Sweet Emoji: 50s Songs 01
Author: Kyra
Kyle Kyra (they/them) writes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. They live in a sleepy Nebraska town. Yes, corn lives outside their back door. They hold a BFA in creative writing from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and their work has appeared in Menacing Hedge, Spank the Carp, Danse Macabre, The Door is a Jar, The Collidescope, and other journals and anthologies.
Tabletop Game Review: Dorfromantik: The Board Game
Dorfromantik: The Board Game is the rare exception where a video game (that was inspired by board games) made it big, so then a board game version of the video game is made, and that board game becomes an award darling. Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. Today’s board game review is for Dorfromantik: The Board Game. We covered the original Dorfromantik video game a few months ago (just in time for Christmas), so it’s only fair to review Dorfromantik: The Board Game. We’ll get to the game in a bit, but first, we’ll review Dorfromantik: The Board Game’s credits.
The Fiddly Bits
Designer: Michael Palm and Lukas Zach
Publisher: Berry Games; Pegasus Spiele
Date Released: 2022
Number of Players: 1-6
Age Range: 6 and up
Setup Time: 5-10 minutes
Play Time: 30-60 minutes
Game Mechanisms
Area Majority
Campaign
Cooperative Game
Hexagon Grid
Modular Board
Tile Placement
Variable Set-Up
Game Setup
While Dorfromantik: The Board Game offers concise rules, BoardGameGeek user lenlindsay made a Dorfromantik: The Board Game full rules on 1 page, where they did the work we typically do here and paraphrased the rulebook to give you a glimpse of Dorfromantik. Thank you, lenlindsay.
1) If playing a campaign game, check-off on the Score Sheet all the components you have unlocked (to remind you that these will be scored at the game’s end).
2) Shuffle and place the Landscape Tiles, Task Tiles, and Task Markers (separated by color) in facedown stacks on the table in easy reach of players.
3) Put 3 Landscape Tiles back into the box (they won’t be used)
–In a campaign, do not mix in Special Tiles till removing 3.
4) Do NOT open any of the boxes until told to do so.
Game Flow
1) Choose a starting player. Then take turns clockwise.
2) One at a time, take 3 Task Tiles with a matching Task Marker and place them adjacent to each other on the table however seems best to your group. (Players take turns doing this.)
3) On their turn a player checks to see if there still are 3 tasks on the playing board. –If not, they take a Task Tile and a matching Task Marker and decide where to place it on the board.
–Otherwise take a Landscape Tile and place it on the board.
General Placement Rules
1) Tiles must be placed adjacent to at least one tile on the board.
2) Train tracks and streams must match on the adjacent tile.
3) Other terrain types need not match (but there are advantages to matching areas of the same terrain type).
Game End
* The game ends immediately when there are no further Landscape Tiles left to place.
* If you place the last Landscape Tile so that it completes a task(s), you may place a new Task Tile(s) until there are again 3 available tasks on the board (at which point the game ends).
We won’t go into detail the endgame scoring rules. Dorfromantik: The Board Game (and lenlindsay) does a great job of explaining this. Dorfromantik: The Board Game is also cooperative, so scoring knowing how to score isn’t cutthroat, but knowing how to score in the game will inform where you’ll place your tiles. We only wanted to share how to play and what you’re doing during a turn.
Review
At first, Dorfromantik: The Board Game plays like a group activity rather than a game. I noticed this when I was first playing Dorfromantik and when I taught Dorfromantik to other new players. But as soon as I busted out the endgame scoring and applied our results to Dorfromantik’s campaign sheet perception of the game flipped.
Dorfromantik: The Board Game may be the first board game I’ve played where the campaign makes the game. Don’t get me wrong, the group activity that is Dorfromantik without the campaign is a lot of fun. Dorfromantik: The Board Game may be the first cozy board game I’ve covered. That sets it apart. I haven’t found too many games where I can board game and chill.
The only tension you’ll find with Dorfromantik: The Board Game is by adding the campaign. Fortunately, the game includes a massive pad of campaign sheets, so one copy of Dorfromantik can accommodate multiple gaming groups. Believe me, I’ve played Dorfromantik with multiple gaming groups. Each time, it’s the same. We’re chilling, making the best city we can from the tiles we draw, and then the endgame scoring occurs. We watch as the score climbs higher and higher. The more points we earn, the more of the campaign track we can unlock. That’s Dorfromantik’s challenge.
