Tina Edmonds Tina Edmonds

Kemet

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Kemet is a strategic board game that is set in ancient Egypt. In this game, players take on the role of powerful Egyptian gods and engage in intense battles to control key locations and earn victory points. Players can earn various upgrades and bonuses throughout the game, such as new units, magical abilities, and powerful relics.

One of the standout features of Kemet is its combat system, which is fast-paced and dynamic. Players must carefully choose which units to send into battle and which abilities to use to gain the upper hand. The game also has a strong emphasis on player interaction, as players must constantly adapt their strategies to outmaneuver their opponents and secure victory.

Overall, Kemet is a fantastic game that offers a unique blend of strategy and combat. Its stunning artwork and immersive gameplay make it a great choice for anyone looking for a deep and engaging gaming experience. If you enjoy games like Blood Rage or Risk, then Kemet is definitely worth checking out.

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Some games similar to Kemet that you may enjoy are:

  1. Cyclades: Like Kemet, Cyclades is a game of area control and conflict set in ancient Greece. Players compete to build armies and control territories in order to win the favor of the gods.

  2. Scythe: Scythe is a game of resource management and combat set in a steam-punk inspired alternate history. Like Kemet, it features multiple paths to victory and a variety of strategies to pursue.

  3. Inis: Inis is a game of conflict and diplomacy set in ancient Celtic mythology. Like Kemet, it features multiple paths to victory and a variety of strategies to pursue.

  4. Rising Sun: Rising Sun is a game of political maneuvering and conflict set in feudal Japan. Like Kemet, it features an innovative combat system and multiple paths to victory.

  5. Bloodborne: The Card Game: Bloodborne is a game of cooperative combat set in a dark and gothic world. Like Kemet, it features a variety of different factions to play as and a high degree of player interaction.

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Tina Edmonds Tina Edmonds

Blood Rage

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Blood Rage is a highly strategic board game designed by Eric M. Lang and published by CMON Limited. Set in a Viking-inspired universe, players control a clan of warriors battling for control of mythical Midgard. With gorgeous artwork and dynamic miniatures, Blood Rage is a visually stunning game that captures the epic feel of Norse mythology.

The game combines elements of card drafting, area control, and combat to create a unique and engaging gameplay experience. Each player selects cards from a shared pool to build their deck of warriors, monsters, and powerful spells. These cards are then used to move your warriors across the board, claim territory, and engage in epic battles with rival clans.

One of the most exciting aspects of Blood Rage is the Ragnarok mechanic. As the game progresses, the world begins to crumble and the gods themselves will descend to wreak havoc on the battlefield. This adds an element of chaos and unpredictability to the game, forcing players to adapt their strategies on the fly.

Overall, Blood Rage is a fantastic game for those who enjoy deep strategy and epic battles. While it can be a bit intimidating for beginners, the intuitive gameplay mechanics and stunning visuals make it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a challenging and engaging board game experience.

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If you enjoy the strategic gameplay and intense battles of Blood Rage, you may also enjoy these similar games:

  1. Rising Sun: Designed by the same team behind Blood Rage, this game features similar mechanics and a similar theme, with players competing for power in feudal Japan.

  2. Scythe: This game combines resource management, area control, and combat, as players compete to dominate a post-World War I alternate reality.

  3. Kemet: In this game, players lead ancient Egyptian armies and use mystical powers to battle for control of the Nile Delta.

  4. Cyclades: This game is set in ancient Greece and involves players competing to build and control the most powerful city-states.

  5. Chaos in the Old World: This game puts players in the roles of different gods of chaos as they battle to dominate the Old World and defeat their rivals.

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Tina Edmonds Tina Edmonds

Thunderstone

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Thunderstone is a deck-building game that was first published in 2009. In the game, players take on the role of adventurers, battling monsters and collecting treasures in order to earn points. The game is known for its deep strategy, wide range of card options, and engaging gameplay.

The game is set in a fantasy world, where players are tasked with defeating monsters and earning points. The game is played with a deck of cards, which includes heroes, weapons, spells, and other items that players can use to defeat monsters.

One of the unique features of Thunderstone is the way that players build their decks. At the beginning of the game, players start with a basic deck of cards, and then add cards to their deck as the game progresses. The game features a wide range of cards, with different abilities and effects, which allows for a lot of strategic depth.

Overall, Thunderstone is a great game for anyone who enjoys deck-building games or fantasy-themed games. The game is easy to learn, but offers a lot of depth and replayability.

