Garrett's Games 1037: Qwirkle Flex and Onstage

Shelley and I check out an amazing new sequel to a Spiel des Jahres winner Qwirkle Flex by Susan McKinley Ross and Reiner Knizia from Mindware then we try out another interesting twist on the trick-taking genre Onstage by Michael Orion from Arcane Wonders Remember that you can help support the podcast directly at 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 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