Gameblog

Author: Mikko

  • Gaming Year 2016

    2016 was a good year. Lots of games. I made a new record for the number of new games tried. My previous record was 93 new games in 2011, but this year I reached 133 new games. This is a record that’s unlikely to be broken any time soon. I don’t really want to. I’ve decided…

  • Träxx

    I bought a new copy of this game myself. The game: Träxx by Steffen Benndorf and Reinhard Staupe, published by Nürnberger-Spiele-Verlag in 2015. Elevator pitch: A quick simultaneous play route-building filler. May the best route win! What’s in the box? Four boards, four dry-erase pens, fifteen cards and rules. The components are minimalistic, but perfectly functional. Colours are bright…

  • Heat

    I bought an used copy of this game myself. The game: Heat by Dave Chalker and Chris Cieslik, published by Asmadi Games in 2015. Elevator pitch: Heist-themed drafting game, with artwork inspired by Saul Bass. What’s in the box? 34 cards, a small board, bunch of cubes and some plastic chips for money. Component-wise, this is almost…

  • Dungeon Rush

    I received a free review copy from the publisher. The game: Dungeon Rush by father and son team Rustan and Eli Håkansson, published by Lautapelit.fi in 2016. Elevator pitch: Slapjack in a dungeon. Turn over monster cards and slap the ones your heroes can beat. What’s in the box? Bunch of cards: 10 oversized hero cards and 110…

  • Triominos Tribalance

    I received a free review copy from the Finnish distributor. The game: Triominos Tribalance by Michael Sohre, published by Goliath in 2013. Originally published as Tri-Ba-Lance by Theta Games in 1995. Elevator pitch: A balancing challenge: try to get the best pieces on the best locations on a wobbly board without unbalancing the board. What’s in the box? There’s…

  • Dokmus

    Dokmus is published by Lautapelit.fi, and I received a free review copy from the publisher. The game: Dokmus by Mikko Punakallio, published by Lautapelit.fi in 2016. Elevator pitch: A tactical puzzle. Twist and move the boards in order to expand your influence all over the board. What’s in the box? There are eight double-sided board tiles that are used to…

  • Scotland Yard Junior

    Scotland Yard Junior is published in Finland by Ravensburger, and I received a free review copy from the Finnish distributor. The game: Scotland Yard Junior by Michael Schacht, published by Ravensburger in 2015. Elevator pitch: A new version of the old classic Scotland Yard, redesigned for children. The game has been simplified a lot and feels like a different game,…

  • Rüben Rallye

    Rüben Rallye is published in Finnish as Kaniralli by Haba, and I received a free review copy from the Finnish distributor Tevella. The game: Rüben Rallye by Sylvain Ménager, published by Haba in 2016. Elevator pitch: Beautiful roll and move game for kids, but with an added element of distance approximation thrown in. What’s in the box? Haba is known for…

  • Kakerlaloop

    Kakerlaloop is published in Finnish as La Cucaracha Loop by Ravensburger, and I received a free review copy. The game: Kakerlaloop by Inka and Markus Brand, published by Ravensburger in 2015. Elevator pitch: Roll and move your bugs across the board, but watch out for the Hexbug Nano cockroach that tries to bump the bugs off the spaces. What’s…

  • Fashion Show

    Fashion Show is published by Finnish Peliko, and I received a free review copy. The game: Fashion Show by Theora Design, published by Peliko in 2016. Elevator pitch: A simple tile-laying pattern recognition game with a Top Model -like fashion theme. What’s in the box? A large board checkered with different cloth patterns, a bunch of thin cards. The…