Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day! Geekly is marking the occasion by listing some of our favorite indigenous video game characters. Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. This list was a little more difficult to compile than one would first expect. There are plenty of indigenous people in video games. Unfortunately, many of them lean into cultural stereotypes. We’ll do our best to avoid stereotypical indigenous video game characters. With that disclaimer in place, let’s get to our list of 5 famous indigenous video game characters.
Honorable Mention: Poundmaker (Civilization 6)
Pîhtokahanapiwiyi, better known by the title of “Poundmaker,” doesn’t quite make our list because he was an actual Cree leader during the late 19th Century. Poundmaker advocated the rights of indigenous people at a time when the Canadian government was starving them and encroaching on their land. Though he didn’t hold his position for long, Poundmaker would be arrested for alleged treason. He was exonerated in 2019. Poundmaker earned the respect of the indigenous community. When Civilization 6 added the Cree as a playable civilization, they gave the honor of Cree leader to Poundmaker, a real-life Cree hero.
5) Connor (Assassin’s Creed Franchise)
Ubisoft didn’t play it safe when they moved the Assassin’s Creed story to the American Revolution. Instead of glorifying the colonists, Assassin’s Creed 3 shifted the focus toward how indigenous people were affected by a morally ambiguous war that had nothing to do with them. Ratonhnhaké:ton (aka Connor) is an assassin who worked tirelessly to defend his people from colonial oppression. Connor is divided between two worlds, which provides an interesting and unexplored perspective in video games for one of the most significant wars in American history.
4) Mina “Thunderbird” Sky (Rainbow Six Siege)
Video games don’t tend to feature indigenous characters. This trend goes double for indigenous women, so Rainbow Six Siege‘s introduction of Mina “Thunderbird” Sky was a boon. Mina Sky is a Canadian Air Force pilot originally from the Nakota tribe of Saskatchewan. She proudly wears traditional facial tattoos of her people. Her codename “Thunderbird” derives from an old legend about a powerful bird that often protected the Nakota people. Thunderbird is a fitting name for an operator who protects her Nakota and Rainbow Six families.
3) Nuna (Never Alone)
Upper One Games’ Never Alone takes inspiration from a famous Inuit legend. The hero seeks an end to perpetual winter. While traditionally the hero is portrayed as a man, Never Alone casts the role to a young girl. Nuna has to face harsh Arctic weather with only a white fox for company. She faces trials from puzzles to combat, but proves resilient. Rather than using skill points, Never Alone doles out progression through the telling of Inuit stories. This is fitting with the game’s theme of keeping cultural stories alive.
2) Thunderbird (Thunderbird Strike)
The Thunderbird is a mythological creature for various indigenous cultures. Often portrayed as an eagle-like creature, the thunderbird has immense power and serves as a guardian of the natural order. Game designer Elizabeth LaPensée takes this setup for her game Thunderbird Strike, where players control the legendary bird as it defends the land from the oil industry and restores life. Thunderbird Strike modernizes a famous legend and addresses real-life issues of industrial encroachment on indigenous land.
1) Tommy Towadi (Prey)
The original Prey (2006)–not Bethesda’s 2017 spiritual successor, also called Prey–had a story built around an odd mix of indigenous spiritual beliefs and science fiction. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the game has an indigenous protagonist. “Tommy” Towaldi can spiritually reach places others can’t. He often uses this skill to evade death and outwit his alien captors. Interestingly, a game in 2006 featured an indigenous protagonist. Most games that included indigenous characters in 2006 would’ve put them in stereotypical clothes. Tommy wears a leather jacket and jeans. He happens to be indigenous, and Prey (2006) explores his culture well. Almost two decades later, and Tommy still resonates with gamers.
So, what do you think? Who are your favorite indigenous video game characters? Are there any games that feature indigenous characters we should try? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Friday, Geekly Gang! Marvel Studios Animation released its fifth project in its short four years of existence with Eyes of Wakanda. This series looks amazing. The premise of time-hopping through history, showing Wakanda’s secret spies, the Hatut Zaraze (War Dogs), retrieving Wakanda’s advanced technology, sounds exciting. And Eyes of Wakanda is fun, I can see where storyboard artist Todd Harris wanted to go with Eyes of Wakanda’s story, but the reduced episode run makes it difficult for the Eyes of Wakanda to find its stride.