After a path or two, your gaming group will unlock one of Dorfromantik’s campaign boxes with new rules and tiles. The campaign will eventually branch, and you can then choose the path you want to take. Each of these paths will include different boxes, rules, and scoring conditions. The campaign’s branching path gives Dorformantik’s its replay factor. And I’ve played a lot of this 2023 Spiel des Jahres (German Game of the Year) winner.
Dorfromantik: The Board Game won’t be for everyone. In fact, I see it as an excellent gateway game (a game for people new to the board game hobby). Dorfromantik includes numerous game mechanisms you may find in competitive games, but since it’s a cooperative game, and a super chill cooperative game at that, Dorfromantik acts like a soft pat on the back for newcomers.
Too Long; Didn’t Read
Dorfromantik: The Board Game is an excellent gateway game (a game for people new to the hobby) because it’s a super chill cooperative game. This game’s campaign is stellar; without the campaign, Dorfromantik plays more like a group activity.
Moisturizing Minds
Daredevil: Born Again “Gloves Off” Review
Happy Saturday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another reaction/review of a Daredevil: Born Again episode. This one may be more of a reaction than previous installments in this series. I only had time to watch “Gloves Off” once (getting ready for this weekend’s convention and sprucing up my board games for the Great Plains Gaming Festival’s gaming library has taken a lot of my time this week). As a result, I didn’t give “Gloves Off” my usual two or three viewings before posting a reaction/review. But I don’t think “Gloves Off” needed a second viewing. It was pretty straightforward, and that may be for the best.
I’m sensing a trend with Daredevil: Born Again. The show uses Bullseye as a catalyst for major change: Foggy’s death at the beginning of season one and Dex shooting Matt at the end of season one. We’ll get the spoiler part out of the way real quick. And just in case you have yet to watch “Gloves Off,” consider this a spoiler warning. Bullseye kills Kingpin’s wife, Vanessa, at the end of the episode. Again, Daredevil: Born Again choreographed this development before it happened. And again, I think this was the right move. “Gloves Off” may have other players sprinkled throughout its runtime, but the bulk of this episode focuses on the main cast. Another great development that I don’t think will continue in future episodes. Getting back to Venessa, her meeting with New York’s governor served as a farewell and foreshadowing.
As soon as Governor Marge McCaffrey said, “I can’t put my faith in Mayor Wilson Fisk…but I can put my faith in Mayor and Mrs. Fisk,” she signed Venessa’s death certificate. I knew immediately Venessa would perish. Daredevil: Born Again needed the tension an unleashed Kingpin would provide, and we saw Kingpin’s rage throughout “Gloves Off’s” runtime. The episode literally ends with Wilson Fisk boxing and killing (?) his opponent. Kingpin looked every part the role of someone who could challenge Daredevil to a physical confrontation. And Bullseye also gets portrayed as a competent killer. Most scenes with Bullseye are fun.
Daredevil: Born Again “Gloves Off” has plenty of dynamite scenes. The Bullseye scene at the beginning, where he takes down an entire squad of AVTF (Anti-Vigilante Task Force) members, was epic. I love it when Bullseye gets to cut loose. After watching this, I did question how Fisk could recruit so many people to the AVTF. Bullseye has been systematically killing off AVTF like they’re nameless Stormtroopers. I can’t imagine too many people wanting to sign up for AVTF duty when the survival rate is so low.
But moving on, Bullseye’s current storyline mirrors The Punisher’s from the original Netflix Daredevil. Bullseye is taking an extreme view, going further than Daredevil would ever consider, and the two (Daredevil and Bullseye) share a debate while they fight. Honestly, I think Daredevil: Born Again did a better job of integrating this debate (of killing versus non-lethal means of subduing enemies) in an action sequence than the original Daredevil. If I remember correctly, the bulk of The Punisher and Daredevil’s debate in Netflix’s Daredevil took place with Daredevil tied to a chimney. I much prefer Daredevil: Born Again’s presentation of this debate. At least, so far.
“Gloves Off” did a great job of tying up some loose ends, like the Northern Star’s first mate. It further develops Angela del Toro (soon to be White Tiger) as a member of the resistance, and Daredevil as the resistance’s symbol. “Gloves Off” does a fantastic job of setting up the idea of Kingpin without his wife, showing him to be a formidable foe (from a physical standpoint), and ending with what should be the catalyst for Fisk embracing the Kingpin moniker again. Daredevil: Born Again even did a good job of showing Wilson Fisk’s disdain for New York, calling him Mayor Kingpin through BB’s underground videos. “Gloves Off” is a great example of a standalone Daredevil: Born Again episode.
