Some people are surprised to find out that I spend a lot of my time here at SPIEL in meetings!  Many companies are kind enough to sit down with me and spend a few minutes talking about their games, both present and future.  So, as everyone is getting back from the show, and realistically, everyone should be excited about the new games they just got – I’m jumping ahead and telling you about things to come! (Of course, as I just got home, I haven’t had much time to actually play any of the SPIEL 2023 games, so you’ll have to give me at least a week to get sleep and find time to play the new stuff!)

For me, these meetings are a great way to get some one-on-one time with the games, and often, a chance to sit down for a few minutes in the ever-croweded halls.  There is often a demo of the newest releases, and then a peek at what is to come.

Here are some of the things that I’m looking forward to (in 2024 and beyond):

Flamme Rouge Grand Tour (Lautapelit)

This was supposed to have a chance to make it this year, but there was only one prototype copy available for people to look at.  It has definitely been promised for next year – I heard it both from the designer and the publisher…

Asger also mentioned that I should keep my eyes peeled for other tracks from Heat (Days of Wonder)…

Kids Express (Ludonaute)

The original version of this game won the Spiel des Jahres a few years ago, but now they’re working on a new version more in the 6+ age range.  Here, you still have theives on the train, but the players must work cooperatively to remove them.  There is a pretty cool platform (in the foreground) that you can flick a cannonball thingy at the villain standees, with the goal to obviously knock them off the train.

Faraway (Sit Down / Pandasaurus)

OK, so this is a new release; but for most of the readers here, you’ll be waiting for the US version to make it.  Heck, for anyone who didn’t get it here by Friday afternoon, you’re also waiting because the game sold out that quick!  In this short game, you draft a card each round to add to your tableau – which represents a trip.  Once all 8 cards are drawn, you score them – but in the reverse order that you chose them! This makes for some interesting planning dilemmas.  To make things more challenging, as with games like Honshu, the lowest card played in the previous round gets to draft first; however, these cards often have the lowerst scoring potential – so you have to balance it out.

Daybreak – E-Mission (CMYK / Schmidt)

Depending on where you buy the game, this new cooperative game asks your group to work together to save the environment.  It should be hitting the US shelves in the next month or so, and the German version released here at SPIEL  It’s from Matt Leacock, so you know it’s going to be good.  I’ve actually played an early version of it, so I know I like it.

Restart (Teetotum)

Restart was a complete surprise to me. I was at the stand to learn more about their game Age of Rome – which looks pretty awesome, and I can’t wait to play my copy that is coming soon!  In Restart, you find yourself in a dystopian future.  You play cards to an array on the table, making patterns and fulfil order cards based on those patterns.  The cards that you play also have special actions on them.  Interestingly, the game will come with 6 different modules, and each is supposed to make the game play differently; there will also be a campaign mode where you will play multiple scenarios.

World Wonders (Arcane Wonders)

World Wonders remains on my excited-to-see list because the dang thing keeps selling out on the first day of a show, and I can’t get there in time.  Play the role of a god, build the best city.  And the art just is so gorgeous.

Fateforge (Mighty Boards)

Wow, this game is going to be huge.  Certainly by volume, but also hopefully in popularity.  This is a scenario based dungeon crawler that is meant to fit on a small table.  The picture above shows an entire scenario set up.  There will be molded player trays to hold your stuff; this will also allow quick setup/teardown.  The achievements and status of your group will be held in a phone app, and this will also allow for quick continuation of your campaign.  I first saw it last year in proto, and the more advanced pre-production form I saw this year is definitely something I can’t wait to learn more about.

Open Season (Sit Down!)

In this game, you have a player board with a bunch of slots for scoring/penalty purposes.  Each round, you get 2 cards and you must choose one to go on your board and one to go in your scoring pile. At the end of the game, your scoring board is full, and you then go thru your deck of cards and figure out how you did. Sounds amazing simple, yet possibly filled with difficult choices.

Magic Maze Tower (Sit Down!)

In this new version of Magic Maze, players will work together to solve a logic puzzle based in the Magic Maze universe.  Many of the actions will be similar, but there are new actions and even a new character in this new version.  No timer is required as the goal is to solve the puzzle.  At the current moment, there will be 100 different puzzles of increasing difficulty included in the game.

Challengers Beach Cup (Pretzel)

In this new version of the game (it is standalone), you get new cards that may give a bit more interactivity. The starting decks are also different – IIRC the Dog has a new action. There is also a new module which gives players unique abilities.  I love the first edition, and I’m definitely looking forward to more.  The game can be played on its own or you can add the new cards into the mix with those from the original.

7 Wonders Architects: Medals

A new addition to 7W:A – here, a medal is placed between each pair of players, and the reverse side has a scoring criteria on it.  The first player of that pair who achieves it will score the 4VP medal.  There is also an option for some communal medals in the middle of the table.

Little Tavern (Repos)

In this homage to D&D, you collect cards around your bar table.  Maybe a dwarf or an elf, maybe an adventurer.  Each has different desires that will affect how much they tip.  On your turn, you play cards to your own table, or you can place a customer at an opponent’s!  When all the tables are full, score the characters and the player with the most tips wins.

Pikit (Repos)

Here you have mecha fighting kaiju in a dice rolling game.  Looks to be a very light hearted affair where you try to take control of the kaiju/mecha by rolling doubles.  When you don’t, you use your dice to collect scoring cards which are worth points as well as some giving special abilities.  The comic style art here really caught my eye, and the fast gameplay looks to be up my alley.

TTR: Legends of the West (Days of Wonder)

I mean, it’s coming soon for the US.  I have one of these 4.5kg boxes in one of my pieces of luggage now.  It’s a legacy game.  For spoilery reasons, I really don’t know much else about it.  But I’ll get to play some form of TTR for 10+ games. I’m in.  Total time is supposed to be 12-18 hrs.  Here is Adrien, head of DoW hugging his baby.

Marabunta (Space Cowboys)

This is an ant-themed roll and write by Reiner Knizia, played on a shared board.  Each player does have their own little area to earn rewards/special powers.  I’m definitely liking the idea of the communal space to write on as this promotes interaction; many R&W end up being quiet solitaire games happening at the same table.

High Season (Lookout)

This is a R&W in the Grand Austria Hotel universe.  Not quite available yet, as it wasn’t produced in time – but I’m extremely pleased to have a copy to try out.  Will report back ASAP on this.

Middle Ages (Studio H)

Planned for GenCon 2024 – this is a reworking of Majesty.  Man, this one looks pretty. The tiles all have different border cuts to make sure you don’t screw things up.  You build up your area, placing a tile, then taking the bonus of the column.  There are also little notches undeneath each column for you to improve your bonus action.

Agemonia (Lautapelit)

Just your typical 11+kg box of miniatures and then a 120-180 hour campaign.  Yea, I’m not normally a campaign game kinda guy, but I’ve been seeing this one for the last couple years as it has developed, and it certainly looks like an epic adventure.  Still not sure if this is more for miniature gamers or board gamers – but I’m still interested to learn more.  Somehow I think this is one that I won’t be able to bring back from SPIEL!

OK, so now you know much of what I know (sadly, there was some things I was told that I have to keep silent about until some later date)!

Until your next appointment,

The Gaming Doctor