Garrett's Games and Geekiness

Shelley and I search for clues into the existence of cryptozoological creatures in  Evidence by Orestis Liontaritis from Pegasus Spiele and Edition Spielwiese then we head back in time to Emperor Hadrian's rule and work to build his famous wall in Britain to keep the Picts at bay in Hadrian's Wall by Bobby Hill from Garphill Games and Renegade Game Design

Designers, podcasters and gamers get on the mics once again for Night 2 of the 2019 Meeplefest Roundtable. Matt Leacock (Pandemic, Pandemic Legacy, Era: Medieval Age, Forbidden Island, Mole Rats in Space, Roll Through the Ages) Susan McKinley Ross (Qwirkle, Color Stix, Qwirkle Cards) Joe Huber (Caravan, Ice Cream, Scream Machine) join Ric Bretschnieder of Fanboy Planet Podcast as well as Shelley, Denis, Anne and me for a free-wheeling discussion of design and the board game marketplace. Other games mentioned: The Taverns of Tiefenthal Heartland and Gunkimono Mondrian The Dice Game King's Breakfast

Shelley and I are traveling through our games this week, heading first to France to bike around the countryside in Postcards by Eric Dubus and Simon Kayne fron Synapses Games then we check out the northern part of our own continent in Photo Tour North America by Oleg Meleshin, Eugene Timashov and Yury Yamshchikov from Timashov Publishing Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games, and check out their web store at www.beziergames.com! You can sponsor this poscast and our video series directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out the extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Now that it's ACTUALLY 2026, we can look ack on 2025 and run through our Top 10 games that we first played in 2025. If you want to go back and listen to our list from the first 1/2 of the year, head here: EPISODE 1000: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1000.1.mp3 Here are our lists, including the Honorable Mentions, as well as the episode and possible video links for each game: Doug's List Honorable Mentions (5) Please Don't Burn This Village by Simon Weinberg from Fireside Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1023.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/XVTUakC54gk Everdell Silverfrost by James and Clarissa Wilson from Starling Games & Tabletop Tycoon Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1010.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/wI5I9rLtOYs Looot by Charles Chevallier and Laurent Escoffier from Gigamic Audio:https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames997.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/Gu971L2ZeAs Draft and Write Records by Bruno Maciel from Inside Up Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames981.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/5EQswvbj5fc Viva Catrina by Fred Boulle and Gregory Grard from The Flying Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1016.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/ldc8TfR3ztk Top 10 Aquaria by Tomas Holek from Delicious Games and Capstone Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1022.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/YuErHyNbVzU Up or Down? by Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling from Capstone Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1022.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/RFNCJRc7c9E Llama Llama by Kaya Miyano from Allplay Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1024.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/OU0o4ywLdFA Bone Wars by Wim Goossens from Game Brewer and Cranio Creations Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames999.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/BLA5KvMhGUI MySeven (or Double Seven) by Michael Schacht from Schmidt Spiele Video: https://youtu.be/qn2cfsPe3Lo Sanctuary by Mathias Wigge from Capstone Games and Feuerland Spiele Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1024.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/UWU6UFP8NEA Meister Makatsu by Reiner Knizia from AMIGO Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1020.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/i4LE8SgJR4w Pondscape by Tomas Holek from Pink Troubadour and Capstone Games Audio: Upcoming Video: Upcoming Orloj: The Prague Astronomical Clock by Abraham Sanchez Hermida & Paloma Pascual from Perro Loko Games & Devir Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1021.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/SsGUQAowwS8 Fromage by Matthew O'Malley & Ben Rosset from Road to Infamy Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames981.mp3 Shelley's List Honorable Mentions (5) Biddle by Carsten Rohlfs & Ralf zur Linde from AMIGO Viva Catrina by Fred Boulle and Gregory Grard from The Flying Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1016.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/ldc8TfR3ztk Up or Down? by Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling from Capstone Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1022.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/RFNCJRc7c9E Flip 7 by Eric Olsen from The Op Games MySeven (Double Seven) by Michael Schacht from Schmidt Spiele Video: https://youtu.be/qn2cfsPe3Lo Top 10 Meister Makatsu by Reiner Knizia from AMIGO Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1020.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/i4LE8SgJR4w Aquaria by Tomas Holek from Delicious Games and Capstone Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1022.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/YuErHyNbVzU Resafa by Vladimir Suchy from Delicious Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames982.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/NnkHwK1PxCc Ofrenda by Orlanda Sa & Andre Santos from Osprey Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1003.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/S5Z31sBTdRk Sanctuary by Mathias Wigge from Capstone Games and Feuerland Spiele Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1024.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/UWU6UFP8NEA Everdell Silverfrost by James and Clarissa Wilson from Starling Games & Tabletop Tycoon Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1010.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/wI5I9rLtOYs Kathmandu by Stefan Feld from Queen Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1009.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/BcCEw7CICLo Fromage by Matthew O'Malley & Ben Rosset from Road to Infamy Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames981.mp3 Pondscape by Tomas Holek from Pink Troubadour and Capstone Games Audio: Upcoming Video: Upcoming Orloj: the Prague Astronomical Clock by Abraham Sanchez Hermida & Paloma Pascual from Perro Loko Games & Devir Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1021.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/SsGUQAowwS8

