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A Race for the Galaxy Spin-off, Terraform Mars through Colonies and brave the Expanse: but it’s not all sci-fi this week.
The Race for the Galaxy Universe Expands
Given that Race for the Galaxy is about expanding an empire, it’s on theme for the setting to be expanded into another new game. Designer Tom Lehmann has unveiled New Frontiers, a game with an even bigger nod to Puerto Rico than Race. If that sounds a weird thing to say, Lehmann has been upfront about how Puerto Rico influenced New Frontiers, even getting the approval of Rico man Andreas Seyfarth before the internet moans.
So, New Frontiers sees you building a space empire with the action selection mechanic of PR and the world / IP of Race, but we’re promised that the game is so much more than these parts, is simpler than Race and takes an hour for a maximum of five people. Like Puerto Rico the main game is 3 players or more, but there’s a two player variant included in the base box. An autumn release looks likely.
Key Flow: Sort of Keyflower
The team behind Keyflower are being very specific about their card game Key Flow. We’ll let them speak: “When you see a game called 'XYZ: The Card Game', people generally expect a smaller version of the game XYZ, both in terms of gameplay depth and material,” co-designer Sebastian Bleasdale explained, “As Key Flow is a game with comparable stature to Keyflower, we decided that calling it 'Keyflower: The Card Game' wouldn't be right and gave it a name of its own.”
Good? Good. In which case Key Flow is Keyflower the card game, which sees you drafting cards, upgrading buildings, producing goods, sending people to your rival’s villages if you want, and generally doing the Keyflower stuff in half the time. It’ll be out at Essen.
Imhotep: The Duel
Speaking of old IP being streamlined, Phil Walker Harding’s Imhotep is getting a two player spin off. It’s still set in Egypt, and Imhotep: The Duel sees Nefertiti and Akhenaten (aka you and a friend) competing with each other to marshal resources and build four monuments so you won’t be forgotten by history. There will be boats, there will be tile laying, everyone is assuming there will be a quicker play time, and PWH is excited that Kosmos are making it the latest addition to their range: “The Kosmos two player line was a big part of getting into modern games for me, so I’m chuffed to be a part of it.”
Mansions of Madness Expands onto Transport
Mansions of Madness’ Horrific Journeys expansion is all about terrible transport incidents, and we don’t mean the state of railways in Britain. You’ll get three scenarios with one set on a train, one an airship and the other a boat, with new data for the app, new tiles for the board and new investigators to send insane. Given that one of Cthulhu gaming’s legendary scenarios was Horror on the Orient Express, this is fertile ground. As well as the above, one scenario introduces agenda cards which can turn you against your fellow players without the need to go crazy. It should be out in time for Christmas.
The Expanse RPG is finally coming
The Expanse novels and TV series began life as a role paying game run by one of the writers, and Green Ronin had previously announced a dedicated RPG devoted to the IP. Now a year later we have word the game will be Kickstarted very soon. It uses GR’s Adventure Game Engine, and while there is an industry veteran working on the design, The Expanse’s James Corey has been involved too… although as James Corey is actually two people, we’re not sure which or both? Keep your eyes peeled for this July launch.
Terraforming Mars Also Expands
It’s not just Race for the Galaxy which is spreading out into space. Terraforming Mars is getting an expansion which takes your eyes off the red planet and directs you into the rest of the solar system to find the resources for your world changing mission. ‘The Colonies’ has you building, well, colonies. You need the base game as it is an expansion, but comes with new corporations, project cards and the colony tiles. This lands on a not so distant world in October.
What The Captain Did Next
The Captain is Dead is a frenetic, co-op that usually ends in death… except what if you didn’t die and ended up captured by aliens? Imagine no longer, as there’s a new entry in the franchise called The Captain is Dead: Lockdown, and you’re trying to escape imprisonment by alien forces. Break out, hack systems, avoid alien patrols and shout loudly at the game in the best traditions of the series.
Dominations
Dominations is actually Domino-Nations, as the main mechanic in this civilisation building game is careful placement of dominoes as you try and advance the knowledge and skills of your nation. While Civ-type players used to maps and troops have been sceptical online, this game majors in developing aspects of a civilisation rather than amassing a horde and charging. Its triangular dominoes are intriguing visually as well as the foundation of evolving six aspects of society like science, art, and government. It’s on Kickstarter and has been funded.
Concordia Venus: Small Glimpse
Eagle eyed Boardgamegeek scribes spotted some news on the Concordia: Venus expansion by Brettspielbox and provided some translation: Four or six players divide into teams which sit opposite each other, and while you still play actions cards like the original game, when you play one your team member immediately does the action too. Warehouses are separate, but you are trying to work together.
Cool Runnings is the summer game we need right now
Ravensburger is performing necromancy on Witty Editions’ Ice3 and is releasing it (maybe modified) as Cool Runnings this month. Why should this interest you? Well, the game involves real ice cubes… Here’s the company blurb: “The winner is whoever brings their ice to the finish line first — or whoever still has an ice character in play while everyone else has melted away. During the game — which is played on a modular, waterproof game board — players will attack one another with a pinch of salt, a water bath, or a simple hands-on approach in which your own heat can damage someone's character. If the defending player can play the same attack card as you, though, the attack bounces back on you!” To play you need the game and a freezer. Currently we all need that.
Snowdonia on Kickstarter
If you’ve ever fancied blasting through a mountain as you build a railway track, then Snowdonia is for you. Billing itself as a "lighter but interesting worker placement game", it’s been out since 2012 and is now Kickstarting a deluxe set. Not only will the 2018 Snowdonia give you the game and upgraded components, the big box will include everything released for the game in the last six years plus even more. At moment of writing, one person has pledged $2,500 to go on holiday in Snowdonia with the designer (and it’s smashed it’s funding goal.)