So Very Wrong About Games

Despite the welcome relative absence of anthropomorphic animals this week--aside from some sundry ducks in Lorcana--we see a lot of animals and various critters this week. We eschew sacrifices to a dodgy snake in Imperium, we fling sheep with abandon, we throw down with some wrestling bugs, and that's on top of comparatively mundane animal husbandry in Keyflower. Mark offered some unflattering comparisons between Walker and various animals during Crokinole, but that doesn't quite count. Games Played Last Week: 02:22 -Space Alert (Vlaada Chvátil, Czech Games Edition, 2008) 04:58 -Imperium: Horizons (Nigel Buckle and Dávid Turczi, Osprey Games, 2024) 09:17 CMYK's Magenta Series: Duos (Johannes Schmidauer-König, CMYK, 2025), Figment (Wolfgang Warsch, CMYK, 2025), Fives (Taiki Shinzawa, CMYK, 2025), Fruit Fight (Reiner Knizia, CMYK, 2025)  12:21 -Heap-O-Sheep: The High Flying Game of Flingin' Sheep! (Dominic Yard, Fat Brain Toy Company, Unknown) 16:48 -Crokinole (Uncredited, Mayday, 2025) 19:36 -Kabuto Sumo: Sak

While we hate to confirm your most reductive of preconceived notions, snow removal in Canadian cities is no joke. The fleet of vehicles required to allow for daily life in even a small Canadian city after major snowfall is impressive. The balletic dance of some of their formations while in operation calls to mind the precise of mid-air refuelling.   01:03 AYURIS: Ra (Reiner Knizia, alea, 1999) Games Played Last Week: 04:07 -Mistborn (John D. Clair, Brotherwise Games, 2024) 09:17 -Cerebria: The Inside World (Richard Amann, Viktor Peter, István Pócsi, Frigyes Schőberl, Nick Shaw, & Dávid Turczi, Mindclash Games, 2018) 13:40 -1793: Patriots & Traitors (Jason St.Just, Sound of Drums, 2024)  20:35 -Navegador (Mac Gerdts, PD-Verlag, 2010) 26:43 -Galactic Renaissance (Christian Martinez, Matagot, 2024) 29:25 -Cyclades: Legendary Edition (Bruno Cathala & Ludovic Maublanc, Open Sesame Games, 2024) 39:24 -Whale Riders (Reiner Knizia, Grail Games, 2021) 41:06 -Figment (Wolfgang Warsch, CMYK, 2025) 46:01 -Kabuto Sumo:

Colour nouns are essentially arbitrary; how one decides to chop up the visible spectrum of light is a matter of contingent taxonomy. Some languages have one noun for both blue and green, for example. English has a word for light red (pink) where other languages don't. Russian similarly has a word for light blue. And then there's magenta, which we can all agree is a scene and a half.  Games Played Last Week: 02:35 -Fruit Fight (Reiner Knizia, CMYK, 2025)  06:55 -Fives (Taiki Shinzawa, CMYK, 2025)  09:49 -Figment (Wolfgang Warsch, CMYK, 2025) 12:49 -Duos (Johannes Schmidauer-König, CMYK, 2025)  16:17 -Sidereal Confluence (TauCeti Deichmann, Wizkids, 2017) 19:24 -Fishing (Friedemann Friese, 2F-Spiele, 2024) 24:36 -The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era (Josh J. Carlson, Michael Gernes, Logan Giannini, Ryan Howard, Salem Scott, and Josh Wielgus, Chip Theory Games, 2025) 32:24 -Storm Raiders (Shem Phillips, Arkus Games, 2025) News (and why it doesn't matter): 38:55 Mythic Games in trouble (again), crowdfu

