Umbrella: Strategic Color Coordination

Designed by Flavien Dauphin and Benoit Turpin with artwork by Vincent Dutrait, “Umbrella” accommodates 1-4 players aged 8 and up and has a playtime of 30 minutes. The game involves arranging colorful umbrellas on a 4×4 grid to match patterns and score points. It features a solo mode that does not require an AI opponent, providing a puzzle-like experience for individual and group play.

Infiltraitors: Cooperative Deduction

“Infiltraitors,” created by John and Liam Kean with artwork by Man-Tsun, is designed for 2-5 players and lasts 20-30 minutes. The game is a cooperative deduction experience where players work together to identify traitors in their midst. It includes 20 missions with varying levels of difficulty and employs clue boards and dry erase markers for tracking information, aiming for high replayability and engaging team dynamics.

Don’t Skip Leg Day: Fitness-Themed Card Game

“Don’t Skip Leg Day,” by designer Alex Cutler with artwork by Joshua Leonard, is a quick, fitness-themed card game for 3-6 players with a 15-minute duration. It uses a pick-and-pass mechanic and is packaged in a shaker bottle. Players select exercise cards over two rounds to build their bodybuilder persona, balancing strategy and humor.

Designed for 2 to 5 players and suitable for ages 8 and up, “Courtisans” offers 20-30 minute sessions of gameplay. The game is set during a royal banquet, where players guide Courtiers around the hall to influence various families and secure points. Each player manages a set of Courtier cards divided among six families, with 15 cards per family.

In each turn, players draw three cards, choosing one to place at the Queen’s Table, one to keep in their own Domain, and one to place in an opponent’s Domain. The strategic placement of cards is key, as the cards can be positioned either above or below the family’s column at the Queen’s Table. The game concludes with families being classified as Esteemed or Disgraced based on their card positions, which affects the scoring of cards in each player’s domain.

Some Courtiers in the game have special powers when played, and each player begins with a secret scoring objective. The winner is the player who accumulates the most points through strategic card placement and the use of special abilities.

The base game of “Beacon Patrol” is designed for 1-4 players, offering play sessions ranging from 20-30 minutes and is suitable for players aged 8 and above. With an MSP of $14.95, the game was developed with a focus on cooperative play, tile placement, and grid movement, attributes that are highlighted through the design and illustrations of Torben Ratzlaff. The expansion is scheduled for release in June 2024 and is positioned to extend the game’s exploration and defense of the North Sea.

“Ships & Shores” introduces a series of new ships, each with distinct abilities to aid players as they navigate the game’s challenges. These include the Construction Ship, which allows for the refill of one movement token upon placing a tile, and the Research Vessel, which provides the option to swap up to two tiles each turn. Other additions like the Coast Guard Ship, Hover Craft, Pilot Ship, Ferry, and Submarine offer various strategies for movement and tile management, enriching the gameplay with additional strategic depth.

Furthermore, the expansion enhances the game by incorporating new tiles, broadening the scope for scoring and introducing new obstacles. This development is aimed at providing players with varied gameplay experiences and additional layers of strategy.

Preorders for “Beacon Patrol: Ships & Shores” are currently available on the Pandasaurus Games website. A notable incentive for early orders is the early shipment of the game, allowing those who preorder to receive their copy two weeks before the general release date.

Designed by Romaric Galonnier and Anthony Perone, with art by Noëmie Chevalier, “Courtisans” accommodates 2-5 players, is suitable for ages 8 and up, and has an estimated playtime of 20-30 minutes. The game is based around a narrative where players navigate a royal banquet, aiming to influence noble families through strategic card play.

The game integrates mechanics such as “Take That,” Set Collection, Tableau Building, and End Game Scoring Bonuses. This mix is intended to challenge players to manage their cards effectively while interpreting the strategies of their opponents.