I do wonder if Daredevil: Born Again intends to continue using Bullseye as a narrative crutch. The show may be training viewers to perceive Daredevil: Born Again episodes that include Bullseye as more consequential. And Bullseye gets injured at the end of “Gloves Off.” We may not see him again until closer to Daredevil: Born Again’s season finale. You can’t see it, but I’m stroking my chin. Hmm. Bullseye may return closer to Daredevil: Born Again’s season finale. Coincidence?
But what do you think about Daredevil: Born Again “Gloves Off?” Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Trapped on an Airplane for 10 Hours with TV and Movie Characters
Color Palette: Sinister Six
Whatcha Reading, Geekly? April 2026
Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Today, our writers share what they’ve been reading over the past month. Feel free to share what you’ve been reading. We’re all part of the Geekly Gang. I’ll get things started with sharing what I’ve been reading over the past month.
Kyra’s Nonfiction
Shocker! I play roleplaying games, and I tend to serve as a game master. Recently, I’ve been leveling up my game mastering. No. Not exactly leveling up my game mastering. The two books I read this month, both written by Jonah and Tristan Fishel, allow game masters to offload some of their responsibilities and cause players to become active participants in tabletop roleplaying games. I love the ideas presented in both of these books. The Game Master’s Handbook of Proactive Roleplaying flips the usual tabletop roleplaying game (like Dungeons & Dragons) script. Instead of player characters reacting to plotlines the game master presents, player characters co-write what happens during play.
Typically, players wait for non-player characters (usually the big bad villain) to do something, and their heroes react. With The Game Master’s Handbook of Proactive Roleplaying, the players set out for specific goals (for their characters), and the game master then builds scenarios from the players’ goals. This offloads some of the game master’s duties. You don’t need to come up with world-shaking events alone. The players are sharing that responsibility. This grounds player characters in the world the game master has built. And it keeps players engaged.
Proactive Roleplaying may not work for every group, but for $15, it’s worth a shot. Here’s a link to its Barnes & Noble page if you want to give The Game Master’s Handbook of Proactive Roleplaying a try.
But Jonah and Tristan Fishel weren’t done. They’ve recently added a companion book to this series, The Game Master’s Handbook of Collaborative Campaign Design. I haven’t had a chance to finish this volume yet, but from what I’ve seen, it expands on The Game Master’s Handbook of Proactive Roleplaying by extending many of the concepts into campaign-length games. I’m sure I’ll find plenty of twists and turns with The Game Master’s Handbook of Collaborative Campaign Design. The Fishels have done a great job of shaking up the roleplaying status quo. If interested in ordering the second book, here’s a link to purchase The Game Master’s Handbook of Collaborative Campaign Design.
And I’m still reading through The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures. This book is loaded with fantasy/magical creatures from various points of origin. I’ve enjoyed my time with it. But I don’t know if the writers or publisher expected someone to read it from front cover to back cover. I will finish The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures.
Shakes fist at the sky.
Kyra’s Fiction
I just started reading The House in the Cerulean Sea, like a day ago, reading almost half of the novel in one sitting. That’s saying a lot for me. While I read a lot, I don’t read particularly fast. I agree with the dust cover. The House in the Cerulean Sea does feel like a warm queer hug. If you’re looking for a replacement for the Harry Potter franchise, The House in the Cerulean Sea is a great choice. Too bad it’s a standalone novel. I haven’t yet finished the novel–I just started reading it–but I can already tell I’ll want more time with Linus, Arthur, and the six kids on Marysas Island. TJ Klune’s writing oozes charm. He makes it look effortless to create likeable characters readers will care about deeply. With the world charging headlong into countless conflicts, it’s nice to read a book that offers hope. Sometimes, you just need a hug.
That’s all I have for this month. Let’s check in with Season.
Season’s Fiction
Hey, Geekly Gang! I know what you’re thinking. I’m totally doing a Whatcha Reading this time around. I have a huge reading list I need to get through and I just hit up Barnes & Noble for more books to add to the list. This month’s title is the first volume of The Husky & His White Cat Shizun by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou. Trigger warning: There are mentions of suicide and sexual encounters. Reader discretion is advised.
The Husky & His White Cat Shizun is a light novel series. If you’re unfamiliar with light novels, they’re chapter books with manga pictures scattered throughout. They tend to be YA novels, but genres can vary. The Husky & His White Cat Shizun is an xianxia novel, which is a genre of Chinese fantasy that incorporates a lot of Chinese mythology. It also falls under BL (Boys’ Love).
