Clans of Caledonia – Andy Matthews
Back in 2017 an indie game was released called Clans of Caledonia, designed by a relatively unknown German designer named Juma Al-JouJou. Who knew that game would go on to become one of the top 100 board games in the world, and inspire loyalty among many? Among that field of promise how could I not want to play it?
Clans of Caledonia is a medium to heavy economic strategy game set in the Scottish Highlands in the 1800s. Players each take on the mantle of one of the famed clans of the time; each with a special ability. Over the course of 5 rounds each player attempts to build up their clan’s wealth by raising cattle and sheep, growing grain, baking bread, and more. Money is particularly tight and you and your opponents will continually be looking for ways to earn just a little more coin.
After my single play my opponents and I all agreed that it’s a very well designed game, with much care and thought put into every aspect. But we also agreed that none of us particularly wanted to play it again as it was just too much squeeze for the juice we got. You not only have to be mindful of money, but you’re also raising (or buying) resources in order to complete contracts, plus you need to pay attention to the unique scoring conditions which take place at the end of each round. All of those things combined meant that for me, I’m glad it’s been played, and now I know I don’t need to get it to the table ever again.
Ease of entry?
★★★☆☆ – There were a few questions
Would I play it again?
★★☆☆☆ – Would play again but would rather play something else
Read more articles from Andy Matthews.
Koinobori – Justin Bell
Koinobori (2024, Devir) didn’t look like much in the box nor during my first read of the rules…until I got to the end-game scoring, where I discovered that Koinobori had some nice teeth to how players needed to navigate its central puzzle.
Players manage a hand of cards that each show 1-3 “koinobori”, fish-shaped kites that must be attached to festival flagpoles to establish majority scoring. On a turn, players must either draw new cards from a market, play cards to one of the festival flagpoles in the shared area of the table, or secretly bury one of their cards to trigger end-game scoring conditions. When a festival flagpole reaches five cards, it is closed; important, because many of the cards in Koinobori feature shenanigans that allow players to move cards from one flagpole to another, or completely cover another card to reduce its ability to factor into end-game scoring. During scoring, each pole scores only the fish color most prevalent in that column. Players reveal their buried cards, then score points based on any cards showing fish that score. But any fish colors that did NOT win a flag majority count as negative points for each player. (Ominously, the end-game score trackers feature a negative scoring area that could reach into the negative 20-point range!)
Strangely, at five players, scoring wasn’t quite as interesting because all six fish colors are used in a six flagpole setup (player count +1 flagpoles are used in each game). I have a feeling Koinobori is better at lower player counts to ensure that at least one of the fish colors doesn’t score…in our game, all six colors scored, so no one dipped into the negatives. Still, we had a lot of fun playing chicken by trying to force opponents to build lower levels of each flagpole, and timing when to bury cards versus grabbing something juicy from the market. This first play ensures that I will keep Koinobori around to see how it scales with player count.
Ease of entry?
★★★★★ – No sweat
Would I play it again?
★★★☆☆ – Wouldn’t suggest it, but would happily play it
Read more articles from Justin Bell.
Disney Villainous Unstoppable! – Justin Bell
At this point in the Meeple Mountain content lifecycle, we know the Disney Villainous games really well. So well that I took the newest iteration, Disney Villainous Unstoppable!, for a spin, and realized while playing that I have now played the original base game, the Target-only semi-streamlined edition Disney Villainous: Introduction to Evil version, and now the very stripped down version of the game, Disney Villainous Unstoppable!. With Unstoppable!, the system has now been stripped right to its core to deliver a very family-friendly (think young children) experience that can be played with four players in under 30 minutes.
Gone are simple matters such as words on each card, or a separate Hero deck that each player tries to keep from the opponents who want to slow them down. On each turn of Unstoppable!, players discard a card to move 1-5 spaces around a shared board that also includes each player’s Realm. The win conditions that used to look really different depending on which villain you picked? Gone, reduced to a very simple process where the first player to reach the number four wins. (The “four” are different based on the villain selected, but the action and process used to “Advance Your Evil Plan” are now the same: stop on a space that has the right icon, burn a card from hand that matches the icon, and spend a few power tokens to advance your win condition one step closer.)
I watched the Watch It Played teach video to prepare, and that video took 14 minutes. Then I taught the game to my nine-year-old son in less than two minutes, and our two-player game was over in 15 minutes. The new game is so fast that I am inclined to say the game is too fast, especially for adult and/or serious gamers looking for more depth. Unstoppable! is absolutely a game that can be played by a six-year-old, especially now that no reading aptitude is required. Like the other Villainous games by Ravensburger, Unstoppable! has excellent miniatures used as “movers”, the art still shines, the box insert is tidy. Unstoppable! is a standalone product, so no other Villainous expansions can be added here. We enjoyed our play, but I think I’ve had my fill of Villainous games for the time being!
Ease of entry?
★★★★★ – No sweat
Would I play it again?
★★★★☆ – Would like to play it again
Read more articles from Justin Bell.
Fight 5 – Kevin Brantley
Fight 5 was a bit of a shadow drop from Chip Theory Games at Gen Con this year. They even hosted an amazing party (complete with an open bar) to showcase their new card game. Chip Theory has always been known for stellar production, and that reputation continues here. This small box release comes from their new sub-studio, Neon Knight Games. Add in design from the famous Dice Throne duo, Aaron Hein and Manny Trembley, and you’ve got yourself a flashy game, my friends!
In layman’s terms, it’s multiplayer War. Players square off in a tug-of-war to win card stacks between them. Each stack card has a value, and players must play one card that exceeds both the stack card and the opponent’s card to claim it. Mixed into the ranges are star cards, which are automatic wins. Ties keep the cards in place, making the pot juicier for the next round. Scoring comes after three rounds of five plays each, or first to 200 points.
It’s simple, and it’s pretty. The PVC card finish and sleek typeface add a premium touch, while the box pops with flashy neon. Production-wise, I wouldn’t expect anything less from Chip Theory. The gameplay, however, isn’t anything groundbreaking, though it can be fun.
The game shines brightest with more players. Neighboring battles and a communal middle battle make the decision space tougher and more interesting. As the player count drops, so does the fun—gameplay boils down to choosing where to win and where to lose.
It would be a great pub game if not for the physical heft packed into such a small box. Sure, you could remove the extra player decks, but even then, the portability is decent.
Overall, it’s fine for non-gamers or as a light nightcap. It’s multiplayer War with no frills—if that sounds enticing, give it a go.
Ease of entry?:
★★★★★ – No sweat
Would I play it again?:
★★☆☆☆ – Would play again but would rather play something else
Read more articles from Kevin Brantley.
Blood on the Clocktower – K. David Ladage
I was introduced to the game Mafia years and years ago. I remember reading an article about the impact this game was having entitled “The Most Important Game You Have Never Heard Of” and was instantly intrigued. I have played that game with various groups using myriad variants and roles. I have been in other games of the ilk, be that the various incarnations of Werewolf or what-have-you. Nothing, and I mean nothing in this genre of games, can hold a candle to Blood on the Clocktower.
Of all the social deduction games I have played, none are as elegant, well designed, interesting, engaging. Every issue I have ever had with this genre is addressed in a logical and beautiful manner. Sure, I had some rules-type questions as we began, but the answers were almost obvious in retrospect. Everything in this game is designed to maximize the interactions, as well as the uncertainty – it is perfect!
Ease of entry?
★★★★★ – No sweat
Would I play it again?
★★★★★ – Will definitely play it again
Read more articles from K. David Ladage.
