Eurogames

  • Review: Carnegie

    ByiMisut Hours
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    Andrew Carnegie (Scotland in 1835) and his parents emigrated to the United States in 1848. Although he started his career as a telegrapher, his role as one of the main players in the rise of the United States steel industry made him one of the richest men in the world and an icon of the American Dream. He was also a benefactor and philanthropist; after his death in 1919, more than 350 million dollars of his wealth were bequeathed to several foundations, and another 30 million were allocated to various charities. His donations created nearly 2,500 free public libraries bearing his name: the Carnegie Libraries. During the game, you will recruit and manage employees, expand your business, invest in real estate, produce and sell goods, and create transport chains across the United States; you can even work with important personalities of the era. Perhaps you will even become an illustrious benefactor who contributes to the greatness of your country through deeds and generosity!

    This is how Carnegie is presented to us, a design by Xavier Georges (Carson City, Ginkgopolis). First published in 2022 by Quinned Games after a successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. The artwork is handled by Ian O’Toole (On Mars, Irish Gauge, Black Angel).

  • Review: Planet Unknown

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    Greetings, planetary colonists. As you know, we have depleted Earth’s resources and must act now to preserve the future of humanity. You have been chosen to develop a Planet Unknown that will ensure mankind’s survival. You will win the game if you are the player who earns the most Medals. To achieve this, efficiently develop your Planet, advance along your resource tracks, collect Pods, remove Meteorites, and outscore your neighboring Planets.

    This is the premise of Planet Unknown, designed by Ryan Lambert and Adam Rehberg (co-designers of Swordcrafters and Truck Off: The Food Truck Frenzy). It was first published in 2022 by Adam’s Apple Games, LLC following a successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. Illustrations were provided by Yoma (Legacies, Sweet Mess).

  • Review: Cascadia

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    The Pacific Northwest, also known as Cascadia, is a geographic region in North America bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Rocky Mountains to the east. Although there is no official boundary, the most common conception includes the Canadian province of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory, as well as the US states of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

    This is how Cascadia is presented to us, designed by Randy Flynn, this being his debut design on the market. The game was published in 2021 by Flatout Games following a successful crowdfunding campaign. The illustrations are handled by Beth Sobel (Viticulture, Wingspan, Arboretum).

  • 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: It’s a Wonderful World

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    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).