If you’ve ever been a board game host, then you know it’s not always just about playing games, it’s about creating lasting memories for everyone playing. We’d never leave that to chance though, so of course we’re often going out of our way to make a board game experience memorable. Before we do the unforgettable, we talk about Khôra: Rise of an Empire, Dune: Betrayal, and Santa Maria.
We’re seeing a lot more versions of games that are X: The Dice Game or Y: The Card Game. These are (usually) simplified takes on beloved classics, but often end up changing the feel of the game dramatically. We discuss when we think this formula works, and when it really doesn’t. Before we cast the die, we talk about Gods Love Dinosaurs, Nanga Parbat, and Ra: The Dice Game.
Sometimes all it takes is a good designer (and the right game) to take what would otherwise be a mechanic we don’t like, and utilize it in a way that feels right. We take a look at some mechanics that we usually don’t love, and the games that turned us around on them. Before we see things in a new light, we talk about CloudAge, Mariposas, and Faiyum.