| Publisher |
Game |
 2F-Spiele
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Fiji
Publisher: 2F-Spiele
Designer: Friedemann Friese
Players: 3-5
Ages: 10 and up
Price: 15.00 €
Here is a description of the game from Spielbox:
Those who carefully pored over the new releases list that was made available at least year's Essen fair will have found the first hints of several new Nurnberg games as well, including the latest Friedemann Friese game: Fiji.
Dutch gamers have had a chance to play a prototype of the game over the last few weeks, and apparently had a lot of fun with it. Fiji is a 'super auction game' in which the players offer natives fake pearls in exchange for shrunken heads. The offer is compared with four positions (?) which allow new fake pearls to be obtained. After four rounds of bidding, the amounts of fake pearls that the players own are compared and heads are awarded. After four rounds, the game is over and the player with the most shrunken heads crowned the winner.
Another prototype was also played in the Netherlands: a game set in the fantastic green game world of Fee Fabula. Perhaps Fridemann's upcoming Essen release? |
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 Abacusspiele
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 Anno Domini - Gesundheit und Ernährung (Anno Domini - Health and Nutrition)
Publisher: Abacusspiele / Fata Morgana
Designers: Urs Hostettler and Konrad Bochennek
Players: 2-8
Ages: 10 and up
Playing Time: 30 Minutes
Price: 12.99 €
Here is a description of the game from Spielbox:
| Gesundheit & Ernahrung (Health and Nutrition) is the somewhat unwieldy title of the 17th game of the Anno Domini series. Once again, it’s all about arranging decidedly unusual facts and events into their proper chronological order. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |
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BANG! Deluxe (Working Title)
Abacusspiele is publishing a German version of BANG! Deluxe (daVinci Games).
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 California
Publisher: Abacusspiele
Designer: Michael Schacht
Artists: Michael Schacht and Hans-Jörg Brehm
Players: 2-5
Ages: 8 and up
Playing Time: 60 Minutes
Rules Languages: German, English, French and Italian
Release Date: Released
This game will come in the Abacus flat box (the same as China).
Here is a description of the game from the back of the box (courtesy of Andrea "Liga" Ligabue):
Who doesn't dream of owning a large Mansion in the sun-drenched hills of California? But before you can furnish the house according to your wishes the interior must be renovated. Just as you have completed furnishing the first rooms you curious neighbors begin to drop by, some bearing housewarming gifts. A good thing too ... because victory will go to the one with the most beautifully renovated house and the largest collection of gifts.
Components: 7 boards with buildings, 88 tiles, 11 bonus cards, 6 guests, 30 gifts, 5 loan markers, 50 coins, 1 bag, 1 rule booklet |
Here is a description of the game from Michele "Favar" Mura of The Goblins' Lair:
Players have inherited a small amount of money and a house on the sunny hills of California. Unluckily the house is in a very bad condition. It will be to the players make it habitable again: renewing the rooms with the most exclusive furniture. Better and more friendly will be the house, more neighbours will come bringing presents and friendship.
During the game the players could take money from the bank or buy tiles from the shops to place in the house. Before furnishing a room and welcoming people they have to renovate the room. Bonus cards could be gained being the first to furnish the rooms with particular combination of objects. It will be always possible to get loans ...
At the end of the game (the 12th day) every player will score points for every present, every bonus card and every piece of furniture that he/she has. Payed the debts the player with the most victory points will be the winner. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box and the Pieces |  Some of the Pieces |  Some of the Pieces |  Some of the Pieces |
Links:
California English Rules (in PDF format) at Abacusspiele
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 Figaro
Abacusspiele is publishing a German version of Figaro (daVinci Games).
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 Gloria Mundi
Abacusspiele is publishing a German version of Gloria Mundi (Rio Grande Games).
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 Jericho
Publisher: Abacusspiele
Designer: Tom Lehmann
Artist: Christof Tisch
Players: 3-5
Ages: 8 and up
Playing Time: 20 Minutes
Rules Languages: German, English, French and Italian
Release Date: Released
This is a card game.
Here is a description of the game from the rules:
| Each player tries to build the longest walls in different colours by playing out wall cards. Using trumpet cards, the players can remove pieces of the walls. During scoring, the players with the longest wall in a colour are rewarded with cards from the supply. The cards that end up in the supply are decided by the players themselves. At the end of the game, the player with the most cards is the winner. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Game |  The Cards |
Links:
Jericho Multilingual Rules (in PDF format) at Abacusspiele
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 Maestro Leonardo
Abacusspiele is publishing a German version of Leonardo da Vinci (daVinci Games) to be titled Maestro Leonardo.
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 Nottingham
Publisher: Abacusspiele
Designer: Uwe Rosenberg
Artist: Christof Tisch
Players: 3-7
Ages: 10 and up
Playing Time: 30 Minutes
Rules Languages: German, English, French and Italian
Release Date: Released
This is a card game. The box size for Nottingham will be the same size as Kai Piranja.
Here is a description of the game from back of the box:
The Sheriff of Nottingham is in trouble! His time in power is nearing its end, and he hasn’t quite managed to get enough cash together to buy another year in office. So he sends his Deputies out to collect the overdue taxes and promises to promote the most successful Deputy to the rank of Chief Assistant. Is it any wonder, then, that the Deputies think nothing of occasionally picking their colleagues’ pockets?
Contents: 1 Scoreboard, 8 Playing Pieces, 110 Cards, 1 Rules Insert |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Game |  The Cards |
Links:
Nottingham English Rules (in PDF format) at Abacusspiele
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 Toppo
Abacusspiele is publishing a German version of Toppo (Rio Grande Games).
|
 Adlung Spiele
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 Speed Fußball (Speed Soccer)
Publisher: Adlung Spiele
Designer: Reinhard Staupe
Artist: Jürgen Martens
Players: 2
Ages: 6 and up
Playing Time: 3-5 Minutes
Price: 6.50 €
Release Date: April 2006
Here is a description of the game from Adlung:
| The fastest game in the world now has a soccer edition. With Speed Soccer, our successful game gets a little brother made specially for the World Cup. This edition is meant for soccer fans, because the 6 patterns fit that theme. Two players once again try to get rid of their cards as quickly as possible. Again, the only rule: When playing a card, it has to be higher than the one on the table in at least one category. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |
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 Teamwork Fußball 1 (Teamwork Soccer 1)
Publisher: Adlung Spiele
Designer: Michael Andersch
Artist: Jürgen Martens
Players: 4+
Ages: 10 and up
Playing Time: 10-30 Minutes
Price: 6.50 €
Release Date: April 2006
Here is a description of the game from Adlung:
| After the success of Teamwork, there are now, especially for the World Cup, now there are additional groups of soccer-related phrases: Team Work Soccer 1 and 2. Both games include about 360 phrases, to make sure that soccer fans get their money's worth. The games can be played either on their own or mixed in with other Teamwork sets. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |
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 Teamwork Fußball 2 (Teamwork Soccer 2)
Publisher: Adlung Spiele
Designer: Michael Andersch
Artist: Jürgen Martens
Players: 4+
Ages: 10 and up
Playing Time: 10-30 Minutes
Price: 6.50 €
Release Date: April 2006
Here is a description of the game from Adlung:
| After the success of Teamwork, there are now, especially for the World Cup, now there are additional groups of soccer-related phrases: Team Work Soccer 1 and 2. Both games include about 360 phrases, to make sure that soccer fans get their money's worth. The games can be played either on their own or mixed in with other Teamwork sets. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |
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 Teamwork Urlaub (Teamwork Vacation)
Publisher: Adlung Spiele
Designer: Michael Andersch
Artist: Jürgen Martens
Players: 4+
Ages: 10 and up
Playing Time: 10-30 Minutes
Price: 6.50 €
Release Date: April 2006
Here is a description of the game from Adlung:
| For those who aren't interested in soccer or the World Cup, there's now Teamwork Vacastion. The game includes about 360 phrases and can be played on its own or together with other Teamwork sets. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |
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 Alea
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 Augsburg 1520
Publisher: Alea
Designer: Karsten Hartwig
Players: 2-5
Ages: 12 and up
Playing Time: 25-90 Minutes
Here is a description of the game from Alea:
The game is about Jakob Fugger, who was probably the wealthiest man of his time. "Jakob the Rich", as he was named in his time, owned so much money that he loaned money to a host of counts and kings. Often, they were not able to repay him in cash so they awarded him special privileges, such as trade rights and offices.
2 to 5 players ages 12 and up assume the role of the merchants from Augsburg and try to get what they can - by means of auctions - from the nobility, thus increasing their wealth and particularly their social status.
This is a game by Karsten Hartwig, whose other game "Chinatown" was already published by Alea. It will be the number 3 in the middle sized game box series. The game playing length varies - depending on the number of players - between 25 to 90 minutes. The difficulty level is a 4 on the Alea 1-10 scale (the same as Ra).
Besides the players' tableaus and a game board there are 90 game cards and various game chits. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |
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 Um Ru(h)m und Ehre (For Rum/Renown and Honor)
Publisher: Alea
Designer: Stefan Feld
Players: 2-5
Ages: 9 and up
Playing Time: 60-75 Minutes
Other Language Versions:
English - Rum & Pirates (Rio Grande Games)
This game will be number ten in Alea's big box game series.
Here is a description of the game from Alea:
(The new Alea game is the) relatively simple movement and collection game Um Ru(h)m und Ehre (For Rum/Renown and Honor). The game was designed by Stefan Feld and is for 2-5 players ages 9 and up and plays in 60-75 minutes. On the Alea complexity scale of 1 (simple) to 10 (difficult) this game rates a 2. (Editor's Note: That is the same complexity as Chinatown, Wyatt Earp and Edel, Stein & Reich)
The players take on the roles of freebooters who, back in their pirates' hideout, spend their time with all kinds of competitions - drinking, fighting, etc. All players move the main playing figure, the captain, through the alleys of the village, with the goal of gaining as much rum and renown as possible. The end of each of the five rounds is also marked by a highly variable fight to claim the best sleeping spaces on board the ship (bed or board?). The game is a mixture of tactics, strategy and luck. The die plays an important role in the game, but you still get the feeling of being at the mercy of fate only rarely.
The game contains 76 plastic pirate figures, 9 game board pieces that ensure the board is always different, about 200 tiles and 1 die. |
First Impression by Rick Thornquist (after one playing of a prototype):
Right off the bat - Um Ru(h)m und Ehre is a family game. If you are looking for the next big gamer game from Alea, you won't find it here. What you will find with Um Ru(h)m und Ehre is a set collecting game, in sort of a Ra vein, but without auctions and with a fair amount of dice rolling.
Um Ru(h)m und Ehre is a pirate game. Players play pirates that roam the alleyways of a pirate town descending on the bars, getting into fights, picking up barrels of rum etc. The board depicts the town dotted with destination spaces all connected by alleys.
The main pirate figure starts in the middle of the board. On a player's turn, he can choose an alley for the main pirate to move and places his own pirates in a line down the alley. The destination space at the end determines what you do - go into a bar, have a fight, etc. The object of each type of destination is to get chits that will give you victory points.
Each type of destination give you chits in a different way. Some you just pick up, some you have to roll dice for, some you have to deliver to another location to get the points, some you have to pick up a number of similar ones to score.
Five rounds are played with players taking turns moving the main pirate to different locations and getting chits. At the end of the game the players adds up their victory points from their chits and whoever has the most wins.
As mentioned, this is definitely a family game. There's some strategy, but there's a lot of dice rolling - it's meant so you can have fun and say "Arrr!" a lot. I thought it was pretty good - fun, but perhaps a little long for a family game.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |  The Box Front Wrap |  Prototype |  Prototype Close-up - the pirate minis are final, but they may be different colors |
|
 Amigo
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 A bis Z (A to Z)
Publisher: Amigo
Designer: Reinhard Staupe
Players: 2-5
Ages: 6 and up
Playing Time: 15 Minutes
Price: 6.49 €
Release Date: Released
Here is a description of the game from Amigo:
The start of anything is easy! At least, that’s the case with this game. That “Mouse� starts with M and “Banana� with B, that’s something that little ones will understand very quickly. So then all the kids need is the right cards and they’ll leave the adults in their dust. Never mind learning to read – there’s tons of fun to be found in the alphabet! And for those who’ve figured this game out completely, there are two extra-fast variants included!
Contents: 30 chips, 23 cards, 5 boards, 1 rules insert. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
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 Affentheater (Monkey Business)
Publisher: Amigo
Designer: Stefan Olschewski
Players: 2-5
Ages: 5 and up
Playing Time: 30 Minutes
Price: 7.99 €
Release Date: Released
Here is a description of the game from Amigo:
The wild troupe of monkeys has eaten all the bananas in their vicinity. Now they must find a new crop of bananas. But there are many dangers in the jungle. It’s good when the Monkeys can remember the secret grimaces with which they can send an angry hyena or snake packing. Who will reach the new banana crop first?
Contents: 33 cards, 10 pawns, 2 dice, 1 rules insert. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
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 Bohnkick
Publisher: Amigo
Designer: Uwe Rosenberg
Players: 2 and 4
Ages: 8 and up
Playing Time: 30 Minutes
Here is a description of the game from Amigo:
Even beans love soccer. Garden beans, string beans, coffee beans, they all throw on their kits and just like that they look like real soccer players. Quickly build two sides and the match begins. Just like in real life, here the side who scores the most goals wins.
Contents: 109 cards, 1 rules insert.
How to play Bohnkick:
- The cards are separated according to their backs (blue, yellow and red) and shuffled separately.
- One player gets the yellow cards, the other the blue cards. Both players place their cards in a face-down pile in front of them.
- The red cards are defense cards. They are placed in a pile in the middle of the table.
- Both players draw seven cards from their own piles and four cards from the defense pile and take them into their hands.
- The player cards allow players to dribble, pass or shoot.
- The defense cards allow players to tackle other players, draw fouls or save the ball with the goalie.
- Players take turns. During a player’s turn, he’s in possession of the ball and plays a player card. He then replenishes his hand.
- The other player, who does not have the ball, counters with a defense card and also replenishes his hand.
- When the attacking player wishes to shoot on goal, he must announce where the ball is going: left corner, right corner, top or bottom.
- The defending player must then try to play a card showing the matching part of the goal - then the shot is saved. Otherwise, it’s a goal.
- Once both player piles are exhausted, then the game is over. The side which has scored the most goals wins. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
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 Cincinnati
Publisher: Amigo
Designer: Reinhard Staupe
Players: 3-6
Ages: 10 and up
Playing Time: 45 Minutes
Price: 35.99 €
Release Date: Released
Here is a description of the game from Amigo:
Have you ever been in a Casino? Here, you can practice first and try your luck. In this game, you can bet on one of three tables. But to win big and clean out a table can only be accomplished by the player who rolled the best combination of dice. In addition to cash, players can also win real poker chips good for extra rolls or duels against other players. The richest gambler at the end of the game is the winner.
Contents:
36 cards, 30 dice, 20 poker chips, 18 table cards, 6 dice mats, 6 dice cups, 3 gaming tables, 1 rules insert.
How to play Cincinnati:
- Each player receives 1 dice cup, dice mat, 5 dice, 3 chips and 3 table cards.
- The cards are placed face-down in the middle of the table and the gaming tables placed around them.
- Each game round, 3 cards are revealed and placed onto the gaming tables.
- Then, each player rolls his dice and keeps the result hidden beneath his cup.
- Now, each player must choose with his table cards which table to gamble at.
- Thereafter, the players each have 2 more chances to rolls a combination that is required at the given table. Table A needs 3 of a kind, Table 4 a straight, and Table 5 needs a sum of at least 11.
- Before each roll, the players can choose freely how many dice he wishes to roll – all 5 or fewer.
- After the third try, an extra roll can be bought with a chip.
