Publisher: CMYK Games
Player Count: 2  Players
Game Length: 15 Minutes
Complexity 1.5/5

The definition of Lacuna means a gap between two things and is from the latin lacus, meaning “lake or “pool.” That cleverly defines this quirky, abstract game that likely doesn’t play like any game in your collection. In this gentle, 2-player game, players are collecting different colored flowers resting on a pond. It’s a spatial puzzle where you’re measuring between objects to collect while simultaneously planning for the future. It takes just a few minutes to explain, can be grasped by kids of all ages yet still has the potential to stir your strategic hankerings. Let’s briefly dive into the tranquil pond of Lacuna and see if this strange game is right for your home.

ON YOUR TURN

Packed in a cylinder shaped container, you can tell from the start this is going to be a bit of a different gaming experience. The game itself takes place on a square piece of fabric representing a night pond. Using the container as a pitcher, you pour out the 49 colored flower tokens randomly across the space and you’re ready to play.

The game takes place over 2 distinct phases followed by scoring. It’s a quick game, but the nature of it will allow you to analyze and process the board to your heart’s content.

During the first phase, players will take turns placing their own player pawns onto the pond between two unobstructed flower tokens of the same color. These pawns can be placed anywhere between the two tokens (which is critical to the next phase), but there cannot be any additional tokens or player pawns between the two.

Once players have placed their 6 pawns, play moves to the second phase. During this phase, each remaining token will be evaluated and given to the player with the closest player pawn. The game comes with a ruler to ensure no funny business. Players divide their tokens into sets based on the 7 different token types and point is awarded to the player with the most of each type. The player with the most points at the end wins.

ARTWORK & COMPONENTS

The art direction does a nice job of complimenting the game experience. Simplified, colorful flowers dance across the packaging highlighted with gold flecks of foil spot colors embracing the abstract nature of the game, but this is a game primarily driven by the components. The wooden flower tokens and metal player pawns contrast each other and are distinct on the fabric pond player board without feeling disconnected.

Everything in the game fits in this unique cylinder container. This may excite you or it may not. I personally love the choice, but I can see it causing some trouble for certain gaming shelves. All-in-all, Lacuna looks as different as it plays and will definitely be an eye catcher at your next game night.

PROS & CONS

Gameplay will challenge players with a unique spatial puzzle not common in standard strategic, modern games

Simple ruleset can be taught in a matter of minutes and setup and clean up are a breeze

This is truly a game for all ages. Anyone can play and players can bring their own level of engagement

The game’s quick play time will have you playing multiple games at each sitting

Fun components create a unique, tactile experience

Portable container great for travel

Highly replay ability

 The game plays at a slower pace. I attribute that to the game’s old school approach

The container may not fit conveniently on all gamer’s shelves

Because it’s a spatial game where you’re measuring, it can possibly be a challenge to truly measure between objects.

WHY WOULD YOU LIKE THIS GAME?

I really want to define this more clearly, but Lacuna is a game when you’re in the mood for “something different.” It’s a bit of a conundrum since it’s a family game that only plays with 2 players. It’s light hearted and simple. It knows who it is and doesn’t try to be anything more. The choices are satisfying, challenging and relaxing all at the same time. It plays quickly and is a breeze to set up, making it a perfect filler or weekday evening right before bed.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS GAME?

The best thing about this game is how easy it is to get into. While most games can take a couple plays to feel comfortable, Lacuna takes a couple turns. The entire experience is simple, clean and satisfying.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Lacuna is the type of game that can win over the harshest cynic. It’s straightforward and accessible, while still being engaging and a little mysterious. It sits in that sweet spot offering simple mechanics and decently challenging choices, but it does it in a completely refreshing way.

Its abstract nature isn’t going to sit well with everyone, but it tends to cross boundaries with a satisfying level of strategy that naturally adjusts to the player’s skill level. The spatial element is a nice change of pace for someone like me who typically plays more linear, traditional board games.

Replay ability is another major positive here. The quick setup and tear down make it a breeze to get to the table or layout on the floor and the short playtime guarantees it doesn’t have to wear out its welcome. Additionally, it wasn’t rare to play 2, 3 or 4 games in a row. My kids enjoyed this just as much as my (hardcore) gaming group proving it’s perfect for any sort of family.

Lacuna is a bit more “mass-market, retail game” than hobby game, but its quirkiness will still have you talking about it and bringing it regularly to game nights, road trips and parties.

Publisher: WizKids Games
Player Count: 2-5  Players
Game Length: 75-100 Minutes
Complexity 3/5

As the head of a Renaissance-era, Italian, aristocratic family, supporting the artists, builders and scholars of the day is essential for cultivating fame and prestige. Build your reputation as patrons seeking out worthy artisans, develop your own principalities and become the princes of Florence.

