Review

  • Review: Space Base

    The United Earth Nations needs you! As the Commodore of a Space Base, your job is to draft new ships into your fleet to patrol the 12 sectors under your watch. Use cargo vessels, mining ships, and troop carriers to make profits and expand your influence. Only one Space Base Commodore will be promoted to U.E.N. Admiral of the Fleet!

    This is the premise of Space Base, designed by John D. Clair (Mystic Vale, Custom Heroes). The game was first published in 2018 by Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG) in an English edition. The illustrations are by Chris Walton (Warmachine Prime Mk II, Monsterpocalypse).

  • 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: 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).

  • Review: Thurn and Taxis

    In 1490, Emperor Maximilian I commissioned Franz von Taxis to establish a courier service between his residences in Innsbruck and Brussels. It was so successful that, in the following period, all other postal services remained linked to the Thurn and Taxis family name, eventually leading to them being elevated to the rank of counts. Will you be able to continue the family’s success and build a significant stagecoach network? Do you have the talent to connect the right cities with one another, as well as establish post offices and, at the same time, keep your sights on purchasing new carriages?

    This is the premise behind Thurn and Taxis, designed by Karen Seyfarth and Andreas Seyfarth (the latter responsible for hits like Puerto Rico, San Juan, or Manhattan). The game was first published in 2006 by Hans im Glück in a German edition, winning that year’s Spiel des Jahres. The artwork is illustrated by Michael Menzel (Agra, Santiago de Cuba, Legends of Andor).