Garrett's Games And Geekiness

This week Shelley and I check out the 'official game of Essen 2025' Fair Enough by Friedemann Friese from Skellig Games then we cooperatively work to build a tower for cats (though we could have done it competitively too!) Cat and the Tower by Masakazu Takizawa from Arcane Wonders Remember you can sponor the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but BELONG on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week we check out THREE games - well, one new version of an older game, along with expansions for two recent card games Merchants of Andromeda by Reiner Knizia from Allplay Faraway and its Under Starry Skies expansion by Johannes Goupy and Corentin Lebrat from Pandasaurus Games Pixies and its Flower Power expansion by Johannes Goupy from Pandasaurus Games Fun times for new visits with added cards, as well as the Allplay title which is a revamping of the classic Merchants of Amsterdam! Remember you can support this podcast and our video series by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out the extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on YOUR table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I check out a wonderful sequel to one of our favorite games Formaggio by Ben Rosset from Road to Infamy Games then we enjoy a cute trick-taking/deck building game with Charles Schultz artwork Peanuts Talent Show! by Root and Koudai Tateno from CMON Remember you can support this podcast and our video series directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week it's two very different Arcane Wonders titles - one co-op for up to 10 players, and the other strategy game with awesome bits: Ito by Mitsuru Nakamura and World Wonders by Ze Mendes Remember to SUBSCRIBE and check out our videos for every game we discuss on the audio podcast! You can support our work here an on our video series directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on YOUR table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week on Garrett's Games, Shelley and I check out a family-friendly tile-laying game: Tulikko by Jerome Soleil and Nicolas Melet from Pandasaurus Games then dive into the DEEP end of heavy games with a theme revolving around desserts? Sweet Lands by Totsucca Chuo from Uchibacoya and Devir Remember to SUBSCRIBE and help support this podcast and our video series directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive UPDATED list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on YOUR table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I check out an amazing new sequel to a Spiel des Jahres winner Qwirkle Flex by Susan McKinley Ross and Reiner Knizia from Mindware then we try out another interesting twist on the trick-taking genre Onstage by Michael Orion from Arcane Wonders Remember that you can help support the podcast directly at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR Check out the extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week we exploit another planet and send our plants, animals and other goods back home in the draw and draw behemoth Tend by Max Anderson, Zac Dixon, Austin Harrison, and Toby Sarnelle from IV Studio then we try to pile the best food on our respective plates in Buffet Boss by Daryl Chow from Arcane Wonders Remember you can sponsor the podcast and our video series by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR Check out the extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on YOUR table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I build fountains, then try to string nubmered cards together in a shedding game: Fountains by Kedric Winks from The Op Games and Number Chain by Woojin Yang from Arcane Wonders check out our VIDEOS for each of these games here: www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames Remember you can sponsor the podcast and our video series by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR Check out the extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on YOUR table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I travel a circular board to pick up and deliver items to specific fantasy shops in Leylines by Daryl Andrews and Wolfgang Kramer from Arcane Wonders Then we head into the land of trick taking once again for a new twist in Pinatas by Reiner Knizia from Allplay Remember to SUBSCRIBE and check out our YouTube channel for videos on each of these titles. You can support the podcast and our video series directly at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I check out two 2025 releases, as well as looking back 11 years to a games that had been gathering dust on our shelf: Take Time (2025) by Alexi Piovesan and Julien Prothiere from Libellud - a co-op game with 40 challenges in the box for 2-4 players. Pergola (2025) by Michal Golab Golebiowski and Przemek Wojtkowiak from Rebel Studio Trambahn (2015) by Helmut Ohley from Mayfair and Lookout Games Remember to check out our accompanying videos over on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@garrettsgames You can sponsor the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR  Check out the extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on YOUR table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I explore to very different games that begin with F First we collect resources and attempt to make excellent alcoholic drinks in Fantasy Brewers by Michael Schacht from Grail Games then we get card and try to create the best ant trails in the draw and draw game Fantastic Trails by Jordy Adan from NSV Thanks to this week's sponsor Dr. Finn's Games You can sponsor the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR  check out the extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I get a chance to check out games from two game BOOKS published or forthcoming from one of our favorite designers - Dr. Finn! First we check out  Dr. Finn's Book of Solo Strategy and Word Games (Amazon Link Below): https://www.amazon.com/Finns-Book-Solo-Strategy-Games/dp/B0FBJYZZ48 and three games from the forthcoming  Dr. Finn's Book of 2-Player Strategy and World Games (Kickstarter Link Below): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/drfinnsgames/biblios-qandp-dr-finns-2021-games/creator Then we check out another one of our Essen 2025 pick ups: Popcorn by Victor Saumont from Iello  Thanks to our sponsor this week - Dr. Finn's Games You can sponsor the podcast and our video series directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I chuck dice and fill in rows in Clickety Clack by Ralf zur Linde from NSV then we head to Japan and strategically place our ronin figures into cities to do actions & funfill contracts in Ronin by Emanuele Ornella from Queen Games Remember you can sponsor the podcast at www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

