Cardboard Bits’ Most Anticipated Games of Gen Con 2016

Gen Con 2016 is one week away! I browsed through the BGG’s Gen Con 2016 Preview GeekList and compiled a list of games that I found most interesting.

Buying before trying:

1. Beyond Baker Street from Z-man Games
   • Most reviews and previews compare Beyond Baker Street to Hanabi.  I really enjoy Hanabi and the Sherlock Holmes theme is very appealing to me.
2. City of Spies: Estoril 1942 from Stronghold Games
   • I’m really excited about this game because the reviews I’ve read and watched are really positive. The spy theme is also interesting.
3. Brick Party from Renegade Game Studios
   • A party game with plastic bricks that resemble Legos? Yes, please!
4. Lost Cities from KOSMOS
   • I previously owned Lost Cities and gave away my copy to a family.  I have been wanting to purchase it again.  By purchasing Lost Cities at the KOSMOS booth you can “receive a never-before-seen sixth expedition for Reiner Knizia’s classic, Lost Cities free with purchase!”
5. Loony Quest from Libellud
   • I actually already own Loony Quest.  I imported a copy shortly after it’s European release.  The second copy is a gift for a family.
6. 7 Ronin from Grey Fox Games
   • 7 Ronin is an asymmetrical 2-player game.  One player controls a group of ninjas, and the other player is defending their village against the ninjas’ attacks.  I love asymmetrical games and most games that I add to my collection need to pass the “does it scale well for 2” test.  I also find the theme very appealing.
7. Imagine from Gamewright
   • I’m seriously buying this just because the artwork.

Trying before buying:

1. Cry Havoc from Portal Games
   • I’m a big fan for asymmetrical games.  I’m also a fan of the game designer, Michal Oracz.  I love Neuroshima Hex and I really enjoy Theseus: The Dark Orbit.
2. Tyrants of the Underdark from Gale Force Nine
   • I enjoy playing deck builders and Dungeons & Dragons.  Combine the two and we have instant interest.
3. Robit Riddle: Storybook Adventures from Baba Geek Games
   • Currently, there is very little information about Robit Riddle on BBG. But, the description for it had me at “inspired by Choose Your Own Adventure books.” (Actually, in my second viewing the BGG entry, it looks like this game is not releasing but instead having an Gen Con appearance ahead of its Kickstarter campaign.)
4. London Dread from Grey Fox Games
   • London Dread is a co-operative deduction game.  I find the theme interesting and the artwork appealing.
5. We Come in Peace from Rather Dashing Games
   • I love a good dice rolling game, but I would like to try this game before buying to see if it scales well for 2 players.  In the Boardgame Corner’s video review of the game, they agreed 5 players was a good sweet spot for the game.
6. Potion Explosion from Cool Mini Or Not
   • I’ve had my eyes on this game when it first released in Europe last year.  The mechanic seems interesting.  The components look nice.  I only hesitate to buy before trying because gamers have reported the downtime between turns can be long.