board game review Archives

Golem Run [Preview]

There’s a certain darkness that seems to shroud everything emerging from Dragon Dawn Productions’ forge. Their games exude a ghastly atmosphere. It is drenched in themes that… I don’t know… feel pulled straight from the shadowy recesses of a mythical netherworld. Golem Run may still carry the DNA of its dark and gritty dwarves society with whatever dwelling along in their deep caves. But this time, it brings us closer to the surface. Perhaps, there’s no place to conjure a racetrack in the underworld.

Nightmares of Sushi [Review]

von Stephan Sonny

Bei Good Spirit Games zeichnet sich ein Genrewechsel ab. Es scheint so. Nachdem sie sich in die düstere Welt der Gangster gewagt hatten, haben sie den Kurs gewechselt. 2023 wurden wir in ihrem neuen Spiel in eine leichtere, geradezu skurrile Stimmung versetzt. Letztes Jahr war *Nightmares of Sushi* eine echte Überraschung. Und das wirft eine spannende Frage auf: Wie bekommt man überhaupt Albträume von Sushi? Es ist doch eine großartige Küche. Scheint harmlos zu sein.

Snow Planner [Preview]

von Stephan Sonny

Snow Planner is, at its core, a game of simplicity. Everything lies on the table. It’s straightforward generating resources to pay and optimising our moves with it. Despite the straightforward nature, it still offers a bit of complexity. Just a sprinkle of it. And let’s not confuse the simplicity and less complex bits with a lack of depth. Complexity itself is not linear with the latter part.

Dawn [Review]

von Stephan Sonny

I imagine some gamers might take their first step into the board game world with more accessible games. Social deduction is one of the entry points. Easy to learn and ready-to-play in just a few minutes of explanation. We are granted some big titles, one of them being The Resistance. Of course, I would not forget the more classic Werewolf, which for some of you maybe more well-known as Mafia. These are undoubtedly fun games. However, they share one particular trait that Taylor Hayward has notably refined in Dawn.

Shallow Sea [Preview]

von Stephan Sonny

Das Meer ist unheimlich und seine rätselhaften Bewohner ebenso — aber verwechseln Sie die beunruhigenden Wunder der Unterwasserwelt nicht mit Monotonie. Unter den Wellen gibt es eine ganze Welt, die vor lebendigem Leben nur so strotzt. Shallow Sea taucht tief ein in das farbenfrohe Spektakel des Great Barrier Reef. Seine Pracht entfaltet sich auf Ihrem Tisch. Es ist eine Herzensangelegenheit von Bad Comet Games, dem südkoreanischen Studio, das für visuelle Opulenz bekannt ist. Dieses Spiel scheint ihre bislang atemberaubendste Kreation zu sein.

An interview with Michael Raftopoulos, MOB Vanguard [News]

von Stephan Sonny

We had the pleasure of interviewing none other than Michael Raftopoulos, the founder and co-owner of MOB Vanguard. The company is well-known for specializing in board game licensing. And they have been working tirelessly to bring games to a global audience, negotiating localization and publishing deals are their bread and butter. Making sure your favourite titles are available in your own language. I think breaking language barriers is their hobby.

Dragon vs Kingdom [Preview]

von Stephan Sonny

Dragon vs Kingdom is, as the title suggests, about a furious dragon facing off against a kingdom. Or a bunch of them, actually. Each player receives his/her own sheet — it represents his/her dragon’s side. Meanwhile, the rest of the player will act as the kingdoms’ rulers on that dragon’s sheet. It might sound like a complex setup at the first glance, but practically, it’s much more straightforward. And what’s important: it’s entertaining.

West Story: A Town Building Game [Preview]

von Stephan Sonny

I promised myself: no more crowdfunding after Spiel 2024. No more Gamefound or Kickstarter rabbit holes. Yet here I am, staring at West Story: A Town Building Game, and honestly, it’s testing that resolve. The campaign is live on Gamefound. Check it out, though. So I might not be the only one giving in to temptation.

Jekyll & Hyde vs Scotland Yard [Review]

von Stephan Sonny

Jekyll & Hyde vs Scotland Yard is a spin-off, if not a sequel, to the earlier competitive trick-taking games. It shares the same name and, largely, the mechanics of its predecessor. Yet, the shift from competitive to a cooperative affair makes all the difference.

Old Salt [Review]

von Stephan Sonny

In many wargames, the designers dive into historical facts. Their aim to recreate those events is complimented with some possible what-if scenarios that alter the course of events. Yet, I long for another approach. I believe there’s value in using fiction as a background story for this kind of game.