Alison Brennan: Game Snapshots – 2026 (Part 11)

Posted on March 8, 2026 by Dale Yu

 

 

New-to-me games played recently include …

13 LEAVES (2025): Rank 7205, Rating 6.7

Shedder where the set you play must be <= the lowest played set so far or >= the highest played set so far. The twist is that as each player passes they take a card from the played sets so far, improving their hand but also making it easier for the still-in players to continue playing if cards are taken from the lowest or highest sets. Which makes for random (but fun) go outs. What to play and when to pass doesn’t seem overly intuitive so I’d explore it more if it hit the table again.

Rating: 7

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Dale Yu: Review of Llama Llama

Posted on March 7, 2026 by Dale Yu

 

 

Llama Llama

  • Designer: Kaya Miyano
  • Publisher: Allplay
  • Players: 2-4
  • Age: 8+
  • Time: 15 minutes
  • Played with review copy provided by publisher

In Llama Llama, players pass cards to craft hands around the different scoring conditions. These conditions were chosen by the players secretly at the start of the round—you’ll have to try and guess at what others are going for to score big!

 

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Dale Yu: Review of Miams

Posted on March 6, 2026 by Dale Yu

 

 

Miams 

  • Designer: Jules Messaud
  • Publisher: KYF edition
  • Players: 2-5
  • Age: 10+
  • Time: 30 minutes
  • Played with review copy provided by publisher

Roll your dice to make the most beautiful fruit skewers, and fill your Hearts track before your opponents!  Combine powerful Yums cards to skew probabilities in your favor and create unique game situations!

 

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Dale Yu: Review of Queen Marie-Antoinette

Posted on March 5, 2026 by Dale Yu

 

 

Queen Marie-Antoinette

  • Designer: Julien Griffon
  • Publisher: Oka Luda
  • Players: 2-4
  • Age: 10+
  • Time: 30 minutes
  • Played with review copy provided by publisher

A game of strategy and influence at the court of Versailles – Step into the intrigues of the royal court!


In Queen Marie-Antoinette, you play as ambitious courtesans vying for favor in the opulent court of Louis XVI. Recruit influential characters from five distinct factions (Favorites, Merchants, Military, Clergy, Aristocrats), fulfill secret Plots, and adapt to the Queen’s ever-changing demands to earn influence points.  The Queen’s Requirements and shifting Conditions will disrupt your plans and force you to rethink your strategy each turn. Only the most cunning courtier will rise to the top.

 

 

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Heroscape: A New Age Begins

Posted on March 4, 2026 by Mark Jackson
A collage of HeroScape game expansions featuring various character miniatures and their descriptions, set against a cosmic background. Includes titles such as 'Might of the New Alliance', 'Paragon of the New Alliance', and 'Secrets of Lithodel'.

You may not have realized it – but the Heroscape team has not simply been adding figures & terrain to the world of Valhalla. They have also been adding tons of lore. We are now leaving the Age of Annhilation (what with the Wellspring storm unleashed by Valkyrie General Thormun) and entering a new age: the Secrets of the Citadel.

This means that Valkyrie generals have been forced into difficult partnerships:

  • The New Alliance – Jandar & Utgar
  • The Umbral Covenant – Vydar & Revna
  • The Clockwork Combine – Einar & Volarak
  • The Verdant Pact – Ullar & Aquilla

At RenegadeCon last Friday, the team shared the upcoming summer releases for this new era in the history of Valhalla. All of the new boxes feature these unfamiliar alliances. Additionally, we are getting to see the first glimpses of heroes with multiple classes. All of the heroes and squads in this wave are unique – meaning you’ll only need a single box of each to “complete” your set.

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Dale Yu: Review of Space Lab

Posted on March 3, 2026 by Dale Yu

 

 

Space Lab

  • Designers: Corentin Lebrat, Johannes Goupy
  • Publisher: Studio H 
  • Players: 1-4
  • Age: 10+
  • Time: 20 minutes
  • Amazon affiliate link: 
  • Played with review copy provided by publisher

Interest in space research is at an all-time high. Across the world, dozens of space labs launch, hoping to uncover the universe’s secrets!  Launch your very own international space station! Recruit members from the world’s four largest space agencies to create the ideal team and complete the most prestigious projects outer space has to offer!

Space Lab is an exciting and accessible tableau-building game full of interesting decisions.
On your turn, collect all the cards from the same agency from the top of the deck or the recruitment center. Manage your hand and place your Lab cards around your Capsules intelligently to optimize their powers and your objectives. Watch the pace of the game to anticipate the end and maximize your score!

 

 

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