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Steph's New to Me List for May 2023!

Posted by Steph

New To Me List

05 Jun 2023

Steph Hodge

(punkin312)

United States
Tennessee

Well, it's no Ginkgopolis...

Welcome to Steph's "New to Me" List 2023!

This year I have made the goal of learning 500 (600?) games!

Steph's Awesome Spectrum Rating System!

Steph's Sad Cloud Rating 1-2.5/10
Steph's Bland Rainbow Rating 3-4.5/10
Steph's Primary Rainbow Rating 5-7/10 (Solid Play)
Steph's Super Rainbow Rating 7.5-8.5 (Keepers)
Steph's Double Rainbow Rating 9-10/10 (Top Favorites)

May List
from Worst to Best

Prototype - Roast:

Early prototype seemed interesing.

-/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

No Pic

Microbadge: All the Meeples of the Rainbow blog

Sneaky Seven:

One card "game" - not ranking it because was it really a game?

-/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Chester Chews Cheddar Cheese:

One card "game" - not ranking it because was it really a game?

-/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Raas: A Dance of Love:

Beautiful new dice game where you need to find patterns and combos. I love the Raas dance theme and I can see this will be a beautiful finished product. I look forward to trying it again when it is made.

-/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Golden Deuce:

Trying to be like Tichu and failing in every possible way. This was horrendous and doesn't deserve any more of my time.

2/10 After 1 play (Owned - burn it?)

Tapeworm:

I don't like the tapeworm theme at all. It is completely luck of the draw and a hot wreck of a game. Hard pass.

3/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Where am I? Alice in a Mad Tea Party:

Dang I wanted to love this game because of the cool bits included in the game box. The overall play is just random and wild. No real exciting choices to be made and all around a miss.

4/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Fresh Fruits:

This game was not good. I love drafting tiles, and domino tiles like this, but this was worse than Kingdomino in every way. How was this game even made/put through the process? It is playable but that is about it.

4.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Carla Caramel:

No real choices in this kids game. Not sure why it was nominated for Kinder Spiel, oh well. I played, it was a thing.

4.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Glom:

Just because I am terrible at this game, doesn't make it a bad game. This is just a game that very specific people will enjoy. I am not great work creative words so creating fancy phrases is difficult for me. Worth trying if you like word games and forming sentences.

5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Gem Dealer:

Just another card game where the majority of it is luck of the draw. I really hated the one rule where you lose a gem. Just not a Knizia game I enjoyed.

5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Lofoten:

Interesting hand management but the rest of the game was mediocre and the set collection was basic. Mostly just not that interesting.

5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Gigamons:

A take on Memory where some monsters have powers once you form a match. You are trying to collect 3 of the same tiles to gain the big standee. It is a simple kids' game, I would guess this will win the Kinder Speil this year.

5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Haru Ichiban:

Beautiful 2p abstract game. While it is beautiful, I didn't find that many interesting choices. I do think if you are drawn to abstract games then this is one to check out. it wasn't bad, but just forgettable.

5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

GAP:

Simple card game where you are trying to collect a lot of one color and very few of another. There is a balancing act to manage, but it was fine. There are definitely better card games out there to play.

5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Fika:

Found on BGA - 2p small card game. I guess if you play a lot you know the cards really well and maybe it is more interesting. Seemed fairly random and luck of the draw. It was worth playing once.

5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

City Explorer: Kyoto:

A quick game that has a take on memory. It wasn't bad, but it was just really simple. Not much going on to keep it interesting. But, for a 5-minute game, I would play again.

5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Escalope:

Such a weird game. I kinda liked the managing of the meat cuts and that if you can cut it more you can sell it for more money. The timing with the cards running out is tricky. It had issues but in general, it was fun. Glad I got to try it.

5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Boo-ty Call:

Honestly, from the name of the game and the graphic artwork, you expect this game to be something it isn't. It is a pretty funny party game though where you are trying to clue in your card with noises and movements etc. Kind of like Similo but different. I would play again.

5.5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Etariya:

Simple 2p abstract game to collect element tokens on your sections of the board. There are some subtleties with how you go about placing the discs, but in the end, it is a basic abstract game with not much depth. It was fine.

5.5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Dangerous Mining:

Silly card game with some take-that. It is cute but nothing I could seriously play, or really play again. It was definitely worth the play though.

5.5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Pick-a-Dog:

real-time pattern game. One of the better in the genres and I had a good time playing the few times I did. It is harmless and a game I would easily play again.

6/10 After 2 plays (Not Owned)

Papageno:

A new take on Cabo / gnoming around - in a way. Hidden cards that you will want to try and figure out and get the lowest combo. I love the small box and the theme, but ultimately not a keeper for me. We had fun the few games though.

6/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Chroma Mix:

Small card game that you really need to program and plan for what you want to accomplish. I don't love the race to end, but the game was fine and I can see people enjoying it. I would play again.

6/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Legend Raiders:

Found on BGA - Resource management game. I don't like the race to finish, but it was fine and I would give it another go when it is past the beta phase in the BGA system. I would like to play in person.

6/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Mysterium Kids: Captain Echo's Treasure:

I love the use of sound in this version of the game. It is clever and is my favorite of the Kinder Spiel nominations. Glad I got to try it, but I will always choose other Mysterium games to play.

6/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Mr. Lovenstein Presents: No Context:

Never heard of the IP before, but fans of that comic will enjoy this game. I like how everyone is cluing in their own card and you have to try and guess everyone's card. sort of like Similo meets Dixit but is competitive. I think it is well done. Rides the line of naughty so it won't be for everyone.