Episode 1026! This week Shelley and I work with trees, both logging them and becoming stewards of the forest in Forestry by Michal Peichl from Pink Troubadour, Capstone Games, and Pegasus Spiele then we work our media accounts with cute animal photos in Paw Up by Reiner Knizia from Pegasus Spiele Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games! Remember that YOU can sponsor the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR checking out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I work to help young women come to power and influence in the late 19th and early 20th century in Kartini: From Darkness to Light by Sherria Ayuandini from ION Game Design then we head to the British Isles and hang out with the pagans in Druids of Edora by Stefan Feld from Alea and Ravensburger Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games! Remember you can support the podcast and our video series over on YouTube by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

GG&G 1024! This week Shelley and I check out two mini-box games from Allplay Llama Llama by Kaya Miyano  For the Emperor by Whitney Loraine Then check out a bigger game, which is actually the smaller cousin of Ark Nova Sanctuary by Mathias Wigge from Capstone Games and Feuerland Spiele Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games! Remember you can support the podcast and our video series (for which we have editions for each of these games) by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out the extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

GG&G 1023! Shelley and I build gardens and bribe dragons this week in two great family-weight games The Hanging Gardens by Gregory Grard and Matthieu Verdier from Gigamic and Please Don't Burn My Village by Simon Weinberg from Fireside Games Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games! Remember that you can support the podcast by heading over to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out the extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week we bring you a quick review from BGG.con of the building-placement game Dewan by Johannes Goupy and Yoann Levet from Space Cowboys then we build our respective aquariums in Aquaria by Tomas Holek from Delicious Games Remember you can support the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

This week we make a quick correction of our review last week because we missed a rule in Dragonarium by Wei Chang and Kuan Chen from Wonderful World Board Games then we discuss our highlight game from BGG.con Up or Down by Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling from Capstone Games and end with a BIG title from Essen Orloj: The Prague Astronomincal Clock by Paloma Pascual and Abraham Sanchez from Perro Loko Games and Devir Remember to check out our video channel at www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames! You can sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

UPDATE - WE GOT ONE RULE WRONG ON DRAGONARIUM, MAKING THE GAME HARDER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN! We SAID that you were supposed to move your assistant and ONLY place a gem on the FINAL spot where the assistant stopped. THE REAL RULE is that you place a gem on a spot in EACH COLUMN OR ROW you get to as you move. That makes the game less difficult and opens up the chances to gain more dragons, which is a VERY good thing! This week we check out a fun card game, and then preview a very cool puzzle game with dragons! First up is Meister Makatsu by Reiner Knizia from AMIGO where each player had their own deck and you're tryin gto avoid taking points. Then we place domino-style tiles and hope to birth dragons in Dragonarium by Wei Chang and Kuan Chen from Wonderful World Board Games Remember to SUBSCRIBE! You can support the podcast and our video series over on YouTube by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

