Author: iMisut

  • Review: Nidavellir

    For millennia, the dwarf kingdom lived in peace. But nothing lasts forever in the wild and frozen lands of the kingdom of Nidavellir. The tranquility soon vanished, giving way to a sinister threat: infernal flames tore through the sky and a horrifying roar shook the very foundations of the dwarven cities. Far away, in the dark and forgotten reaches of the continent, an evil long thought dead was awakening once more. Imprisoned centuries ago by an alliance of wizards and dwarves, Fafnir the Merciless had managed to break free, thirsting for vengeance: to plunder and scorch everything in his path. And as any cunning thief would, he would begin where gold had been hoarded with the greatest greed: the dwarf kingdom! As a venerable Elvaland, a respected council member and war leader, you have been dispatched by the king with a crucial mission: to assemble an army capable of facing and vanquishing this bloodthirsty monster. Visit every tavern in the realm, hire the most skilled dwarves, recruit the most prestigious heroes, and forge the finest battalion you can to vanquish your deadly foe. Be swift, but above all, spare no expense—for the king will generously reward the greatest among all Elvalands, yet he will not hesitate to punish those who muster nothing more than an army of wretched scoundrels.

    This is the premise of Nidavellir, designed by Serge Laget (Ad Astra, Shadows over Camelot, Mystery of the Abbey). The game was published in 2020 by GRRRE Games in an English and French edition. The illustrations are the work of Jean-Marie Minguez (Mare Nostrum: Empires, Mr. Jack Pocket, Lady Alice).

  • Review: New York Zoo

    In New York Zoo, your task is to build a zoo: construct enclosures for wildlife, introduce new species, and help them breed. It is a straightforward, easy-to-learn game because on your turn you only have two options: place a new enclosure tile in your zoo or acquire new animals to populate your enclosures. However, you must make sure to time your actions well, as your goal is to breed as many animals in your zoo as possible!

    This is the premise of New York Zoo, designed by Uwe Rosenberg (Agricola, Patchwork, Le Havre). The game was published in 2020 by Feuerland Spiele in a German edition. Felix Wermke (Tiny Epic Pirates) handled the artwork.

  • Review: Wild Space

    A new galaxy has been discovered on the edge of the Empire! The time has come to explore this new horizon full of mysteries and opportunities. Expand your crew with animals of different species. Enlist the help of robots, recruit the best specialists in each profession, and catch the eye of imperial emissaries who will entrust you with vital missions. Will you seize this chance to amass a fortune worthy of praise and envied across the entire universe?

    This is the premise behind Wild Space, designed by Joachim Thôme, the mind behind Dicium. The game was first published in 2020 by Catch Up Games in a French edition. The artwork is by Amélie Guinet, who previously worked on Unlock!: Exotic Adventures.

  • Review: Bus

    Citizens are busy traveling back and forth between home, work, and the pub. Your mission will be to develop a bus route that allows you to pick up as many passengers as possible and take them wherever they want to go. To achieve this, you will expand your bus line, contribute to the strategic development of the city, attract new passengers, and invest in more and more buses. However, you will also need to reach the pick-up points before rival companies do. Sometimes unexpected events occur: time stands still, and transport demands change completely overnight. Even so, you cannot let this happen too often, as continuous space-time distortion might shatter and collapse the universe.

    This is the premise behind Bus, a design by Jeroen Doumen and Joris Wiersinga (Antiquity, Food Chain Magnate). The game was first published in 1999 by Splotter Spellen in a German edition. In 2019, a 20th-anniversary edition was released by Capstone Games. Artwork for the original version was created by Tamara Jannink (Roads & Boats), while the reprint features illustrations by Daan van Paridon and Thijs van Paridon (The Estates, Wildcatters).

  • Review: Point Salad

    Point Salad is a fast and fun card game for the whole family. With over 100 different ways to score, players will have to assemble their best salads of veggies… and points!

    This is the premise behind Point Salad, designed by Molly Johnson, Robert Melvin, and Shawn Stankewich, marking the debut title from this design trio. The original edition was first published in 2019 by Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG) in English. Illustrations are handled by Dylan Mangini (Mephisto: The Card Game).

  • Review: It’s a Wonderful World

    Dear citizens of the 5 Empires! Today is a great day to rejoice, as we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the end of the Great Wars. What a joy to live in a world where every decision made by our wise and charismatic leaders is aimed at the happiness of the entire population! We know it is so! And so we want it to be!

    This is how It’s a Wonderful World is presented to us, a design by Frédéric Guérard (Ilôs, GrandBois, Clash of Rage). The game was published in 2019 by La Boîte de Jeu in a French and English edition (the latter co-published with Lucky Duck Games). The illustrations are handled by Anthony Wolff (King of Tokyo, Zombie 15′, Top Fantasy).