The War Dogs’ mission is to sneak into outside countries and recover lost Vibranium artifacts that, if they fall into the wrong hands, could expose or bring harm to Wakanda. The Hatut Zaraze do their best to keep Wakanda hidden from the outside world. This idea dovetails into the first Black Panther film; Killmonger found a Wakandan artifact on display in a museum. More on this moment later. Eyes of Wakanda’s first season features four key moments in Wakandan history: the Bronze Age, the Trojan War, the beginning of China’s Ming dynasty, and the First Italo-Ethiopian War. Each episode leans into the region’s cultural aesthetics. Eyes of Wakanda shows accurate depictions of the people who lived in each location during that time. I can’t say it enough, the art style is fabulous.
I also like how these four episodes are stand-alone stories. You don’t need to watch either of the Black Panther movies or do any other MCU homework. Everything you need to know is contained in four half-hour episodes. The first and final episodes of Eyes of Wakanda’s first season stand out above the middle two. I like the idea of reintroducing Iron Fist in the third episode–there’s hope we’ll have another Iron Fist sighting in the MCU–but the middle two episodes don’t do as much to explore Wakanda. The first episode shows how far advanced Wakanda is from the rest of a Bronze Age society. The fourth directly ties into Black Panther and Killmonger (this is the artifact, the axe, Killmonger steals from the museum). I have mixed feelings about forcing Eyes of Wakanda to connect with Black Panther, but the MCU is going to MCU. The bookend episodes also delve further into their protagonists.
In the first episode, we follow failed Dora Milaje candidate Noni, while the fourth episode centers on eager Wakandan Prince Tafari. I didn’t see the same character development in the middle two episodes. Or at least, the middle two didn’t stand out as much.
Eyes of Wakanda’s short run works against it. A couple more episodes like the first and fourth could’ve allowed Eyes of Wakanda to find its footing. Several television shows need at least two or three episodes to “really get going,” and I got that vibe from Eyes of Wakanda. With a larger episode order, Marvel Studios Animations could’ve shown more sides of Wakanda.
Still, what’s here is fun, and two hours isn’t a long investment for an animated series. And I can’t stress how amazing Eyes of Wakanda’s animation is. To this point, What If? was Marvel Studios Animations’ crowning achievement for art style and direction. Eyes of Wakanda gives What If? a run for its money. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. Since it’s Wednesday, we have another post from our Whatcha series. Today’s topic is games, both video games and board games. We’ll hear from Season and Skye soon, but I’ll kick things off this post with the games I’ve been playing over the past month.
Kyra’s Board Games
Bruno Cathala’s Kingdomino takes the simple mechanism of laying dominoes beside a starting castle (domino piece) and allows players to build their own scoring tableau. Each domino has two sides. Each side will belong to a terrain type, and players attempt to connect like terrain types, chaining as many crowns (which will be printed on some dominoes and determine how much each terrain scores) as they can to their largest collection of each terrain type. Kingdomino has restrictions on how far out from a player’s starting castle they can build, and this is where the game gets tricky.
I don’t know how many times I’ve ended up with dead corners (corners that I can’t legally add another domino), but it’s satisfying every time I can put down my full complement of dominoes. Kingdomino is a quick game. The 15-30 minutes printed on the box is accurate. I love Kingdomino’s selection system. Each player has two royal meeples. One will claim the current round’s domino, but the domino you select in the current round will affect when you can select a tile in the next round. Each tile’s backing has a number. Typically, the more valuable tiles have higher numbers, and if you pick a higher value tile, you’ll pick later in the following round. Brilliant!
While many board games grant an advantage to seasoned players, Uwe Rosenberg’s Spring Meadow almost requires players to have a similar experience. The person who taught me and a couple of other noobs how to play Spring Meadow skunked us. Spring Meadow has an intriguing mechanism of players choosing a polyomino from a communal display and then placing the polyomino on their player board filled with holes. You’re trying to fill each row or column (depending on your board’s orientation), scoring points for each filled row or column with some added bonus points.
