Super fast write ups of early Winter…  ⛄️❄️

Hello all!

I returned safely from Europe and Morocco! I shared some time with my good friend Randy (Hanging out on Long Island, visiting with friends in Brooklyn, attending PAX Unplugged). Awesome as always!

I’ve gotten my Uncle’s home’s set for winter (after some oil burner repair calls and such). And now… it is time to get these new games into the shop! Sadly, you will see this sentiment (and even these exact words) on all the new games this week (DEC 15, 2024) as I’m going to copy/paste the basic write-up into each new game.

Is that a smidge underwhelming? 😬

Why yes… yes it is.

But will that let me finish in time for dinner? 😃

Why yes… yes it will (or at least it should). 😅 Haha. My LIFE! 🚀

Here we go… buckle up. 🛻

This Upstart bundle includes The Fog: Escape from Paradise – the Deluxe Edition base game and The Uncertainty Expansion.  I had a chance to meet Robert of XOLLOX games and demo this wonderful game at Essen in 2023. We tried to meet up again at Essen Spiel in 2024, but my schedule was a bit sideways with some last minute helping-out in a friend’s exhibition booth there. Anyway, that rambling prose aside… this is a FABULOUS game!  Islanders are randomized onto the island board.. the Fog is placed (at a safe distance to start) and then the fun begins!

The Fog slides farther and farther along the shore each round, while you attempt to jostle your team toward the boats. I won’t get into the mechanics too deeply here… but using the character abilities for the different islanders allows you to pave your way to safety.. all the while feeling the very palpable pressure of the Fog rolling in at your heels!

I LOVE when a game theme is really present!!  And The Fog foes not disappoint!! Underneath the hood… and shrouded by the theme that fits so well… the game has a bit of a reverse Tetris thing going on in my mind… and in a really cool way.  It is as if you started with the completed Tetris screen and then had to unravel that backwards… expanding back out and releasing each piece, and there is just something REALLY satisfying about that!

Of course, the actual gameplay is not as abstract as all that… and you are certainly focused on the actual saving of your characters and getting them to the boats… but there’s something puzzle’y in there about this crowd on the beach that has to creatively jostle to shore while being chased by sinister Fog… and you all know how much I love some puzzle’y goodness in a game! (and sinister Fog… of course.. I mean, who doesn’t love that! Thank you, Stephen King) 🧩

And, it plays up to 6 players… and it does it well. Wahhhhh… I really do ENJOY this game!  And, Robert (the designer and owner of XOLLOX Games) is a wonderful and thoughtful human… And we all know how much I appreciate when a great game is designed and published by great people! 😊

This one is a WIN! 🏆

And, don’t worry if you’re thinking, “I’ve never heard of this game.” The Kickstarter campaign funded and did just fine, but it didn’t have the thousands of backers that are usually required for there to be enough “chatter” about a game on the socials, internet, forums, conventions after its release. But trust me… this is a solid game. Well, at least I really love it.. hehe. So think of the other games I have rambled on about and maybe that will help you decide.

As always, if you have ANY questions.. please reach out! I am here to help! 😊

I’m usually available unless I’m driving, flying (usually in a jet), fiddling with my wood burning stove, or asleep! 😅🚗✈️💤

Kickstarter Campaign Link – to check and see all wonderful game bits and juicy exclusive content!!

I do want to at least post a link to the original campaign… in case you want to take a closer look… 😉 The link can be found HERE.

Again… sooo sorry, everyone! I’ll get back in the swing at some point… argh! 🏴‍☠️😭

Exceptionally ready-to-get-to-the-dinner-cooking-part-of-the-day pirate signing off! ❤️