In this tile-laying, contract fulfillment and bidding game, players will bid against each other to help local artisan’s fulfill their creative pursuits. Resources will be tight and savvy bidders will know when to strike in an effort to maximize their returns over 7 rounds where tension continues to escalate and both long term and short-term planning are critical for victory. Are you ready to become a prince of Florence? Find out in the review below:

ON YOUR TURN

The Princes of Florence was originally published in 2000 from the designers behind classic titles such as El Grande, Tikal and Colosseum and more recently, Downforce. In this revised edition, the artwork and components have received a major upgrade to bring this traditional euro into the new era of board gaming.

The game takes place over 7 rounds with each round divided into 2 distinct phases. Players will earn prestige points through a variety of ways and in the end, the player with the most prestige is the winner.

One of the central objectives of the game is to gather professional cards and meet as many of the requirements listed on each card as possible. These cards represent artisans of art, architecture and scholastic pursuits. Each artisan is influenced and inspired in different ways and it’s up to you to cultivate your resources to meet these needs.

Each round begins with an auction phase where players bid on 1 of 6 available objects. These objects carry a variety of benefits that may serve your available artisans. The active player selects one of the objects and all players bid. You can only win 1 object per round and once you’ve acquired an object, you can no longer participate in that round’s auctions. Once a specific type of object has been bought, no one else can buy that object for the remainder of the round. The objects feature landscape tiles that will later be added to your principality board, prestige and recruiting cards that provide endgame objectives and the ability to steal professional cards from other players respectively and builder and jester tokens that provide price and scoring benefits.

Once all players have completed the auction phase they move onto the action phase. During the action phase, players will be able to perform 2 actions from a selection of 5 choices.

Among other things, this is where you cash in your professional cards. Each professional card earns points for meeting certain point-scoring objectives. You don’t have to meet them all, but each round has point requirements for cashing in cards that must be met if you choose to cash in a card, so the later you wait, the more you need to earn. Your professional cards earn points for having certain landscape tiles or buildings in your principality (which can be purchased during the action phase) as well as holding certain cards in your hand as well as owning other objects.

Just from a setup perspective, the principality board plays a fairly prominent role in the game’s presentation. This gridded board allows you to place purchased landscape and building tiles throughout. These polynomial shaped tiles need to fit together in the grid and will benefit you when you cash in artisans. This provides an additional puzzle to consider when executing your strategy.

Having finished the action phase, players can choose to take money earned into your hand for future rounds or use it to purchase prestige points. The player with the most money earned during the round receives a bonus. This continues for the 7 phases and a winner is finally declared.

ARTWORK & COMPONENTS

I am a huge fan of the artwork in Princes. The characters are colorful, credible and full of personality. It’s full of style and nothing is overly silly or cartoony which is a great tone for the game.  The game’s components are good and the overall production has a fairly classy feel to it. The game’s wooden token paws used to track points aren’t amazing. I would have liked to see a more custom shape than the traditional chess pawn, but they do get the job done.

The rulebook is fairly clear and easy to understand. I was able to jump quickly into both the base game and the solo mode without too much trouble.

PROS & CONS

 The bidding feels very tight and gaining those initial auction items is a real challenge

 Many paths to victory, but you have to be very intentional about your goals

 Great artwork and production

 Cool points/money split mechanic at the end of each action phase. This could be your key to victory, but you feel the tension in your choices.

 Overall set collection feels really cutthroat in a good, challenging way

 The game plays at a slower pace. I attribute that to the game’s old school approach

 This isn’t a crowd pleaser. It’s certainly for a niche audience.

 A bit rules-y and that can slow down gameplay

NEUTRAL You have to be very particular about your choices. Failing to grab a needed object can disrupt your pursuits and cost you big time.

WHY WOULD YOU LIKE THIS GAME?

Fans of classic bidding and euro games are going to enjoy the old school feel. This is a tight, cutthroat game and it can get pretty competitive. There is plenty of interaction in the bidding phase and it can get a little nasty with the right group. It has a little Use Rosenberg with the tile laying and there are plenty of choices and paths to victory for fans of that sort of thing.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS GAME?

This is both the best and the worst thing about the game: The auction phase can be brutal. Sometimes you really need to overpay to guarantee the right piece. It can be incredibly irritating when your opponents start driving up the prices, but it’s also super satisfying to pull one over on them. I’m a fan of bidding games and the tight choices really elevate the bidding process here.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I wasn’t sure how Princes of Florence would translate 20 years after it was first released. It definitely has an old school euro feel, but there is still plenty of personality in the mechanics that make for a fun, engaging experience.

The pacing of the game is where it does feel a bit dated for me. I think we’ve come a long way when it comes to pacing in modern games and Princes shows a little wear in this area. Perhaps there is a way to condense some of the actions, but it is what is and while the pacing felt off it certainly wasn’t a deal breaker for me.

This is a set collecting game, but the path to get there is what really makes it interesting. The bidding and tile laying aren’t anything revolutionary, but it’s the limited choices that make them engaging. Grabbing objects (or resources if you prefer) is super tight here. This all starts with the bidding phase and how only 1 object of each type can even be drafted that round and each player leaves the phase with only 1 object. The choices are solid as well. Should I grab a jester that’s going to earn me additional points with each professional card I cash in or go with the builder who is going to decrease the cost of buildings later on? Maybe it would be smarter to grab a prestige card to provide an additional end scoring goal to pursue? Don’t forget Landscapes or Recruiting cards! It all comes down to your own strategy and how that conflicts with the other players as the bidding commences.