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If you enjoyed Thunderstone, you may also like the following deck-building games:

  1. Dominion: Dominion is a classic deck-building game in which players compete to build the most efficient deck. It features a wide variety of cards with unique abilities and allows for a lot of strategic depth.

  2. Ascension: Ascension is a fast-paced deck-building game with a fantasy theme. Players take on the role of heroes battling against monsters, using their decks to gain powerful abilities and defeat their enemies.

  3. Clank!: Clank! is a deck-building adventure game where players explore a dungeon, collecting treasure and fighting monsters. It features a unique mechanic where noise can attract the attention of the dragon guarding the treasure, making the game more challenging.

  4. Aeon's End: Aeon's End is a cooperative deck-building game where players take on the role of mages defending a city from a powerful nemesis. It features unique mechanics such as a variable turn order and a market that changes over time.

  5. Star Realms: Star Realms is a fast-paced deck-building game set in a sci-fi universe. Players compete to build the most powerful fleet and defeat their opponents. It features a unique "faction" system that allows players to customize their decks with different abilities.

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Tina Edmonds Tina Edmonds

Mystic Vale

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Mystic Vale is a unique card-crafting game that allows players to build and upgrade their own custom cards as the game progresses. The game is designed for 2-4 players and takes about 45 minutes to play.

In Mystic Vale, players take on the roles of druidic clans seeking to restore the dying world of Aerie. Players must cultivate and harvest powerful mana to fuel their actions, and use their cards to construct the best combinations to score points and ultimately win the game.

One of the most unique aspects of Mystic Vale is its use of clear plastic sleeves to build the custom cards. Each sleeve has a transparent front and back, and players can add various upgrades to the cards by sliding them in between the layers. This allows for an immense amount of customization and variability in gameplay, as players can change and upgrade their cards to fit their preferred play style.

Overall, Mystic Vale is a fun and engaging game that offers a new take on traditional deck-building mechanics. Its unique card-crafting system and beautiful artwork make it a standout in the genre.

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If you enjoyed Mystic Vale, you might also enjoy the following games:

  1. Ashes: Rise of the Phoenixborn: A customizable card game where players take on the role of powerful Phoenixborns and battle each other using spells, creatures, and other magical abilities.

  2. Clank!: A deck-building game where players delve into a dungeon, acquire cards to build their decks, and try to escape with the most valuable treasures before the dragon catches them.

  3. Dominion: A classic deck-building game where players compete to build the most efficient deck and acquire victory points by purchasing cards from a common pool.

  4. Marvel Champions: A cooperative card game where players take on the roles of superheroes and work together to defeat villains and their minions.

  5. Everdell: A card game where players build a woodland city by gathering resources, constructing buildings, and attracting critters to their city.

  6. Res Arcana: A card game where players compete to be the first to achieve four victory points by acquiring and playing magical artifacts, creatures, and other items.

  7. Aeon's End: A cooperative deck-building game where players work together to defend their city from a variety of monstrous threats.

  8. Terraforming Mars: A strategy game where players take on the role of corporations and compete to terraform Mars by raising the temperature, adding oxygen, and introducing plant and animal life.

  9. Gloomhaven: A cooperative dungeon-crawler where players take on the roles of adventurers, complete quests, and battle monsters in a persistent world.

  10. Arkham Horror: The Card Game: A cooperative card game where players take on the roles of investigators and battle supernatural threats in the Lovecraftian world of Arkham Horror.

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Tina Edmonds Tina Edmonds

Star Realms

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Star Realms is a fast-paced deck-building game designed for two players, but can be played with more by combining multiple sets. Players start with identical decks of cards representing ships and bases that they use to generate trade or attack their opponent. The game is won by reducing the opponent's authority (life total) to zero.

The game is easy to learn and has a lot of replay value due to its random card distribution and multiple expansions available. It also has a strong competitive scene with organized play events and online tournaments.

Overall, Star Realms is a great choice for players who enjoy quick and strategic card games with a sci-fi theme. Its compact size and fast gameplay make it an ideal choice for on-the-go gaming or as a warm-up game before diving into longer games.

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Some games similar to Star Realms include:

  1. Ascension: Deckbuilding Game - a deck-building game with similar mechanics to Star Realms, where players compete to acquire the most points by building up their deck with powerful cards.

  2. Dominion - a classic deck-building game where players start with a small deck of cards and gradually add new cards to it in order to acquire victory points.

