Garrett's Games 1036: Tend and Buffet Boss

This week we exploit another planet and send our plants, animals and other goods back home in the draw and draw behemoth Tend by Max Anderson, Zac Dixon, Austin Harrison, and Toby Sarnelle from IV Studio then we try to pile the best food on our respective plates in Buffet Boss by Daryl Chow from Arcane Wonders Remember you can sponsor the 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  

This week Shelley and I build fountains, then try to string nubmered cards together in a shedding game: Fountains by Kedric Winks from The Op Games and Number Chain by Woojin Yang from Arcane Wonders check out our VIDEOS for each of these games here: www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames Remember you can sponsor the 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  

This week Shelley and I travel a circular board to pick up and deliver items to specific fantasy shops in Leylines by Daryl Andrews and Wolfgang Kramer from Arcane Wonders Then we head into the land of trick taking once again for a new twist in Pinatas by Reiner Knizia from Allplay Remember to SUBSCRIBE and check out our YouTube channel for videos on each of these titles. You can support the podcast and our video series directly 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 check out two 2025 releases, as well as looking back 11 years to a games that had been gathering dust on our shelf: Take Time (2025) by Alexi Piovesan and Julien Prothiere from Libellud - a co-op game with 40 challenges in the box for 2-4 players. Pergola (2025) by Michal Golab Golebiowski and Przemek Wojtkowiak from Rebel Studio Trambahn (2015) by Helmut Ohley from Mayfair and Lookout Games Remember to check out our accompanying videos over on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames 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 Shelley and I explore to very different games that begin with F First we collect resources and attempt to make excellent alcoholic drinks in Fantasy Brewers by Michael Schacht from Grail Games then we get card and try to create the best ant trails in the draw and draw game Fantastic Trails by Jordy Adan from NSV Thanks to this week's sponsor Dr. Finn's Games 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 Shelley and I get a chance to check out games from two game BOOKS published or forthcoming from one of our favorite designers - Dr. Finn! First we check out  Dr. Finn's Book of Solo Strategy and Word Games (Amazon Link Below): https://www.amazon.com/Finns-Book-Solo-Strategy-Games/dp/B0FBJYZZ48 and three games from the forthcoming  Dr. Finn's Book of 2-Player Strategy and World Games (Kickstarter Link Below): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/drfinnsgames/biblios-qandp-dr-finns-2021-games/creator Then we check out another one of our Essen 2025 pick ups: Popcorn by Victor Saumont from Iello  Thanks to our sponsor this week - Dr. Finn's Games You can sponsor the podcast and our video series 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: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I chuck dice and fill in rows in Clickety Clack by Ralf zur Linde from NSV then we head to Japan and strategically place our ronin figures into cities to do actions & funfill contracts in Ronin by Emanuele Ornella from Queen Games Remember you can sponsor 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 create our own little ponds and populate them with frogs and insects in Pondscape by Tomas Holek from Pink Troubadour and Capstone Games then we build a canal-side city and place buildings for majority scoring in Tolleno by Gilles Turbide from Sit Down! Thanks As always to our sponsor Bezier Games - check out their store at www.beziergames.com You can support the podcast and our YouTube 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 are traveling through our games this week, heading first to France to bike around the countryside in Postcards by Eric Dubus and Simon Kayne fron Synapses Games then we check out the northern part of our own continent in Photo Tour North America by Oleg Meleshin, Eugene Timashov and Yury Yamshchikov from Timashov Publishing Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games, and check out their web store at www.beziergames.com! You can sponsor this poscast and our video series 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  

Now that it's ACTUALLY 2026, we can look ack on 2025 and run through our Top 10 games that we first played in 2025. If you want to go back and listen to our list from the first 1/2 of the year, head here: EPISODE 1000: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1000.1.mp3 Here are our lists, including the Honorable Mentions, as well as the episode and possible video links for each game: Doug's List Honorable Mentions (5) Please Don't Burn This Village by Simon Weinberg from Fireside Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1023.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/XVTUakC54gk Everdell Silverfrost by James and Clarissa Wilson from Starling Games & Tabletop Tycoon Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1010.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/wI5I9rLtOYs Looot by Charles Chevallier and Laurent Escoffier from Gigamic Audio:https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames997.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/Gu971L2ZeAs Draft and Write Records by Bruno Maciel from Inside Up Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames981.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/5EQswvbj5fc Viva Catrina by Fred Boulle and Gregory Grard from The Flying Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1016.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/ldc8TfR3ztk Top 10 Aquaria by Tomas Holek from Delicious Games and Capstone Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1022.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/YuErHyNbVzU Up or Down? by Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling from Capstone Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1022.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/RFNCJRc7c9E Llama Llama by Kaya Miyano from Allplay Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1024.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/OU0o4ywLdFA Bone Wars by Wim Goossens from Game Brewer and Cranio Creations Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames999.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/BLA5KvMhGUI MySeven (or Double Seven) by Michael Schacht from Schmidt Spiele Video: https://youtu.be/qn2cfsPe3Lo Sanctuary by Mathias Wigge from Capstone Games and Feuerland Spiele Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1024.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/UWU6UFP8NEA Meister Makatsu by Reiner Knizia from AMIGO Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1020.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/i4LE8SgJR4w Pondscape by Tomas Holek from Pink Troubadour and Capstone Games Audio: Upcoming Video: Upcoming Orloj: The Prague Astronomical Clock by Abraham Sanchez Hermida & Paloma Pascual from Perro Loko Games & Devir Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1021.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/SsGUQAowwS8 Fromage by Matthew O'Malley & Ben Rosset from Road to Infamy Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames981.mp3 Shelley's List Honorable Mentions (5) Biddle by Carsten Rohlfs & Ralf zur Linde from AMIGO Viva Catrina by Fred Boulle and Gregory Grard from The Flying Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1016.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/ldc8TfR3ztk Up or Down? by Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling from Capstone Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1022.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/RFNCJRc7c9E Flip 7 by Eric Olsen from The Op Games MySeven (Double Seven) by Michael Schacht from Schmidt Spiele Video: https://youtu.be/qn2cfsPe3Lo Top 10 Meister Makatsu by Reiner Knizia from AMIGO Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1020.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/i4LE8SgJR4w Aquaria by Tomas Holek from Delicious Games and Capstone Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1022.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/YuErHyNbVzU Resafa by Vladimir Suchy from Delicious Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames982.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/NnkHwK1PxCc Ofrenda by Orlanda Sa & Andre Santos from Osprey Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1003.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/S5Z31sBTdRk Sanctuary by Mathias Wigge from Capstone Games and Feuerland Spiele Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1024.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/UWU6UFP8NEA Everdell Silverfrost by James and Clarissa Wilson from Starling Games & Tabletop Tycoon Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1010.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/wI5I9rLtOYs Kathmandu by Stefan Feld from Queen Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1009.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/BcCEw7CICLo Fromage by Matthew O'Malley & Ben Rosset from Road to Infamy Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames981.mp3 Pondscape by Tomas Holek from Pink Troubadour and Capstone Games Audio: Upcoming Video: Upcoming Orloj: the Prague Astronomical Clock by Abraham Sanchez Hermida & Paloma Pascual from Perro Loko Games & Devir Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1021.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/SsGUQAowwS8