The principality/polyomino mini game follows in a similar fashion. The space is limited and makes choices more of a challenge. Buildings can’t be adjacent to other buildings early on and this creates a bigger spacial puzzle that needs to be planned for and solved.

The key to your engine is the end of round scoring choices. After players cash in professional cards they can either take the money or trade it in for prestige points. Obviously the player with the most prestige is the winner, but you’re going to need money to outbid your opponents and purchase objects during the action phase. I doubt this is the only game to employ this technique, but it’s brilliant and needs to exist in more games. This mechanic GUARANTEES at least one really interesting decision EACH round.

Princes of Florence is an unforgiving game. Making the wrong choice or bidding too much for something can completely derail your game. Resources are tight and the 7 rounds feel not nearly long enough to accomplish all your goals. When you’ve finally finished fighting the other bidders, you then turn around and realize you have to start fighting the game with its tough resource stipulations and limited actions.

If it’s not clear by now, this isn’t a game for everyone. It can sludge along with the wrong players and be a bit frustrating at times. But, for players looking for a cutthroat game with really tight and challenging choices, Princes of Florence may be for you. I think fans of old school euros are going to find a lot to like here, but there are some progressive ideas that play well in today’s gaming landscape. I found the game also gets better and better with each play and that’s a huge plus for me. I think if you find the right group that embraces a more challenging, interactive and cutthroat game, this can be a real gem that begs for repeat plays.

Publisher: Wizkids
Player Count: 1-5 Players
Dedicated Solo mode: Yes
Game Length: 60-120 Minutes
Complexity 2.75/5

In June of 1889, a fire burned through Seattle’s business district. The city quickly rebuilt on the ashes of the previous establishment with sturdy, brick buildings. The result was a boom in population, quickly establishing Seattle as the largest city in the newly admitted state of Washington.

As city planners in this light/medium weight, eurostyle, economic simulation, it’s your responsibility to oversee this rebuild as well as expand the district with buildings, suburbs and iconic landmarks to appease the growing population and make Seattle better than ever. Rebuilding Seattle employs a polyomino tile laying system where you grow your land area and build it upward. Earn income and prestige through multi-use cards that increase the industries quality and reach.

ON YOUR TURN

I’m always game for a good economic simulator and at first glance, Rebuilding Seattle comes across as a toned down, urban version of the contemporary Uwe Rosenburg classic, Feast for Odin. A game I really appreciated, but eventually passed on to someone else thanks in large part to its enormous setup—which is somewhat mirrored here. So while there was plenty of room for optimism, I also had some apprehension when it came to the setup.

The scoring philosophy revolves around finding a balance or synergy between 2 different sets of tracks. The Quality Track gauges the overall quality of the 3 primary industries (entertainment, dining & shopping) while the Amenity Track charts the overall population as well as how each industry is meeting the demand of that population.

The game plays relatively quickly, taking place over 3 rounds, with each round having 4 phases. I found it interesting that while the game looks complex, the rules and rulebook are incredibly simple (despite how convoluted it may sound below).

The majority of the game unfolds in the build phase where you have the opportunity to expand your land area (suburbs) by purchasing a suburb tile and building cards. These building cards are different colors representing 6 different industries (entertainment, dining, shopping, railroad, education and profit [which I assume is some sort of additional investment]). Each building card can be purchased from a market where cards are randomly assigned different costs prior to each round.

Each card provides a polyomino-shaped building tile to place in your district as well as a unique secondary action. These secondary actions do a variety of things including increasing the Quality Track of a specific industry or providing an end-of-round or end-of-game bonus (points or money). Much of the building phases plays out with each player hunting and pecking for the right combination of industry tiles and secondary actions to benefit their strategy.

Players also have the opportunity to enact a law for that round. Laws are unique to each player board and provide a variety of benefit options. You might be able to gain extra cash, but have to lose a point or maybe buy something at a discounted price. These can only be done once per round.

In addition to building, players can activate 1 of 6 event cards that provide bonuses for the active player as well as benefits for all players. It also serves as a timer for the end of the round. One of these benefits is scoring a specific Quality Track. Each Quality Track has a current value. The player receives the benefit (points, money or the opportunity to choose between the 2) depending on the position of that industry in relation to your current population total. Basically, if that industry exceeds the overall population on the Amenity Track you receive the full benefit. Any spots behind the population marker and you subtract that distance from the benefit. With the population increasing each round, it’s tough to keep up and you’re more often only earning a fraction of your Quality Track level’s potential.

At the end of a round, players receive money and points based on certain tiles and end-of-round benefit actions.

At the end of the 3 rounds, the player with the most points (or prestige) is the winner.

SOLO MODE

Rebuilding Seattle has a dedicated solo mode deck that simulates a second player. While it does its best and is super easy to implement, the experience pales in comparison to a real opponent.

