My Favorite (and Least Favorite) Games Played! (April 2024)

Here are some of my favorite and least favorite games played in April 2024!
0:00 Intro
0:26 Splito
1:37 Earthborne Rangers
5:58 Let's Go! To Japan
7:04 Among Cultists
10:18 First in Flight
11:28 Bantam West
14:08 Black Rose Wars: Rebirth
16:12 Zoo Vadis
18:48 Pollen
19:21 Fractured Sky
22:36 Circadians Chaos Order
25:02 Northgard
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/ @timchuon
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[@bantamplanet]

13:04 definitely agree with this sentiment. We're working on refining the scope of Bantam West as we speak ;) Our whole team is so excited for your review, Tim. Good or bad, we'll be bringing popcorn and notebooks to the watch party! 🍿📝🤠

[@truce11]

Enjoyed the honesty about the rule books. You should definitely do a ranking of best rule books divided by light, med, heavy games. There is simple not enough discourse and conversation about rulebooks (esp in regards to game design). Make a series and interview designers about the rulebook/on-boarding topic. No one does this.

[@Darthus]

Hey Tim, sorry to hear you bounced off Earthborne Rangers! I also struggled with the rules early on, both because it's a very new style of game, and yes, I agree that the various topics are kind of scattered about. Though it is a game where (in my experience), once you get the basic flow of the game under you, you almost never consult the rulebook. You learn its lingo and just go, there are only a few keywords etc, it's really just about learning the general flow and language of the game, which is unique and also does suffer from not having a great opinionated "learn to play" that walks you through some opinionated turns. As to the lack of consequences, I would just say... that's how the game starts out. It intentionally starts very open ended, but quickly (by about day 5) tightens up, and the main consequence you're always dealing with is time. Things are happening in the valley whether you intervene or not, so wasting time is the consequence. And there are definitely branching decisions later in the campaign that can lead to significantly different outcomes. I think one of the potential issues they have with reaching a broader audience is they lean SO hard into some things about the game early (the open, undirected nature, mundane quests like biscuit delivery) because they want to signal the game is different, but I think it can signal to people that it's a certain type of game when it's not. You can't expect people to put in 5-10 hours into a game before they see what it's really like.

[@ShmavinShmenhouse]

I'm halfway through my first campaign (~14 days in) and I 100% agree with the above 👆🏻 The learning curve is rough but the payoff is so rewarding.

[@rawkyle9385]

It took me a few sessions until the game really “clicked” for me. It starts out slow, and I agree that they are probably trying too hard to signal how it is a “different” game at the start. I also agree the rulebook tries to hard to use unique language instead of just telling you how to play the game. All that being said, I stuck with it and am loving it now, currently on day 11 and the game takes some crazy twists and turns. It will not be for everyone, and I have a feeling that there will be more negative reviews when the 2nd printing gets sent out, but for those who stick with it and enjoy the journey it is a 10/10 game.

[@Darthus]

@@rawkyle9385 Agreed! It's actually one of the few campaign collection I've actually "beaten" and played through basically start to finish.

[@somefishhere]

Eloquent as always! Thanks for putting your thoughts out into the world🐺 🐺 🐺

[@foxandfrogboardgaming]

I played a lot of Marvel Champions in April and Marvel Splendor but I was also able to get a couple new games to me of Scout and Get on Board. I enjoyed both with Scout being a bit of a surprise.

[@sayonarakid]

I was looking foward to Earthborn Rangers! Damn. That rule book thing is the kind of stuff that really throws me down. Guess thats some money I will save XD

[@rawkyle9385]

It’s not as bad as he is saying, I would at least try it first. It’s an amazing solo game for me.

[@Fiddlph]

Hi Tim! really love the lists that you made and i'm eyeing on Zoo Vadis! although i might have to disagree on Northgard. I'd much prefer it than Lords of Ragnarok.

[@markdandridge4433]

I played 77 games of Dwellings of Eldervale! I was trying to hit 100, but I ran out of time. I am all in!

[@td179556]

Good review! Do you played Euthia? How do you think?

[@TimChuon]

That’s amazing timing! I was just thinking about the campaign because I haven’t played it yet unfortunately, but I’ll be reading about combat and competitive mode to see how it is!

[@td179556]

@@TimChuon I saw the KS that went up yesterday, and I even thought for a second that you made the video. Eager to hear your REVIEW of this game!

[@emthsi32]

How about two expansions for Northgard, does they improve complexity and make it more equal game to other mentioned area control games?

[@michaeljoesph8687]

Northgard is more 4x I compare it more to last light than the ones mentioned

[@DCAMM720]

Interesting to hear about Earthborne Ranger. I've heard basically nothing but praise thus far. Also, I almost wish these companies would hire someone that knows how a good rulebook works to at LEAST organize them in a way that makes it better for the first play. I've literally taken like PDFs of rulebooks and reorganized them(and sometimes even rewritten them) to make them easier to teach. The art of writing good rulebooks is a dying thing.

[@Darthus]

Yeah I love EBR, but I also had a hard time figuring it out at first (a lot of help from their Discord). Partially I think it's because their "learn to play" is very undirected and doesn't actually ever walk you through a turn or two of full play, which is not great, it just kinda helps you build a deck and then lets you loose.

[@TheSetupDuo]

Love your videos ❤ Can you please tell me where you buy boardgames

[@TimChuon]

Thank you! I get most of them from crowdfunding (Kickstarter/gamefound), local gaming stores, sometimes miniature market/game nerdz!

[@TheSetupDuo]

@@TimChuon thank you for telling me 🎉

[@boardgame_buzzz]

❤❤❤

[@blueclue57]

I think that I will explore Northgard rather than Black Rose or some of the other more complicated games. I play with my middle school kids, and simple is better.

[@TimChuon]

That’s a solid choice! They’d probably love it with the awesome art, and building/combat is very interactive ⚔️

[@raum1988]

Sounds like the group you played fracture sky with needs to step up their game. Ive seen people go no markets and win, and Ive seen people go no forts and win, but never neither and win. Bluffing and hidden info isn't for everyone though.

[@Efendiwu]

i love fractured sky kickstarter, but i cant buy it. so sad

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

Rule Books: Do glossaries exist anymore?

[@KMReviews]

Idk how on earth it’s possible for you to win without building any markets or fortresses.. because anyone else with that stuff could beat all your bids.. that’s just weird. I think maybe that’s just bad opponents lol.

[@abandonlife111]

Earthborne Rangers: tedious symbol matching, eco-warrior nonsense with sub-par components.