Many of these games were funded through Kickstarter which has a spotty record at best. When I look back at last years anticipated games, some came up with the goods (Pandemic Legacy) and other came out of nowhere to knock our socks off with their awesomeness (Codenames). Hopefully 2016 is as good as 2015 was…
Sushi Go Party
An expanded version of the card game Sushi Go! You still earn points by picking winning sushi combos, but now you can customize each game by choosing à la carte from a menu of more than twenty delectable dishes. Plus up to eight players can now join in.
Knit Wit
It’s by Matt Leacock of Pandemic fame and is a party game, beyond that, this is all I know: you craft your own word categories using loops and spools, then find playful answers that match as many categories as possible. The more categories you match, the more points you score! Who will be quick enough to grab the bonus buttons?
Star Wars Rebellion
Fantasy Flight’s mega box game of the year. In Rebellion, you control the entire Galactic Empire or the fledgling Rebel Alliance. You must command starships, account for troop movements, and rally systems to your cause. Given the differences between the Empire and Rebel Alliance, each side has different win conditions, and you’ll need to adjust your play style depending on who you represent. It’ll cost a billion dollars to buy, but that has never stopped Star Wars fans before.
Scythe
Without doubt, the most eagerly anticipated gamer game on the planet. A huge Kickstarter, incredible art and sky high expectations. I’ll just let the pictures do the talking…
Secret Hitler
The latest game from the Cards Against Humanity people. A social deduction game in the vein of the Resistance, which is all the rage right now. The game goes as follows : Each player is randomly and secretly assigned to be a liberal or a fascist, and one player is Secret Hitler. The fascists coordinate to sow distrust and install their cold-blooded leader; the liberals must find and stop the Secret Hitler before it’s too late. The liberal team always has a majority. At the beginning of the game, players close their eyes, and the fascists reveal themselves to one another. Secret Hitler keeps his eyes closed, but puts his thumb up so the fascists can see who he is. The fascists learn who Hitler is, but Hitler doesn’t know who his fellow fascists are, and the liberals don’t know who anyone is. Each round, players elect a President and a Chancellor who will work together to enact a law from a random deck. If the government passes a fascist law, players must try to figure out if they were betrayed or simply unlucky. Secret Hitler also features government powers that come into play as fascism advances. The fascists will use those powers to create chaos unless liberals can pull the nation back from the brink of war. The objective of the liberal team is to pass five liberal policies or assassinate Secret Hitler. The objective of the fascist team is to pass six fascist policies or elect Secret Hitler chancellor after three fascist policies have passed.
Spinderella
Winner of last years Kids game of the year, it uses magnets in a very cool way as you move across the board trying to avoid a Spiders clutches
Fog of Love
A card game for two players who act out a stormy love affair. You play from the very first sparks of attraction through in-law encounters, awkward situations, arguments, parties, thoughtful gifts, secret affairs, kids, and reconciliations to a hopefully happy ending. Each player has a character made up from different personality traits that influence what they desire and want to avoid. You can become a one-legged, disorganized, cocky female pilot who gets a kick out of adventures; a kind, nerdy male tv celebrity who is ambitious and sensual; or a cute, flirtatious, impulsive and cynical female florist with a big nose-piercing. The possibilities are almost endless. Will the characters end up in a satisfying relationship and get married — or will it all end in a dramatic break-up? You learn what it takes to make the relationship work, build insights into each other, and hopefully find out whether your partner is sincere or just bluffing. Each player alternately introduces crucial scenes with important choices to be made. As in real life, you have to decide between what is best for you and what is best for the relationship – and you need to consider what your partner decides as both of your decisions will have impact on the shared outcome.
The 7th Continent
Another massive Kickstarter, financially and in game time, with one game lasting up to 100’s of hours (it has a save system). A solo or cooperative “choose-your-own-adventure” exploration board game, you choose a character and begin your adventure on your own or with a team of other explorers. Inspired by the Fighting Fantasy book series, you will discover the extent of this wild new land through a variety of terrain and event cards. In a land fraught with danger and wonders, you have to use every ounce of wit and cunning to survive, crafting tools, weapons and shelter to ensure your survival.