6/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Hamlet: The Village Building Game:

Wanted to love this one, but it is very fiddly. I think it is pretty basic networking and resource management. It will definitely be hard for people who have a hard time with small icons. Not a game I would really want to return to. It's fine.

6/10 After 2 plays (Not Owned)

Teach

Playthrough

Sola Fide: The Reformation:

This was better than expected. I haven't played Campaign Manager, but this is the streamlined version of it. A 2p game with asymmetric card decks and a basic tug of war for area control. I liked it well enough and I will try Campaign Manager which adds in a few differences.

6.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Scream Machine:

Very cute card game with a fun theme. I like the interactions you have with your neighbors and how the action points are allocated. Not a big fan of the majority scoring each round, but it is the nature of the game. worth checking out.

6.5/10 After 1 plays (Owned)

Mother of Frankenstein:

Really rough start to an otherwise good game. I hated the first set of puzzles but as you play through this Vol 1 it gets better with more interesting puzzles to solve. Ultiamtely not my favorite puzzle game, but was with playing.

6.5/10 After 1 plays (Not Owned)

Gosu X:

2p card/duel game. Not really magic-esque, but has some overlapping ideas. Several ways to win the game and card powers. The game is really interesting if you like that sort of thing. I enjoyed it a little more in my second play since I sort of had a better grasp of the cards. You need to invest time in learning the factions and if you like that then you should play. It is a BEAUTIFUL game and I could play again.

6.5/10 After 2 plays (Owned)

Votes for Women:

A super solid game that probably deserves a higher rating. Ultimately this just isn't the type of game that I enjoy. The constant back and forth for control on a game board. I like the card play and how everything happens in the game though.

6.5/10 After 2 plays (Owned)

Horticulture:

Super cute flip-and-write game where you need to fill in your garden to have specific groupings of plants. Seems slightly limiting on set up and variability, but it does what it is trying to do and is enjoyable.

6.5/10 After 2 plays (Not Owned)

The Lost Code:

Deduction game. I found there to be a bit of a runaway leader issue. If you are decent at deduction games you will automatically destroy in the game. If you are playing with the same level of deduction gamers this game will likely work better. For now, I would play again but it isn't high on my list, though I like what it is doing.

6.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Lumen: The Lost World:

Found on BGA - the new Trek 12 with a lot more rules but the gameplay is vastly different. I like the core mechanics and everything you are doing. It seems a bit too much, but I would like to play in person to see if I like it better. I would like to play again regardless.

6.5/10 After 2 plays (Not Owned)

That's Not a Hat:

Such a silly party memory game. You are passing cards left and right and you have to try and remember everything happening. Really great for a late-night laugh fest. I had fun playing this one!

6.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Swindler:

I wanted to love this more because I love the push-your-luck element of the game. Drawing random tiles from the bag is always fun. Doesn't do it as well as Thebes, but still interesting. I don't love a lot of the take-that cards, but the game is supposed to be light-hearted so will work for families. It is a punishing game though so it won't feel good at times.

7/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Waters of Nereus:

I enjoy the simultaneous action selection. There are some really good choices in the game. Fairly light, and I am not sure there is a whole lot of variety from game to game, but I am glad to have played. Not a game I would seek out for the collection but would happily play again.

7/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Hercules:

This is near the keep line because it is fun. There are a bunch of cards that will help mitigate the rolls, but if you don't have any of those then it can feel painful at times. Played a couple of times and the fun factor is there. Just misses the keep pile though.

7/10 After 2 play (Not Owned)

Stack'n Stuff: A Patchwork Game:

I do think this is a better version of Patchwork. It is essentially the same game with a better theme and a cool ending that will bring out the smaller tiles. You want the smaller tiles at the end so it just works better. If you enjoy Patchwork then this is definitely worth checking out.

7/10 After 2 play (Owned)

Quiet Logic:

Perhaps less of a game and more of an activity. You know certain elements of the cards and you have to logically puzzle out which is the hidden card. It is a weird exercise, but oddly fun. It has no right being fun, and Michael hated it so, yeah, it won't be for everyone.

7/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Tinderblox:

Fantastic pocket-sized game. My complaint is that I wish it were bigger! It is pretty fun though and I would be happy to play it again. Not sure the cards are entirely balanced since I get all the hard cards.

7/10 After 2 plays (Not Owned)

Magic Rabbit:

2-minute real-time cooperative game. I love that there are various levels of difficulty included in the box and a mix of different rules to apply to make it harder. So much fun for how fast the game is and it is no easy task to win!

7/10 After 6 plays (Owned)

Galaxy Rush:

A 2-player set collection type of game that plays in 20 minutes. It works really well and is super solid. I really like this one, but I am not sure there is a whole lot of variety from game to game. The different goals from game to game is what will keep you trying different strategies, but I am not sure it is enough over time.

7/10 After 2 plays (Owned)

Indiana Jones: Sands of Adventure:

Love the theme and all the vibrant artwork. The gimmick with the sand timer is simple and so much fun. Great for families and very timely with the new movie coming out. I love that it is cooperative. Definitely worth checking out.

7/10 After 2 plays (Owned)

Ierusalem: Anno Domini:

This is a big big game. I love the use of cards in this game for various actions. Timing is key and how you go about doing everything is important. Only played as a 2-player game but I think the gameplay will be very different with 3 or 4. I think they are both really interesting though There is one mechanic I really don't like, or this rating might actually be higher, but I till really enjoyed the game.

7/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Books of Time:

This actually moved up in the ranking after the second play. I really like the mix of actions and trying to combo and piece everything together. This is a really nice game. If you are looking for a theme you won't find it here, but it is a fun puzzle and the book gimmick is clever and different.

