Shelley and I check out highlights from Halls 2 & 3 of Essen this week, but first we check out one of Bezier Games' latest

Xylotar by Christopher Wray

Thanks as always to our sponsor, Bezier Games

Here are two different links to check out the Essen titles we are most interested in:

https://boardgamegeek.com/geekpreview/68/spiel-essen-24-preview?priority=2

https://boardgamegeek.com/geekpreview/68/spiel-essen-24-preview?sharekey=ckpiaTIxS3lYN0F6M2wwM2pMY2hFQT09&priority=1,2,3&sort=priority&viewstyle=thumbs

Hall 2 Publishers/Games
Albi (2-B631):
Atoll
Tea Garden
Arcane Wonders (2-E310):
Floresta
(also at MEBO GAMES - Hall 5)
Leylines (demo)
Mezen
Super Kawaii Pets
Vegetable Stock
Bezier Games (2-D620)
Sandbag
Seers Catalog
Xylotar
Bright Eye Games (2-D210)
Sumo
EmperorS4 (2-D411)
Torii
Four Comma Game (2-D432)
Age of Automation
The Game Builders (2-E620)
Suna Valo
Jelly Jelly Games (2-E315)
Minecart Town
Little Rocket Games (2-D421)
Coney
Fall
Ludonaute (2-E125)
Arctic
Paverson Games (2-E121)
Luthier (demo)
Snovid (2-E319)
Galebari
To Be Continued...
Tiros-Games (2-E311)
Space Missions
Weird City Games (2-E111)
Canopy Evergreen
Wonderful World of Board Games (2-E330)
Loco Momo

Hall 3 Publishers/Games
2F Spiele (3-G511)
Fishing
2 Tomatoes (3-P311)
Boule Rouge
Through Ice & Snow
AEG (3-B211)
Cascadia Landmarks Mini Expansion
Nocturne & Expansion
Undergrove & Expansion
Waffle Time
Alion (3-F111)
Gardlings
Sparks
Alley Cat Games (3-N311)
Ada's Dream
Station to Station
Aporta Games (3-F113)
Saltfjord
Board&Dice (3-G210)
Barcelona Expansion
Minos
Reef Project
Chilifox Games (3-F113)
Spectacular
Cranio Creations (3-V411)
Beyond the Horizon
Golden Cup
Mesos
Czech Games Edition (3-Z411)
SETI
Deep Print Games (3-B311)
Civolution
Intarsia
Devir (3-D611)
Daitoshi
The Lie
Venturesome
White Castle: Matcha Expansion
dlp Games (3-H613)
Atlantis Exodus
DMZ Games (3-U111)
Harmony
Dranda Games (3-H511)
Explorers of Navoria
Feuerland Spiele (3-S311)
Black Forest
Tauschrausch
Frosted Games (3-B200)
Galileo Galilei (demo)
Solstis
Game Brewer (3-T112)
Algae Inc.
Bone Wars
Geek Attitude Games (3-S211)
Babylon
Grail Games (3-F102)
Chu Han
Snowcrest
Hodari Spiele (3-G412)
Galaxy Postman
ION Game Design (3-V211)
DerrocAr
Looping Games (3-D313)
1980 - Sixtina
Around the World in 80 Days
Lucrum Games (3-H512)
Night Sky Explorers
Ludonova (3-F112)
Flatiron
Men-Nefer
Matagot (3-F102)
Kyoto no Neko
Mighty Boards (3-L311)
Rebirth
Moon Gate Design (3-F102)
Panda Spin
Pendragon Game Studio (3-L124)
Escape From New York
Plotmaker Games (3-D311)
Tivoli
Red Mojo (3-C310)
Inferno
Spielefaible (3-G611)
Cube Express
Tangerine Games (3-R411)
Nestlings
TCG Factory (3-B113)
Cudillero
Food Trucks
Medang
Smart City
Trekking
Thundergryph Games (3-R211)
Darwin's Journey Expansion
Wonderbow Games (3-V110)
Nebula

Shelley and I check out Tom Lehmann's latest Rio Grande 2-player

Winter Court

and then you guys get to enjoy Tom, Matt, Joe and the gang continue our conversations from Night 1 of Meeplefest 2024

Thanks as always to Bezier Games for their support.

