Here it is again, SHUX 2018! Last year was the first time SHUX was held and it was a great chance to try out new games with actual demo teams so I didn't have to read the rules. There aren't many board game conventions that come to Canada, never mind Vancouver, so to have this return and in its second year become the biggest board game convention in Canada is quite the feat and I hope this continues as an annual thing. With family and work commitments, there is no way I would be able to attend a convention outside of Vancouver in the near feature so I definitely appreciate one of such high caliber making its way here. Anyway, the point of this post is to highlight some of the new games I played!
Decrypto
A brand new party game that has skyrocketed to the Top 10 of party games on BoardGameGeek this year. It takes word deduction games to a whole new level and is knocking on the door of Codenames.
Princess Jing
This bluffing/deduction game was available to demo at SHUX last year but was one I overlooked, even though the components looked great and it had pretty good table presence. As soon as I saw it this year I knew I had to try it out and it is quite an interesting game for two players that might not be in the top tier of light, 2-player games, but very close.
Arboretum
This tableau building/set collection card game themed around planting trees has been on my radar for awhile now, sitting just outside my 2018 Top 100 Games I Want to Play. Thanks to the reprint, I was finally able to demo this game which was surprisingly deep and tactical.
The River
Of all the games on demo this year, this was probably the one that I was most looking forward to heading into SHUX. This is a fantastic worker placement game that just might be the gateway I have been looking for. Being a Days of Wonder game, the production values are through the roof.
Istanbul: The Dice Game
As this game was released last year, I did not expect it to be on demo but it was. Considering I just started playing Istanbul earlier this year and really enjoyed it, I was excited to try this dice version. I definitely prefer the original game more, but this one has a couple things going for it including its portability.
Tokyo Highway
This dexterity game was on my radar for awhile but I never had a chance to play it until this giant version was available to demo at SHUX. Now that Asmodee has picked it up and will be reprinting it, it is only a matter of time before it makes its way into my collection.
Gingerbread House
This game was only in prototype version but it was a very light stacking game by Phil Walker-Harding, most recently of Barenpark fame. I still haven't had a chance to play Barenpark but was reasonably impressed by this light, filler game.
Chronicles of Crime
I only played the first five minutes of this game to get an idea of how it worked as I did not want to spoil too much because I think it would work much better in a home-setting. It is quite innovative with its very thorough use of technology, although the VR mode seems to be a bit annoying. Still, an excellent idea and I wish I did not pass on the Kickstarter.
Red Scare
This party game came out in 2017 and I had heard about it but it pretty much went under the radar and has gotten mixed reviews. I think there might be one too many things going on and the glasses gimmick in theory is interesting but in implementation didn't feel like a great idea. Something I probably would not be interested in playing again.
Mesozooic
I only got to play a quick round of this shuffle game, but it was surprisingly more fun than I thought it would be and quickly wanted to try it again. The full game adds more rounds, powers, and some drafting that will help make it feel like a more complete game and I think this will be a great filler.
KeyForge: Call of the Archons
I don't normally play games like this so I am not the best to say how it compares to others, but it is interesting and the hook of each deck being unique is appealing and potentially cost-saving. Still, this is something I don't see myself playing again anytime soon.
Lords of Vegas
I finally had a chance to play this older Vegas-themed game and walked away very impressed. The art is a bit dated but the game play is a lot of fun. Earlier in the year I started playing Las Vegas after accidentally confusing it with this one and can say I like this one much more.
Illusion
This game is the follow-up to The Mind and I couldn't wait to try it. In my opinion it is a much better game and I think I can only handle one game with vague mechanics. Instant addition to my collection!
Qwinto
Yet another roll-and-write in this crowded field, this one stood out because of it's simplicity. Almost feeling like a stripped down and unthemed version of Welcome To..., it was still a lot of fun and another instant addition.
Fog of Love
This 2-Player romantic comedy in a box has been on many recommended lists since its release earlier in the year and I was able to demo a chapter. Definitely an interesting concept with some neat mechanics, but sometimes the choices that need to be made seem to be a bit game-ier than I would like, especially in a narrative driven game. Still, it has peaked my interest as a game I would potentially pick up.
Fantastic Factories
This indie game caught my attention because of the appealing art style. When I finally got a chance to demo it, I was hooked. This is a dice worker placement and engine building game and feels like a step up from Machi Koro. I was disappointed after playing when I realized I had missed the Kickstarter but look forward to grabbing the game when it hits retail.
Orbis
This gateway tile placement game felt in a way like a variation on Splendor in that you are collecting followers to buy tiles and it builds upon what you purchased before, but it also adds some interesting tile placement elements and more tactical tile selection. A surprisingly good game!
Everdell
An actual Kickstarter release that I had backed, I already owned a copy of the game but had not played it yet, making this the perfect opportunity for someone to teach me how to play. A mix between worker placement and card play, this is a well designed, thematic experience that hits the middleweight sweet spot.
Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition
When watching the Shut Up and Sit Down review of Welcome To..., this game kept getting mentioned as just as good, if not better, so when I saw it in the game library, I had to try it out. Because we were pressed for time, I did not pay close attention to the rules and the couple games that we did play had some screw-ups. Still, I see the potential and would like to play it again.
Tak
This 2-player abstract strategy game was released last year but for me was overshadowed by Santorini, which filled that role in a more colorful way. I was impressed at the very simple but elegant and deep mechanics of this game and while I prefer Santorini, would not object to playing Tak.