- When a player wins at a table, he takes the chip, duel or table cards there.
- The players place the money cards in front of themselves, exchange the chip cards for poker chips, and resolve the duel cards by carrying out duels against other players in order to steal their money.
- The game ends after 12 rounds, after which the player with the most money is the winner. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
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 Diabolo
Publisher: Amigo
Designer: Michael Schacht
Players: 3-5
Ages: 8 and up
Playing Time: 30 Minutes
Price: 6.49 €
Release Date: Released
Here is a description of the game from Amigo:
There’s a little Devil in all of us. In this game, you’ll have a hell of a time annoying your opponents with number cards that get them negative points. Because only the player with the most positive points can celebrate as if he’s on cloud nine.
Contents: 80 cards, 1 scoring pad, 1 rules insert.
How to play Diabolo:
- The five heaven / hell cards are placed into the middle of the table, with the trident / harp side facing upwards.
- Each player receives one doubler card and six number cards. The remaining cards are placed as a face-down draw pile into the middle of the table.
- On a player’s turn, he first draws a number card from the pile and takes it into his hand. Then, he plays a card out to match a heaven / hell card colour – either to the left or right of the appropriate card.
- Cards to the right of the heaven / hell cards will count as Angel Points at the end of the game/ cards to the left will count as Devil Points.
- As the cards are added, five rows of numbers are formed on the table. Each row can contain no more than 5 cards, and no side more than 3.
- If a row is filled, then the corresponding heaven / hell card is turned face-down, showing the ‘closed’ sign.
- As soon as two rows are filled, the game is over and points are awarded.
- Each row is checked to see if the Angel or the Devil points are higher. If the Angel points are higher, then the player with the most cards of the matching colour in his hand receives positive points. If it’s the other way around, then that player receives negative points.
- If there is a tie in points between Angel and Devil, then that row is not scored.
- If a player has used his doubler card, then the points are doubled.
- The points are recorded on the scoring pad. Thereafter, another game is played.
- After a pre-determined number of games, the winning player is the player with the most positive points. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
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 Jetzt kommt Jasper (Here Comes Jasper)
Publisher: Amigo
Designer: Heinz Meister
Players: 2-4
Ages: 5 and up
Playing Time: 30 Minutes
Price: 15.99 €
Here is a description of the game from Amigo:
Jasper learns many new things in the bustling seaport that he never knew from his homeland at the South Pole. Jasper is curious and therefore has many questions. Good thing his friend Emma knows the answers to each of this questions. The players play as Jasper and move their figures around the city. Whenever they reach a question mark space, they must answer a question. The first player who has circled the city and has both his figures standing back on the starting space is the winner.
Contents: 36 cards, 36 quiz cards, 8 playing figures, 2 dice, 1 game board, 1 rules insert. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
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 Lauras Stern Kartenspiele zum Ausmalen (Laura’s Star: Card Games to Paint)
Publisher: Amigo
Players: 2-5
Ages: 5 and up
Playing Time: 15 Minutes
Price: 6.49 €
Here is a description of the game from Amigo:
This box contains two games: a quartett game and a trick-taking game called “Mean Harry�. What’s special, though, is that all the cards are ready to be coloured in. Children can create their very own Laura game, after which it’s that much more fun to play!
Contents: 33 trick-taking cards, 33 quartett cards, 6 pencil crayons, 1 rules insert. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
|
 Mampf
Publisher: Amigo
Designer: Michael Schacht
Players: 3-4
Ages: 4 and up
Playing Time: 15 Minutes
Price: 7.99 €
Release Date: Released
Here is a description of the game from Amigo:
It’s feeding time on the farm: Ponies, pigs, ducks and all the other animals are very hungry. Each child takes a feed piece into their hand. Those who are lucky and are the only one to have a certain type of feed in their hand get to attract an animal. The player who uses his feed the best and attracts the most animals is the winner.
Contents: 24 animal discs, 16 feed pieces, 1 rules insert. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
|
 Schnelldenker (Fast Thinkers)
Publisher: Amigo
Designer: Keith Meyers
Players: 3-6
Ages: 12 and up
Playing Time: 30 Minutes
Price: 12.99 €
Release Date: Released
Here is a description of the game from Amigo:
In this game, the players don’t have to answer each question correctly – it can be enough to be the fastest in accumulating points. Points are awarded to the player who is the first who can place his card into the correct space in a row of number cards. The points are recorded and the player who has the most points at the end of the game is the winner.
Contents: 236 question cards, 6 plastic player cards, 4 point cards and 1 rules insert.
How to play Schnelldenker:
- Each player receives a player card. During the game, it’s placed as quickly as possible into the gaps between number cards in a row.
- One player is chosen as moderator. Later, the moderator’s role rotates in a clockwise direction.
- The moderator receives the 4 point cards and opens the box of question cards, placing it in front of himself.
- Each card has a question, with its answer shown below. The answer is always a number.
- At the start of the question round, the moderator pulls out the front question card from the box and places it face-up onto the table. This question card forms the start of the number row.
- Now, the moderator draws the next question card from the box and reads it.
- Players must then immediately decide, as quickly as possible, into which gap in the number row they want to place their player card in order to answer the question.
- With the first question, there are two choices: left or right of the first question card.
- The quickest player to place his number card into the correct gap receives the 1 point card.
- The question card that was just read and guessed is added to the number row.
- Now, the moderator asks a second, third and fourth question. With each answer, the number row grows and the answer more difficult to find.
- After each subsequent question, the moderator gives out the 2, 3 and 4 point cards, respectively.
- After the fourth question, the question round is over and the moderator’s role changes.
- Once each player has been moderator once, the game is over. The player with the most points is the winner. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
|
 Taki
Publisher: Amigo
Designer: Haim Shafir
Players: 2-10
Ages: 6 and up
Playing Time: 20 Minutes
Price: 6.49 €
Release Date: Released
Here is a description of the game from Amigo:
Players take turns playing cards onto a pile in the middle of the table. In the process, the cards played must have either the same colour or symbol as the topmost card in the pile. The object of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards.
Contents: 112 cards, 1 rules insert
How to play Taki:
- All of the cards and shuffled and each player is dealt 8 cards.
- The remaining cards are placed as a face-down draw pile into the middle of the table.
- The topmost card of the draw pile is placed face-up next to the draw pile as the first card in the discard pile.
- On a player’s turn, he must either discard 1 or more cards to the discard pile or draw 1 card from the draw pile.
- A card played onto the discard pile must match either the colour or number of the topmost card in the discard pile.
- The ‘super taki’, ‘color change’ or ‘crazy card’ cards may always be discarded.
- Action cards affect the game: they change the direction of play, allow a player to draw cards, or force someone to skip a turn.
- As soon as one player only has 1 card left in hand, they must call “Taki�.
- If a player forgets to say this, he must draw 4 cards.
- The player who empties his hand first is the winner of the round. The other players all receive negative points.
- The winner of a round has 100 negative points removed from his total.
- After several rounds, the winner is the player with the fewest negative points. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
|
 Um Krone und Kragen
Publisher: Amigo
Designer: Tom Lehmann
Players: 2-5
Ages: 10 and up
Playing Time: 45 Minutes
Price: 12.99 €
Release Date: Released
Here is a description of the game from Amigo:
You want to make a career out of wielding power at Court? Well, to be able to influence the King or his advisers, you’ll need to have lots of persuasiveness and the support of influential members of the court. Persuasiveness is represented by dice in this game. Each round, you roll dice in order to obtain certain character chards which bring you additional dice and special abilities. If you’re the first player to be able to roll with seven dice, you can try to obtain the favour of the King. And at the end, you might be at your goal.
Contents: 60 character chards, 12 dice, 5 summary cards, 1 start player marker, 1 rules insert.
How to play Um Krone Und Kragen:
- The character cards are placed in the middle of the table according to the figure in the rules.
- The start player receives the start player marker and begins a round of dice-rolling.
- On a player’s turn, he may roll multiple times, setting 1 die aside each time, until all the dice are used up.
- Using the resulting dice, the player can claim character cards and place them in front of himself. No player may own more than 1 copy of any given character.
- Each character card allows a player, on his turn, to modify his dice rolls or use additional dice.
- Over the course of the game, with the help of the character cards, players will get ever higher dice results.
- As soon as a player has rolled seven identical dice, then he can request favour from the King or Queen. That initiates the end of the game.
- During the final round of dice-rolling, each player can try one more time to supersede the best dice roll so far and claim the King for himself.
- Finally, the player who has the Queen gets a try. If he can claim the King back, then he’s won. Otherwise, the owner of the King is the winner. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
|
 Wizard - Jubiläumsedition (Wizard - Anniversary Edition)
Publisher: Amigo
Players: 3-6
Ages: 10 and up
Playing Time: 45 Minutes
Price: 5.99 €
Release Date: Released
This is a ten year anniversary edition of Wizard that comes in a metal box (similar last year's 6 Nimmt! - Jubiläumsedition).
Here is a description of the game from Amigo:
| The classic card game is turning 10 years old. Since 1996, this tricky card game has been published by Amigo, and the game still hasn't lost any of its charms. To celebrate the birthday of this successful classic, Amigo is releasing an anniversary edition in a metal box. |
Here is a description of the game from Amigo:
While the famous magic academy at Stonehenge was still in operation, students had to learn this game in order to practice. Over thousands of years, the game became an enjoyable card game in which each player must announce to start how many tricks he will win. Not so simple, unless you have the power to see into the future!
Wizard can also be played online here: www.wizardcards.com |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |
|
 Zahlenraten (Number Guessing)
Publisher: Amigo
Designer: Reinhard Staupe
Players: 2-5
Ages: 6 and up
Playing Time: 15 Minutes
Price: 6.49 €
Release Date: Released
Here is a description of the game from Amigo:
Ladybugs aren’t just good at skate-boarding – they’re also very good at their favourite card game. One, two, three, and just like that with a couple of well-thought-out guesses they’ve surrounded the number needed. Never was a number game so simple and exciting. No mathematics required – just guessing. Here, everyone truly can take part and win!
Contents: 50 cards, 1 rules insert. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
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 Zoo ver-rückt (Crazy Zoo)
Publisher: Amigo
Designer: Grzegorz Rejchtman
Players: 2-6
Ages: 5 and up
Playing Time: 20 Minutes
Price: 7.99 €
Release Date: Released
Here is a description of the game from Amigo:
Crazy things are happening in the city zoo. Here, the animals are in different cages each time the visitors come to see them. One player picks out a specific animal; the others must find it. In the process, animal tiles are revealed and hidden elsewhere. The player who finds the required animal gets a chip. The player with the most chips win.
Contents: 21 animal tiles, 1 game board, 1 rules insert. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
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Angelo Porazzi Games
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 WrestAngel
Publisher: Angelo Porazzi Games
Designer: Angelo Porazzi
Artist: Angelo Porazzi
Players: 2-10
Age: 6 and up
Game Languages: Italian and English
Rules Languages: Italian, English and German
Price: 10.00 €
Release Date: February 2006
Here is a description of the game from Angelo Porazzi Games:
| WRESTANGEL is a fast paced, interactive game up to 5 players with 2 warriors each, up to 10 players with 1 warrior each. All cards have double use: they can be used to Move, Fight, Avoid hits, play Special Actions OR to Pin an opponent down on the ground for the three seconds count. It is up to you to balance them well: it is unuseful to Throw down an opponent if you are not able to Pin it: One, Two… THREE!! |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |  The Game |  Some Cards |  Some Cards |
Links:
WrestAngel at Angelo Porazzi Games
|
 Asmodée
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Die Werwölfe von Düsterwald - Neumond - Ausdehnung n*1 (The Werewolves of the Dark Forest - New Moon - Expansion #1)
Publisher: Asmodée
This is an expansion for Die Werwölfe von Düsterwald (which was published in English as The Werewolves of Millers Hollow). The expansion includes new scenarios including one so 'secret' that the rules are printed in mirror text.
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 Café Games
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Ave Caesar
Café Games is publishing an English version of Ave Caesar (Pro Ludo).
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Ramparts
Café Games is publishing an English version of Spiel der Türme (Pro Ludo) to be titled Ramparts.
|
 CardChess
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Elastico
Publisher: CardChess
Designer: Jeff Widderich
Here is a description of the game from Spielbox:
| Elastico, by Jeff Widderich, includes a game board as well as rubber bands, pegs and small posts. In the basic game, the obejct is to take over regions previously claimed by your opponents. Only then are you allowed to mark these regions with posts. When posts of a different colour are located in a newly-conquered region, they are removed and replaced by the new colour. When the last peg is placed and a player finishes his turn, the board is lifted and the posts fall through. The player with the most posts on the table is the winner. The game will be available in the Spring and is supposed to allow endless game variants. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Game |
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Chaos In Motion Games
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Chaos Arena
Publisher: Chaos In Motion Games
Players: 2
Playing Time: 120 Minutes
Price: 50.00 € (approximately)
Here is a description of the game from Spielbox:
| Chaos Arena was originally announced for Essen, but had to be delayed. Now, the fantasy game, which had previously been released in editions of 50 and 200 copies, is finished. |
Here is a description of the game from the publisher:
Once upon a time, during the second millenium, deep in the underground of the gaming world a new game was introduced ... it became a cult object ... now, 12.5 years later, this unspeakably blasphemous cyclopian horror returns. Forget about your friends, kiss your relationships goodbye:
The disturbed and deranged monks of Chaos in Motion are re-releasing the NEW, REVISED edition of the cult classic "CHAOS ARENA" using the original 1992 artwork - digitally remastered of course. SHUDDER AT globbering heaps of tentacles sucking your enemy's face off! OGLE nude leering daemons and depraved goings-ons! SEE arcane and eldritch Magicks at work!
CHAOS ARENA is a two player fantasy board game of SKILL, CARNAGE and SHEER BLOODY CHAOS where you take on the roll of MAGICK USERS in an all out duel to the death within the DECAYING and DEMON infested walls OF the CHAOS ARENA, floating FIVE THOUSAND FEET in THE fetid air.
As a MAGE you are aided by a WARBAND of MERCENARIES and SLAVES to help you DESTROY YOUR ENEMY!
To win you must simply... KILL THE OTHER WIZARD! |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Game |  The Game |
Links:
Chaos Arena Website
|
 Clementoni
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Fischmarkt (Fishmarket)
Publisher: Clementoni
Here is a description of the game from Die Pöppelkiste:
| With Fischmarkt (Fishmarket), the big box has been abandoned. The new box, which is less than half the size of the old one, contains a game designed by Venice Connection. As the name might indicate, it’s about buying and selling fish. First, the fish have to be caught using fishing boats. Then, they go to market. Many of the fish have variable values – only herring and hummer() have stable prices and always find buyers. The goal is to satisfy the demands of the customers. The player who does this the best gets the most money. After each round, profits are brought to the bank, so that each player has the same starting capital each round. The player with the most gold at the end of the game is the winner. |
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 Schillerstraße - Das Spiel
Publisher: Clementoni
Players: 3-8
Ages: 14 and up
Release Date: March 31, 2006
This game is based on a popular German television game show. From what we understand, the show is a kind of a German version of Who's Line Is It Anyway - an improv show that features audience interaction.
Here is a description of the game from Spiele-Offensive:
Convince your fellow players of the advantages of Italian men. Get a case of beer from somwhere, anywhere. Or get everyone together to practice a Canon. A total of 132 bizarre directorial instructions await the players.
When Uncle Fritz tries his hand at being a sports reporter or sister Lucy puts on her famous cucumber facial, everyone can't help but laugh. Using the director's instructions, each player must improvise a short scene that incorporates all of the directions. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |  The Game |
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 Wetten dass...? (Wanna Bet...?)
Publisher: Clementoni
Players: 2-10
Ages: 12 and up
Release Date: February 10, 2006
This game is based on a popular German television game show.