  3. Hero Realms - another deck-building game that has players competing to reduce each other's health to zero while simultaneously building up their own deck.

  4. Clank! - a deck-building game that adds a board game element to the mix, as players move around a game board to acquire cards and treasure while avoiding danger.

  5. Mystic Vale - a unique deck-building game where players build up their cards by adding transparent overlays to them, allowing them to customize their decks in unique ways.

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Tina Edmonds Tina Edmonds

Aeon’s End

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Aeon's End is a cooperative deck-building game designed by Kevin Riley and published by Indie Boards and Cards. In the game, players take on the role of mages defending their city from an onslaught of monstrous creatures known as nemeses. Aeon's End is known for its unique mechanics, including a randomized turn order and a deck of cards that never needs shuffling.

One of the standout features of Aeon's End is the deck-building aspect, where players start with a small deck of basic cards and acquire more powerful spells and abilities as they progress. Each mage has a unique starting deck, adding to the replayability of the game. The game also offers a variety of nemeses, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, making each game feel different.

The game's artwork and design are also noteworthy, with detailed illustrations and a dark fantasy theme. The game's difficulty level can be quite high, making it a good choice for gamers looking for a challenge.

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If you enjoy Aeon's End, you might also enjoy the following games:

  1. Mage Knight: Ultimate Edition - This is a complex game with multiple elements like hand management, exploration, and character building. Players control a powerful Mage Knight who is exploring a fantasy world, fighting monsters, and gaining abilities.

  2. Gloomhaven - This is a cooperative game that combines dungeon crawling and strategic card play. Players control adventurers who are exploring a fantasy world, fighting monsters, and completing quests.

  3. Dominion - This is a deck-building game where players acquire cards that represent actions, resources, and victory points. Players use their cards to build a powerful deck and score points.

  4. Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game - In this game, players recruit heroes from the Marvel universe to form a deck and battle against villains. The game has multiple expansion sets that add more heroes, villains, and scenarios.

  5. Thunderstone Quest - This is a deck-building game where players recruit adventurers and gather equipment to explore a dungeon and fight monsters. The game has a campaign mode that allows players to progress through a series of quests.

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Tina Edmonds Tina Edmonds

Ascension

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Ascension is a deck-building game that offers a unique and immersive experience to players. The game is designed for 2-4 players and offers different game modes and expansions to enhance the gameplay. The goal of the game is to collect as many Honor Points as possible by acquiring and playing cards from a shared deck.

The game features a rotating center row of cards that players can buy from and add to their deck. Players also have their own personal deck that they start with, which they can improve by buying new cards and removing weak ones. The game mechanics involve resource management, strategy, and decision-making, which makes it highly engaging and challenging.

Ascension also features a wide range of cards, each with unique abilities and effects, which makes for an exciting and varied gameplay experience. The art and design of the cards are also visually stunning, adding to the overall enjoyment of the game.

Overall, Ascension is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a dynamic and challenging deck-building game. Its unique mechanics, diverse cards, and engaging gameplay make it an exciting and entertaining experience for both new and experienced players.

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If you enjoy Ascension, you may also like:

  1. Dominion: A deck-building game where players compete to build the most efficient and effective deck of cards.

  2. Star Realms: A two-player deck-building game set in space where players compete to build the best fleet of ships and defeat their opponent.

  3. Legendary: A cooperative deck-building game where players assemble a team of superheroes to defeat a supervillain.

  4. Mystic Vale: A unique deck-building game where players use transparent cards to build their deck and upgrade their abilities.

  5. Clank!: A deck-building game where players venture into a dungeon to steal treasure and escape before the dragon catches them.

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Tina Edmonds Tina Edmonds

Clank!

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Clank! is a deck-building adventure board game where players take on the role of thieves venturing into a dragon's lair in search of treasure. The game features a modular board that changes from game to game, adding variety and replayability.

Players start with a small deck of cards that they use to move through the dungeon, defeat monsters, and collect treasure. As they acquire more treasure, they can purchase more powerful cards to add to their deck. However, the noise they make while moving through the dungeon can alert the dragon, who will start attacking the players.

Clank! is a great game for players who enjoy deck-building games and adventure games. The gameplay is easy to learn, but the strategy and decision-making involved make it engaging and challenging. The modular board and random card selection add replayability to the game, ensuring that no two games are the same.

Overall, Clank! is a fun and exciting game that combines deck-building and adventure elements to create a unique and enjoyable experience.

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If you enjoyed Clank!, here are some other deck-building adventure games you might enjoy:

  1. Dominion: This classic deck-building game offers a huge variety of cards and strategies to explore.

  2. Thunderstone Quest: In this adventure game, players build their decks to explore dungeons and battle monsters.

  3. Aeon's End: Players work together to defend their city against monsters using unique abilities and spells.

  4. Ascension: Players build their decks to recruit powerful heroes and defeat monsters to earn victory points.

  5. Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords: Players build their characters and explore the fantasy world of Golarion.

  6. Marvel Legendary: In this cooperative game, players build decks featuring popular Marvel superheroes and battle supervillains to save the world.

  7. Legendary Encounters: Alien: This deck-building game offers a cooperative experience where players build decks to survive an alien invasion.

  8. Arkham Horror: The Card Game: Players build decks to investigate eldritch mysteries and battle the supernatural horrors of the Lovecraftian universe.

  9. Mage Knight: Players build their decks and explore the fantasy world of Mage Knight, battling monsters and conquering cities.

  10. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle: In this cooperative game, players build decks to battle the Dark Arts and protect Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

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Tina Edmonds Tina Edmonds

Whistle Stop

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Whistle Stop is a railroad-themed board game designed by Scott Caputo and published by Bezier Games. Players are tasked with building train routes, delivering goods, and acquiring shares to become the wealthiest player. The game features an innovative mechanism of train movement, where players use train whistle tokens to move their trains along the tracks.

One of the highlights of Whistle Stop is the game's elegant blend of strategy and luck. Players must make strategic decisions about how to use their limited resources, while also navigating random events that can have a significant impact on gameplay. The game's modular board also ensures that no two games are the same, adding to the replayability factor.

The game's components are of high quality, featuring beautifully illustrated cards and colorful wooden tokens. The rulebook is well-written and easy to follow, making it accessible to both new and experienced gamers.

Overall, Whistle Stop is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a challenging and engaging strategy game with a railroad theme. Its unique train movement system and blend of strategy and luck make it stand out from other games in the genre.

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Some games similar to Whistle Stop are:

  1. Ticket to Ride - A classic game of route building and set collection that involves building railroad routes across the United States or other regions of the world.

  2. Railways of the World - A strategic railroad-building game where players collect and manage resources to build rail lines across the globe.

  3. Age of Steam - A competitive game where players lay track and deliver goods to earn money, while facing challenges such as fluctuating demand and limited resources.

  4. Steam - A game that involves building and operating a railway company, acquiring goods and resources to transport and deliver to various cities.

  5. Russian Railroads - A game set in Imperial Russia where players manage a railroad company and strive to become the most powerful and profitable in the land.

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Tina Edmonds Tina Edmonds

Airlines Europe

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Airlines Europe is a strategy board game designed by Alan R. Moon and published by Abacus Spiele. In the game, players compete to become the dominant airline in Europe by buying stock in various airlines and expanding their routes to different cities.

One of the standout features of Airlines Europe is its elegant and easy-to-learn mechanics. The game is very accessible, but still provides plenty of depth and strategic options for more experienced players. The stock system, where players invest in multiple airlines and collect dividends based on their performance, is particularly well-executed.

Another strength of the game is its production values. The game board is beautifully illustrated, and the airplane miniatures and stock certificates add a nice thematic touch.

One potential downside of the game is that it can feel a bit dry and mathematical at times. While there is some player interaction and competition for routes, much of the gameplay revolves around manipulating numbers and managing your finances.

Overall, Airlines Europe is a solid choice for fans of strategy games looking for a well-designed and engaging experience.

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Here are some games that are similar to Airlines Europe:

  1. Ticket to Ride: This is a classic board game where players collect train cards and build railways across North America. Like Airlines Europe, players must make strategic decisions to build routes and score points.

  2. Acquire: This is a classic game of corporate mergers and acquisitions. Players buy and sell stocks in various hotel chains, and try to build the most valuable hotel chain. Like Airlines Europe, players must make strategic decisions about which stocks to buy and when to sell.

  3. TransEuropa: This is a game of building railways across Europe. Players must connect cities by laying down railway tracks, and score points for completing routes. Like Airlines Europe, players must make strategic decisions about which routes to build and how to block their opponents.

  4. Airlines: This is a game of managing your own airline company. Players must buy planes, hire pilots, and schedule flights to various cities around the world. Like Airlines Europe, players must make strategic decisions about which cities to serve and how to maximize their profits.