You can sponsor the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

OR

check out our extensive (and growing) list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, so belong on your table:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

This week Shelley and I check out one of the Spiel des Jahres nominees

Captain Flip by Paolo Mori and Remo Conzadori from PlayPunk

and then check out a heavier title

Sand by Ariel Di Costanzo and Javier Pelizzari from Devir

Thanks as always to Bezier Games for their sponsorship

You can also sponsor the podcast directly by becoming a Patron at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Continuing our discussion of games and design that began last week, this time design is more of the focus as the wine continues to flow. Guests include

Matt Leacock - Pandemic, Pandemic Legacy, Daybreak, Era: Medieval Age, Forbidden Island, Roll Through The Ages, Thunderbirds

Joe Huber - Blue Skies, Caravan, Scream Machine, Starship Merchants, Burger Joint

Simon Hunt - Pick & Pack, Take Stock

Scott Caputo - Whistle Stop, Whistle Mountain, Sorcerer City, The One Hundred Torii, Kachina, Voluspa

Kris Hunt

Greg Zamira 

and others 

Help support the podcast by becoming a Patron on Patreon:

www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

or help us out, get a cool game, and make space for new stuff for us to review by buying something off our for sale Google list:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks for your support!

Meeplefest is BACK! After two years away, Shelley and I once again convene the roundtable discussion. In part 1 we discuss the effects of COVID on our gaming and begin a discussion of game design and publishing as well. Joining us on this episode and next week's are

Matt Leacock - Pandemic, Pandemic Legacy, Daybreak, Era: Medieval Age, Forbidden Island, Roll Through The Ages, Thunderbirds

Joe Huber - Blue Skies, Caravan, Scream Machine, Starship Merchants, Burger Joint

Simon Hunt - Pick & Pack, Take Stock

Scott Caputo - Whistle Stop, Whistle Mountain, Sorcerer City, The One Hundred Torii, Kachina, Voluspa

Kris Hunt

Greg Zamira 

and others 

Support the podcast by buying one of our games! Here's the list of we have for sale at reasonable prices:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks for checking it out!

Shelley and I dip our toes once again into the Essen Wantlist this week, but start by looking at another recent Kickstarter arrival

The Gardens by Matthew Dunstan and Brett J. Gilbert from Grail Games

Remember you can sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames 

or you can purchase a game from our extensive list:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Here's the list of Essen games discussed:

Evergreen (Horrible Guild)

The Great Split (Horrible Guild)

Make It Happen (Indie Boards & Cards)

Galenus (Ion Game Design)

Discordia (Irongames)

HITSTER (Jumbo)

Expedition (Korea Boardgames Co.)

Nirvana (Korea Boardgames Co.)

Targi: Die Bonus-Box (KOSMOS)

Nimalia (La Boite de Jeu)

Tribes of the Wind (La Boite de Jeu)

Atiwa (Lookout Games)

1998 ISS (Looping Games)

Fantasy Pub 2nd Ed (Looping Games)

Precognition (Ludonaute)

Air Mail (Ludonova)

Sabika (Ludonova)

Deities (Mandoo Games)

Evora (MEBO Games)

YIMBY (Mondainai)

Maui (Next Move Games)

Town 66 (Oink Games)

The Master Builders of Cologne (Ornament Games)

Village Rails (Osprey Games)

The Wolves (Pandasaurus Games)

80 Days (Piatnik)

Eleven: Football Manager Board Game (Portal Games)

Flowar (Ediciones Primigenio)

Moesteiro (Pythagoras)

Pessoa (Pythagoras)

Quinto Imperio II (Pythagoras)

Future Energy (Queen Games)

Helsinki (Queen Games)

Powerline (Queen Games)

Keydom's Dragons (R&D Games)

Dom Pierre (R&R Games)

Chronicles of Avel (Rebel Studio)

Meadow: Downstream Expansion (Rebel Studio)