This week Shelley and I create our own little ponds and populate them with frogs and insects in Pondscape by Tomas Holek from Pink Troubadour and Capstone Games then we build a canal-side city and place buildings for majority scoring in Tolleno by Gilles Turbide from Sit Down! Thanks As always to our sponsor Bezier Games - check out their store at www.beziergames.com You can support the podcast and our YouTube video series by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I are traveling through our games this week, heading first to France to bike around the countryside in Postcards by Eric Dubus and Simon Kayne fron Synapses Games then we check out the northern part of our own continent in Photo Tour North America by Oleg Meleshin, Eugene Timashov and Yury Yamshchikov from Timashov Publishing Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games, and check out their web store at www.beziergames.com! You can sponsor this poscast and our video series directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out the extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Now that it's ACTUALLY 2026, we can look ack on 2025 and run through our Top 10 games that we first played in 2025. If you want to go back and listen to our list from the first 1/2 of the year, head here: EPISODE 1000: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1000.1.mp3 Here are our lists, including the Honorable Mentions, as well as the episode and possible video links for each game: Doug's List Honorable Mentions (5) Please Don't Burn This Village by Simon Weinberg from Fireside Games Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1023.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/XVTUakC54gk Everdell Silverfrost by James and Clarissa Wilson from Starling Games & Tabletop Tycoon Audio: https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames1010.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/wI5I9rLtOYs Looot by Charles Chevallier and Laurent Escoffier from Gigamic Audio:https://traffic.libsyn.com/garrettsgames/GarrettsGames997.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/Gu971L2ZeAs Draft and Write Records by Bruno Macie

Episode 1026! This week Shelley and I work with trees, both logging them and becoming stewards of the forest in Forestry by Michal Peichl from Pink Troubadour, Capstone Games, and Pegasus Spiele then we work our media accounts with cute animal photos in Paw Up by Reiner Knizia from Pegasus Spiele Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games! Remember that YOU can sponsor the podcast directly by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR checking out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

Shelley and I work to help young women come to power and influence in the late 19th and early 20th century in Kartini: From Darkness to Light by Sherria Ayuandini from ION Game Design then we head to the British Isles and hang out with the pagans in Druids of Edora by Stefan Feld from Alea and Ravensburger Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games! Remember you can support the podcast and our video series over on YouTube by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out our extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

GG&G 1024! This week Shelley and I check out two mini-box games from Allplay Llama Llama by Kaya Miyano  For the Emperor by Whitney Loraine Then check out a bigger game, which is actually the smaller cousin of Ark Nova Sanctuary by Mathias Wigge from Capstone Games and Feuerland Spiele Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games! Remember you can support the podcast and our video series (for which we have editions for each of these games) by going to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out the extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing  

GG&G 1023! Shelley and I build gardens and bribe dragons this week in two great family-weight games The Hanging Gardens by Gregory Grard and Matthieu Verdier from Gigamic and Please Don't Burn My Village by Simon Weinberg from Fireside Games Thanks as always to our sponsor Bezier Games! Remember that you can support the podcast by heading over to www.patreon.com/garrettsgames OR check out the extensive list of games that no longer fit on our shelves, but belong on your table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16ovRDNBqur0RiAzgFAfI0tYYnjlJ68hoHyHffU7ZDWk/edit?usp=sharing