Our upcoming convention, July 25th-27th 2025, is in its planning stages! We have a venue but nothing much else yet. Not even a name! Suggestions welcome. Mark quite likes So Very Wrong About Games Fun Times Good Vibes Only Trans Rights Are Human Rights Boardgame Jamboree, but he worries that it might be too pithy. Few things are off the table! Special guests? Maybe! Fabulous prizes? Well, prizes, definitely. More like obligatory prizes. 03:08 AYURIS: Undaunted: Battle of Britain (Trevor Benjamin and David Thompson, Osprey Games, 2023) Games Played Last Week: 04:49 -Malediction (Leo Cunha, Nicole Lobo, and Daniel Pettersen de Lucena, Loot Studios, 2025) 12:09 -Slay the Spire: The Board Game (Gary Dworetsky, Anthony Giovannetti, and Casey Yano, Contention Games, 2024) 13:43 -Lone Wolves (Yasuyuki Nakamura, Wonderful World Board Games, 2024) 18:51 -Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape (Alex Olteanu & Marco Portugal, CMON, 2022) 24:01 -Critter Kitchen (Alex Cutler & Peter C. Hayward, Carboard Alchemy, 2025)  27:59 -Co

If you can choose to be the regular version or the spicy version, you obviously choose the spicy version. I mean, sure, the capsaicin may sting, but one assumes that the canonical version is caliente. Put another way, would you prefer "SVWAG" or "SVWAG en fuego?" The choice is clear. It is a corollary of sorts to Winston Zeddemore axiom that when someone asks you if you are a god, you say yes. Games Played Last Week: 01:33 -Under Our Sun (Maximilian Lichtner and David Poluda, tabletopper games, 2024) 06:05 -Cosmic Frog (Jenna Felli, Devious Weasel Games, 2020) 09:34 -Ankh: Gods of Egypt (Eric M. Lang, CMON, 2021) 14:20 -Trio (Kaya Miyano, Cocktail Games, 2021) 17:17 -Don't L.L.A.M.A. Dice (Reiner Knizia, AMIGO, 2021) 18:58 -Slay the Spire: The Board Game (Gary Dworetsky, Anthony Giovannetti, and Casey Yano, Contention Games, 2024) 21:02 -The Vale of Eternity: Artifacts (Eric Hong and Mathieu Rivero, Mandoo Games, 2024) News (and why it doesn't matter): 25:06 If you know of games lost in the L.A. fires, let

"Robert! This here is velvet--not velveteen. A gentleman must learn the difference." -Gilbert Fontaine de la Tour D'Haute Rive Games Played Last Week: 01:53 -Fishing (Friedemann Friese, 2F-Spiele, 2024) 08:04 -Revive (Helge Meissner, Eilif Svensson, Anna Wermlund, and Kristian Amundsen Østby, Aporta Games, 2022) 10:46 -SCOUT (Kei Kajino, Oink Games, 2019) 14:33 -MLEM: Space Agency (Reiner Knizia, Rebel Studio, 2024) 16:53 -Unconscious Mind (Laskas, Jonny Pac, Yoma, and Antonio Zax, Fantasia Games, 2024) 20:10 -SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (Laskas, Jonny Pac, Yoma, and Antonio Zax, Czech Games Edition, 2024) 28:27 -Kollide (Uncredited, Relatable, 2024) 31:12 -Gun It (Randy O'Connor, Randy O Games, 2024) 35:14 -Harmonies (Johan Benvenuto, Libellud, 2024) 38:08 -Gudnak (Timothy S. O'Brien and Ian Oliver, Chaotic Great, 2024) 42:19 -Good Puppers (Chris Cieslik, Asmadi Games, 2021) News (and why it doesn't matter): 44:20 The System Works: BGG improved plague counters, Rise & Fall replacement pa

The editorial department of So Very Wrong About Games has several sub-divisions, and admittedly the orgchart gets a bit baroque at this point. The rules errors office is technically a sub-branch of the fact checking desk, but it is funded out of the game design sub-budget. This muddies the line of accountability, and as anyone who works with gibbons can tell you, this is not ideal.  03:53 AYURIS: Lacrimosa (Gerard Ascendi and Ferran Renalias, Devir, 2022) Games Played Last Week: 05:20 -Endeavor: Deep Sea (Carl de Visser and Jarratt Gray, Burnt Island Games, 2024) 08:30 -Hanabi (Antoine Bauza, ABACUSSPIELE, 2010) 13:55 -Thor (Reiner Knizia, Heidelberger Spieleverlag, 2002) 16:39 -Quin (Brian Rooney and Taeleen Woodard, Arch & Gravity Publishing, 2024) 21:12 -Hamster Roll (Jacques Zeimet, Zoch Verlag, 2000) 24:33 -Gun It (Randy O'Connor, Randy O Games, 2024) 30:20 -Spirits of the Forest (Michael Schacht, ThunderGryph Games, 2018) News (and why it doesn't matter): 33:44 Project K: The League of Legends Tradin