7.5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Rules

Playthrough

Challengers! 2:

MOAR CHALLENGERS! This edition is a standalone edition with new decks of cards and new player abilities! It is great and a wonderful edition if you already enjoy the first one!

7.5/10 After 3 plays (Not Owned)

Rome in a Day:

Perhaps the best 10-20 minute game I have played in a long while. I love I split you choose and you do that just 4 times in the game all while building up a small little city. Great choices in a fast playtime. It is streamlined and great. Worthy of being in any collection.

7.5/10 After 4 plays (Owned)

Linkto Food:

Super loved playing through the two Linkto games. 5 games in the box and it is a different kind of trivia game. It is clever and a small series I hope everyone can check out. Pick the edition you like best and try it out.

7.5/10 After 5 plays (Owned)

Linkto Travel:

Super loved playing through the two Linkto games. 5 games in the box and it is a different kind of trivia game. It is clever and a small series I hope everyone can check out. Pick the edition you like best and try it out.

7.5/10 After 5 plays (Owned)

Galileo Project:

Easily one of the best games of the year. It is attractive and the choices are great. The best thing about the game is the use of Earth and Mars tracks and how they influence your choices for recruiting people and robots. Galileo Project is easy to understand and play and everyone has enjoyed it that I have taught. Very cool game I hope more people get to play it!

7.5/10 After 3 plays (Owned)

Teach

Playthrough

Game of the Month!

My City: Roll & Build:

Roll in at the last moment to hit the top position. I love all things My City, so it was an easy hit for the first position. This works so very well as a roll-and-write game! I love that you can go back and play it or just jump to any level you want to play. It is a campaign and not a legacy game. So much to love about this and I can't wait to play through it all!

8/10 After 3 plays (Owned)

New to me Expansions!

None

If you made it this far, you can check out what Michael and I have to say about our Top 10 Games we learned in May in more detail!

The Tally

January: 54
February: 80
March:40
April:62
May: 54

Total new-to-me games for the year: 290! 458 Unique Games & 859 total plays for the year.

Follow along this geeklist to see what tv shows and moves I have been watching:

Steph's Movie & TV Series List 2023!

Now Available! Steph's Awesome Gaming Calendar 2023!
https://stephsshop.ecwid.com

Thanks to Dfube, I now have a chance to sell some cool All the Meeples of the Rainbow shirts!
If you enjoy the blog and want to support me and my good friend Dfube you can check them out here: https://itsyourroll.games/collections/all-the-meeples-of-the...

Happy Gaming!!!

-Steph

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All images in this post are copyrighted, owned, and controlled by Steph Hodge Photography, unless otherwise noted.
Please contact me if you would like to purchase or use my images in any way.
Disclaimer: I am a contract Employee of BGG. I often review games that are provided by the publisher. I am not compensated for my blog content.
Thank you.

25 Comments

Mon Jun 5, 2023 4:41 pm

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Steph's New to Me List for April 2023!

Posted by Steph

New To Me List

03 May 2023

Steph Hodge

(punkin312)

United States
Tennessee

Well, it's no Ginkgopolis...

Welcome to Steph's "New to Me" List 2023!

This year I have made the goal of learning 500 (600?) games!

Steph's Awesome Spectrum Rating System!

Steph's Sad Cloud Rating 1-2.5/10
Steph's Bland Rainbow Rating 3-4.5/10
Steph's Primary Rainbow Rating 5-7/10 (Solid Play)
Steph's Super Rainbow Rating 7.5-8.5 (Keepers)
Steph's Double Rainbow Rating 9-10/10 (Top Favorites)

April List
from Worst to Best

Top Secret Prototype:

No Info

-/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

no pic

Prototype - Badlands:

Early early stages of a prototype. Cooperative and puzzly. It was fun so I look forward to seeing where it ends up.

-/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

no pic

Prototype - Better Letters:

A new word game where you have to think of one word using various conditions. It is definitely fun for players who enjoy word games.

-/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

no pic

The Glade:

Prototype going to KS this summer. Scrabble meets Qwirkle. Puzzly and cute. Won't be for everyone, but there is definitely an audience for this game.

-/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Taiwan Night Market:

Currently on KS for a few more days. There is still time for development since I played an early prototype. I think there is a nice auction mechanic and a bit of a programming element with how customers will move through the market. Not for the faint of heart since it can be vicious.

-/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Side Effects:

Random card draws to try and cure your diseases. It is draw and play about the most boring design ever and the game just isn't fun. The artwork is the only decent thing in the game, if you find it interesting.

3/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Karambolage:

Basic dexterity game. There are so many better dex games this one pales in comparison.

4/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Don't Be a Dik Dik:

Simple card game sort in the realm of Go Fish but with inappropriate names of animals. It was silly and is not a game I would want to revisit.

4/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Steam Up: A Feast of Dim Sum:

Amazingly beautiful production, but the game is just not interesting. Everything in the game has been done before and this was just a snooze fest of a resource management game.

4/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Aegean Sea:

I can't say I love Carl Chudyk games in general, but he has some interesting ideas and I do love Innovation so I like to try his games. Aegean Sea is a game where you know the rules but have no idea how to play. it is bizarre and weird. Probably better with a lot of repeated plays, but I just don't see playing it all that much.

4.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Tortuga:

Simple card drafting and set collection game with slight take-that. It was harmless but nothing new or exciting

5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Berried Treasure:

A bit too much take-that for my taste, but I like the drafting element of the game.

