Garrett's Games 1020: Dragonarium and Meister Makatsu

UPDATE - WE GOT ONE RULE WRONG ON DRAGONARIUM, MAKING THE GAME HARDER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN! We SAID that you were supposed to move your assistant and ONLY place a gem on the FINAL spot where the assistant stopped. THE REAL RULE is that you place a gem on a spot in EACH COLUMN OR ROW you get to as you move. That makes the game less difficult and opens up the chances to gain more dragons, which is a VERY good thing! This week we check out a fun card game, and then preview a very cool puzzle game with dragons! First up is Meister Makatsu by Reiner Knizia from AMIGO where each player had their own deck and you're tryin gto avoid taking points. Then we place domino-style tiles and hope to birth dragons in Dragonarium by Wei Chang and Kuan Chen from Wonderful World Board Games Remember to SUBSCRIBE! You can support the podcast and our video series over on YouTube 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 we go exploring! First we head north and take photos of wildlife in Borealis: Arctic Expeditions by Dariusz Mindur from Lucky Duck Games (order the game directly here: https://quack.at/garretts-games-borealis) then we head down into the depths with Captain Nemo and crew in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Alberto Millan from Looping Games You can support the podcast 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  

This week Shelley and I build cities and fight to regain our daraven homeland. First we check out the 2-player  Timber Town by Ryan Boucher from Alley Cat Games then we go BIG as we attempt to gain the most prestige as dwarves in Covenant by German Millan from Devir You can also check out our VIDEO overview of Covenant at our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames Sponsor this podcast and our video series 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  

Shelley and I check out two small-box games that provide a much bigger experience than their boxes might suggest. First up is Allplay's tableau builder released earlier this year Oddland by Dan Schumacher then we check out a brand new Essen 2025 release 1975: White Christmas by Albert Reyes  Remember you can support this podcast and our video series 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 Remember to SUBSCRIBE!

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