  5. 18xx: This is a series of complex board games set in the world of railroad business in the 19th century. These games are highly strategic and involve building railway networks, buying and selling stock, and managing finances. Like Airlines Europe, 18xx games require players to make complex strategic decisions to succeed.

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Tina Edmonds Tina Edmonds

Railroad Ink

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Railroad Ink is a roll-and-write game where players draw roads and railway tracks on their individual game boards to connect exits and score points. The game is easy to learn, quick to play, and offers a lot of replayability with different map layouts and expansions.

The core game comes with two sets of dice, one for roads and one for rails, and players take turns rolling them and drawing the corresponding shapes on their boards. The challenge comes from trying to connect exits while also optimizing the use of available space and avoiding dead ends.

Railroad Ink is a great game for both casual and experienced gamers, and it's perfect for playing with friends or family. It's a great gateway game for people new to the roll-and-write genre, and it's also a great game for people who enjoy puzzle-solving and strategy.

Overall, Railroad Ink is a fun and engaging game that offers a lot of replayability and is easy to learn. It's a great addition to any game collection and is highly recommended for anyone looking for a fun, casual game to play.

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Some games similar to Railroad Ink include:

  1. Welcome To...: Like Railroad Ink, this game is a roll-and-write game that challenges players to build the best neighborhood by filling in house numbers on their sheet. It's a bit more complex than Railroad Ink but still offers a similar level of strategic depth.

  2. The Castles of Burgundy: This is a classic euro-style board game where players take turns building their own kingdoms by placing tiles on their board. It's similar to Railroad Ink in that it's a game of building and optimizing, but it's a bit more complex and time-consuming.

  3. Karuba: In this game, players compete to be the first to lead their adventurers through a jungle temple to collect treasure. Players build their own paths on their board by drawing tiles, much like in Railroad Ink. It's a bit simpler than Railroad Ink but still offers a similar level of strategic depth.

  4. Avenue: This is a simple roll-and-write game where players draw a path on their sheet to connect their houses to different attractions in the city. It's a bit less complex than Railroad Ink but still offers a fun and engaging gameplay experience.

  5. Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King: In this game, players take turns building their own kingdoms on their board by placing tiles and scoring points based on various objectives. It's a bit more complex than Railroad Ink but still offers a similar level of strategic depth and replayability.

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Tina Edmonds Tina Edmonds

Power Grid

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Power Grid is a popular economic strategy board game that was first published in 2004. The game, designed by Friedemann Friese, has players competing against each other to become the most successful power company in the game's fictional world.

The gameplay of Power Grid is divided into two phases, the auction phase and the building phase. During the auction phase, players bid on power plants and fuel sources in order to build their power grid. In the building phase, players use their resources to expand their power grid and connect cities, while also managing their money and resources carefully.

Power Grid is a game that requires careful planning and resource management, as players must balance their investments in new power plants and infrastructure with their available cash and resources. The game also incorporates elements of market dynamics, as the price of resources fluctuates based on supply and demand.

Overall, Power Grid is a well-designed and challenging game that rewards strategic thinking and careful planning. Its focus on economic competition and resource management makes it a great choice for fans of other economic strategy games like Settlers of Catan or Puerto Rico.

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Here are some games similar to Power Grid:

  1. Brass: Birmingham - A strategy game where players build industries and develop networks of rail and canals.

  2. Terraforming Mars - A strategy game where players compete to terraform and colonize the red planet, managing resources and building infrastructure.

  3. Great Western Trail - A strategy game where players drive cattle from Texas to Kansas City, using worker placement mechanics to build their herds and improve their ranches.

  4. Concordia - A strategy game where players build a trading empire in ancient Rome, using card-driven mechanics to expand their markets and increase their wealth.

  5. 18XX - A series of economic strategy games where players invest in and operate railroad companies, building routes and competing for profits.

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Tina Edmonds Tina Edmonds

Splendor

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Splendor is a popular board game designed by Marc André and published by Space Cowboys. In the game, players act as merchants trying to acquire gemstones to build their own jewelry business. Splendor is a relatively simple game to learn, but it offers plenty of depth and strategic possibilities.

At the beginning of the game, each player starts with a set of tokens representing various gemstones. These tokens can be used to purchase development cards, which provide various bonuses and points. Each development card has a point value and a gemstone cost, and the first player to reach 15 points wins the game.