The Husky & His White Cat Shizun follows Mo Ran (previously known as Taxian-jun) after he takes his own life by poisoning himself. Taxian-jun was a tyrant who took countless lives and committed atrocities that are briefly mentioned in the beginning of the story, but get revealed bit by bit as the story progresses. Mo Ran wakes up in the bed of Rong Jiu (a male sex worker), during a time before he became a tyrant. He gets angry with Rong Jiu, steals his valuables, and cuts his face. Mo Ran mentions he wants to redeem himself and live a less destructive life. So, you know, he’s off to an amazing start.
Mo Ran runs into his “shizun” (mentor) Chu Wanning, who strikes fear and hatred into Mo Ran. Chu Wanning is the only person who doesn’t coddle Mo Ran, and Mo Ran killed Chu Wanning in his previous life. Mo Ran is determined to kill Chu Wanning again. So far, all he’s managed to do is irritate the snot out of his mentor. I haven’t gotten too far into The Husky & His White Cat Shizun, but I’m enjoying the Chinese mythology aspect of it. The footnotes are hilarious since there are many Mandarin words that have double entendres. If you’re interested in Chinese mythology but don’t know where to start, The Husky & His White Cat Shizun is a digestible jumping-off point.
That’s all I’ve got for this week. What have you been reading, Geekly Gang? Let us know in the comments.
Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle again. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Timeline: Green Lantern Villains 01
Getting Into Comics: Green Lantern (Guy Gardner) Starter Stories
Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. I’m continuing to write far in advance. Who knows if Lanterns is still releasing new episodes? I’m writing so far in advance that Lanterns’ schedule hasn’t yet been released. Even though we don’t know Lanterns’ schedule, let alone which stories the show pulls from, that doesn’t prevent us from discussing Guy Gardner starter stories.
Guy Gardner has a crazy history in the DC Comics universe. Gardner may be the one Lantern who’s represented more shades of the emotional spectrum than any other Lantern. Gardner’s varied past means we’ll have plenty of single-issue comics and longer storylines from multiple eras of comic book history. Guy Gardner’s past is not for the faint of heart. Buckle up.
Single Issues
“Earth’s Other Green Lantern!” (Green Lantern Vol 2 #59; written by John Broome/art by Gil Kane; March 1968)
Hal Jordan was one of several people Abin Sur’s ring could’ve bestowed its power. The power ring chose Hal because he was geographically the closest to Abin Sur. In “Earth’s Other Green Lantern!” Hal Jordan uses a machine named the Memory Machine to watch one of these alternate worlds. In this world, a man named Guy Gardner became Earth’s Green Lantern.
We gain some insight into why Guy Gardner is typically angry. A few issues later, Guy suffered a head trauma that led to a drastic change in demeanor fans saw after he woke up. In his prime, Guy’s a friendly teacher and occasionally worked as a prison counselor. This story shows how much the Green Lanterns and the Guardians torpedoed Guy’s life. They stole his future to make him a backup for one of the Lantern Corps’ least reliable members.
“4” (Green Lantern Vol 2 #195; written by Steve Englehart/art by Joe Staton; December 1985)
The events of Crisis on Infinite Earths made John Stewart disposed, fighting alongside the Monitor across the universe. Guy Gardner is selected as John’s replacement on Earth. During this event, in “4,” Guy is selected to join the Guardians’ newer, smaller Green Lantern Corps. “4” elevates Guy to official Green Lantern status, bringing the number of official Sector 2814 (which includes Earth) Green Lanterns up to three.
“Red Badge of Rage” (Green Lantern Corps Vol 2 #43; written by Peter Tomasi/art by Patrick Gleason; February 2010)
At least one issue of the massive Blackest Night crossover made each of the Green Lantern starter story lists. Long-dead superheroes sprang from their graves, powered by Black Lantern rings. Heroes from every color in DC’s emotional spectrum united to push back the dead. “Red Badge of Rage” was the first time Guy dabbled with another color in the emotional spectrum. He became pure rage.
After Kyle Rayner fell to the Black Lanterns, Guy tapped into his anger. Instead of expressing grief, Guy’s bravado transformed his sadness into rage, making him a potent Red Lantern. Guy punched his way through dozens of Black Lanterns, smashing them into bits, and then he vomited energy-blood over the rest. Guy became a one-man army. He finished the Black Lantern Corps, teasing Guy’s tenure with the Red Lantern Corps.
“Blood Debts” (Red Lanterns: Futures End Vol 1 #1; written by Charles Soule/art by Jim Calafiore; November 2014)
“Blood Debts” does a great job of showing Guy Gardner’s heroic journey. Red Lanterns gives Guy a new purpose as Earth’s primary Red Lantern, but Red Lanterns: Futures End shows a far future Guy who turned his rage into a Blue Lantern for Hope. Guy kept a huge secret from his ally, Bleez. As the pair dispatch the last Red Lantern from the universe, Bleez asks how Guy’s blue ring can be so powerful, as blue rings need proximity to green rings to create constructs. Guy reveals a string of rings around his neck. He had mastered the entire emotional spectrum.
