are quite simple. I didn't find myself immersed into the world of Arcadia. A solid game but not my cup of tea. Zombicide Black Plague covers my dungeon crawl itch better.
[BGCOLOR=#33FFFF]7/10[/BGCOLOR] - For Trade
Oldies but Goodies:
Scythe - 2 Plays
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I now have a total of 10 plays. 8 of them prior to getting the physical copy. It was my favorite game even after only playing it on Tabletopia. Now that I have the physical copy the experience is through the roof. Scythe isn't for everyone. No game is. But for me this game is far ahead of any other game I have played in this hobby. I love the art, the production, the encounter cards, the action mechanism, the upgrade mechanism, the threat of combat, the point scoring, and the snowball effect from engine building. Scythe is my favorite game and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
[BGCOLOR=#009900]10/10[/BGCOLOR]
Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King - 2 Plays
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I understand everyone's disappointment that Pandemic Legacy did not win the Kenner Spiel. Pandemic Legacy is the better game. But Isle of Skye is the more approachable game. I predicted Skye to win for that reason. While no individual game of Pandemic is intimidating. The package as a whole can be very daunting. Many will never finish all 12 months of a Pandemic Legacy campaign. However, they will be able to finish 1-2 games of Skye in a given game night. I love the clean design. The price setting mechanism is simple yet challenging and every game has a different end result. The award is well deserved and everyone I introduce the game to loves it. In that regard Isle of Skye is a success.
[BGCOLOR=#009999]9/10[/BGCOLOR]
51st State: Master Set - 1 Play
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Played solo as Texas. Won 31-24. Really struggled to get my engine going. Texas doesn't have the best exchange rates. I love tableau and engine building. 51st State is one of the best games out there for those wanting these mechanisms. Did I mention the artwork is fantastic?
[BGCOLOR=#009900]10/10[/BGCOLOR]
Champions of Midgard - 1 Play
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Champions is an excellent choice for introducing new comers to the hobby. It teaches worker placement, planning, and spices things up with simple dice combat. It may need an expansion for experienced gamers but this is one of my go to games when playing with a newbie. So good and I love it.
[BGCOLOR=#009999]9/10[/BGCOLOR]
Kingsburg - 1 Play
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I really like Kingsburg. The choices are controlled by your dice but you do have options in how you use them and what you build. A simple game but clever in execution. I introduced this game to a new player and they enjoyed it greatly. Kingsburg is a great gateway game and a staple in my collection.
[BGCOLOR=#009999]9/10[/BGCOLOR]
Quadropolis - 1 Play
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Stilling playing classic mode. I have yet to try Expert. Even with just classic mode the game is very solid for abstract civ building. It's point salad but its pretty and fun. Definitely recommend for a try.
[BGCOLOR=#66FF99]8/10[/BGCOLOR]
Russian Railroads - 1 Play
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Scored 395 points against Emil (solo). I greatly enjoy both Russian and German Railroads. I hear people getting bored of Russian after just a few plays. It's hard for me to believe that you have explored all of the strategies in just a handful of plays. If you haven't tried German railroads then you really should. It solves any variability issue you may have with the base game. This is my second favorite worker placement game and I love playing it. I hope they don't stop making expansions.
[BGCOLOR=#009900]10/10[/BGCOLOR]
Blood Rage - 1 Play
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Blood Rage has been quite the roller coaster for me. After my first 2 games I hated it and got rid of it. I picked it up again because I figured I must have missed something. Played it 8 more times and it is a good game. But for me and my group it is not great. The dominance of specific strategies (Loki/Ship Loop) really keep this from being something special. I'll be happy to play with another group if suggested. The excitement isn't there any more. Out latest games were just going through the motions of making the strongest plays. Locking up provinces, using the well known combos, and fighting to be the best exploiter. Blood Rage is a game of points grab and combo exploitation. The game experience aggravates me. But don't let that keep you from giving this game a try.
[BGCOLOR=#33FFFF]7/10[/BGCOLOR] - Traded Away
Awaiting arrival:
Legendary Encounters: Firefly - August 2016.
Legendary Encounters: Aliens Expansion - September 2016.
Orleans: Invasion - October 2016.
Xenoshyft: Dreadmire - August 2016.
Xia: Embers of a Forsaken Star - March 2017.
Cry Havoc - August 2016.
Near and Far - May 2017.
New to me games on my shelf:
Codenames - Hoping to get some plays in at GEN CON
Time Stories - Should get to this in August
Trade Pile:
Arcadia Quest - Looking for Le Havre (ZMAN edition)
Tuscany: Expand the World of Viticulture - Looking for Terra Mystica
Munchkin Deluxe Edition - Someone out there must want this right?
New to me Games:
Karuba - 4 Plays
The spiel nomination sparked my interest. I was also in need of a light family game. This one knocks it out of the park. Such a simple design but full of interesting decisions. It is multiplayer solitaire but you face the challenges together. That spurred a ton of table talk and good laughs on how well or bad we designed our paths to the temple. Excellent game for its audience and quick to teach and play.