The structure of “Courtisans” involves six different families, each with 15 Courtier cards. Players draw and play cards in a manner that influences their standing at the Queen’s Table, their own Domain, and within an opponent’s Domain. The arrangement of cards at the Queen’s Table is crucial for determining whether a family is Esteemed or Disgraced by the game’s end, which affects scoring.

The game also introduces special powers through certain Courtier cards and secret scoring objectives for each player, adding layers of strategy and unpredictability.

Pandasaurus Games is currently accepting preorders for “Courtisans” through their website. A notable incentive for early orders includes the delivery of the game two weeks before its general release, providing preorder customers with early access.

As Pandasaurus Games rolls out their much-anticipated board game, Sea Salt & Paper, they’ve also surprised fans by announcing a mini-expansion aptly titled “Extra Salt.” The booster pack promises to add new dimensions to the gameplay, enriching an already engaging experience.

The mini expansion, which is priced at $6.95, requires the original Sea Salt & Paper game to play and is suitable for 2-4 players aged 8 and above. A typical game session runs from 30-45 minutes. The game was designed by the talented duo of Bruno Cathala and Théo Rivière, and features artwork by Lucien Derainne and Pierre-Yves Gallard.

“Extra Salt” includes mechanics of hand management, set collection, and push-your-luck gameplay. The expansion introduces 8 new cards with 5 different effects, adding a deeper layer of strategy.

• Jellyfish: Restricts opponents’ actions during their next turn.
• Lobster: Allows players to draw cards and add one to their hand.
• Starfish: Creates a powerful trio by combining with a duo, adding 2 points.
• Seahorse: Acts as a substitute for a missing Collector card in a set.
• Crab Multiplier: Adds extra points for Crab cards.

Preorders for the expansion will open this October and are expected to ship by December, ahead of the official release date in January 2024.

While the base game of Sea Salt & Paper already has players buzzing, the “Extra Salt” expansion adds a new level of strategic depth. The expansion will also include new rules to accommodate these additional cards and effects.

In Emerge, designed by Adam DeYoung with art by Tom Goyon, players take on the role of scientists studying newly emerged islands. The game introduces a unique three-dimensional board, allowing islands to expand in a visually impressive manner as players explore and study their ecosystems. The inclusion of brightly colored plants and animals add further depth and vibrancy to the gameplay experience.

Emerge challenges 2-4 players, aged 12 and above, to use their dice in each of the eight rounds to gather research and make discoveries. All players commence with identical research boards, but as the game progresses, players can modify their individual boards to alter their research objectives.

At the game’s conclusion, points are earned based on the flourishing biodiversity of each player’s islands and the accomplishment of research objectives. A typical game lasts around 75 minutes, with the player who earns the most points emerging as the winner.

Pandasaurus Games is currently accepting preorders for U.S. customers on its website, with each order including a free promotional card. Limited copies of the game will also be available at Gen Con. Preorders for Gen Con pickup, also coming with a free promo card, will be opening soon.

“After Us” accommodates 1-6 players and is suitable for ages 12 and up, promising engaging gameplay that lasts between 40-60 minutes. Retailing at an MSRP of $49.95, the game is expected to become a significant addition to any board game enthusiast’s collection.

The game is set in the year 2083. Humanity has become extinct, and nature has reclaimed much of the world’s land. Amongst the ruins of civilization, apes have evolved, forming tribes and beginning to understand and utilize the remnants of human society in their quest for collective intelligence. As tribe leaders, players guide their apes towards greater understanding and advancement.

Each turn, players will draw four ape cards from their deck and organize them in an assembly line. Completed frames will yield resources, earn points, and provide powers. Players will then be able to attract new apes to their tribe, enhancing the intelligence and efficiency of their team. The first player to reach 80 points is declared the winner.

In anticipation of the game’s release, Pandasaurus Games has opened preorders in the U.S via their website. As a bonus, each preorder will come with a free promotional player board that celebrates Essen SPIEL, adding a purely cosmetic touch to the game.