“High Noon” (Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps Vol 1 #16; written by Robert Venditti/art by Rafa Sandoval; May 2017)
“High Noon” is a window into an odd era of Green Lantern history. After Hal Jordan seemingly sacrificed himself to stop Sinestro, the Sinestro Corps fell under the leadership of Sinestro’s daughter, Soranik Natu. Soranik took the Sinestro Corps in a different direction. She turned away from fear and proposed a Sinestro Corps alliance with the Green Lanterns. Many people on both sides weren’t happy with the alliance, especially Guy Gardner.
Guy Gardner challenges the massive alien Yellow Lantern Arkillo to a fistfight with no power rings. Guy holds his own, and after the fight, Arkillo and Guy become the closest allies between the two Corps of Lanterns.
Storylines
“Justice League International” (Justice League Vol 1 #1-6) written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis; art by Kevin Maguire; 1987)
Whenever I think of Guy Gardner, I think of the iconic punch Batman gives Guy in the kisser. Justice League Vol 1 #5 holds that iconic scene (turned meme).
Guy isn’t always a great teammate, which makes him the perfect addition for the Justice League International (subsequent series after the Justice League mini-series), led by Maxwell Lord and sometimes Batman. Justice League International showcases how annoying and powerful Guy Gardner can be. Batman’s iconic punch earned a smile from Martian Manhunter and cheers from Blue Beetle and Black Canary, but what folks tend to forget is how wildly Guy’s mood swung after getting punched.
Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner borrows the most from the Guy Gardner we see in Justice League International. The team (The Justice Gang in Superman) is even funded by Maxwell Lord. I’d love to see a live-action version of this iconic moment.
“Guy Gardner Reborn” (Guy Gardner Reborn Vol 1 #1-3) written by Gerard Jones; art by Joe Staton; June 1992)
Guy Gardner Reborn occurs immediately after Hal Jordan fought Guy for his ring. Guy contemplates his choice to honorably resolve his dispute with Hal for two days before he decides to escape toward Qward and steal Sinestro’s yellow ring. The resulting space opera shows how mean Guy Gardner can get. Add in the Main Man (Lobo), and Guy Gardner Reborn becomes a buddy-cop story fueled by mutual disrespect and vengeance. Guy Gardner Reborn heralded one of Guy Gardner’s best eras.
“Guy Gardner: Year One” (Guy Gardner Vol 1 #11-14; written by Chuck Dixon; art by Joe Staton; 1993)
Through the power of an odd suction-cup creature named the Xanoglpyh, Guy Gardner is forced to relive his traumatic past. Guy always had a deep-seated need for approval. This same need drove him to find a yellow power ring. Ringless Green Lanterns treat Guy like a brute. By the end of this arc, the other Lanterns offer to help Guy retrieve his yellow ring, despite knowing Guy shouldn’t have the ring. The short-lived series gives a lot of Guy Gardner’s heroic past some much-needed context.
“Guy Gardner: Warrior” (Guy Gardner: Warrior #17-44; written by Chuck Dixon and Beau Smith/art by Mitch Byrd, Brad Gorby, Phil Jimenez, Howard Porter, Mike Parobeck, Jackson Guice, J.H. Williams III, Rick Mays, Dan Jurgens, Joyce Chin, Mike Wieringo, Marc Campos, Tom Grindberg, Aaron Lopresti, and Joe Staton; February 1994-July 1996)
Who needs a power ring? Everyone’s least favorite Green Lantern goes through another space odyssey in the wild ride that is Guy Gardner: Warrior. Guy used a yellow Qwardian power ring until Hal Jordan became Parallax and destroyed it. Ordinarily, this would mean Guy Gardner wouldn’t have powers. But Guy Gardner: Warrior reveals Guy’s Vuldarian heritage. His new alien powers allow him to construct weapons and armor from his body, no power ring required.
Guy turns into his wackiest best self with powers similar to but distinctly different from the Lanterns. During this series, Guy battles a clone of himself, goes to hell, and learns his importance to the War of Light.
