Shelley and I join AWESOME rock bands and attmept to make it big (and not eat too much "candy") in

Rock Hard 1977 by Jackie Fox from Devir

then we get disappointed in a small-box dice fest from a company who has done some excellent games in the past

Charidice by Jurgen Adam from NSV (buy either The Mind or The Game instead!)

Oh, and the theme-infused older game I mentioned at one point is

Punk Sucht Lady by Wolfgang Kramer and Richard Ulrich (yes, the team that brought us El Grande and Princes of Florence!)

Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games

You can sponsor the podcast directly by going to 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

This week Shelley and I journey down into the ocean's depths, then to the moon!

First we check out fish species in various segments of the ocean in

Finspan by David Gordon and Michael O'Connell from Stonemaier Games

then we head to the moon and work with various companies to exploit its resources in

Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon by Fabio Lopiano and Nestore Mangone from Pandasaurus Games.

Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games!

You can sponsor the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table here:

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

Remember to check out our video channel at www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames

This week we celebrate making it to EPISODE 1000!!!

Thanks to Bezier Games for their support.

Thanks to Bezier, AMIGO, and Pandasaurus for their sponsorship with games for the contest!

You can sponsor the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettgames 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

First we talk Kennerspiel des Jahres - which do we want to win, and which do we think WILL win?

Then we GIVEAWAY SOME GAMES to three lucky winners/viewers! Be sure to contact me at garrettsgames@gmail.com if you're a winner!

Finally, we spend some time reflecting on the year so far, picking our TOP 10 GAMES of the first part of 2025.

Doug's Top 10 for first part of 2025:

1. Fromage by Matthew O'Malley, Ben Rosset from Road to Infamy Games - Episode 981

2. Draft and Write Records by Bruno Maciel from Inside Up Games - Episode 981

3. Bone Wars by Wim Goossens from Game Brewer & Cranio Creations - Episode 999

4. Looot by Charles Chevallier, Laurent Escoffier from Gigamic - Episode 997

5. Explorers of Navoria by Meng Chunlin from Qiling Games & Dranda Games & GaGa Games Episode 990

6. Castle Raisers by Erwan Le Minous, Anthony Perone from Wonderful World Board Games - Episode 997

7. Cargo Empire by Alexander Bogdanovsky, Pini Shekhter from Moaideas Game Design - Episode 978

8. Sparks by Adrian Adamescu, Kristian Amundsen Østby, Florin Purluca, Kjetil Svendsen from Alion – by Dr Ø - Episode 985

9. Endeavor: Deep Sea by Carl de Visser, Jarratt Gray from Burnt Island Games, Grand Gamers Guild and Cranio Creations - Episode 996

10. Azul Duel by Michael Kiesling from Next Move Games - Episode 993

Honorable Mentions:

Only Murders in the Building by Aaron Donogh, Prospero Hall, David Iezzi from Funko Games and Goliath Games - Episode 987

3 Chapters by Joe Hout from Amigo - Episode 991

Faraway by Johannes Goupy, Corentin Lebrat from Pandasaurus Games and Catch Up Games - Episode 995

Shelley's Top 10 for the first part of 2025:

1. Fromage by Matthew O'Malley and Ben Rosset from Road to Infamy Games - Episode 981

2. Atlantis Exodus by George Halkias, Konstantinos Karagiannis from dlp games - Episode 986

3. Resafa by Vladimir Suchy from Delicious Games - Episode 982

4. Looot by Charles Chevallier, Laurent Escoffier from Gigamic - Episode 997

5. Barcelona with the Passeig de Gracia Expansion by Dani Garcia from Board&Dice - Episode 994

6. Bone Wars by Wim Goossens from Game Brewer & Cranio Creations - Episode 999

7. Calcada by Vangelis Bagiartakis and Konstantinos Karagiannis from Piatnik - Episode 983

8. Castle Raisers by Erwan Le Minous, Anthony Perone from Wonderful World Board Games - Episode 997

9. Azul Duel by Michael Kiesling from Next Move Games - Episode 993

10. Only Murders in the Building by Aaron Donogh, Prospero Hall, David Iezzi from Funko Games and Goliath Games - Episode 987

Honorable Mentions:

Faraway by Johannes Goupy, Corentin Lebrat from Pandasaurus Games and Catch Up Games - Episode 995

River of Gold by Keith Piggott from Office Dog and KOSMOS - Episode 998

Big Easy Busking by Joshua J Mills from Weird Giraffe Games - Episode 976

For our last episode before we hit FOUR digits of episode releases, we take on TWO BIG GAMES that both use version of Action Points to do your turns!