There are tricks involved, a dash of luck, and not all of the polyominoes are created equal. But you won’t know the best plays during your first playthrough, and if you’re playing against a seasoned Spring Meadow player, they will easily beat you. Despite my utter failure of a first play, I enjoyed Spring Meadow. I’ve since rematched the person who taught me how to play, and I managed to eek out a victory during our third, two-player play. Spring Meadow is fantastic as a two-player game against players who know how best to place their polyominoes.
I’d include Lotus in the group of games where it’s best played when all players involved have similar experience. The same person who taught me Spring Meadow also taught me Lotus, and the result was similar. I have yet to replay them at Lotus, but I plan on it.
Players compete to complete flowers. Seriously, the image above is what most Lotus cards look like. Lotus is a stunning game. It’s quick to teach, but knowing when to add pedals or use an ability makes all the difference. Usually, new players will misuse their abilities, unlock the wrong ones first, or add too many pedals to make a flower easy to complete and leaving themselves open for another player to take advantage of an opening. Lotus is the definition of a game that’s easy to learn but difficult to master. It doesn’t have a lot of moving parts, but the parts that are there are chef’s kiss.
Kyra’s Video Games
I gave Bleach: Brave Souls a try this past month. Notice how I didn’t say I played Bleach: Brave Souls. Bleach: Brave Souls offers an autobattle function. I did more watching Bleach: Brave Souls play itself than playing the game. To be fair, Bleach: Brave Souls is a ten-year-old gacha game. During boss battles, players borrow the featured character from a random player (chosen from the tens, if not hundreds of thousands, of players). Typically, I’d borrow a character from a player who had maxed out their character five or six years ago. Most boss battles had a cutscene. I would skip the cutscene, and the borrowed character will have already beaten the boss. Did I really play Bleach: Brave Souls?
Bleach: Brave Souls was a nice trip down memory lane. I wish the game had tightened the story a little bit. Each scene from the manga received its own level, so there are hundreds, if not thousands, of story levels. I gave up on Bleach: Brave Souls after a few days, but I could see the game being fun years ago, when it first released. I like the chibi character designs.
Those are the game highlights for me this past month. Let’s see what Season and Skye have been playing.
Skye’s Board Games
The fabulous Kyra Kyle has done it again. While Dorf Romantik was not a game they created, they were the ones who introduced me to it. Props to them, because I thoroughly enjoyed it! Dorf Romantik takes concepts from games like Catan and Carcassonne, but manages to be a special kind of fun. With the help of your fellow players, y’all gotta build the best town you can. It’s Sim City without financial stress. What can I say?
The Night Cage is a game that’s right up my alley. As a big fan of cooperative games, horror, and eldritch themes, The Night Cage is perfect for a dark game night with your friends. In a Lovecraftian setting, you find yourselves in a place of eternal darkness. You’re trapped in the Night Cage, and you must escape. The corridors shift and change direction. You only have a candle, and monsters hunt you at every turn. Good luck.
Skye’s Video Games
Lately I’ve been into casual phone games. Tap Gallery is a simple game about tapping arrow blocks to reveal a hidden image underneath. That’s pretty much it. While not the most complex, what appeals to me about Tap Gallery is its premise. It’s satisfying to watch every block slowly disappear from the screen. Sometimes that’s all you need in a game, and Tap Gallery has me hooked.
Cryptogram, while still a casual phone game, requires its players to use their brains. As you can likely tell from the title, Cryptogram is all about decoding a hidden message by following the clues given to you. Cryptogram helps stretch your brain while not being too difficult. Many of Cryptogram’s hidden messages are famous quotes from historical figures. Wait, you can solve puzzles and learn history? Sign me up!
Season’s Video Games
I’m kicking things off with a classic platformer. Psychonauts was released back in 2005 and is one of the more unique platformers I’ve played. Each level takes place inside people’s minds, so the player learns about each character by playing through their level. The level itself represents the character’s cognition of the world, but there are collectibles called “memory vaults” within each level. These memory vaults allow the player to sneak a peek into each character’s past through pictorial storytelling.
Players also spend a fair amount of time roaming the campgrounds in the overworld. I spent several minutes chatting with my fellow campers, collecting arrowheads to upgrade my gear and scavenger hunt items. Most objects/creatures in Psychonauts allow players to interact with them in some form, so there’s never a shortage of things to discover. I used clairvoyance on everything. Everything.