Those are the Guy Gardner Green Lantern stories that made our list. We covered Hal Jordan and John Stewart starter stories the past two months. Are there any Guy Gardner Green Lantern stories you would add to this list? Let us know in the comments, Geekly Gang. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Geekly News: April 5, 2026; Disney Interested in Buying Epic Games
Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. We have a slate of new releases, both board games and video games. We’ll get to them soon enough, but first, we’ll discuss our headlines from the previous week. And Disney’s interest in buying Epic Games (Fortnite’s publisher) tops those headlines, so let’s discuss a possible Disney acquisition of Epic Games.
Disney Keen on Buying Epic Games
The news may have dropped originally on April 1st, but this was no April Fool’s Joke. The Mouse House is interested in acquiring Fortnite publisher Epic Games. This leak’s proximity to last week’s story of Epic Games laying off over 1,000 employees is more than a coincidence. Currently, Epic Games isn’t operating from a source of strength. Disney may have found the perfect time to strike.
The claim of Disney being interested in purchasing Epic Games comes from veteran tech reporter Alex Heath, via The Town podcast. Disney has already heavily invested in Epic Games, and Fortnite more specifically. The battle royale giant has already sported crossovers with numerous Disney properties: Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar and Disney animated characters. Fortnite has even included a Disney-specific mode that offers fans the ability to play, watch, create, and shop.
“I know for a fact there are senior executives in Disney who want them to buy Epic and are just waiting for that moment,” Heath said, “and then there are others who think it’s a bad idea. If Epic ever sold, if it ever decided to call it quits on being an independent company, Disney would be the most natural home for it for a lot of reasons.”
If Epic Games were to sell to Disney, the House of Mouse would gain control of the Unreal Engine, which many video game companies use to develop their games. Disney doesn’t have a large footprint in the video game space. Acquiring Epic Games could go a long way toward Disney throwing its hat into the video game landscape. Disney did something similar with its streaming service offerings. Shortly after launching Disney+, they bought 20th Century Fox and its streaming giant Hulu. Disney does produce some games. Epic Games could give Disney the opening it may want to fully enter the world of video games.
Sadie Sink Signs 5-Film Deal for MCU Role
We’ve known Sadie Sink was set to star in a secret role for the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Speculation about who Sink would portray exploded in the coming days, weeks, and months. Geekly may have even mentioned who we’d like to see her play. Ahem. Firestar. Ahem. But news of Sink signing a 5-film deal to play an MCU character means she’ll most likely portray someone of importance. So, not Firestar. Some fans still believe Sink could be playing the MCU’s version of Gwen Stacy (Ghost-Spider), but rumors still suggest that Emma Myers (Wednesday) or Kiernan Shipka (The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) are the most likely candidates to portray Gwen Stacy. The most likely major role Sink could portray is the X-Men’s Jean Grey.
Sure, Geekly discussed Sink playing Mayday Parker (Peter and Mary Jane’s daughter/Spider-Girl) in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but Mayday may not be a significant enough role for a 5-film deal. Five films? Yikes! Jean Grey is definitely a character whose actor would necessitate a 5-film deal. So, Marvel/Disney may have tipped their hat as to who Sink will play in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. But who knows? Marvel/Disney hasn’t confirmed anything. We’ll have to wait.
Arcs: Beyond the Reach Launches on KickStarter
Arcs is a sharp, tactical space opera game set in a dark yet silly universe. Players represent officials from a distant, decaying and neglectful Empire who are now free to vie for dominance whether through battle, gathering scarce resources or diplomatic intrigue. Ready yourself for dramatic twists and turns as you launch into this galactic struggle.
A deck of cards in 4 suits with ranks from 1-7 (2-6 for fewer than 4 players) defines the action selection system. These cards are played in a trick-taking adjacent system to select actions, take the initiative and declare Ambitions. The 3 declared Ambitions are what will score in that deal. Timing is everything. Bad hands must be mitigated by careful card play and benefitting from other players’ card play.
Battles are resolved quickly, with the attacker choosing their level of risk. The defenders must be prepared with adequate defensive ships and cards in their tableau.
Thank you, Leder Games, for Arcs‘ description. Arcs has been on my short list of games to play for some time. It’s a space opera. Check. Factions have asymmetric powers. Double check. And Arcs has a storyline. What? Triple check. And each individual game last less time than a game of Twilight Imperium, but you get the 4X goodness you’d expect from a game of TI. Quadruple Check.
Leder Games consistently produces fabulous games: Root, Fort, Oath, and so many others. Arcs stands just outside the BGG (BoardGameGeek) Top 100. That’s no small feat. And I know several gamers who swear by this game. I wonder if one of them wouldn’t mind showing Arcs‘ ropes. Arcs: Beyond the Reach adds more campaign/story to the core game. This is my kind of expansion. If you’re more of a story-driven gamer, you may want to watch this campaign. This may be the best time to get into Arcs. Arcs: Beyond the Reach offers three pledge levels: $40, $90, and $250. If you’re interested in Arcs: Beyond the Reach, check out its KickStarter page.
