Shelley and I play two sequels (of a sort) this week.

First up is a new take on Kingdomino with pieces that connect to make domino land tiles in

Moon River by Bruno Cathala and Yohan Servais from Blue Orange

then we move from Trails of Tucana (a draw/draw game) to a tile laying cousin in

Tucana Builders by Kristian A. Ostby and Eilif Svensson from Aporta Games

Sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR

check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

💾

Shelley and I check out a 2-player game of competitive fishing in

Fisheries of Gloucester by Steve Finn from Dr. Finn's Games

then we get a bit abstract as we add 'manufactured tokens' to various areas to create patterns in

Neotopia by Orlando Sa and and Andre Santos from MEBO Games and Arcane Wonders

Sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

or check out our extensive list of games for purchase at reasonable prices here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

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This week Shelley and I check out a fun remake, as well as some fun big-box complexity

Mountain Goats by Stefan Risthaus from Allplay (which used to be Level X from Schmidt Spiele)

Ierusalem: Anno Domini by Carmen Garcia Jimenez from Devir

Sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

or check out our extensive list of games for sale here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

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This week Shelley and I attempt to enlist gods to increase our scores in

Rauha by Johannes Goupy andThéo Rivière from GRRRE Games

and then we pack our moving van in

Stack 'n Stuff by Uwe Rosenberg and Marianne Waage from Lookout Games

Remember you can sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check out our list of games for sale here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

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This week Shelley and I discuss two games that, for different reasons, didn't really work for us.

First up - Orichalcum by Bruno Cathala and Johannes Goupy from Catch Up Games and Pandasaurus Games

then we tackle the MONSTER game

Mosaic: A Story of Civilization by Glenn Drover from Forbidden Games

Remember to sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check out our games for sale page here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

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Shelley and I check out two solid titles this week. The first, a game that once again has Darwin as its theme (though much lighter than Darwin's Journey that we discussed previously)

In The Footsteps of Darwin by Gregory Grard and Matthieu Verdier from Sorry We Are French and Hachette Boardgames

then we head to the Iberian Peninsula and work to modernize one of our favorite cities in

Barcelona by Dani Garcia from Board&Dice and CMON Global Limited

Remember you can sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR get some great games for good prices from your extensive list of games for sale:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

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Shelley and I grow our forest glades and populate the trees with animals in

Forest Shuffle by Kosch from Lookout Games

then we travel the galaxy picking up resources and fulfilling contracts in a game that reminds us for Parks (and it's by the same designer!)

Space Park by Henry Audubon from Keymaster Games

Remember that you can sponsor the podcast by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

or check out the list of games we have for sale, which also works to support us here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

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Shelley and I tackle the REST of Darwin's Journey, exploring all of the expansion and discussing their incorporation into the base game. Then we try out a smaller-box game with some nasty 'take-that' elements.

Darwin's Journey and Expansions by Simone Luciani and Nestor Mangone from ThunderGryph Games, CMON Global Limited and Korea Boardgames

Patios by Jesus Torres Castro from ATOMO GAMES

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Shelley and I decorate our spaces with various flora in

Planted by Phil Walker-Harding from Buffalo Games

then take on one of the BIG games that's been on the shelf for a few months

Darwin's Journey by Simone Luciani and Nestore Mangone from CMON Global Limited, ThunderGryph Games and Korea Boardgames

Sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

or buy some games just in time for the holidays!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

💾

After playing the original

Voyages of Marco Polo by Simone Luciani and Daniele Tascini (2015) at Meeplefest, Shelley and I wanted to reflect on why we made a choice back in the day to only keep

Marco Polo II: In The Service of the Khan (2019)

We hope you enjoy our reflections on these two titles once again.

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Shelley and I talk about some of the "big player count" games that we enjoy, especially during late-night plays at conventions:

Viva Pamplona! by Wolfgang Kramer from FX Schmid (released in 1992)

Le Paresseux by Dominique Tellier from Eurogames (released in 1990)

Hues and Cues by Scott Brady from CMON (released in 2020)

Here's the link to our games for sale:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

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Shelley and I reflect on another chance to play

Alea Iacta Est by Jeff Allers and Bernd Eisnenstein from Alea

(released again in 2016 as Order of the Guilded Compass from Greg Fox Games)

and then we check out

Comic Hunters by Robert Coehlo by Bucaneiros Jogos

with its cool Marvel-covers theme

Here's the link to our games for sale:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

💾

Shelley and I check out a game from 2019 that passed us by, and then check out a much newer little card game from last year:

It's A Wonderful World by Frederic Guerard from La Boite de Jeu and MEBO Games

and

Pick-A-Pepper (or Sauscharf) by Wolfgang Kramer and Christian Stohr from Amigo

Here's the link to our games for sale:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

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Essen Spiel happens THIS WEEK, so Shelley and I sat down to discuss possible titles to peruse and buy. Though we're not headed to Germany this year, we can't wait to play the best of the new releases.

AND - WE HAVE HIT 900 EPISODES! Help us celebrate by sponsoring the podcast at

www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

or puchasing some games from the list below:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

The games mentioned (or added after we recorded), Alphabetically by Publisherf - a total of 110:

FTW?!