Preorders are set to ship on July 19th, offering early access to the game ahead of the official retail release. Pandasaurus Games has also announced plans to showcase ‘After Us’ at the upcoming Gen Con, with copies of the game and promos available. Fans attending the event may want to hold off on preordering until Gen Con preorders open next month.

Designed and illustrated by the renowned Torben Ratzlaff, Beacon Patrol challenges players to patrol the waters of the North Sea coast, ensuring the safety of the area by inspecting lighthouses and buoys. But, with a game duration of only 30 minutes, efficiency is key – the aim is to explore as much of the sea as possible before time runs out.

In Beacon Patrol, the sea is a tile-based board where each turn presents three potential actions for players. They can lay a tile next to their ship and move onto it, exhaust a propeller to shift their ship one space, or swap a tile with a fellow player, although this last option can only be used once per turn.

When all tiles have been played or discarded, the game concludes and points are tallied. Players earn points for each fully surrounded tile – ones with a buoy are worth 2 points, ones with a lighthouse yield 3 points, and ones without either are worth 1 point. How well you’ve done is then compared with the criteria outlined in the rulebook.

Once players feel comfortable with the base game, they can ramp up the challenge with either, or both, of the two mini expansions already included in the game.

Pandasaurus Games is already accepting pre-orders for Beacon Patrol on their website, offering an enticing deal: each pre-order comes with a free set of Discovery Tiles expansion. Although the game will reach retail outlets on August 2nd, pre-orders are set to ship on July 19.

For board game aficionados planning to attend the upcoming Gen Con convention, it might be worth waiting – Pandasaurus Games will have copies of Beacon Patrol and promos available at the event.

Fair winds and following seas to all future captains of Beacon Patrol! Secure your pre-orders today to sail into an exciting gaming adventure this summer.

District Noir is the creative brainchild of designers Nobutake Dogen and Nao Shimamura, brought to life with the captivating artwork of Vincent Roché. The game offers a playtime of 10-20 minutes and is suitable for ages 10 and above.

As leaders of the city’s most powerful criminal organizations, players vie for control of territories and seek to grow their influence by any means necessary. The crux of the power struggle revolves around District Noir, a coveted and highly contested area that could tip the scales of city dominance.

Two paths to victory await players in this engaging game: seize control of District Noir’s various supports or directly control the city’s three strategic locations. Timing is key as players strategically play their cards to the center of the table. In each round, they can take the first five cards in line, and at the end of the game, points are awarded for the majority of each supporter and the collection of sets. However, an immediate win is up for grabs for any player who successfully claims the three locations.

Preorders are open now and set to ship on July 5, ahead of the retail release on July 19. Please note, orders with multiple items will not ship until all items are available.

Aurum is a game for either three or four players, with a twist on the classic trick-taking structure. At the start of a round, each player bids the number of tricks they believe they will win by playing a card from their hand in front of them. On your turn, you must play a card that does not match any of the suits already played. At the end of a trick, the player with the highest numerical card value wins, and the player with the lowest gains a Gold card of that value to add to their collection. Gold cards can be used either as a trump or are worth points if left in your collection at the end of the round.

Gold cards may also be spent to swap the bid with a card from the player’s hand. At the end of a round, players gain points equal to double their matched initial bid. If they exceed their bid, they gain points only equal to the value. If they do not hit their bid, they get no points. The player or team with the most points from Gold cards in their collection earns a gold nugget. The first to win two nuggets wins the game.

According to Alex Cutler, Head of Development, Aurum’s twists on the classic trick-taking structure straddle the line perfectly, making it immediately approachable for new players while offering something very fresh for fans of the genre. The game is for anyone who enjoys Cat in the Box, Yokai Septat, Scout, or Tichu.

Players can try Aurum online with two different builds on Tabletop Simulator, the Simple Version with infinite bags of the different decks to make setup a little easier, and the Lightly Scripted Version for super easy setup. Preorders for the game are available now on the Pandasaurus Games website, and it will officially release on August 16, with shipping on July 28. Copies of the game will also be available at Gen Con.

Source