4 1/2 Minuten

Posted on November 29, 2019 by Dale Yu

Before you do anything else, start the music file below. And then, let it be known that you have exactly 4 1/2 minutes to finish reading this review. Which might be hard, because you’ll be dancing along in your chair the whole time…

This is the best song ever

4 1/2 Minuten

  • Designer: Joachim Reif
  • Publisher: moses. verlag
  • Players: 2-6
  • Age: 8+
  • Time: 4.5 minutes
  • Times played: game: 8, with review copy provided by moses. music: >70 and counting (it’s now my alarm music on my phone!)

4 1/2 Minuten was a game that I knew nothing about prior to Spiel 2019. As you may have read in my No Return review; I usually don’t pay much attention to the games from moses as they are often literary based and almost always in German only. For many of their new releases, EN rules are available online, and the game components themselves are language independent.

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Posted in Essen 2019, Reviews | 1 Comment

Dale Yu: Review of No Return

Posted on November 28, 2019 by Dale Yu

No Return: Es gibt kein Zurück!  (There’s No Turning Back!)

  • Designer: Marco Teubner
  • Publisher: moses
  • Players: 2-4
  • Ages: 8+
  • Time: 20-30 minutes
  • Times played: 3, with review copy provided by moses

moses is one of the game companies that I have often walked by at SPIEL, but have rarely stopped at because most of their games tend to be word or story based and generally entirely in German.  This year, No Return was the popular game on their stand, and this one is really a language independent abstract, so there aren’t any language issues. I was actually surprised to find out that they are making a move towards more multi-lingual releases, and in fact, many of their 2019 games have EN rules on the website!

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Posted in Essen 2019, Reviews | 3 Comments

Dale Yu: Quick look at 2 games from MindWare – Gembatan and Sapphiro

Posted on November 27, 2019 by Dale Yu

This summer, I was given the opportunity to play a few of the new strategy games being sold by Mindware.  From their website – “MindWare is the award-winning creator, manufacturer and distributor of Brainy Toys for Kids of All Ages. Founded in 1990, the company started out with a small retail store in Minneapolis, evolving into a direct-to-consumer catalog and website business, as well as a wholesale business. Our diverse product line includes educational toys, games, brainteasers, creative play activities, building sets, coloring books and more. “  While this sort of game is maybe a little out of the Opinionated Gamers wheelhouse, I wanted to see what their new line of strategy games was all about; in part to see how the games played as well as to help build my internal database of possible suggestions when people ask me the inevitable question: “What game should I buy XXX for their birthday/Christmas present?”   Both of these games were played with my regular gaming group, and they went over fine – though they would definitely be better suited for a more casual gaming group or family activity. Both are available from

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Posted in Reviews | 2 Comments

Patrick Brennan: Game Snapshots –2019 (Part 24)

Posted on November 27, 2019 by pfbrennan

one cartographer’s view of Australia

My Essen theory is, if you have a great game, you want to release it at any time other than Essen so as to give it clear air and allow us to hear the bagpipes swell. If you have an average game, you want to release it at Essen to maximise sales – people are more likely to buy it on a whim and a chance, before word spreads of its averageness. This has the added benefit of buyers writing the game up as better than it is to assuage their buyer remorse, in an attempt to limit their embarrassment and the public shaming at getting sucked in to Essen hype (once again!).

At time of writing, I’ve only scratched the surface of Essen games (there are multiple Essen weekends coming though), but it’s not been a good look so far. With each play, I could feel ever stronger waves of buyer regret from our Essen-travelled colleagues, with the occasional muttered “What was I thinking” emanating from behind closed doors, coupled with a rhythmic thumping that sounded suspiciously like head meeting ceramic.

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Posted in Sessions | 2 Comments

BGGCON Day Four (2019)

Posted on November 26, 2019 by xitoliv

This is actually a Day Zero, Four, and Five post, as I’ll cover Saturday, Sunday morning, and a few things from Tuesday night after the train arrived.

This was the last BGGCON I’ll be able to make it to for several years, and I am trying to shift some of my convention time and money budget to other shorter, smaller, conventions where I’ll still get to see many of the same folks.

One of the reasons is that I have trouble controlling my tempo here. I’m in such a rush to squeeze in playing everything, seeing everyone, being everywhere, that it’s harder to enjoy. I’m aware of it, I just have trouble relaxing enough to allow a slower pace or lower my voice.

So when my Seattle+ crew of friends invited me to brunch Saturday, I jumped at the chance. Why? Because I wouldn’t be able to play games.

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Posted in Convention Report | 5 Comments

Dale Yu: Review of Cities: Skylines the Board Game

Posted on November 26, 2019 by Dale Yu

Cities: Skylines the Board Game

  • Designer: Rustan Hakansson
  • Publisher: Kosmos
  • Players: 1-4
  • Age: 10+
  • Time: 60-90 minutes
  • Times played: 3, with review copy provided by Thames&Kosmos

From the Paradox website: Cities: Skylines is a modern take on the classic city simulation. The game introduces new game play elements to realize the thrill and hardships of creating and maintaining a real city whilst expanding on some well-established tropes of the city building experience. It also includes the ability to mod the game to suit your play style as a fine counter balance to the layered and challenging simulation. You’re only limited by your imagination, so take control and reach for the sky!   I have actually been tempted to download this game for my PC as I have always loved the genre.  (Disclaimer – I really love the genre due to my work on the game Suburbia, from Bezier Games)

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Posted in Essen 2019, Reviews | 4 Comments