5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Star Fighters: Rapid Fire:

Reminded me of Star Fox 64 a video game I played back in the day. This is a game you can play solo or in a duel or in teams. It is real-time dice rolling to move and attack your opponent. I am not big on attacking, but it will work for those who do!

5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Sol: Last Days of a Star:

Some really interesting ideas happening in this game, but it also feels incomplete. I didn't really accomplish what I needed or wanted to. You don't have enough time to get back to your starting position on the board. Glad I tried it, but I will forget it in the future.

5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Montego Bay:

Old School design/game with some programming and area control. it works, but it just isn't my type of game.

5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Ghosted:

A deduction game where you are trying to figure out the cards you have facing the other players. The shields aren't great/effective. The game is fine and works, there are just better games that do this.

5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Agatha Christie: Death on the Cards:

I am not big on 1 vs many games and hiding my identity. After playing the bad guy in my one play, I find it really impossible to win this game. Some interesting cards and effects, but likely a game I will forget about in a year. Wasn't terrible though.

5.5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

A Walk in the Park:

Very simple roll n write. Seemed like a tacked-on game for a KS which it was. I don't see it having replay value, but I would play again.

5.5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Unicorn Fever:

A chaotic betting game. You really don't know what unicorns will cross the finish. There are cards that can help give bonuses or give penalties but I still don't think there is a lot of control. Hard to choose to play this when Ready Set Bet is just far superior.

5.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Through the Woods:

A super cute critter game. Some basic set collection, but it was interesting enough for an environmental game.

5.5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Bulldonkey:

Silly bluffing game. Fun for a few games and for very casual gamers.

5.5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

insect inc.:

A simple pattern-matching game that is sort of like the Rorschach test. It is just a race to get to 7 matches first or so. The cards get flipped over to a hard-to-see side once it has been used once.

6/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Wrong Party:

Such cute artwork! I like drafting games so this was better for me. I like the different cards and some abilities. It was solid.

6/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Quixo:

Simple abstract game to try and get 5 in a row. Another fun coffee table game from Gigamic.

6/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Little Tavern:

Quick card game to try and get the best visitors to your bar. You can flip a customer card ad choose which bar they sit in. Fun art and fun filler, it's nice.

6/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

King's Pouch:

Bag-building and engine-building game. It was pretty good. I don't love the small map with area control but I did like the cards you can buy to create a better engine. It was interesting.

6/10 After 1 play (Owned)

The Number:

Very simple guess the number type of game where you want to have a unique high number each round to gain points. Very simple and not something I would want to play a lot, but happy to play on occasion.

6/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Sidereal Confluence:

Negotiation game that I have been curious about for a while. I am not great at negotiation, but it seemed interesting. It was basically what I was expecting, so it falls middle of the road since I am not very big on negotiating. Worth trying though.

6/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Kannste Knicken:

New roll n write game where you have to fold the corners when you unlock them. It is a race to make all the stars connected. I don't love the race element but the game play was fun enough.

6/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Pilgrims:

A hand management card game where you have to basically bid using one suit of cards to try and gain the most influence. Gaining the cards for points, but knowing when to bow out to gain other sorts of rewards instead. I liked this, but probably not a game I will return to all that often.

6/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Stationfall:

I feel like if you enjoy Nemesis you might be drawn to this one too. They are different mechanically, but I kind of lump them together. That being said, this game is fully chaotic and everyone is free for all. It is not really a cooperative game since all of the objectives are very different. Since you don't have to reveal your roles anything is possible which makes it hard to figure out. In general, I will choose Nemesis to play, every time. I will play this again, because people who do love it, love it, and I am willing to give it a few more plays. It is definitely an experience game that will appeal to a certain group of gamers.

6/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Lisbon Tram 28:

Not really into pick-up-and-deliver games but I enjoyed this one with the hand management and the cool upgrades. It moved quickly and was super solid.

6.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

nana:

SQUEE SO CUTE! Sort of a deduction and memory game, but you need a little luck too. The game is tiny, so it is easy to forget about it. I thought it was fun, but it is really a 5-minute filler game, so it could be forgettable in the long run.

6.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

The Green Fivura:

Crazy trick-taking game where every card has a green 5 on the back. basically, during the game you can play cards facedown in the trick so you play a green 5. Maybe you try to short-suit yourself or you don't want to win a trick. You don't want to go over 25 points with the tricks you take so you have to be super careful. It is a tricky game. I liked it but not as much as the others.

6.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Coffee Rush:

Amazing production and a nice puzzle element to find the perfect combination of resources. The one thing that needs work is balancing the order cards, otherwise, I think this game is really good.

6.5/10 After 2 plays (Owned)

Delicious:

New flip and write a game where you have to select an option on your sheet to use one or two cards in play. It is simple to get into and very pretty. It is a nice game and one I would be happy to play again.

6.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Mars Open: Tabletop Golf:

Craziest dexterity game where you flick like a paper football type of game. You have to set up holes with obstacles and everything. It is tough and very different from other dex games. Worth playing for sure.

6.5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Fujiyama:

Interesting tile drafting game where you have to decide which tiles to pass to your neighbors. Trying to get them to choose your tile over the others, but also trying to get them to send tiles back to you later. I liked it! I want to play again to see if I like it more on a second play.

7/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Octiles:

A Chinese Checkers-type of game but with crazy tiles that move you in weird directions. I found it really interesting and am glad we had 4 players to play it. Kinda seems to have a kingmaking ending, but with any abstract game, more plays might change that. It was fun though.

7/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Pigs on Trampolines:

Bounce pigs on trampolines... what more can you ask for? It was a riot and so much fun.