ARTWORK & COMPONENTS

The artwork in the game is limited to the cover and a few special landmark tiles. The game is mainly a well organized, yet somewhat underwhelming series of boxes and minimalistic icons. The graphic design does its job to present the game cleanly and clearly, but there really isn’t anything to get too excited about. As far as components go, the majority is totally acceptable… everything but the endless supply of miniature polyomino tiles. This may be just a personal thing, but these tiny tiles are a pain. While they can be a pain when it comes to placing them on the suburb tiles, the real issue is with setup. The game doesn’t come with an insert, but even if it did, I’m not sure if it would help too much here.

PROS & CONS

 Easy to learn & teach

 Plays quickly

 Straight forward actions

 Zero randomness

 Theme doesn’t shine through

 Setup is extensive

 Rulebook feels like it needs another 2-4 pages to flesh everything out a bit more

NEUTRAL

Limited player interaction besides hate drafting and activating events at inconvenient moments

WHY WOULD YOU LIKE THIS GAME?

Fans looking for a lighter-weight, more introductory economic euro are going to appreciate what Rebuilding Seattle has to offer.

BEST THING ABOUT THIS GAME?

The best thing about Rebuilding Seattle is the dual purpose cards. There are a number of different choices available each round and finding the best fits will be the difference between winning and losing.

FINAL THOUGHTS

As with almost any game, Rebuilding Seattle grew on me with more plays. Understanding an effective strategy and what to expect from the cards helped me appreciate the game more.

I stated in the opening that I am a fan of these economic engine builders. These are typically pretty heavy in nature and I appreciate the lighter, more accessibility approach. The actions are pretty straightforward and shouldn’t take you too long to get comfortable developing a strategy.

I had a couple issues with the game and it started with the setup. This may not be a big deal for some, but it definitely put me on the defensive from the get go. It probably isn’t that rough in reality, but I would have hoped for some alternative to sorting and stacking tiny tiles together for 10-15 minutes. Another of the more glaring issues was the theme. While I believe the designer started with the theme and the game evolved over time, it feels completely lost at times. This is certainly a case where theme integration and personality could help elevate a game. The game as a whole is pretty dry with very little ups and downs. Building out your “engine” never feels that exciting and is more of a slow shuffle toward the end. I appreciate the effort to remove luck from the game, but with that comes very little surprises.

The Quality Track scoring is fairly unique and inspired, but still kind of rubs me the wrong way. While the quality level always shows an “optimal” scoring opportunity, I almost never reached the level in regard to the Amenity Track to unlock its full potential. While I was still gaining big rewards at times, I still felt like I was underperforming by having to subtract points or money from the reward. Again, this is a cool idea, but one that never left me feeling satisfied.

All that being said, I really like the idea of a serious, light/medium weight economic builder. Rebuilding Seattle definitely delivers on some of those heavier, economic game ideas by shrinking them down to better fit the style and audience. I love that you can have this experience in 1-2 hours and feel like you’ve tackled something fairly monumental. Being able to look over the city you built at the end of the game and see where you succeeded and failed is actually satisfying no matter which side of the trophy you were on.

It’s not for everyone, but if you love a dry, cube pushing, economic builder and appreciate a more streamlined game with quicker play time, Rebuilding Seattle might be right up your alley. I think it’s a good value and will be a hit with the right audience.

Publisher: WizKids
Player Count: 2-5 Players
Dedicated Solo mode: No
Game Length: 20 Minutes
Complexity 2/5

In the distant future the sport of mech battles has swept the nation. But not just any mechs, these are monstrous, mile-high mechs and the battles rage over multiple city blocks. While the sport has captured the imagination, the chance to bet on the outcome and earn big bucks has taken it to a new level. Now it’s your chance to get in on the fun. Choose the winning teams, the surviving mechs and even participate to manipulate the outcome. Place your bets, enforce your will over your opponents and seek to have the most success betting card. 

In this fast-paced betting game, players will pick winners in multiple categories. Taking turns, players will then strategically slide the mech tiles across the playing grid, interacting with other mechs and seeking to achieve their end game betting goals.

PLAYING A TURN

For some reason I love betting games. I like the opportunity to push your luck, weigh the odds and turn my resources into a profit… as long as it doesn’t involve money from my own wallet.

Atlantic Robot League is a betting game where you forecast the winners of this Royal Rumble-type mech battle. Each player receives a betting card and chooses winners in 4 categories.

There are a total of 24 mechs tiles, all with individual identities and divided into 5 distinct teams. At the start of the game they are randomly placed on a 5×5 grid leaving 1 empty space.

On a typical turn, players will be able to slide a single tile to an adjacent space given that one is available. As the mech tiles are moved, they then have the ability to interact with specific mech teams. So a green mech might have the ability to eliminate a red or yellow mech. If that mech is moved into a position adjacent to one of those colors, the player then can eliminate one of those tiles from the game.

