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In the news this week; Ticket to Ride is heading to 1970's London, Splotter returns thanks to a 20th Anniversary Edition of Bus from Capstone Games, and Indie Boards & Games reveal their summer line-up.
Ticket to Ride Heads to London
2018 saw the release of Ticket to Ride: New York, a quick-playing, streamlined version of Ticket to Ride. This year it is coming to London. Ticket to Ride: London has been discussed in previous news articles, but more information is now known.
The 1970's map will feature places like Buckingham Palace, the British Museum, Brick Lane and Tower of London. New York featured taxis, so it is only right that London features double-decker buses. Like the New York edition, London is a shorter version of the original and players can expect a game time of between 10-15 minutes.
The release date is expected to be in June 2019 so be sure to keep your eyes open for the next Ticket to Ride instalment.
Splotter is Back
Splotter is a publishing house that is synonymous with deep, strategic board games such as Roads and Boards and Food Chain Magnate. However, some of the games are hard to come by due to the small print runs. Capstone Games have just announced that they will be reprinting a 20th anniversary edition of Bus. Good news for fans of Splotter games.
Bus is a three to five-player route building game where players are trying to deliver as many people as possible to their destination, expand their bus routes, buy more buses and expand the city.
There is no official date for this yet but to tie in with the 20th anniversary it should be sometime this year.
Triple Treat from Indie Boards & Cards
Indie Boards & Cards have announced three new titles for release this summer:
Conflicting Legends
A fast-paced strategic card game using the rock, paper, scissors mechanism. The cards feature historical science, culture and military personalities, and players will try to conquer lands or develop existing lands with culture or technology. Conflicting Legends is set to be released in May 2019.
Among Thieves
Players take on the role of criminals and blackmailers who are working together to steal from the Dystopian Universe mega corporations. One player is the Heistmaster and decides who is coming on the heist with the players, negotiating to take part and split the loot. However, there is no honour among thieves, and you can choose to break the deal and take a larger share than originally agreed. Among Thieves looks like a fun but ruthless game which is set to be released on June 26, 2019.
Finger Guns at High Noon
A fast-paced western shot out. Every man for himself. Alliances can be formed and broken. Actions are performed with the hand gestures and players can use pistols, dynamite, power shots, eliminate players, heal, organise a posse and lasso. If a player is eliminated, they come back as ghosts. They have fewer actions but can generally mess with people's game. Last man standing wins. Sounds like a great party game which will have people laughing and cursing. Release date is set for June 26, 2019.
Abomination: The Heir of Frankenstein
Plaid Hat Games have announced a new Gothic, strategy, horror worker placement game with what can only be described as an “interesting” theme. Abomination: The Heir of Frankenstein is a two to four-player worker placement game, designed by Dan Blanchett, where players take on the role of scientists in 1800's Paris. The game is set 20 years after the events of Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein.
A mysterious benefactor has created a competition to determine who can unlock the dark and strange secrets of Dr Frankenstein’s research. Players will research new scientific findings, charge their Leyden jars, seek funding, collect resources, bribe, steal, exhume and murder to collect the relevant “parts” (insert your imagination here about what "parts" refers to). Back in your laboratory players will attempt to bring life where there was once only death.
Sounds like dark and dangerous work, but an interesting theme nonetheless. Be sure to keep your eyes out for this one come the summer.
Kickstarter Releases
It wouldn't be a news piece without some Kickstarter announcements/mentions. There seems to have been a host of Kickstarter launches recently and I have tried to cover some of them off below:
Freshwater Fly
This is a highly thematic fishing game from designer Brian Suhre (Coldwater Crown). It is a one to four-player fishing game where players are trying to collect sets of fish cards from a 6x3 “river” of cards using dice drafting. It has an interesting rondel on the player’s board that looks like a fishing reel which advances along to determine when the fish is caught. The Kickstarter is live now and ends April 25. This looks to be a highly thematic and interesting fishing game.
Carnival Zombie
The Second Edition of Carnival Zombie is currently on Kickstarter. This game has been hard to find and has been out of print for a number of years now. Carnival Zombie is a one to six-player game where players are co-operating to flee a city that has been overrun by zombies. Players control a party of heroes facing hordes of zombies during the night. During the days they recover, move, search and find useful items to help them survive.
The Second Edition contains new scenarios, a traitor mechanic, a competitive mode and many more. Check out the Kickstarter now to avoid missing out.
Oceans
This is the latest game from North Star Games in their Evolution series. This time it is taking to the ocean with players building a marine ecosystem over millions of years of evolution. Players will create and evolve species to survive. Oceans seems to change things up to the core concept of Evolution with changing food sources as time goes on, new traits to tie in with the theme and scenarios (form The Deep). Check out the Kickstarter now to avoid missing out.
Area 1851: Express
This is a streamlined version of Five24 Labs Area 1851. In Area 1851 Express, aliens have landed in the wild west and are trading technology with the locals. The game features card drafting and set collection with players trying to create wonderful gadgets and funny inventions. Completing gadgets earns players point and bonuses.
Area 1851: express looks like a great, light family fun game with a quick play time. The Kickstarter is due to April 19, so be sure to check this out if you are after something a little different.