Garrett's Games 1016: Essen Games! Viva Catrina and Arigato

This week we're coming to you from GERMANY! If you have missed any of our numerous VIDEO posts over on YouTube, be sure to go check them out here: www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames This week on the audio podcast Shelley and I check out two fun titles we got BEFORE the fair because they were the French versions: Viva Catrina by Fred Boulle and Gregory Grard from The Flying Games and  Arigato by Melodye Ladrat and Florian Sirieix from Ludonaute. Check out our videos for each of these on YouTube and you can support the podcast by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out the extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

This week on Garrett's Games Shelley and I check out one of the latest heavier titles from Board&Dice  Tianxia by Antonio Petrelli and Daniele Tascini then we wrap up our hall by hall preview with games from Halls 6 & 7!

This week we continue our Spiel Essen Preview with a look at  March of the Ants: Evolved Edition by Tim Eisner and Ryan Swisher from Weird City Games  then delve further into the halls, checking out Halls 4 & 5! Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games - they will be in Hall 2-B510 at Spiel! You can follow along with our discussion of Essen releases and see my notes on them on this Google Doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J1aQen2zzQVLaOJPr_eh5e3SEo7sbowaflLufYje3YU/edit?usp=sharing REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE: www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames We will be releasing at least 1 video EACH DAY from Essen 2025, so make sure to subscribe so that you don't miss them. You can support the podcast and our video series by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames  OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on OUR shelves, but belong on YOUR table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing

Shelley and I begin our Essen 2025 Preview this week, first checking out one of the new titles that will be available at the fair: Parks and Potions by Chris Eastridge from Moon Saga Workshop then we begin our journey through the halls, starting with Hall 2, 1/2 of which is dedicated to "Expert" titles, then head into the biggest hall, Hall 3. Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games! You can follow along with our discussion of Essen releases and see my notes on them on this Google Doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J1aQen2zzQVLaOJPr_eh5e3SEo7sbowaflLufYje3YU/edit?usp=sharing REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE: www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames We will be releasing at least 1 video EACH DAY from Essen 2025, so make sure to subscribe so that you don't miss them. You can support the podcast and our video series by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames  OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on OUR shelves, but belong on YOUR table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I control rival pirate ships in  Nassau by Stefan Feld from Queen Games Join head into the Lord of the Rings mythos and attempt to fulfill goals while protecting the One Ring in The Fellowship of the Ring Trick Taking Game by Bryan Bornmueller from Office Dog and finally enjoy further plays of the Essen 2024 release Spectacular by Eilif Svensson and Asmund Svensson from Chilifox Games Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games! Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel which you can find here: www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames  because we will reporting DAILY from Spiel Essen 2025! You can support our endeavors by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames  OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on YOUR table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I get into the WAY BACK machine and play a couple of titles from the beginnings of our gaming careers Alhambra and Atlantic Star both by Dirk Henn from Queen Games and then look back at one from Spiel Essen 2024 Stephens by Rola and Costa from Pile Up Games and Capstone Games And the other games we mentioned as highlights from last year's Essen 2024: Atlantis Exodus Zero to Hero Steam Power Resafa Sparks Tivoli Bone Wars Galileo Galilei Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel so you're ready for all of our Essen 2025 videos: www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames Thanks to Bezier Games for their continued support You can sponsor the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on YOUR table here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week on Episode 1010 Shelley and I head back to the Everdell universe, and then deal with our social anxiety while settling down to a good book! Everdell Silverfrost by James A and Clarissa A Wilson from Starling Games and Tabletop Tycoon A Place for All My Books by Alex Cutler and Michael Mihealsick from Smirk and Dagger Games Thanks as always to out sponsor Bezier Games! We have VIDEO reviews of Everdell Silverfrost AND A Place for All My Books as well - Check out THE FORMER and THE LATTER and make sure to Subscribe to our channel: www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames We will be at Spiel Essen in October, putting up video content EVERY DAY, so be sure to subscribe and ring the bell over there so you don't miss any of our fun times and the views of new titles!  

This week on Garrett's Games: Shelley and I head into the North with our mechs to deal with corruption and save previous explorers in Expeditions by Jamey Stegmaier from Stonemaier Games Then we head East and make a journey with our trusty yaks to Kathmandu by Stefan Feld from Queen Games Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games You can sponsor the the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out the extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

On Garrett's Games this week, Shelley and I attempt to kill Hitler, and then build the universe!  First off it's Valkyrie: A Black Orchestra Game by Philip duBarry from Tabletop Tycoon Then we head out into the void of space and collect atoms to build nebulae in Crafting the Cosmos by David Gordon and TAM from Office Dog Thanks as always to Bezier Games for their support. You can sponsor the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out the extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing    

This week on Garrett's Games Shelley and I make some booze and admire a garden. First up is Floriferous by Steve Finn and Eduardo Baraf (with art by Clementine Campardou) from Pencil First Games then we play competing distillers in  Distilled by Dave Beck from Paverson Games Thanks as always to Bezier Game for their sponsorship. You can support the podcast and our video series at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames or check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on YOUR table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing