GEEK Digital Board Games

Regular coverage of board game experiences on mobile, PC/MAC, Console and more.

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Oceans, Fury of Dracula, The Captain is Dead, and more - GEEK Digital Board Games Issue #6

Brad Cummings
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Connecticut
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From gallery of thequietpunk


Welcome to GEEK Digital Board Games. Tune in for digital board game news every two weeks. For more details about the changes and our goals check out this blog post.


From gallery of thequietpunk



Oceans is Out!
North Star Digital Studios is back with Oceans. You can try this one for free and then pay for additional expansions.
Platforms: iOS, Android



Fury of Dracula Swoops In
This classic game of deduction and terror is now on Steam from the folks at Nomad. Be sure to give it a play.
Platforms: Steam


From gallery of thequietpunk
Root Gets the Clockwork Expansion
Root has added the Clockwork expansion. These new AI opponents will pack a challenge.
Platforms: PC


Video Game: Tabletopia
Tabletopia Additions
More games to check out: Flourish, Anansi, Brick and Mortar, Deadwood 1876, Pandemic Hot Zone North America, Shogun no Katana, Rulebenders, Kodama Forest, Gates of Mara, Momiji, Salvage Hidden Treasures, and more.
Platforms: PC




From gallery of thequietpunk



Perchang Teases New Silver Tower Info
Acram Digital has announced that their next title is Concardia: Digital Edition. Excited to see how this one shapes up.



The Captain is Dead Coming to Mobile, Console, and PC in February
Thunderbox Entertainment has announced that The Captain is Dead will be coming to mobile on the same day as console and PC. This is one to watch for next year.



Similo: Myths Coming on Nov 26th
This new deck looks like a ton of fun and adds a bunch of new cards to the game.



Gaia Project Update
More updates on this massive undertaking. Follow the tweet for more info.



Maracaibo Update
This latest update shows that they are adding the Automa mode to the game. It is great to have this option.




From gallery of thequietpunk


From gallery of thequietpunk
Gnomitaire from Tiny Touch Tales
A new game is out from Tiny Touch Tales who has delivered some amazing digital original board games in the pas (Card Thief, Card Crawl, and more).
Platforms: iOS, Android
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Tue Nov 24, 2020 3:00 pm
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One Deck Dungeon, Concordia, Descent, Evolution, and more - GEEK Digital Board Games Issue #5

Brad Cummings
United States
Connecticut
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From gallery of thequietpunk


Welcome to GEEK Digital Board Games. Tune in for digital board game news every two weeks. For more details about the changes and our goals check out this blog post.




From gallery of thequietpunk


From gallery of thequietpunk
Paper Tales
This release seems like a bit of an early release that may be getting frequent updates.
Platforms: iOS, Android


From gallery of thequietpunk
One Deck Dungeon: Abyssal Depths
This expansion for One Deck Dungeon is now available. This is a great game and every expansion just adds more awesome.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Steam


Video Game: Tabletopia
Tabletopia Additions
A big batch this time: Fluttering Souls, The Night Cage, Space Park, Capital Lux 2, Pendulum, Calico, Godzilla Total War, Hoope Godz, Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers, Paleo, Winter Kingdom, Posthuman Saga, Sakura Arms, Silencio, and more.
Platforms: PC



From gallery of thequietpunk


From gallery of thequietpunk
Concordia is Next from Acram Digital
Acram Digital has announced that their next title is Concardia: Digital Edition. Excited to see how this one shapes up.
Learn More


From gallery of thequietpunk
Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace Coming in 2021
Asmodee Digital announced that Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace will be released next year. This is a more video-gamey take on this beloved property. We’ll have to see how this goes!
Learn More


From gallery of thequietpunk
Fury of Dracula Delayed
Meant to launch just before Halloween, Fury of Dracula has been delayed to mid-November. Based on my posting schedule, you don’t have that long to wait. You’re welcome.
Learn More


From gallery of thequietpunk
Descent: Legends of the Dark Formally Announced
The new version of Descent looks great with a cool new art style. This version, like recent similar FFG games will be app driven. I’m a Journey’s in Middle Earth fan, so excited to see how this shakes out.
Learn More


From gallery of thequietpunk
Evolution is Coming to Switch
Evolution is making its way to Switch on 12/10. You can pre-order now and receive the Evolutionary Arms Race Promo Pack. This should be a fun new platform to play this on.
Learn More


From gallery of thequietpunk
Digidiced Asking for Tournament Feedback
My buddy Tysen is asking for feedback on the planned tournament structure for Gaia Project. Come share your opinion and feedback.
Learn More



From gallery of thequietpunk


From gallery of thequietpunk
Kurmit’s Tale Addition
Varfa the Ranger has been added to Kurmit’s Tale. Try this new character and see if you can be victorious.
Learn More
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Fri Nov 6, 2020 3:00 pm
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Squire for Hire, Game of Thrones: The Board Game, Tsuro, The Captain is Dead, Clever Cubed, and more - GEEK Digital Board Games Issue #4

Brad Cummings
United States
Connecticut
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From gallery of thequietpunk


Welcome to GEEK Digital Board Games. Tune in for digital board game news every two weeks. For more details about the changes and our goals check out this blog post.

Sorry for a missed week (or two)! I am back with all the latest. Tons of releases to report!


From gallery of thequietpunk


From gallery of thequietpunk
Squire for Hire
This interesting card placement game is now available! The art style looks great on a digital screen.
Platforms: iOS, Android


From gallery of thequietpunk
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game - Digital Edition
This mouthful of game is held up as one of the best to capture this series. As an outsider to this fandom, I’ll have to take their word for it.
Platforms: Steam


From gallery of thequietpunk
Tsuro Comes to Steam
Tsuro is out on Steam. Come check out this classic tile laying game now on your PC
Platforms: Steam


From gallery of thequietpunk
The Captain Dies Tomorrow
The Captain is Dead will release on Steam tomorrow. Check out this wacky space game.
Platforms: Steam


From gallery of thequietpunk
Root Now on Mobile
You can now play Root on your mobile device. We’ll have impressions soon.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Steam


Board Game: Clever Cubed
Clever Cubed
The third Clever game is out. Try to see how long you can resist this puzzly good time.
Platforms: iOS, Android


From gallery of thequietpunk
Lorenzo il Magnifico
This Cranio Creations title is now fully released on Steam.
Platforms: Steam


From gallery of thequietpunk
Charterstone Comes to Switch
This legacy village builder is now on Switch. If you haven’t played this one yet, there are so many platforms to choose from.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Steam,
Switch[/size]


Board Game: 7 Wonders Duel
7 Wonders Duel is Now on Board Game Arena
You can now Duel on Board Game Arena
Platforms: Board Game Arena


From gallery of thequietpunk
Cartographers on Happy Meeple
You can now play Cartographers in your browser via Happy Meeple.
Platforms: Happe Meeple


Video Game: Tabletopia
Tabletopia Additions
A big batch this time: Levitation: Masters of Magic, Riga, Emporous, The Village Crone, Celtic, Night Parade of a Hundred Yokai, Nova Luna, Twinkle, Silver Dagger, The Pet Cemetery, Penny Dreadfun, Dungeon Decorators, Colorful Treasure, The Quacks of Quedlinburg, Village Pillage, Soulgivers, There’s Been A Murder, Streets, Lawyer Up, Macaron
Platforms: PC



From gallery of thequietpunk


From gallery of thequietpunk


Wingspan
I came to Wingspan later than most but it was always on my radar. When I finally got it to the table, I honestly was surprised by the complexity of information. While the choices are relatively straightforward, there is a lot of information to keep track of when it comes to board state.

The digital version had a unique challenge to tackle by attempting to communicate all this info while being manageable on a digital screen. I would say largely, this is a task they succeeded at. Since this is a tableau style game, you do still swap through to see other player’s information, but it is all presented pretty clearly. It also does a good job of communicating quickly what other players did during their turns and interrupting when you need to take an action.

The game also looks fantastic. Each bird comes to life and the backgrounds have a real calming vibe. This is a big plus in our current turbulent times. All in all, Wingspan Digital Edition is an enjoyable take on this modern classic.
Platforms: Steam




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Board Game: The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth – Shadowed Paths Expansion


The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle Earth - Shadowed Paths Expansion
This expansion has been one of my most anticipated titles. Journeys in Middle Earth is a system that uses digital connection very well. It is dependent but uses it to weave a richer story and add in more randomness.

This new expansion adds a lot of variety. There are tons of new enemy types, new heroes, and new tiles. Plus, all the new content can now appear in old adventures, adding more variety. The new roles are also very interesting and seem more reliant on player interaction than before. I’ve really been enjoying it.

The new campaign also seems to be going in a fun direction. I’m only a few missions in but there are branching paths now and very interesting exploration maps. I am really excited to dive in further.

Overall, I think this is a great addition and makes me hopeful for the future of this system. It really has the ability to continue to expand.
Platforms: BGG Listing
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Tue Oct 20, 2020 3:00 pm
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Wingspan, Similo, Scythe, Squire for Hire and more - GEEK Digital Board Games Issue #3

Brad Cummings
United States
Connecticut
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From gallery of thequietpunk


Welcome to GEEK Digital Board Games. Tune in for digital board game news every two weeks. For more details about the changes and our goals check out this blog post.


