• Review: Great Western Trail – El Paso
    Review

    Review: Great Western Trail – El Paso

    by
    0 Comments

    El Paso, late 19th century. Five railway companies have incorporated the “Sun City” into their networks, transforming it into the nerve center of the cattle trade. Ranchers from the surrounding areas, both from Texas and Mexico, bring their herds to the city to ship them anywhere across the United States. Take on the role of one of these ranchers and bring your cattle to El Paso to earn money and victory points. Hire cowboys, craftsmen, and engineers to achieve your goals.

    This is the premise behind Great Western Trail: El Paso, designed by Johannes Krenner (Challengers!, Age of Dirt) and Alexander Pfister (Maracaibo, Mombasa). It was first published in 2025 by Lookout Games in an English and German edition. Chris Quilliams (Reef, Azul) was in charge of the illustrations.

  • Review: Civolution
    Review

    Review: Civolution

    by
    0 Comments

    Dear students. The cosmic faculty of the Technical Academy of Creation and I extend a warm welcome to your Civolution, the ultimate exam in the field of Civilization Design. For those who do not know me, my name is Agera, and as the governing entity of this institution, I am responsible for grading your exam. We have chosen a humanoid baseline scenario on an isolated continent. Each of you has been assigned the role of a local deity, closely tied to your civilization, tasked with leading it to success in competition with the others. The developmental paths are limitless, ranging from cultural and technological progress to evolutionary-biological adaptations. For instance, what would advance your civilization further: inventing the wheel or growing wings? Demonstrate your mastery over your console and show that you can adapt to fluctuating environmental parameters and various chaotic conditions of creation. The exam concludes after 4 eras. Whichever student has amassed the most success points with their civilization by then will not only pass the exam, but will also earn promotion to the next rank as a full member of the Technical Academy of Creation. I wish you all a fruitful Civolution!

    This is the premise behind Civolution, designed by Stefan Feld (Bora Bora, AquaSphere, The Castles of Burgundy). First published in 2024 by Deep Print Games in an English and German edition, it features artwork by Dennis Lohausen (Terra Mystica, The Voyages of Marco Polo).

  • Review: Toy Battle
    Review

    Review: Toy Battle

    by
    0 Comments

    Toy battles unfold on land, at sea, in the air, and even in space! The troops need your tactical talent to lead them to victory. Your mission? Be the first to reach the enemy headquarters or control more territories than your opponent.

    This is the premise of Toy Battle, designed by Paolo Mori (Libertalia, Dogs of War) and Alessandro Zucchini (Liguria, Murder in Arosa). First published in 2025 by Repos Production in an English and French version. The artwork is handled by Paul Mafayon (Bunny Kingdom, Tikal).

  • Review: Flip 7
    Review

    Review: Flip 7

    by
    0 Comments

    The best card game of all time! Collect cards to score their points. But beware! If you reveal a duplicate value, you lose it all!

    This is how Flip 7 is introduced, designed by Eric Olsen (A Lott Axolots, Booty Dice). First published in 2024 by The Op Games in an English edition. Illustrations are handled by O’Neil Mabile (25 Words or Less).

  • Review: Finspan
    Review

    Review: Finspan

    by
    0 Comments

    You are a marine researcher whose purpose is to find and observe the variety of aquatic life across the colorful photic zone, the ghostly twilight zone, and the dark midnight zone of the world’s seas and oceans.

    This is how Finspan is presented to us, designed by David Gordon (Monkey Palace, Create the Cosmos) and Michael O’Connell (his debut design). It was first published in 2025 by Stonemaier Games in an English edition. The artwork is illustrated by Ana María Martínez Jaramillo (Wingspan) and Mesa Schumacher (Ecosystem).

  • Review: Wondrous Creatures
    Review

    Review: Wondrous Creatures

    by
    0 Comments

    Lost amidst the swirling mists of the sea, a merchant ship stumbled upon a strange creature. Its shape was reminiscent of a bird, but its luminous beak pierced the darkness with an otherworldly glow. Intrigued, the crew followed the animal and soon discovered an uncharted island, teeming with curious creatures. The peculiar island was packed with mysterious beings, from tiny and adorable balls of fluff to reptiles with enormous and terrifying fangs. News of this newly discovered land spread far and wide, captivating the hearts of the most adventurous, including yours. Driven by your deep love for animals and the thrill of discovery, you set sail for this enigmatic island, longing to explore its wonders firsthand.

    This is how we are introduced to Wondrous Creatures, designed by Yeom Cheolwoong (Shallow Sea). It was first published in 2024 by Bad Comet in an English version following a successful crowdfunding campaign. The illustrations are handled by Sophia Kang (Life of the Amazonia, Wild: Serengeti).