One of the great things about Splendor is its streamlined mechanics. Each turn, players can take one of three actions: collect gemstones, purchase a development card, or reserve a development card. The game also has a clever balancing mechanic that limits the number of gemstones a player can hold at any given time, preventing one player from hoarding all the resources.

Overall, Splendor is an excellent game for both casual and competitive players. It's quick to learn, but it offers a lot of depth and replayability. The components are well-made, and the artwork is gorgeous. If you're looking for a fun and engaging board game that can be played in under an hour, Splendor is definitely worth checking out.

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If you enjoy Splendor, you might enjoy these similar games:

  1. Azul: A tile drafting game where players compete to create the most beautiful and intricate patterns on their boards. Like Splendor, it is a game of resource management and careful planning.

  2. Century: Spice Road: A card-based game where players compete to collect and trade various spices. Like Splendor, it involves strategic resource management and building an engine to generate more resources.

  3. Gizmos: A game of invention and discovery where players collect energy marbles to build more complex machines. Like Splendor, it involves managing resources to build more powerful actions and scoring points.

  4. Sagrada: A dice placement game where players compete to create the most beautiful stained-glass windows. Like Splendor, it is a game of careful planning and resource management to complete patterns and score points.

  5. Dominion: A deck-building game where players construct their decks over the course of the game to gain resources, buy new cards, and earn victory points. Like Splendor, it involves strategic planning and resource management to build an efficient engine and outscore your opponents.

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Tina Edmonds Tina Edmonds

Lanterns: The Harvest Festival

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Lanterns: The Harvest Festival is a colorful and strategic tile-laying game designed by Christopher Chung. In the game, players place lantern tiles on a board, trying to match colors and patterns in order to earn points. The game features a unique mechanic where the placement of a tile not only affects the player's own scoring opportunities, but also those of their opponents.

One of the things that makes Lanterns such an enjoyable game is its accessibility. The rules are simple enough for even casual gamers to learn quickly, yet the gameplay is still engaging enough to keep seasoned players interested. The game also features beautiful artwork and high-quality components, which adds to its overall appeal.

Another aspect of Lanterns that I appreciate is the balance between strategy and luck. While luck plays a role in the draw of tiles, players must also carefully consider their placement and the potential scoring opportunities that it may offer. This balance of luck and strategy makes for a fun and engaging game that is enjoyable for players of all skill levels.

Overall, I highly recommend Lanterns: The Harvest Festival for anyone looking for a fun and engaging tile-laying game that is easy to learn but still offers plenty of strategic depth.

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Games similar to Lanterns: The Harvest Festival, which is a tile-laying game with a light strategy element, include:

  1. Carcassonne: A classic tile-laying game where players build a medieval landscape by placing tiles and workers to claim features and score points.

  2. Azul: Like Lanterns, Azul is a tile-laying game where players compete to complete patterns and score points. However, in Azul, players draft tiles from a central pool, rather than placing them from a hand.

  3. Sagrada: A dice-drafting game where players create stained glass windows by placing colored dice onto a grid, trying to complete patterns and score points.

  4. Patchwork: A two-player game where players build a quilt by purchasing and placing differently shaped fabric pieces on a personal board, balancing cost and coverage to score points.

  5. Kingdomino: A tile-laying game where players build a 5x5 grid of domino-like tiles, trying to create contiguous areas of the same terrain type to score points.

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Tina Edmonds Tina Edmonds

Tsuro

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Tsuro is a beautifully designed board game that is simple to learn and quick to play. The objective of the game is to be the last player remaining on the board by creating a path for your game piece while also trying to strategically push other players off the board.

One of the most appealing aspects of Tsuro is its simplicity. Players take turns placing tiles on the board to create a path for their game piece. If a player's piece reaches the end of the path, they win the game. However, players must be careful to avoid colliding with other players or falling off the board themselves.

Another great aspect of Tsuro is the game's stunning artwork. The tiles are beautifully designed, and the game pieces are intricately detailed. The game's overall aesthetic is a wonderful blend of simplicity and elegance.

Tsuro is a great choice for anyone looking for a quick, easy-to-learn game that still offers plenty of strategic depth. Its simplicity also makes it a great choice for families and casual gamers. Highly recommended!

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If you enjoy Tsuro, you might also like:

  1. Takenoko - a game of strategy and luck where players cultivate a bamboo garden and move the panda to eat bamboo.

  2. Azul - a tile-laying game where players take turns drafting and placing tiles to complete their own beautiful mosaics.

