Over the past couple of years I’ve made a point of sifting through the myriad of titles supposedly releasing at Gen Con for that year. The list has taken on a dual nature over that time. Partly this list is to give those who are new to the larger world of tabletop gaming a few titles to focus on to avoid becoming utterly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of titles available to see and/or purchase at the event. Partly I want to continue to give some insight as to the particular aspects of tabletop games that catch my attention – whether that game ends up being an experience I actually enjoy or not. As Gen Con’s release list only seems to get larger with each passing year, with literally hundreds of titles being available for purchase alone this year, there are a few guidelines I use to help me limit myself.
GUIDELINES:
-I go off the Board Game Geek Gen Con Preview list – so if a company has not announced their game on that preview, I don’t list it.
-Almost as a sub-point to the previous guideline – RPGs are all over Gen Con, but I focus only on board games for this list.
-The list is limited to titles actually releasing at the event. Games that are only available for demo and games that can be purchased before Gen Con starts don’t count (pre-orders notwithstanding).
-I don’t put expansions on the list, as folks will generally know whether or not they want to expand a game without me talking about it.
The List (alphabetically by publisher)
Ape Games:
Petrichor – Petrichor has been on my radar for a while. I can honestly say that few themes have made me do a double take quite like “You play as clouds trying to produce the most flowers by raining on fields.” I’m a sucker for a unique experience. While the theme definitely made me look in its direction, the gameplay of this one looks like it won’t disappoint in any way. Using cards to vote about the sort of whether you get to expand your cloud(s), rain on fields, and just generally be about cloud business all sounds interesting – and the beautiful artwork certainly doesn’t hurt.
Arcane Wonders:
Critical Mass – When you tell me you’ve made a game where players are piloting giant mechs into battle for national glory – you have my full attention. Two different options will be available for this game – Patriot Vs. Iron Curtain and Raijin Vs. Archon. Unlike many other mech-based games I’ve played in the past, this is a card game that utilizes a cool player board that is designed to resemble a heads up display one might see in the cockpit of one of these behemoths. Being part of the Dice Tower Essentials line doesn’t hurt either
Bezier Games:
Ultimate Werewolf Legacy – Before I knew much of anything about modern board gaming, I was playing Werewolf, or some derivative thereof. I couldn’t begin to recount all of the different games I’ve played, or name all of the different groups of people I’ve played narrator for. However, the granddaddy of social deduction games has been around for ages, which lead me to realize some of its flaws – like early player elimination and getting into the weeds with too many side characters. I have to say that I’m curious, though, about adding legacy elements that give players and the village itself some character beyond a single play.
Cryptozoic:
Pantone – I first heard about Pantone from news coming out of GAMA. It seemed like a game whose rules were very simple to grasp, but still challenged players to really flex their creative muscles. In short – players get to select color swatches from the Pantone color spectrum for use in creating whatever idea they are given. It’s like Pictionary played in the paint section of Home Depot. It’s hard to get a party style game that has some fun and challenge to more out of the box strategic thinkers, and this looks like it might accomplish that.
Deep Water Games:
Welcome To… – Maybe it’s just because I’ve been listening to Suzanne Sheldon more now than ever since she’s taken up co-hosting responsibilities at the Dice Tower podcast – but I’ve become fascinated by the concept of roll-and-write style games. I don’t have a whole lot of experience with the genre as a whole, though. My only hands-on time with any of them would be Welcome to Dino World and Semifinal Fantasy. So combining my curiosity, a bunch of folks whose opinion I greatly respect loving this, and the fact that it uses cards instead of dice – I need to try this one out.
Eggertspiele:
Coimbra – I’m drawn to games that ride the fine line between fully deterministic decisions and crazy random shenanigans. Coimbra seems to be the newest title that does a good job of downright dancing a Portuguese samba on that line. Investigating this game, it sounds a lot like a familiar market style euro game, but dice are used to determine who has priority to obtain certain goods as well as how much they will cost in order to get that priority. Even the type of dice seem to affect the board state. I really want to kick the tires on this game.
Gamewright:
Forbidden Sky – It started on an island, it moved into the desert, but in the newest of what is apparently a trilogy of games – Gamewright is taking us to the sky. I feel if there’s any game on my watch list that I don’t need to spend too much time on, it’s this. If you played Forbidden Island and Forbidden Desert and enjoyed them, there’s literally no reason why you wouldn’t want to get this one. It looks to follow the same feel of the previous games with simple rules and mechanically pointless but absolutely glorious components.
Lone Shark Games:
Thornwatch – I fell in love with the Eyrewood of Penny Arcade’s Thornwatch from the moment they put out the trial strips on their site. So when they first announced that they were working with Mike Selinker on a hybrid board game RPG in that world featuring Mike Krahulik’s artwork and Jerry Holkins’ writing, consider me signed up. This game has been in development for ages, and I know they were near completion at PAX Unplugged last year. So to see this finally come to market has me intrigued.