Fallout 4 has been out for ten years, but this is my first time playing it. Dead serious. I’ve never been crazy about open-world RPGs. In the past, I’d try them for twenty minutes before wanting to play something else. I tried playing Fallout: New Vegas on Steam many years ago, and it crashed every few minutes. I got frustrated and gave up on it. That said, I’ve enjoyed Fallout 4 so far. I like to stop tracking quests periodically so I can explore the world. I’m a digital hoarder, so picking up everything and being over-encumbered is my way of life.
I have one question for you, Geekly Gang. Why do radscorpions burrow under toilets?
Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here again. That’s all our writers have for what they’ve been playing this past month. Feel free to share what you’ve been playing, Geekly Gang. Thank you for reading, wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Black Panther has existed since the mid-Sixties, but Marvel produced some of the best Black Panther stories after 2000. Which Black Panther stories should you read first?
Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. As you can guess, we’re talking about Black Panther starter stories today. Like we’ve been doing for the past few entries in this series, we’ll split these stories into single issues and story arcs. Today, we’ll begin with single comic book issues. Enjoy!
Single Issues
“Introducing The Sensational Black Panther” (Fantastic Four #52; written by Stan Lee/art by Jack Kirby; 1966)
I considered including this issue and a few others as part of a story arc. The next issue would include vibranium’s first mention and sets the stage for Ulysses Klaw to make his first appearance, but I chose to stick with Black Panther’s first appearance. “Introducing The Sensational Black Panther” centers around the Fantastic Four being invited to Wakanda. The enigmatic leader sends a hover car to take Marvel’s family to his homeland. The Fantastic Four agree, and when they arrive in Wakanda, they must survive a robotic jungle and the Black Panther himself. By themselves, the Fantastic Four are no match for Black Panther, but the team joins forces and unmask their assailant.
It turns out that T’Challa (Wakanda’s leader who invited the Fantastic Four to Wakanda) and Black Panther are the same. Black Panther says he only wanted to test the fours’ abilities and meant no harm by his attack. “Introducing The Sensational Black Panther” does a good job of showing Black Panther as formidable. Like I said, many key Black Panther elements are revealed in future issues, but “Introducing The Sensational Black Panther” is a great place to start reading.
“Death Calls for the Arch-Heroes” (Avengers #52; written by Roy Thomas/art by John Buscema; 1968)
“Death Calls for the Arch-Heroes” is another issue that sets up Black Panther; this time, it’s Black Panther’s first appearance as an Avenger. Until this issue, Black Panther served as an occasional Avengers ally. “Death Calls for the Arch-Heroes” begins with Black Panther visiting Avengers HQ to find the Avengers dead. They aren’t actually dead; they’re in a coma. Since Black Panther is an outsider, he gets blamed and taken into custody. Black Panther breaks out of jail, learns that the Grim Reaper (who wants revenge for the death of his brother, Wonder Man) is behind the plot. The two fight, Black Panther wins, reverses the effects of Reaper’s coma weapon, and then becomes a full-fledged member of the Avengers.
“Death Calls for the Arch-Heroes” marks an important milestone in Black Panther’s development. Prior to this issue, Black Panther seldom left Wakanda for long. This issue turned Black Panther into a global figure, and it put Wakanda on the map.
Story Arcs
Panther’s Rage (Jungle Action #6-18; written by Don McGregor/art by Rich Buckler, Billy Graham, and various others 1973-1974)
It took a while for Marvel Comics to see potential in Black Panther. Sure, Black Panther showed up in plenty of Fantastic Four comic books. He was even a card-carrying member of the Avengers for half a decade by this point, but he was relegated to the edges of comic book stories and didn’t have his own title. At the same time, there was another Marvel comic book named Jungle Action that rubbed proofreader (at the time) Don McGregor the wrong way. Jungle Action featured white people saving Africans or white African people being threatened by black African people. McGregor demanded that Marvel feature a black African hero. He turned to the seldom-used Black Panther.
