We interrupt this program for an important news bulletin. Giant mutant monsters have invaded Tokyo and are laying waste to the city. While the monsters appear to be more concerned with fighting amongst themselves than attacking the population, residents should evacuate the area immediately… Such is the theme of the dice-rolling game King of Tokyo, in which players play giant […]
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The tile-placement game Carcassonne is a classic designer game, ranking right up there with Catan and Ticket to Ride. It’s accessible, easy to learn and teach, and plays in 30 minutes to an hour. Now, nearly 15 years after its original release, it’s got a new look, though the game play remains the same. Let’s take a closer look at this […]
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Hidden far away from our time lies a valley of unimaginable riches, where gold, silver, and precious jewels lie strewn along the roads, seemingly just waiting for you to scoop them into your rucksacks so you can fulfill commissions for wealthy patrons. The name of this wondrous place is Valdora. Valdora is a pickup-and-deliver game with straightforward rules, a beautiful […]
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Many awesome games never make it across the water to the United States, despite being in print for 20 years or more in Germany. Among those classic, well-loved games is the 6 nimmt! series of card games by Amigo Spiel. 6 nimmt! has been winning awards since 1994! So, to help celebrate its 20th anniversary, let me tell you about 6 […]
Read moreDay 3 of Atlanta Game Fest 25 saw me playing some old favorites that I usually only get to play at AGF, as well as, learning a few new games. Old: Expedition and Circus Flochati. New: La Isla, another new Stefan Feld title; Planes; and Pandemic: The Cure. I also got in a second play of Istanbul, this time teaching […]
Read moreI woke up feeling poorly on Friday, Day 2 of Atlanta Game Fest, so went back to bed and didn’t make it down to the game rooms until after 1 p.m. I only learned two new games on Day 2: Cubist and Istanbul – probably my favorite of the convention, though Alchemists is a close second. But I’m getting ahead of […]
Read moreI learned and played a lot of new games at Atlanta Game Fest 25. Day 1, Thursday, began with me teaching a few: Viticulture with a few of Tuscany: Tier 1 expansions, Sushi Go, and Abyss. Then the tables turned and I learned: Roll for the Galaxy, Red7, and Stefan Feld’s latest game, AquaSphere. Following are my first impressions. Roll for […]
Read moreSo, Tim and I are attending Atlanta Game Fest (AGF). The 4-day weekend of almost 24-hour gaming doesn’t actually begin until Thursday. We arrived Wednesday evening. We got an invite to the Games Well Played Meetup. So after checking into our room, we headed over to a local Moe’s to check it out. It solved two dilemmas: what to eat […]
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In the land of the Arabian Nights, oracles foretold of strangers who would maneuver the Five Tribes of Viziers, Elders, Builders, Merchants and Assassins to gain influence over the legendary city-state Naqala in their bid to become Sultan. Some will even call on the powerful Djinn for help. In Five Tribes, your goal is to become the new Sultan by acquiring […]
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Tuscany: Expand the World of Viticulture does just that with a collection of 12 expansions for Viticulture designed to be uncorked one at a time, Risk Legacy-style, and added to the game. There are three tiers of expansions, plus materials and rules for a solo-play experience. The designers recommend starting with the Tier 1 expansions, adding them one at a […]
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DC Comics Deck-building Game (DBG) is a competitive deckbuilding card game in which you take on the role of a famous DC Comics Superhero – or in the case of Forever Evil a Supervillain! Your goal is to acquire the most Victory Points (VPs), mostly by defeating Villains and Super-Villains – or Heroes and Super Heroes when you’re playing Forever […]
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Wok Star is a real-time, cooperative board game in which 2 to 4 players work together to make their brand new Chinese Restaurant a success. You’ve got three days to train your staff, acquire new recipes, upgrade your preparation techniques and get the whole process down to a science in time for your Grand Opening on day 4 when your […]
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An Introduction to The Glass Meeple In April 2013, I began writing monthly game reviews for Here Be Books & Games‘ monthly newsletter. (I write all the other content for it, too.) I’d written a few game reviews here and there before, but not on a regular basis. The newsletter got me on a schedule of writing one to three each […]
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Sushi Go! is a delightful, light card game that plays in about 15 minutes. Your goal: rack up the most points by collecting yummy sushi dishes as you Pick, Play and Pass each turn. Yep, it’s that simple. Each turn, players simultaneously Pick a card from their hand and place it face down in front of them. When everyone is […]
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Ah, the Splendor of it all! Splendor is an easy-to-learn, quick-playing and addictive game for two to four players. Players play rich Renaissance merchants acquiring mines, transportation methods, and artisans so they can turn raw gems into beautiful jewels and increase their prestige. If you’re resourceful and acquire just the right combination of developments one or more nobles may visit […]
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