Draft

  • Review: Lost Ruins of Arnak

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    Day 3 – After two days spent in vain scrutinizing the ocean, a small speck on the horizon, barely visible among the foam of the waves, filled us with hope. As we drew closer, a flock of bright scarlet birds approached the ship, chirping and whistling as if welcoming us. After consulting the navigational charts, the officer assured us that this island did not appear on any of them. His words supported the theory we all secretly shared; those rugged plateaus, that emerald jungle… it could be Arnak!

    This is how Lost Ruins of Arnak is presented to us, designed by the married couple Michal “Elwen” Štach and Michaela “Mín” Štachová, this being their debut work. It was first published in 2020 by Czech Games Edition (CGE) in an English version. The illustrations are by Jiří Kůs, Ondřej Hrdina, Jakub Politzer, František Sedláček, and Milan Vavroň.

  • Review: Praga Caput Regni

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    Charles IV has been crowned King of Bohemia and ruler of the Holy Roman Empire. From his castle in Prague, he oversees the construction of new fortifications, a bridge across the Vltava River, a university, and a cathedral rising behind the castle walls themselves. Prague is already one of the largest cities in Europe. King Charles will turn it into the capital of an empire. Players take on the role of wealthy citizens organizing various construction projects in medieval Prague. By increasing their wealth and contributing to the construction, they will gain royal favor. Participants choose between six actions that are always available, but constantly shifting in their costs and benefits. The most skillful players will discover synergies between carefully planned actions and the rewards of building civic projects. At the end of the game, the winner will be the player who has managed to impress King Charles the most.

    This is the premise behind Praga Caput Regni, designed by Vladimír Suchý (Last Will, Underwater Cities, League of Six). The game was published in 2020 by Delicious Games in an English and German edition. Art is handled by Milan Vavroň (Tzolk’in: The Mayan Calendar, Mage Knight, Lost Ruins of Arnak).

  • Review: Beyond the Sun

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    The First Thermonuclear War was unkind to Earth. Over the last two centuries, civil unrest and climate change continued to devastate all regions of the world. Crop yields were plummeting, resources were depleting, and poverty and crime were rampant. Humanity was facing extinction. The solution seemed clear: leave Earth and find a new home among the stars. Faced with the prospect of annihilation, the remaining factions on Earth united. On New Year’s Eve 2240, the Scientific Exchange Treaty was signed at the former site of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The world’s resources were poured into space research, and all discoveries were shared on a global network. For the first time in history, humanity acted as one. In just six short years, engineers at the Nishida-Ostergaard Corporation, under the leadership of Dr. Edmund Saito, developed a technology that was shared with the rest of the world. Humanity had finally entered the space age. Shortly after this key discovery, other factions also researched primitive terraforming techniques, radiation-resistant crops, asteroid mining, and other essential components for human survival outside the solar system. Countless expeditions were launched toward exoplanets each month. Now that a solution has been found, the ambition for power and control stirs within each faction once again…

    This is the premise of Beyond the Sun, a debut design by Dennis K. Chan. The game was published in 2020 by Rio Grande Games in an English edition. The illustrations are handled by Franz Vohwinkel (Puerto Rico, Targi, Tichu, 6 nimmt!).

  • Review: Space Base

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    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

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    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

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    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.