7/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Really Loud Librarians:

Break into teams and start using letters to craft words for a certain category to move around the track. I am terrible at this game, but we had a fun time playing it.

7/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Tick-Tock Orders:

I like cooperative games and this was real time. I definitely liked it the most of the gamers at the table so I am not sure it would hold over time, but I would like to try again maybe as a 2-player game to see if I might like it more. It was chaos but I like cooperative chaos.

7/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Balloon Pop:

The bidding for draft order is interesting since you are selecting your positioning too. It is a light and fun puzzle to line up the balloons in order to pop them. Really glad I got to play this!

7/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game:

It's been a long time coming to get this game to the table. I wanted it to be the best experience possible I watched the entire series first, and yes, that helped. I love so many of the characters and the theme shines through. In general, this isn't really the kind of game for me, I don't like hidden roles and backstabbing in games it is very emotional for me, maybe I get into it too much. It doesn't feel good. But I did enjoy the game we had and with the right group, I would play again. It has epic moments and it is fun. I would still choose to play Warehouse 13 though.

7/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Sauscharf:

New card game along the lines of Linko but with multiple phases of playing cards and trying to collect sets to make the hot sauces. It was interesting and I would play again, but it is far inferior to Linko which is just more fun.

7/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Zero to 100:

A portable party game where you are trying to get rid of your question cards by coming closest to the number in the center of the table. The questions have a number answer on the back that you don't get to look at until you use it as your answer. It is a simple and clever little game. We had a fun time playing it!

7/10 After 2 plays (Owned)

In the Footsteps of Darwin:

Such a lovely game with wonderful artwork and elegant gameplay. Very easy to understand and play. Great for new or casual gamers. The set collection is fun and the game is just a relaxing nice game.

7/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Voidfall:

So much going on in this game to be very overwhelming in the first play. Looking past all that, I think there are a lot of nice ideas and mechanics in the game. I prefer the game with little player interaction, and depending on the set up you will find that, but you can still use the map to take over another player if you wanted to. It is a tricky balancing act to make it all happen. I liked this, but I am not sure it is a game I will get played all that much.

7/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Turing Machine:

A really nice deduction game with a ton of puzzles to work through. Can you figure out the combo in less time than other players? It works well and I can't wait to play it more!

7/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Hooky:

A sure deduction game where you are trying to figure out the 3 cards not in play. Other players have cards and you want to figure out those as well. You deduce information by asking a five-letter word and they will have to respond with how many letters they have. It is smooth and works well. I have really enjoyed my few plays so far!

7/10 After 3 plays (Owned)

Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Scrawlers - Heroes of Waterdeep:

I have really been enjoying this Dungeon Scrawlers game! This is the second in the series and the real-time scurry through the maze is so much fun. I would gladly play this with any willing player. Simple joys.

7.5/10 After 2 plays (Owned)

Sides:

New party game in the realm of Just One. A few players have to try and guess the clue and a few people will try to give clues but can't communicate. They can say things like it's a 6-letter word starting with H. Ideally, one clue will be enough to get the guesses to be successful, but sometimes it takes longer and you just want to do it in as few clues as possible. Works for big groups of people coming in and out. I had a great time playing it and will have to find a copy.

7.5/10 After 3 plays (Owned)

Draft & Write Records:

I love drafting cards and I love trying to find the best bonuses. This game has a lot of both of those things. There are also common goals. All things I love in Roll n Write games and this is pretty fun. I look forward to getting a copy!

7.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Dorfromantik: The Board Game:

Super chill campaign game that is all tile-placement. Trying to form groups of specific terrain types of certain sizes. As you play through the games you will unlock more content and goals. This is a game I definitely want to experience all the way through. I had a great time playing the first 2 games, and this game could easily raise in rank when I get to play it more!

7.5/10 After 2 play (Not Owned)

Let's Go! To Japan:

Love this multi-use cards and drafting system. It feels fresh. the puzzle on how to sort your trip is fun too. Really nice game!

7.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Citytrip Brugge:

It is a struggle to get all the things you want to be completed because the game will end before you want to finish! Really great flip-and-write game with a nice big city to explore. I had a great time playing this one.

7.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Caldera Park:

The follow-up to Savannah Park. There are more ideas going on in this, so it will work for a gamers group. Savannah park suits a wide range of players since the rules are super easy. Caldera adds in a bunch of new mechanics to make it more calculated. I really enjoyed playing this and I think there is room on the shelf for both games.

7.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Clever 4Ever:

If you aren't Clever-ed out yet, then you have to try this one. My rankings are #2, #4, #1, #3 so I really did enjoy this new map! The more boards to play the merrier!

7.5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

House of Fado:

This new Lacerda title (in prototype) and is more my jam than most of his others. A tight game with many strategies and ways to score points. So much to think about and just works for my brain. This is the Bite-sized Gallerist, but really it just takes some mechanics the Gallerist has and incorporates them here, and very well! Very excited about this release.

7.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Encyclopedia:

Really nice use of dice worker placement. This is a game about optimizing your actions and knowing when to make the magic happen. I love a good planning game like this.

7.5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Magic Trick:

One of the best card games I have played in recent years. I really like the use of hidden cards and different suits. There is a bit of deduction you have to do if you want to play your tricks right. Everything from the name to the mechanics is clever. I hope more people get to try it.

7.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Game of the Month!

Next Station: Tokyo:

Found on BGA - A new game much like Next Station: London (NSL), but Tokyo (NST) has a new board and many new features. My mind was blown when I first played this! I thought "Sure, how much different can it be?" Well, it is very different and I still have no idea how to play it well. NSL was one of my favorite games last year, and I wouldn't be surprised if NST will be one of my favorites from 2023.

