Cat in the Box, Deluxe edition

Designer: Muneyuki Yokouchi (横内宗幸)
Publisher: Bezier Games
Players: 2-5
Playing Time: 30-45 minutes
Times Played: >12 between purchased copy of original and review copy of Deluxe Edition provided by Bezier Games

The new version of Cat In The Box has come out at GenCon 2022, and I’m happy to say that this allows the masses to get a chance to play this mind-warping trick taking game, and I mean that in the best sense of “mind warping”.

Before we talk about the new version, let’s revisit the review of the original by James Nathan (his words in italics).   I am inserting pictures of the new version in the midst of his old review…

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World Exchangers

• Designers: Romain Caterdijan, Smoox Chen
• Publisher: EmperorS4
• Players: 2-4
• Age: 8+
• Time: 30-40 minutes
• Played with review copy provided by the publisher

After the Incident “El Dorado” in 2082, the world was divided and dominated by 4 notorious oligarchs. They maintain peace on earth but have a bizarre tradition every 50 years – they redistribute the lands and resources by selling and buying all the major cities in the world. Will you maximize your fortune in this once-in-a-lifetime chance, or vanish in the dust of the cities that never stop changing hands in this world?  In this game, you will buy and sell cities at the right moment to earn the most profits and gain a variety of rewards. Become the richest oligarch to win the game!

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Twilight Inscription

• Designer: James Kniffen
• Publisher: Fantasy Flight Games
• Players: 1-8
• Age: 14+
• Time: 90-120 minutes
• Played with review copy provided by publisher

Twilight Inscription is subtitled “The Epic Roll & Write Experience”.  At first glance, it is certainly trying to win that crown; with a game including up to 8 players, and an upper time limit of 120 minutes!   As with most Fantasy Flight Games – there is a backstory: “The Lazax Empire has burned to ash, rejected by its subjects. The aftermath was tragedy and petty conflict in equal measure, a time of loss and exhaustion. In the ensuing Dark Years, the factions of the galaxy retreated and recovered their strength. Now, they look upon the stars and see an opportunity—a chance to reclaim what was lost. A chance to redefine galactic civilization. A chance to leave their mark upon the stars. With a limited pool of resources at your disposal, you’ll need to carefully manage Navigation, Expansion, Industry, and Warfare as you amass victory points and earn your right to the throne on Mecatol Rex. Will your faction become the new rulers of the galaxy? Or will your fledgling empire fade into obscurity? “

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Spaceship Unity – Season 1.1

• Designers: Ulrich Blum, Jens Merkl
• Publisher: Pegasus Spiele
• Players: 2-4
• Age: 10+
• Time: 60-120
• Played with review copy provided by Pegasus Spiele

Spaceship Unity might be unlike any other game that I own.  It’s a cooperative game.  OK, maybe not unique yet.  It’s a game the portrays a TV series captured in a game – played over a number of episodes.  Wait a minute, that sounds a lot like Pandemic Legacy or other games.  It uses things found in your house to transform it into a spaceship.  You will need pen and paper, maybe some socks, a light fixture, your sink, and who knows what else… Wha?!

In Spaceship Unity – Season 1.1, the focus is on the story. As in a TV series, the story continues over several episodes (five in this case). Each of them is divided into multiple chapters with branching story paths for a different experience. As in real life, the story keeps going no matter how the crew performs. However, that doesn’t mean the mission is to be taken lightly! After all, the players are the last hope for galactic peace, and the course of the story will change depending on the players’ success or lack thereof, for better or for worse.

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Ready Set Bet

• Designer: John D. Clair
• Publisher: AEG
• Players: 2-9
• Age: 14+
• Time: 45-60 minutes
• Played with review copy provided by AEG, also played with designer at GenCon

John D. Clair is prolific game designer, with designs spanning many different genres – we have looked at a number in the past: Mystic Vale, Cubitos, Dead Reckoning and Ecos to name a few.  I have found the quality of his designs across these different game types to be nothing short of amazing.

Ready Set Bet is a “racing” game, but in a betting sense.  Here, you do not control any of the horses in the race – in fact, they move on their own based on the luck of the dice.  Instead, you bet in real time on the results of the race in progress.  For now, you’ll need to have someone serve as the house player – responsible for rolling the dice, moving the horses, and hopefully injecting interesting commentary to the game.  By the time the game is released, there is supposed to be a companion app, voiced by the designer himself, that will automate the horse action for you.

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