Pandemic: The Fall of Rome
Finally, I was able to play the first few rounds of the latest Pandemic spin-off. I have not played the others but was quickly enthralled by the theme that this one exudes, including the barbarians which seem to march closer and closer to Rome. The dice add some uncertainty but not in a negative way. This makes me even more excited for the games which have already been released.
Decrypto
A brand new party game that has skyrocketed to the Top 10 of party games on BoardGameGeek this year. It takes word deduction games to a whole new level and is knocking on the door of Codenames.
Princess Jing
This bluffing/deduction game was available to demo at SHUX last year but was one I overlooked, even though the components looked great and it had pretty good table presence. As soon as I saw it this year I knew I had to try it out and it is quite an interesting game for two players that might not be in the top tier of light, 2-player games, but very close.
Arboretum
This tableau building/set collection card game themed around planting trees has been on my radar for awhile now, sitting just outside my 2018 Top 100 Games I Want to Play. Thanks to the reprint, I was finally able to demo this game which was surprisingly deep and tactical.
The River
Of all the games on demo this year, this was probably the one that I was most looking forward to heading into SHUX. This is a fantastic worker placement game that just might be the gateway I have been looking for. Being a Days of Wonder game, the production values are through the roof.
Istanbul: The Dice Game
As this game was released last year, I did not expect it to be on demo but it was. Considering I just started playing Istanbul earlier this year and really enjoyed it, I was excited to try this dice version. I definitely prefer the original game more, but this one has a couple things going for it including its portability.
Tokyo Highway
This dexterity game was on my radar for awhile but I never had a chance to play it until this giant version was available to demo at SHUX. Now that Asmodee has picked it up and will be reprinting it, it is only a matter of time before it makes its way into my collection.
Gingerbread House
This game was only in prototype version but it was a very light stacking game by Phil Walker-Harding, most recently of Barenpark fame. I still haven't had a chance to play Barenpark but was reasonably impressed by this light, filler game.
Chronicles of Crime
I only played the first five minutes of this game to get an idea of how it worked as I did not want to spoil too much because I think it would work much better in a home-setting. It is quite innovative with its very thorough use of technology, although the VR mode seems to be a bit annoying. Still, an excellent idea and I wish I did not pass on the Kickstarter.
Red Scare
This party game came out in 2017 and I had heard about it but it pretty much went under the radar and has gotten mixed reviews. I think there might be one too many things going on and the glasses gimmick in theory is interesting but in implementation didn't feel like a great idea. Something I probably would not be interested in playing again.
Mesozooic
I only got to play a quick round of this shuffle game, but it was surprisingly more fun than I thought it would be and quickly wanted to try it again. The full game adds more rounds, powers, and some drafting that will help make it feel like a more complete game and I think this will be a great filler.
KeyForge: Call of the Archons
I don't normally play games like this so I am not the best to say how it compares to others, but it is interesting and the hook of each deck being unique is appealing and potentially cost-saving. Still, this is something I don't see myself playing again anytime soon.
Lords of Vegas
I finally had a chance to play this older Vegas-themed game and walked away very impressed. The art is a bit dated but the game play is a lot of fun. Earlier in the year I started playing Las Vegas after accidentally confusing it with this one and can say I like this one much more.
Illusion
This game is the follow-up to The Mind and I couldn't wait to try it. In my opinion it is a much better game and I think I can only handle one game with vague mechanics. Instant addition to my collection!
Qwinto
Yet another roll-and-write in this crowded field, this one stood out because of it's simplicity. Almost feeling like a stripped down and unthemed version of Welcome To..., it was still a lot of fun and another instant addition.
Fog of Love
This 2-Player romantic comedy in a box has been on many recommended lists since its release earlier in the year and I was able to demo a chapter. Definitely an interesting concept with some neat mechanics, but sometimes the choices that need to be made seem to be a bit game-ier than I would like, especially in a narrative driven game. Still, it has peaked my interest as a game I would potentially pick up.
Fantastic Factories
This indie game caught my attention because of the appealing art style. When I finally got a chance to demo it, I was hooked. This is a dice worker placement and engine building game and feels like a step up from Machi Koro. I was disappointed after playing when I realized I had missed the Kickstarter but look forward to grabbing the game when it hits retail.
Orbis
This gateway tile placement game felt in a way like a variation on Splendor in that you are collecting followers to buy tiles and it builds upon what you purchased before, but it also adds some interesting tile placement elements and more tactical tile selection. A surprisingly good game!
Everdell
An actual Kickstarter release that I had backed, I already owned a copy of the game but had not played it yet, making this the perfect opportunity for someone to teach me how to play. A mix between worker placement and card play, this is a well designed, thematic experience that hits the middleweight sweet spot.
Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition
When watching the Shut Up and Sit Down review of Welcome To..., this game kept getting mentioned as just as good, if not better, so when I saw it in the game library, I had to try it out. Because we were pressed for time, I did not pay close attention to the rules and the couple games that we did play had some screw-ups. Still, I see the potential and would like to play it again.
Tak
This 2-player abstract strategy game was released last year but for me was overshadowed by Santorini, which filled that role in a more colorful way. I was impressed at the very simple but elegant and deep mechanics of this game and while I prefer Santorini, would not object to playing Tak.
Pandemic: The Fall of Rome
Finally, I was able to play the first few rounds of the latest Pandemic spin-off. I have not played the others but was quickly enthralled by the theme that this one exudes, including the barbarians which seem to march closer and closer to Rome. The dice add some uncertainty but not in a negative way. This makes me even more excited for the games which have already been released.
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