Top 10 Anticipated Games of Essen 2024 - with Tom, Wendy, and Joey

[@Shad0wSix]

“This is my number Nope.” 😂 Good one Joey!

[@boardgamefangirl]

"The guys" behind The White Castle, etc., are a husband-and-wife design duo. FWIW-they are great folks!

[@juliathiemann]

Thanks for including Algae Inc., we're psyched 😄 To answer your question: The mechanisms are built upon the actual science of producing these products out of different algae. For example the bio-fuel board has a refinery mechanism and the cosmetics can purify their formula - both to enhance their quality. Food can produce algae salad in one step or make algae burger by having longer production chains etc. You can even find many funfacts about algae production in the rulebook on which we worked on together with scientist 😊 See you in Essen? ;)

[@DT_Wendy]

The science sounds cool. I won't be in Essen, but the rest of the team will be 😊

[@dramajoe]

Excellent list, Wendy. Good job extras, for the ones you crossed over with her on.

[@ferver-san]

yeah right...

[@dreadpirate907]

Woo, thanks for the shout out! :D

[@MagdalenaMichowska]

guys! this must be the funniest list you've ever made! love the team dynamic! 😆🤩

[@AndreaSanchez-wg5cb]

How i love these vlogs!

[@LordComicman]

'Chants of the Old Ones' is actually a Must Have title for me from this year's BGG Essen Spiel preview. It looks and sounds awesome 😄. Sometimes you just have to take a chance

[@freek204]

Joey on fire with the jokes🤣

[@nobbynobbs8182]

LOTR themed 7 Wonders Duel with Vincent Dutrait artwork? Shut up and take my money!

[@PinothyJ]

The Flatiron building is my favourite piece of architecture. Boy, do I think it is beautiful.

[@mammmaroach8971]

"Drachentreppe" is german for "Dragon's Stairway" 😉

[@grubbster]

Nice to see they could get Grimace to guest in one of these videos. Didn't know he was a gamer

[@sinaisbitt]

Have a great break!

[@ThymeKeeper]

Great Manos ref, Joey :)

[@cferejohn]

I take care of the games while the master is away

[@CiJay1985]

I played Drachentreppe a few months ago, back then it was still a prototype. You have to build the game yourself by pushing the steps up. This is especially fun for children and makes the game very special. My children (7 and 8) were able to play the game on their own for a long time and let their imagination run wild, also because of the great theme with magicians, dragons and dragon eggs. They only stopped because other people wanted to look at the prototype too. 🙈 In my opinion, it is a great family game and, above all, it is visually beautiful. With simpler rules, it can be played as a children's game or just to let your imagination run wild. Also it's a nice, easy game for adults. You have to follow a few rules - it's not about who gets all of their magicians to the top of the stairs first! (By the way, these would be good rules for small children) If you don't have a dragon egg, you can't win. And, above all, because of the look and the great material, it's fun for adults too. Everything is made of wood, including the interior that holds the individual steps, of which the owner is very proud (rightly so). There are two more new games from Gerhards: Blütentanz -> Flower dance (nice Game, i played the prototype as well. And won 😉) Wippe-Lig -> Wippe=Seesaw; Wippe-Lig meas the german word "wibbelig" what means someone ist restless and gies back and forth when standig or sitting. Not every german knows the word "wibbelig", but everyone knows it in the region where the owner comes from (and also in the region I come from 😉) Tom, you will like playing Blütentanz und Wippel-Lig more, but you will like Drachentreppe as well (or maybe more) because it look better. 😉 We buy Drachentreppe, because there will always be a situation where it will be played and I will still be able to play it with my grandchildren because it will last so long due to the good quality.

[@m-sousa]

Wendy: the earthquake de from 1755 in Stephens is the same earthquake in Lisboa (from Vital Lacerda). It's the big Lisbon's earthquake that was followed by the fire and the tsunami.

[@DT_Wendy]

Oh wow, cool thanks!

[@IndianaGeologist]

Tom is at his best when he's being punchy! Hi poking fun at others picks is always great and you can tell it's all in good fun.

[@grumlin_games]

Chants for the Old ones is a great game!

[@emrysaurelianus1071]

I learned what SETI stood for from playing Sid Meier's Civilization...surprised Tom didn't also-in one of the Civilizations (maybe Civ 2?)

