It could be tonight, it could be a week, but the end is coming for Billy Kerr. Each day, you and your team of nurses do your best to make him comfortable.

But Billy is not going quietly.

And he's not going to make your lives easy. His troubled past will haunt him to the end of his days unless you help him find peace of mind.

Holding On offers a game experience like no other. It is a drama-driven game that asks us to redefine the boundaries of play.

We don't just witness Billy's story. We play through it - the regrets and triumphs - the decisions that define his path. And in doing so, we are invited to reflect on our own.

It takes an act of true courage and audacity to embrace tragedy as a new voice for games. And that's exactly what Holding On is.

Listen in to explore the game and discover how these brave and bold designers forge a new path for players to enjoy.

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

You are the mayor of a tiny town in the forest, where the smaller creatures of the woods have created a civilization hidden away from predators. This new land is small and the resources are scarce--you take what you can get, and never say ‘no’ to building materials. Cleverly plan and construct a thriving town, and don’t let it fill up with wasted resources!

Tiny towns is part pattern building puzzle with a generous dose of strategic Bingo thrown in for good measure. Read on to see why we think it offers a fun bridge between casual and thoughtful players where both can meet and have fun.

Written review continues after the break.

Somewhere in the universe, wombats gather in parties to find a champion. All creatures are welcome, facing challenges ridiculous and sublime. In fact every time they play, the challenges will change since the players themselves shape them. A word, a memory, a drawing, a gesture, even a song could be the key to unlock the heart of the judge.

Wombattle is a whacktastic party game driven by an unexpected dexterity element and whimsically weird art. 

It's an arena for laughter and silliness and a giant reminder of the simple joys we can discover through play.

Written review continues after the break.

The mighty Nile: cradle of life and civilization -  and a powerful source of fame and fortune. 

In Egizia, players sail ships carrying workers and stone to build mighty monuments for the Pharaoh. The river offers great rewards and abilities as it flows ever Northward to the sea.

And therein lies the challenge.

Each ship must be placed downriver from your last. When you sail past a space, there's no going back.

Tune in to discover why Egizia is modern classic with an even brighter future.

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

First came the island. Your team of adventurers found relics in temples sinking into the sea.

Next was the Desert. Crashed in the wastes, your team rebuilt an ancient flying machine to escape.

And now, high above the clouds, your team discovers an abandoned launch station from a lost space-faring civilization.

There’s just one problem. A deadly storm is coming. Can you rewire the station (creating a real electrical circuit) and gather your team for a rocket launch into the Forbidden Sky? 

Forbidden Sky is the third in a trilogy of cooperative games by noted designer Matt Leacock. Each game in the series adds new challenges and levels of complexity to overcome.

Listen in to explore the game and discover why it deserves BOTH awards!

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

Echidnas, prickly cousins to the platypus, love to roam the forest floor. They often bump into friends along the way as they walk their well worn paths.

What the echidnas don’t know is this. The insects of the forest ride them everywhere… like the bus or the subway! Better yet, echidnas are like spiny unaware Uber or Lyft drivers, picking up and dropping off passengers as they shuffle along.

In Echidna Shuffle, each player has three colorful insects they are trying to get home. Can you catch a ride on an echidna and help it shuffle through the forest to your home stumps? The problem is there are so many echidnas around, they often wander off course, especially when you get close to your bug’s home!

Written review continues after the break.

ROME, 1 B.C.  You are a leader of a noble Roman family, a Patrician. As such, you are charged with improving your city district—and, as always, advancing the interests of your family.

Lately, a new thought has seized Roman life. “Carpe Diem”, or Seize the Day, the sentiment advanced by Horace, the poet. Make the most of today, with little thought for tomorrow.

The race is on. Can you, in a few actions, maximize your holdings and gain the greatest glory?

Written review continues after the break.

A treasure hunter's life is never easy. Especially when the ship with your treasure capsizes and all your loot starts to float away!

Flotsam Fight is a card shedding game that plays like an old classic.

Your goal is to put as many treasure cards as you can onto lifeboats. The problem is, each treasure will only fit onto certain boats. And when one player finishes loading up, you don't want to be stuck with an armful of big loot!

Tune in to see why we think Flotsam Fight packs a ton of Major Fun into such a small box.

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

Portugal, though small in size, wields enormous economic, political, and military power through its growing colonial and trade empires during the Renaissance.

In Coimbra, each player is the head of a family selecting dice to gain influence over important members of society within the city: the clergy, the scholars, the merchants, and the civic leaders.

With careful management of the allies you gain and the income you gather from turn to turn, you’ll carve a memorable chapter in Coimbra’s history.

On the surface the game seems simple: pick three dice each turn. But nested within each simple choice are  challenging and rewarding levels of strategy and depth. 

Listen in to learn why we think Coimbra presents us with an inspired set of restrictions that set the standard for our Spiel of Approval.

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

Illusion asks the simple question: Can you trust your eyes? All you need to do is put cards in order, from low to high, based on just one color. Everything is right before you— if you can believe what you see.

Illusion takes child like concepts of shape and color, more and less, and turns them into Major Fun for everyone at the table.

Written review continues after the break.