Board Games

  • Review: A Feast for Odin

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    A Feast for Odin is a saga in the form of a game. You will relive the cultural achievements, trading expeditions, and pillages of those tribes we know today as “Vikings”—a term that had a somewhat different meaning at the end of the first millennium. When the Norsemen embarked on a raid, they said they were going “a-viking”. However, these Northmen were more than just pirates. They were also explorers, merchants, and settlers. It is said that Leif Erikson was the first European to reach America, long before Columbus. The reason these peoples became great seafarers was harsh farming conditions, as a poor harvest could mean great hardship. In this game, you can undertake raids and explore new territories. You will also simulate daily living conditions, securing goods that guarantee you a comfortable position in society. At the end of the game, the player with the most valuable possessions will be the winner.

    This is how A Feast for Odin is presented to us—the latest big game from Uwe Rosenberg, in a box even larger than Fields of Arle or Caverna. The game was published in 2016 by Feuerland Spiele in German, alongside several parallel international editions, such as Z-Man Games in English, White Goblin Games in Dutch, Cranio Creations in Italian, or Filosofia Éditions in French. As is customary with this publisher, the artwork is handled by Dennis Lohausen, as seen previously in Fields of Arle or Glass Road.

  • Review: Concordia

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    Two thousand years ago, the Roman Empire ruled the lands around the Mediterranean Sea. With peace on the borders, harmony within the provinces, a uniform law, and a single currency, the economy thrived and gave rise to powerful Roman dynasties that expanded into numerous cities. Lead one of these dynasties; colonize the most remote realms of the Empire; expand your trade network and please the ancient gods to gain their favor. If you plan your strategy properly, you will be able to grow your dynasty and make it the most powerful in the Roman Empire.

    This is the premise of Concordia, a game designed by Mac Gerdts, author of other well-known titles such as Imperial, Navegador, or Antike. The game was first published in 2013 by PD-Verlag (in English/German), becoming one of the nominees for that year’s Kennerspiel des Jahres alongside Istanbul (winner) and Rokoko. The illustrations are handled by Marina Fahrenbach, the publisher’s usual artist (Navegador, Antike II, Antike Duellum).

  • Review: Keyflower

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    Keyflower takes place over the four seasons of a year. Players will compete to expand and improve their respective villages, facing different challenges, with every game being unique due to the mix of village tiles that varies from match to match. Players must stay alert to make the most of their available resources, transport and upgrade capabilities, skills, and workers.

    Keyflower comes to us designed by Sebastian Bleasdale (Black Fleet or On the Underground) and Richard Breese (Reef Encounter or Inhabit the Earth). The game was published in 2012 by HUCH! & friends/R&D Games. The artwork is handled by Juliet Breese (Keythedral or Aladdin’s Dragons), Jo Breese, and Gemma Tegelaers (Mai-Star or Massilia).

  • Review: Caverna – The Cave Farmers

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    Are you ready to become the bearded leader of a family of dwarves living peacefully in a small cave beside the mountains? Get ready to work the forest that stretches out beyond your home and delve deep into the heart of the mountain you inhabit.

    This is how we are introduced to Caverna, designed by the great Uwe Rosenberg, the mind behind massive hits like Agricola, Le Havre, and Patchwork. The game was first published in 2013 by Lookout Games in both German and English editions. Artwork duties were handled, as is usual for the Rosenberg-Lookout pairing, by Klemens Franz, who also illustrated Agricola, Ora et Labora, and At the Gates of Loyang.

  • Review: Carcassonne

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    The city of Carcassonne, in southeastern France, is famous for its walled citadel dating back to Roman and medieval times. Players will try to make their fortune by placing their followers on the roads, cities, monasteries, and fields in the region, a region that will change as the game progresses. Properly deploying these followers, whether they are highwaymen, knights, monks, or farmers, will be essential to achieving victory.

    This is how we are presented with Carcassonne, a classic designed by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede, author of other well-known titles such as The Downfall of Pompeii, Mesopotamia, or Rapa Nui. The game was published by Hans im Glück in the year 2000, winning the famous Spiel des Jahres award in 2001. The illustrations were handled by Doris Matthäus (as in many titles from the German publisher), who had already worked on games such as El Grande, Tigris & Euphrates, Saint Petersburg, or Elfenland.

  • Review: Patchwork

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    Patchwork is a needlework technique that involves sewing together pieces of fabric with various patterns to create a single, larger design. Historically, it was a way to repurpose leftover scraps of fabric to make clothes and quilts. Today, it has become an art form used by textile designers, especially when working with pieces of varied shapes and sizes. Creating a beautiful quilt requires both time and patience, as the available patches often simply refuse to fit together smoothly. Choose your patches carefully and keep a steady supply of buttons on hand to craft a more striking quilt than your opponent.

    This is the premise behind Patchwork, one of the two games presented by the great Uwe Rosenberg back in 2014 (alongside Caverna) through multiple publishers simultaneously. For instance, Mayfair Games released it in English, while Lookout Games handled the German edition. As a side note, it was a Spiel des Jahres recommended game in 2015 and won the Golden Geek Award for Best Abstract Board Game in 2014, while also being nominated for Best 2-Player Game in that same edition. The artwork is illustrated by Klemens Franz, the artist behind the look of most of Uwe’s games, such as Agricola, Le Havre, and Caverna.