In Bone Wars, by Wim Goossens from Game Brewer and Cranio Creations, we become palentologists, publish about new dinosaurs, and compete to earn the favor of two famous scientists.

In Ezra and Nehemiah, by Shem Phillips and SJ MacDonald from Renegade Game Studios and Garphil Games, we work to rebuild ancient Judah and its community.

Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games!

Remember you can support the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out the extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table HERE:

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

Finally, you have a few days left to enter our giveaway contest for EPISODE 1000 which comes out NEXT WEEK. You have to do TWO steps:

1) SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel here: www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames

2) Leave a comment on one of our JUNE video episodes on the channel

This week Shelley and I check out the cute and the beautiful

Alpaca by Christian Giove from Pegasus Spiel and GateOnGames includes VERY cute alpacas in an introductory-level deck-building game

River of Gold by Keith Piggott from Office Dog finds players meandering down a river board with spot gloss gold, gathering resources and money, building buildings, and delivering to customers.

Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games

Remember to check out our YouTube channel here: www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames

And sign up for our EPISODE 1000 giveaway contest. You have to

1) Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

AND

2) Leave a comment on one of our JUNE video episodes.

You can sponsor the podcast directly 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 here:

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

This week Shelley and I check out the THIRD Kennerspiel des Jahres nominee, the Viking-themed resource collection game

Looot (yes, it's THREE o's) by Charles Chevallier and Laurent Escoffier from Hachette and Gigamic

then we check out a title that's should make a splash at GenCon this year - build your 3-D castle to prevent the wolf army from invading your pig's fortifications in

Castle Raisers by Erwan Le Minous and Anthony Perone from Wonderful World Board Games

Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games

REMEMBER TO JOIN OUR CONTEST GIVEAWAY! Three listeners/viewers can win games from AMIGO, Pandasaurus, and Bezier Games! All you have to do is

a) Go to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames and SUBSCRIBE

b) Write a comment on one of our JUNE video episodes

You can support the podcast and video series directly by going to 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

This week Shelley and I check out the SECOND of the Kennerspiel des Jahres nominees:

Endeavor: Deep Sea by Carl de Visser and Jarratt Gray from Burnt Island Games and Grand Gamers Guild

then have fun with a bunch of short-legged dogs in

Clash of Corgis, a self-published game from Deric Drazich

Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games!

You can support the podcast directly by becoming a sponsor www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR you can check out our estensive 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

This week it's a Pandasaurus Games extravaganza!

First, Shelley and I check out the fun 'draw and draw' in which we explore various maps and swap cards to take our actions:

Rivages by Joachim Thome

then we play cards in one direction, but score in the opposite direction in the Kennerspiel des Jahres-nominated

Faraway by Johannes Goupy and Corentin Lebrat

Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games!

Remember to join our giveaway for Episode 1000 by subscribing to our YouTube channel and commenting on one of our June-released videos (starting on Tuesday).

You can sponsor the podcast directly by going to 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 cute little card game that's reminicent of Liar's Dice or Perudo

Schrodinger's Cats by Heather and Christopher O'Neill, and Adriel Wilson recently re-published by AMIGO

and then we pull a favorite off the shelf and add a new expansion:

Barcelona with the Passeig de Gracia expansion by Dani Garcia from Board&Dice

Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games!