[@wolfapostle]

Yes me too, it was from civ 2

[@JamesOrr1987]

I would love to try SETI. Like Joey said, growing up watching all the Alien / 'Contact' movies, the theme has me very interested

[@siposbalint2000]

What do you mean Steam Power looks bad, it looks clean and the color palette is very nice, it's actually quite a looker compared to most train games

[@DT_Wendy]

Thank you! I feel so validated right now 😂

[@mariusdafunk]

I also believe it looks elegant

[@zvnetzley9209]

I was thinking that the cover was crisp and sharp, right before Tom (who is clearly wrong again 😊) lost it. One point for house Yi!

[@hogari]

The prototype in the picture does not look very inspiring to be honest. However, the latest updates reveal newer versions of the intended art for the rail tiles and maps, and they look very beautiful. I'm a backer, and I actually believe Tom would enjoy the game as it is supposed to be a streamlined 60min version of an 18XX train game. :) Hopefully @DT_Wendy can persuade him to try it out!

[@topofthemuffintoyou5610]

Can't wait for Wendy's list! Yay!

[@DT_Wendy]

Any crossovers with your personal list?

[@topofthemuffintoyou5610]

​@@DT_WendyI'm definitely excited about Daitoshi and Resafa!

[@zvnetzley9209]

Sky Team is an amazing game! Move past the catch in the theme and take on every challenge in the book. The pressure builds!

[@stormcrow4423]

this intro music is so good

[@ProfArmitage218]

Steam Power reminded me of the 2022 GenCon video, Top 5 Turnoff's in Games. Camilla's #5 was Too Many Beiges.

[@DT_Wendy]

The player pieces have color, right? Can you imagine if this game came with just black, white, wood and grey meeple pieces?😂

[@doggosplosion]

Devir: "We don't do spacial reasoning in our games or our boxes. We just make great games." Polis is the last meaty game from Devir where I remember things fitting in reasonably sized boxes.

[@naomiooooo]

I ❤their tiny/small boxes.

[@johnjaeger9148]

Testing!

[@VoxtDE]

Wonder why Andromedas Edge did Not showed up

[@albertfajarito1]

I was expecting Joey Yi. Joey feels like everyones uncle, fits to any group or occassion. 😅

[@runraggedrhino]

43:40 when I was a kid, after my surgery, they loaded me up with popsicles of all sorts of colours. The barf was SOOO colourful!!!

[@DT_Wendy]

It didn't just all mix and turn brown?

[@freeheeler00]

I'm so out of the loop. I have had Marvel Champions set up for over two months for some solo play and I just haven't been able to get myself to the table, nor can I make it to my game group. I can't wait until things slow down this Fall and I get to play some of my favorites. I don't think I'll play any new games unless somebody else buys them. Update: Who am I fooling? I pretty much want all the games.

[@alexmrkonjic3138]

Lol I could tell right away Tom was trying to say Mississauga. It's not hard Tom

[@michaelhagerman1074]

Is there a second pronunciation of Hegemony, or are they just mangling it? I was pretty sure it was Huh-jeh-muh-nee

[@JorWat25]

'huh-JEM-uh-nee' is the most common way, but you will find 'HEDGE-uh-muh-nee' in some dictionaries.

[@jonsparks3152]

Why do I miss the old numbers just being said? NUMBER 7!

[@joeferreti9442]

"It's more the explosive part of the barfing." "If people would barf color, I would like barfing better." 43:17 :D

[@LordComicman]

Tom's #9's also on my list! 😅

[@runraggedrhino]

22:49 🤣 Tom said "doodie"

[@seraphiccandy21]

Drachentreppe translates to " Dragon stairs" Drache=dragon, Treppe=stairs

[@preymantisss]

French guy from Montreal, here. É is pronounced AY. So it's pronounced Mass-KAY.

[@stormcrow4423]

a Game about making the perfect hamburger could be fun 🍔

[@raptormesh]

The white castle one looks interesting but the tea ceremony set up is all wrong on the cover and the sizes are off.

[@kuremalone78]

Number nope is too good. Hope it catches on

[@svenja8204]

Number 10 ist German. "Drachentreppe" means dragon stairs. 😅

[@GaryFromLiberty]

Chants for the Old Ones looks pretty cool, I did back it, here's hoping it ends up great and if not I get a cool Cthulhu Statue ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@Keldroc]

At last, Wendy has found the beigest game.

[@DT_Wendy]

Not even close!

[@ThymeKeeper]

Totally agree with Tom about the theme of Sky Team. It's absurd. Doesn't mean the game isn't good, but I wouldn't know.

[@KingFatBurger]

Joey "One Rings" Evans

[@jasonpmathew]

Can we just call it "Brown Power" and own the blandness . . . :)

[@runraggedrhino]

Tom, if you can spell "Mississippi" that quickly, you can pronounce Mississauga...