Envy Born Games’ Tiny Game Series Two Launches on KickStarter
I’ve said it before, and I’m saying it again, I love the recent board game trend of packaging multiple smaller games to form a series of games. Button Shy Games may have started this trend with their wallet games, but keep them coming. This week marked the second series of Envy Born Games’ Tiny Games Series. Each of these games can fit inside a fanny pack. Who wears fanny packs? Envy Born Games is using the “fits inside a fanny pack” marketing. I don’t know who this is geared toward, but fanny pack does give us an idea of each game’s size. Three games comprise Envy Born Games’ Second Series of Tiny Games: Space Potato, Prowl, and Dragon Roost.
Dragon Roost is a cooperative Jenga. Players work together to build the perfect home for a set of baby dragons. Let’s see what the publisher Envy Born has to say about Dragon Roost.
Greetings, Townsfolk! Your cosy hamlet recently welcomed three new dragon hatchlings, but there’s not enough room for them in the watchtower where mother dragon has chosen to roost. Work together to manipulate the watchtower, to create safe spaces for the baby dragons and to settle the hatchlings in before mother dragon returns…
Working together, use tools to manipulate a tower of wooden pieces. Create enough space to safely balance 3 baby dragon miniatures before running out of tool actions. Finally, place the mother dragon on top of your tower to win. If any baby dragons fall, you lose (but don’t worry; we put up a net to catch them!). Test your skills over dozens of levels with new tower structures and challenge tokens.
Kyra Kyle here again. Thank you, Envy Born, for the description. Jenga has been played out. I like Dragon Roost’s twist on that core gameplay.
Prowl is a stripped-down, easy-to-learn area control game that adds an element of exploration. The game looks big for one that fits inside a fanny pack-sized box. Let’s hear what Envy Born has to say about Prowl.
Prowl is a compact area control game designed for 2 to 4 players, where each participant vies for dominance over territory with their tiger companion.
In this immersive game, players embody tigers navigating the wilderness, strategically exploring, hunting for sustenance, marking terrain, and initiating challenges to assert their dominance. As you navigate this dynamic landscape, you’ll need to safeguard your territory against rival tigers while seizing opportunities for expansion.
Beware, however, as rival tigers are always poised to challenge for coveted spots, ensuring constant engagement and tension. The survival of the fittest hinges on your ability to outmaneuver opponents and secure the most advantageous land.
Ultimately, victory is determined by accumulating points from controlling valuable territory, ensuring your tiger’s supremacy and survival in the unforgiving wilderness.
Kyra’s back. Back again. Thank you again, Envy Born. Prowl sounds intriguing, and I love how its theme varies wildly–pun intended–from Dragon Roost’s. But we have one final Envy Born game in this set.
Space Potato combines the good, old-fashioned worker placement mechanism and combines it with a resource management system. I like these two mechanisms. Let’s see what Envy Born has to say about Space Potato.
Space Potato is a small box worker placement game. You are stranded in space. Your spaceship was hit by an asteroid, shaped like a massive potato. Now, each of the corporations must mine critically needed resources from the asteroid to make repairs to their shared ship, while simultaneously collecting valuable resources for their companies.
On your turn you will place astronaut workers to take actions, mine the asteroid, or build essential components to repair the ship. Players will also manage their resources on their player boards and refine resources like Gold and Iridium into ingots to get points. Players will be rewarded with points for mining away chunks of the asteroid, refining materials, and repairing parts of the ship.
The player with the most points when the ship is finally repaired wins!
Hey, hey! I’m back, and count me in. It looks like the titular “space potato,” an asteroid, slowly disintegrates as you mine it for resources. Space Potato may be the most interesting of the three cool titles.
I like the idea of all three of these games. Envy Born Games offers pledges of $20 or $40 if you only want two of these titles, but for $49, you can claim all three. They even offer their previous series of Tiny Games in an All-In pledge ($90). If you’re interested in Envy Born Games’ second series of Tiny Games, check out its KickStarter page.
Garden Club Launches on KickStarter
Welcome to the Garden Club, where fruits, veggies, and flowers flourish into clever combinations. Match, grow, and out-bloom your friends in this lighthearted game of strategy and charm!
In Garden Club, players compete to grow the most vibrant and well-balanced garden in the neighborhood. Each tile you place will plant fruits, veggies, and flowers — all carefully arranged to create stunning patterns and score points.