Each player starts with money and can gain additional coins by eliminating tiles on specific locations on the board. This money can be used to purchase scheme cards that allow you move in ways that break the standard ruleset. For example, a scheme card may allow a tile to leap over another tile or move additional tiles. As this resolves, players keep track of their personal bids. Tiles are eliminated until there are 5 or fewer remaining.

The bid card allows you to choose 3 team categories: Heroes (team with the most survivors), Has-Beens (first team to be eliminated) and Brawlers (team with the most knockouts). Players also have the opportunity to choose 5 individual mechs they believe will survive until the end.

The game takes place over 3 rounds where the game is reset prior to the round. The player with the most points at the end is the winner.

ARTWORK & COMPONENTS

The art in Atlantic Robot League is colorful and almost comic book like. This makes sense since the game is about mile high mechs doing battle… you can only imagine who the target audience is. It’s not the greatest artwork ever, but it really seems to fit the theme well. The game board is kinda trashy in the best way. The mech illustrations are all unique and are fine-on par with the rest of the game’s visuals. Each team has it’s own logo and they feel very e-sport-y and a bit disconnected from the game.

The game board, tiles, cards and coin tokens are all of good quality. The betting boards are made to be erased and they seem like they’ll last.

Overall, the look and feel of the game doesn’t really stand out, but it seems to fit the theme well.

PROS & CONS

Easy to teach & play

Fun and simple actions

Fair amount of strategy

If you’re not into betting games this isn’t for you

Theme will turn some off

Special action cards aren’t always relevant

WHY WOULD YOU LIKE THIS GAME?

If you like betting games, Atlantic Robot League is easy to engage and strategize with little experience. The actions are simple, but there is still a layer of strategy to force you to think through your actions each turn to maximize your money.

THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS GAME

The best thing is the simple game actions. There are just enough choices to keep the game interesting while still being light and fun to a general audience.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Atlantic Robot League isn’t going to win any awards, but as a fan of betting games, I had fun with this easy, breezy, large-that-life-themed, game geared toward overgrown adolescents.

I enjoyed that I could formulate a plan of attack from the get go—analyzing the board layout to help me determine my betting goals—in a matter of minutes. The game never takes itself too seriously and choosing the winners and losers of the battle prior to gameplay is strangely engaging.

The actions are incredibly simple, yet there is just enough strategy and gamesmanship to keep things interesting. I would have liked the scheme cards, which provide special actions, to be more relevant. The available actions didn’t always apply to the current state of the board or wouldn’t affect play in a meaningful way at that time. That being said, players have a fair amount of control over the outcome making the pursuit of your betting goals more exciting.

I remember playing a similar game recently from a large publisher who went for an over produced approach with miniatures, big name artists and bloated actions. I couldn’t help comparing the two and think how Atlantic Robot League’s slimmed down approach was much more successful making the choices easier yet not a bit less meaningful.

Overall, I think Atlantic Coast League is a fun, light-hearted betting game. It’s super accessible and still manages to incorporate a fair amount of strategy. The theme has the potential to be a little divisive—only because mile-high mech robots aren’t for everyone. If you have the chance, give Atlantic Coast League a try.

Free Radicals
Published by WizKids
Designed by Nathan Woll
2-5 Players  |  90 Minutes

In a utopian future, mysterious spheres known as Free Radicals have appeared providing earth with nearly limitless energy and resources. People flocked to the spheres forming what is now known as Sphere City, a megalopolis of culture, knowledge and freedom. Despite allowing for this new paradise, the Free Radicals have more secrets tucked away. Factions within the city have sprung up in hopes of decoding these secrets and using them for their own benefits. Perhaps it’s just what the Free Radicals intended, but one faction alone won’t be able to accomplish this mission. Competing factions will have to work together despite their differences if they hope to be the ones to reveal these new mysteries.

Free Radicals is truly a game of asymmetrical powers. Each player takes on the role of a completely unique faction, each with its own unique mini game and mechanics, in an effort to activate and benefit from the cities’ locations beneath the floating spheres. Using resources, credits and data cards, players will work to gain favor through their own unique means. While each player is out for their own, Free Radicals is also a game of balance since each positive action has the potential to benefit your competition providing an interesting twist to an already ambitious game.

SETUP

While Free Radicals could be labeled a medium-weight euro game at heart, the game’s identity hails from its 8 unique player factions. Each faction in the game embraces its own unique mechanics and style through a completely distinct mini game. One player might be navigating a domino-style game while another manages a programming system while yet another is playing a game of deck building. Each faction will require you to change your approach, learning that faction’s distinct strengths and weaknesses. In other words: With each new faction, it’s a completely new ballgame.

ON YOUR TURN

Despite each player’s own individual pursuits, each turn, players will attempt to gain victory points and favor by fulfilling data cards, activating and visiting buildings as well as advancing along the game’s knowledge track.