San Francisco (Rebel Studio)

Take a Seat (Salt & Pepper Games)

Clever 4 Ever (Schmidt Spiele)

Virtu (Strohmann Games)

Dulce (Stronghold Games)

Amalfi: Renaissance (Sylex)

Clockworker (Sylex)

Colorado (Sylex)

Applejack (The Game Builders)

Yosemite (WizKids)

Awimbawe (Explor8)

Crossing Oceans (PD Verlag)

Pictures X-Mas (PD Verlag)

Santiago (Trefl)

Uptown (Trefl)

Shelley and I dive into the first part of my Essen Wantlist this week, but start by looking at a recent Kickstarter arrival

Keystone: North America by Jeffrey Joyce and Isaac Vega from Rose Gauntlet Entertainment

Then it's Part 1 of my Essen "Interested" list (in alphabetical order based on publisher - list below).

Remember you can sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or you can purchase a game from our extensive list:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Here is the list of games:

Findorff (2-F Spiele)

The Council of Shadows (alea)

Puerto Rico 1897 (alea)

Autobahn (Alley Cat Games)

Eternal Palace (Alley Cat Games)

Armadillo (AMIGO)

Dice Hunters of Therion (AMIGO)

Sauscharf (AMIGO)

Revive (Aporta Games)

Castles of Mad King Ludwig: Collector's Edition (Bezier Games)

Cat in the Box: Deluxe Edition (Bezier Games)

Sync or Swim (Bezier Games)

FIKA (Board Game Circus)

Garden Nation (Board Game Circus)

Oros (Board Game Circus)

Founders of Teotihuacan (Board&Dice)

Loot Box #1 (Board&Dice)

Terracotta Army (Board&Dice)

Tiletum (Board&Dice)

Project L: Finesse Expansion (Boardcubator)

Project L: Ghost Piece Expansion (Boardcubator)

Terra Nova (Capstone Games)

Zookeepers (Cardslab)

Orichalque (Catch Up Games)

Come Together (Chilifox Games)

My Shelfie (Cranio Creations)

Starship Captains (Czech Games Edition)

Heat: Pedal to the Metal (Days of Wonder)

Caldera Park (Deep Print Games)

Skymines (Deep Print Games)

Woodcraft (Delicious Games)

Home Sweet Home - or Not (Devir)

Lacrimosa (Devir)

The Red Cathedral: Contractors Expansion (Devir)

Winter (Devir)

Catherine: The Cities of the Tsarina (Capstone/dlp games)

Joan of Arc: Orleans Draw & Write (dlp games)

Rise (Capstone/dlp games)

Phraya (DMZ Games)

FYFE (Edition Spielwiese)

Voll auf die 18 (Edition Spielwiese)

Great Western Trail: Argentina (eggertspiele)

Honey Buzz (Elf Creek Games)

La Famiglia (Feuerland Spiele)

Sanssouci (Fractal Juegos)

Kunterpunkt: Das wuselige Wurfelspiel (Frechverlag)

Aleph Null (Frosted Games)

Rainforest (Funnyfox)

Caral (Funtails

Treehouse Diner (Funtails)

Hippocrates (Game Brewer)

The Palaces of Carrara (Game Brewer)

Cracked/Code (Game Factory)

Festival (GDM Games)

Insecta: The Ladies of Entomology (GDM Games)

Akropolis (Gigamic)

The Gardens (Grail Games) - we discuss this NEXT WEEK!

Space Craft (Granna)

Nebel uber Carcassonne (Hans im Gluck)

Planet B (Hans im Gluck)

Shelley and I head to the airport and build our airline companies in 2020's

Blue Skies by Joe Huber from Rio Grande Games

then we head back to 2010 and become cat people for some unknown reason in

Felinia by Michael Schacht from Matagot and Asmodee 

which has been recently republished in 2019with some tweaks as

Dragon Boats of the Four Seas from Maple Games

Shelley and I have a great time with two more Japanese titles, one of which is more readily available than the other, though both are worthy new titles that we need to get on our own shelves...in fact, many thanks to a BGG user who was willing to trade for his copy of Pastiche!

