
As promised in my still alive post here is a post looking at some recent games I’ve played.
Since the start of April I’ve played eight new to me games.

So I better share my initial thoughts on these games.

We all know how I feel about trick taking games. So when they combined a mechanic I love with a theme/franchise I love then the purchase was a no brainer.
The game does not disappoint. Dave and I played a two player game one Tuesday evening when Marcin couldn’t make it. We played twelve games that got us through about seven chapters. This game is not only a trick taking game. It’s a campaign game telling the story of the first book in eighteen chapters. With a nineteenth if you got the promo Gifts of Galadriel pack (and yes it’s possible to buy on eBay at unreasonable prices).
For two players you play a third player as a dummy hand. Which in itself is interesting. The dummy hand is dealt out as a pyramid layout with some cards face down and some face up, with the ring bearer taking control of the hand.
Each character has a unique condition that needs to met for players to win the chapter and to move on. An example condition might be to win exactly two tricks, or get all five of the ring cards.
Chapters will introduce new characters, not use others, even new mechanics and cards. So how to win each chapter changes with the characters available and which is selected. They can be quite challenging.
A great, fun, challenging game.

YRO is a recent purchase after listening to the most recent (at time of writing) Secret Cabal podcast where they discussed this game.
We played this last Tuesday at four and three player.
This a quick, fun game. We played three games in around one and a half hours.
A game ends when someone reaches forty points or plays their ninth character in their three by three grid.
I won one game after playing five cards. Three of which were expensive dragon cards.
You are trying to get combos, build an engine. It also in the card placement give vibes of Castle Combo.
Cards that generate points each round are really powerful.
Great quick fun.

Diego introduced me to this fantasy themed drafting game.
How much did I like the game? I ordered an English language copy of the game from Germany because it was out of stock in the uk.
I do enjoy drafting games. It’s why I have three copies of Sushi Go for starters! It’s also a mechanic I like when used with other games such as MtG.
I like that each player has their own unique objectives that when completed give some sort of bonus during the game.
Also having monster cards that you can beat if you have enough attack to get an instant bonus of some kind is pretty neat, and gives an alternative tactic to follow.
It also like Sushi Go plays fairly quickly.

This was a fun game collecting resources, conquering territories, attacking your neighbours.
It does mechanically have a Catan vibe. The resources you get each turn determined by a roll of the dice, and if you control territory of that type.
It also has trading between players. You can do trades with other players anytime except when you are the active player when you are restricted to trade only with the bank.
There is player elimination in the game. And we did eliminate Marcin from his very own game moments before Dave grabbed victory.
A fun, “aggressive” alternative to Catan.

I’m very late to the party on this one. It was only at a recent gaming afternoon at Diego’s did I get to play it for the first time.
Sadly without the table attention grabbing cardboard tree.
Having now played this worker placement, tableau/engine building game I can see where all the fuss comes from. I don’t quite get the Wingspan comparison unless it is that later bit. To me they don’t really compare or compete.
I enjoyed the game a lot. Most definitely will play it again.

The game I went all Chihuahua over to deny Marcin!
This is actually a very clever game.
Although there is not a lot of player interaction. There is chances to screw over your fellow players. Especially when you are first player.
I like the hand management. It causes some hard decisions. You may really want your die that turn to be a three to get much needed resources, but you also really want its ability when you become first player. Having to decide which is more important can be a tough decision.
The current first player deciding player turn order is also nice. Make the right choice here and it’s possible to steal buildings from other players.
I’m glad I got this game.

Another great trick taking game.
This has some nice additions to the genre where if you don’t win any tricks your personal deck gets stronger. Plus your deck is made up of the tricks you win! Which means your deck gets watered down potentially with low cards. But then you get that boost of powerful cards.
It’s a solid fun trick tracking game.

A fun area control game with multiple avenues to victory.
Do you concentrate on getting the longest route or groups, most territory, or control of neighbouring towers, or a combo of the previous options?
Definitely one to play again.
That’s it I kinda run out of steam there at the end. Put still I think you get the gist. I enjoyed all of these games and definitely would play again.