From gallery of thequietpunk


From gallery of thequietpunk
Wingspan Out on Steam
The digital version of Wingspan is now available. This one has really tackled the complex information management. Check it out on Steam.
Platforms: Steam]


From gallery of thequietpunk
[size=12][b]Similo: The Card Game

Another blast from the past - Warhammer Quest is back with Silver Tower! Need time to dive in but this one is free-to-play so no reason not to jump in.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Steam


From gallery of thequietpunk
[b]Scythe Comes to Mobile

Scythe Digital Edition has been on PC for a while. You can now get it on your mobile device as well.
Platforms: iOS, Android, Steam


From gallery of thequietpunk
[b]Blood Rage Adds Mystic of Midgard

Expand your Blood Rage gameplay with this expansion.
Platforms: Steam]


Video Game: Tabletopia
[size=12][b]Tabletopia Additions

They just keep coming: NEXUS, Bonfire, Reckless Sloths, Damnation: The Gothic Game, Skeptics, Trust Me, I’m a Super Hero, Rurik, Battle Bears: The Board Game, The Umbrella Academy Card Game, Break the Code, and Isle of Cats
Platforms: PC



From gallery of thequietpunk


From gallery of thequietpunk
Cranio Creations is Back with Lorenzo il Magnifico on October 5th
Cranio Creations is back in digital with Lorenzo il Magnifico, coming to Steam on October 5th. It looks like you balance success and relations with the church in this Renaissance game.
Learn More


From gallery of thequietpunk
Charterstone Digital on the way to Switch
They won’t reveal the release date, but Acram Digital posted that they do have approval from Nintendo. Should be coming sooN!
Learn More


From gallery of thequietpunk
Squire for Hire Available for Preorder
The art on this one looks really engaging and it is planned for release on September 29th. Follow the link for details on pre-ordering on iOS and Android
Learn More


From gallery of thequietpunk
Cascadia Browser Version
Cascadia is a game now on kickstarter and tried something pretty unique. You can play an online version for free now online to give it a try.
Learn More


From gallery of thequietpunk
Silver Bullet Roles Added to Silver
Bezier Games has added the roles from the Silver Bullet Expansion to their digital port of Silver. You can now mix and match and learn the ins and outs.
Learn More


From gallery of thequietpunk
Root comes to mobile on September 24th
The Root digital version on Steam has been a lot of fun. The fun is coming to mobile this week!
Learn More




A Trailer of Thrones
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game is coming out soon and is now up for pre-order. This latest trailer shows more of the game.



From gallery of thequietpunk


From gallery of thequietpunk
Casual Slay the Spire Tournament
Through the end of the week, follow this link to try your hand at a special seed and post your high score. This is being run by some amazing folks on board game Twitter. My highest score is only the 800s!
Learn More


SlacknSleuth
Thanks to a user tip on this one! This is a hybrid game that combines mystery boxes with an companion app to create a mansion exploration game. This one looks really interesting
Learn More
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Tue Sep 22, 2020 3:00 pm
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Convoy, Warhammer Quest: Silver Tower, Wingspan, Gloomhaven - GEEK Digital Board Games Issue #2

Brad Cummings
United States
Connecticut
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From gallery of thequietpunk


Welcome to GEEK Digital Board Games. Tune in for digital board game news every two weeks. For more details about the changes and our goals check out this blog post.


From gallery of thequietpunk


From gallery of thequietpunk
Neuroshima Convoy
The latest from Portal Games is here. It is fun to see another entry from the Neuroshima world on digital platforms.
Platforms: iOS, Android


From gallery of thequietpunk
Warhammer Quest: Silver Tower
Another blast from the past - Warhammer Quest is back with Silver Tower! Need time to dive in but this one is free-to-play so no reason not to jump in.
Platforms: iOS, Android


Video Game: Tabletopia
Tabletopia Additions
Trying this out and grouping this together as there are just so many. Since our last issue they’ve added officially: Rise of Tribes, Chameleo, Plantopia The Card Game, Rebel Nox, Coatl, Ishtar: Garden of Babylon, Philosophia Floating World, Riftforce, Lunar Base, Dargonscales, and Doomtown Reloaded.
Platforms: PC



From gallery of thequietpunk


From gallery of thequietpunk
Wingspan Coming September 17th
Coming to PC and Mac, you can wishlist now on Steam. Feedback from the beta has been positive.
Learn More


From gallery of thequietpunk
Tsuroctober is Coming
Competitions, new updates and more are coming to Tsuro in October. Check out the Thunderbox blog for more info.
Learn More


From gallery of thequietpunk
Gloomhaven Early Access Gets Online Co-Op Beta
The Gloomhaven Digital early access seems to keep progressing. I’m a bit outside on the Gloomhaven world so would love your impressions if you dive into this online co-op beta.
Learn More



Bloodbowl 3 Revealed
Maybe revealed at Gamescom(?), check out this trailer for Bloodbowl 3. These games are unique and can be good fun.