Exhaust by Hisashi Hayashi from OKAZU Brand

and

Pastiche: Birth of a Masterpiece by Rikkati from Twins Lion Do

You can support the podcast by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or purchasing one of our many offerings on our always updating Games For Sale list. Just buy a game or two, pay the shipping, and it will wind up on your doorstep!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Shelley and I play a couple of very different but excellent dice games this week

Dice Realms by Tom Lehmann from Rio Grande Games

and 

Dandelions by Takashi Sakaue from Boardgametables.com

Remember that you can support the podcast by making a small donation at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or by buying one (or some) of the games on our Games For Sale list. Pay the shipping and it can arrive on your doorstep.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

After two years away, Shelley and I once again organized our annual Meeplefest Invitational and therefore got to play some interesting and unusual games over the course of 5 fun-filled days. The first two fall into the polyomino genre and may be harder to track down, but are well worth a quick discussion.

Alluvium by Yusuke Sawaguchi from Fudacoma Games

and

Yojohan Pepa Saikei by Shimamuranao from Hallelujah Rockboy

Remember that you can sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or buy a game from our Games for Sale list and just pay for shipping to have it arrive safe and sound on your doorstep:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Shelley and I get the deluxe version of

Stroganov by Andreas Steding from Game Brewer

and then we check out the new revamped version of the 2018 Japanese draw and draw game Let's Make A Bus Route which has now become 

Get On Board: New York & London by Saachi from IELLO

If you enjoy our weekly blatherings and want to support the podcast, you can either go to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames and send us a donation, OR you can get yourself a game (or a FEW of them) by purchasing something off our Games For Sale list. Games are priced right and if you're local, we can meet up, or just pay for the games and shipping and we'll have them delivered to your door in no time. Here's the list:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

The great sound quality returns this week as Shelley and I put our printers hats on and select our movable type in

Gutenberg by Katarzyna Cioch and Wojciech Wisniewski from Granna and Portal Games

then we hurriedly clean our house to make it look nice in

Before the Guests Arrive by Saashi from Saashi & Saashi

You can help support the podcast by checking out our Games For Sale Google Doc. Pick out a few games that are priced to sell and then just pay shipping to have them arrive on your doorstep. You'll help keep our little podcast running and have new games ready to hit the table.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

You can also support the podcast by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

This week Shelley and gather performers together and compete in 

3 Ring Circus by Remo Conzadori and Fabio Lopiano from Devir

then we enjoy a couple of classic 2-player titles:

Balloon Cup (also published as Pinata) from Stephen Glenn from Rio Grande and KOSMOS

and

Die Pyramiden des Jaguar by Gunter Burkhardt from KOSMOS

Thanks to Bezier Games for their support, and you can support the podcast directly by heading over to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

or checking out our list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

This week Shelley and I get ANOTHER Roll & Write version of a title we already love to the table

Yokohama Roll&Write by Hisashi Hayashi from Okazu Brand

then check out a 2-player game from a few years back that had been sitting on the shelf for far too long - the Mad Max inspired

Kero by Prospero Hall from Hurrican

You can help support the podcast by checking out our Games For Sale Google Doc. Pick out a few games that are priced to sell and then just pay shipping to have them arrive on your doorstep. You'll help keep our little podcast running and have new games ready to hit the table.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

You can also support the podcast by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

Sorry for the less than stellar quality if the sound on this (and last week's) podcasts. I forgot to plug the recorder into the miser properly, hence the echo-y sound quality. I hope the content is still worth your time.

This week Shelley and I get an oldie but goodie to the table playing 

Expedition or Expedition Famous Explorers (along with a couple of other names) by Wolfgang Kramer from Ravensburger, Queen Games and 8th Summit among others.

then we try out a brand new title from the designer best known for Carcassonne

Fire & Stone by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede from Pegasus Spiele

You can help support the podcast by checking out our Games For Sale Google Doc. Pick out a few games that are priced to sell and then just pay shipping to have them arrive on your doorstep. You'll help keep our little podcast running and have new games ready to hit the table.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

You can also support the podcast by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

Sorry for the less than stellar quality if the sound on this (and next week's) podcasts. I forgot to plug the recorder into the miser properly, hence the echo-y sound quality. I hope the content is still worth your time.