Pandasaurus Games:
Nyctophobia – When I started compiling this list, Nyctophobia was an honorable mention, as it was originally listed as demo only. However, they recently switched it to available for sale at Gen Con, and thus it immediately made my list. I’m a fan of one versus many games as a general rule, but this one is a unique experience, as all but one player wears blackout glasses so only the “hunter” player can actually see the board. Never seen anything like it, and I look forward to not seeing it myself.
Portal Games:
Detective – I’ve been a fan of the games that Ignacy and the folks at Portal Games put out since I first read the rules of Robinson Crusoe. First Martians was ambitious with the way they wanted to integrate the app with the game, even if the rules needed a bit more tweaking. So when I heard about a new game where the players are working together to solve a crime and it involves accessing an online database in order to solve puzzles – at the bare minimum I’m interested to see if they can pull it off.
Renegade Games:
Wendake – I definitely want to take a look at Wendake because of the designer/publisher’s care in trying to reflect native tribes. Often this sort of thing is tackled in caricature, but the art, terminology, and overall feel aren’t about that. That alone deserves some attention. However, that doesn’t get a game up on a list from hundreds of titles. I’m curious about the way the board comes together. I’m in love with the look of the components, and the idea that you have to come up with a combination of points track actions to really make the engine hum.
Restoration Games:
Dinosaur Tea Party – This goes up on the list of games Restoration Games is puting out where I’ve never played the original, but I desperately want this game. This is basically a gamer’s version of Guess Who. The original game was called Whosit, and it looks awful – literally. It looks atrocious. However, changing the awkward models with amazing art of a Tyrannosaurus Rex struggling to hold a tiny teacup can do wonders to a gaming experience. I challenge anyone to not have a giggle at this art, and the game looks like light-hearted fun.
Smirk & Dagger / Smirk & Laughter:
Tower of Madness – I sat in a hotel in Morristown, New Jersey with Curt Covert of Smirk & Dagger at Dreamation and asked him, “So, Curt, what does Smirk & Dagger have coming out in the future?” His response was to tell me about Tower of Madness, and as production pictures of the final product have been coming out, he didn’t do it justice. It’s like adding dice and card components to an old game of Kerplunk and throwing in a dash of that expected Smirk & Dagger take-that. Did I mention that the tower stands a foot tall and is covered with otherworldly tentacles?
Before There Were Stars – Storytelling games are a soft spot for me. I’m the one who calls himself a bard after all. Storytelling games can be fickle, though, and need to be played by people who don’t really care about winning or losing so much as enjoying the experience. So a game that tells me it rewards good story moments and is approachable regardless of how good a storyteller they are, I’m in. Add to that a theme of each player creating the creation myth of their people and I’m double-in.
Starling Games:
Everdell – I saw Everdell when it was up on Kickstarter. I saw the three-dimensional board elements, saw the adorable artwork, and the interesting lore. The only reason I didn’t pick it up when it was on Kickstarter was a lack of funds. Some of this might just be a gimmick that dresses up a worker placement game with card play, but it works. I want to kick the tires on this one, and I’m hopeful that if as much care is put to the mechanical interactions in the game as they did with the component quality – this is going to be a good one.
Stonemaier Games:
My Little Scythe – I love Scythe. This is a known quantity. So when I found out that Stonemaier Game was coming out with a simplified version of the game that makes it more approachable while still preserving the feel of the original game makes me giddy. There’s no way I can do it now, but there will definitely be a time when I get this to table so that my son and I can share in one of his daddy’s favorite games. The idea of a cute version of Wojtek the bear getting into a pie fight is an added bonus.
Honorable Mentions:
Whether it didn’t fit the guidelines or I’m only just curious enough about a game to mention it without going into too much depth, here are a few more things you may want to check out.
DC Spyfall – Cryptozoic: Spyfall with DC heroes and villains? Why not?
Tidal Blades: Heroes of the Reef – Druid City Games: If this was for sale, it’d be on my list. DCG can do no wrong in my eyes lately.
Raccoon Tycoon – Forbidden Games: This could very well be an act of artwork making a fine game fantastic. Hard to say from what I’ve seen.
Holding On: The Troubled Life of Billy Kerr – Hub Games: If you are at Gen Con and do not try the demo of this game, you will be missing something.
8Bit Box – Iello: As a guy who grew up in the 8bit world, this is a demo I’d be interested in seeing up close and personal
Battle of the Bards – Junk Spirit Games: I know next to nothing about this one, but come on. Of course I had to at least mention it.
Reef – Next Move Games: Technically an Origins release, not Gen Con. Though definitely interested in this.
Palm Island– Portal Dragon: Curious about the play of this “one handed” game. And the folks at Portal Dragon have been seen around our facebook group.
Monolith Arena – Portal Games: I only know as much as I saw in some pictures Ignacy posted from Dice Tower Con. Definitely interested though.
Arboretum 2nd edition – Renegade Games: Arboretum has been around for a while, but a new edition with art from the incomparable Beth Sobel!
Fireball Island – Restoration Games: This goes without saying.
Scythe: Rise of Fenris – Stonemeier Games: It brings in a cooperative campaign to Scythe. If I mentioned expansions, this’d be on the ist.
Samurai Jack: Back to the Past – Twin City Games: One of my favorite IPs of all time. PLEASE let this be good!