35 - You lookin' for a boardgame?
Since we're all in uncertain times and feeling the iso hit hard, I wanted to recommend some boardgames that you might be able to play with your family/housemates/whoever you're stuck with, to at least find something different to do.
Who knows, you might find a new game you love - what a silver lining that could be ;)
Here are some of games I've played recently that you might like!
Small game: Mint Works
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This game is a super mini game that fits in the size of a mint tin! It's a worker placement game (you place workers, you get resources / actions) where you essentially play as architects hoping to build buildings in your Neighbourhood to score points. It's an exaxmple of something I like to call a 'form' game - like the idea of Plato's forms (every object has a 'perfect' version - the ideal 'form'). It is so incredibly simple, but a perfect illustration of what a worker placement game should be - place a mint, get something back. These games are so elegant that I have to have them in my collection - I'll talk about another one later that I think is a form game I don't currently have!
Recommended as a short, easy game for people wanting to learn something with a slight amount of depth, and be able to play and finish it within 20 minutes.
Party game: Wavelength
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If you've seen me lately in a group (so, Pre-Rona times), I've been bringing this one around - it's a new favourite of mine. It's replaced Codenames for me, because it's much simpler, it's all played within the box (very very minimal setup) and it creates a similar atmosphere.
One player is the 'Psychic' who needs to give a clue to their team that makes them point to the right area on the wheel. There are 150-200 different spectrums that they can choose from (e.g. Hot-Cold, Talented-Untalented, Sexy Pokemon-Unsexy Pokemon) - and these cause the best party atmosphere, because even while you're waiting for the other team to guess, you can discuss the spectrum from the last round (means you're less bored while waiting) :D It was released on Kickstarter last year (I back probably too many games) and is now in retail - it's been an absolute hit!
Pick it up if you can find it (see Recommendations section below).
Recommended for your next post-Rona boardgame rager, whenever that is...
Family game: Wingspan
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One of the top games of 2019 - this is one of the most beautiful games you'll ever play. Each of the cards is a painting of a different bird, and has different powers that you can use. You are working to attract new birds into your habitat, and they'll give you powers to make more and more points. It's a lovely engine builder - the more birds you get, the more powers you have, the better your engine becomes to get you points. It also has a guide in how you pack the box as well! (very rare in boardgames). It's become the gold standard for production quality in board games, and won one of the top boardgame awards in the world (the Kennerspiel des Jahres).
Recommended for anyone who can't play Catan again and needs something new.
War game: Root
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This is one of the form games that I don't own, but recently played and LOVED. It's a wargame, technically, but the twist is that everyone plays a different game. You play as Cats (Marquise de Cat), Birds (The Eyrie Dynasty), Mice (Woodland Alliance) and a Raccoon (Vagabond), and each player has different ways to gain points and use their actions. It's the form asymmetric game that I love - because it has such great strategic depth! You have to keep in mind 4 different ways that people are playing and gathering points - otherwise you might inadvertently take an action that gives them a whole SLEW of points. It has really cute little wooden pieces, really great art, and incredibly logical game design decisions (graphic art-wise and gameplay-wise).
Recommended for anyone who wants to play chess, but with cute animals in a forest and you're at war.
Kinda heavy game: Tapestry
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Tapestry is made by the same production house as Wingspan - it's a brain-burny, heavy game that charts the course of a civilisation over 5 ages. You slowly move up the science, technology, exploration and military tracks, building up your civilisation over time, weaving a tapestry (geddit?) of achievements that define your own civilisation. The graphic design of this is...clear, but not very easy to understand the first time you play. But as you get into it, the decisions become a bit clearer, and it's very satisfying to build up your empire.
Recommended for anyone who liked Age of Empires but not cheating to get the car that could wreck cities
Sometimes I like to describe myself as a boardgame sommelier when choosing games - it's important to choose the right game for the number of people you have to ensure they get the maximum amount of enjoyment possible. Don't bring a game like Tapestry or Blood Rage to a chill afternoon and drinks - who'd want to play it?? And if you've promised your friends a big day of war games, don't only bring Sushi Go or Secret Hitler - they'll want something more!
I'm always on the look out for more form games - e.g. Fugitive is a perfect 'chase' game, Inis is an incredibly elegant war game I don't have, Glory to Rome is the best use of multi-use cards ever (and is out of print so super rare and was expensive to buy), Patchwork which is the form game for a Tetris-like experience, and Concordia is the upgraded Catan game that you're looking for (but I also don't have because it's $$).
But Vince - I'm quarantined! How do I play these amazing games??
Since I've been quarantined, I've found that Tabletop Simulator has been a great way to virtually simulate these games. There's a whole library of games that people have scripted using the handy creation tool, and you can play most of the games I've outlined above :)
If you have any questions about gaming please let me know!
Have fun gaming!
Chat soon :)
✔️ Real Life Recommendations
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BoardGameSearch or OzGameFinder - two of the online tools I use to price compare online distributors - really helpful when you're in a store and they've got a sale - is it actually a good price or am I being FLEECED?
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Boardgames of Oz Marketplace - a market on Facebook where people all across Australia sell their wares - I've bought and sold stuff here before and have been pretty happy with some of the bargains. It does require you to keep an eye on it though so be warned!
🚌 Adventures on the Information Super-Highway
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Tabletop - This is the YouTube series that started my adventure into boardgames. The social nature of boardgaming was great, the editing was top-notch and hilarious - it wasn't always about the game but it helped show how great it can be around a table, face to face with other people. I loved it!
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Shut Up and Sit Down - big British boardgame reviewers - hilarious, dry (and absurdist) English humour, really great fun watching them review games, and they only make videos on ones that they actually recommend. Others, like The Dice Tower, or Rahdo Runs Through are also quite good to look into :)
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Tabletop games dominate Kickstarter - This shit goes crazy on Kickstarter. It's perfect for the platform - you can prototype something, show your backers, get money that you actually need to launch your product (minimum orders etc.). And sometimes they can go crazily well.
🌱 The Calathea Corner
Feleafcia's keeping happy and healthy during iso times - and she hopes you're making sure to wash your hands and stay in touch with people so you don't go crazy!
Thanks Feleafcia!