Here is a description of the game from Spiele-Offensive:
| Excellent, the bet's good! Whether alone or in a team, with the actors, artists, or even "Wanna Bet...?" bet, each player / team has difficult tasks to complete in five different categories in order to reach the betting couch and win the game. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |  The Game |
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Coppenrath Verlag
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 Mein lustiges Magnet - Spielbrett - Buch (My Fun Magnet Boardgame - Book)
Publisher: Coppenrath Verlag
Players: 2-4
Ages: 6 and up
Price: 12.95 €
Here is a description of the game from Spielbox:
| Kai Haferkamp has come up with Mein Lustiges Magnet-Spielbrett-Buch (My Fun Magnet Boardgame-Book). It contains four different game boards dealing with the vacation theme (on the farm, at the sea, in the mountains, in the city). The game figures have small magnets in their bases so that they stay put and don't fall off. The boards are illustrated as 'busy scenes' so that there's lots to talk about over and above the game. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Book (Small Picture) |  A Board (Small Picture) |
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 daVinci Games
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BANG! Deluxe (Working Title)
Publisher: daVinci Games
Release Date: May 2006
Other Language Versions:
English - BANG! Deluxe (Mayfair Games)
German - BANG! Deluxe (Abacusspiele)
Here is a description of the game from daVinci Games:
| BANG! Deluxe (Working Title) is a collection of all of our BANG! titles sold in a very special box, with many surprises.... you will know more later! |
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Figaro
Publisher: daVinci Games
Designer: Reiner Knizia
Players: 2-5
Release Date: May 2006
Other Language Versions:
English - Figaro (Mayfair Games)
German - Figaro (Abacusspiele)
Here is a description of the game from daVinci Games:
| Figaro is a new card game by Reiner Knizia, for 2-5 players. It's set in the world of Viva il Re! / King Me!, but it's got totally different mechanics... but one rule in common! |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front (This may not be the final art) |
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Leonardo da Vinci
Publisher: daVinci Games
Designer: Acchittocca
Players: 2-5
Release Date: May 2006
Other Language Versions:
English - Leonardo da Vinci (Mayfair Games)
German - Maestro Leonardo (Abacusspiele)
Here is a description of the game from daVinci Games:
| Leonardo da Vinci (titled Maestro Leonardo for the German market) is a "gamers' game" for 2-5 players by Acchittocca (a team of Italian game designers). It's a very good game where you need to buy resources and materials to create your brilliant inventions in your laboratories. It's based on a very original - yet simple - auction mechanic. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front (This may not be the final art) |
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 Days of Wonder
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 Cleopatra and the Society of Architects
Publisher: Days of Wonder
Designers: Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc
Players: 3-5
Ages: 8 and up
Playing Time: 60 Minutes
Language Versions:
German - Kleopatra und die Architektenvereinigung
English - Cleopatra and the Society of Architects
French - Cléopâtre et la Société des Architectes
Price: 49.95 US$ or 49.95 €
Release Date - Spring 2006 (Europe), June 2006 (North America)
Cleopatra and the Society of Architects is the next big box game from Days of Wonder.
Here's a description of the game from publisher Days of Wonder:
Designed by Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc, Cleopatra & the Society of Architects is a fun and engaging family game that includes a true, three-dimensional palace that players compete to build. Players strive to become the wealthiest of Cleopatra’s architects by constructing the most magnificent and valuable parts of her palace.
Players, however, will be tempted to deal with shady characters and trade in materials of dubious origins in order to help them build faster. While these corrupt practices might allow an architect to stay a step ahead of the rest, they come with a high price – cursed Corruption Amulets honoring Sobek, the Crocodile-god. When Cleopatra finally strolls into her new palace, at the end of the game, the most corrupt architect (the one with the most amulets) will be seized and offered as a sacrifice to her sacred crocodile! Only then will the wealthiest architect, from among those still alive, be selected and declared the winner of the game.
“The component design in Cleopatra is the most innovative we’ve undertaken to date,� said Days of Wonder CEO, Eric Hautemont. “While it’s still a board game, the dozens of 3D pieces – Column walls, Doorframes, Obelisks, Sphinxes, and Palace Throne – all create the sense that you’re constructing a royal palace.�
“The game play really forces players into continually weighing the risks and rewards between taking enough corruption to enhance your position in the game, but not so much that you are forced out of the game at the end,� said the game’s co-designer, Bruno Cathala. “It’s a classic ‘push your luck’ dilemma that continually raises the tension level higher and higher until the game reaches its climax.� |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front (German Version) |  An Artisan Card |  An Artisans Card |  A Courtesan Card |  An Envoy Card |  A Lapis Card |
Links:
Cleopatra and the Society of Architects Website
|
 Ticket to Ride - Märklin
Publisher: Days of Wonder
Designer: Alan R. Moon
Players: 2-5
Playing Time: 30-45 Minutes
Language Versions:
German - Zug um Zug - Märklin
English - Ticket to Ride - Märklin
French - Les Adventuriers du Rail - Märklin
Price: 39.95 US$ or 34.95 €
Ticket to Ride - Märklin is the third in the award winning Ticket to Ride series of games. As with previous games in the series, this will be a standalone game.
Here's a description of the game from publisher Days of Wonder:
The boardmap for the Märklin Edition is based on a map of Germany and introduces Passengers and Merchandise to the Ticket to Ride gameplay.
Passengers are used to pick up merchandise worth different numbers of points along the routes that they claim. Varying stacks of merchandise tokens with different point values are placed next to the different cities on the map. Players can place one of their 3 Passenger tokens on any city along a route that they claim. On his game turn, the player can choose to then move one of his passengers from the city it currently occupies along any or all of his continuous routes, picking up Merchandise Tokens from each city he moves through. Of course he'll always take the highest remaining tokens. The point total of the tokens is then added to his score.
Other game play changes are the vertical orientation of the German map, and instead of a bonus for longest route, the 10 point bonus card goes to the player who completes the most Destination Tickets.
While boardgamers may not be familiar with the Märklin name, train hobbyists consider it the premier name in the model train world. This German company has been around for over 140 years and is the world's leader in the miniature train hobby. Each train card in this edition will feature a different image (118 in all) of a Märklin model train car or locomotive. To learn more about Märklin we invite you to visit their website at www.marklin.com. To learn of their history as a toy manufacturer visit: http://www.marklin.com/about/. |
Here's a description of the game from designer Alan R. Moon:
Now that I’m free to talk, here are some more details about the game.
1. There are 46 Tickets divided equally into two decks: Long Tickets valued 12-22 and Short Tickets valued 5-11. At the start of the game, each player draws four Tickets in any combination from the two decks or all from one deck. You must keep at least two.
2. Most of the Tickets are for north-south connections, especially the Long Tickets.
3. The west side of the map is mostly generic (non-colored) short routes. The east side of the map is mostly colored long routes. There are 7 space routes in the east.
4. At the start of the game, Berlin receives four Tokens valued 7, 6, 5, 4 at the start. Major cities receive three Tokens valued 4, 3, 2, Big cities receive two Tokens value 3, 2, 1, and Small cities receive one Token value 2 woth 18 points.
5. Each player gets three Passengers. When you Claim a Route, you can place one of your Passengers in either city as long as it doesn’t already contain a Passenger. At anytime later in the game, you can spend your whole turn to move one of your Passengers that is already on the board. You can move the Passenger any number of cities along your own routes, and you pick up one Token in each city you enter. You score a number of points equal to the total of all the Tokens taken. The Passenger is removed once scored, so you have a maximum of three Passenger moves per game.
6. There are two new cards in the deck:
1) There is a 4+ Locomotive. You can draw this like a regular card. You can play it as part of a set to Claim any route 4-7 spaces.
2) There is a Passenger Card. You can draw this like a regular card. When moving a Passenger, you can play any number of Passenger Cards and use one route belonging to an opponent for each card played.
7. There are two very different basic strategies in the game. One, you can take Long Tickets and build long routes on the eastern half of the board (which should especially appeal to the USA fans). Two, you can take Short Tickets and build short routes on the western half of the board where there are more Tokens, and try to make lots of Passenger points. Of course, the winning strategy will probably combine aspects of both of these strategies in most games. |
First Impression by Rick Thornquist (after one playing of a prototype):
This version of the game, in addition to giving us a new map of Germany, gives us a number of new additions to the Ticket to Ride system. The city-to-country tickets that were introduced in the Switzerland map (in Ticket to Ride: The Computer Game) are here as well as a completely new mechanism - passengers and merchandise.
I've only played a prototype of the game once, but I recall finding the passengers and merchandise mechanism very interesting. Making continuous routes to cities with merchandise is a new strategic avenue as well as deciding when and where to move your passengers to grab the best merchandise (and getting them before other players do).
I'm very much looking forward to trying the final version of this game.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box (English Version) |  The Box (French Version) |  The Box (German Version) |  A Black Train Card |  A Black Train Card |  A Black Train Card |  A Blue Train Card |  An Orange Train Card |  A Purple Train Card |  A Red Train Card |  A White Train Card |  A Yellow Train Card |  A Locomotive Card |  A Locomotive Card |  A Special Locomotive Card |  A Passenger Card |  The Train Card Back |  A Destination Ticket Card |  A Destination Ticket Card | A Destination Ticket Card |  A Destination Ticket Card |
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 Drei Magier Spiele
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 Das Geheimnis von Mont Saint Michel (The Secret of Mont Saint Michel)
Publisher: Drei Magier Spiele
Designers: Kappler and Rüttinger
Players: 2-4
Ages: 10 and up
Here is a description of the game from the distributor, Schmidt Spiele:
| Have you heard? Secret messages are recing back and forth across the famous monastery mountain. But which are true? And which are lies? No wonder that mistrust dominates the secret proceedings. Only with intuition and logic can you get on the right track to the secret. And it could all be so easy - after all, the mesages really are hiding within the playing figures. The Secret of Mont Saint Michel: on the search for truth. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
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 Funny Fishing
Publisher: Drei Magier Spiele
Ages: 4 and up
Release Date: March 6, 2006
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
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 Eggertspiele
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 John Silver
Publisher: Eggertspiele
Designer: Martin Schlegel
Artists: Malte Olbertz
Graphic Design: Birgit Stolte
Players: 2-4
Ages: 10 and up
Playing Time: 30 Minutes
Release Date: End of February 2006
This will be the first time at Nuremberg for Eggertspiele. This is the publisher's first card game. The game will be available for advance ordering on February 13, 2006 from the Eggertspiele website.
Here's a description of the game from Spielbox:
| (There) will be a truly new game, John Silver, a card game by Martin Schlegel. Spielbox had a chance to play a prototype of the game at a gaming convention in Sauerland, and it was a lot of fun, by all accounts. John Silver is an "ah, I see" game - you play out a card and wonder who's going to take the trick. And when the trick is taken, it's usually accompanied by "ah, I see". |
Here's a description of the game from Eggertspiele:
Naturally you want to grab most coins. And gladly gives you many apples to your right neighbour. However not from generosity, but because you with John Silver around the corner think must. But even if you worry intensively about coins and apples, you may not lose sight of the letters with the black mark!
With John Silver slips each player into a role as pirate and receives six cards. There are 3 categories: treasure chest, pirate und pirate ship. The players form a row for each card category and player, into which the respective cards are put down. If a row is full, it comes to a judgement. The card with the second highest number is put to the card with the highest number and the secondarylowest card moves to the lowest. The two players, with whose pirates cards lie now, take the cards.
Each apple and each coin bring pluses to you, Cards with the black mark against it points of minus. Deceitful is however the apple: This is passed on to the left neighbour and brings there the points.
John Silver is a tactical game, with which you around the corner think must. 2-4 players must lay their cards out carefully considered. And if it go wrong: At one duration of 30 minutes you make it better with next time. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |  The Box Back |  The John Silver Card |  The Pirate Card |  The Pirate Ship Card |  The Treasure Chest Card |  An Example Card |  An Example Card |
Links:
John Silver Picture
|
 Fantasy Flight Games
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 Battles of the Third Age
Fantasy Flight Games is publishing an English version of Battaglie della Terza Era (Nexus Editrice) to be titled Battles of the Third Age.
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 Warrior Knights
Publisher: Fantasy Flight Games
Original Games Workshop Edition Designer: Derek Carver
Designers: Corey Konieczka, Bruno Faidutti and Pierre Cléquin
Developer: Corey Konieczka
Artists: Francis Tsai, Robert Lazzaretti, John Gravato and Tomasz Jedruszek
Graphic Designers: Andrew Navaro, Brian Schomburg and Scott Nicely
Player: 2-6
Playing Time: 2-4 Hours
This is a new version of Warrior Knights, originally published by Games Workshop in 1985.
Here is a description of the expansion from Fantasy Flight Games:
The Kingdom is in chaos. The King lies dead without an heir, slain by a villainous hand. Will a leader rise up and rally the support of the people, or will the shadow of anarchy spread over the land?
Through the deliberation, it is plain to see that this conflict will not end without bloodshed. With such power at stake, there will be no compromise. Even now, each Baron plots to gain advantage and hires hardened mercenaries to strengthen his forces. Soon the crashing of marching boots and the roar of battle will drown out the negotiations taking place at the Assembly. Fortresses will fall, cities will be razed, and a King will be crowned.
In Warrior Knights, each player takes on the role of one of six powerful Barons vying for control of the Kingdom. Through strategy, politics, and raw force, Barons gain influence over the land.
In this struggle for power, will you lay siege to your opponent's city or try a more perilous assault? Does your strength lie in your military might or in your political power? Will you focus your limited resources on hiring mercenaries, supporting the Church, or gaining the upper hand at the Assembly? The choice is yours in Warrior Knights.
FFG's re-envisioning of the classic game of power and politics has arrived! This re-design of the 1985 Games Workshop classic features new streamlined gameplay, brilliant graphics, and gorgeous components. Warrior Knights is finally available for a new generation of contenders to the throne. For two to six players, playable in two to four hours. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
Links:
Warrior Knights Website at Fantasy Flight Games
Warrior Knights Rules (in PDF format) at Fantasy Flight Games
|
 Gmeiner-Verlag
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 Kreuzverhör (Cross Examination)
Publisher: Gmeiner-Verlag
Designer: Sonja Klein
Artists: Lutz Eberle
Players: 2
Ages: 12 and up
Playing Time: 40 Minutes
Price: 12.90 €
Here is a description of the game from Die Pöppelkiste:
| The game Kreuzverhor (Cross Examination) is a deduction game – one of a relative few in the genre. The game’s object is to find the right combination of criminal, crime scene, crime and tool. To do this, players alternately play out combinations and find out how many of them are correct (but without finding out which ones are correct). They can then play an action card that lets them get additional information. These action cards can be neutralized using defense cards. The first player to deduce the right combination and lay it out wins. The game sounds a little like Mastermind, but with the extra cards that can provide more information. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
|
 Goldsieber
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Der .. verruckte Rauber (The Crazy Robber)
Publisher: Goldsieber
Designer: Manfred Ludwig
Players: 3-6
Ages: 5 and up
Here is a description of the game from Die Pöppelkiste:
| Generally, the Goldsieber games this time around have low age requirements. Another lower-age game is Der .. verruckte Rauber (The Crazy Robber), which is a memory game. A robber figure is placed beneath a plastic cover and gets pushed around the board. Then, the position of the robber mush be determined, which is assisted with cards. One player plays as the leader and can win more, but has to be the one to find the robber. |
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Spin & Trap
Publisher: Goldsieber
Designer: Andrea Mainini
Players: 2
Ages: 7 and up
Here is a description of the game from Die Pöppelkiste:
| A promising looking idea (and set of components) is Spin & Trap. 19 balls are arranged in a hex pattern. Each player has 8 balls in their colour, and 3 green ones are added as well. The first player to get 2 of them is the winner. However, both players can move any ball they want. To do this, there are two ‘tools’ available: they are plastic pieces that are placed over the balls on the board. The smaller of the two grabs 3 balls (in a triangle), while the larger one has seven openings – one in the middle and six around the edges. The middle opening must be placed over a ball of your own colour. Once positioned, the tools can be rotated, moving all of the balls around. If a player manages to arrange it such that a green ball is surrounded by nothing but his own colour, then he can take that green ball from the board. It’s replaced with one of your own colour, which means you have a slight advantage. The first player to get 2 green balls is the winner. |
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Xtreme Limit
Publisher: Goldsieber
Designer: Roberto Fraga
Players: 3-6
Ages: 7 and up
Here is a description of the game from Die Pöppelkiste:
| In Xtreme Limit, the timer’s running. With the help of chips, a player can change the hand. The goal is to have the three hands in the right orientation once the time’s run out. And there’s one extra piece of meanness: If a hand’s on 4 or 8, a player can switch his task card with another’s. |
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Zeparate
Publisher: Goldsieber
Designer: Guido Lap
Players: 2-4
Ages: 5 and up
Here is a description of the game from Die Pöppelkiste:
| Another abstract game is Zeparate. There are sixteen playing pieces (four per colour) on a 7 x 7 grid. In the game, it’s only permitted to push a row one space if that row has at least two pieces of the same colour next to each other. If the group of tiles is split into two, then the smaller group is removed from the board. The winner is the first player to take all of his pieces from the board. |
|
 Hans im Glück
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 Carcassonne - Der Turm (Carcassonne - The Tower)
Publisher: Hans im Glück
Designer: Klaus-Jürgen Wrede
Players: 2-6
Ages: 8 and up
Playing Time: 30-45 Minutes
Other Language Versions:
English - Carcassonne - the Tower (Rio Grande Games)
Price: 12.95 €
Release Date: Released
This is the fourth expansion for Carcassonne.