[@scoops2001]

SETI: that thing in the middle? The middle of the solar system? That will be the Sun! Don't tell me Joey is a flat earther 😮. (Yes, it would be great to have it lit.)

[@ThymeKeeper]

Ah, that glorious time of year for people to get all hot and bothered about Dice Tower just calling it "Essen" :)

[@jasonpmathew]

I used to drop a lot of reef balls in college ... good times. 😂

[@ruffiansgaming17]

How can the expansion to sky team be on Joey’s “most anticipated” list if he’s already played it multiple times?

[@thedicetower]

He's played the base game multiple times.

[@ruffiansgaming17]

@@thedicetower ahh okay…. It’s not very clear because at this point 19:53 it sounds like he played the expansion 3 times over the weekend…. Thanks for clarifying

[@defcondraco]

Western Legends Stories!

[@namelessfire]

Dice Tower needs to get their eyes checked. Steam Power looks clean

[@BretMyers-fd5kt]

The camel comment seems unfair. All desert-themed games are going to have camels on the cover as well as guys in robes and turbans. It's a quick way to tell gamers what the game is about with one glance. 🎉

[@joeferreti9442]

With "SETI" I probably would like the theme but so far I don't think I will like the game.

[@garrettbollig761]

Hedge-i-mony 😅 come on yall

[@dillonbrecht3240]

*by accident, not "on" accident

[@Axolotecojo]

Uncouncious mind !!

[@doievenwork]

I tested Firefighters on Duty last year and I was sad that I didn't like it... It doesn't follow up to Project Elite and I really didn't like the visual design, it looked too blend and doesn't look thematic, I don't know how to describe haha just too simple

[@joeferreti9442]

"7 Wonders Duel" is good game, but I'm not happy to have to buy it all over again, even if it is a LotR version.

[@jonathancheung8545]

You don’t have to buy it. No one is forcing to you do anything. If you don’t like the LOTR theme, just skip it.

[@GleasonE]

I have two wishes: 1. A Top Ten Civilization game list 2. When a new game in a recent “Top Ten” category- like Civolution, or Corps of Discovery (in deduction) get reviewed, reviewers refer to that recent Top Tem category and say something like “And Corps of Discovery would slot into my Top Ten deduction games at #3 as of this review… etc. that way the new stuff coming out is contextualized 😄👍

[@johannesjanda]

I had to end the video at Nr. 8, when Tom argued why he hated the Skyteam. He had been mean and negative up to that point but hating something that others enjoy, could have been worded so much better. There is enough negativity in the world already, I don’t need that in videos about a hobby that brings me joy.

[@ethsaus]

Wendy, you should never take flak from Tom on what looks good, just look at how he dresses! :D

[@glasscube6391]

I’m disappointed that Flatiron isn’t a game catering to the early 2000s Emo community.

[@noizeemama3697]

Thank you for making fun of Devir for their box sizes. I absolutely HATE that you can't fit the pieces in the box once they are punched.

[@andymcguire237]

No Unconscious Mind?

[@sarumon17]

I feel like they’ve anticipated it so long that all the anticipation died out.

[@JorWat25]

I think they've played it too.

[@DT_Wendy]

I have not played it, but it's probably in my 11-20

[@Leuber]

I’m sorry and I anticipate hate for this. But just, in terms of professional game journalism. A game is described, from a well known designer, and shortly explained as to how it works. And the response is essentially “yeah but lol beige: the game though, no one will ever want to play it even if Tom Himself is standing beside it. And now look at this game! Art! Miniatures! No, I don’t know anything about gameplay and their previous game sucked, but hey, appearance! Blind hope!” Yes, I know to most people components and artwork matter more than to me (not at all, as long as it’s functional), and that because of this apparently this video is not for me, and so in fact I did stop watching (also answering why watch when you feel this way) but it was just a bit too blatant with this one. And I am in fact honestly interested in games to check out at Spiel, btw.

[@devilasks]

Did you say "I thought Rurik is a made up country..."?

[@Fissi0nChips]

Are y'all pronouncing Hegemony wrong on purpose?

[@philipmoser3784]

sometimes Tom just got too much drip. Way too much drip for a board game reviewer.

[@MrHMCC]

World order and unconscious mind my friends….

[@andyharris4048]

Hey Tom. Let Wendy like what she likes.

[@joshjenson8111]

Nah she usually likes bad games

[@thedicetower]

It's kidding around, usually about whether a cover looks plain or not.

[@DT_Wendy]

What I got from this top 10 is that I'm basically right all the time 😜

[@monikavontagen]

WTF was that sexist stuff at 1:01. Really not warranted.