Garrett's Games and Geekiness

For our Wednesday episode this week, it's TWO Essen 2024 titles! First up is the trick taker Zero to Hero by Martin Wallace from Wallace Designs then we check out the first of three designs from a new designer Galileo Galilei by Tomas Holek from Pink Troubadour and Capstone Games We have videos for each of these titles up on our YouTube channel which you can find here: www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games! You can support the podcast directly 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

Shelley and I check out another Essen 2024 title for our Sunday show this week Whispering Woods by Cristian Bustos and Bernardo Vasquez from Fractal Juegos then try out a couple of 2023 titles Tangram City by Uwe Rosenberg from Capstone Games and Korea Boardgames and Wild Tiled West by Paul Dennen from Dire Wolf and Lucky Duck Games Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games You can sponsor the podcast directly 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

For our Wednesday podcast Shelley and I scan the skies in the Essen 2024 release Polaris by Simone Luciani and Andrea Mainini from Fractal Juegos then check out two Essen 2023 releases FTW?! by Friedemann Friese from 2F-Spiele and Rio Grande Games World Wonders by Zé Mendes from CMON Global Limited, Arcane Wonders, Super Meeple and Lucky Duck Games Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games You can support 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

Shelley and I check out another Essen 2024 pick up, Ultimatch by Justin and Ann-Marie De Witt from Fireside Games then check out 2018's Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig by Matthew O'Malley and Ben Rosset from Stonemaier Games and Bezier Games and finally enjoy some sweet baked goods in a release from earlier in 2024: Donut Shop by Jeffrey D. Allers from 25th Century Games Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games and remember that you can support the podcast at 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

For our Wednesday podcast we look at two family-friendly domino-style games: Zoomies by Magnus Karlsson from Fireside Games and Ananda by Dirk Barsuhn from Zoch We liked one, and were frustrated with the other... Thanks as always to Bezier Games for their sponsorship! You can sponsor the podcast directly 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 Also, be sure to check out our videos of games we've enjoyed from Essen 2024 (including Zoomies, which should be up shortly) here: https://www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames

For Sunday's podcast this week we play some heavier fare, though two of them are quick to play. First up is an Essen 2024 release Steam Power by Martin Wallace from Wallace Designs Then we head back into storybook land with great art reminiscent of classic kids literature and to the farm with Harvest by Trey Chambers from Keymaster Games And finally we check out an Essen 2023 release that's the heaviest of the three titles this week: Karvi by Torgeir Tjong from Hans im Glück Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games Check out our YouTube videos here: https://www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames You can support the podcast 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

For our Wednesday podcast this week, Shelley and I explore two chicken-themed games! First up is the lighter family-oriented Rooster Chase by Costa from PYTHAGORAS. Then we attempt to group our hen breeds together in Hens by Giampaolo Razzino from Little Rocket Games. Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games You can support 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. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

For our Sunday podcast this week we look at another new Essen 2024 release, a smaller title from earlier in 2024, and then a BIG game from a few years ago: Asian Tigers: A Story of Prosperity by Nuno Bizarro Sentieiro and Paulo Soledade from PYTHAGORAS Alpina by Luc Remond from Helvetiq New Frontiers by Tom Lehmann from Rio Grande Games Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games You can sponsor the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our list of game that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Garrett's Games does TWO podcasts this week! With so many games to discuss, we add a Wednesday show, reviewing one great game and two that won't hit our table again: Stephens by Rola and Costa from Pile Up Games In The Footsteps of Marie Curie by Florian Fay from Sorry We Are French Camargue by Timo Diegel form Abacusspiele Remember to check out our new game reviews on our YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games You can sponsor the podcast directly at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but possibly belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Family-style games hit the table this week as we check out three more Essen 2024 titles: Tivoli by Asger Johansen from Plotmaker Games Tower Up by Frank Crittin, Gregoire Largey and Sebastien Pauchon from Monolith Board Games Feiges Huhn! by Ken Gruhl and Quentin Weir from Amigo Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games You can also support 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: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Shelley and I check out a small Amigo card game from Spiel 2023, as well as two BRAND NEW Spiel 2024 games: Z3bra by Dirk Hanneforth and Uwe Molter from Amigo Floresta by Nuno Santos and Przemek Wojtkowiak from MEBO Games and Arcane Wonders Spectacular by Eilif Svensson and Asmund Svensson from Chilifox Check out our new VIDEO reviews at our YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYn2XqDNGAzjFYQzrkJDZOQ 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 as we finish our stay in Essen, we look at a re-release, as well as a recent fun play First up is Kreta or Sardegna by Stefan Dorra the former title released by Goldsieber in 2005, and now re-released as the latter title from Playte then we try to get shoppers to our stores over our rail networks, all while avoiding Godzilla in Shinjuku by Gary Kacmarcik from Studio Supernova