From gallery of thequietpunk


From gallery of thequietpunk


Roll for the Galaxy
Roll for the Galaxy, like Race for the Galaxy is a game about information and process. Luckily for us, Temple Gate Games continues to be masterful in communicating this all in a digital package.

Roll for the Galaxy is great at walking you through every step of the process to get through a phase, a turn, a game. It is easy to understand what you can and need to do at any given time. The tutorial also does a great job of going step by step.

Like Race of the Galaxy, apart from the UI, the AI is the star of the show here. If you are up for a challenge, the higher levels are here for you. Ultimately, Roll for the Galaxy is a great port for those who love this game or for those who want to explore it for the first time.
Platforms: iOS, Android, PC[/b]


From gallery of thequietpunk

Warhammer Quest: Silver Tower
I spent many hours on the previous Warhammer Quest titles. The graphics and dungeons hearkened back to dungeon crawl board games in a really unique way. Each character felt unique, singular, and grew with me.

With Warhammer Quest: Silver Tower, the series goes free to play. This has pluses and minuses. First, there is a ton of content in here and many events, characters, and items to unlock. The breadth here is much wider than previous. Think of it more akin to a hero-collecting mobile game. You are constantly leveling to take on new challenges and watch those numbers go up. The combat is also more interesting than ever before with more options and strategies.

On the flip side, this sort of endless play is at the cost of exploration and interesting dungeons. Dungeons are more split into skirmish rooms that do lose that sense of wonder. The increase in the number of characters also makes each individual one less impactful.

Ultimately it comes down to the experience you are looking for. This will be a different feel than the previous titles but has the potential to keep going on for a long time. The devs that make these titles we love are in a constant battle to stay stable. So rather than gripe about payment models, I say we try things out and decide if it is for us or not.
Platforms: iOS, Android



From gallery of thequietpunk


From gallery of thequietpunk
Here Be Dragons on Switch
This digital original board game has been released on Switch. Plan to check it out this week and will be back with thoughts!
Platforms: Switch, PC


From gallery of thequietpunk


Crusader Kings III: The Sims for History Nuts
Having bounced on CK2 and EUIV, I was wary to give Crusader Kings III a try. A combination of assurances from other outlets that onboarding was easier this time and a bit of free time to actually watch and learn a few things managed to get me in.

I think my past failures stemmed from thinking of this series as akin to the Civilization series. While there is a world map and conquering territory can be part of the game, it is not the point of the game. Early on the tutorial makes it clear that you are playing a character and their descendants. Like any roleplaying game, you pick your own character goals and try to pursue them. Sometimes you succeed and other times you will not.

For example, the tutorial starts you out in Ireland and after it ended I proceeded to attempt to become the King of Ireland. I died before succeeding but had left things in such a spot that my heir could take over and finish the job.

I am impressed by the wide berth of characters and nations you can start with. I’ve been listening to a history of Gengis Khan and am now interested in trying out a game as a step people. It really is about that type of story you want to experience.

While not a board game at its core, if you are a fan of medieval history and like a mix of strategy and roleplaying, it may be worth checking out.
Platforms: PC
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Tue Sep 8, 2020 5:11 pm
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Roll for the Galaxy, Root, Cartographers and more - GEEK Digital Board Games Issue #1

Brad Cummings
United States
Connecticut
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From gallery of thequietpunk


Welcome to GEEK Digital Board Games. Tune in for digital board game news every two weeks. For more details about the changes and our goals check out this blog post.


From gallery of thequietpunk


From gallery of thequietpunk
Roll for the Galaxy
Temple Gate Games has returned to space with Roll for the Galaxy. This also features the great AI from Keldon Jones. We’ll have impressions for the next issue.
Platforms: iOS, Android, PC


From gallery of thequietpunk
Root Early Access
Root is out now on Steam in Early Access. It’s hard to deny the appeal of this art style. See the First Look section for my impressions.
Platforms: PC


From gallery of thequietpunk
Cartographers
This SDJ nomineed has made its way to digital platforms in a single player, leaderboard driven version.
Platforms: iOS, Android,


From gallery of thequietpunk
Finished! by Friedemann Friese
Not familiar with this title but worth an exploration on digital.
Platforms: iOS


From gallery of thequietpunk
Gloom: Digital Edition
This release is not super fresh it turns out. Released to mobile about a month ago and out on PC in 2018. Either way, if you enjoy Gloom, it is time to check this out.
Platforms: iOS, Android, PC



From gallery of thequietpunk


From gallery of thequietpunk
Maracaibo Coming to Mobile in Q4 2020
Capstone Games let us know that this digital project is in the works. Developed by Spiralburst studios, the game will feature Solo mode as well as local multiplayer. We will share as we learn more.