Here is a description of the expansion from the distributor, Schmidt Spiele:
| Carcassonne keeps on growing - but this time upwards. Because, in addition to 20 new tiles and 30 additional wooden tower pieces, this interesting expansion includes a tower that acts as a tile dispenser. |
Here is a description of the expansion from Rio Grande Games:
Ever upwards in Carcassonne!
In this Carcassonne expansion, players have the opportunity to build upwards! The lords of the region around Carcassonne erect towers to strengthen and promote their power and influence. They employ followers to stand guard on the towers, watching over the land so they can inform their lords of all who travel and move throughout the area.
Players may capture opponents’ followers, holding them in prison. Later, the players may arrange a prisoner exchange, to the advantage of the players involved. Also, a player may arrange to pay ransom for the return of an imprisoned follower.
Fans of Carcassonne will enjoy the new tactical opportunities offered by this expansion.
The expansion also includes a special tower for storing the landscape tiles, giving players a convenient way to draw tiles during the game. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front (German Version) |  The Box Front (English Version) |  The Box |
Links:
Carcassonne - Der Turm (Finnish Version) Picture at Lautapelit.fi
|
 Mauerbauer (Wall Builder)
Publisher: Hans im Glück
Designer: Leo Colovini
Players: 2-4
Ages: 10 and up
Other Language Versions:
English - Masons (Rio Grande Games)
Price: 29.95 €
Here is a description of the game from the distributor, Schmidt Spiele:
| One thing is certain: in the middle ages, the best living was to be found behind the protection of nice thick castle walls and towers. But once they're standing, you can take you time building houses and palaces behind them. And if that goes especially well, the castles grow and merge with each other. To accomplish that, you only need some tactical skill and the right cards. But watch out: You need to sense when the best time to play your cards is in order to score the most points. Mauerbauer, a tense castle-building game about points and palaces. |
Here is a description of the game from Rio Grande Games:
In medieval times, famous masons competed to build the most beautiful and impressive cities. As we can see from what they left behind, they were perfectionists, but each had his own ideas about the best ways to design cities. Stately government buildings stand next to noble palaces with massive walls and guard towers surrounding the city to protect it from its enemies.
In this beautiful game, the players take the rules of these master masons of old. At the beginning of the game, the board is empty, but quickly fills with houses, palaces, towers, and walls. The guild cards help guide the masons in their building and the special dice offer them the materials they need.
Each player decides where to build his houses and palaces. Whenever walls enclose a city, it is scored.
The game will determine which mason makes the best use of his materials and guild cards. But that will not be known until the final scoring, when the final scoring is complete and the players learn which of them has scored the most points to earn the victory as the greatest mason! At least for this game!
Mason - no walls, no power! |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
|
 Thurn und Taxis
Publisher: Hans im Glück
Designers: Karen Seyfarth and Andreas Seyfarth
Players: 2-4
Ages: 10 and up
Other Language Versions:
English - Thurn and Taxis (Rio Grande Games)
Price: 24.95 €
Here is a description of the game from the distributor, Schmidt Spiele:
| A real challenge for strategists: build a new postal stagecoach operation. But what does the best connection look like? Do you plan a short but difficult route, play it safe instead? With the right strategy, this game lets players build routes and stagecoaches, found offices in cities and expand into new countries. All the while making good use of public departments and having a lucky hand when planning new routes. Thurn und Taxis: The mail's here! |
Here is a description of the game from Rio Grande Games:
In 1490, Kaiser Maximilian I awarded Franz von Taxis the contract to deliver mail between the Kaiser’s residences in Innsbruck and Brussels.
He did such a good job, that postal services in the country continue to be connected with the name Thurn and Taxis. With the introduction of postal carriages in the middle of the 17th century, members of the family were raised to Count status and given the hereditary title of Postmaster General. The game begins at this point in history.
Can you emulate the achievements of this family and build a successful postal network? Do you have the talent to connect the right cities to create an effective network and not lose sight of the need to acquire new carriages when they are needed? Plan your moves carefully and watch your opponents’ moves carefully, so you are prepared to respond to them.
The game takes you back in time and gives you challenges that will bring you back to the game over and over. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box (German Version) |  The Box (English Version) |
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 Hasbro
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Duell Poker
Publisher: Hasbro (Parker)
Designer: Reiner Knizia
Players: 2
Here is a description of the game from Spielbox:
| With Duell Poker, Parker has another ace up its sleeve. Reknowned game author Reinier Knizia has developed an exclusive poker variant for Parker for 2 players with lots of changes from the original! Now, the game can also be played in "Play 4", "Stop 3" or "Crazy" variants. |
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Fluch der Karibik DVD Spiel (Pirates of the Caribbean DVD Game)
Publisher: Hasbro (Parker)
| This game takes the suspense and fun of the 2003 blockbuster movie of the same name and uses it to create an exciting board game version of the Caribbean adventure. |
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Monopoly DVD Edition
Publisher: Hasbro (Parker)
Here is a description of the game from Spielbox:
| Who will build the best holiday paradise and claim, as mayor, policeman or surfer the most prestige points for your home away from home? Lots of event cards lead the players via DVD into a new world of Monopoly. |
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Monopoly Express
Publisher: Hasbro (Parker)
Here is a description of the game from Spielbox:
| No time for Monopoly? A thing of the past with Monopoly Express. Now, you can play an entire game of Monopoly in 20 minutes - any time, any place. Just take the new game surface (with recessed areas), the four small houses and 11 dice out of their round packaging and you're ready to go. You roll dice to get streets, houses and hotels - but be careful! If three policeman symbols show up, your round is over and any money you made is forfeit. |
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Monopoly FIFA WM 2006
Publisher: Hasbro (Parker)
Here is a description of the game from Spielbox:
| Parker Brothers is releasing Monopoly - World Cup 2006 Edition. Players can play this all-time favourite with game figures showing strikers or referees, buy up World Cup nations instead of streets and build arenas and stadiums. Of course there are also red and yellow cards. |
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Trivial Pursuit - 1990er
Publisher: Hasbro
|
 Huch & friends
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Der Schlaue Radfahrer (The Smart Cyclist)
Publisher: Huch & friends
Designer: Markus Lahm
Players: 2-6
Ages: 8 and up
Playing Time: 20-60 Minutes
Price: 179.00 €
Here is a description of the game from Spielbox:
| Der Schlaue Radfahrer (The Smart Cyclist) is the name of a traffic learning game by Markus Lahm. On the large board, young players learn the correct way to handle their bicycle in traffic. The game is based on the police's traffic rules and is intended for use in schools. |
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 Gobblet
Publisher: Huch & friends
Designer: Thierry Denoual
Players: 2
Ages: 8 and up
Playing Time: 5-20 Minutes
Price: 29.95 €
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |
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 Gobblet junior
Publisher: Huch & friends
Designer: Thierry Denoual
Players: 2
Ages: 5 and up
Playing Time: 10 Minutes
Price: 24.95 €
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |
|
 Hive
Publisher: Huch & friends
Designer: John Yianni
Players: 2
Ages: 9 and up
Playing Time: 20 Minutes
Price: 19.95 €
This is a new version of Hive, originally published by gen:four.two in 2000.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |
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Logeo profi
Publisher: Huch & friends
Designers: Michel Lyons and Robert Lyons
Players: 1
Ages: 8 and up
Here is a description of the game from Christian Hildenbrand:
| 60 new problems (and of course the 60 solutions on the last pages of the booklet!) - this time with a magnetic map and magnetic tiles
The problems in Logeo profi will be harder than in its predecessor. This time the tiles start to rotate around themselves. |
Here is a description of the game from Spielbox:
| With Logeo Profi, the game Logeo Ratio gets and expansion with 60 new tasks of varying difficulty. Michel and Robert Lyons have added a new dimension to the game: the rotation of playing pieces around themselves. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Book |
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 Mykerinos
Huch & friends is publishing a German version of Mykerinos (Ystari Games).
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 Spuren im Wald (Tracks in the Forest)
Publisher: Huch & friends
Designer: Rita Franz
Players: 2-4
Ages: 5 and up
Playing Time: 30 Minutes
Price: 22.95 €
Here is a description of the game from Spielbox:
| In Spuren im Wald (Tracks in the Forest), players learn the tracks of various animals. Unlike the usual monkeys, lions and elephants, this game by Rita Franz takes players into the mysterious woods. Deer, wild boars, squirrels and Co. skip about the board and want to be found by the players. But only those who remember where the animals are will make it through the woods quickly. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |
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 Zauberlehrling (The Sorcerer's Apprentice)
Publisher: Huch & friends
Designer: Dr. Peter Schackert
Players: 2-4
Ages: 4 and up
Playing Time: 20 Minutes
Price: 24.95 €
Here is a description of the game from Spielbox:
| Der Zauberlehrling (The Sorcerer's Apprentice) by Peter Schackert is known by many as it as on the Children's Game of the Year shortlist in 2005. The original edition was changed into a somewhat more compact form by HUCH and is now available. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
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 Kosmos
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 Asterix & Obelix
Publisher: Kosmos
Designer: Michael Rieneck
Players: 2
Ages: 8 and up
Playing Time: 20 Minutes
Price: 12.99 €
This is a new game in Kosmos' Spiele für Zwei series of two player games.
Here is a description of the game from Kosmos:
In this two-player game featuring Gallic heroes Asterix & Obelix, the occupying Romans wear the usual costume for those stationed here: bumps and bruises.
New Roman overseer Zenturio has let the money-hungry Gallic chief Moralelastix convince him to mount an operation against his little village. As usual, the question isn't "Will the Romans get beat up?", it's "How badly will the Romans get beat up?"
The two players play as Asterix and Obelix. Each takes the matching playing figure as well as a set of 15 beating cards (3 cards in each of 5 different colours), which he places in front of himself as a face-down deck. Each player takes the top 5 cards in hand. In addition to the beating cards, there are Roman cards. Most of them show Roman Legionnaires (in 5 different colours), but there are also Pirates, Wild Boars, the traitor Moralelastix and 5 Village Feast cards.
The 40 cards are well shuffled and placed as a face-down pile. Then, the top 16 cards are drawn and placed face-down on the table in classic Phalanx formation (4x4 grid). The remaining cards act as a draw pile.
The player with the longest mustache (or alternately the biggest belly) begins. He places his figure in front of one of the four Phalanx rows and turns the topmost card over. A red Roman! Red Romans can only get beat up by Red beating cards. If the active player doesn't have any, then the Roman card is turned back over again and that player's turn is over. If he does has a red card, though, then he has to choose whether to end his turn (taking the beaten Roman as a trophy) or turn another card over, hoping to press his luck.
A player can keep going until (in an extreme case) he's cleared an entire row of the Phalanx. In that case, the active player gets to refill his hand to 5 cards and then start in on another row. Of course, that may not be such a good idea. Because if he keeps going and finds a Roman card he can't beat up, then his turn is over and he receives nothing. All of the Romans he would have won are removed from the game instead. Players can reduce the luck a little bit, in that they can discard one card from their hand to look at the last card in the row where they placed their figure.
When a player ends his turn (freely or because he was forced to), then he refills his hand to five cards and it is the other player's turn. Any holes in the Roman Phalanx are also filled back in with cards from the draw pile. Lastly, the player whose turn just ended gets to block the next player from trying one of the rows (either horizonally or vertically).
Of the 40 Roman cards, only 30 show actual Romans (as well as Zenturios himself). The remainig 10 cards are: 3 Pirates, 1 Wild Board, Moralelastix, and 5 Evening Feasts. Pirates are easy to beat: Any card will do. To ge Moralelastix, two cards of a single colour are needed. The Wild Boar ends the player's turn immediately, but he gets to keep the Romans he beat up on so far. If a Feast is revealed, nothing happens and the player gets to keep going. Revealed Feasts are set aside, and once the fifth Feast shows up the game is over.
Now, the players count their victory points. The Purple point goes to the player who got Moralelastix. A Brown point is for the most Pirates. The majorities in the five Roman colours are worth the Red, Blue, Yellow, Green and Black points, respectively. The player with the most victory points wins. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
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 Auf der Reeperbahn nachts um halb zwei (On the Reeperbahn at 1:30 AM)
Publisher: Kosmos
Designer: Reiner Knizia
Players: 2
Ages: 12 and up
Playing Time: 30 Minutes
Other Language Versions:
English - Times Square (Rio Grande Games)
Price: 14.99 €
This is a new game in Kosmos' Spiele für Zwei series of two player games.
Here is a description of the game from Kosmos:
Two players hit upon the idea to each open a bar in the famous night life district. Both dream of being the new 'must go' destination - while keeping it clean, of course. And since they're experienced drinkers, they know that they'll need to attract one of the city's most famous characters - Champagne Charlie or Brilli Lilli - to their bar and keep them as a regular.
The board is set up between the two players such that both are sitting next to one of the two cabarets - that is, on opposite sides of the street. The street itself is split into multiple spaces, and has its middle marked by a manhole. To start the game, that's where Brilli-Lilli, the well-known Diva of the scene, is placed. Champagne Charlie is also placed in the middle of the street - but where it's a little darker, since his temperament is a little different. Finaly, Lilli's two bodyguards, without whom she never hits the street, are placed - two spaces in front of and behind Lilli.
Two more figures are still missing: Blond Hans (yellow) and Red Lola (red). They're well-known artists and it's a fact that Lilli and Charlie will usually go to where the artists are hanging out. One player takes Hans and puts him in one of the spaces between Lilli and her bodyguards. The other player takes Lola and puts her on the other.
Finally, 55 cards are shuffled and placed next to the board as a face-down draw pile. The cards include Lilli cards, bodyguard cards, Lola cards and Hans cards. Each player draws 8 cards to start the game.