  3. Lanterns: The Harvest Festival - a game where players place tiles to decorate a lake with floating lanterns, earning honor for dedication and creativity.

  4. Carcassonne - a classic tile-laying game where players build cities, roads, and farms in medieval France, competing for the most points.

  5. Ticket to Ride - a game where players collect train cards and lay tracks across North America to complete their train routes and connect cities.

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Tina Edmonds Tina Edmonds

Alhambra

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Alhambra is a board game designed by Dirk Henn that takes place in medieval Spain. Players are tasked with building the best Alhambra, a fortress palace, by acquiring tiles representing different types of buildings and using them to construct their own personal Alhambra. The game is won by having the most victory points at the end, which are earned by completing certain objectives and having the most of each type of building.

One of the things I really enjoy about Alhambra is its simplicity. It’s very easy to teach and understand, making it accessible to both casual and hardcore gamers. The gameplay is also very engaging, with each turn presenting players with a variety of strategic options. There are different ways to approach building your Alhambra and earning victory points, so it’s always interesting to see how different players choose to play.

Another thing I appreciate about Alhambra is its replayability. The game comes with a variety of different modules that can be added to increase the complexity and variability of the game. This means that even after many plays, there are always new ways to play and different strategies to try out.

Overall, Alhambra is a great game for anyone who enjoys tile-laying and building games. It strikes a good balance between simplicity and depth, making it an enjoyable game for both casual and hardcore gamers alike.

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Here are some recommendations for games similar to Alhambra:

  1. Carcassonne: Like Alhambra, Carcassonne is a tile-laying game that involves building a landscape. Players place tiles to create cities, roads, and fields, and place their meeples on the board to score points.

  2. Kingdomino: In this game, players build their own kingdoms by placing tiles representing different terrains and types of buildings. Like Alhambra, the game involves strategic placement and resource management.

  3. Ticket to Ride: Although Ticket to Ride is primarily a route-building game, like Alhambra, it involves collecting cards and using them to construct something on the board.

  4. Istanbul: Istanbul is a game of strategy and resource management, where players move around a busy marketplace to collect resources and trade them in for victory points. It shares the modular board and resource management aspects of Alhambra.

  5. Five Tribes: This game involves strategy and resource management as players move and manipulate groups of meeples on a modular board to gain control of different territories. It shares the idea of tile placement and strategy in building an empire, much like Alhambra.

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Tina Edmonds Tina Edmonds

Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King

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Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King is a strategy board game designed for 2-5 players, where each player takes on the role of a Scottish chieftain, competing to build the most profitable kingdom over six rounds. Players bid on tiles to add to their kingdom, with different tiles offering various bonuses and scoring opportunities.

The game is easy to learn but offers a high level of strategic depth. The variable scoring conditions each round and the random assortment of tiles make each game different, providing replayability. The artwork is also impressive, with colorful and detailed tiles that create a visually appealing board.

One downside is that the game can become repetitive after multiple plays. Additionally, the bidding mechanic can be frustrating for players who consistently lose out on tiles they need to complete their strategy.

Overall, Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King is a fun and engaging game that provides a good mix of strategy and luck. Fans of tile-laying games such as Carcassonne and Kingdomino will enjoy this game.

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Some games that are similar to Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to King are:

  1. Carcassonne: Like Isle of Skye, Carcassonne is a tile-laying game where players build their own kingdoms and score points based on the placement of their tiles.

  2. Kingdomino: Another tile-laying game where players build their own kingdoms, Kingdomino is similar to Isle of Skye in that players must carefully consider their tile choices in order to score points.

  3. 7 Wonders: Like Isle of Skye, 7 Wonders is a game where players must carefully balance their resources and make strategic decisions in order to score points.

  4. Splendor: Another game that requires players to balance their resources and make strategic decisions, Splendor is similar to Isle of Skye in that players must carefully manage their resources in order to score points.

  5. Dominion: Like Isle of Skye, Dominion is a game where players build their own kingdoms and must carefully balance their resources in order to score points.

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Tina Edmonds Tina Edmonds

Azul

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Azul is a visually stunning board game with simple rules that can be learned quickly, but has a depth of strategy that will keep players engaged for hours. Players take turns drafting tiles from a central market and placing them on their personal board to create a mosaic pattern. The game has a satisfying tactile element as players pick up and place the chunky, colorful tiles.

The game is beautifully designed with high-quality components, including a sturdy player board and thick, weighty tiles. The rulebook is well-written and easy to understand. The game is suitable for both families and experienced gamers, with enough depth to keep even the most strategic players engaged.