From gallery of thequietpunk
Neuroshima Convoy Coming to Mobile Sept 5th
Teased earlier this week, Convoy is coming to mobile devices from Portal. If you love the world of Neuroshima Hex, this is an interesting card game take on it.
Learn More


Board Game: Gaia Project
Feedback Wanted on Gaia Project Digital Plans
My friend Tysen Streib has taken to BGG to ask for feedback on plans he and Digidiced have for the digital version of Gaia Project. Come hop in and make your opinion known.
Learn More


From gallery of thequietpunk
Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Storm Ground Announced at Gamescom
During yesterday's Gamescom Opening Night Live, a trailer was shown for a new Warhammer title: Storm Ground. Not much is known about it so far. Is it a MOBA? Can you pain the minis? Who knows! Follow the link to see the trailer shown at Gamescom.
Learn More


From gallery of thequietpunk
A Game of Thrones Wish List-able on Steam
Not to rest on the laurels of Root, it appears A Game of Thrones the Board Game is coming to steam in Q3. This one is a bit new to me but appears to be in the grand strategy/area control space.
Learn More



From gallery of thequietpunk


From gallery of thequietpunk


Cartographers: Doing a Lot with a Little
While Roll Player had been vaguely on my radar, I had not heard of Cartographers until the SDJ nominations. That was a serious mistake.

Cartographers is a writing game that takes cues from King Domino and adds in variable scoring mechanics, players interaction and more. It is right at home on digital devices for quick solo matches. The game does not have multiplayer but adopts the single player variant available in the physical game. Games are quick but full of satisfying decisions.

The digital version does not have multiplayer but does have competition through leaderboards. Each week there are two categories: one completely fixed and one with some randomness that players can compete in. Players rank on the leaderboard with their highest score in each puzzle.

While not the most robust port, it gets the job done and seems perfect for pick up and play.
Platforms: iOS, Android,



From gallery of thequietpunk


From gallery of thequietpunk


Root: A Joy To Look At
Root is now in Early Access, so these are early impressions.

The first thing you’ll notice is the distinctive art style that manages to pay homage to the art of the tabletop game while becoming something unique and “video-gamey.” It is truly breathtaking.

I am new to Root so my experience thus far has been the tutorial but...why did I not play this game sooner? They tutorials do a great job of walking you through the async nature of each faction. What I also enjoyed is how the UI easily walked you through changes or opportunities in your faction. I need to play on the tabletop to see how this is handled but the digital version seems great in being clear about each step.

We’ll keep an eye on this one as Early Access continues.
Platforms: PC



From gallery of thequietpunk


From gallery of thequietpunk
Meteorfall: Krumit’s Tale
The sequel to Meteorfall: Journeys is now on mobile! The developer has actually reached out with a guide they created on Medium if you want a place to get started. Android is coming soon.
Platforms: iOS, Android, PC


I am looking forward to getting back to this part of the BGG community. If you are interested in getting a newsletter sent to your email, sign up on MailChimp and I’ll let you know if we hit a critical mass.
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Fri Aug 28, 2020 2:57 pm
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Welcome to GEEK Digital Board Games

Brad Cummings
United States
Connecticut
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The last time I posted on this blog was September 26th, 2018. Due to a toxic work environment that spun into, frankly, mental illness, I took an extended hiatus. Dave did an amazing job of carrying on and really keeping this alive. Luckily, I’ve managed to switch jobs and am in a much better head space. I am ready to get started again!

Pre-Covid I started work on a video format to take over, but it was not quite hitting the mark and was difficult to produce with kids constantly at home…

With all that in mind, I am ready to kick off a new format - Welcome to GEEK Digital Board Games.

From gallery of thequietpunk


The plan is to start covering digital board games here again with the following updates:
- The main content will be an every other week newsletter style blog post that covers the latest news and a variety of other categories.
- We won’t often be breaking news as we will stick to the two week cadence. However, we will be using the BGG and iOS Board Games Twitters to do intermittent news hits between newsletters.
- It won’t just be iOS anymore! We plan to fully cover all platforms and change names accordingly.
- Our main focus will be digital ports of existing tabletop games. However, we will have a category for news for adjacent items. These will have a clear heading.
- If there is enough interest, I will prepare this as an email newsletter, if you’d like to have the content direct. Head to the BGG Mailchimp form to sign up if interested.


Categories of the Newsletter will include:

The Latest News - Pretty self explanatory, news bits as they come in.
New Releases - Links and listings of newly released titles.
First Looks - Previews of games in betas, etc.
Closer Looks - More images and a few thoughts on recently released titles.
Outside the Box - Anything about games that are adjacent but not based on physical games. Think Krumit’s Tale that was released yesterday.
Lost in Translation - We’ll play a physical game that has been announced for digital and give thoughts on how it may translate to digital.
They Hybrid Model - A look at an app assisted board game.
Digitize Me - We’ll play a physical game that is not announced for digital and talk about why it should come to digital. This is basically a wish category.
Revisiting a Classic - We’ll give thoughts on coming back to an earlier released digital title after a while.
Developer Spotlight - Brief interviews or interactions with some of our favorite digital board game designers.