It has come to our attention that there has been a great deficiency in SVWAG through the years, namely our shameful neglect of the French language. The sheer Gaul! Games Played Last Week: 01:34 -The Isle of Cats Duel (Frank West, The City of Games, 2024) 04:28 -Res Arcana: Lux et Tenebrae (Thomas Lehman, Sand Castle Games, 2019) 08:00 -Worldspanner Factions (Brett G. Murrell, Worldspanner, 2024) 17:44 -The Crew: Mission Deep Sea (Thomas Sing, KOSMOS, 2021) 20:30 -Atiwa (Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout Games, 2022) 23:33 -My Favorite Things (Daiki [Nilgiri] Aoyama and Pepe_R, Play for Keeps, 2015) 31:03 Endeavor: Deep Sea (Carl de Visser and Jarratt Gray, Burnt Island Games, 2024) 37:35 -Through the Desert (Reiner Knizia, Allplay, 2024) 39:39 -Dro Polter (Paul Schulz, Oink Games, 2023) News (and why it doesn't matter): 41:34 Fort Circle Games' First Monday in October by Talia Rosen available for pre-order 42:28 Stranger Things Risk...? 43:10 APE Games to reprint Whale Riders 43:38 Kasper Lapp's Our Secret Society 44:

Trust the launcher. 01:28 AYURIS: Darwin’s Journey (Simone Luciani and Nestore Mangone, ThunderGryph Games, 2023) Games Played Last Week: 03:49 -Iron Forest (Brian Gomez, Brain Games, 2024) 10:22 -Slide Quest (Nicolas Bourgoin & Jean-François Rochas, Blue Orange, 2019) 14:00 -The Gang (John Cooper and Kory Heath, KOSMOS, 2024) 17:08 -Harmonies (Johan Benvenuto, Libellud, 2024) 19:23 -Set a Watch (Mike Gnade and Todd Walsh, Rock Manor Games, 2019) 23:12 -Endeavor: Age of Expansion (Jarratt Gray, Burnt Island Games, 2020) 28:05 -Windmill Valley (Dani Garcia, Board&Dice, 2024) News (and why it doesn't matter): 32:35 It's already Lunar New Year 33:33 From Fortress America to 2045, Walker makes associations 37:21 Second Zenobia Award winner: The Porters, by Lucas Cockburn, Neco Cockburn, and Alex Goss about unionization of black Canadian rail workers 38:57 Topic: Sheep in Wolves' Clothing Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your

Walker's glorious return portends a bumper crop of games to discuss, so we will forego a feature game or topic this week in favour of a deluge. 02:11 AYURIS: Stationfall (Matt Eklund, Ion Game Design, 2023) Games Played Last Week: 07:08 -Tiny Mini Golf (Kamis Kamiński, Self-published, 2023) 12:46 -Green Team Wins (Nathan Thornton, 25th Century Games, 2022)  15:33 -Flip 7 (Eric Olsen, The Op Games, 2024) 18:08 -The LOOP (Maxime Rambourg and Théo Rivière, Pandasaurus Games, 2020) 20:20 -Civolution (Stefan Feld, Deep Print Games, 2024) 24:26 -Iron Forest (Brian Gomez, Brain Games, 2024) 27:20 -Windmill Valley (Dani Garcia, Board&Dice, 2024) 28:44 -Dragons Down (Scott DeMers, Mr. B Games, 2024) 36:05 -The White Castle: Matcha (Israel Cendrero & Sheila Santos, Devir Games, 2024) 37:43 -Black Forest (Tido Lorenz and Uwe Rosenberg, Feuerland Spiele, 2024) 40:26 -Dead Cells: The Rogue-Lite Board Game (Antoine Bauza, Corentin Lebrat, Ludovic Maublanc, and Théo Rivière, Scorpion Masqué, 2024) 47:44 -Tidal Blades 2: R

