[Ryan] Every once in a while, my 4-year-old Tobias expresses interest in some of my games, and we try something that maybe stretches him a little more. This month it was Foundations of Rome! It actually went really well which is a testament to the elegance of the simple ruleset, and it certainly didn’t hurt to have such an impressive “toy factor” with the presentation. The price tag of Foundations of Rome probably isn’t one I’d recommend to most people, but fortunately, Foundations of Metropolis now allows more people to experience this great design at a more accessible price.

[Daniel] This was my first time getting to try Clank! Catacombs! I had previously owned Clank! In Space!, but was interested to see if the changes in this one would change my opinion about the Clank! system. Oh boy did it! The exploration mechanic that gets added by drawing tiles and deciding how to place them is so much fun. I love watching the winding paths unfold throughout the game, and this is all added upon the solid Clank! system that so many people love. This has turned into a must own for me!

[Ryan] Arcs is a wild wild game… Everything feels so challenging and high stakes, but the system gives you so much room to find creative plays and jockey for points each round. The base game (plus Leaders & Lore) is impressive in and of itself, but I am excited to try the Blighted Reach expansion this year to see just how far this design can push its limits. It’s a game some people will absolutely hate, but at this point I remain fascinated and intrigued to keep getting it to the table.

[Daniel] It has been a hot minute since I got a game of Cthulhu: Death May Die to the table. I love how in every game, you combine the scenario and ancient one to create a unique combination that feels different. This system makes expanding the game super enticing! We had a fun play (despite a pretty crucial rules mistake on my part… I hate when that happens!). I am already starting to have my eye on getting Season 2 in the near future!

[Ryan] Finally got Wonderland’s War played again! It feels like a “greatest hits” of modern mechanisms: card drafting, bag building, area control, push your luck, variable player powers, etc. etc… But it actually plays quite smoothly once you get the hang of it, and is just a lot of pure fun. I tried the Jabberwock for the first time, who had some interesting abilities around reserving cards with poison chips (that go into other players’ bags) and other effects that harm other players. Alas, we all got crushed by the Queen of Hearts who made great use of her Royal Temper ability, which allowed her to steal a VP from the current leader on the victory track when an Axe chip is drawn. No doubt it’s a game that looks great on the table!