Shelley and head to out space to design tech trees and explore the galaxy in 

Beyond the Sun by Dennis K. Chan from Rio Grande Games

then we head into the mystical realm and explore

The Forgotten City by Ying-Tan Liu from TWOPLUS Games

Be sure to check out our list of games for sale - good deals and you just have to pay shipping - there are even some Freebies with purchase!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

You can also sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

Shelley and I check out a quick card game with beautiful artwork

Momiji by Dario Massarenti and Francesco Testini from Japanime Games and Deer Games

then we pull one that's been sitting onthe shelf unplayed and realize we had been missing out on

Franchise by Christwart Conrad from Queen Games

Be sure to check out our list of games for sale - good deals and you just have to pay shipping - there are even some Freebies with purchase!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

You can also sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

This week Shelley and I run workshops to create beautiful tiles, then head into a steampunk world of grit and grime in

Majolica by Yu Wang from Blue Magpie Games

and 

Corrosion by Stefan Bauer from Deep Print Games and Capstone Games

Help support the podcast by sponsoring us on Patreon at

www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

or buy some games that are priced to sell - you just pay for the games you want, possibly choose a "Free With Purchase" title, and pay shipping. I'll wrap them up carefully and send them on their way to you!

Check out the list of games at:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

This week Shelley and I build steampunk animal/mech hybrids in

Imaginarium by Bruno Cathala and Florian Sirieix from Bombyx

then have fun playing with plastic magnetized frames in

Magnefix by Roberto Fraga from Amigo

Shelley and I talk a bit about our wonderful trip to Portugal from which we just returned, and then discuss the new big-box game from Quined Games

Carnegie by Xavier Georges

Long Shot: The Dice Game by Chris Handy

then pull a great recent title off the shelf once again to discuss its L'Etoile expanion

Paris by Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling from Game Brewer

Shelley and I head to Oaxaca and play 

Zapotec by Fabio Lopiano from Board&Dice

then we get healthy and eat our vegetables in

Veggies by Jog Kung from Devir 

We also mention Cafe by Rola and Costa from PYTHAGORAS in our discussion of Veggies as a better implementation of the tableau building by overlaying cards mechanism. Check it out!

Shelley and I got a chance to play

Living Forest by Aske Christiansen from Ludonaute

and discuss it, along with the other Kennerspiel des Jahres and Spiel des Jahres Nominees and Recommended Games.

SdJ Nominees:

Cascadia by Randy Flynn from Flatout Games and KOSMOS

Scout by Kei Kajino from Oink Games and One More Game!

Top Ten by Aurelien Picolet and Cocktail Games

SdJ Recommended:

7 Wonders: Architects

echoes: The Dancer

Magic Rabbit

My Gold Mine

So Clover!

Trek 12: Himalaya

KdJ Nominees

Cryptid from Hal Duncan and Ruth Veevers and Osprey Games 7 Skelling Games

Dune Imperium by Paul Dennen and Dire Wolf

Living Forest 

KdJ Recommended:

Ark Nova

Khora: Rise of an Empire

Witchstone

This week Shelley and I have fun sketching the

Blueprints of Mad King Ludwig by Ted Alspach from Bezier Games

then check out the another map expansion for 

Mini Express by Mark Gerrits from Moaideas Game Design

the Taiwan 1908 map by Jay Bernardo

Thanks to our sponsors Bezier Games and YOU, the listener, who can support the podcast directly at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

and possibly purchase a few games from us after perusing our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Shelley and take on a single game once again this week. This time the physical size isn't as huge as last week, but the depth is certainly there!

Golem by Flaminia Brasini, Virginio Gigli, and Simone Luciani from Cranio Creations

Shelley and I tackle a literally HUGE game this week...it's so big it deserved its own show!