McGregor’s initial run on Jungle Action #6-18 (Panther’s Rage) is the birth of who we know as Black Panther. T’Challa returns to Wakanda to find his homeland torn by civil war. A revolutionary leader and terrorist named Erik Killmonger had returned to Wakanda and threatened T’Challa’s claim to the throne. Yes! Panther’s Rage is the first appearance of Killmonger. To say Panther’s Rage was groundbreaking is an understatement.
More than a decade before Watchmen, Panther’s Rage was the first graphic novel. It’s been collected and reprinted numerous times, and it’s worth the read. Writer Don McGregor was no stranger to pushing boundaries. Years before Panther’s Rage, he wrote a story that featured comic books’ first interracial kiss. If you want to know Black Panther better, Panther’s Rage is a great place to start.
Panther’s Quest (Marvel Comics Presents #13-37; written by Don McGregor/art by Gene Colan, and various others 1988-1989)
After his legendary run on Jungle Action, McGregor left Black Panther for over a decade. He returned to the character with Marvel Comics Presents. The Marvel Comics Presents title was an odd throw-back to early Marvel titles. Anthology series like Tales of Suspense (which featured Iron Man’s first appearance) and Journey into Mystery (which included Thor’s first appearance) had fallen out of favor. Marvel Comics Presents featured stories for multiple characters. We’re interested in the Black Panther storyline, Panther’s Quest.
Panther’s Quest is another McGregor epic. Following rumors that his mother (whom he had never known) may still be alive, T’Challa conducts a stealth mission in South Africa. What unfolds is a harrowing tale of social injustice mixed with intrigue and plenty of action. Always willing to broaden comic books’ horizons, McGregor tackled story elements like Apartheid and the discrimination someone who looks like Black Panther faces. In short, Panther’s Quest is another Black Panther must-read.
The Client (Black Panther vol 3 #1-5; written by Christopher Priest/art by Mark Texeira 1998)
The Client marks the first entry for Christopher Priest on this list. Priest is another writer synonymous with Black Panther. Priest is also the first black writer and editor in mainstream comics. He’ll show up time and time again on this list. We couldn’t include all of Priest’s works. The two series of his that didn’t quite make our list are both named Enemy of the State. You should give them a read as well. Getting back to our entry, The Client makes this list because it introduces several key Black Panther figures like Okoye, Zuri, and Nakia. And the story does a great job of balancing the odd space Black Panther occupies.
Black Panther sets up refugee camps and offers political asylum for people fleeing ethnic wars, but at the same time, he pushes for systematic change and battles street crime. T’Challa is a man attempting to do it all. But that’s why a lot of Black Panther’s key support system (like Okoye) are introduced. Within The Client’s pages, Priest develops what it means to be Wakandan.
Killmonger’s Rage (Black Panthervol 3 #16-20; written by Christopher Priest/art by Sal Velluto and Bob Almond 2000)
Christopher Priest pushed the Black Panther forward, but he also paid homage to what came before. Killmonger’s Rage is a fitting spiritual successor to Panther’s Rage. Priest honors McGregor’s story by exploring T’Challa and Killmonger’s relationship. Priest’s Killmonger is a Wakandan corrupted by Western values. He’s the antithesis of T’Challa and Wakanda. Black Panther must face an intriguing mirror version of himself. Killmonger’s Rage shows what would happen if T’Challa rejected his Wakandan roots. 2018’s Black Panther uses a storyline or two from Killmonger’s Rage.
Sturm Und Drang (Black Panther vol 3 #26-29; written by Christopher Priest/art by Sal Velluto 2000-2001)
The world is on the verge of World War III, and Black Panther serves as mediator. Sturm Und Drang shows why T’Challa is different from most superheroes. He’s the leader of a country. Tension exists between the underwater nation of Lemuria and the surface world. Klaw works behind the scenes to stir up tensions among various nations; his machinations unnecessarily draw other countries into the mix. Black Panther advocates for peace, but at the same time, he refuses to back down or show any signs of weakness.
Sturm Und Drang explores Black Panther’s leadership during wartime. He must deal with group leaders like Namor, Magneto, and Doctor Doom. Sturm Und Drang is also the final Priest story arc on this list. He had an amazing run on Black Panther. You can’t go wrong if you see Black Panther and Christopher Priest. If you’re interested in reading Black Panther, Priest did more than anyone in shaping this character and showing his many facets. Priest’s run is chef’s kiss good.