8.5/10 After 3 plays (Not Owned)

New to me Expansions!

Sobek: 2 Players – Treasures of the Pharaoh:

Small expansion, but adds a bunch of new tiles to mix in and they come at a high cost. They are super interesting if you can get them though! Awesome game with or without the expansion, but if you already like the base game it doesn't hurt to get the expansions.

7.5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Cartographers: Map Pack 2 – Affril: Plane of Knowledge:

Going through these maps and this was really interesting with a bunch of different islands. At the same time, I probably find it the weakest of the different boards I have tried so far. I think the others add in a little bit more content and things to think about to keep them more interesting. Even still, I am happy to try this and will definitely want to play again!

7.5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Roll Camera!: The B-Movie Expansion:

Such a cool expansion! I love the added genre tokens and the middle of the script. Tons of new roles to check out too. If you are into cooperative dice games, then you shouldn't miss out on trying gRoll Camera! It's great.

8/10 After 2 plays (Owned)

Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition – Foundations:

Adds in a few new boards for 5-6 players. It also includes Infrastructure which is a 4th accomplishment you have to complete before the game ends. It is pretty cool and will work great with bigger groups.

8/10 After 2 plays (Owned)

Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition – Discovery:

This expansion adds in ways to upgrade your cards to gain better rewards when you use them. There are also milestones and awards to shoot for during the game. Lots of great content that any Ares Expedition fan would want to have, for sure!

8/10 After 2 plays (Owned)

Galaxy Trucker: Keep on Trucking:

MOAR Galaxy Trucker is a great thing. The new player boards are amazing and so challenging. So many new tiles to include and the new alien race. If you have sharks at the table you can make them use the rough roads content to make it harder. An expansion you don't want to miss out on. I love it!

8/10 After 2 plays (Owned)

Tapestry: Fantasies & Futures:

The final installment for tapestry? It is small but mighty. A new rulebook with all of the rules for all of the expansions! Tons of new content to mix in and not many added rules. It is for the true Tapestry fans out there. It is glorious.

8/10 After 2 plays (Owned)

Meadow: Downstream:

I love Meadow! I was dying to try Downstream! If you thought the game was a table hog before, well not it is double the size with a HUGE additional stream board. The board has two modes: Rapids and Lazy River. I have only played the Lazy River so far, but want to try the Rapids! So many new cards since there is a whole new deck of water cards. Each player will also get a new pawn to use on the river board so the game does end up being slightly longer than before. It doesn't bother me when I get to look at this beautiful game the whole. Simply stunning!

8/10 After 1 play (Owned)

If you made it this far, you can check out what Michael and I have to say about our Top 10 Games we learned in April in more detail!

The Tally

January: 54
February: 80
March:40
April:62

Total new-to-me games for the year: 236! 396 Unique Games & 709 total plays for the year.

Follow along this geeklist to see what tv shows and moves I have been watching:

Steph's Movie & TV Series List 2023!

Now Available! Steph's Awesome Gaming Calendar 2023!
https://stephsshop.ecwid.com

Thanks to Dfube, I now have a chance to sell some cool All the Meeples of the Rainbow shirts!
If you enjoy the blog and want to support me and my good friend Dfube you can check them out here: https://itsyourroll.games/collections/all-the-meeples-of-the...

Happy Gaming!!!

-Steph

If you like what you saw, please thumb!

All images in this post are copyrighted, owned, and controlled by Steph Hodge Photography, unless otherwise noted.
Please contact me if you would like to purchase or use my images in any way.
Disclaimer: I am a contract Employee of BGG. I often review games that are provided by the publisher. I am not compensated for my blog content.
Thank you.

17 Comments

Wed May 3, 2023 11:00 am

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Steph's New to Me List for March 2023

Posted by Steph

New To Me List

03 Apr 2023

Steph Hodge

(punkin312)

United States
Tennessee

Well, it's no Ginkgopolis...

Welcome to Steph's "New to Me" List 2023!

This year I have made the goal of learning 500 (600?) games!

Now Available! Steph's Awesome Gaming Calendar 2023!
https://stephsshop.ecwid.com

Thanks to Dfube, I now have a chance to sell some cool All the Meeples of the Rainbow shirts!
If you enjoy the blog and want to support me and my good friend Dfube you can check them out here: https://bit.ly/3lzvtcV

Steph's Awesome Spectrum Rating System!

Steph's Sad Cloud Rating 1-2.5/10
Steph's Bland Rainbow Rating 3-4.5/10
Steph's Primary Rainbow Rating 5-7/10 (Solid Play)
Steph's Super Rainbow Rating 7.5-8.5 (Keepers)
Steph's Double Rainbow Rating 9-10/10 (Top Favorites)

March List
from Worst to Best

Prototype - Shanked:

The subject will likely change in this early prototype, but this is a new hidden role game where you will either want to take out the other team's boss, or be a guard and keep the status quo. Ultimately, this game isn't my kind of game and I would be unlikely to play it again. If you are a fan of Two Rooms and a Boom, this one might be for you!

-/10 After 3 plays (Not Owned)

Prototype - Round Robins:

Early prototype - abstract mancala game where you are trying to take over the birds nests. Not sure how this one might progress so we will see what happens!

-/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

None

Animal Poker:

I do love the cards and the artwork. The game itself is like The Great Dalmuti, but all of the numbered cards have equal amounts. You are trying to raise in the ranks but you have no real control or advantage. The weak stay weak with no signs of that changing. Too many problems in this game and it was miserable.