You can support the podcast directly by becoming a sponsor www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR you can check out our estensive 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

This week Shelley and I check out a small card game for a large group

Fritanga by Jose Luchoro and Rafael Miralles from Devir

and then enjoy the smaller 2-player cousin of the award-winning Azul

Azul Duel by Michael Kiesling from Next Move Games

Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games

You can support the podcast directly by going to 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

Garrett's Games Episode 992! This week Shelley and I check out the little brother in the Great Western Trail series

Great Western Trail - El Paso by Alexander Pfister and Johannes Krenner from Lookout Games

then we check out a game that flew under the Essen radar for many

Campus Galli by Steffen Bogen from HUCH!

Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games for their support.

You can support the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

OR

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

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

And if you're looking for more Great Western Trail commentary, here are the other TWO episodes where we discuss the original and its first expansion:

Website link for Episode 543:

https://garrettsgames.com/garretts-games-543-kanagawa-and-great-western-trail

Website link for Episode 679:

https://garrettsgames.com/garretts-games-679-great-western-trail-expansion-and-lighthouse-run

This week Shelley and I delve into fairytale combinations and tricktaking in

3 Chapters by Joe Hout from Amigo (thanks to Amigo for the review copy)

and then we check out the rejuvenation of society on the British Isles in

Rebirth by Dr. Reiner Knizia from Mighty Boards

Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games!

You can sponsor the podcast directly by going to 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

3 Chapters was just released here in the US and here's the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F4GJCDMG

This week Shelley and I compete to have the best art collections in

Art Gallery by Francesco Frittelli from Piatnik (10+/2-6 players/45 minutes)

and then we explore new lands and gather resources in

Explorers of Navoria by Meng Chunulin from Dranda Games (12+/2-4 players/20 min. per player)

You can support the podcast by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgame

OR check out the 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

This week Shelley and I plan cruises into space in

Galactic Cruise by TK King, Koltin Thompson, and Dennis Northcott from Kinson Key Games

then it's head-to-head competition of rival restaurants in an older title from 2009

Burger Joint by Joe Huber from Rio Grande Games

Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games

You can support the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

or check out the extensive list of games at great prices that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table:

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

This week Shelley and I play an excellent trick-taking/area-majority game for 2 players

Lone Wolves by Yasuyuki Nakamura and Anthony Perone from Wonderful World Board Games

then we go head to head rather repetitiously in

Golden Cup by SImone Luciani and Gabriele Bubola from Cranio Creations

Thanks, as always, to our sponsor Bezier Games

You can support the podcast directly at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

OR

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

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

This week Shelley and I celebrate with fireworks in

Festival by Gregory Grard from Scorpion Masque

then try to solve murders in the Arconia in

Only Murders in the Building: The Game by Aaron Donogh, Prospero Hall, and David Iezzi from Funko Games

Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games

You can support the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames

or

check out the extensive list of great games at low prices that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table:

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

Shelley and get dinner ready by placing ingredients on sticks in

Kebab by Levi Robertson from Family Tree Games

you can get it at https://familytree.games/kebab-1

Then we attempt to rescue as many people from Atlantis before it's lost over a 5-year period in

Atlantis Exodus by Konstantinos Karagiannis and George Halkias from dlp game sna Capstone Games

Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games

You can sponsor the podcast directly 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

This week Shelley and I take classes to become better at magic in

Studies in Sorcery by Chris Glein from Weird Giraffe Games

then we build different color robots while obtaining help from assistants in

Sparks by Adrian Adamescu, Purluca Florin, Kjetil Svendsen, and Kristian A. Ostby from Alion Games

Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games!

You can support the podcast directly by going to 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

This week it's two games about birds. First up is a 2-player-only game about building the best nest in

Bower by Pierpaolo Paoletti from Cranio Creations

then we compete for nest space and use of the best creatures to gain majorities in various locations in

Perch by Doug Hettrick from Inside Up Games

Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games!

You can sponsor the podcast directly by heading to 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

This week Shelley and I try to catch fish with dice in

Lure by Satoru Nakamura from Allplay

then place beautiful tiles in interesting patterns and colors in

Calcada by Vangelis Bagiartakis and Konstantinos Karagiannis from Piatnik

Thanks as always to your sponsor Bezier Games!

You can sponsor the podcast directly by going to 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