Foundations of Rome by Emerson Matsuuchi from Arcane Wonders

Shelley and I take a break from reviews to reflect on our favorite Roll & Write or Draw & Draw games, a newer genre that certainly has exploded in the past few years.

Shelley's Honorable Mentions:

Silver & Gold by Phil Walker-Harding from NSV

On Tour by Chad DeShon from Boardgametables

Shelley's Top 5:

5) Explorers by Phil Walker-Harding from Ravensburger

4) Hadrian's Wall by Bobby Hill from Garphill Games, CMON Global & Renegade Game Studios

3) Second Chance by Uwe Rosenberg from Edition Spielwiese and Stronghold Games

2) The Clever Series (Ganz Schon Clever/That's Pretty Clever, Doppelt so Clever/Twice as Clever, Clever Hoch Drei/Clever Cubed) by Wolfgang Warsch from Schmidt Spiele and Stronghold Games

1) Welcome To... (+New Las Vegas, The Moon, etc.) by Benoit Turpin from Blue Cocker Games and Deep Water Games

Doug's Honorable Mentions:

On Tour by Chad DeShon from Boardgametables

Let's Make A Bus Route The Dice Game by Saashi from Saashi & Saashi

Doug's Top 5:

5) Biblios Quill & Parchment by Steve Finn from Dr. Finn's Games

4) Trails of Tucana by Eilif Svensson and Kristian Amundsen Ostby from Aporta Games, Matagot, and Pegasus Spiele

3) Hadrian's Wall by Bobby Hill from Garphill Games, CMON Global & Renegade Game Studios

2) The Clever Series (Ganz Schon Clever/That's Pretty Clever, Doppelt so Clever/Twice as Clever, Clever Hoch Drei/Clever Cubed) by Wolfgang Warsch from Schmidt Spiele and Stronghold Games

1) Welcome To... (+New Las Vegas, The Moon, etc.) by Benoit Turpin from Blue Cocker Games and Deep Water Games

Other Roll & Writes/Draw & Draws Mentioned at the top of the show that we have played & reviewed:

Isle of Cats Explore & Draw

Three Sisters

Cartographers & Cartographers Heroes

Rustling Leaves Blatterrauschen

Patchwork Doodle

Qwixx/Quixx on Board

Divvy Dice

Anubixx

Hex Roller

Bloom

Brixx

Encore!

Shelley and I get heavy as we wander downriver in

Boonlake by Alexander Pfister from Capstone Games and dlp Games

then we get dicey as we attempt to raise our levels and take over lands in

First Empires by Eric B. Vogel from Sand Castle Games

Shelley and I delve once again into Dr. Knizia's legacy game, talking about the latter chapters of 

My City by Reiner Knizia from Kosmos

after we spend some time with the little brother of Isle of Cats - this week it's 

Isle of Cats: Explore & Draw by Frank West from City of Games

Shelley and I discuss the first 1/2 of

My City by Reiner Knizia from KOSMOS

(with a few spoilers), but first we tackle the FOURTH in the Azul series

Azul: Queen's Garden by Michael Kiesling from Next Move Games

Shelley and I return to Victorian England this week for a look at the Upstair/Downstairs and Wessex expansions for

Obsession by Dan Hallagan from Kayenta Games

then we head out into the garden and work with corn, beans and pumplins in the new roll & write

Three Sisters by Ben Pinchback and Matt Riddle from Motor City Gameworks and 25th Century Games

Shelley and I put on our "Where's Waldo?" hats to solve some crimes in

Micro Macro - Crime City by Johannes Sich from Edition Spielwiese and Pegasus Spiele

the head back to Victorian England and become landed gentry courting the Fairchilds in

Obsession by Dan Hallagan from Kayenta Games (KG)

Shelley and I enjoy a 2-player-only game of competing groups of thieves stealing precious artifacts in

Caper: Europe by Unai Rubio from Keymaster Games

then we head back to

The Isle of Cats by Frank West from City of Games 

to explore some of the recent expansions, including the Boat Pack, Kittens & Beasts, and Kickstart Expansion 2

Shelley and I get another BIG game to the table this week, delving into zoo building and animal acquisition in

Ark Nova by Mathias Wigge from Capstone and Feuerland Spiele 

then we check back into

Paris: La Cité de la Lumière by Jose Antonio Abascal Acebo from Devir to see how the Paris: Eiffel expansion works with the base game

Thanks to our sponsors www.beziergames.com

Remember that you can support the podcast directly by becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

or check out our extensive list of games for sale - games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

This week Shelley and I discuss the latest nominations for the Games of the Year coming out of Germany, then have a great time interviewing YouTube gamer and Bezier Marketing guru Jay Bernardo!