During a turn, only cards of a single type can be played, but then as many as the player wants. So a player who plays Lilli cards, in order to bring Lilli closer to his establishment, can't play any other types of cards during that turn. The cards have varying values that indicate how many spaces the appropriate figure can move. Special rules are in effect for Hans and Lola: When Lola is between Lilli and one player's side of the street, then that player can use Lola cards to move other figures. Hans's special ability is a little different: Instead of playing cards, a player can choose to move Lilli or one of her bodyguards to the space on which Hans is standing. Lola can't be attracted this way, however.
The goal of the game is to have Lilli or Charlie travel over the street and into one of the two bars. This isn't as easy as it sounds, since Lilli and Charlie are always being pulled in both directions (thanks to the cards being played). In addition, they don't let themselves move all that easily. Lilli, for example, won't move a step unless she's surrounded by her bodyguards. So a player who wants to move Lilli somewhere he'll have to make sure the bodyguards get moved too. Champagne Charlie, on the other hand, can't be made to move with cards at all. Instead, he can be moved by the player whose turn just ended so many spaces towards his bar as the number of other figures that are standing there - usually 1, but occasionally 2 or even 3 spaces. Charlie also moves one space towards the bar when a player gets Lilli and her bodyguards to make it to that half of the street.
The game ends when a player gets Charlie or Lilli to enter their bar; otherwise the game is over when the deck has been exhausted twice. In that case, the winner is the player who has Lilli on his side of the street. |
Here is a description of the game from Rio Grande Games:
| Without Champagne Charlie and Saucy Sue nothing happens in Times Square. Others flock to places that attract celebrities and other people important people. In other words, they go where the party is. Thus, folks go where Dancing Deb and Handsome Hal frequent. Players use cards to influence the movement of these people - toward their nightclubs. The winner will be the player who is best at attracting the famous!td> |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front (German Version) |  The Box Front (English Version) |
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 Blue Moon City
Publisher: Kosmos
Designer: Reiner Knizia
Artist: Franz Vohwinkel
Players: 2-4
Ages: 10 and up
Playing Time: 60 Minutes
Price: 24.99 €
This is a boardgame version of Blue Moon.
Here is a short description of the game from Christopher Dearlove:
| It's set after the card game, in more peaceful days. You will see the Vulca, Hoax, Mimix, Flit, Khind, Terrah, Pillar and Aqua again. |
Here is a description of the game from Kosmos:
Blue Moon City - the board game - picks up where the two-player game ended: the reconstruction of the destroyed city of Blue Moon. The board, illustrated by Franz Vohwinkel as well as many well-known American fantasy artists, consists of 21 large building tiles, which show building plans on one side and the buildinds in their reconstructed glory on the other. As in the 2-player game, the game includes 3 large molded plastic dragons.
At the start of the game, the board tiles all show their building plan sides. The object of the game is to use cards featuring the races of Blue Moon to help rebuild the city and, at the end, put the large Crystal of the Obelisk in the middle of the city back together. Whenever a building is completely rebuilt, its tile is turned back over to its rebuilt side. The players that helped with a building get crystals and dragon favours which can be traded in for crystals at certain times. Crystals are what everything's about in this game, because whoever has the most by the time Blue Moon City is completely rebuilt and can offer them for the rebuilding of the Obelisk has won.
At the start of the game, the 21 building tiles are randomly placed onto the table as a city. Next to that comes an Obelisk whose spaces will gradually get filled with player markers. The crystals get placed around one side of the Obelisk, the dragon favours around the other. The three dragons (green, red and blue) are placed at the ready next to the city. Each player then puts his figure in the middle of the city.
The engine that drives the reconstruction is the set of cards featuring races that are well-known from the original game. The cards have varying colours as well as numbers from 1 to 3. The card values have bearing during the reconstruction; the cards also have special functions, however.
The Vulca (black), Terrah (red) and Aqua (blue) can call dragons over to where a player is currently assisting with reconstruction. The dragons look upon the work with favour and so award the player with additional dragon favours. Cards used to attract dragons can't be used in reconstruction.
Flit cards increase the movement radius of a player. Hoax cards can be used to transform up to 4 cards of the same colour into ones in another colour. Mimix cards with values of 1 or 2 can be used together as a Joker, representing a 3 in another colour. Khind cards are weak (none have values higher than 1) but can be 1-value Jokers in any other colour. Pillar cards can bring players advantages while offering up crystals to the Obelisk. One thing is true for all races: Cards with value 3 have no special function, while 2-value cards have special functions that are weaker than those found on 1-value cards.
On a player's turn, he can first move his figure up to 2 tiles away. He can then - if he has the cards in hand - assist with rebuilding that building. Each building plan shows 1 to 3 boxes with a coloured number. The colour of the box and number indicate the type (colour) and quantity / total value of the cards that must be paid. At the end of his turn, the player can draw two cards from the draw pile. If he discards 1 or 2 of his hand cards before drawing, then he can draw 3 or 4 cards from the pile instead.
Once all boxes on a building plan have been filled with player markers, it is scored. The players who assisted get some combination of crystals, dragon favours and extra cards. The player who helped the most with that building gets a little more than the others. Additional bonuses are available if there are 1 or more finished buildings immediately next to the one being scored - typically crystals and dragon favours. A player who wishes to win the game would be well advised to concentrate on rebuilding in areas surrounded by as many completed buildings as possible.
Whenever the supply of dragon favours is exhausted, a different kind of scoring takes place. Whoever has the most favours gets six crystals, all others who have at least one get three.
So how do crystals translate into victory? Crystals must be brought to the obelisk and installed there. That brings prestige which leads to victory. To offer up crystals, a player has to forego rebuilding and move his figure to the market instead. There, he offers up a certain number of crystals to the Obelisk. To start, seven crystals will be enough to claim a spot on the lowest row of the Obelisk - higher rows require eight, nine and even twelve crystals.
The player who first manages to add the required number of markers to the Obelisk (four in a 4-player game, five with 3p and six with 2p) wins the game. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
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Chinesische Mauer (Great Wall of China)
Publisher: Kosmos
Designer: Reiner Knizia
Players: 2-5
Ages: 10 and up
Playing Time: 30 Minutes
Price: 9.99 €
Here is a description of the game from Kosmos:
The game is set in the 3rd century BC. The Chinese Empire is threatened from the North, and so the Emperor orders the construction of a great protective wall. The princes from the Northern part of the country are tasked with organizing the construction. The Emperor, who would like to keep the building costs as low as possible, has decreed that in the interest of China, no money will be awarded the builders - they will have to be satisfied with prestige and honour. The princes immediately set upon the task.
This game is Reiner Knizia, and lets each player take on the role of a Northern Chinese prince. His task: the construction of a massive wall. His reward: Honour everlasting! To gain the honour, though, requires some sweat. The requirements are the same for each player. Each player has a set of cards in his colour: seven wall cards (worth 1 point), three gate cards (worth 2 points) and one watchtower card (worth 3 points). Additionally, each player gets nine more cards of varying point value and which may also allow special actions to be carried out.
At the start of the game, each player shuffles his deck of 20 cards and places it face-down in front of himself. He then draws five cards from the deck. Now, depending on the number of players, 2 to 4 pairs of prestige tiles (with values from 2 to 7) are set out as the starts of card rows (each of which counts as a building phase).
On a player's turn, he first checks to see if he has a point majority in any of the card rows. Then, he carries out two additional actions. He has the choice of either drawing another card from the deck or adding cards to one of the rows. The added cards must all be identical. It is then the next player's turn.
If, when checking point totals, a player sees that he does have a majority, then he takes the higher-valued prestige tile and puts it onto one of his cards in that row. That prestige comes at a price: As long as the second prestige tile isn't claimed, the value of the prestige is subtracted from that players total for that row. Once the second tile is claimed (which can be by the same player), then both winning players set the tiles they won aside. Two new prestige tiles are revealed and the prestige for that row replenished.
The fight for prestige is also influenced by cards with special actions. For example, if a 'noble' card is played, then the values of all cards in that row are reduced by 1. A 'dragon' card can be played onto another player's card, neutralizing it. 'Knights' are worth 2 points, and, equally valuable, do not cost an action. 'Warriors' are strong in groups. A single 'Warrior' is only worth 1 point, but the next one is worth 2, and so on.
The game ends as soon as one player has played his last card. Afterwards, each player gets one last turn. The player with the most prestige at the end of the game wins. |
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Das große Frankenquiz
Publisher: Kosmos
Price: 24.99 €
|
 Die Siedler von Catan - Kartenspiel - Blechdose (The Settlers of Catan - Cardgame - Tin Box)
Publisher: Kosmos
Designer: Klaus Teuber
Players: 2
Ages: 10 and up
Playing Time: 60-75 Minutes
Price: 19.99 €
Release Date: Released
This is a special anniversary edition of Die Siedler von Catan - Kartenspiel that will come in a tin box. Included in this edition will be the new expansion Künstler & Wohltäter.
Here is a description of the game from Kosmos:
| To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Die Siedler von Catan - Kartenspiel, a special limited edition of the game will be released in February 2006. The game will come in a metal tin. This edition is the first one which will include cards printed to accommodate the reforms made in 2003. Also included is a victory point counter and the new theme set Künstler & Wohltäter. The Künstler & Wohltäter set will, to start, only be available in this edition. It will not be released as a standalone expansion until Fall 2006. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |
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Ein Song für Tom
Publisher: Kosmos
Designer: Gerti Köpf
Players: 2-5
Ages: 10-14
Price: 7.99 €
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Einfach Genial - Reise Edition für Zwei (Simply Ingenious - Travel Edition for Two)
Publisher: Kosmos
Designer: Reiner Knizia
Artist: Fine Tuning
Players: 2
Ages: 10 and up
Price: 14.99 €
Here is a description of the game from Kosmos:
With Einfach Genial, Reiner Knizia proved that it's possible for themeless abstracts to be bestsellers in Germany. With the game, Knizia took the concept of 'the most of the least' and made it an art form.
The travel edition doesn't have any rule changes from the original game (other than being for 2 players only). The main changes are in the components, which are now travel- and vacation-friendly. The board in this version is 20 x 20 cm large and features 91 recessed hex-shaped spaces. The 57 playing pieces look like two hexes joined together and can be placed over pairs of hexes on the board without any problems. The pieces (which feature pairs of symbols) are placed in a cloth bag and drawn blind. The board has room on both sides for the players to have a 'hand' of six tiles. The goal of the game is to place pieces and claim points for matching lines of symbols adjacent to the piece played. The points are scored via a scoreboard built into the gameboard, to make sure nothing gets moved accidentally. Each symbol has a scoring track from 1 to 18. Players get bonus turns whenever one of their scoring markers makes it to 18 on the track.
The game end scoring is the same as in the original game - the player with the highest score in the symbol he scored the lowest in wins. |
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 Hart an der Grenze (Hard up at the Border)
Publisher: Kosmos
Designers: André Zatz and Sergio Halaban
Players: 3-6
Ages: 10 and up
Playing Time: 45-70 Minutes
Price: 29.99 €
Here is a description of the game from Kosmos:
Releasing a new bluffing game is among the hardest tasks for a publisher - there are already many excellent games out there, so the bar is set quite high. This is, perhaps, the reason why the designers of Hard up at the Border hail from far away from Germany - Andre Zatz and Sergio Halaban are from Brazil, and are two of the most prolific designers in Latin America.
The centerpiece of the game are six beautiful metal suitcases. The contents of these suitcases are the main point of the game. The goal of the game is to smuggle as many illegal wares (along with the legal ones) over the border and turn them into cash. Players play not just as smugglers but also take turns being the Sheriff. Each player gets 30 dollars and 5 wares drawn at random. There are legal wares (jugs, sombreros and maracas) and illegal wares (cigars, tequila and old works of art). The game also includes a customs marker, a confiscation marker that the current Sheriff can use once per game to inspect two instead of one suitcase.
The player with the most trustworthy face begins and gets a Sheriff's badge. The other players now choose which cards they want to bring over the border, put them in their suitcase and head to customs. In turn, the Sheriff asks the players what they have in their bag. Obviously, players can only answer with legal wares. There's a limit on the legal wares too - only one can be declared and brought over the border problem-free. After each player has made their declaration, the sheriff must decide who to inspect. After the sheriff has decided, the player who was chosen can offer the sheriff a bribe to avoid the inspection. Of course, the Sheriff may ask for more money. If the haggling comes to fruition, the player can take his suitcase over the border uninspected.
If the haggling is all for naught, then the Sheriff opens the suitcase in question. If any contraband is inside, then it's confiscated and the smuggler made to pay a fine - the more valuable the wares, the higher the fine. If the contents of the suitcase are legal, then the injured player would get a small consolation from the government.
All wares successfully brought over the border are placed as booty in front of their respective owners. Then, the Sheriff role rotates and the new Sheriff deals out more cards - always so that each player has 5 in hand. After each player has had a chance to be the Sheriff, then the players cash out. All wares (legal and illegal) are sold. Each time this happens, the players can choose up to 3 cards to set aside and keep until the end of the game - they may be worth more then.
Once each player has been Sheriff three times, the game is over. Now, the cards players have left over can be sold - but there's a catch. Each ware has a (fairly low) limit as to how many can be sold at this point. The player with the most of a ware may sell all of it for double its normal price. The player with the second-most might be able to sell, but third won't have a chance. Wares that can't be sold after the game ends are worthless. Once all six wares have been sold, then the players total up their cash. However has the most money wins. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
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 Just 4 Fun
Publisher: Kosmos
Designer: Jürgen P.K. Grunau
Players: 2-4
Ages: 10 and up
Playing Time: 20-30 Minutes
Price: 24.99 €
Here is a description of the game from Kosmos:
The object of Just 4 Fun is to be the first player with a majority in playing figures on four spaces in a row (horizontal, diagonal or vertical). The game is played on a board with 36 squares, each with a value from 1-36. On his turn, each player must play 1 or more cards (with values 1-19) and then place one of his figures onto the space whose number matches the sum of cards played. The game includes 55 cards as well as 20 smiley-face figures in each player colour.
Players must always play at least 1 card per turn, and must always place a figure. When players add multiple figures to a space they already occupy, they simply stack the figures. Players are allowed to place as many figures as they wish onto a given space. However, players are not allowed to place a figure onto a space where an opponent already has two more figures than the current player. In that case, the space is 'locked' and the player with the majority moves his pieces to the middle of the space - everyone else takes their pieces off the board - these are removed from the game. After their turn, players always replenish their hand back up to 4 cards. The game ends as soon as one player has majorities in four adjacent spaces in a row - that player wins. The game also ends after 20 rounds, should nobody have won yet. In that case, all 'tied' pieces are removed from the game and each player adds up the values of the spaces they're left with - highest sum wins. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |  The Game |
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 Kreuz und Quer (Cross Country)
Publisher: Kosmos
Designers: Hartmut Witt and Frank Schaubrenner
Players: 2-4
Ages: 8 and up
Playing Time: 20-30 Minutes
Other Language Versions:
English - Zig Zag (Rio Grande Games)
Price: 9.99 €
Here is a description of the game from Kosmos:
Hartmut Witt is a guarantee of original game concepts, and he, together with Frank Schaubrenner, has created a fast-paced grab- and collecting-game that will thrill even expert speed-type game players. Rather unusual landscape types need to be crossed in this game: Clay flats, fields, hot sand, green lawns, water and cobblestones, even some rare blue-white or beige tiles. These landscapes are found on 28 large landscape cards, each of which again is made up of 18 landscape spaces, arranged in random fashion.
The landscape cards get mixed up and distributed among the players (7 each with 3p and 4p, 8 with 2p - the rest go back in the box). Now, each player gets to set two particularly difficult cards aside and places the rest on the table to form a race circuit (the narrow sides of the cards are joined together). Thus, a different track with different challenges is created for each player. A goal card marks the goal for each player.
Before the game can begin, 48 small cards are placed in the middle of the table as a face-down, spread out pile. Each card shows one of the landscape types mentioned above.