[BGCOLOR=#66FF99] 8/10 [/BGCOLOR] - Into my Collection.
Above and Below - 2 Plays
You are refugees running away from your village that was burned down by invaders. You start a new village of your own. While growing your new village you find that there are interconnected caverns beneath you. Over 7 rounds you can acquire new village members, build new buildings, harvest some goods, and/or travel into the caverns. You can play the game however you want without ever having to travel beneath your village. But this is where the game gets interesting.
Every time you travel below ground you have a unique encounter (from over 240) and you are presented with choices. After you make your choice your people that traveled roll for their success at completing the option you selected. Some villagers are better at others for completing encounters. Successful encounters reward you with items you can bring back to the village. By the end of the game you will have acquired several new villagers, built a half a dozen or so buildings both above ground and below ground and collected goods to increase income and points generation. It all comes together with beautiful and pleasant artwork. For those looking for a lighter game with some interesting decisions and a little bit of story narrative will really enjoy Above and Below.
[BGCOLOR=#66FF99] 8/10 [/BGCOLOR] - Into my Collection. Near & Far Kickstarter is currently running. Backed!
Tiny Epic Galaxies - 2 Plays
This is my stab at trying any of the epic games. I figured this was a good place to start since Tiny Epic Galaxies is the best rated. I got two solo plays in and it is quite neat. The AI design is intelligent. It gives you the feel of playing against a real opponent. I really like the planet art and the powers. It is fiddly (small pieces) and the cost is a little high ($25-35) for such a small footprint game. I can't think of another small sized game that is this good. I will use this as my go to travel game.
[BGCOLOR=#66FF99] 8/10 [/BGCOLOR] - Into my Collection
Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar - 2 Plays
I've been avoiding Tzolk'in for quite some time. The Mayan theme, the art, the gear gimmick, and "heaviness" of the game were not appealing. Boy was I wrong. As with any Euro; theme is just for the art. I don't need theme to sell me on a game. The artwork and production are actually quite good. The gear mechanism is unbelievable good. There is a lot of brain burning and angst when planning your moves. It gets easier with more plays. And after a play or two the rules are quite easy and the gameplay smooth. I'm glad I gave this a try. I'm excited to give this a deeper exploration.
[BGCOLOR=#66FF99] 8/10 [/BGCOLOR] - Into my Collection (Top 20)
Grand Austria Hotel - 1 Play
I like euro's and this is another great one. There is a balance between getting customers into their rooms and making sure the emperor is satisfied during his visits. I really enjoy the hotel assistants and the added benefits they provide. They help shape your strategy and end game scoring. Iconography can be frustrating and downtime with 4 is unplayable. Keep it at 2-3 and have a strudel blast! Excited to give this one many more plays.
[BGCOLOR=#66FF99] 8/10 [/BGCOLOR] - Into my Collection
Runebound (Third Edition) - 1 Play
I'm quite good at predicting games I will like. This one was a failure. I was looking for a fun adventure game as there aren't many out there. Runebound seemed like a good place to start. The token chucking is different if unnatural. I really think a Star Wars Imperial Assault Design with dice would have faired better. The game is ridiculously long for what you actually accomplish in the game. It drove me nuts to spend the majority of my turns to move and then acquire an adventure card. That series of events uses all of my actions. Why am I rolling terrain dice for movement? And why is my success of a quest dependent on markers from the common skill deck? I don't mind random elements but Runebound is a hot mess of random that takes way too long to play for that kind of randomness.
[BGCOLOR=#CCCCFF] 5/10 [/BGCOLOR] - Traded Away
Warhammer Quest: The Adventure Card Game - 2 Plays
Yes! A great adventure game. You are actually making thoughtful decisions and planning the timing of your skills. Combat is simple but satisfying. Acquiring gear cards is exciting. Story elements bring you into the theme. This goes to show you that you don't need a massive board and mini's to get the adventuring feel. Warhammer Quest does it right. Give it a try!
[BGCOLOR=#66FF99] 8/10 [/BGCOLOR] - Into my Collection.
The Prodigals Club - 1 Play
I respect games that do something different. Worker placements are everywhere and Prodigals Club tries to separate itself from that massive pack. It does however get you to think differently in that you are trying to exchange goods for cheaper goods, lose votes in elections, and piss off members of the high class society. This theme is fresh and the mechanisms are cleanly designed. The artwork is excellent and the component quality on par with any modern euro. Expect plays to run about 2 hours with a decent amount of set up time. There is also some frustrating iconography. But those are relatively minor quibbles for an otherwise excellent game.
[BGCOLOR=#66FF99]8/10[/BGCOLOR] - Into my Collection
The Castles of Burgundy - 2 Plays
By modern day standards this game is quite ugly and the components as low grade as they get. However, the design is Amazing! If you are a fan of euros this needs to be in your collection. Especially since it can be obtained for less than $30. The use of dice to focus your decisions, workers help mitigate the rolls, and clever tile placement make for one the best point salad games I have ever played. This is really good and def. worth its high rank on BGG.
