Scout, designed by Kei Kajino and published by Oink Games, is a thrilling and innovative climbing card game that challenges players to make the most of their hand without rearranging it. With a clever mix of card play, hand optimization, and strategic timing, Scout is an addictive experience that rewards skillful play. Compact yet deep, […]
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Maskmen, designed by Jun Sasaki and published by Oink Games, is a clever and innovative climbing card game where players determine the strength of different wrestlers as they play. With unique hand management and tactical decision-making, Maskmen blends unpredictability with deep strategic play, making it a standout in the climbing game genre. A Vibrant and
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Aquatica, designed by Ivan Tuzovsky, transports players to a vibrant underwater world where they explore and conquer oceanic locations to gain prosperity. With its stunning components and innovative card and board mechanics, Aquatica offers a streamlined experience. However, its light strategy and limited depth leave it feeling like a missed opportunity for those seeking a
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Red Rising, designed by Jamey Stegmaier and Alexander Schmidt, is a strategic hand management game based on the dystopian world of Pierce Brown’s novels. Players represent competing houses, aiming to rise to power by assembling the most synergistic hand of characters. With a mix of card play, tableau building, and resource management, Red Rising offers
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5 Towers, designed by Kasper Lapp, invites players to compete as master architects, constructing their own sets of five distinct towers. The game combines bidding, resource management, and a touch of spatial puzzle-solving. While the mechanics are simple and accessible, the game ultimately feels a bit light, offering fun moments but lacking the depth to
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AI: 100% Human, a card drafting and tableau-building game by Explor8, brings players into the digital realm to craft the perfect artificial intelligence. Featuring dual-phase drafting mechanics and strategic tableau building, this Essen 2024 release is solid in its design, though the theme feels somewhat detached. While it may not reinvent the wheel, the game’s
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Fort, designed by Grant Rodiek and published by Leder Games, is a quirky deckbuilding game where players are kids competing to build the coolest fort. With its lighthearted theme and colorful art, it’s a charming entry into the world of card games. However, while Fort’s mechanics are unique and fun at first, its limited replayability
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Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-Earth, designed by Antoine Bauza and Bruno Cathala, brings the epic struggle of Middle-earth to life in an intense two-player experience. One player leads the Fellowship, striving to destroy the One Ring, while the other commands Sauron’s forces, pursuing Frodo and Sam across the land. With three distinct victory
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Splendor Duel, designed by Marc André and Bruno Cathala, reimagines the iconic Splendor for two players. It builds on the original’s gem-collecting mechanics while introducing new layers of strategy and interaction. In this head-to-head contest, players compete to acquire prestige through clever resource management and tactical moves. While the game stays true to its roots,
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