One of the strengths of Azul is the level of player interaction, as players compete for the best tiles and can block each other's moves. This creates a dynamic and engaging experience, where players must constantly adjust their strategy to stay ahead.

Overall, Azul is a fantastic game that looks great on the table, is easy to learn, and provides a deep and engaging gameplay experience. Highly recommended for players of all levels.

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Games similar to Azul include:

  1. Sagrada - A dice-drafting game where players create stained glass windows using colorful dice.

  2. Photosynthesis - A strategy game where players plant and grow trees to collect sunlight and dominate the forest canopy.

  3. Reef - A game where players build coral reefs using colorful reef pieces to score points.

  4. Splendor - A set collection game where players collect and trade gemstones to build their gem collection.

  5. Century: Spice Road - A game where players trade spices to gain points and build a powerful trading empire.

  6. Takenoko - A game where players care for a hungry panda and grow bamboo in a Japanese garden to earn points.

  7. Santorini - A strategy game where players build and climb ancient Greek buildings to outwit their opponents.

  8. Quadropolis - A game where players build a modern city by drafting buildings and placing them on their board to score points.

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Tina Edmonds Tina Edmonds

Kingdomino

TABLE TALK

Kingdomino is a fun and engaging family board game that is easy to learn but offers strategic depth for more experienced players. In the game, players take turns selecting and placing domino-like tiles onto their individual boards, creating a grid of connected landscapes that will score points based on the size and variety of each terrain type.

The game is beautifully designed, with high-quality tiles and colorful artwork that adds to the overall enjoyment of the game. The gameplay is simple and intuitive, making it easy for players of all ages to understand the rules and get started quickly.

One of the most interesting aspects of the game is the way that the tiles are selected and placed. Players must choose between tiles that offer higher-scoring terrain types but lower numbers, or tiles with higher numbers but less valuable terrain types. This creates a nice tension between short-term and long-term goals, and allows players to adapt their strategies as the game progresses.

Overall, King Domino is a fantastic game for families and casual gamers, and is sure to provide hours of fun and entertainment. Its easy-to-learn mechanics and engaging gameplay make it a great choice for players of all ages and skill levels.

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Games similar to King Domino include:

  1. Queendomino: This game is a spin-off of King Domino and is also a tile-laying game. However, it adds more complex gameplay with new mechanics and strategies.

  2. Isle of Skye: In this game, players lay tiles to create their own kingdoms, and earn points based on the tiles they place and how they connect to one another.

  3. Lanterns: The Harvest Festival: This game involves laying tiles to create a beautiful lantern display, and players earn points based on the colors and patterns they create.

  4. Splendor: While not a tile-laying game, Splendor shares similar mechanics with King Domino, as players use resource management and strategic planning to acquire gems and earn points.

  5. Kingdomino Duel: This game is a two-player version of King Domino, with similar gameplay but with added mechanics and strategies for a more challenging experience.

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Tina Edmonds Tina Edmonds

Trouble

TABLE TALK

Trouble is a classic board game that has been enjoyed by families for generations. The game is easy to learn, fun to play, and offers a good mix of luck and strategy.

The game is played on a pop-o-matic dice roller, which adds an element of excitement as players try to roll the number they need to move their pieces around the board. The goal of the game is to be the first player to move all of their pieces from their home space to the finish space.

One of the unique features of Trouble is the ability to "bump" other players' pieces back to their home space, which can be a great strategy for slowing down opponents and gaining an advantage.

Overall, Trouble is a great choice for families or groups of friends looking for a simple and enjoyable board game that can be played in a relatively short amount of time. It's easy to pick up and play, and the random element of the pop-o-matic dice adds an element of excitement to every turn.

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Games similar to Trouble include:

  1. Sorry!: This game has a similar gameplay mechanic, where players move their pieces around the board while trying to knock their opponents back to the start.

  2. Trouble Pop-O-Matic: A newer version of Trouble with a more modern look and feel, but still the same classic gameplay.

  3. Don't Break the Ice: A game where players take turns tapping out blocks of ice, trying to avoid knocking over a penguin figurine.

  4. Pop Up Pirate: In this game, players take turns pushing swords into a barrel, trying to avoid the one spot that will make the pirate pop up.

  5. Ludo: Also known as Parcheesi, this game has players race their pieces around a board, trying to be the first to get all their pieces into their home space.

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