See Wakanda And Die (Black Panther vol 4 #39-41; written by Jason Aaron/art by Jefte Palo 2008)
See Wakanda And Die might be a slight understatement of a title. This story acts as a standalone story and a tie-in for Marvel’s 2008 event, Secret Invasion. I know. I know. The Secret Invasion television series almost ruined the MCU. Believe me, the comic book story was handled with more care. But we’re talking about See Wakanda and Die. An army of Skrulls has come to Wakanda to claim all the country’s vibranium. But Wakanda won’t go without a fight.
This action-packed story shows two complementary sides of the Black Panther. First, he’s a leader, shown through tactical decisions and care for his people. Second, he’s a hero, placing himself on the frontlines. These two sides merge to make a satisfying read with excellent pacing.
A Nation Under Our Feet (Black Panther vol 6 #1-12; written by Ta-Nehisi Coates/art by Brian Stelfreeze, Chris Sprouse, and Karl Story 2016-2017)
A Nation Under Our Feet is the most philosophical story on this list. It explores Wakanda’s identity, tensions, traditions, and where they fit in modern society while looking toward the future. This examination extends to the monarchy. Does Wakanda still need the Black Panther?
These topics make sense, considering A Nation Under Our Feet’s writer Ta-Nehisi Coates. Coates is an American journalist and activist who often writes about cultural, social, and political issues, specifically African Americans and white supremacy. Coates authored “The Case for Reparations,” so Wakandan story that examines its past while looking at how to move forward is something that Coates has immense experience.
But A Nation Under Our Feet also features the art of Stelfreeze and Sprouse, who present a brilliant Afrofuturism that has a touch of science fiction but is steeped in African art and culture. The result is A Nation Under Our Feet becoming a comic you can lose yourself in as you explore the different parts of Wakanda.
Those are the stories that made our list. Like I said, I could’ve included many more Priest Black Panther stories, and anything by Coates is a great read. Let us know which Black Panther stories you’d add to this list in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. GenCon is this week. Several board game companies announce titles at GenCon and/or launch board game crowdfunding campaigns during GenCon, cashing in on the hype caused by demos this weekend. So, our board game releases will see an uptick in the next two weeks. Woo hoo! Not only that, but this week saw a lot of high-profile video game releases. Yes! Before we get into those new game releases, we’ll kick off this post with some intriguing MCU news.
X-Men Cast Update and Unnamed MCU Film Set for Release between Doomsday and Secret Wars
Several sources (including Variety and ScreenRant) have cited the MCU casting a younger group of actors for The X-Men. This makes a lot of sense. Ever since the pandemic, movie-going behavior has changed. Fewer people physically watch movies in the theater (they wait for the movie’s digital release), and superhero movies seldom break the $1 billion mark. This new reality has led film studios to change their tactics. The MCU casting lesser-known actors to portray The X-Men should save the production money. We’re seeing this more with other larger movies with budgets earmarked for special effects (films like the upcoming Legend of Zelda). While I don’t care for the reasoning, I’ve always liked the idea of giving lesser-known actors a chance at playing iconic roles.
In other MCU news, Marvel Film Executive Kevin Feige made an announcement that the MCU has an unnamed MCU film set for release between Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. There is a chance the MCU keeps the date, July 23, 2027, available for an MCU movie (between Doomsday and Secret Wars) and chooses not to use the time slot, but there’s a better chance Marvel Studios will fit in a movie between these two Universe-wide and Universe-altering movies. To date, Captain Marvel is one of the MCU’s most financially successful films (at the box office), and it was released between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Captain Marvel benefited from the hype generated by the two Avengers films. The MCU will most likely want to capitalize on the window between Doomsday and Secret Wars.
By my estimation, four films could fill this July 23, 2027, time slot: Deadpool 4, Black Panther 3, Blade, and Doctor Strange 3. I listed these films in the likelihood of their being released, starting from least to most likely.
Even though Ryan Reynolds says he’s not interested in another Deadpool film, Marvel Studios could coax him to do another movie with enough cash. Deadpool 4 will most likely happen, but not right away. Besides, Deadpool is one of the few Marvel film franchises that doesn’t need a Doomsday-Secret Wars boost.
Black Panther is another Marvel film franchise that doesn’t need the boost. Everything Ryan Coogler touches turns to gold. I loved Sinners, Ironheart was better than I expected, and I can’t wait to see his take on The X-Files. Throw in Denzel Washington to Black Panther 3’s cast, and you can see why Black Panther 3 doesn’t need the hype train. It is the hype train. The only reason I place Black Panther 3 ahead of Deadpool 4 in order of likelihood of being released is that it’s further along in its development.
Kevin Feige insists Blade is years away, but he may protest too much. Mahershala Ali has been waiting for his chance to play Blade in an MCU movie. While Blade has been a successful franchise in the past, the upcoming Blade movie will be the first in the MCU. Blade isn’t established within the MCU, so the character can exist outside the universal crossover event. And a Blade film would follow in Captain Marvel’s footsteps of introducing a new MCU character and banking on the hype generated by two connected Avengers films.
But I chose Doctor Strange 3 as the most likely film for a July 23, 2027, release because it’s been in production for a while and doesn’t yet have a release date. At the end of The Multiverse of Madness, Doctor Strange entered a different plane of existence with Clea, so Doctor Strange 3 could explain why he might not be in Doomsday and could tie into his inclusion in Secret Wars. Doctor Strange 3 could also exist outside both movies, or at least the first one, and not screw up the two Avengers films’ storyline.
But what do you think? Do you think the MCU will pass on using the placeholder July 23, 2027, release date? If the MCU uses the date, which film do you think will fill that date? It could be a fifth film I didn’t mention. Let us know in the comments.
Echoes of the Sundering Lands on KickStarter
So much of Echoes of the Sundering’s description interests me. Echoes of the Sundering is a 1-5 player cooperative, open-world, deck-construction adventure. It features simultaneous play and a strong narrative. Cooperative with deck-construction and simultaneous play with a strong story to boot. Count me in. Supposedly, player choices affect what happens in the world. Gamers can customize their characters to suit their playstyle. All of this sounds amazing.
I’m uncertain how players will be able to play their turns simultaneously, but I’m here for it. The game also includes drop-in/out companions. I’ve seen this play out in various other games, but each board game accomplishes this differently. Players can level up their characters like they would in a video game RPG, and while you can play a rogue-lite version, which offers extended replayability, Echoes of the Sundering features a 40-hour campaign.
Build your own unique character and get exploring in Echoes of the Sundering. From the sound of it, Echoes of the Sundering is a more story and character-driven version of Gloomhaven. The above image lists publisher The Wilderforger’s vision board. If this sounds interesting, check out Echoes of the Sundering’s KickStarter page.
Compania Launches on KickStarter
Publisher Level 99 is known for its anime/manga aesthetic. Compania continues this trend, but don’t let the art style fool you. Compania is a clever engine-building worker placement game. I love Compania’s worker placement twist. Players secretly assign their workers to spaces on the board. Each player simultaneously uses six-sided dice to show how many workers they plan to send to each space. Whoever chooses the most workers for each space that turn, claims that space (and its ability) for the turn. Brilliant!
Compania lists its play time as 1 hour, and I believe it. Any time a design includes simultaneous play as one of its mechanisms, play doesn’t take as long because you don’t need to wait for players to take their turn. Everyone takes their turn at the same time. Compania’s auction system has me interested, but I’ve always liked Level 99’s art style; I always know when a game is a Level 99 game. You can back the standard-edition Compania for $50 or go for the deluxe version at $90. Check out Compania’s KickStarter page.
Flip Voyage Emerges on KickStarter
I love flip and write games. I’ve covered a few flip and write games like Draft & Write Recordsand On Tour. Fliptown, by Write Stuff Games is a fantastic flip and write, and Flip Voyage is the Fliptown’s sequel. It looks just as good. In fact, Flip Voyage’s KickStarter campaign features an expansion to Fliptown. You can pick a pledge that includes the expansion and Flip Voyage.
