Shelley and I work hard to gain favor and move up the ranks in Henry VIII's court in

Tudor by Jan Kirschner from Academy Games

and then get out our binoculars and play amateur ornithologists in

Wingspan by Elizabeth Hargrave from Stonemaier Games

Shelley and I build pastel buildings as we wander through the beautiful Venetian island of Burano in

Walking in Burano by Wei-Min Ling from EmperorS4

and then create fantasy islands and try to score the most points in doing so in

Skylands by Shun from Queen Games

Shelley and I race to build the best fleet of space ships and send them out into the void in

Space Base by John D. Clair from AEG

and then send our crusading knights across Europe to defeat the heathen hordes in

Crusaders: Thy Will Be Done by Seth Jaffee from Tasty Minstrel Games

Shelley and I get a chance to preview the forthcoming Bezier Games' title

Cabo by Mandy Henning and Melissa Limes from Bezier Games

and then have fun burning our brains, building a pyramid, and attempting to earn the gods' favors in

Teotihuacan: City of Gods by Daniele Tascini from NSKN Games

Shelley and I take on 2 titles that start with F, but vary markedly in their play and fun value!

Fuji by Wolfgang Warsch from Feuerland Spiele had us running (unsuccessfully) from Fuji's volcanic eruption...and not enjoying the experience.

and

Futuropia by Friedemann Friese from Stronghold Games has us working to create a utopian condominium experience where food and energy are provided by robots doing the work so we no longer have to! Fun planning from the guy who loves green.

This week Shelley and I enjoy some sand castle building from Stronghold Games, then have a bit less fun (possibly due to playing it 2-player) trying to win the favor of the Emperor.

Fine Sand by Friedemann Friese from Stronghold Games

and

Gugong by Andreas Steding from Game Brewer

Shelley and I become competing gods as we build separate worlds with worshippers in pyramids for

Orbis by Tim Armstrong from Space Cowboys

and

5x5 City by Hisashi Hayashi from Okazu Brand

Shelley and I start off with lighter fare as we draft, then place polyominoes in

Polyssimo Challenge by Alain Brobecker from Djeco

and then try to win favor and protect our interests in Portugal in

Coimbra by Flaminia Brasini and Virginio Gigli

Shelley and I head to Japan to duke it out as competing companies building our power and influence in

Yokohama Duel by Hisashi Hayashi from Okazu Brand

and then head under the sea as environmental problems have forced humanity to build

Underwater Cities by Vladimir Suchy from Delicious Games

Shelley and I have some fun as competing space agencies in 1950's inspired artwork of

Lift Off by Jeroen Vandersteen from Hans im Glück

and then explore uncharted forest where monsters roam and rewarding artifacts can be obtained in

The Boldest by Sophia Wagner from Stronghold Games

Shelley and I have more fun with a roll & write polyomino game, then a fantastic time building our ancient Roman colonies.

Brikks by Wolfgang Warsch from Schmidt

and

Forum Trajanum by Stefan Feld from Stronghold Games

Shelley and I check out a quick filler and a solid family game from well-known designers:

Trellis by Teale Fristoe from Breaking Games

and

Okavango by Michael Kiesling and Wolfgang Kramer from Jumbo

Shelley and I attempt to make the best of our tea plantations in

Ceylon by Chris and Suzanne Zinsli from Ludonova

and then expand our reach in the solar system with colonies in

Terraforming Mars: Colonies by Jacob and Jonathan Fryxelius from Stronghold Games

Shelley and I have some fun building rival zoos, then attempt to make the best of a BAD situation as the lights go out and stay out in Hong Kong!

WonderZoo by Florian Fay from Djeco

and

Blackout: Hong Kong by Alexander Pfister from eggertspiele

Shelley and I have a great time rolling dice and creating frescoes for our competing Viking clans, then have a LOT less fun competing to grow veggies in Iceland.

Lindisfarne by Damien Fleury and Alain Pradet from RUNES Editions

and

Reykholt by Uwe Rosenberg from Frosted and Renegade Games

Shelley and I plant rival gardens this week, hoping our neighbors don't disturb our crops too much, then build sections of Rome in two games that involve player building their own tableau.

Mr. Cabbagehead's Garden by Todd Sanders from LudiCreations

and

Great City of Rome (or City of Rome depending on the publisher) by Matthew Dunstan and Brett J. Gilbert from Z-Man (if it's Great) and Abacusspiele (if it's just a City).

Shelley and I get rolling BIG time on two fantastic Essen releases. The first is a small-box game with a BIG box feel

1906 San Francisco by Perepau Llistosella from Looping Games

followed by a double rondel card management game

Crown of Emara by Benjamin Schwer from Pegasus Spiele

Shelley and I get our party hats on as we organize a cool party in Portugal Tetris-style, then work with our glaziers to make the most beautiful stained glass windows!

Arraial by Nuno Bizarro Sentieiro and Paulo Soledade from Mebo Games

and

Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra by Michael Kiesling from Next Move/Plan B Games

Shelley and I work hard to rebuild our reefs with cool plastic Duplo-like blocks, then attempt to be the best sponsors of classical composers!

Reef by Emerson Matsuuchi from Next Move/Plan B Games

and

Symphony No. 9 by Frank Liu and Hung-Yang Shen from Moaideas

Shelley and I check out the new Knizia game that's a cousin to Through the Desert, then try the second BIG game from Hungarian publisher A-Games.

Blue Lagoon by Reiner Knizia from Blue Orange Games

and

PreHistory by Attila Szogyi from A-Games