Garrett's Games 1008: Valkyrie: A Black Orchestra Game AND Crafting the Cosmos

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  

Last week on Episode 1005, we made it through the first 6 RULES that Joe ranted about. This week we delve into Rules 7-14 with much discussion, wine, etc. As Joe Huber and Tom Lehmann lead the way!

It's Garrett's Games' Meeplefest Roundtable! This week after a quick discussion of some favorite games played, we take a deep dive into a Rules For Games list that Joe Huber fashioned on a mailing list. I couldn't let the opportunity to discuss his comments pass by, and everyone gets a chance to chime in for a lively and opinionated discussion. Let us know what you think over on BGG or any of our social media sites! Thanks as always to Bezier Games for their sponsorship. You can support 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: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I spend some time with dragons after playing a couple of cute card games. Wyrmspan by Connie Vogelmann from Stonemaier Games Boo to the Goose by Wolfgang Kramer and Mandred Reindl Zookini by Peggy Brown from Piatnik and AMIGO Thanks as always to Bezier Games for their support You can check out our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames 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 Garrett's Games we check out two fun little card games from Amigo and Piatnik, then plan shrines to lost relatives First up is Double Donkey by Michael Modler from Piatnik and Amigo follow by  Zero Hero by Klaus-Jurgen Wrede and Ralf zur Linde from Piatnik and Amigo then we look to a bigger-box game with Ofrenda by Orlando Sa and Andre Santos from Osprey Games Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games You can support 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  

Shelley and I join AWESOME rock bands and attmept to make it big (and not eat too much "candy") in  Rock Hard 1977 by Jackie Fox from Devir then we get disappointed in a small-box dice fest from a company who has done some excellent games in the past Charidice by Jurgen Adam from NSV (buy either The Mind or The Game instead!) Oh, and the theme-infused older game I mentioned at one point is  Punk Sucht Lady by Wolfgang Kramer and Richard Ulrich (yes, the team that brought us El Grande and Princes of Florence!) Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games 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: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I journey down into the ocean's depths, then to the moon! First we check out fish species in various segments of the ocean in Finspan by David Gordon and Michael O'Connell from Stonemaier Games then we head to the moon and work with various companies to exploit its resources in Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon by Fabio Lopiano and Nestore Mangone from Pandasaurus Games. Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games! 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 Remember to check out our video channel at www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames  

This week we celebrate making it to EPISODE 1000!!! Thanks to Bezier Games for their support. Thanks to Bezier, AMIGO, and Pandasaurus for their sponsorship with games for the contest! You can sponsor the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettgames 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 First we talk Kennerspiel des Jahres - which do we want to win, and which do we think WILL win? Then we GIVEAWAY SOME GAMES to three lucky winners/viewers! Be sure to contact me at [email protected] if you're a winner! Finally, we spend some time reflecting on the year so far, picking our TOP 10 GAMES of the first part of 2025. Doug’s Top 10 for first part of 2025: Fromage by Matthew O'Malley, Ben Rosset from Road to Infamy Games - Episode 981 Draft and Write Records by Bruno Maciel from Inside Up Games - Episode 981 Bone Wars by Wim Goossens from Game Brewer & Cranio Creations - Episode 999 Looot by Charles Chevallier, Laurent Escoffier from Gigamic - Episode 997 Explorers of Navoria by Meng Chunlin from Qiling Games & Dranda Games & GaGa Games Episode 990 Castle Raisers by Erwan Le Minous, Anthony Perone from Wonderful World Board Games - Episode 997 Cargo Empire by Alexander Bogdanovsky, Pini Shekhter from Moaideas Game Design - Episode 978 Sparks by Adrian Adamescu, Kristian Amundsen Østby, Florin Purluca, Kjetil Svendsen from Alion – by Dr Ø - Episode 985 Endeavor: Deep Sea by Carl de Visser, Jarratt Gray from Burnt Island Games, Grand Gamers Guild and Cranio Creations - Episode 996 Azul Duel by Michael Kiesling from Next Move Games - Episode 993 Honorable Mentions: Only Murders in the Building by Aaron Donogh, Prospero Hall, David Iezzi from Funko Games and Goliath Games - Episode 987 3 Chapters by Joe Hout from Amigo - Episode 991 Faraway by Johannes Goupy, Corentin Lebrat from Pandasaurus Games and Catch Up Games - Episode 995 Shelley's Top 10 for the first part of 2025: Fromage by Matthew O'Malley and Ben Rosset from Road to Infamy Games - Episode 981 Atlantis Exodus by George Halkias, Konstantinos Karagiannis from dlp games - Episode 986 Resafa by Vladimir Suchy from Delicious Games - Episode 982 Looot by Charles Chevallier, Laurent Escoffier from Gigamic - Episode 997 Barcelona with the Passeig de Gracia Expansion by Dani Garcia from Board&Dice - Episode 994 Bone Wars by Wim Goossens from Game Brewer & Cranio Creations - Episode 999 Calcada by Vangelis Bagiartakis and Konstantinos Karagiannis from Piatnik - Episode 983 Castle Raisers by Erwan Le Minous, Anthony Perone from Wonderful World Board Games - Episode 997 Azul Duel by Michael Kiesling from Next Move Games - Episode 993 Only Murders in the Building by Aaron Donogh, Prospero Hall, David Iezzi from Funko Games and Goliath Games - Episode 987 Honorable Mentions: Faraway by Johannes Goupy, Corentin Lebrat from Pandasaurus Games and Catch Up Games - Episode 995 River of Gold by Keith Piggott from Office Dog and KOSMOS - Episode 998 Big Easy Busking by Joshua J Mills from Weird Giraffe Games - Episode 976