Dale Yu: Review of Stamp Swap

Stamp Swap

  • Designer: Paul Salomon
  • Publisher: Stonemaier Games
  • Players: 1-5
  • Age: 14+
  • Time: 20-60 minutes
  • Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4fjwGPb 
  • Played with review copy provided by publisher

Designer Paul Salomon (Honey Buzz, Genotype) brings stamp collecting to life on tabletops in Stamp Swap! Draft from a public pool of face-down and face-up tiles (along with some bonus cards), then simultaneously divide them into 2 groups. You will select one group from another player and keep the group of yours that isn’t selected. Organize your growing collection each round and score 1 of 4 goals–choose wisely, as you can’t score that goal again.

The art of stamp collecting is not just in accumulating many stamps, but in collecting high-quality stamps (including rare gold-foil stamps). This 3-round game for 1-5 players is your chance to meet other attendees, put together a beautiful and well-focused stamp collection, and show it off in a series of contests. Do well and you may walk away with the top prize at this year’s Stamp Swap!

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Dale Yu: Preview of The Fellowship of the Ring Trick Taking Game

The Fellowship of the Ring Trick Taking Game

  • Designer: Bryan Bornmueller
  • Publisher: Office Dog
  • Players: 1-4
  • Age: 10+
  • Time: 20 minutes
  • Played with preview copy provided by publisher (Game slated for Jan 2025 release, but there is a soft release this week at PaxU)

The Journey Begins! Step inside the legendary world of Middle-earth in The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game! Work together to navigate the story of this cooperative card adventure, meeting new characters and completing special quests as you journey through the first book in the beloved The Lord of the Rings series.

  • EXPLORE MIDDLE-EARTH: Dive into the epic world of Middle-earth as you navigate the story of The Fellowship of the Ring with this cooperative trick-taking card game.
  • COOPERATIVE GAMEPLAY: Play your cards carefully as a team to avoid peril and progress through exciting chapters from the Shire to the breaking of the Fellowship.
  • NARRATIVE ADVENTURE: Follow the narrative of the beloved novel in a unique gameplay experience, meeting new characters and completing quests as you progress.
  • STAINED-GLASS ARTWORK: Enjoy the visually striking cards featuring all-new stained-glass artwork that brings each character and scene from the first novel vividly to life.
  • VERSATILE GAME MODES: Engage in multiple game modes that enhance replayability, allowing you to revisit the challenges and tales of Middle-earth in various ways.

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Cyber Monday Opinionated Gamers Gift Guide 2024 – Games on sale today – including game collection must haves for $13

OK, if you’re not ready for shopping, just skip this post.  But, if you’re looking to get a jump on the holiday season, here are a few ideas for you.   Today, how about some suggestions for good gifts – that just happen to be on sale today?   As many of these links today are Cyber Monday deals, they are definitely time sensitive and possibly quantity limited.

As usual, the Amazon links are affiliate links, and we may benefit from them if you buy the games from the link.  The title of the games will also link to our review of the game (where possible)

At the bottom of the post are links copied from our previous Gift List ideas – so that you don’t have to find our previous posts (though no guarantee they are stlil on sale)

Azul (for 13 bucks?!) – https://amzn.to/41jwEmJ

Splendor for 13 bucks?! – https://amzn.to/3BbDhg1

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Dale Yu: Review of Gardlings

Gardlings

  • Designer:Kristian A Østby and Maria Østby 
  • Publisher: Alion
  • Players: 1-4
  • Age: 8+
  • Time: 20 minutes
  • Played with review copy provided by publisher

Cleverly build your garden. Harvest gems and enrich your seed bag with new, amazing creatures so your next garden can grow even more abundant. Combine the unique abilities of your creatures, and be the first to acquire the victory trophy. Each round in Gardlings, all players simultaneously build their garden in front of themselves. You do this by drawing and placing tiles from your bag. You may stop drawing tiles at any time because if you draw too many gnomes, they will steal gems from you. At the end of the round, use any gems you matched in your garden to buy a new tile, then return all of your tiles to your bag to prepare for the next round. Each tile features potential ways to match gems, as well as a creature with a special ability. Your garden will grow larger and better each round, and the puzzle of placing tiles will become increasingly complex. The goal of the game is to match enough gems to buy the victory tile.

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Dale Yu: Review of The Yellow House

The Yellow House

  • Designer: Geonil
  • Publisher: Mandoo
  • Players: 2
  • Age: 8+
  • Time: 30 minutes
  • Played with review copy provided by publisher

In The Yellow House, inspired by artists like Van Gogh and Gauguin, you’ll engage in debates about which elements are most crucial in the arts.\

Your goal is to empty your hand during these debates. On your turn, you can either play a card to make a claim, or strengthen your arguments by discarding cards if the topic you bring forth is not stronger! With cunning, you’ll be able to say the final word and, that way, win the debate of the century!

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Dale Yu: Review of 3 of a Kind

3 Of a Kind

  • Designer: Tim Eisner
  • Publisher: Weird City Games
  • Players: 2-8
  • Age: 10+
  • Time: 25 minutes
  • Played with review copy provided by publisher

What is the scariest zoo animal?
The happiest item in a junk drawer?
The most dangerous fruit?

3 of a Kind is a competitive party game of thinking alike, where players try to write matching answers to wild questions. Each round, players select a Category and 3 different Adjectives. Each player writes one answer for each Adjective in the selected Category. The more players who write the same answer as you, the more points you get! 3 of a Kind plays with 2-8 players and offers near infinite variations of Adjective/Category combos to tickle your brain. Each game is played over 6 rounds and lasts 20-30 minutes.

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