In addition to having to struggle with new hardware on account of gravity murdering his tablet of 10+ years, we now must try to adjust to capturing the sweet, sonorous tones of the elusive Jimbo. It's hard to get audio levels right when the mic's compressor itself swoons from sheer bliss.   02:43 AYURIS: Revive (Helge Meissner, Eilif Svensson, Anna Wermlund, and Kristian Amundsen Østby, Aporta Games, 2022) Games Played Last Week: 06:28 -Civolution (Stefan Feld, Deep Print Games, 2024) 19:45 -Race for the Galaxy (Thomas Lehmann, Rio Grande Games, 2007) 25:22 -Don't L.L.A.M.A. Dice (Reiner Knizia, AMIGO, 2021) 27:56 -Windmill Valley (Dani Garcia, Board&Dice, 2024) 30:32 -The Isle of Cats Duel (Frank West, The City of Games, 2024) 34:22 -The White Castle: Matcha (Israel Cendrero & Sheila Santos, Devir Games, 2024) 37:01 -Battalion: War of the Ancients (Paolo Mori and Francesco Sirocchi, Osprey, 2024) 43:11 -Spirit Island (R. Eric Reuss, Greater Than Games, 2017) News (and why it doesn't matter): 45:31 Please

We're trying this YouTube thing in earnest, now, doing the video podcasting thing. This is our inaugural attempt at plastering our mugs on the internet in a podcast form. You have to be where your audience is, and also, Mark hopes that a link to a video can serve in lieu of his having to travel to see anyone ever again. https://www.youtube.com/@SoVeryWrongAboutGames Games Played Last Week: 01:08 -This Is Not a Test: Post-Apocalyptic Skirmish Rules (Joseph McGuire, Worlds End Publishing, 2013) 05:17 -The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth (Antoine Bauza & Bruno Cathala, Repos Production, 2024) 11:13 -Iron Forest (Brian Gomez, Brain Games, 2024) 16:55 -Trudvang Legends (Jordy Adan, Fel Barros, Guilherme Goulart, Eric M. Lang, Marco Maggi, Francesco Nepitello, Umberto Pignatelli, & Fabio Tola, 2022) 20:38 -The Gang (John Cooper and Kory Heath, KOSMOS, 2024) 23:31 -Wonderland's War (Tim Eisner, Ben Eisner, & Ian Moss, Druid City Games, 2022) 26:33 -SCOUT (Kei Kajino, Oink Games, 2019) 28:49 -Fromage (Matth

All of our musical references are at least a decade out of date, even when we attempt to reference contemporary artists--I must assume, because Mark knows her name, that no one listens to Billie Eilish anymore. We think Drake is suing Kendrick Lamar over claims he plagiarized a board game design, but the details elude us.  01:43 AYURIS: Gatefall (Jack Dire, Jack Dire Studios, 2020) Games Played Last Week: 05:09 -The Gang (John Cooper and Kory Heath, KOSMOS, 2024) 07:45 -Jekyll & Hyde vs Scotland Yard (Gaëtan Beaujannot, Olivier Cipière, and Geonil, Mandoo Games, 2023) 11:28 -Chronicles of Avel (Przemek Wojtkowiak, Rebel Studio, 2021) 13:49 -Han (Michael Schacht, ABACUSSPIELE, 2014) 16:12 -Splendor Duel (Marc André and Bruno Cathala, Space Cowboys, 2022) 18:41 -Battalion: War of the Ancients (Paolo Mori and Francesco Sirocchi, Osprey, 2024) 23:23 -Rats of Wistar (Simone Luciani and Danilo Sabia, Cranio Creations, 2023) 25:12 -Galactic Renaissance Expansion: 5th Player (Christian Martinez, Matagot, 2024) 30:2