As soon as the game starts, all players wildly grab through the pile of cards on the table. Cards, once revealed, are left face-up if they're not of immediate use. Cards that a player wants to keep are taken in hand. The order of the cards being collected, though, cannot be altered in any way. The collection phase ends when there's only face-up cards left on the table and a player calls "stop" because he thinks he has enough cards.
Now, the players will see how far they get along their track with the cards they collected. The player who called "stop" starts. He turns the first card he collected over. If it's sand, for example, he puts his marker on a sand space at the start of his course. Thereafter, each subsequent card must show a landscape type that is next to the one his marker is on (either sideways, forwards or diagonally forwards) for him to move forwards. As soon as a card comes up that doesn't allow him to move his marker, his turn is over. Collected cards that are left over are put back into the middle of the table (face-down), and the figure stays where it managed to get to. Each player in turn order then does the same, moving their figure and returning leftover cards. Continue in this manner, round after round, until one player reaches the goal, ending the game. That player is of course the winner. |
Here is a description of the game from Rio Grande Games:
| Each player has his own obstacle course that his figure must run. To run the course, the player must collect the right terrain cards - in the right order! But this is not an easy task, as all players are racing to get the cards they need at the same time. The game is played in rounds consisting of a terrain collecting phase and a running phase, which are repeated until one player's figure reaches their goal card.td> |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front (German Version) |  The Box Front (English Version) |
|
 Künstler & Wohltäter (Artists & Benefactors)
Publisher: Kosmos
Designer: Klaus Teuber
Players: 2
Release Date: Fall 2006
This is a new expansion for Die Siedler von Catan - Kartenspiel (The Settlers of Catan - Cardgame). It will be released as part of Die Siedler von Catan - Kartenspiel - Blechdose in February 2006. It will also be released as a standalone expansion in Fall 2006.
Here is a description of the expansion from Kosmos:
| In this new set, the happiness level of the populace plays an important role. A player who, for example, spoils his people with soup kitchens, works of art and regional schools will be rewarded with new options: Civil unrest is eliminated, Lancers ensure the safety of the land and the construction of settlements and streets costs less. The central card in the new set is "Voice of the People", which is highlighted at www.klausteuber.de as the first preview card. In the coming weeks, new cards will be previewed each Monday at www.klausteuber.de and www.diesiedlervoncatan.de. |
Links:
Siedeln.de (see the 04.01.2006 - Neues Themenset für Siedler von Catan Kartenspiel article for pictures of two of the cards)
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 A Card |  A Card |
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Stress am Strand
Publisher: Kosmos
Price: 7.99 €
|
 Sudoku - Duell der Meister
Publisher: Kosmos
Designer: Reiner Knizia
Players: 2
Ages: 10 and up
Playing Time: 20-30 Minutes
Price: 12.99 €
This is a new game in Kosmos' Spiele für Zwei series of two player games.
Here is a description of the game from Kosmos:
| The board is the standard 9x9 grid split into 3x3 blocks. Each player gets 12 scoring markers and 36 number tiles in his colour. These he mixes up face-down. Nine golden numbers are placed onto the board so that there's a single number in each 3x3 block. Players take turns revealing one of their numbers and adding it to the board (following the rules of Sudoku). As soon as a player has a majority in a row, column or block, he places one of his scoring markers onto the matching scoring spot along the edge of the board. In the event of a tie, the player with the highest number sum gets to place the marker. The goal of the game is to be the first one to claim 12 majorities. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |
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|
Loquai Holzkunst
|
Kastell-Castello
Publisher: Loquai Holzkunst
Designer: Nicolaas Neuwahl
Players: 2
Here is a description of the game from Spielbox:
At first glance, Kastell-Castello by Niek Neuwahl looks a lot like Cathedral. It is, however, quite different. The game is played with 2 players. Each player has 7 building elements in the form of different tetrominos which are the be placed onto an 8x8 game board. The player who can place the last building on the board wins.
To make sure the board is variable, there are 3 trees which are freely placeable onto the board before starting. According to the author, that makes for over 4000 different variations. The game also comes with 6 play variants. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Game |
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 Mayfair Games
|
BANG! Deluxe (Working Title)
Mayfair Games is publishing an English version of BANG! Deluxe (daVinci Games).
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Figaro
Mayfair Games is publishing an English version of Figaro (daVinci Games).
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Leonardo da Vinci
Mayfair Games is publishing an English version of Leonardo da Vinci (daVinci Games).
|
 Nexus Editrice
|
Battaglie della Terza Era (Battles of the Third Age)
Publisher: Nexus Editrice
Designers: Roberto Di Meglio, Marco Maggi and Francesco Nepitello
Artist: John Howe
Players: 2-4
Ages: 12 and up
Rules Language: Italian
Other Language Versions:
English - Battles of the Third Age (Fantasy Flight Games)
German - Die Schlachten des Dritten Zeitalters (Phalanx Games)
Dutch - 'Battles of the Third Age (Dutch Version)' (Phalanx Games)
This is an expansion for War of the Ring, adding factions (example: the Corsairs), new characters (example: Galadriel), siege weapons (siege towers and catapults), and more.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front (English Version) |  The Box (German Version) |
Links:
Battles of the Third Age Previews page on Fantasy Flight Games
|
 Pegasus Spiele
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Chez Geek Die Studenten WG
Publisher: Pegasus Spiele
Price: 12.95 €
|
Don Peperoni
Publisher: Pegasus Spiele
Designer: Volker Cullmann
Players: 3-5
Ages: 8 and up
Price: 29.95 €
Release Date: June 2006
Here is a description of the game from Spielbox:
| Don Peperoni, by Volker Cullman, is a 'fantastic adventures' game. In the sleepy village of Peperoni, all hell has broken loose. The mayoral election will be taking place soon, and multiple leaders of the community are vying for the prestigous position. No wonder that things are a little shady beforehand. Villagers are bribed, spies slink about, pistol-packing mercenaries and judges asked for help (or set onto opponents) - the police barely have the situation under control. And in the midst of all that, sometimes even the cleaning lady can make the competition shy. Don Peperoni is a not-really-meant-seriously bluffing game that will be available in June. |
|
 Dungeonville
Publisher: Pegasus Spiele
Designers: Mike Selinker and James Ernest
Artist: John Kovalic
Players: 2-5
Price: 19.95 €
Release Date: May 2006
This is a German version of Dungeonville, originally published in English by Z-Man Games in 2005.
|
 Gizeh
Publisher: Pegasus Spiele
Designer: Nikki Lim
Players: 2-6
Ages: 8 and up
Playing Time: 10-30 Minutes
Price: 19.95 €
Release Date: March 2006
This is a German version of Giza, originally published in English by Fun Factory Games in 2005.
Here is a description of the game from Spielbox:
| Gizeh is a board game out of the 'fantastic adventures' series and will be released in March 2006. The mighty Pharaoh Cheops has commanded that pyramids be built for himself and his sons Chephren and Mykerinos. As architects in old Gizeh, your vanity is to build the three best pyramids, using only the finest building materials and filling them with as much treasure as possible. At the same time, your rivals try to keep you from making progress or sell you poor-quality stones, sabotage your sites or set bad-luck omen Scarabs loose to scare your workers. And to make sure that the Pharaoh chooses your pyramids, you might have to do the same to them. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
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 Killer-Karnickel und die Jagd nach der Magischen Karotte (Killer Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot)
Publisher: Pegasus Spiele
Price: 19.95 €
Release Date: March 2006
This is a German version of Killer Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot, originally published in English by Playroom Entertainment in 2002.
|
 Munchkin 4: Rasende Rösser
Publisher: Pegasus Spiele
Designer: Steve Jackson
Artist: John Kovalic
Price: 12.95 €
Release Date: February 2006
This is a German version of Munchkin 4: The Need for Steed, to be published in English by Steve Jackson Games in 2006.
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 Munchkin Fu
Publisher: Pegasus Spiele
Designer: Steve Jackson
Artist: Greg Heyland
Players: 2(3)-6
Playing Time: 60 Minutes
Price: 14.95 €
Release Date: April 2006
This is a German version of Munchkin Fu, originally published in English by Steve Jackson Games in 2003.
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Munchkin Schatztruhe (Munchkin Treasure Chest)
Publisher: Pegasus Spiele
Price: 24.95 €
Release Date: April 2006
This is a box with room for all Munchkin games released to date. It includes 6 official oversize Munchkin dice as well as 14 dice cards and 16 new cards never before seen.
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 Star Munchkin 2: Die Clown-Kriege (Star Munchkin 2: The Clown Wars)
Publisher: Pegasus Spiele
Designer: Steve Jackson
Artist: John Kovalic
Players: 2(3)-6
Playing Time: 60 Minutes
Price: 12.00 €
Release Date: June 2006
This is a German version of Star Munchkin 2: The Clown Wars, originally published in English by Steve Jackson Games in 2004.
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 Super Munchkin
Publisher: Pegasus Spiele
Designer: Steve Jackson
Artist: John Kovalic
Players: 2(3)-6
Playing Time: 60 Minutes
Price: 14.95 €
Release Date: August 2006
This is a German version of Super Munchkin, originally published in English by Steve Jackson Games in 2005.
|
 Phalanx Games
|
 Battles of the Third Age (Dutch Version)
Phalanx Games is publishing an Dutch version of Battaglie della Terza Era (Nexus Editrice). We don't yet have a title of this game.
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Bison
Publisher: Phalanx Games
Designers: Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling
Artist: Franz Vohwinkel
Players: 2-4
Ages: 10 and up
Language Versions: English, Dutch and German
Price: 24.95 €
This will come in the Phalanx middle sized box (the same size as Go West!).
Here is a description of the game from Phalanx Games:
Each player represents an Indian tribe that tries to live in an area with lots of buffaloes, fish, and eagles. The players try to catch these and to sell tents and canoes at the “market�.
- very interesting mechanics
- the ever changing game board ensures a high replay value
- a game with a great “depth� – very good for “gamers�
Contents: 21 game tiles, 32 Indians, 12 markers, 24 tents, 24 canoes, 4 displays, 16 energy stones, 1 start player piece, 1 rules booklet |
Here is a description of the game from co-designer Wolfgang Kramer:
| The game contains hex-shaped landscape tiles that are gradually added to the table. Indians, tents and canoes are placed onto the tiles and can also be moved across them. The goal of the game is to have as many animals (Bison, fish or eagles) as possible during scoring (which occurs at the end of each round). Determining first and second placed is done by majorities. But, third and fourth place receive as many animals as indicated by the tile. Therefore, it can be better to be in 3rd or 4th place than in 2nd. The game is primarily intended for experienced gamers, and contains a base rules set as well as two expansions. The basic rules are there only to get people into the game quickly; experienced players should play with the expansions (or at least Expansion 1) right away. |
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Emira
Publisher: Phalanx Games
Designers: Liesbeth Vanzier and Paul van Hove
Artist: Franz Vohwinkel
Players: 3-5
Ages: 10 and up
Language Versions: English, Dutch and German
Price: 34.95 €
This will be a big box game (the same size as Alexander the Great). This game won the 2004 Hippodice game design competition under the name Harem.
Here is a description of the game from Phalanx Games:
Each player is a rich oriental sheik who tries to have the most women in his harem.
In each game turn one woman comes into play and chooses the sheik that she finds to her liking, joining his harem. As a sheik, you have to be as attractive as possible! To achieve this goal, a sheik may improve his appearance, increase his status or enlarge his palace. Of course, a sheik needs money to do all this. Therefore he invests in oil resources.
Each woman not only has preferences but also her own specific “abilities�. The four basic abilities are: intelligence, housekeeping, cooking and libido. Each sheik prefers a different selection of women for his harem.
The first sheik that has the required number of women (depending on his preference and the number of players) is the winner.
Twist: The women (represented by cards) choose the harem to join, not the other way around!
- exotic gaming environment
- interesting topic with a surprising twist – the women select their sheiks!
- beautiful graphics
Contents: 6 boards/displays, 15 wooden discs, 1 start playing piece, 120 playing cards, 100 cardboard playing pieces, game money, 1 bag, 5 rules summaries, 1 rules booklet |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 A Board |  A Board |
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Inferno
Publisher: Phalanx Games
Designer: Renato de Rosa (from Venice Connection)
Artist: Fabio Visintin
Players: 2-6
Ages: 8 and up
Language Versions: English, Dutch and German
Price: 9.95 €
This will likely come in the Phalanx card game box (the same size as Trump, Tricks, Game!).
Here is a description of the game from Phalanx Games:
The players decide, who, among 17 very bad guys of history, is the worst. This happens in an environment, where fastness is especially important.
- fun topic
- inexpensive
- very quick to explain
- short playing time
Contents: 44 playing cards, 1 sand clock, 1 note pad, 1 rules booklet |
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NoNo
Publisher: Phalanx Games
Designer: Michael Schacht
Artist: Michael Schacht
Players: 3-8
Ages: 10 and up
Language Versions: English, Dutch and German
Price: 9.95 €
This will likely come in the Phalanx card game box (the same size as Trump, Tricks, Game!).
Here is a description of the game from Phalanx Games:
NoNo is a fast and exciting game for the whole family (it is also very suitable as a party game). The aim is to find a certain term most quickly. The terms which have to be found are determined by cards and special dice.
If you make a mistake, you get negative points.
- always different because of the special dice
- inexpensive
- a very good game for a party or while travelling
- very quick to explain
- the players learn something about their language
Contents: 75 playing cards, 4 special dice, 1 rules booklet |
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Schlachten des Dritten Zeitalters (Battles of the Third Age)
Phalanx Games is publishing a German version of Battaglie della Terza Era (Nexus Editrice) to be titled Schlachten des Dritten Zeitalters.
|
 Piatnik
|
Sudoku DVD Spiel
Publisher: Piatnik
Price:26.50 €
|
 Pro Ludo
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Ave Caesar
Publisher: Pro Ludo
Designer: Wolfgang Riedesser
Players: 3-6
Other Language Versions:
English - Ave Caesar (Café Games)
Dutch - Ave Caesar (Ravensburger)
This is a new version of Ave Caesar, originally published by Ravensburger in 1989.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 An Advertisement |
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Spiel der Türme
Publisher: Pro Ludo
Designer: Rudi Hoffmann
Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 30-60 Minutes
Other Language Versions:
English - Ramparts (Café Games)
This is a new version of Spiel der Türme, originally published by Schmidt Spiele in 1993.
|
 Queen Games
|
 Aton
Publisher: Queen Games
Designer: Thorsten Gimmler
Players: 2
Ages: 10 and up (This may be 8 and up)
Other Language Versions:
English - Aton (Rio Grande Games)
Price: 15.00 €
This is a small box game, in the same series as Revolte in Rom and Raubritter.
Here is a description of the game from www.spieltest.at:
The players try, as high priests, to bring people into the temples of Aton and Amun. By playing their cards well, both contestants try to occupy the best spots in the temples of Egypt. The cards dictate which temple the players can plan in, set the player order, or award extra victory points.
Both players have the same cards, numbered from 1 to 4. The object, then, it to play cleverly and use your cards at the best moments. Only the player who has made use of all the opportunities will win this tense power struggle. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |  The Game |
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 Der Dieb von Bagdad
Publisher: Queen Games
Designer: Thorsten Gimmler
Players: 2-4
Ages: 10 and up
Other Language Versions:
English - Thief of Bagdad (Rio Grande Games)
This is a big box game.