Activating or awakening buildings requires players to fulfill matching data cards with a number of resources. Doing so provides you with favor and victory points that will benefit you at the end of the game. In addition, activating a building allows for other players free rein to visit that location and reap the rewards. Of course there are residual benefits for a controlling faction of these buildings as each additional visitor will be required to pay favor to the owner. Each player’s faction is specially connected to a single location, earning a bonus action (favor or gaining first player rights, etc.) when visited.

The knowledge track, when accessed, allows players to advance any of the game’s factions (including your own) along a victory and resource rich path. Moving your own marker up will bring you victory points, but moving an opponent’s will bring favor from that player. Different color favor sets provide victory points at the end of the game.

The game takes place over 12 rounds with the player with the most victory points coming out on top.

FACTIONS! FACTIONS! FACTIONS!

The game’s asymmetrical faction mini games are the real draw here. Eight unique factions with 8 individual games is pretty ambitious in my mind. Each faction comes with its own backstory to keep things interesting. Here’s a quick, bulleted rundown of the factions and the mechanics employed:

• Paladins: This faction has a programming game where players alternate between placing 5 tokens on 5 action spots on one turn and then removing them, only taking a single action the next.
• Farmers: Players take part in a domino-style game where connecting certain types of crops allow access to different actions. While it may not always give you what you need at the time, building larger sets of like-crops can pay off big down the road.
• Adventurers: This faction uses an action point mechanic as they explore their own mini-map, revealing tiles and opportunities across a 5×5 grid.
• Entertainers: Controlling a group of entertainers, this faction uses a deck building mechanic, allowing players a random selection of characters that, when placed on the stage, can be used in a variety of ways.
• Hoteliers: This polynomino tile game has players carefully building out 4 hotels with the right pieces. Playing and completing each hotel provides unique actions for the player.
• Underground: You’re using a deck-crafting mechanic where you upgrade your characters based on your own in-game needs. Each character has their own unique path that may or may not play into your own strategy.
• Merchants: In this resource management mini-game, players only get a few actions, but each action wields a healthy number of resources. This is an exercise in maximization.
• Couriers: This pick-up and delivery mechanic navigates drones across a board where you seek to hit the right destinations at the right time. Limited movement abilities force the player to carefully plan their actions in advance.
• Executives: Players will take advantage of a mancala mechanic, moving tokens adjacently across the board and leaving a trail for the actions you wish to activate.
• Artisans: Players in the faction will take choices from a series of multi-use cards. This can be a little more challenging to get what you want if you don’t carefully plan ahead.

COMPLEXITY

The central game of Free Radicals isn’t terribly complex. It is a medium-weight euro, but a couple turns in and you’re good to go. The real challenge is in the sheer number of unique factions—each with their own set of rules. Each mini-game isn’t terribly complex and they do come with their own double-sided sheet of rules. Where things could get messy is if you were teaching a large group of first-time players. Again, the rules are good, but I could still see the teacher having to review each faction with the player.

COMPONENTS AND ARTWORK

Each faction comes with its own components—it just depends on the game you’re playing—but there are a lot of them. At first it was a little overwhelming, but once I got everything sorted with its own faction and especially after the first play of each faction, it all made sense.

The central board is really long and feels unique in its own way while the individual player boards have a nice die-cut. The game’s playing cards are nice and thick as well as the individual tiles and tokens. In general, all the components are really solid.

Artwork is EVERYWHERE in this game… and it’s pretty good too. You do not feel cheated one bit when it comes to the artwork. Starting with the individual factions, each player board features its own unique character. That faction’s components might come with their own set of cards or tokens that feature unique character art or items. The central board has a dramatic shot of the city and one of the mysterious spheres. It’s all vibrant and colorful.

Additionally, the rulebook is colorful and super clear. Each building’s abilities are easy to reference and each section of the game is easy to read and digest. The individual faction sheets are a tremendous resource and do a good job identifying that faction’s components, turn sequence and goals.

MY THOUGHTS

Free Radicals is basically 8-games in one. They’ve taken some of the most beloved mechanics and compressed them down into bite-size mini games. I was really surprised by how much the strategies varied from faction to faction. I think I expected all 8 factions to appear like they were doing their own thing and then basically end up feeling the same. It was nice to see that that wasn’t the case. The individual themes vary from “cool” to “that’s strange”, but they did a good job of giving each their own personality.

With 8 factions I can’t really tell you how balanced the game is. I do know there were games where I wished I’d chosen another player’s faction, but that was more about personal preference than strategic advantage. All our games did finish fairly close.

With all the focus on the individual factions, the base game could have been neglected. It’s not overly complex, but it does have an interesting push-and-pull to it. I really enjoy games where choosing your action can actually benefit other players. I like that rub and it works well here. I found myself reconsidering my actions multiple times in an effort not to benefit specific opponents.

The asymmetrical factions do fluctuate in complexity, but not in an outrageous way. Overall, I felt they were all decently accessible. I felt there were some factions where the game was just more interesting and some where the decisions seemed a little more engaging and fun. Maybe that’s more of a personal preference, but it’s nice to know the choice is there.

