Review: Dice Hospital
A solid hospital management puzzle featuring worker allocation and dice manipulation, though held back by low interaction and limited replayability.
Review: Root
Root is a fast-paced game of adventure and war. You will play as one of four factions fighting to prove you are the most legitimate ruler of the vast Woodland. Lurk as the Vagabond, seize the initiative with the proud Eyrie Dynasties, rule over your subjects as the Marquise de Cat, or organize the Alliance to establish a new order, and you will achieve dominance in this asymmetric game of adventure and war.
This is how we are presented with Root, a design by Cole Wehrle (Pax Pamir, John Company). The game was published in 2018 by Leder Games thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign via Kickstarter. The illustrations are handled by Kyle Ferrin, who had already shown his talent in games like Vast: The Crystal Caverns, Dungeon Mayhem, or Deep: Enemy Frontier.
Review: Teotihuacan – City of Gods
Travel back in time to the greatest city in Mesoamerica and become part of its history. Witness the glory and the twilight of this powerful pre-Columbian civilization. Gain wealth and resources, guide your assistants, secure the favor of the gods, and become the builder of the glorious Pyramid of the Sun. Players represent scions of powerful noble families striving to achieve eternal glory while building Teotihuacan. Score victory points in many ways: seek the favor of the gods, be the greatest architect of the pyramid, and claim the most prestigious spots along the Avenue of the Dead. May the gods help you achieve victory!
This is the premise behind Teotihuacan: City of Gods, designed by Daniele Tascini (Tzolk’in: The Mayan Calendar, The Voyages of Marco Polo). Dávid Turczi (Dice Settlers, Kitchen Rush) is also credited, having designed the solo mode. The game was published in 2018 by NSKN Games in English. The artwork is handled by Odysseas Stamoglou, who has illustrated games such as Among the Stars, A Handful of Stars, and Simurgh.
Review: Everdell
Within the charming valley of Everdell, beneath the boughs of towering trees, among meandering streams and mossy hollows, a civilization of forest creatures has thrived and expanded. Ever since the famed adventurer Corrin Evertail discovered the hidden valley long ago, the citizens have prospered under the shelter of the Ever Tree. After years of tranquility, the time has come to expand territories and establish new cities. You will lead a group of critters with the intent of achieving such a task. Buildings must be erected to attract diverse characters, and certain objectives must be completed. You have a busy year ahead of you. Will the sun shine brightest on your city before the winter moon rises?
This is how Everdell is presented to us, a design by James A. Wilson, this being his first game. It was published in 2018 under the Starling Games label, which sought the necessary funding through a successful crowdfunding campaign. The illustrations are handled by Andrew Bosley, who already proved his talent in games like Mission: Red Planet, Citadels, or Descent.
Review: Clans of Caledonia
19th-century Scotland. The country undergoes a transition from a predominantly agricultural economy to an industrialized one, heavily dependent on trade and export. As a result, food production increased to support the growing population, cheap cotton imports replaced flax, and livestock farming expanded. When European wine and brandy production was devastated by an insect blight in the late 19th century, Scotch whisky emerged as a substitute for cognac. The whisky industry came alive, establishing itself as the premium alcoholic beverage of choice across Europe. Players represent historic clans competing to produce, trade, and export their agricultural goods, as well as their famous whisky!
This is the premise behind Clans of Caledonia, the debut design by Juma Al-JouJou. The game was published in 2017 under the Karma Games imprint, created specifically for the occasion following a successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. The artwork is handled by the dependable Klemens Franz (Agricola, Le Havre, Orleans).
Review: Gaia Project
In Gaia Project, the successor to the acclaimed Terra Mystica, each player controls one of fourteen distinct factions fighting to peacefully colonize the galaxy. Each faction has different environmental needs to survive on the seven different types of planets, and each faction is bound to its home planet. These needs have led the factions to master terraforming, as in order to grow and develop, they must terraform neighboring planets into their native environment, competing with other players. During the game, you will colonize new planets, upgrade mines to create better structures, and unite planets to form federations, all while needing to research and discover new technologies to improve your abilities.
This is how Gaia Project is presented to us, designed by Jens Drögemüller and Helge Ostertag, the minds behind Terra Mystica, a game they have given a couple of twists to for the title at hand today. It was published in 2017 by Feuerland Spiele in a German edition and by Z-Man Games in its English version. The illustrations are once again handled by Dennis Lohausen (The Voyages of Marco Polo, Qin, Helios).