Shelley and I check out a couple of card games that are readily available at Essen this week, then have some fun with an Essen 2023 release as well. First up is Seers Catalog by Taylor Reiner from Bezier Games (they're located in Hall 2) then we check out a new 2-player title Chu Han by Tom Lehmann from Matagot, Frosted Games, and Grail Games (Matagot can be found in Hall 3) and one of 2023's family-friendly releases Havalandi by Reiner Knizia from Edition Spielewiese (Hall 6) and Pegasus Spiele (Hall 3) Thanks to Bezier Games for their sponsorship. You can support 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: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

This week Shelley and I discuss another Bezier Games trick taking title Sandbag by Ted Alspach then delve into Halls 4, 5 & 6 to see what we will check out at Essen in early October! Here are the BGG links to the games we are "Interested" in checking out: https://boardgamegeek.com/geekpreview/68/spiel-essen-24-preview?priority=2 https://boardgamegeek.com/geekpreview/68/spiel-essen-24-preview?sharekey=ckpiaTIxS3lYN0F6M2wwM2pMY2hFQT09&priority=1,2,3&sort=priority&viewstyle=thumbs

Shelley and I check out highlights from Halls 2 & 3 of Essen this week, but first we check out one of Bezier Games' latest Xylotar by Christopher Wray Here are two different links to check out the Essen titles we are most interested in: https://boardgamegeek.com/geekpreview/68/spiel-essen-24-preview?priority=2 https://boardgamegeek.com/geekpreview/68/spiel-essen-24-preview?sharekey=ckpiaTIxS3lYN0F6M2wwM2pMY2hFQT09&priority=1,2,3&sort=priority&viewstyle=thumbs

Shelley and I check out Tom Lehmann's latest Rio Grande 2-player Winter Court and then you guys get to enjoy Tom, Matt, Joe and the gang contineu our conversations from Night 1 of Meeplefest 2024 Thanks as always to Bezier Games for their support. You can sponsor the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive (and growing) list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, so belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Yes, it's Meeplefest time once again, and the roundtable of luminaries is topped off with three designers: Matt Leacock, fresh from his KedJ win for Daybreak/eMission where he went up against HIMSELF with Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West and known for such titles as Pandemic and Forbidden Island Tom Lehmann, known for the classic Race for the Galaxy, and with new titles such as Winter Court and Chu Han and Joe Huber, lover of trick takers and designer of such titles as Caravan, Blue Skies, and Burger Joint. We spend some time talking about Matt's win, as well as design choices & the creative spark. And here's that Auden quote which Tom sent to me after the podcast: In his preface to The Collected Poetry of W. H. Auden (1945) he wrote: In the eyes of every author, I fancy, his past work falls into four classes. First, the pure rubbish which he regrets ever having conceived; second–for him the most painful– the good ideas which his incompetence or impatience prevented from coming to much (The Orators seems to me such a case of the fair notion fatally injured); third, the pieces he had nothing against except their lack of importance; these must inevitably form the bulk of any collection since, were he to limit it to the fourth class alone, to those poems for which he is honestly grateful, his volume would be too depressingly slim.

This week Shelley and I enlist companions in the dicefest Glow by Cedrick Chaboussit from Bombyx (a 2021 release) and then check out one of the KedJ Recommended titles Botanicus by Samuele Tabellini Ferrari and Vieri Masseini from Hans im Gluck Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games and their latest GenCon releases: Seers Catalog and Rebel Princess Deluxe Edition Support the podcast directly at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check our 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 check out a great card game Cabanga! by Michael Modler from Amigo then plan a trip to Japan in Let's Go! to Japan by Josh Wood from AEG and Lucky Duck Games Thanks as always to Bezier Games for their support! Check out their new releases Xylotar, Sandbag, Seers Catalog, and Rebel Princess Deluxe Edition! You can also support the podcast directly 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 enjoy a deduction and memory game that's great with non-gamers Trio (also known as NaNa) by Kaya Miyano from Cocktail Games Then we help design a city in India in Chandigarh by Toni Lopez from Ludonova Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games You can also sponsor the podcast 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