Not all of these categories will show up each week, but this is our current planned scope. What categories am I missing? What would you like to see?


What about Dave?
Dave is the heart and soul of this blog and it does not exist without him. For now, Dave intends to still stay on hiatus. He will be helping to feed me stories, etc, as he is better connected. As we start up again, we may discuss ways he’d like to jump in more.



I am looking forward to getting back to this part of the BGG community. Again, if you are interested in getting a newsletter sent to your email, sign up on MailChimp and I’ll let you know if we hit a critical mass.

Any questions?
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Fri Aug 28, 2020 2:55 pm
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App News: Labyrinth Lands in Early Access, Switch Getting More Board Games, A Bunch of Stuff we Missed and The Blog is Dead, Long Live the...who am I kidding?

David Neumann
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Whitefish Bay
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In life you have to do a lot of things you don't f*cking want to do. Many times, that's what the f*ck life is... one vile f*cking task after another.
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App News



Board Game: Labyrinth: The War on Terror, 2001 – ?

Labyrinth: The War on Terror arrives on Steam Early Access
Much was made of the seemingly perfect blending of GMT Games and Playdek when their partnership was announced in July of 2018. Since then, however, we've only had one itty-bitty baby arrive, the polished-as-only-Playdek-does gem, Fort Sumter: Secession Crisis. We've been waiting for the next arrival for a long time and...it's here! Kind of. It's here in beta form and available for purchase right now on your Windows PC.

I've never played the physical version of Labyrinth: The War on Terror, 2001 – ? but I know it has a lot of Twilight Struggle's DNA in its blood. So, considering that the Playdek developed version of Twilight Struggle is a gem, I think we can expect this one to be pretty shiny as well.

If you're worried that it's only for Windows, fret not! Playdek has stated in an update that it currently works in Catalina for Mac, but there are issues with Mac/Steam preventing them from posting that version at this point in time. Also, they are going to support iOS and Android, so you can expect to have this on your tablet as the very least a short time after it appears in full-release on the big screen.

Curious? Head over and pick up the Early Access version right now and let us know how it plays.

- Labyrinth: The War on Terror for Windows PC from Steam Early Access, $13




From gallery of Neumannium

Mystic Vale arrives on Switch
Who's not afraid of porting games to Switch? Nomad Games Ltd (II), that's who! Yesterday saw the release of their plastic, transparent card simulator, Mystic Vale, on Nintendo's plucky, portable console.

Mystic Vale has been around on Steam and mobile for bit now and, from what I hear, is a pretty great recreation of the druid-centric (no one knows who they were or what they were doing...) card game. Now you can play it when you're on the go. Well, you could on your phone too, but...<insert shrug emoji>.

The point is, you can go play Mystic Vale regardless of what platform you love the most. Seriously, it's everywhere. Soon you'll be able to have a cranial implant and just play Mystic Vale in your imagination. The future!

- Mystic Vale for iOS Universal, $5
- Mystic Vale for Android, $5.50
- Mystic Vale for Windows PC/Mac via Steam, $15
- Mystic Vale for Switch, $20
- Mystic Vale cranial implant, price not yet determined


From gallery of Neumannium

Talisman arrives on Switch
As I was saying previously, Nomad...wait a minute. I can make this way easier...

Who's not afraid of porting games to Switch? Nomad Games Ltd (II), that's who! Yesterday saw the release of their plastic, transparent card simulator fantasy-adventure game, Mystic Vale Talisman: Digital Edition, on Nintendo's plucky, portable console.

Mystic Vale has been around on Steam and mobile for bit now and, from what I hear, is a pretty great recreation of the druid-centric (no one knows who they were or what they were doing...) card game [There are druids in Talisman, too, so I let this one slide -ed.]. Now you can play it when you're on the go. Well, you could on your phone too, but...<insert shrug emoji>.

The point is, you can go play Mystic Vale Talisman regardless of what platform you love the most. Seriously, it's everywhere. Soon you'll be able to have a cranial implant and just play Mystic Vale Talisman in your imagination. The future!

- Talisman: Digital Edition for iOS Universal, $4
- Talisman: Digital Edition for Android, $3.50
- Talisman: Digital Edition for Windows PC/Mac via Steam, $7
- Talisman: Digital Edition for Switch, unknown (the Switch page for Talisman is currently down...)


From gallery of Neumannium

Epic Card Game Out for Mobile
Epic Card Game from Wise Wizard Games has arrived for mobile! Why the exclamation point? Why not, they're free. Also, I know a lot of folks love their digital edition of Star Realms and this is from the same publisher/developer and the gameplay is similar. Basically, if you love Star Realms, you're going to want to check this one out.