Jay's YouTube Channel (Cardboard East):

https://www.youtube.com/@CardboardEast

And the names and BGG links to all of the SdJ, KdJ and Kinder nominees and recommended titles:

Spiel des Jahres Nominees:

Captain Flip by Paolo Mori and Remo Conzadori from PlayPunk

In The Footsteps of Darwin by Gregory Grard and Matthieu Verdier from Sorry We Are French

Sky Team by Luc Remond from Scorpion Masque and KOSMOS

SdJ Recommended Titles:

Harmonies

Passt nicht!

Phantom Ink

Schatz it if you can

Trekking Through History 

Trio

Kennerspiel des Jahres Nominees:

Daybreak (or e-Mission) by Matt Leacock and Matteo Menapace from CMYK and Schmidt Spiele

Guild of Merchant Explorers by Matthew Dunstan and Brett J Gilbert from AEG and Skellig Games

Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West by Matt Leacock, Alan R. Moon, and Rob Daviau from Days of Wonder

KdJ Recommended Titles:

Bier Pioniere

Botanicus

Forest Shuffle

Ritual

Kinderspiel des Jahres Nominees:

Große kleine Edelsteine by Wolfgang Warsch from Schmidt Spiele

Die magischen Schlussel by Markus Slawitscheck and Arno Steinwender from Happy Baobab and Game Factory

Taco Kitten Pizza by Dave Campbell and Thierry Denoual from Blue Orange

Kinder Recommended:

Fluffy Valley

Lecker Lava

Die Nadel im Heuhaufen

Shelley and I take on the BIG, colorful new Devir game

Bitoku by Germán P. Millán from Devir

and then finish up our discussion of 

Welcome to the Moon by Alexis Allard and Benoit Turpin from Blue Cocker and Pegasus Spiele 

with a discussion of how the campaign mode works

Welcome to the Moon by Alexis Allard & Benoit Turpin from Blue Cocker Games and Pegasus Spiele (boards 5-8)

and then head back into the Middle Ages in Italy with

Citta-Stato by Simone Cerruti Sola from Giochix.it

Shelley and I take our first journey to the moon this week in

Welcome to The Moon by Alexis Allard and Benoit Turpin from Blue Cocker, Dude Games, and Pegasus Spiele

then we look back on an alternative reality when otherworldly helpers lent a hand to establish humanity's biggest projects in 

Origins: First Builders by Adam Kwapinski from Board&Dice and CMON Global

This week Shelley and I duel by making llama deliveries in

P'achakuna by Stefan Kraft and Moreno Vogel from Treecer

then make more elaborate deliveries from our farms to town in a re-review of

La Granja by Adreas 'ode' Odendahl and Michael Keller originally from Spielworxx and recently Kickstarted from Board&Dice

Shelley and I reflect on our plays of 'new to us' games in 2021 and choose our favorites (though we forgot one that both of us would have added to our lists!).

Honorable Mentions (Shelley):

Nidavellir by Serge Laget from GRRRE Games

Ten by Johnson, Melvin & Stankewich from AEG

Juicy Fruits by Christian Stöhr from Deep Print Games

Meadow by Klemens Kalicki by Rebel

Nanga Parbat by Steve Finn from Dr. Finn's Games

Honorable Mentions (Doug): 

New York Zoo by Uwe Rosenberg by Capstone Games and Feuerland Spiele

Cascadia by Randy Flynn from Flatout Games and AEG

Llamaland by Phil Walker-Harding from Lookout Spiele (we may have said that this was by Uwe - oops!!!)