On your turn, you’ll select and place a tile into the collective garden, connecting matching icons to form combos and fulfill unique objectives. Then, you’ll select one tile as a point multiplier for what’s in your garden. The challenge lies in planning your layout — every placement can unlock new scoring opportunities or block a path to a perfect harvest.
Thank you, Chris Couch Games, for the Garden Club description. This week’s crowdfunding games have charm, and Garden Club is no exception. Look at the cute artwork. Garden Club continues multiple different trends in board gaming. It’s a two-player only game. Sometimes, you just want a fantastic two-player experience. This is great for couples. I should know. I’ve spent plenty of game nights playing cute and clever two-player games. Garden Club looks like it fits into that mold. And the nature theme has caught fire.
Garden Club is perfect for a spring crowdfunding project. And Chris Couch Games has a great habit of packaging similar in theme smaller games with its larger titles. Petal looks like another adorable gardening-themed game for two players. And Chris Couch Games are on a roll. Last Christmas’s Holiday Hill/Jingle Bell Roll combination dominated the holiday season. They’re a board game company to watch. Don’t believe me? Jamey Stegmaier (founder of Stonemaier Games) sings Garden Club’s praises. If you’re interested in Garden Club, check out its KickStarter page.
Modern Classic Goa Receives an Update with the Latest GameFound Project
Goa, a strategy game of auctions and resource management, is set at the start of the 16th century: beautiful beaches, a mild climate, and one of the most important trading centers in the world. Competing companies deal in spices, send ships and colonists into the world, and invest money. Are you on top or at the bottom? It depends on how you invest your profits. Will you make your ships more efficient? Enhance your plantations? Recruit more colonists? Only a steady hand in business will help.
Each turn begins with an auction phase, where each player gets to auction one item (and the starting player two items). The first item being auctioned gives the right to go first the next turn (along with a card that gives an extra action). If you buy your own item, you pay it to the bank. If someone else buys the item you sell, they pay you. Items include plantations complete with crops, income tiles (income in money, ships, plantation refills each turn etc.), ships, settlers, and later on tiles that score points for certain achievements.
GameFound is the place for classic games getting a modern facelift. Goa is the latest in the trend, and I like it. So many classic board games get forgotten because they don’t look as nice as modern games. The original Goa didn’t look the best. This update gives it pizzazz. And you know Goa has stellar gameplay. It’s a classic for a reason. If you’re interested in Goa, check out its GameFound page.
Darwin’s Paradox! Releases
Darwin’s Paradox! is Paris-based developer ZDT Studio’s inaugural release. I wondered how long it would take for an octopus to receive the platformer game treatment. Those extra arms should allow for some interesting gameplay, and critics agree. Darwin’s Paradox! has gotten some solid reviews, especially for a fledgling video game developer like ZDT Studio.
And I like Darwin’s Paradox’s premise. Dive into the adventure with Darwin, an octopus as endearing as he is ingenious, torn from the ocean and trapped in a vast and mysterious industrial complex. Harness his unique talents and abilities to help him overcome the many dangers and traps in this captivating platformer and adventure game.
Darwin’s Paradox! bills itself as a 2.5D platformer. This leads to some interesting camera angles and shifts in perspective. At times, Darwin the octopus will navigate side-scrolling levels, but others, he traverses an almost 3-dimensional world. Gamers can take full advantage of Darwin’s abilities. His legs have suckers, and he can camouflage himself to avoid detection. Despite Darwin’s Paradox! being a platformer, I can see the game sporting some impressive stealth moments. Darwin’s Paradox! is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series S/X.
Clean Up Earth Releases
I like the premise of Clean Up Earth. Video games with a restoration theme have taken off over the past several years. I’ve played my share of these games. Geekly has covered Spilled! and Terra Nil this past year. Clean Up Earth gives me strong Slime Rancher vibes. Instead of using a vacuum gun on slimes (on an alien planet), you’re using a vacuum gun to clean up our planet. Clean Up Earth looks intriguing.
Clean Up Earth describes itself as a relaxing co-op restoration game where you vacuum waste, rebuild ecosystems, and watch nature return in real time. Play solo, with friends, or in online multiplayer sessions with up to 25 players. Community gameplay can help support real environmental initiatives with no extra spending required. I don’t know how this works. Clean Up Earth has my attention, but with mixed early reviews, I may wait until after a few patches. You can try out Clean Up Earth’s free demo and see if it’s something you’d enjoy before buying. Clean Up Earth is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X.
That’s all the Geek News we have for you this week. Which games have your interest? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