This week we go exploring! First we head north and take photos of wildlife in Borealis: Arctic Expeditions by Dariusz Mindur from Lucky Duck Games (order the game directly here: https://quack.at/garretts-games-borealis) then we head down into the depths with Captain Nemo and crew in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Alberto Millan from Looping Games You can support the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I build cities and fight to regain our daraven homeland. First we check out the 2-player  Timber Town by Ryan Boucher from Alley Cat Games then we go BIG as we attempt to gain the most prestige as dwarves in Covenant by German Millan from Devir You can also check out our VIDEO overview of Covenant at our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames Sponsor this podcast and our video series by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out the extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on YOUR table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I check out two small-box games that provide a much bigger experience than their boxes might suggest. First up is Allplay's tableau builder released earlier this year Oddland by Dan Schumacher then we check out a brand new Essen 2025 release 1975: White Christmas by Albert Reyes  Remember you can support this podcast and our video series by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out the extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing Remember to SUBSCRIBE!

This week we're coming to you from GERMANY! If you have missed any of our numerous VIDEO posts over on YouTube, be sure to go check them out here: www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames This week on the audio podcast Shelley and I check out two fun titles we got BEFORE the fair because they were the French versions: Viva Catrina by Fred Boulle and Gregory Grard from The Flying Games and  Arigato by Melodye Ladrat and Florian Sirieix from Ludonaute. Check out our videos for each of these on YouTube and you can support the podcast by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out the extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

This week on Garrett's Games Shelley and I check out one of the latest heavier titles from Board&Dice  Tianxia by Antonio Petrelli and Daniele Tascini then we wrap up our hall by hall preview with games from Halls 6 & 7!

This week we continue our Spiel Essen Preview with a look at  March of the Ants: Evolved Edition by Tim Eisner and Ryan Swisher from Weird City Games  then delve further into the halls, checking out Halls 4 & 5! Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games - they will be in Hall 2-B510 at Spiel! You can follow along with our discussion of Essen releases and see my notes on them on this Google Doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J1aQen2zzQVLaOJPr_eh5e3SEo7sbowaflLufYje3YU/edit?usp=sharing REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE: www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames We will be releasing at least 1 video EACH DAY from Essen 2025, so make sure to subscribe so that you don't miss them. You can support the podcast and our video series by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames  OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on OUR shelves, but belong on YOUR table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Shelley and I begin our Essen 2025 Preview this week, first checking out one of the new titles that will be available at the fair: Parks and Potions by Chris Eastridge from Moon Saga Workshop then we begin our journey through the halls, starting with Hall 2, 1/2 of which is dedicated to "Expert" titles, then head into the biggest hall, Hall 3. Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games! You can follow along with our discussion of Essen releases and see my notes on them on this Google Doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J1aQen2zzQVLaOJPr_eh5e3SEo7sbowaflLufYje3YU/edit?usp=sharing REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE: www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames We will be releasing at least 1 video EACH DAY from Essen 2025, so make sure to subscribe so that you don't miss them. You can support the podcast and our video series by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames  OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on OUR shelves, but belong on YOUR table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I control rival pirate ships in  Nassau by Stefan Feld from Queen Games Join head into the Lord of the Rings mythos and attempt to fulfill goals while protecting the One Ring in The Fellowship of the Ring Trick Taking Game by Bryan Bornmueller from Office Dog and finally enjoy further plays of the Essen 2024 release Spectacular by Eilif Svensson and Asmund Svensson from Chilifox Games Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games! Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel which you can find here: www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames  because we will reporting DAILY from Spiel Essen 2025! You can support our endeavors by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames  OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on YOUR table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I get into the WAY BACK machine and play a couple of titles from the beginnings of our gaming careers Alhambra and Atlantic Star both by Dirk Henn from Queen Games and then look back at one from Spiel Essen 2024 Stephens by Rola and Costa from Pile Up Games and Capstone Games And the other games we mentioned as highlights from last year's Essen 2024: Atlantis Exodus Zero to Hero Steam Power Resafa Sparks Tivoli Bone Wars Galileo Galilei Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel so you're ready for all of our Essen 2025 videos: www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames Thanks to Bezier Games for their continued support You can sponsor the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on YOUR table here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing