Everdell Duo – K. David Ladage
My wife and I love Everdell. It is an amazing little engine-builder that has so few flaws that they are hardly worth bringing up. My colleague, Bob Pazehoski, Jr., has taken a deep-dive into the game and the expansions (I highly recommend reading those if you have not before). When the news of a two-player version first came into my view, I knew I would be getting this (add to that the fact that you could also order the larger-format cards for the original and this was a no-brainer). In order to kick the tires and give this thing a test drive, my wife and I dove in, read the rules, and prepared to play. We decided to start with the cooperative game using the first chapter scenario. Our first few actions were awkward as we got used to the things that were a little different from Everdell, but it did not take long before we knew what we were doing. The tactical and strategic choices that have to be made in a cooperative play are interesting and thoughtful! This game is, as Mr. Pazehoski put it in his review, “…a streamlined masterpiece…” ‘nuff said.
Ease of entry?:
★★★★☆ – The odd bump or two
Would I play it again?:
★★★★★ – Will definitely play it again
Read more articles from K. David Ladage.
Foundations of Metropolis – Justin Bell
Foundations of Metropolis (2024, Arcane Wonders) is an updated, budget-friendly, present-day theme version of Foundations of Rome, the big-box city-building miniatures game released just a couple years ago. Foundations of Rome is a stunner on the table…and it is equally shocking when one looks at that game’s MSRP when considering a purchase. Foundations of Metropolis is functionally the same game, in a retail box that comes in at a price point that is a quarter of the price of Foundations of Rome.
For the budget-conscious among us (i.e., me), Foundations of Metropolis is the right move if you are looking for a fun, exceptionally quick, easy-to-teach city builder. My wife and I recently did a two-player game in about 30 minutes, and she was shocked when the game was over—”it feels like we built out a small city!”—and both actions and end-game scoring are a cinch to wrap up play.
Mixing elements of building lot games such as Chinatown with light-weight city building games such as Magnate: The First City, Foundations of Metropolis asks players to buy deed cards, build tile buildings from their personal player mat, and take income to continue the cycle until the end of each of three rounds. Foundations of Metropolis is a family-weight game; my wife and I both thought our 10- and 8-year-old children could pick up Foundations of Metropolis in a snap. Sure, this new version is not nearly as pretty as the original game…but I can live with that, to fight another day and spend a bunch of money for a few other games!
Ease of entry?:
★★★★★ – No sweat
Would I play it again?:
★★★★☆ – Would like to play it again
Read more articles from Justin Bell.
Alpina – Andy Matthews
Publisher Helvetiq has a distinct style: their games are simple, usually small, with great graphic design and illustrations. Their newest release Alpina is a perfect example of their credo. A game with a single page rulesheet, a small deck of cards, and enough wooden pieces for 4 players; and it does what it sets out to do: entertain you.
In Alpina players act as hikers, exploring the beautiful Swiss countryside: taking photographs and earning points along the way. Though the game is competitive, players are cooperatively building a 5 by 5 grid of cards, each of which features an animal and a scoring opportunity. Some cards score points for every frog in a row and columns, or for waterdrop symbols on every card directly adjacent to the card being scored. As you play a card to the table, you choose whether you want to activate the scoring by placing one of your hikers on the card. But with each card and hiker you place, you might be giving points to your opponents. So you’re constantly deciding if what you play benefits you more than the other players.
Alpina is a delightful game and it’s guaranteed to come back to the table. It’s simple enough that anyone can learn it in minutes, but offers enough puzzly strategy that even serious gamers will enjoy it.
Ease of entry?:
★★★★★ – No sweat
Would I play it again?:
★★★★★ – Will definitely play it again
Read more articles from Andy Matthews.
Brian Boru: High King of Ireland – Bob Pazehoski, Jr.
The primary reason I’ve not hotly pursued Brian Boru for the collection is the three-to-five player count. Area majority games are understandably at their best with more players to wrestle over the areas, which means they require an interested group, and one that maintains interest enough to explore the nuances. The same can be true of trick-taking games. I’ve not had that group, so I’ve lacked the confidence to buy or even trade for this quirky-but-interesting game of cards over a map. I did have the chance to play, though. While I’m glad I had the chance, I’m also glad I never acquired it myself.
The card play is definitely interesting—drafting prior to trick-taking, trying to win, trying to lose, trying to read the board and the players to make the best choices. The board is a delightful mix of majorities on the map and majorities around the map. I appreciate that there are worthy immediate and long-term gains within reach and reasons both to chase and to shun the various areas. Even one play (at four players) demonstrated that there are multiple viable strategic approaches. There are tugs-of-war that can somehow be won by late-arriving third parties. I can see games of Brian Boru unfolding in sundry fashions.
And yet, at the end of the day, I don’t have a Brian Boru group in my life. I’m happy to have played, and I think there are merits galore for the group that enjoys this blend of mechanics. Unfortunately, there are other area majority games that better speak my language and the language of those I most often join at the table. Highly recommend for the right group, but perhaps not for everyone.
Ease of entry?:
★★★☆☆ – There were a few questions
Would I play it again?:
★★★☆☆ – Wouldn’t suggest it, but would happily play it
Read more articles from Bob Pazehoski, Jr.
Pusheen: The Stacking Game – Andrew Lynch
Pusheen: The Stacking Game is good enough to deserve its own, full review, but there’s not enough to talk about. How could there be? Someone reveals a card and everyone races to both grab the necessary pieces from the middle of the table and assemble them into the right structure. That’s the whole thing. It’s great. It gets the heart rate up, you laugh, you swear, someone wins, and then you do it again. Lord knows I plan to.
Ease of entry?:
★★★★★ – No sweat
Would I play it again?:
★★★★★ – Will definitely play it again
Read more articles from Andrew Lynch.
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