Just because the game’s highly-asymmetrical doesn’t necessarily mean it has more replay-ability. It’s hard to gauge the game’s legs, but I can easily see myself giving each faction at least 3 plays. That would be 24 plays in all—which is well worth the investment.

FINAL TAKE

I love the idea of all the individual factions and their unique mechanics. The danger for me is if the game is overplaying its hand. Is it spreading itself too thin? Is the juice worth the squeeze to learn ANOTHER new faction? Ultimately, I think it’s succeeded in what it’s trying to do. I think there is a lot to like here starting with its ambition. If you like the idea of a game within a game (or 8 in this case)—you’ll probably enjoy Free Radicals. I felt each faction was carefully developed and never felt like a gimmick.

The production is really solid and the artwork gives the experience a lot of personality. This isn’t the most engaging euro ever, but it’s still a lot of fun.

No, there isn’t a ton of interaction, but I still feel this is best played in larger groups where you can enjoy others locked in their own unique battle.

Free Radicals is really a unique accomplishment that I feel a lot of designers wouldn’t have the guts to pursue. It does a lot right and I really enjoyed my initial plays and look forward to diving deeper into these factions. I’d definitely encourage you to give Free Radicals a longer look!

Published by WizKids
Published by Stephen Avery & Eugene Bryant
2-6 Players  |  30 Minutes

Developed in 1964, the Kardashev Scale represents a method of measuring a civilizations technological and cultural advancement on a cosmic level based solely on the amount of energy they use.

Using this hypothetical approach as a backdrop, players will take on the role as individual cosmic civilizations competing to achieve the greatest technological achievements while progressing through 3 civ types (planetary, stellar and galactic). Players will take actions triggered by a Rochambeau mechanic (rock—paper—scissors). Earning resources, players will be able to upgrade their own set of cards in this interstellar, engine-building game.

Designed by Geoff Engelstein
Art by Gong Studios
Published by WizKids!
1-4 Players  |  20 Minutes

Every time I sit down to play Super-Skill Pinball, The Who’s Pinball Wizard starts ringing in my head and I’m instantly taken back to the glory days where the pinball machine was king. Of course this has very little to do with the game and everything to do with nostalgia, but the goal of Super-Skill Pinball is obvious: tug at those sentimental heart strings and emulate those past experiences standing next to a machine, timing the flippers and ringing in thousands of points … And for the most part Super-Skill Pinball: Ramp it Up succeeds.

Harnessing the energy and skill from a game of pinball and transferring it to a static, 2-D game board is a tall order. There’s no dexterity element and quick reflexes are not required. Instead, the designer has smartly introduced gravity into the game and created a combination of decisions and luck that simulate the excitement of unexpected bounces and potentially big scoring combos.

While it’s not exactly pinball in the traditional sense, the look and flow of the game cling tightly to the source material. Everything seems to be in place for a unique and appealing experience. I’m going to take a look at the mechanics, the emotional experience and the components to see if this ambitious idea of a game pays off.

HOW IT PLAYS

In this follow-up to the sleeper hit from 2020, Super-Skill Pinball, players begin by selecting 1 of the 4 provided pinball boards. The boards each feature their own unique theme and level difficulty.

While pinball machines are a solo experience, here you can play up to 4 players simultaneously. Each player is essentially playing their own game, but dice rolling duties can be shared. It’s also nice to have have others close by to share your personal victories and defeats (just like real pinball).

The idea behind the game is that the pinball enters the board similar to how it would on a physical pinball machine. It then begins to pass through a series of scoring points before its batted back up the board or lost beyond the bumpers and flippers forever.

Each board contains different zones where players can score points. As the ball ricochets through the board, gravity eventually takes it toll, brining the ball back to the bottom. This is achieved by rolling a pair of dice. Players then have the opportunity, depending where the ball is, to send it to a section with one of the 2 die numbers available. The ball must respond like a real pinball would and make its way down the board’s zones. There are ways to keep the ball dancing around a spin cycle or bouncing between scoring pegs earning multiple points, but you will eventually come back to the flippers.

When you bring the ball to a certain section, the valid die number is marked off from that section. That specific die number at that location can’t be used again until it’s refreshed (new ball, goal achieved, etc). Many locations provide immediate points – typically 1 or 2 points. Successfully achieving a bonus can easily earn you 10, 20 or even 50 points.

The flippers, along with the inline and outline of the pinball board, each feature a variety of die options. This section of the board functions slightly differently. When these die numbers are exhausted or can’t be met the player loses that ball and they aren’t refreshed until the next ball enters play. The flippers also employee physics such as the left flipper only being able to push the ball to the right of the board and the right flipper doing the opposite.

Throughout your play, you might also be able to unlock bonuses just like a real pinball machine. Players might receive a multiplier, unlock areas of the board or receive a second pinball to knock around.

Players get 2 pinballs per game. Once the second ball is lost, the players tally up their points.