2/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Tails on Fire:

This is a beautiful card game as well. The major problems of the game are with all the take-that. You can steal other players fire cards and it is just luck if you happen to pick the right cards and claim the fire. It just all seems so random. I think this game needed a lot more development.

3/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Quorsum:

Abstract dice game to get your dice to the opposite side. it was basically a roll-and-move game where you have to create your own path and try to block others. It was super lame and not fun at all.

3/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Empire Engine:

Hard to see any replay value in this. There are simply not enough actions to choose from on your turn. I felt like I did the same thing the whole game with little control. This was one of the worst micro games I have played.

3.5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Glücks-Piraten:

Silly kid's game with a roll and move mechanic. Don't need to play again.

4/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Heavenly Trump:

Chaotic card game. Tried to be different which is fine and the artwork is fine. Forgettable and not one that I would care to play again.

4/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Gadget Trick:

Quick card game where the goals are set and you have to meet them to qualify for the win. You also have personal benefits to try and help claim the goals. It works, but I think too many factors and not interesting enough.

5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Darwinauts:

I like the idea of placing tiles and people to claim resources, but we found the when resources were collected, the second action would often be to reclaim the large area. I was getting half the resources everyone else was, and yes, I lost by half the points. Seems like an oversight in the development process.

5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Hungry Monkey:

I have played another game with the same mechanics (Karma) but this one was much better. The artwork is great and the gameplay was more interesting because of the card powers. I felt like I had more control over my choices. Probably not a game I would still return to, but it was better.

5/10 After 2 plays (Owned)

Dodos Riding Dinos:

I am not really into race games. This one handles a bunch of players and includes some dexterity elements. It was entertaining for a play but not one I would ever seek out.

5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Catstronauts:

Super quick and cute pattern game. Love the custom cat meeples and the cute theme. I enjoyed my few plays, but still wouldn't see playing it a whole lot. Since it is so quick and harmless I would easily play again.

5/10 After 2 plays (Not Owned)

Tuned:

Found on BGA - 2p abstract game to get 3 in a row with various pieces. Definitely an easy-to-learn game and works well for fans of abstract games. It is a small 3x3 grid so you have to be on your toes to block your opponent. It is fine but doesn't really stand out for me.

5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Prolix:

Why play this when you can just play Wordsy. Prolix was the first, but it was developed and produced into one of the best word games around called Wordsy.

5/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Dice Manor:

This game was a bit too harsh with 4 players. I liked it better with 2, but I surmise the sweet spot is 3 players. Las Vegas mechanic is fun, and the tile placement is interesting. The game is overall good, but I feel like it is missing something from really making it shine, I just can't pinpoint it.

5.5/10 After 2 play (Owned)

Tang Hu Lu:

Found on BGA - quick dice game to collect sets of food items. It was cute, but forgettable.

5.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Line It:

Found on BGA - There is a bit of push-your-luck, but not so much where you will outright lose if you try and fail. I liked this one and could see it going up in time if I were to play it more. Worth a look I think.

6/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Thera:

Found in the BGG Store - I like the use of the actions and how the discs stack up and can possibly get you more bonuses. Felt like the game lasted a bit too long, but perhaps with more plays there will be more of a rush to finish. I see potential with this one.

6/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Fjords:

very abstract. I like the 2 phases in the game. First place tiles and huts then expand with people for area control. Works well, just not exactly my style of game. O can see the appeal though.

6/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Marvel: Damage Control:

A new take on deck-building. Feels thematic. I don't love how you score the points by getting cards into the vaults. I also don't love how you are limited on the number of heroes and hero activations, but I suppose you could have an endless turn with too many possible activations. This is just a game I need to revisit and see how a second play turns out. I do think it will be fun for the fans.

6/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Motor City:

New roll and write where you draft dice to take various actions. I like the different tracks and areas where you are working to improve. It feels like it is a one-way will-win, but I have only played a few times. I do think choosing the speedometer action die is the weakest action since you get no bonuses. I would play again though.

6/10 After 2 plays (Owned)

Maps of Misterra:

Found on BGA - Such a weird cartographer game. Try to reveal the land and match it to what you are crafting on your personal board. You are dealing with other players and you are working towards your goal cards too. It was pretty interesting and I want to give it another go.

6/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Tucano:

Found on BGA - Light card game with lots and lots of sets and types of cards. Simple to learn and play so is harmless.

6.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Águeda: City of Umbrellas:

Played in prototype form. Fabulous production and beautiful colors. This is a light set-collection and drafting game. The end-game scoring goals are all fairly similar, so it sort of plays the same from game to game. The game is quick and enjoyable enough to where I still would want to play again. It is nice.

6.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Boop:

Found on BGA - Super cute abstract game with cats. I like how you have kittens and you have to grow them to cats before you can even start to think about winning the game. You have to check it out, it is clever.

6.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Rainforest:

Found on BGA - I always enjoy puzzly games with some drafting. You have to choose the best cards for your tableau, but you also want the animals to go along with it. For a quick game, you get a bunch of juicy choices. I liked it.

7/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Dog Park:

This is a relaxing game because it is an easy one to grasp and play. Amazing artwork and theme will pull people in. It is a basic resource management game to gain points. I enjoyed it and am happy I got to try it out.

7/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Push a Monster:

This is a better Kabuto Sumo. The rules will end the game sooner rather than possibly never. Highly recommend this one if you like Kabuto Sumo, since it is essentially the same thing but better.