Here is a description of the game from www.spieltest.at:
| Only the box of this game was available to see at Nurnberg. Each player, however, will lead a group of thieves and try to gain the best booty for them. But the treasure is hidden in the palaces of Baghdad and is well guarded. Therefore, the leaders slip their men into the guards corps and try to bribe the rest of the guards. The player who plays his cards the best and reacts the most cleverly to the different situations will be successful in getting his thieves and guards well distributed in Baghdad, and therefore be the first to get four pieces of treasure. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |
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 Der Palast der Alhambra: Die Schatzkammer des Kalifen - Die 4. Erweiterung (The Palace of Alhambra: The Caliph’s Treasure Chamber - The Fourth Expansion)
Publisher: Queen Games
Designers: Dirk Henn and Wolfgang Panning
This is the fourth expansion for the Spiel des Jahres winning game Alhambra.
Here is a description of the expansion from www.spieltest.at:
The fourth Alhambra expansion stays true to the modular nature of the previous ones. So buying this expansion actually gets you four small expansions that can be combined with each other (as well as with those from previous expansions).
The new modules taken separately:
The Treasure Chamber
Filled to the brim with treasure that must be brought to safety. The treasure chests are worth points for being brought to buildings that match their colour.
The Architect Cards
These have a double function. They allow an additional remodeling of your Alhambra, but can also be used as money cards.
The Bazaars
These add a new building type to the game. When built to their best use, they can bring up to 24 extra victory points. The points are gained by having buildings of matching colours built next to them.
The Attackers
The palace is being attacked. Lookouts keep a close watch for the attackers to try and figure out with direction the attack is coming from. This allows the player to build protective walls in that direction. Otherwise, they will lose points during the final scoring.
Overall the modules look quite interesting, although the Attackers module appears to have the most depth of play. They should all be interesting to play with. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |
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 Seeräuber (Pirates)
Publisher: Queen Games
Designer: Stefan Dorra
Players: 2-5 (This may be 3-5)
Ages: 8 and up
Other Language Versions:
English - Sea Robber (Rio Grande Games)
Price: 15.00 €
This is a small box game, in the same series as Revolte in Rom and Raubritter.
Here is a description of the game from www.spieltest.at:
These days, it’s hard to find good help. This is the same for Pirates as it is for, say, editors of board gaming news sites. In the dark of the harbour, players go on raids for their ship, looking to plunder and rob. The object are the ships laying at anchor, laden with treasure and ducats. The Pirates, after a job well done, of course want payment for their services. And so it can happen that all the booty goes towards payment, and that the Captain has even has to pay extra.
Each player takes on the role of a freebooter as well as the Captain in this game. The player that can combine both roles the best will win the game. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |  The Game |
|
 Shogun
Publisher: Queen Games
Designer: Dirk Henn
Players: 3-5
Ages: 12 and up
Playing Time: 90-120 Minutes
This is a rethemed version of the Queen game Wallenstein. The game is set in the Sengoku period (approx 1467-1573) which ends with the inception of the well-known Tokugawa Shogunate. The game will be an international edition with language-independent components and a multilingual rules booklet. This game is to be available in Summer 2006.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
|
 Ravensburger
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1x1 Obelisk
Publisher: Ravensburger
Price: 16.99 €
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Abenteuer auf dem Zahlenfluss
Publisher: Ravensburger
Price: 16.99 €
|
 Bärenbande (Bear Pack)
Publisher: Ravensburger
Designer: Ladislav Mares
Players: 2-4
Ages: 4-7
Playing Time: 10-15 Minutes
Release Date: Released
Here is a description of the game from Adam Spielt:
A fun dice- and hiding-game using a colour die.
Barenbande is a simple colour die game that is fun for even the smallest players. If the bear symbol is rolled, the children get to rearrange the game board. That causes hiding places to be revealed and laughter echoes through the woods. And with a little luck, the bear slips away to his hiding spot again.
Contents: 12 bears in 4 colours, 1 game board, 1 board overlay, 1 colour die, 1 sound module. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Game |
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Benny Bücherwurm
Publisher: Ravensburger
Price: 24.99 €
|
 Celtica
Publisher: Ravensburger
Designers: Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Keisling
Arist: Eckhard Freytag
Players: 2-5
Ages: 8 and up
Playing Time: 45 Minutes
Release Date: Released
Here is a description of the game from Erwin Broens of Bordspel:
| The players move druids by playing cards with the proper color. They have to visit monasteries and castles to collect parts of amulets. If you visit ruins, you lose these parts to Vikings, but in return you receive an experience card. You can use your experience cards to get the parts you need to complete your amulets. The player who completed the most amulets, wins the game. |
Here is a description of the game from Knut-Michael Wolf of Spielbox:
Right off the bat - no matter how many players are taking part, all 5 druid figures are always on the board. The don't belong to anyone, or, to put it another way: anyone is allowed to move them. That can happen with Druid Cards that are played out on a person's turn. Players can play out as many cards as they wish, but only of 1 colour. The druid of the matching colour moves as many spaces as the number of cards that were played. Once the druid is finished moving, the player either takes as many Amulet pieces as is indicated by the space the druid landed on (an Amulet consists of 9 pieces; 9 available pieces are always located around the edge of the game board) or has to pay as many pieces as the space indicates instead. In that case, the player gets an Experience Card for his trouble. Or, if he prefers, he can take another Druid Card (although he's not forced to). At the end of the game, the winner is the player with the most completed Amulets.
The game's 'hook' is in the card management: Each player starts with 5 Druid Cards, all of which he must play before he gets more. A certain freedom is afforded by the Experience Cards, which may be played out as if they were Druid Cards. However, they can only be played out if one has Druid Cards left in hand - note that they aren't forfeit if a player runs out of Druid Cards, though. The Experience Cards carry over for later if necessary.
The game sounds quite interesting and we're looking forward to the first game. One thing's for sure already: the graphics are fantastic! |
Here is a description of the game from co-designer Wolfgang Kramer:
| CELTICA is a family- and adult-game for 2-5 players 8 and up with simple rules that will be released by Ravensburger. The game's co-author is Michael Kiesling. The game's easy to teach and is a good mixture of luck, tactics, bluff and gamling elements. The game's also good for more experienced players. It's set in Ireland during the time of the Celts, who must defend themselves against the Vikings. |
Here is a description of the game from Adam Spielt:
The search for amulets - a tactical game.
The ten magical amulets were destroyed by the Vikings and are thought to be lost forever. The players assist five druids on their adventure-ridden search for these lost amulets. In the process, it's important to seek out castles and monasteries while avoiding ruins, since the Vikings lurk nearby and will rip the hard-won amulets out of the druid's hands again. The player who owns the most amulets at the end of the game is the winner.
Contents: 1 game board, 5 druids, 60 druid cards, 20 experience cards, 10 amulets. |
Here is a description of the game from Ravensburger's press release:
At the start of the game, each player receives 5 cards in hand, which are used to move the druids and hopefully find the richest spots. The number of same-coloured cards played determines how far the druid moves. Certain spots on the board provide the 'tax collector' with amulets, others draw from one's own supplies, but in that case an experience card is awarded as consolation. This can be used later in the game, as long as the player still has druid cards left in hand, to move the druid further along and so avoid the resource-hungry cliff areas.
Players should not ignore those few spots on the board that award druids arriving there with additional druid cards. Clever play and the extra cards claimed in this manner allow smart players to perform several solo moves before everyone's hand is empty and a new round begins.
Each amulet consists of 9 pieces, of which the middle pieces are unique and finding the remaining pieces extends over an area 9 spaces long.
Once the goal of the game is complete and the game over, the player who was able to complete the most amulets is the winner. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |  The Game |  The Board |  The Board Close-Up |  Two of the Druid Cards |  Two More Druid Cards |  Another Druid with matching Experience Card |  The Amulett |
Links:
Celtica on The Games of Bruno Faidutti
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Colorama
Publisher: Ravensburger
Price: 16.99 €
|
Deutschland Memory
Publisher: Ravensburger
Price: 19.99 €
|
Differix
Publisher: Ravensburger
Price: 11.99 €
|
Do you speak English?
Publisher: Ravensburger
Price: 11.99 €
|
E wie Elefant (E is for Elephant)
Publisher: Ravensburger
Players: 1-4
Ages: 5-7
Playing Time: 15 Minutes
Release Date: Released
Here is a description of the game from Adam Spielt:
| From ape to elephant through the alphabet. For each of the 57 pictures, one of the 31 letter cards is the right one. If P is right for penguin is revealed by whether or not the puzzle pieces fit together. Different game variants are available to match up with different age and experience levels. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Game |
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FIFA: Würfel-Kick
Publisher: Ravensburger
Price: 17.99 €
|
First English
Publisher: Ravensburger
Price: 33.99 €
|
Gackerei im Wackel-Ei
Publisher: Ravensburger
Price: 24.99 €
|
 Lego - Knight's Kingdom - Das Spiel (Lego - Knight's Kingdom - The Game)
Publisher: Ravensburger
Designer: Wolfgang Riedesser
Artist: Andreas Härlin
Players: 2 - 4
Ages: 6 and up
Playing Time: 20 - 30 Minutes
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
|
 Mauseschlau & Bärenstark - Wissen, Lachen, Sachen machen (Smart as a Mouse and Strong as a Bear - Knowing, Laughing and Doing)
Publisher: Ravensburger
Designers: Ingeborg Ahrenkiel and Cornelia Keller
Players: 2-6
Ages: 5 and up
Playing Time: 20 Minutes
Release Date: Released
Here is a description of the game from Adam Spielt:
A set-collection and action game.
This fun-filled roll-and-move game with mouse and bear doesn't just demand knowledge, but also activity! Mouse asks all sorts of interesting questions, and Bear asks the players to carry out all sorts of actions. Lots of new things to learn and lots to laugh about! Guaranteed fun for young and old!
Contents: 1 game board, 6 playing figures, 80 cards, 1 die, 2 watch hands. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Game |
|
 Max Mäuseschreck (Max Mousebane)
Publisher: Ravensburger
Designer: Heinz Meister
Players: 2-4
Ages: 4-8
Playing Time: 15 Minutes
Release Date: Released
Here is a description of the game from Adam Spielt:
On your dice, set, go! A race game.
In the latest Max the Cat adventure, the bold mice have discovered the cheese. And soon the race for the goodies begins! Which mouse will, with deftness and luck, be the first to escape back to the security of the mouse hole?
Contents: 1 game board, 1 brown plastic frame, 7 yellow wooden dice, 4 playing figures. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Game |
|
Pinakothek der Moderne Memory
Publisher: Ravensburger
Price: 19.99 €
|
 Plitsch-Platsch Pinguin (Splish-Splash Penguin)
Publisher: Ravensburger
Designer: Gunter Baars
Players: 2-4
Ages: 5-10
Playing Time: 15 Minutes
Release Date: Released
Here is a description of the game from Adam Spielt:
SOS - the ice floe is teetering! A dexterity game.
The little penguin jumps back and forth over the ice floes, trying to catch tasty fish. But watch out: the floes are very unstable! Splash, soon he'll fall into the water!
Contents: 1 penguin, 8 ice floes, 16 chips, 17 wooden cylinders. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Game |
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Quips
Publisher: Ravensburger
Price: 22.50 €
|
Rätsel in der Leseburg
Publisher: Ravensburger
Price: 16.99 €
|
Rattergeister
Publisher: Ravensburger
Price: 24.99 €
|
Rechen-Kapitän
Publisher: Ravensburger
Price: 11.99 €
|
Ritter Kunibert im Zahlenland
Publisher: Ravensburger
Price: 28.99 €
|
Schloss Silbenstein
Publisher: Ravensburger
Designer: Kai Haferkamp
Price: 16.99 €
|
Tiere füttern
Publisher: Ravensburger
Price: 11.99 €
|
Was'n das?
Publisher: Ravensburger
Designer: Philippe des Pallieres
Players: 3-6
Ages: 14 and up
Price: 29.99 €
Here's a description of the game from the spieltest.at:
| A simple communications-based party game that can be explained in less than 3 minutes, can be played with a large group and is a lot of fun. A circular scoring track is set out, and within it go a pile of different objects: a pig, a giant, a bridge, a card with the number 5 on it, etc. Each player gets a stack of cards with values from 1 to 6. One player begins and draws a card. On that card 6 different expressions can be found, one of which he must now represent using the items. The other players try to guess the phrase and place their betting cards into the middle of the table as quickly as possible. Once everyone has played their card, a check to see who guessed it correctly is made. The faster a player got his card onto the table, the more points he gets. Sounds simple? Okay, try your hand at phrases like "Jakarta" or "Causes Impotence"! Not easy, but very fun! This game has the potential to become a big party hit. One of the most creative games in the last few years! |
|
Weltkulturerbe Memory
Publisher: Ravensburger
Price: 19.99 €
|
Wer kennt die Uhr?
Publisher: Ravensburger
Price: 11.99 €
|
Wort für Wort
Publisher: Ravensburger
Price: 16.99 €
|
 Rio Grande Games
|
Aton
Rio Grande Games is publishing an English version of Aton (Queen Games).
|
 Carcassonne - the Tower
Rio Grande Games is publishing an English version of Carcassonne - Der Turm (Hans im Glück) to be titled Carcassonne - the Tower.
|
Gloria Mundi
Publisher: Rio Grande Games
Designers: James Ernest and Mike Selinker / Lone Shark Games
Artist: Franz Vohwinkel
Players: 2-6
Playing Time: 60 Minutes
Other Language Versions:
German - Gloria Mundi (Abacusspiele)
Most of Rio Grande's games are co-productions with German publishers but this game is an exception - the game is being produced solely by Rio Grande (and this is the first big box game to have this distinction).
Here's a description of the game from the designers:
| Gloria Mundi is a board game for 2-6 players set during the fall of Rome. You're a Roman statesman struggling to survive in this era of cultural decline and political chaos. While foreign invaders and domestic incompetents devour the last resources of the Empire, you'll try to build your career out of the rubble. You start in Rome, and the Goth starts on the outskirts of a spiral board. Each turn, you play and purchase cards that produce resources and give you special effects, as well as allowing you to move further out from the doomed Eternal City. Then the Goth moves toward Rome, destroying your cards... unless you spend your precious resources to bribe him. When the Goth reaches Rome, or a player reaches the outskirts of the empire, the game is over and the player who has fled the furthest from Rome wins. |
Here's a description of the gameplay from co-designer Mike Selinker:
You are all families in Rome just about the time the Goth shows up on the outer edge of the board. You have a few properties (farms, cities, legions) that make various things you need (food, gold, peace). You can use these to buy improvement cards like universities and generals. These get you points, which allow you to flee further from Rome.
But the Goth has other ideas. At the end of your turn, unless you appease him by putting tribute in his way, he moves closer to Rome. As he does so, he sequentially destroys properties in his way, some of which will likely be yours. So as the Goth progresses toward Rome, you try to get as much out of your properties as you can before they're salted under like Carthage. The person who uses those properties to get as far away from Rome when the game ends wins.
Oh, one other thing. Except for the rules, the game will be printed entirely in Latin. That'll be sweet. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |  The Roman Pieces (Note that the pictures of the pieces are renderings) |  The Barbarian Piece |  A Food Piece |  A Glory Piece |  A Peace Piece |  A Gold Piece |
|
 Masons
Rio Grande Games is publishing an English version of Mauerbauer (Hans im Glück) to be titled Masons.
|
Rum & Pirates
Rio Grande Games is publishing an English version of Um Ru(h)m und Ehre (Alea) to be titled Rum & Pirates.
|
Sea Robber
Rio Grande Games is publishing an English version of Seeräuber (Queen Games) to be titled Sea Robber.
|
 Spirits of Niagara
Rio Grande Games is publishing an English version of Flussgeister am Niagara (Hans im Glück) to be titled Spirits of Niagara.
|
Thief of Bagdad
Rio Grande Games is publishing an English version of Der Dieb von Bagdad (Queen Games) to be titled Thief of Bagdad.
|
 Thurn and Taxis
Rio Grande Games is publishing an English version of Thurn und Taxis (Hans im Glück) to be titled Thurn and Taxis..
|
 Times Square
Rio Grande Games is publishing an English version of Auf der Reeperbahn nachts um halb zwei (Hans im Glück) to be titled Times Square.
|
Toppo
Publisher: Rio Grande Games
Designer: Reiner Knizia
Players: 2-4 (up to 8 with two sets)
Ages: 10 and up
Playing Time: 10 Minutes
Other Language Versions:
German - Toppo (Abacusspiele)
Here is a description of the game from Rio Grande Games:
Toppo is a fast card game with all players acting at once. Each player tries to get rid of his cards as quickly as possible by matching sets of three (or more) with the set showing on the layout on the table.