The game is free to download with some IAP, but it sounds like you get quite a bit for just downloading it.

White Wizard wrote:
You start the game with a hand of five cards, and draw a new card at the start of your turn. Your cards represent powerful champions that will fight for you or game changing events you can use to thwart your opponent.

Each turn every player in the game gets one "gold." Some cards cost a gold to play, others are free. This means you can play any card in your hand from the very first turn. There is no slow building of resources in this game. Epic starts at full throttle!

Challenge your friends or random players around the world to as many Dark Draft, Random Deck30 Sealed, Preconstructed and Full Constructed games as you like, for FREE!
You can pick up Epic Card Game for iOS, Android, and Windows PC/Mac at the following links:

- Epic Card Game for iOS Universal, free
- Epic Card Game for Android, free
- Epic Card Game for Windows PC/Mac via Steam, free




From gallery of Neumannium

Charterstone beta chugging along
Not so much of a news story here as a reminder that the beta for Charterstone: Digital Edition is well underway and Acram Digital seems to be updating new versions and squishing bugs at a record pace.

I've been playing it a bit and it's got incredible polish even at this stage. No word yet on when it will be ready for prime-time, but the way they're working on it, I wouldn't think it would be more than [redacted].


From gallery of Neumannium

On Tour is On Mobile
This isn't news, either, I just want to share this with you so you can all feel my pain. There's been a digital version of the roll-and-write On Tour Board Game since December but I only became aware of it in early February and...well, I hate it. Hate. Hate. Hate.

The game is ported fantastically and, if you're a fan of the game, it will be a perfect addition to your mobile device. Then again, if you're a fan of this game you are probably a masochistic savant who won't be around long anyway. You see, that's the problem. This brilliant little game is hard. So hard. Freaking mind-breaking-yell at your children for no reason-throw your phone into a brick wall-write angry blog post kind of hard. It's hard is my point. After about a hundred games, I'm pretty sure my top score is 1 which I don't think is even possible and yet the game hates me that much.

Is there strategy? Probably! Have I even come close to figuring out how to use it and get better scores? Have you read the previous paragraph?

So, if you hate yourself or just want to hate the world a little more than you already do, go download this fantastic little gem of a game and get ready to buy yourself a new phone.

- On Tour for iOS Universal, $4
- On Tour for Android, $4


The Blog is Dead! Long live nobody!
As you may have noticed, it's been 2 months since my last post here at the wonderfully ill-named iOS Board Games [no, we can't change it -ed.].

There are many reasons for this: I have a new job that is literally taking up more time than any gig I've ever had in my life, I'm all alone in blog-land and it's hard to get news when you're not posting daily and your editor has moved to Seattle and is too busy to work on the blog, and--probably the most significant--I've lost my mojo. My board game mojo, that is.

The first one there is pretty easy to understand...jobs suck and their only apparent purpose is to prevent us from playing and writing about games. Everyone knows this.

The second has been a big factor, too, however. When you stop writing daily news posts and your presence on social media slows, it's amazing how much less excited game publishers are to contact you. I don't blame them; spend your time where you'll get the most bang for your buck. That said, having to do research and whatnot rather than getting emails and DMs sent my way from pubs has made the job harder and with less time to actually write, it's had a snowball effect.

The last issue is really the big one. I'm not sure what the trigger has been, but I've lost my passion for board games. Oh, I still play them all the time, but my focus has shifted to 18xx and heavy economic games and I realize that I couldn't care less about the 12 generic euros getting pooping out weekly or whatever shlock is the current hotness on Kickstarter. I've started purging my collection and hope to be nearly euro free (except Martin Wallace, Vital Lacerda, and Splotter...I'll never leave you guys, I promise) by summer.

In the past, games like Mystic Vale coming to mobile would have made me jump out of my chair (and then sit right back down in my chair because I can't write when I'm standing up) and start a new blog post here about the exciting news. Now, I shrug, make a note and tell myself I'll get to it...sometime.

You've probably noticed this already...I mean, there has to be some reason I went from posting 1x (sometimes 2x) a day to once every month or two. You probably guessed the reasons, so none of this is even news to you.

Anyway, I'm sorry that I just can't keep doing it like I used to. It's just not going to keep happening. I'm not going to kill the blog and I don't think it costs you anything to subscribe, but will I post again? I don't know. Maybe? Maybe not?

Maybe I'll break out of this funk or, maybe, someone will start making digital versions of 18xx games and my fire will reignite, but for now I think I'm going to take a long, open-ended break. Good night everyone and thank you for your support all these years (it's been nearly 10!!!). Even though my passion for writing about games has subsided, I have to admit I still love the comments and I'm going to miss that feedback the most. You've all been great (except the few who haven't....you know who you are) and I hope to see you again here on BGG either in this blog or in one of the other game forums down the road.