When you are obliged to cite your sources is a fraught question, full of nuance. Even in academia there is some disagreement as to when yo quote, when to paraphrase, and when simply to assume common knowledge. Like the preceding sentence, for example--I assume it is common knowledge not requiring a citation, but then again maybe not, and were I using footnotes here I would comment on the absurdity of citations in episode notes (to say nothing of footnoting episode notes). And don't get me started on ibid, supra, and all their blighted ilk! Safer, I think, just not to ever read anything, and thus one's incoherent nonsense is indisputably one's own. Games Played Last Week: 01:20 -Versailles 1919 (Geoff Engelstein & Mark Herman, GMT Games, 2020) 12:33 -Mass Effect: The Board Game - Priority: Hagalaz (Eric M. Lang and Calvin Wong Tze Loon, Modiphius Entertainment, 2024) 16:11 -Fromage (Matthew O'Malley and Ben Rosset, Road to Infamy Games, 2024) 24:56 -Behold: Rome (Joe Klipfel, Mythfield Games, 2024) 28:34 -Kar

Apparently there were scrapped plans for the Gorn (the lumbering rubber lizard suit dude Kirk fights in that famous episode) to show up in other Star Trek properties. One plan had a Gorn show up as Worf's guest to Riker's bachelor party in Nemesis, and frankly despite how awful those latter movies were I would have been all over that. I can only imagine that the plan was abandoned when the props department couldn't get a styrofoam cocktail to look right. 01:42 AYURIS: The Wolves (Ashwain Kamath and Clarence Simpson, Pandasaurus Games, 2022) Games Played Last Week: 03:49 -Tidal Blades 2: Rise of the Unfolders (Tim Eisner and Ben Eisner, Druid City Games, 2024) 10:28 -Mass Effect: The Board Game - Priority: Hagalaz (Eric M. Lang and Calvin Wong Tze Loon, Modiphius Entertainment, 2024) 16:15 -The LOOP (Maxime Rambourg and Théo Rivière, Pandasaurus Games, 2020) 20:57 -Cryo (Tom Jolly & Luke Laurie, Z-Man Games, 2021) 24:37 -Flip 7 (Eric Olsen, The Op Games, 2024) 26:23 -Rebel Princess (Daniel Byrne, José Gerard

Thrill to the latest superhero epic, "X-Men: Layover in Dulles." When the Blackbird is grounded due to an unexplained indicator light (meddling from the sinister Magneto? Who can say?!?!), the elite group of heroic mutants must navigate the perils of terminal D. Wolverine is having problems with the metal detectors again, which is troublesome as he is smuggling Cuban cigars. Rogue must battle the temptation of the 15-minute massage station. Panera bread keeps getting Cyclops' order wrong. It's epic, it's exciting, it's eight hours long! 01:42 AYURIS: The Great Wall (Kamil 'Sanex' Cieśla, Robert Plesowicz, & Łukasz Włodarczyk, Awaken Realms, 2021) Games Played Last Week: 04:43 -Don't Rock the Croc (Uncredited, FoxMind, Unknown) 07:52 -War Story: Occupied France (Dave Neale and David Thompson, Osprey Games, 2024) 13:20 -Barcelona: Passeig de Gràcia (Dani Garcia, Board&Dice, 2024) 20:27 -Mass Effect: The Board Game - Priority: Hagalaz (Eric M. Lang and Calvin Wong Tze Loon, Modiphius Entertainment, 2024) 27:04

Walker: But, indeed, sir, we make holiday, to see Freedom Five and to rejoice in its triumph. Mark: Wherefore rejoice? What delight brings it home? What enjoyment follows it to the table, To grace in fun times its board presence? You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things! Games Played Last Week: 01:08 -Freedom Five: A Sentinel Comics Board Game (Richard Launius, Adam Sadler, and Brady Sadler, Arcane Wonders, 2024) 10:51 -Things in Rings (Peter C. Hayward, Allplay, 2024) 13:46 -City of the Six Moons (Amabel Holland, Hollandspiele, 2024) 19:56 -Lost Cities: Rivals (Reiner Knizia, KOSMOS, 2018)  22:58 -Through Ice and Snow (Fernando Eduardo Sánchez, 2Tomatoes Games, 2024) 29:54 -Don't L.L.A.M.A. Dice (Reiner Knizia, AMIGO, 2021) 32:24 -Cockroach Poker (Jacques Zeimet, Drei Magier Spiele, 2004) 37:03 -The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth (Antoine Bauza & Bruno Cathala, Repos Production, 2024) 39:42 -Harmonies (Johan Benvenuto, Libellud, 2024) News (and why it doesn't matter): 40:18 Twilig