On The Underground by Sebastian Bleasdale from Ludicreations

Maglev Metro by Ted Alspach from Bezier Games

Shelley's Top Ten:

Point Salad by Johnson, Melvin, & Stankewich from AEG

Evidence by Orestis Leontaritis from Edition Spielwiese and Pegasus Spiele

Hadrian's Wall by Bobby Hill from Garphil Games and Renegade Game Studio

Project L by Mikes, Soukal, & Spanel from Boardcubator

Praga Caput Regni by Vladimir Suchy from Delicious Games and Rio Grande Games

Explorers by Phil Walker-Harding from Ravensburger

Savannah Park by Kramer & Kiesling from Deep Print Games and Capstone Games

Mini Express by Mark Gerrits from Moaideas Game Design

Flourish by Wilson & Wilson from Starling Games and Matagot

Doug's Top Ten:

Café by Costa and Rola from PYTHAGORAS

Faiyum by Freidemann Friese from 2F Spiele and Rio Grande Games

Praga Caput Regni by Vladimir Suchy from Delicious Games and Rio Grande Games

Meadow by Klemens Kalicki by Rebel

Flourish by Wilson & Wilson from Starling Games and Matagot

Project L by Mikes, Soukal, & Spanel from Boardcubator

Let's Make A Bus Route: The Dice Game by Saashi from Saashi & Saashi

Point Salad by Johnson, Melvin, & Stankewich from AEG

Mini Express by Mark Gerrits from Moaideas Game Design

Hallertau by Uwe Rosenberg from Lookout Spiele

(and we both would have included Witchstone by Reiner Knizia from R&R Games in our Top Tens if we both hadn't had a brain fart)

Shelley and I get the expansion to Dune: Imperium to the table

Dune: Imperium The Rise of Ix expansion by Paul Dennen from Dire Wolf and Legendary

and then get our potions going in 

Brew by Stevo Torres from Pandasaurus Games

Shelley and I enjoy two games set in the future

Cryo by Tom Jolly Luke Laurie from Z-Man Games

and 

Dune: Imperium by Paul Dennen from Dire Wolf and Asmodee

Shelley and I spend time playing games set in the past with 2-word titles. First, we head to New Jersey to design one USA's first vacation spots in

Cape May by Eric Mosso from Thunderworks Games

then we head over to southern Germany to become craftspeople in

Glass Road by Uwe Rosenberg originally from Z-Man Games and now re-released by Capstone Games

Shelley and I place tiles in a beautiful square in Lisbon in

Rossio by Orlando Sa from Pythagoras

then harvest crops, play the markets, and develop apprentices in

Key Market by David Brain from R&D Games

Shelley and I move animals around the savannah in 

Savannah Park by Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling from Capstone Games and Deep Print Games

then we attempt to strategically draft tiles to build our fields in Key Harvest by Richard Breese from R&D Games and Rio Grande Games in 2007

Shelley and I get a wonderful new SMALL card game to the table

Aqua: Set Collection Game of Art by Ta-Te Wu from Sunrise Tornado

then check out our first of FOUR new map expansions for

Mini Express by Mark Gerrits from Moaideas Game Design:

United Kingdom 1918 by Tony Boydell

Shelley and I try out the latest Dr. Reiner Knizia title as we wander the jungle doing research in

Sumatra from Ludo Nova

then check out the revamped game of inner and outer struggles - but now with hexes and set in ancient China

Yellow and Yangtze from Grail Games

Shelley and I hurt our brains trying to finagle good investments in 

Tokyo Metro by Jordan Draper from Jordan Draper Games

then we head into the garden to grow flowers and build follies in

Flourish by James & Clarissa Wilson from Starling Games and Matagot

Shelley and I compete to build the most profitable museum in

Curators by Tove & Pablo Jomer and Jacob Westerlund from Worldshapers and Little Rocket Games

then we head under the sea to explore the deep from a research facility and with submarines in 2002's 

Nautilus by Brigitte and Wolfgang Ditt from KOSMOS and Mayfair Games