Last week, Brian and I went to Reno to participate in our biggest industry trade show – GAMA Expo. This show is put on by GAMA – the Game Manufacturers Association. It’s a week of networking, game playing, showcasing new games, general mayhem.
We saw some REALLY great games, some of which are on the way and others are coming this year.
Here’s a recap of just a few of games we’re excited about.
Star Wars Shatterpoint – Atomic Mass
If you’re into Star Wars or Miniatures games, this one is for you. It releases on June 2, so get your orders in now!
This game was a huge hit at the show. The demo tables were packed every night. We have a demo copy coming early next week, so everyone can see it in person. We’re pretty excited about this one! The sculpts are great, the game play is fun, and I love the one-on-one combat style!
From the publisher: Iconic characters from across the Star Wars galaxy clash in this new miniatures skirmish game! Star Wars: Shatterpoint invites players to collect, assemble, and paint their own squads of heroes, villains, and their allies and pit them against one another in tense duels to control key battlefield objectives. Focusing on dynamic fights between key characters and a unique combat system that brings the feel of epic Star Wars duels to the tabletop, Star Wars: Shatterpoint gives players 16 characters to begin building their squads along with a selection of terrain to begin constructing their battlefields. Rounding out the set are all the cards, dice, movement tools and accessory players need to leap into the tactical combat of Star Wars: Shatterpoint!
MonsDRAWcity – Deep Water Games
This one is so fun! Everyone is laughing the whole time. This game is out now. We have a library copy right now and stock is on the way.
O.M.G. y’all, this game is cute and fun. Players compete to draw the best version of a cute monster simply by listening to a description given after only 20 seconds of looking at the picture. CRAZY! How are your memory and your description skills??
From the publisher: Imagine seeing a real alien stomping through your backyard. Now imagine describing what it looked like to a police sketch artist. That is exactly what you are expected to do while playing the frantic drawing party game MonsDRAWsity.
One player, known as “the Witness”, has twenty seconds to examine a picture of a bizarre-looking creature, then they must describe it to the rest of the players, known as “Sketch Artists”. At the end of the round, the witness awards points to the artist who was able to most closely match the monster seen by the witness!
Queen by Midnight – Darrington Press
Wow. Big Wow! This game is just gorgeous. It releases in August, if you want one, let us know.
I love a good deck-builder and this one doesn’t disappoint. You are one of six princesses vying to take over the Court after the Queen’s demise – by Midnight. I can’t get over the table presence of this game. The Clocktower tracks turns, offers cards to buy, and rolls your dice! It spins to face each player on their turn.
From the publisher: The Midnight Queen is dead… As her kingdom weeps, the Queen’s dying command was to invoke the Rule By Midnight: a trial of combat and guile, where the Princesses of the Twelve Lands meet in secret to battle and scheme against one another. At the stroke of midnight, the most powerful Princess left standing will be crowned the new Midnight Queen!
BOOoop – Smirk & Dagger
If you like Boop, you’re gonna love this Halloween version – BOOoop. And, now with Ghost Cats! Expect this one around Halloween.
BOOoop is a two-player game of cats on the bed. It’s got easy rules and deceptively challenging game play. Plus, it’s sooo cute!
From the publisher:
Approachable but challenging abstract game following the incredible success of the original “boop” as a limited seasonal game.
Features a new quilted, fabric board that lays over the back of the box, completing the minature bed playing surface. 34 adorable wood cat and kitten playing pieces!
NEW Ghost Cats can boop cats over other pieces as they move across the board between spaces.
These days tabletop gaming is bursting with cool sculpted miniatures from Zombicide to Dungeons & Dragons. Step up your game with your own painted minis. Come to our FREE monthly Learn to Paint Miniatures event every fourth Tuesday of each month.
Our expert painter will guide you whether you’re an old pro looking for deeper techniques or brand new and need the basics. We provide all the materials you need.
Monday nights at 6:30 is our Open D&D where everyone is welcome regardless of skill level. We’ve got a spot for you if you’re brand new to role playing or if you’ve been playing since Advanced D&D back in the day.
You could be a Paladin like Xenk Yendar and uphold the ideals of Justice and Righteousness.
Or maybe you’d like to play a Bard like Edgin Darvis and use your intellect and charm to get yourself out of any situation.
You could even be a shape-shifting Druid like Doric the Tiefling!
We’ve even got D&D Summer Camp for Kids with a few spots still open for this summer!
Whatever your interest in Dungeons & Dragons, we’ve got you covered. Any of our knowledgeable staff can help you find what you’re looking for to make your experience the best it can be.
Meeps! We have so many cool new games. Check ’em out!
Rebuilding Seattle
In Rebuilding Seattle (rated a whopping 7.9!), you’re responsible for managing the zoning and expansion of a major neighborhood! Each round your population grows, and you can either build a new building, expand into a new suburb, activate an event, or build a landmark, before earning profit based on your neighborhood’s commerce. You’ll buy building types from a shared market, looking to find shapes that fit your grid and types that fit your strategy. Triggering citywide events can change the tide of the game, offering points, money, and expansions for the players ready for it. You can even enact laws to give yourself the advantage! At the end of the game, whoever’s neighborhood has earned the most points wins.
Till the Last Gasp w/ Promo Character Sheets – Have a Smiley Day!
Till the Last Gasp is a 2-player dramatic storytelling game of duels and drama.
Spanning genres and settings, this game throws you straight into two player PvP action—and as blows are exchanged, emotions are betrayed, secrets revealed, and stakes raised. Till the Last Gasp uniquely enables you to capture the climactic energy of your favorite cinematic showdowns, in new tales imagined by you!