Scan the Layout! Match your cards! Strike fast and win!! |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
|
 Zig Zag
Rio Grande Games is publishing an English version of Kreuz und Quer (Hans im Glück) to be titled Zig Zag.
|
 Schmidt Spiele
|
 08/15
Publisher: Schmidt Spiele
Designer: Richardson
Players: 2-5
Ages: 6 and up
Price: 5.00 €
Here is a description of the game from Schmidt Spiele:
| Lickety-split, try and bring the numbers 0, 8 and 15 into the correct order. To make sure it's not too easy, the cards come in multiple colours. And all players play at the same time. And all players are envious and devious and wish to win this wild card game themselves. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |
|
 Aquädukt
Publisher: Schmidt Spiele
Designer: Bernhard Weber
Players: 2-4
Ages: 8 and up
Playing Time: 30 Minutes
Release Date: Released
Here is a description of the game from Adam Spielt:
Building houses isn't hared - but providing water is much more so. By following this ancient Roman building principle, a prosperous landscape is settled by the players. But the beautiful houses are useless without water. If a player doesn't provide water for his houses before the neighbourhood is completely built up, then the inhabitants - good or bad - must move out and the house brings no victory points. He who uses tactical cunning and a little dice luck to build wells and canals at the right time and secure the best building spots will win!
Contents: 1 game board, 112 building tiles, 8 mountains, 5 (glass) springs, 36 (wooden) canals, 1 20-sided die. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |  The Game |
|
 Fußball-Ligretto (Soccer Ligretto)
Publisher: Schmidt Spiele
Players: 2-8
Ages: 8 and up
Price: 7.95 €
Here is a description of the game from Schmidt Spiele:
| Soccer was never quite this fast: The cards land in the net at breakneck speed, and 90 minutes of game time are finished in 5 - until next time. And the next time is sure to come. Because Soccer Ligretto is maybe even more exciting than the real World Cup. No wonder that everyone wants to shoot, or play again right away. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |
|
 Selecta Spielzeug
|
 Giro Galoppo
Publisher: Selecta Spielzeug
Players: 2-5
Ages: 6 and up
Price: 24.99 €
Here is a description of the game from Selecta Spielzeug:
On your horses, get set, go! Crazy horse racing game for 2 to 5 jockeys from 6 years.
The riding event of the season has just begun! Five promising racehorses race along the course. The racing cards determine the speed. However, the race does not always go according to plan, because some of the horses push their way through and thrust others asidein their determination to win. Players who tactically use their cards and have luck on their side will win the race by a head. Contents: 1 game board (17â…“ x 17 â…“ inches/ 44 x 44 cm), 30 racing cards, 5 riders, 5 horses and 5 wooden obstacles, instructions |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Game |
|
 Picco Popolino
Publisher: Selecta Spielzeug
Players: 2+
Ages: 4 and up
Price: 8.79 €
Here is a description of the game from Selecta Spielzeug:
Inviting and speedy bring-along-game for 2 or more players aged from 4 years.
Camillo and his 11 friends love parties and are keen to take part in whatever is going on. But they never come without invitation: The coloured faces on the spinning top show which friend may come. But watch out: Some symbols on the top bring unexpected surprises with them, making the game exciting to the very end! Let Camillo and his friends bring a real party mood into your playroom. Contents: 1 game board, 12 friends, 1 top, instructions |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Game |
|
 Spezet
|
 Crazy Diamond & Karatino
Publisher: Spezet
Designer: Bas Kesting (Spel-Maker, The Netherlands)
Artist: Marc Bosman (Bosman DTP, The Netherlands)
Graphic design: Bas Kesting.
Players: 2-6
Ages: 8 and up
Playing Time: Crazy Diamond: 1 hour, Karatino: 1 hour
Game Language: English
Rules Languages: English, German, Dutch
Price: 27.95 €
Here is a description of the game from designer Bas Kesting:
Crazy Diamond & Karatino are two games on a unique double-sided playing board. In Crazy Diamond, the players try to smuggle as many diamonds as possible across the board. But the trip is risky! The players travel along the various routes using planes, jeeps and speedboats. They can bribe the local police in order to get control of important ports and airports. The first player who owns 25 diamonds wins the game.
In Karantino, each player is faced with the challenge of processing the rough diamonds and selling them at the right moment. However, there is a limited amount of storage space and there are other players on the market, looking to get the better of you! The combination of luck, strategy and interaction makes Karantino a unique and very addictive game. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
|
 TenkiGames
|
 Krumble
Publisher: TenkiGames
Designer: Piero Cioni
Players: 3-6
Ages: 8 and up
Playing Time: 30 Minutes
Rules Languages: Italian and English
This is a boardgame that comes in a box the same size as the publisher's previous game Shark Park.
Here is a description of the game from the publisher:
The game is about the adventures of a group of explorer/archaeologists inside an Aztec Pyramid. Inside there was the big treasure they was looking for but also the traps that this old temple hides. The stones are moving and the Pyramid start to crumble. Here starts the game: players must desperately try to reach the exit before everything collapse over them!
Here is the material inside the box (something small things could change but it is almost for sure)
- 72 tiles: corridors and obstacles inside the pyramid
- 12 tiles: obstacles
- 108 wooden counters to keep track of character's skills
- 6 tiles: characters (back and front)
- 1 jeep tile
- 1 airplane tile
- 6 characters to put into plastic counters
- 1 pyramid idol to put in plastic counters
- 1 stele to put in plastic counter
- 8 plastic counters
- 1 dice
- 1 rulebook |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |  A Tile |  A Character |
|
 SnakeLake
Publisher: TenkiGames
Designer: Piero Cioni
Players: 3-6
Ages: 8 and up
Playing Time: 30 Minutes
This is a boardgame that comes in a box the same size as the publisher's previous game Daimyo.
Here is a description of the game from the publisher:
The game is about a group of snakes wandering in the woods trying to eat the apples that fall down from the trees (and avoiding eating the poisonous mushrooms). The snakes' frenzy bring them to run between the trees and players must me able to "pilot" them to the apples, avoiding mushrooms, trees and the other snakes. The game is card driven (the cards are describe the possible movements).
Here is what is in the box (something could change, but it is almost for sure):
- 1 big double-face map (3-4 players map on one side, 5-6 players on the other one)
- 100 cards: 7 for each player with the movements and the others are special events
- 18 apple counters
- 8 mushroom counters
- 10 tree counters
- 6 wooden counters with the snake head (1 for each color)
- 48 wooden counters for the body of the snake (8 for each of the 6 colors)
- 1 score board
- 1 utilities board
- 6 game board (one for each player)
- rulebook |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |  A Player Board |  A Card |
|
 Tilsit
|
Baron
Publisher: Tilsit
Designer: Franz Gaudois
Players: 2-5
Release Date: April 2006
This is the sixth game in the Tilsit Collection series. It is a tactical tile-laying game set in the 11th century. Similar to the previous Tilsit Collection game Himalaya, Baron was previously available as a free download under the name Combats des fiefs (Fiefdom Wars).
Here is a description of the game from Tric Trac (barring any major changes in design, translated by Jasen Robillard):
Each player is given 2 hex tiles at the start of the game: a wasteland tile (value of 0) and a tile with a value of 1. Each tile in the draw deck consists of a landscape with a value of -2 to +3. Each turn consists of:
- drawing 1 tile
- placing a tile
- placing a knight on any of the free wastelands.
When placing a tile, if there are 4, 5 or 6 adjacent tiles, the player moves up on the prestige track by 1, 2, or 3 respectively.
When a knight is surrounded by 6 tiles, the knight is replaced by a castle and the player moves up the prestige track by the equivalent value of the land surrounding the castle.
Battles ensue when a knight is located too close to a castle. In the event of a battle, the combat values of the knight and castle are calculated in the same way as the land value except that the land located between the castle and knight are not taken into consideration (as this is the battlefield). In the case of a tie, the castle owner wins and the knight is removed from the tile. If the knight wins, the castle is removed and the castle owner goes down on the track by the value of the battlefield. The winner of the battle replaces his knight with a castle and goes up on the track according to the normal land valuation rule. Note that diplomacy is allowed in the game. The game ends when the last tile in the draw pile is placed. |
|
 Himalaya Extension 5/6
Publisher: Tilsit
Designers: Regis Bonnessee and Guillaume Blossier
Players: 3-6
Ages: 12 and up
Release Date: February 2006
This is an expansion for Himalaya.
Here is a description of the game from Tilsit:
The high Tibetan plateaus are attracting more and more people! The proof? Here you go: the very first expansion for Himalaya. It allows for two additional players, taking on the roles of the Newar and Limbu tribes, to take part in this Tibetan competition for fame and influence. Himalaya will therefore become a game for 3-6 players.
Some additional variants complete the expansion set, including the "Allergic to Luck" variation which allows for the placement of resources and orders without using the die. All this to allow for even more enjoyable games... |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
|
 Winning Moves
|
Auf die Palme (In the Hand)
Publisher: Winning Moves
Designers: Richard Garfield and George Elias
Players: 2
Release Date: April 2006
Here is a description of the game from Spielbox:
| Auf die Palme (In the Hand) is a card game by Richard Garfield and George Elias. Two players fight it out with 12 birds of varying values, trying to claim the 10 best feeding locations in the palm of a hand. But since only one bird is allowed at any one space, there's competition. The object of the game is to cleverly place your birds, bluff and not cheat - even if the engaging theme makes you want to. The player who claims the best feeding spaces is the winner. |
|
 Blokus Duo
Publisher: Winning Moves
Designer: Bernard Tavitian
Players: 2
Ages: 5 and up
Playing Time: 20 Minutes
Price: 19.95 €
This is a smaller, two player version of Blokus.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box |  The Game |
|
 Terranova
Publisher: Winning Moves
Designers: Gaetano Evola and Rosanna Leocata
Players: 2-4
Ages: 10 and up
Playing Time: 60 Minutes
Price: 16.95 €
Release Date: March 2006
Here is a description of the game from Spielbox:
| Terranova is a tactical board game about claiming land on an island. The game, designed by Italian designers Gaetano Evola and Rosanna Leocata, will be released in the "Game Enjoyment Squared" line and is for 2-4 players 10 and up. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |
|
Top Trumps Gumball 3000
Publisher: Winning Moves
Price: 3.95 €
Here is a description of the game from Spielbox:
| The "Top Trumps" line is also being expanded, with Gumball 3000 Supercards. The cars are all ones that took part in the unusual Gumball 300 rally, the most glamourous and insane rally in the world. High speeds, inconceivable horsepower, politically incorrect gasoline consumption and more - that's what being used to trump in this game. |
|
 Ystari Games
|
Mykerinos
Publisher: Ystari Games
Designer: Nicolas Oury
Artist: Arnaud Demaegd
Layout: Cyril Demaegd
Players: 2-4
Ages: 10 and up
Playing Time: 30-60 Minutes
Release Date: March/April 2006
Price: 18.95 €
Other Language Versions:
German - Mykerinos (Huch & friends)
The theme is about Egypt and Great Britain. We are told that it looks like Clue, but it's not like that game at all. This is a smaller game than Ys or Caylus and will be in a smaller sized box.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box (German Version) |  The Box Cover Picture |  The Box Back |  The Game |  A Card Front |  A Card Back |
Links:
Soon page on Ystari Games (with some pictures)
|
 Zoch
|
 Doktor Schlüsselbart (Doctor Schluesselbarg)
Publisher: Zoch
Designer: Jürgen Then
Artists: Victor Boden
Players: 2-5
Ages: 6 and up
Playing Time: 20-30 Minutes
Price: 29.95 €
Release Date: March 2006
Here is a description of the game from the publisher:
| Because even the most powerful magic is useless when compared to a good sense of touch! Doctor Schluessebart, the famous alchemist, has forgotten the magic spell with which he's locked the doors of his castle. Now, the players must use lots of careful touch to move the alchemist through the rooms shown on the game board. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |  The Game |
|
Flussgeister am Niagara
Publisher: Zoch
Artist: Victor Boden
Players: 3-6
Ages: 8 and up
Playing Time: 30-45 Minutes
Other Language Versions:
English - Sprits of Niagara (Rio Grande Games)
Price: 14.95 €
Release Date: March 2006
This will be a big expansion for the Spiel des Jahres winning game Niagara, similar to the Dicke Luft in der Gruft expansion Frische Luft für die Gruft.
Here is a description of the game from the publisher:
| The search for jewels across the raging torrent of Niagara continues - and now, river ghosts come into the game. With larger canoes (which can hold more gems), extra paddle cards and river ghosts who can help during moments of extreme danger, the award-winning game becomes even more exciting. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |  The Game |
|
 Los Mampfos
Publisher: Zoch
Designers: Maja Dorn and Rüdiger Dorn
Artist: Gabriela Silveira
Players: 2-5
Ages: 6 and up
Playing Time: 20-30 Minutes
Price: 29.95 €
Release Date: March 2006
Here is a description of the game from the publisher:
| "Buenos Dias!" - Children 6 and up, along with their families are welcome in the world of Los Mamfos, a game about feed, hungry donkeys and the millstones that determine their fate. In this 20 to 30 minute game, 3 donkeys with more or less full stomachs are always in motion and demand a good memory. |
Here is another description of the game from the publisher:
Buenos dias, senoras y senores! Welcome to the world of Los Mamfos - a game about tasty oat cakes, hungry donkeys and colourful millwheels.
Three donkeys trot along their path around the oat mill. While underway, they eat oat cakes that disappear into the inside of the wooden donkeys. Every once in a while, a donkey 'decides' to relieve itself. But before that happens, the players secretly choose which colours of cakes they think are in that donkey. Those who chose correctly get the cakes that come tumbling out of the donkey's bum as soon as the movable tail is lifted. Since the donkeys are perpetually on the move, a keen sense of observation is needed to note which cakes are in which donkey's stomach. At the end of the game, the player with the most cakes wins.
Los Mamfos is a hilarious game for sombrero-wearing players with good memories and a love for donkey poop. Caramba! |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |  The Game |
|
 Ramba Samba
Publisher: Zoch
Artists: Peter Bolz and Alexandra Bolz
Players: 2-4
Ages: 4 and up
Playing Time: 15 Minutes
Price: 34.95 €
Release Date: March 2006
Here is a description of the game from the publisher:
| There's also something new for little players this year: Children 4 and up can feel and form while playing Ramba Samba. Here, players develop their tactile abilities while playing the game. The friendly caterpillar has lots of colourful dresses in her sack, just right for the big carnival. Sadly, Ramba can't remember any more which clothing articles fit which parts of her long body. The player who can feel which ones fit the fastest is the winner. |
Here is another description of the game from the publisher:
In Ramba Samba, the name of the game is shapes, feel and a happy little caterpillar with clothes made of lots of colourful wooden pieces.
The game board shows the entire length of the caterpillar Ramba. Her carnival costume (wooden pieces) are hidden in a large cloth bag. They fit on the game board in pre-determined ways. Each turn, the player simultaneously reach into the bag to find the next matching puzzle piece. The winner is the player who places the most pieces.
Ramba Samba demands tactile awareness in a fun-filled way. Because only the player who can feel the matching pieces fastest will win. |
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
 The Box Front |  The Game |
|
By Rick Thornquist
