In Spirit Island, 1-4 players take the role of Nature Spirits protecting their island home and its inhabitants, the Dahan, from invading colonists. Spirits needs to support each other, guide the indigenous Dahan, and hamper the rapidly expanding and exploitative colonists. In order to live peacefully, the island must be rid of most of the colonial presence … Continue reading Board in the Stacks: Spirit Island
Everything is getting too crowded. You thought you had enough room but you are, after all, bunnies and you've proliferated yourself into an environmental catastrophe. Now to survive, you need to expand into new lands to build a new BUNNY KINGDOM.
In Samurai Gardener — first published as Edo Yasiki in Japan — from Osprey Games and Hisashi Hayashi, 2-5 players quickly grab and then place cards to construct impressive gardens and score points and bonuses by having rows/columns of similar areas. Each card consists of six sections with different types of features (pond, tatami mat, garden, and … Continue reading Board in the Stacks: Samurai Gardener
The Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway is a spidery network of highways, overpasses, and expressways that was constructed in 1962 to increase the efficiency of traffic flowing through Tokyo. It’s unique and mind-bogglingly complicated design of curves and grades is the inspiration for Tokyo Highway from Itten Games and designed by Naotaka Shimamoto and Yoshiaki Tomioka. This … Continue reading Board in the Stacks: Tokyo Highway
Well, it's almost Gencon and my Facebook feed is loaded with airport selfies and I've glued to my phone looking for surprise reveals (Clank! in Space? OMG YES). After several glances through the Gencon Preview list on BBG, I've listed a couple of releases (or demos) that have me particularly excited. Spirit Island (Greater Than … Continue reading What Games Should I Get: Gencon Edition
Welcomes to the Wastelands. Try not to die.
In Hatsuden, the new two-player game from Japanese games publisher Itten, you are competing energy companies jockeying for control of five renewable resources: Solar, Geothermal, Wind, Hydro, and Biomass. While competing you maintain your cities’ optimum amount of power. Too much power and you may control a specific resource but won't provide the optimal amount … Continue reading Board in the Stacks: Hatsuden
The Legend of the Wendigo is a werewolf-styled social deduction game for 2-6 children aged 6+ from Iello Games. In this “lighter” themed version, the Chipmunk Scouts are out telling stories around the campfire and, unbeknownst to anyone, the legendary Wendigo is lurking in the shadows. Each night the Wendigo returns to camp and steals … Continue reading Board in the Stacks: The Legend of the Wendigo
British explorer Percy Fawcett journeys into the Amazon and discovers evidence of a previously unknown civilization. The scientific establishment baulks at this discovery and mock him. Percy, unperturbed, returns to the jungle to prove his case. He is never to be seen again. This is where The Lost City of Z by David Grann drops the story and where The Lost Expedition picks it back up.
In preparing a review for Osprey Games' The Lost Expedition, I was struck by the inclusive representation of queer characters in the game. This is the resulting brief exploration.
Board in the Library 