Cascadia Landmarks

Fit to Print

Pollen

The Academy

Cabanga!

Schrödingers Katzen

Z3bra

Pampero

House of Cats

Revive: Call of the Abyss

Tucana Builders

Gap

Neotopia

World of Wonders

Ceres

Blueprints of Mad King Ludwig

Welcome to...Edition Collector

Moon River

Next Station: Tokyo

Barcelona

Books of Time

Nucleum

SideQuest: 7th Sea

Kick Off: Coach

From the Moon

Sea Salt and Paper: Extra Salt

Carnival

Karakum

Footprints

Anunnaki: Dawn of the Gods

Rats of Wistar + Expansions

Portals

Kutná Hora: The City of Silver

Match of the Century

Moorland

Evacuation

3 Ring Circus

Bamboo

Bitoku: Resutoran

Ierusalem: Anno Domini

Savernake Forest

The White Castle

Yokai Sketch

Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Leicester

Cathedral of Orleans

Orleans: The Plague

Pioneer Rails

Keops

Havalandi

Prey Another Day

Walking in Burano: Roll & Write

Sea Dragons

Mytikas

Nautilus Island

Amygdala

Delta

Planta Nubo

Vedur

Taiwan Night Market

Contraband Insider

Printing Press

Sunrise Lane (re-issue of Rondo)

Discordia

Dim Sum

Coffee Rush

Nunatak

Wave

All Roads

Hens

Tipperary

1902 Melies

Urbify

Amritsar: The Golden Temple

The A.R.T. Project

Evenfall

The Fox Experiment

Concordia: Roma/Sicilia

Pictures: USA

Satori

Art Gallery

Lunaris 45

Dance of the Ibexes (Tanz der Hornochsen)

Sardegna (Kreta)

Stereo Mind: Classical

Tequila

Celtae

Gods of Rome

Lata

Missao M

The Glade

Mycelia

Aelderman

e-Mission

Kuhfstein

Maps of Misterra

Redwood

SpellBook

Bier Pioniere

Age of Rome

Food Trucks

Zoo Tycoon: The Board Game

Stamp Collection (California)

Dr. Frankenstein

Five Peaks

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Our final Meeplefest Episode for 2023 finds Ric, Sam, Joe, Simon, Tom, Jody, Scott, Bryan, and Nolan around the table chatting about

Online vs. Face to Face Gaming

Designing, playtesting, and publishing during Covid

Some RPG Chatter

Why a game (or an aspect of gaming) is our favorite

The "AHA" Moment of playing games with non-gamers

Some of the Games Discussed/Mentioned:

Tichu

Age of Exploration

London

Settlers of Catan

Power Grid

Condordia

Tzolkin

Acquire

Pandemic Legacy

Terra Mystica

Can't Stop

Race for the Galaxy

6 Nimmt

Illusion

Hero Realms

Edge of Darkness

Ticket to Ride

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Night 2 of Meeplefest finds the gang discussing a lot of new, fun games we got a chance to play, as well as some discussion of using games in the classroom and a brief diversion into RPGs and online gaming.

Games Discussed:

Animated

Catan

Comic Hunters

Diplomacy

The Fashion Game

Flamme Rouge

Formula D(e)

Heat

Horseless Carriage

King of Frontier

Little Town

My Trolley Town

Nemesis

Skylands

Snowtails

Splendor

Station Fall

Wonderland's War

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This week Shelley and I check out two games that found their way across the Pacific to our game table. First, we build towns with rail connections and set up production buildings in

My Trolley Town by Shun and Aya Taguchi from Studio GG

and then compete as fashion designers, creating outfits for particular occasions in

The Fashion Game, self-published by Yabuchi Ryoko

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This week Shelley and I check out a cute little card game, as well as delving into an older title we hadn't played in awhile.

Sea, Salt, and Paper by Bruno Cathala and Theo Riviere from Bombyx, Cranio Creations, and Pandasaurus Games

Pillars of the Earth by Michael Rieneck, Stefan Stadler from Kosmos, Devir and Mayfair

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Part 2 of Night 1 of Meeplefest 2023 finds the group (Joe, Ric, Shelley, Kris, Simon, and Greg) sitting around the mics discussing gaming groups, collections - what stays and what goes - games for specific situations, and game length among other topics.

Viva Pamplona

Le Paresseux

1846

Castles of Burgundy

Blokus

Die Macher

Heat Pedal to the Metal

Thunder Road

John Carter: Warlord of Mars

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This week starts our annual Meeplefest roundtable discussions! After introductions we spent Part 1 talking about

Games played, including

• The Green Fivura
• In The Year of the Dragon
• Holly Oak
• Alea Iacta Est
• Marrakesh
• Clank in Space
• Cascadia
• Viva Pamplona

Then talk about design and translation frustrations and the ways that they can get in the way of enjoyment and understanding, referencing

• Railway Boom
• Magic (Alpha)
• Puerto Rico
• Sienna
• Frostpunk

Finishing this part of the evening with a conversation about rampant deluxification of games with call backs to

• Catan
• Ticket to Ride
• Marrakesh
• and others

Sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames, or check out our games for sale:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

💾