Pattern Building

  • Review: Harmonies

    Create a miniature world where animals live in complete harmony with nature! A strategy game where every decision you make will be crucial!

    This is how Harmonies is presented to us, a design by Johan Benvenuto (Lost Seas, Secret Identity, Braintopia). First published in 2024 in a multi-language edition by Libellud. The illustrations are handled by Maëva da Silva (Deus, When I Dream, Dragomino).

  • Review: After Us

    2083. Humanity has been extinct for several decades. As the world returns to its origins, primates continue to evolve. They form tribes and learn to use the objects humans left behind. As the leader of one of these tribes, it is your responsibility to guide the primates on the path to collective wisdom.

    This is the premise of After Us, a design by Florian Sirieix (Imaginarium, The A.R.T. Project). First published in 2023 by Catch Up Games in an English edition. Vincent Dutrait (Lewis & Clark, Jaipur, The Quest for El Dorado) is in charge of the artwork.

  • Review: My Shelfie

    You have just arrived home with your new bookshelf, and it is time to display your favorite belongings: books, board games, photos… And do not forget to make room for your cats! Who will organize their bookshelf best?

    This is the premise of My Shelfie, designed by Phil Walker-Harding (Sushi Go!, Bärenpark) and Matthew Dunstan (Pioneer Days, Elysium). First published in 2022 by Cranio Creations in an English and Italian edition. The artwork is by Shannon Grosenbacher and Sara Valentino (marking the first time these artists work in the board game industry).

  • Review: Planet Unknown

    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

    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: Azul

    When Manuel I the Fortunate, King of Portugal, visited the Alhambra Palace, he was captivated by the imposing beauty of its decoration, made of ceramic tiles of Moorish origin known as “azulejos.” Still fascinated by the splendor of the Alhambra’s interior, upon his return to Portugal he immediately ordered the walls of his palace in Évora to be decorated in the same manner. Choose your strategy carefully to become the king’s favorite artist!

    This is how Azul is presented to us, a design by Michael Kiesling (Vikings, Torres, or Tikal, the latter two co-designed with Wolfgang Kramer). It was published in 2017 by Plan B Games in English and German editions. The artwork is handled by Chris Quilliams, whose good work we have already seen in games like Arboretum, Merchants & Marauders, or Archipelago.