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.
Board Games
All posts tagged Board Games
“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.
You are in a race against time. The others, like you, have a secret objective to fulfill on an uncharted island. The captivating host at the large mansion gave you all a heavy box with the assurance that there would be only one winner. Enter: “Suwango”, a 1-4 player game that supports ages 10+ with an average play time of 15-20 minutes per player. It’s primarily a tile placement game that will task players with earning the most points. I’m told that “Suwango” will be entering the crowdfunding process at some point, so it’s important to stress that my copy is merely a prototype and everything that you read and see in this article is subject to change. I’m also required by FTC regulations to disclose that I was paid to cover this game, but any and all opinions are, as always, my own. The only thing being paid for here is my time.
I absolutely loathed gym class back in grade school. I get it, “move to stay healthy” and all that. I didn’t mind the running so as much as the part where I got hit in the face by a dodgeball or was asked to guard someone in sportsball that was twice my size. I guess I was more of a chess player back then…I was unmatched. Luckily, tabletop and video games over the years have introduced ways to play sports without the physical contact. Today we’ll be looking at “TUG-of-WARRIORS!”, a card game for 2 players appropriate for ages 10+ with an average play time of 15-25 minutes. “TUG-of-WARRIORS!” will be seeking your support on Kickstarter come April, 2022. Before we begin I must stress that my version is a prototype and everything you see and read about here is subject to change, including the rules. I’m also bound by FTC regulations to disclose that I was paid to cover this game, however any and all opinions are my own.
I’ve already admitted to the fact that I can’t draw a stick figure to save my life. I do, on occasion however, like to tell a good story. My stories tend to be overly exaggerated, so much so that even a Klingon warrior wouldn’t believe me. “Sketch & Story”, a “clever game of storytelling and sketching”, allows me to exercise the latter while wholeheartedly enjoying the former. Before we begin I’m required by FTC regulations to note that I was paid to cover this game, however any and all opinions are my own. As always, the only thing paid for here was my time.
My girlfriend and her family are avid “Dominos” players. I’ve picked up a thing or two but they’ve got the game down to a science. In other words, I rarely win. I may just introduce them to “SUM8”, a game currently seeking your support on Kickstarter, just so that I have a fair shot of winning…well, something. “SUM8” supports 1-2 players and ages 8+ with an average play time of 30 minutes. This game reminds me a little of “Dominos” what with the playing of numbered tiles on a flat surface, but it goes beyond in a number of ways.
Wait, we’re doing this again? ALREADY!? Time sure flies when you’re having fun. I hope 2021 has been a good year to whomever is reading this. With personal and health issues abound, we’ve been doing the best we can to make ends meet AND do the things we love to do…play games!
I’ve taken the plunge into Dungeons and Dragons 5e for the first time this year. All I can say is that it’s addicting! We’ve completed the Lost Mine of Phandelver and are currently running Storm King’s Thunder. I’ve got over 75 hours of recorded sessions on my YouTube channel, so go have a look once you’re done here if you’re a fan.
The Podcasts are still going strong too. We’ve decided to do them monthly due to time constraints, but with enough support I’d love to do them weekly like we used to. While we mostly talk about games, we do delve into other nerdy interests from time to time. You should give us a listen on my YouTube Channel!
With regards to the awards we’re keeping it simple. The following is a list of board games and videos games we’ve played this year and absolutely love. It doesn’t matter when they were released. Some are still considered “Early Access”. Some of our entries have indeed been released in 2021, but you’ll no doubt recognize some old chestnuts in there that are getting the recognition they deserve.
If you haven’t already, be sure to follow and subscribe to me on Twitch & YouTube. Support me on Patreon and/or PayPal. Buy games via my affiliate Humble Bundle & Green Man Gaming links. Most importantly, be kind to others and keep on gaming!
Think you can make it big? Have what it takes to reach the ten million dollar mark? You’ll have a chance to find out in “PURE PROFIT”, a card game that tasks players with carefully managing their hand and growing their bank in the process. It supports 2-6 players & ages 12+ with an average play time of about 15-20 minutes. Before we get started 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. Continue Reading
Civilization has been wiped out by multi-colored meteors of all things. Of the survivors, some had discovered that they had gained incredible superpowers. As you would expect, some used their powers for good while others used it for evil. In “Heroes & Villains”, a collectible/customizable deck-battle game that’s coming to Kickstarter October 12, 2021, you’ll be tasked with building a deck of superpowers and battling others for supremacy. It supports 2-6 players and ages 10+ with an average play time of 15 minutes per game.
Special thanks to Kate Arrington, General Manager at Neddy Games, for sending a prototype copy for promotional purposes. It’s important to stress that prototypes are typically not reflective of the finished product, making everything you see and read about here subject to change. Before we begin I’m required by FTC Regulations to disclose that I was paid to cover this game, but any and all opinions are my own.
I’m 100% behind pet adoption programs. There’s absolutely no reason to walk into a retail store and buy a dog for $600+ when you can help rescue animals in need via adoption. The dogs and cats that I’ve owned were all adopted through either Animal Friends or the Humane Society, two organizations dedicated to rescuing animals and finding them forever homes. “ComPetability” has such a theme in that you’re trying to match up animals in your hand so that they are compatible. 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. As always, the only thing paid for here was my time.
All things considered, the folks stranded on Gilligan’s Island had it pretty easy. I mean, they didn’t have to contend with things like dinosaurs, pirates, and monsters…rather it was usually just one doofus screwing up rescue attempt after rescue attempt. “Shipwrecked!”, a tabletop game for 1-4 players and ages 12+ with an average play time of 1-1.5 hours, has all of those aforementioned things and more. It’s a semi-cooperative survival game where players strive to have the most riches and make it out alive. Special thanks to developer Matt Clarke for sending a copy for review purposes. I’m required by FTC regulations to disclose that I was paid to cover this game, but any and all opinions are my own. The only thing paid for here was my time.
I was a huge video / board game nerd growing up, but it wasn’t until this year that I played my very first D&D campaign. Let me tell you, it was OVERWHELMING! Hit dice? Dex saves? Cover? That said, my group and I just finished “Lost Mine of Phandelver” with no casualties and I’m hooked. I can see why some people walk into physical stores just to buy miniatures and 3D terrain. Roll20 made things easy for our group, but there are no doubt plenty of other options out there that work too.