Set-Collection

  • Review: Ostia

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    In 103 AD, Emperor Trajan built Portus Ostia, which became Rome’s most important port. Arranged in an elegant hexagonal layout, this port received vast quantities of goods from across the entire empire and became the logistical hub that sustained the prosperity of the imperial city of Rome. You assume the role of the owner of a massive fleet of ships, where crowds of merchants and nobles flock to the port of Ostia to charter your vessels. Use the money and resources earned from chartering to expand your enterprise and meet the demand for wheat and other goods, thereby earning the favor of the people. Using your ships to explore other territories is also vital: your adventure tales and the discovery of exotic artifacts will undoubtedly spark the curiosity of both emperors and nobles. The one who achieves the greatest fame will be blessed with victory by the Senate and citizens of glorious Rome!

    This is the premise behind Ostia, a design by Totsuca Chuo (Sweet Lands, Aqua Garden). First published in 2022 by uchibacoya in an English and Japanese edition. The illustrations are by Tatsuki Asano and Rocinante Urabe, both responsible for the artwork in games like Aqua Garden and Sapporo 1876.

  • Review: Finspan – Sharks & Reefs

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    Now you can Cultivate colorful Coral Reefs in each of the 3 Dive Sites in your Ocean. Healthy Reefs allow you to play powerful Reef Fish, unlock Abilities, and gain end-of-game bonuses. Meanwhile, Sharks scatter Fry Schools (to form more Schools elsewhere) and leave behind food scraps that any Fish in your Ocean can Consume.

    This is how Sharks & Reefs is presented to us, the first expansion for Finspan, designed by Michael O’Connell. First published in 2026 by Stonemaier Games in an English version. The artwork is provided by Ana María Martínez Jaramillo (Wingspan), Catalina Martinez, and Mesa Schumacher (Ecosystem).

  • Review: Sensu

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    In Japan, the use of the Sensu—the folding fan—carries deep traditional significance: woe to anyone who confuses the wooden fans used in dance and theatre with the iron-ribbed war fans wielded by samurai! Gather the cards you need to craft your own fans using your wits, and always keep the key number of the challenge in mind: 15!

    This is the premise behind Sensu, designed by Enrico Vicario as his debut release. First published in 2023 by DV Games in a dual English and Italian edition. Illustrations are handled by Andrea Guerrieri (Green: The Golf Card Game, Atelier daVinci).

  • Review: Ayar – Children of the Sun

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    Viracocha created Inti, the Sun God, and Mama Quilla, the Moon Goddess. They emerged from Lake Titicaca as one: husband and wife, sister and brother. But Inti looked upon Mama Quilla’s glow with jealousy and threw ash over her so she would not shine brighter than him. Together they fathered four sons and four daughters—the Ayar pairs—who would emerge from Tiwanaku, south of the great lake, alongside the ten minor clans of the first settlers. The Ayar would be tasked with finding fertile land at the center of the universe to found the Tawantinsuyu empire, while teaching the clans the necessary skills to build a civilization. As the four Ayar pairs traversed the lands northward, one by one they would meet their fate—trapped in a cave or turned to stone—until only one pair remained. The final Ayar pair would survive to receive the honor of bearing the golden staff and founding the Tawantinsuyu empire, standing at its head as the Sapa Inca and the Coya.

    This is how we are presented with Ayar: Children of the Sun, a design by Mandela Fernandez-Grandon and Fabio Lopiano, responsible for Sankoré: The Pride of Mansa Musa. First published in 2025 by Osprey Games in an English edition. Illustrations are handled by Ian O’Toole (Lisboa, Railway Boom).

  • Review: Mykerinos

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    Explore early 20th-century Egypt and compete for archaeological prestige. Lead expeditions in search of forgotten treasures. Place your archaeologists to control key areas and gain prestige in the museum.

    This is the premise of Mykerinos, a design by Nicolas Oury (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtle Power Card Game)[cite: 1]. First published in 2006 by Ystari Games in English and French[cite: 1]. Arnaud Demaegd handled the artwork for that first edition[cite: 1]. In 2026, Looping Games published a new edition including the Nile expansion, with artwork by Amelia Sales and Pedro Soto[cite: 1].

  • Review: Container

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    An economic game that tests players’ strategy to build and operate a simple supply chain. The objective of each player is to earn the most money by producing, selling, and transporting containers. It may sound simple enough, but there is a twist: you can never buy or transport your own containers! Instead, you must entice other players to buy your containers and take them to Container Island. At the end of the game, each player adds up the cash earned during the game plus the cash value of the containers in their scoring area on Container Island. Your secret value card determines how much the containers in your area are worth. The winner is the player with the most total money!

    This is how Container is presented to us, a design by Franz-Benno Delonge (Manila, TransAmerica) and Thomas Ewert. Kevin Nesbitt collaborated on its expansion. It was first published in 2007 by Valley Games, Inc. in an English version. In 2018, Mercury Games published the 10th Anniversary Edition which included the expansion. And in 2026, Allplay published a new edition. The illustrations for the first edition were done by Mike Doyle, those for the 10th Anniversary Edition by Michael Christopher, Paola Tuazon, and Andrew White, and those for the Allplay version by Adam Allsuch Boardman.