I always forget about this thread, gonna sub to it now.
Here are some impressions of games I played so far this year:
Gloomhaven: We have a weekly Gloomhaven group going on since January 2019 and ate reaching the end of the base game next week, as we run out of scenarios. We played around 55 by then and played 4 characters each, if nothing surprising happens. All I can say is that I love the game and we enjoyed the whole journey. The card based action system is awesome and has a great depth to it and the characters really feel different. The expansion is also ready to go and we will directly continue with it. Also still need to tackle some of the solo scenarios as well.
Champions of Midgard plus expansions: I was tempted to buy Champions of Midgard a couple of times over the last year, because in reviews and on paper (rules) it sounded like my kind of game. I heard from a lot of people that you should play it only with the expansions, especially with the Valhalla one, because the game gets better then.
After playing it, I have to say I'm glad that I did not buy it, even on sale. It's an ok game, but all that sounded exciting about it was only just very solid and nothing out of the ordinary. The Valhalla expansion gives you a glorified shop with some new cards and let's you think a bit who you want to fight monsters with or if you want certain fighters to die for the Valhalla currency. It's a nice addition, but especially in larger groups it makes the downtime bigger as well. The mountain expansio is just more of the same stuff. And the base game is just a solid worker placement with some randomness to it. I liked the ship part though. All in all money saved and I would probably play it, if I was asked to join a round.
Trickerion: I finally got the chance to try Trickerion. A friend of mine bought it on sale and I'm pissed at myself to not buy it as well. The components are very nice and I love the art. Most of the game is a solid worker placement, but the theater bit is just great. Lots of consideration what tricks to go for, which tricks to place on what plan and when to make a show and when just to profit from other players. So good. Also the game is so strong with it's theme, I love it. Getting tricks, the materials to prepare them, the preparation etc. It just feels super good. I can't wait to play it again and my friend is getting all the expansions.
Conspiracy: Abyss Universe: I love Abyss. It's one of my favorite games, a great entry level game I always bring around and I'm a sucker for it's art. Conspiracy is 70% reoccurring mechanics from Abyss in sub 30 minutes with 5 minutes of explanation. I played it with 2 and 4 players so far and it works great with both. Working on your Senate chambers gives you several options to get points and especially with 4 players you have to watch out what they pick and place in front of them. Such a neat little box for 15 euro. Was worth the wait, after they didn't have the games in Essen.
7 Wonders: Last meetup we played 7 Wonders again. I haven't played the regular game in a couple of years and it was still an ok experience. I still prefer Duel over the big game, as it is just the better game and more on point.
A fistful of meeples: I'm a sucker for Mancala type games and Five Tribes is still one of my favorites, so this game peeked my interest. It's a bit fiddly at first, until you know what each color of meeples does, but then it's a quick fun. The theme is there, it's fun to bust out all bandits and to for a robbery. The showdown is a stupid and fun little element as well. The game didn't hold up it's promise of 30 minutes, but it's still good on ending itself with dead meeples, dynamite or gold. And this is a big strength of it. If it would be over an hour, it would overstay it's welcome. My group wants to play it again next meetup, that's a good sign.
Skull Kings: we played it during new year with some Cuba Libre and Strong Zeros. Still a great game. The cards are pretty filthy at this point, because we only play it at festivals and when partying. Guess I'll gift my friends a couple of copies for his birthday.
