Continuing the quick reviews of 9 games per month series. These will be smaller or children games that don't need a big review or games that I only played once and I cannot give a final review yet, but I would still like to share my initial thoughts on.

 

Alubari: A Nice Cup of Tea

Published: 2019
Players: 1-5
Playing Time: 45-120 Mins
Publisher: Studio H
Mechanisms: Contracts, Turn Order: Claim Action, Worker Placement
Sleeves: 56x87mm

Gameplay & Replayability: 9/10

This game is tight. Every action is important. Every chai gives you a massive boost… when to spend it?? One of the best worker placement games that I definitely plan to play more if given the chance.

Art & Graphic Design & Theme:

Collecting tea and building tracks to deliver it to the big city is just enough deviation from the standard euro themes that I give this game an extra point. It's not that I will ever remember the names of the Indian cities, but it's a fresh air from the standard European map.

There were only a few times that we had to check the rulebook but otherwise the graphic design is perfect.

 

Crash Octopus

Published: 2021
Players: 1-5
Playing Time: 00-30 Mins
Publisher: Itten
Mechanisms: Dice Rolling, Flicking, Push Your Luck

Gameplay & Replayability: 6/10

This is a fun game that will cause your group to scream and shout. Flicking items around the map trying to hit your boat but not throw other items overboard is fun. It's not really important who wins.. rather can you stop the player in the lead? It's not a game that I'm really looking to play a lot because the main mechanisms are not in my alley.. but I wouldn't mind playing it once a year for the back stabby gameplay.

Art & Graphic Design & Theme:

The whole production is very well done and different shape of items make it a fun stacking game. Avoiding and hidding from the cute octopus will bring laughter to the table.

 

Doodle City

Published: 2014
Players: 1-6
Playing Time: 30 Mins
Publisher: 999 Games
Mechanisms: Dice Rolling, Line Drawing, Network and Route Building, Roll and Write 

Gameplay & Replayability: 5/10

Rolling dice and drawing straight or curved lines around the city map is not a very fun activity in my book. This is an OK game to fill a bit of time. It's quick enough that I don't mind playing once or twice a year but not really looking forward to the activity.

Art & Graphic Design & Theme:

I don't like the art … but at least everything is very clearly visible on the paper sheets.

 

Fliptown

Published: 2023
Players: 1-4
Playing Time: 30-45 Mins
Publisher: Write Stuff Games
Mechanisms: End Game Bonuses, Roll and Write, Solitaire Game,
Sleeves: 63x88mm

Gameplay & Replayability: 7.5/10

I don't really like Roll & Write games because they usually don't have a goal… just a past time activity.  Then there comes Fliptown that gives you many options each turn and make you feel like you are actually doing stuff. I really enjoy this western, poker, bandido setting and I want to come back to the game frequently.

Art & Graphic Design & Theme:

With collecting the poker hands, shooting the bandids, visiting the town etc.. it really feels like you are in a western setting. The art and graphic desing do a good job of transfering your mind away for 30 minutes.

 

My Lil' Everdell

Published: 2022
Players: 1-4
Playing Time: 30-60 Mins
Publisher: Starling Games
Mechanisms: Dice Rolling, Open Drafting, Worker Placement
Sleeves: 63x88mm

Gameplay & Replayability: 6.5/10

It's a hybrid between a children game and an adult game. It's a long game that asks kids to stay at the table for an hour.. which is a lot to ask from young children. At the same time the turns are fast and they don't have to wait so long. It's a good entry level for kids that don't have antsy pants. Yet still an interesting game for adults as well if you take a handicap as suggested in the rules.  

Art & Graphic Design & Theme:

The game is beautiful as all the Everdell games. Animals and buildings and tokens.. everything has an amazing table presence. Which fits the theme of cute animals building their village.

 

Nimalia

Published: 2023
Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 25-30 Mins
Publisher: La Boite de Jeu
Mechanisms: Closed Drafting, Grid Coverage, Simultaneous Action Selection, Tile Placement

 

Gameplay & Replayability: 6/10

Tile laying is not the top of the mechanisms in my book and add to this a draft where you will mostly get back bad tiles... should be a no, no! But it's a surprisingly nice game. It's quick and I don't mind playing it once in a while.

Art & Graphic Design & Theme:

The graphic desing and art are great. With all the placing around of tiles, under, over,.. everything is very clear. Theme doesn't really fit the mechanisms, still it's a relaxing nature game.

 

Oceanos

Published: 2016
Players: 2-5
Playing Time: 30-45 Mins
Publisher: IELLO
Mechanisms: Open Drafting, Set Collection, Simultaneous Action Selection
Sleeves: 54x80mm

Gameplay & Replayability: 7.5/10

Drafting cards to set up the best sets of fishes, treasures and crystals that allow you to earn points, crazy points and leveling your submarine (in that order) give this game plenty of options to choose from. It's a quick game that should be played frequently as it offers plenty of fun.

Art & Graphic Design & Theme:

This game takes you to an cartoonish underwater world with friendly fishes and treasures. Also player's submarines are lovely. Theme is pressing in from all the leaky holes..

 

Planet

Published: 2018
Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 30-45 Mins
Publisher: Blue Orange
Mechanisms: Open Drafting, Tile Placement
Sleeves: 63x88mm

Gameplay & Replayability: 7/10

Tile laying done differently. Players will end up with a dodecahedron (you are welcome for a new word in your dictionary) full of colored tiles that will look kind of a planet. A very interesting twist to the game that actually pushes it over the competition of simple tile laying games where players try to match different the goals each turn.

Art & Graphic Design & Theme:

The fact that players are building a 3D shaped planet is a gimmick but it also feels really good. Great mix of theme and mechanisms.

 

Wyrmspan

Published: 2024
Players: 1-4
Playing Time: 90 Mins
Publisher: Stonemaier Games
Mechanisms: End Game Bonuses, Hand Management, Open Drafting, Solitaire Game
Sleeves: 57x57mm, 57,5x89mm

Gameplay & Replayability: 7/10

Excavating caves, searching for dragons and providing them a place to stay is fun. There is a lot of options and combos in this game.
Same as Wingspan, this game is good… but at the same time the whole product doesn't push the right buttons for to keep me coming back for more. I would rarely decline a play of this game, but I'm not the one who will ask the group to play it.

Art & Graphic Design & Theme:

Visually very appealing product that lets you immerse into a world of dragons.