COMPONENTS

The components are ok. The boards are fine and easy to write and erase as necessary (and you will be writing and erasing a lot). Each board is made up of 2 separate pieces extending the play area. The pinballs themselves are silver half-balls that you push around the board. They do an ok job. Since they’re round, they’re kinda hard to pick up. I often found myself having to slide the ball through areas that I had written in. It doesn’t really mess up the writing too much, but I still had a little trouble doing this. As with any roll and write, I’m terrified I’m going to get marker on my game table. With Super-Skill Pinball, you’re fiddling with the markers constantly and this made me paranoid.

The rulebook does its best to clearly communicate a game with more rules than you would expect. The basics of the game are fairly straight forward, but each pinball board has its own unique set of rules. It was a bit of a challenge to grasp the general concept since it’s a bit abstract, but the rulebook does do a fine job breaking down the rules, the different boards and different challenges each board presents.

ARTWORK

The artwork for me is a mixed bag. I get that they’re trying to embrace some of the silly ideas originally brought to life by classic pinball machines, but some of it just didn’t work for me. The Top Speed racing board has some of the most exciting artwork and the Gofer Gold design was fun, but I wasn’t a fan of the Pin Pals wrestling-themed board. The artwork here seems a bit sloppy and I feel a little more effort could have been put into it. The artwork, whether good or bad, doesn’t affect the gameplay. The graphic design, on the other had, is well done and provides clear direction for a potentially chaotic game.

DEEP THOUGHTS

I suppose I went into it expecting a silly exercise in luck: roll the dice-score some points-do it again. To my surprise, to be successful you’ll need to bring your thinking cap. There is a decent amount of strategy with calculating odds.

The game is all about playing the odds. Each station only allows for so many stops and you have to carefully plan when to visit a location, activate one of its die options, and when not to.

You can approach the game casually and just enjoy the experience, but to score big points, you’ll need to plan your attack. Each board provides a number of opportunities for bonuses. Executing these bonuses at the right time could cause a 100 or 200 point gap in your final score. This might mean thinking outside the box and holding off on activating a bonus until your next ball (since the flippers will refresh).

Earning that second ball or multiplier at the right time is exciting. With 2 balls on the board, each takes the value of 1 of the 2 die rolled. I did love scoring 25 or 50 points for one action with the multiplier and it did make me feel like a pinball wizard for just a moment.

Where there is a fair amount of strategy, the theme is still a bit of a gimmick… But, is that a bad thing? I think that really depends on the player. I actually love the theme. In fact, it was the theme that led me to seek this one out. As I mentioned before, I love the nostalgia the game evokes. I play board games in part for the traditional, tactile nature. For that same reason, I’m a fan of pinball machines. Maybe it’s harsh to call it a gimmick, but if theme was something that didn’t connect with me on a nostalgic level, I may not have given it a chance.

While the depth of the game was a bit of a surprise, the gameplay isn’t super exciting. The thrill of the game lies solely on the theme. There are some interesting and challenging game boards with some unique puzzles. Being able to temporary solve those puzzles and earn big points is thrilling, but I don’t think it’s strong enough to stand on its own as a whole.

That doesn’t mean the game’s not fun or the game’s not for you. It’s relatively inexpensive and because of that, it provides a solid value. The 4 different boards give you plenty of game to work through and the 1-4 player count almost guarantees you can play a game or 2 no matter who’s around. I should also mention how each game will be different just based on the luck factor alone.

So is it for you? If you saw the game and were instantly drawn in by the idea of a pinball board game… this game is probably for you. Even if you don’t fall in love with the gameplay, the theme and idea behind it all is pretty great. I appreciate the effort and creativity put into something that attempt to resurrect this type of niche.

VERDICT

Super-Skill Pinball: Ramp It Up does the one thing it sets out to accomplish: successfully translate the game play of a real pinball game to the game boarding world. The games go by fairly quickly and there can be some exciting moments. I was surprised by the level of brain work that went into a single game. I suppose once you get a better grasp on calculating the odds, you can just sit back and enjoy the process. 

I do wish the game was a little more accessible. This is the kind of game you’d love to share with friends, but the abstract nature of the game where you have control over where your pinball goes might be a bit much for a casual player. 

I’m not sure how often this one will get played, but it is a good value for the price and I love the theme. For those reasons, I’ll definitely keep this one around in hopes to break it out when time is of the essence or I’m feeling nostalgic to become a pinball wizard once again.

Designed by Kathleen Mercury & Mark Sellmeyer | Art by Anthony Cournoyer
Published by WizKids
2-4 Players  |  45-60 Minutes

It’s a cool, breezy morning off the coast of Greece. You are the captain of one of the fasted trireme’s the ocean has ever seen and today is the day of the Hydra Regatta… a rowing competition where only the best compete. Navigate through a rough, ever-changing course full of treacherous obstacles… and perhaps, if fate is on your side and a little favor from the gods, you may end up victorious.

Greece Lightning is a racing game where players roll dice and move their ship around a modular player board. Dodge whirlpools, gather fish, earn the Favor of the Gods and manipulate the board for your advantage (or your opponents demise) in an effort to finish fast and finish first. You’ll find plenty of opportunities to gain advantages over your opponents, but push your luck too hard and you could bust.