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Thu Mar 12, 2020 6:44 pm
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App News: Fury of Dracula headed to digital and Android gets Wordsy

David Neumann
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In life you have to do a lot of things you don't f*cking want to do. Many times, that's what the f*ck life is... one vile f*cking task after another.
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From gallery of Neumannium

Fury of Dracula Coming to Digital
Well, this came out of nowhere. What might be my favorite hidden movement game is coming to digital! Fury of Dracula (Third/Fourth Edition) from WizKids (I) is going to be landing on [redacted] later this year. Worried it will be a slapdash mess of a port? Stop worrying! It's being developed by Nomad Games Ltd (II), makers of Talisman: Digital Edition and Mystic Vale, so we're in good hands.

If you haven't played Fury of Dracula before, you're missing out. Hidden movement dripping in theme and conflict whose only problem is a running time that might stretch a bit long.

From gallery of Neumannium


Nomad wrote:
Nomad Games are incredibly excited to announce their next project, a digital adaptation of the classic board game ‘Fury of Dracula’.Originally published in 1987 by Games Workshop, Nomad Games will be adapting the Fourth Edition of the board game, which was released in 2019.

Set in late 19th century Europe, Fury of Dracula sees four brave vampire hunters hunting down clues to stop Dracula before he creates an unstoppable army of mindless thralls! With a strong emphasis
on teamwork and gothic horror, Nomad Games are aiming to create a digital adaptation that appeals to fans of the original game and new players who have never had the chance to stalk Dracula across Europe!
We don't know much more than "it's coming!" at this point. No platforms have been announced nor has a release window. We'll have our ear to the ground and let you know when more info pops up.


From gallery of Neumannium

Wordsy Comes to Android as AVOWEL
Designed by Gil Hova and published by Formal Ferret Games, Wordsy is a 2017 reimplementation of the game Prolix from way back in 2010. It's been released for Android by Wheeler Games (Video Game) (and Android only! Why do Apple users always get the shaft???) as AVOWEL (Wordsy was already taken, so the name change was necessary).

Let's blurb this one:

Wheeler wrote:
AVOWEL is a game of longer words! In this official digital adaptation of the board game Wordsy, you are trying to find the single best word on the board each round. Unlike other word games, you don’t need all the letters in your word to be available, but you’ll want to use as many as you can.

AVOWEL features AI with adjustable difficulty levels, as well as a daily challenge mode that lets you compete with players from around the world.
The current version (did I mention it's Android-only?) is free to download with IAP to unlock the full game. It's solo at the moment, but you can expect online multiplayer to go live in Q2 of this year. That said, the solo version has multiple levels of AI to battle as well as a daily challenge mode. Sounds good to me...if only I had an Android device. cry

AVOWEL is available right now and it's free, so what are you sitting around here for?

- AVOWEL for Android, free to download
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Wed Jan 8, 2020 3:56 pm
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App News: Gloomhaven goes Into the Woods, LOTR: Adventure Card Game gets definitive, Dragon Castle releases and more...

David Neumann
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Board Game: Gloomhaven

Gloomhaven Gets Forest Update
The digital version of Gloomhaven arrived on Steam Early Access earlier this year and won't reach its final release until some time in 2020. That's not to say that this beta version isn't worth your time. There's a ton of stuff to do in the game already and the team at Asmodee Digital and Flaming Fowl Studios are continually adding new content. A couple weeks ago it was a new character, this time around it's a new biome: The Forest.

Asmodee wrote:
We’re very pleased to announce the release of a new major update for Gloomhaven! You can now roam the gloomy forests of Gloomhaven, but do not expect to find any rest, as fearsome enemies roam this terrifying environment.

Brace yourself to meet new guards and archers, from the race of the Inoxs and Vermlings. Do not underestimate the forest Imps and the mysterious powers of shamans. And stay sharp, for hounds lurk among the vegetation...
For the bravest of you, a new monstrous boss is awaiting, beware!

Welcome them well, with a sword and a few fireballs!

With this update, you will also discover an all new music track and six new cards for your characters. We also improved the GUI with an undo step to the Ability Infuse items, an info bar which displays the XP earned and more!

The Forest update highlights:

Spoiler (click to reveal)
-A whole new experience when exploring new environments and facing new challenges.
-7 new enemies, and their Elite variants (Vermling Scout, Vermling Shaman, Inox Guard, Inox Shaman, Inox Archer, Hound, Forest Imp).
- A new boss (Inox Bodyguard).
If that's not enough, they've also put Gloomhaven Early Access on sale! You can nab it now for 25% less than some dumb blogger who paid full price even though he doesn't have a Windows PC to play it on. Don't be like that loser!

Look for more Gloomhaven updates to land and, who knows, at some point we might even get a real release window.

- Gloomhaven for Windows PC via Steam Early Access, $18.74 (on sale)



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Thu Dec 19, 2019 9:32 pm
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