An auspicious palindrome of an episode number! Granted, in triple digits one encounters a palindrome every ten episodes or so, but I'm sure the numerologists amongst us have special enthusiasm for the mighty TRIP THREE. I mean, primes, and threes, and all that. Anyway, it'll be a minute until we reach episode TRIP FOUR, so let's savour this while we can. 01:10 AYURIS: Mille Fiori (Reiner Knizia, Schmidt Spiele, 2021) Games Played Last Week: 04:06 -Lunar Rush (Steven "Skippy" Brown, Dead Alive Games, 2023) 08:53 -Dragons Down (Scott DeMers, Mr. B Games, 2024) 16:20 -Things in Rings (Peter C. Hayward, Allplay, 2024) 26:00 -EGO (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2025) 33:37 -Keep the Heroes Out!: Boss Battles (Luís Brueh, Brueh Games, 2024) 37:20 -Mexica (Michael Kiesling & Wolfgang Kramer, Rio Grande Games, 2002) 40:22 -Avatar: The Last Airbender--Aang's Destiny (Patrick Marino, The OP Games, 2024) 43:47 -Formula D (Laurent Lavaur & Eric Randall, Asmodee, 2008) 45:18 -Aquatica: Coral Reefs (Ivan Tuzovsky, Arcane

Once again, a primer on some of the differences between the US and Canada. We Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving in early October, in honour of our second governor general, the Right Honourable October G. Thanksington. Rather than turkey and football, we do latkes and rugby.  Games Played Last Week: 00:55 -Black Forest (Tido Lorenz and Uwe Rosenberg, Feuerland Spiele, 2024) 09:36 -Bargain Hunter (Uwe Rosenberg, Valley Games, 1998) 12:21 -Unreliable Wizard (Kamibayashi, Salt & Pepper Games, 2024) 15:25 -Space Alert (Vlaada Chvátil, Czech Games Edition, 2008) 20:21 -Wabash Cannonball (John Bohrer, Rio Grande Games, 2023) 25:28 -Quartermaster General: 1914 (Second Edition) (Ian Brody, Ares Games, 2022) 29:20 -Lunar Rush (Steven "Skippy" Brown, Dead Alive Games, 2023) 32:51 -Cross Clues (Grégory Grard, Blue Orange Games, 2020) 35:46 -Avatar: The Last Airbender--Aang's Destiny (Patrick Marino, The OP Games, 2024)   News (and why it doesn't matter): 40:26 The Waste of Parts: a post-apocalyptic journey 42:09 Join us

It is October, the month of Fat Bear Week, Decorative Gourd Season, Halloween, and Arkhipov Day! Sure, it has less candy than some of those other celebrations, but I'll wager neither a corpulent bear nor a kid dressed as a pirate has ever saved the entire human race.  01:00 AYURIS: IKI (Koota Yamada, Sorry We Are French, 2015) Games Played Last Week: 03:38 -Valka (Brooke Penrose, Terrible Games, 2024) 07:16 -Bus (Jeroen Doumen and Joris Wiersinga, Capstone Games, 2019) 09:47 -Warpgate: Beyond (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2022) 12:33 -Dinosaur World (Brian Lewis, David McGregor, & Marissa Misura, Pandasaurus Games, 2021) 16:02 -SCOUT (Kei Kajino, Oink Games, 2019) 18:18 -Jekyll & Hyde vs Scotland Yard (Gaëtan Beaujannot, Olivier Cipière, and Geonil, Mandoo Games, 2023) 20:11 -Cthulhu: Death May Die--Fear of the Unknown (Rob Daviau, Eric M. Lang, and Marco Portugal, CMON, 2024) 22:57 -Set a Watch (Mike Gnade and Todd Walsh, Rock Manor Games, 2019) 25:04 -Hamster Roll (Jacques Zeimet, Zoch Verlag, 2000)