[BGCOLOR=#009999]9/10[/BGCOLOR] - Into my Collection (Top 20)
Arcadia Quest - 1 Play
Not sure what I was expecting out of this one. Maybe another dungeon crawl alternative. There are some very fun elements. Exploding dice are exciting. But it is just a silly gimmick. The competitive aspect makes the experience a little tense. Gearing up between scenarios is fun because that is where you make your characters unique. At the end of it I felt let down. The decisions and gameplay are quite simple. I didn't find myself immersed into the world of Arcadia. A solid game but not my cup of tea. Zombicide Black Plague covers my dungeon crawl itch better.
[BGCOLOR=#33FFFF]7/10[/BGCOLOR] - For Trade
Oldies but Goodies:
Scythe - 2 Plays
I now have a total of 10 plays. 8 of them prior to getting the physical copy. It was my favorite game even after only playing it on Tabletopia. Now that I have the physical copy the experience is through the roof. Scythe isn't for everyone. No game is. But for me this game is far ahead of any other game I have played in this hobby. I love the art, the production, the encounter cards, the action mechanism, the upgrade mechanism, the threat of combat, the point scoring, and the snowball effect from engine building. Scythe is my favorite game and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
[BGCOLOR=#009900]10/10[/BGCOLOR]
Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King - 2 Plays
I understand everyone's disappointment that Pandemic Legacy did not win the Kenner Spiel. Pandemic Legacy is the better game. But Isle of Skye is the more approachable game. I predicted Skye to win for that reason. While no individual game of Pandemic is intimidating. The package as a whole can be very daunting. Many will never finish all 12 months of a Pandemic Legacy campaign. However, they will be able to finish 1-2 games of Skye in a given game night. I love the clean design. The price setting mechanism is simple yet challenging and every game has a different end result. The award is well deserved and everyone I introduce the game to loves it. In that regard Isle of Skye is a success.
[BGCOLOR=#009999]9/10[/BGCOLOR]
51st State: Master Set - 1 Play
Played solo as Texas. Won 31-24. Really struggled to get my engine going. Texas doesn't have the best exchange rates. I love tableau and engine building. 51st State is one of the best games out there for those wanting these mechanisms. Did I mention the artwork is fantastic?
[BGCOLOR=#009900]10/10[/BGCOLOR]
Champions of Midgard - 1 Play
Champions is an excellent choice for introducing new comers to the hobby. It teaches worker placement, planning, and spices things up with simple dice combat. It may need an expansion for experienced gamers but this is one of my go to games when playing with a newbie. So good and I love it.
[BGCOLOR=#009999]9/10[/BGCOLOR]
Kingsburg - 1 Play
I really like Kingsburg. The choices are controlled by your dice but you do have options in how you use them and what you build. A simple game but clever in execution. I introduced this game to a new player and they enjoyed it greatly. Kingsburg is a great gateway game and a staple in my collection.
[BGCOLOR=#009999]9/10[/BGCOLOR]
Quadropolis - 1 Play
Stilling playing classic mode. I have yet to try Expert. Even with just classic mode the game is very solid for abstract civ building. It's point salad but its pretty and fun. Definitely recommend for a try.
[BGCOLOR=#66FF99]8/10[/BGCOLOR]
Russian Railroads - 1 Play
Scored 395 points against Emil (solo). I greatly enjoy both Russian and German Railroads. I hear people getting bored of Russian after just a few plays. It's hard for me to believe that you have explored all of the strategies in just a handful of plays. If you haven't tried German railroads then you really should. It solves any variability issue you may have with the base game. This is my second favorite worker placement game and I love playing it. I hope they don't stop making expansions.
[BGCOLOR=#009900]10/10[/BGCOLOR]
Blood Rage - 1 Play
Blood Rage has been quite the roller coaster for me. After my first 2 games I hated it and got rid of it. I picked it up again because I figured I must have missed something. Played it 8 more times and it is a good game. But for me and my group it is not great. The dominance of specific strategies (Loki/Ship Loop) really keep this from being something special. I'll be happy to play with another group if suggested. The excitement isn't there any more. Out latest games were just going through the motions of making the strongest plays. Locking up provinces, using the well known combos, and fighting to be the best exploiter. Blood Rage is a game of points grab and combo exploitation. The game experience aggravates me. But don't let that keep you from giving this game a try.
[BGCOLOR=#33FFFF]7/10[/BGCOLOR] - Traded Away
Awaiting arrival:
Legendary Encounters: Firefly - August 2016.
Legendary Encounters: Aliens Expansion - September 2016.
Orleans: Invasion - October 2016.
Xenoshyft: Dreadmire - August 2016.
Xia: Embers of a Forsaken Star - March 2017.
Cry Havoc - August 2016.
Near and Far - May 2017.
New to me games on my shelf:
Codenames - Hoping to get some plays in at GEN CON
Time Stories - Should get to this in August
Trade Pile:
Arcadia Quest - Looking for Le Havre (ZMAN edition)
Tuscany: Expand the World of Viticulture - Looking for Terra Mystica
Munchkin Deluxe Edition - Someone out there must want this right?