The Essen Anticipation List 2018!

Unfortunately, this website doesn’t allow for international travel just yet, so attendance at Essen this year is off the cardsĀ butĀ that doesn’t stop us from talking about the releases that we are looking forward to. With over 800 titles being released, it is definitely a mammoth task to keep ahead of the games, but we have tried to give most of the games the once over. So here are the games that I am looking forward to:

Welcome to Dino World – From Alley Cat games and in demo format only. This takes a few of my favourite things – Roll and Write and Dinosaurs and adds then together. Look out for our review of this game very soon.

Great Western Trail – Rails to the North – This game has been near the top of my list for a long time now and the expansion that adds more actions, an expanded player board and extra station master tiles can only bring more to the experience. I am very much looking forward to getting my hands on this and helping to get those cattle to further cities and develop the country. Check out our Great Western Trail review here.

Holding On: The Troubled Life of Billy Kerr – I’m adding this one to my list because the theme just seems so unique and some cool mechanics to go with it. The idea is that you need to put together the pieces of a patients life through the game, a theme that I don’t think that I have seen before.

Gorus Maximus – a cool trick-taking game from Inside Up with great art from Kwanchai Moriya. We previously spoke to Conor, the designer of GM, so we are very much looking forward to the success of this great looking game.

Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra – The original Azul was one of my favourite games of the last year and a great introduction to modern gaming for people who had never experienced it before. I am hoping that Sintra takes after Azul in it’s ease of access and relaxed gameplay, although curiously I have no real interest in Reef, maybe it’s something about the components looking like kids toys.

Architects of the West Kingdom – I’m a big fan of fellow Antipodean Shem Phillips and Garphill Games, along with the art of The Mico. This one focuses more on city building in the Carolingian empire, rather than Vikings, so is a great diversion from the recent North Sea Trilogy.

Pandemic: Fall of Rome – What can I say, I’m a sucker for some more Pandemic. This time the game isn’t about a virus but rather about keeping the Roman Empire healthy in the face of ongoing incursions.

After all of that, what are the releases that you are most looking forward to from Essen this year? Have you ever attended the Spiel?

Cameron B Author

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