Venturesome

• Designer: Michael Rieneck
• Publisher: Devir
• Players: 2-5
• Age: 10+
• Time: 30 minutes
• Played with review copy provided by publisher

Recollect the images from your childhood. All the exciting books, graphic novels and movies full of tireless discoverers and travelers, surprisingly lethal archeologists, secret agents, or crocodile hunters. Now grab your cards and use them to form a unique expedition to find legendary treasures! So, where’s the catch? The heroes we’re talking about are close to immortal – whatever happened they always found a way out, never actually meeting enemies powerful enough to defeat them. You, on the other hand, will have to face your friends, who probably had the same sources of inspiration as yourself… It’s time to prepare for a tough competition full of dirty tricks!

When playing Venturesome, you try to gather a group of adventurers able to undertake a chosen challenge while evading any threats. You use the abilities of your expedition members in order to thwart your rivals’ plans. However, bear in mind that your opponents are equally ready to steal, manipulate, or do anything that is necessary to defeat you. If you don’t act quickly and decisively, instead of finding the treasure, your expedition will get into real trouble. So, forget about scruples and compromises. Be smarter, quicker, and meaner that your rivals.

Venturesome is the spiritual successor of the legendary Palastgeflüster. With the updated game mechanics and victory conditions, you can expect hours of gaming full of negative interaction. In this game each move is a risk that might pay off. Just remember about the most important rule: be RUTHLESS! That’s the only way you can win!

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Sparks

• Designers: Adrian Adamescu, Purluca Florin, Kjetil Svendsen and Kristian A Ostby
• Publisher: Alion
• Players: 1-4
• Age: 12+
• Time: 45 minutes
• Played with review copy provided by publisher

This robot factory needs you! With the assistance of your trusty animal companions, mechanical marvels will soon start rolling off your assembly line — then you just need to add some spark to bring those robots alive. Explore the junkyard to gather dice for constructing robots or upgrading your factory. Keep a keen eye on your line-up of charming animal aides; they’re the cornerstone of your winning strategy.

In Sparks, each player runs a robot factory and takes turns being the active player. As the active player, you play one of your production tiles to take a number of dice from the junkyard; all other players then take one die each. All players simultaneously use their dice to complete robots or level up their factory.

Players can also use spark to activate the abilities of their completed robots, or use cogs to recruit their animal assistants. You start the game with six assistants, each with a unique ability, and you should shape your strategy around them. The variety of assistants ensures that each game provides a different challenge. In the advanced game, players draft the assistants, providing more strategic options.

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Phone Wallet Keys

• Designer: Icerain Lin
• Publisher: Icerain Games
• Players: 2-5
• Age: 6+
• Time: 15 minutes
• Played with copy provided by Taiwan Boardgame Design

Phone Wallet Keys is a set-collecting casual game where players take on the roles of a family preparing to leave the house. Players have to gather all the necessary items before heading out and remind everyone of the time. Players continuously draw item cards from the deck, being mindful not to collect identical items. At the end of the game, score all the item cards, and the player with the highest score wins!

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Parks Roll & Hike

• Designers: Henry Audubon and Mattox Shuler
• Publisher: Keymaster
• Players: 1-4
• Age: 10+
• Time: 30 minutes
• Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3XuSIqV 
• Played with review copy provided by publisher

Welcome to Parks: Roll & Hike, the newest, diciest addition to the Parks family! During the game, you draft dice and log your selections in your handy journal. Record your time in the mountains, forests, and fields through drawing. Keep a log of all the wildlife you spot to earn mid-hike bonuses, and don’t forget to stay hydrated!

Parks: Roll & Hike features six US National Parks, illustrated by Andreea Dumuta, which bend the rules of the game and create a unique gaming experience every time you play. Revisit the world of Parks in its most portable, everyday carry format yet, with everything you need to toss it in your pack and hit the trails.

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