7/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Tír na nÓg:

An interesting mix of mechanics. I like that you place meeples in turn order and then remove meeples to claim cards in reverse-turn order. This game is deeper than it first appears since you have to try and gain sets in your tableau for scoring points. I found this game very enjoyable and simply stunning.

7/10 After 2 plays (Not Owned)

Splendor: Marvel:

If you have played Splendor, then you will catch on to this one fairly quickly. There is an added objective to claim Avenger symbols for "Longest Road"-type of scoring. You also need to collect all the gem colors to trigger the end of the game. It is a neat twist and a fun theme.

7/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Point City:

New card game with some drafting and tableau building. Gain resources to gain buildings for points and permanent resources. Quicker game than Splendor but gives me some Splendor vibes. I like this more because you will score points at the end and it isn't a race.

7/10 After 3 plays (Owned)

Vienna:

This is the new La Isla. Lots of changes and a longer playtime for sure. I like the way the cards work and that they are all multi-use, so you have to pick and choose. I liked the advanced play since you have missions to try and work towards for more points. Really enjoyable game with a lot of fun changes. Worth checking out.

7/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Joan of Arc: Orleans Draw & Write:

Feels like a roll n write for Orleans. If you know Orleans you can imagine that. I like that you are drafting tiles to use for your turn. I think everything works. I only worry that the games will feel samey after a few plays. Happy to play again though.

7/10 After 3 plays (Owned)

Bot Factory:

This is like an hour-long Kanban. If you were to shrink Kanban, this is what you would get. I really enjoyed this one because you really have to try and plan ahead to get the items you want and need. It works really well, I look forward to playing it more.

7/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Terminus:

This is a big game. There is a lot of moving parts to plan for and think about. So many district abilities. Only going to KS this week so there might be adjustments before the final production, but I really enjoyed my first play and look forward to seeing the end result.

7.5/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

Zefiria:

Found on BGA - a cooperative puzzle game to get all the pieces in the right locations. Each player has a cool ability they will use to move tiles around. It is a challenge and I thought it was really interesting. Probably easier to play in person.

7.5/10 After 2 plays (Not Owned)

Nekojima:

A crazy new dexterity game where you have to place telephone poles so the wires don't touch and the poles don't touch, but you can stack them. It is very challenging and added difficulty with the cats you have to hang from the wires! We had a lot of fun.

7.5/10 After 2 plays (Not Owned)

Nimalia:

Simple card drafting and placement game to form gather animals and sets for the scoring cards. The scoring cards will trigger on certain rounds so you have to try and plan for those. I am terrible at this game but still enjoy trying to make it work. This is a small box game and worth checking out for sure.

7.5/10 After 2 plays (Owned)

Game of the Month!

Deep Dive:

Push-your-luck excellence. It is very simple to play and you are just trying to collect sets of 3 colors. The further down you go the better the points. It comes with a risk, and I love taking risks! Reminds me of Deep Sea Adventure but with no dice. This hits the spot!

8/10 After 2 plays (Not Owned)

New to me Expansions!

None

The Tally

January: 54
February: 80
March: 40

Total new-to-me games for the year: 174!

Follow along this geeklist to see what tv shows and moves I have been watching:

Steph's Movie & TV Series List 2023!

Happy Gaming!!!

-Steph

If you like what you saw, please thumb!

All images in this post are copyrighted, owned, and controlled by Steph Hodge Photography, unless otherwise noted.
Please contact me if you would like to purchase or use my images in any way.
Disclaimer: I am a contract Employee of BGG. I often review games that are provided by the publisher. I am not compensated for my blog content.
Thank you.

15 Comments

Mon Apr 3, 2023 8:07 pm

Post Rolls

[+] Dice rolls

Recommend

Steph's New to Me List for February 2023

Posted by Steph

New To Me List

02 Mar 2023

Steph Hodge

(punkin312)

United States
Tennessee

Well, it's no Ginkgopolis...

Welcome to Steph's "New to Me" List 2023!

This year I have made the goal of learning 500 (600?) games!

Now Available! Steph's Awesome Gaming Calendar 2023!
https://stephsshop.ecwid.com

Thanks to Dfube, I now have a chance to sell some cool All the Meeples of the Rainbow shirts!
If you enjoy the blog and want to support me and my good friend Dfube you can check them out here: https://bit.ly/3lzvtcV

Steph's Awesome Spectrum Rating System!

Steph's Sad Cloud Rating 1-2.5/10
Steph's Bland Rainbow Rating 3-4.5/10
Steph's Primary Rainbow Rating 5-7/10 (Solid Play)
Steph's Super Rainbow Rating 7.5-8.5 (Keepers)
Steph's Double Rainbow Rating 9-10/10 (Top Favorites)

February List
from Worst to Best

Prototype - Race to 31:

Super cool trick-taking card game that Dale is working on. We had a lot of fun, so I look forward to seeing where it ends up.

-/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

No Pic

Prototype - Halls of Fame (25th Century):

An early prototype for a party game. Definitely excited about this one. Not sure how much I can share at the moment.

-/10 After 1 play (Not Owned)

No Pic

Donut Shop:

Super cute tile-placement game with delicious donuts. Still in prototype form and on Kickstarter so things may change. Interested in playing some more to get see how it holds up over time.

-/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Reflecto:

Interesting idea that was poorly executed. The fact you can just eliminate your letters by getting to the other side basically breaks the game of trying to find the words created. It didn't work for me at all.

3/10 After 1 play (Owned)

Archive for New To Me List

Steph's New to Me List for May 2023!

Steph's New to Me List for April 2023!

Steph's New to Me List for March 2023

Steph's New to Me List for February 2023