Review

  • Review: Watergate

    ByiMisut Hours
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    In June 1972, five men were arrested at the Watergate building in Washington. Newspaper reporters launched a deep investigation that uncovered one of the greatest scandals in U.S. history, culminating in Richard Nixon’s resignation as President.

    This is the premise behind Watergate, a design by Matthias Cramer (Glen More, Lancaster, Kraftwagen). The game was published in 2019 by Frosted Games in German and English editions. The illustrations and graphic design were handled by Klemens Franz (Orleans, Agricola, Oh My Goods!) alongside Alfred Viktor Schulz.

  • Review: Gravity Superstar

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    In the furthest reaches of known space, the most famous adventurers converge on a strange little planet that has the unique ability to attract precious stardust through its fluctuating gravity. They are there to collect as much of this resource as possible, while their rivals constantly try to steal it from them. You are one of these superstars in search of wealth, and you must overcome the gravitational challenges that lie ahead!

    This is how we are introduced to Gravity Superstar, designed by Julian Allain (Titan Race, Dungeon Academy). The game was published in 2019 by Sit Down! in a multilingual edition (English, French, German, and Dutch). Illustrations are handled by Gyom (Magic Maze, Overbooked, Goths Save The Queen).

  • Review: Villagers

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    You are the founder of a new village during the Middle Ages, in the years following a great plague. The loss of so many lives has created severe problems for the survivors. Many of the people upon whom the inhabitants relied for essential things like food, shelter, or clothing have vanished. Craftsmen lack materials, traders have lost their customers, and many have lost their farms and workshops when fleeing the plague. The roads are filled with refugees seeking a fresh start. They come to you, hoping to settle on your land and build a home. Your grain farm is the ideal starting point for a village, providing food for many people in a secure manner. You must choose wisely whom you allow to settle with you, since food and resources are limited. The people on the road possess valuable and unique skills, but they in turn depend on others with very specific skills to be able to work. Raw materials, tools, and services must be provided by other travelers from the road. If you can bring together people capable of working together to turn a profit, while expanding your food supplies and your capacity to build new houses, your village will prosper.

    This is the premise of Villagers, designed by Haakon Hoel Gaarder, marking his debut title. The game was published in 2019 by Sinister Fish Games after securing the necessary funding through a crowdfunding campaign. The illustrations were also created by the author himself.

  • Review: Brass – Birmingham

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    Brass: Birmingham tells the story of the entrepreneurs who competed in Birmingham and its surroundings during England’s Industrial Revolution, between the years 1770 and 1870. In this reimplementation of the original masterpiece, Brass: Lancashire, you will expand your empire by constructing canals and railway lines, and you will build and develop various types of industries, such as cotton mills, coal mines, manufactureries, breweries, iron industries, and potteries.

    This is how Brass: Birmingham is presented to us, a new version of Martin Wallace’s classic (Age of Steam, A Study in Emerald, A Few Acres of Snow) with the collaboration of Gavan Brown and Matt Tolman, both responsible for designs like Super Motherload or JAB: Realtime Boxing. The game was published in 2018 by Roxley Games after a successful crowdfunding campaign via Kickstarter. The artwork is handled by Lina Cossette, David Forest (the duo behind the look of games like Santorini or Charterstone), and Damien Mammoliti (The Witcher Adventure Game, Edge of Darkness).

  • Review: L.L.A.M.A.

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    In this game, llamas rule, so get ready to take negative points. The goal is to play all your cards, but if you can’t, you’ll have to decide: do you fold now or draw hoping to get the card you need?

    This is the premise of L.L.A.M.A., designed by Reiner Knizia (Keltis, High Society, Ra). The game was published in 2019 by AMIGO Spiele in a German edition, being one of the Spiel des Jahres nominees that same year. The artwork was handled by Rey Sommerkamp (in his board game debut) and Barbara Spelger (Speed Cups, Halli Galli, Fluxx).

  • Review: War Chest

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    Can you master the game of kings, queens, and warriors, leading your armies to victory in this beautiful game of tactics and strategy? War Chest challenges you to develop different strategies by drafting units, recovering from losses, and outmaneuvering your opponent with the goal of defeating them.

    This is the premise behind War Chest, a design by Trevor Benjamin (Dice Heist, Café Fatal, High Risk) and David Thompson (Armageddon, Pavlov’s House, Europe Divided). The game was published in 2018 by AEG (Alderac Entertainment Group) in an English edition. Graphic design and illustration are handled by Brigette Indelicato (Dungeon Hustle, Favelas).