Spot It! Disney 100 Years of Wonder
Spot it! Disney 100 Years of Wonder is a special edition of Spot it! to celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company. Cards feature nine Disney characters or icons on each card, giving you more to compare during play. This edition contains 90 cards and five mini-games, along with a new game for this release: Star Match.
Twilight Inscription
Twilight Inscription (Rated 7.7!) is an epic roll-and-write game for one to eight players, offering an experience unlike anything Fantasy Flight Games has done before. With a limited pool of resources at your disposal, you’ll need to carefully manage Navigation, Expansion, Industry, and Warfare as you amass victory points and earn your right to the throne on Mecatol Rex. Will your faction become the new rulers of the galaxy? Or will your fledgling empire fade into obscurity? Anything can happen in this strategic, infinitely-replayable game!
Ransom Notes
Ransom Notes – A creative party game for making hilariously terrible sentences. Players respond to outlandish situations like “Tell someone you’ve clogged their toilet at a party” with just their limited pool of word magnets, leaving even master wordsmiths no choice but to create awesomely horrendous phrases. With hundreds of word magnets included, every round is always fresh, wildly creative, and tears-streaming-down-your-face funny.
Devil Bunny Needs a Ham
Devil Bunny Needs a Ham – In this wacky Cheapass title, players are Sous Chefs trying to get to the top floor of a skyscraper by scaling the outside. However the maniacal Devil Bunny is hopping about in a mad lust for blood thinking he’ll get a ham by knocking you off. Yeah, right, whatever.
This game was originally published in 1998 in the Cheapass Games style of a plain paper envelope and no pieces. We’ve come a long way since then. It’s a fun little game, you’ll like it.
Village Big Box
In Village, each player takes the reins of a family and attempts to help them find fame and glory in many different ways. There is one thing you must not forget, however: Time will not stop for anyone, and given enough time people will vanish. Those who find themselves immortalized in the village chronicles will bring honor to their family and be one step closer to victory.
This Big Box contains all three expansions!
Ham’s Sandwich Shop
Ham’s Sandwich Shop (7.3 Rating!) is a very cute board game about making delicious sandwiches with a hamster chef who dives on the bread. The game is played by moving the pieces on the topping tiles arranged in a circle forward one to three steps, acquiring one of the topping tiles, and stacking it on top of the desired bread. The recipe changes depending on where the pieces stop, and when they match the recipe, you can declare the sandwich finished. When the sandwich is successfully completed, the player is awarded a gold star. The player who collects three stars wins.
Colors of Paris
Colors of Paris is a management game in which you must take care of your paint tubes, mixtures, and time to create works, all the while anticipating others to perform as needed within a rotating set of actions.
You are a painter in Colors of Paris, and you’ve decided to participate in “Bateau Lavoir”, a friendly competition between several painters in a workshop in Montmartre, Paris. The newspapers know about this challenge, so perhaps this is a good opportunity to become famous, following the path of Cézanne, Toulouse-Lautrec, Monet, or Renoir…
Meeples Games Gaming Group Sunday, May 28 at 12:00 PM
Calling all Pokemon Trainers (or soon to be Trainers)... Pokemon Training Camp is back at Meeples! When: SundaysTime: 12pm-2pm Open to all ages. Masks...
Meeples Games Gaming Group Sunday, May 28 at 3:00 PM
You may not have asked for it, but you've got it...Warhammer Night 2: Electric Boogaloo. For those who can't make Thursday nights, we have also opened...
MAAAGIC PLAAAYERS! Saturdays are for Commander, head on down and bring your best Commander Decks. When: Saturday afternoonsTime: 5:00pm-10pm Join our (discord.gg/ardjghW) for more Magic: the Gathering updates!
Meeples Games (3727 California Ave SW Suite 2B, Seattle, WA)
Calling all Pokemon Trainers (or soon to be Trainers)... Pokemon Training Camp is back at Meeples! When: SundaysTime: 12pm-2pm Open to all ages. Come learn the ins and outs of Pokemon TCG, play some fun casual games, and meet other Trainers just like you! Join our (discord.gg/ardjghW) for more Pokemon updates!
Meeples Games (3727 California Ave SW Suite 2B, Seattle, WA)
Join Meeples Games and Beloveds Foundation for a afternoon of playing with kittens! You heard us right; we are bringing in kittens that are looking to be adopted. Stop in and play with some cute kittens, donate to a great cause, and maybe leave with a new furry friend! * When: Sunday, May 28 from 3-7pm * Cost: FREE Mark your calendars!
Meeples Games (3727 California Ave SW Suite 2B, Seattle, WA)
Seattle's largest open D&D group can be found at Meeples Games. First time playing? No problem. Experienced player? Great! This group is for everyone from beginners on of all age groups. Each drop in session is $5, with a chance to join one of the continued campaigns. When: Monday Nights Time: 6:30pm-10pmCost: $5 per session Seats are limited, so first come first serve. For more information, give us a call 206.535.7896
Meeples Games (3727 California Ave SW Suite 2B, Seattle, WA)
MAAAGIC PLAAAYERS! Bring your best Modern deck and let's play! Modern (8th Ed. forward) is a constructed format and therefore adheres to the following constructed rules:-Minimum of sixty cards-No maximum deck size, as long as you can shuffle your deck unassisted-Up to fifteen cards in your sideboard, if used Here's what you need to know:When: Tuesday NightsTime: 6:30pm-10pmCost: $10 Join our (discord.gg/ardjghW) for more Magic: the Gathering updates!
Meeples Games (3727 California Ave SW Suite 2B, Seattle, WA)