Flip Voyage’s gameplay looks straightforward and offers plenty of player choice. I have yet to demo Flip Voyage, but the game’s mechanisms make it look as if no two games will ever play out the same way twice. And Flip Voyage’s deck is a modified, standard playing card deck. There’s enough familiarity for newer players to understand the game, while offering something new and exciting. Flip Voyage offers several pledge levels. Most are cost-effective. Check out Flip Voyage’s KickStarter page.
ExoTerra Powers Up on KickStarter
I’ve seen advertisements for ExoTerra for a while, and it looks like something that would interest me. ExoTerra is another cooperative game. This time, you build your own custom mech, a large robot typically found in anime/manga. Player boards are customizable, and the way each one is set up reminds me of Sky Team in a good way.
Of course, ExoTerra features detailed miniatures, but my favorite feature must be the triple campaign map books. Each campaign map includes 30 pages of battle stages. This makes setting up ExoTerra a snap. Just turn to the pages you need and place the three books together. ExoTerra includes several paths to victory. You could replay a scenario, using a different tactic (perhaps a non-combat option), and see if you can win. ExoTerra’s pledges range from $150-260. If you’re interested, check out ExoTerra’s KickStarter page.
Tekken: The Board Game Launches on GameFound
Publisher Go On Board lends their knack for adapting video games to tabletop games to the Tekken franchise. The combat space looks tight, and that’s a good thing. Many combat games provide too many options to run and hide, or allow some characters an unfair advantage to keep their distance and attack from afar. Tekken: The Board Game keeps the fight close. Tekken boasts a short playtime (20-60 minutes). A fighting game of this nature demands a shorter play time.
Tekken: The Board Game features numerous iconic characters from the franchise. While writing this post, the campaign hasn’t yet launched, but by the time you’re reading this, Tekken: The Board Game should be available on GameFound. Check out Tekken: The Board Game’s page.
Grounded 2 Releases in Early Access on Steam
Obsidian’s Honey, I Shrunk the Kids inspired survival game received a sequel this week. Grounded 2 enters early access on Steam. Everything in Grounded 2 is bigger and better than the original, but fear not, fans of the original Grounded, Grounded 2 keeps everything that made the first game fun. The first Grounded was one of the best survival video games on the market. Grounded 2 looks poised to fill those shoes.
Have you ever wondered what Stardew Valley would look like if it were set in the Shire? Tales of the Shire has you covered. Live your life as a hobbit. Create your own Hobbit as you set forth in Bywater. Though not yet established as an official village in Hobbiton, you will play a big part in helping the quaint town flourish.
Tales of the Shire offers a unique gaming experience. Based on the image above, it looks like we’re getting ready for Elevenses. I’m all for that. For the next ten days, Steam is offering a 10% discount on Tales of the Shire.
Gloomhaven Sequel Frosthaven Releases on Steam
I enjoyed the original Gloomhaven video game. Gloomhaven’s sequel Frosthaven, lands on Steam this week. If you’re like me, you either don’t want to shelve Gloomhaven’s massive box or go through the twenty minutes or more to set up the game. The video game adaptation does a great job of translating the board game into a video game. Frosthaven received the same treatment, and the video game looks great.
August 2nd just happens to be International Beer Day. Who knew? Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. To celebrate this holiday (or observance) that I just found out about, we’ll be breaking down the Top 5 fictional beers in video games.
Quick content warning: We’ve noticed that video games that name fictional beers often travel into crude territory. We tried to tone down the gross-out humor and sexual content, but there may be a few mentions in this post.
After applying the restriction of one fictional beer per video game franchise, I found this list difficult to compile. Numerous video games include beer, but they often give it the generic name “beer” or have a sponsorship with a real-world beer brand. The games that create their own beer brands typically have more than one fictional beer brand, and then there are near beers. Nuka-Cola Dark is the Fallout universe’s favorite soft drink, blended with rum. That’s not exactly a beer. With that said, we were able to find five of the tastiest fictional beers in video games.
5) Ion Bru (Void Bastards)
Void Bastards is a well-received sci-fi first-person shooter inspired by BioShock. If nothing else, I may be finding more video games to put on my to-be-played list. Void Bastards has some interesting game mechanisms I’d like to try. Ion Bru pokes fun at Scotland’s second national beverage (second only to Scotch), Irn-Bru.
Unfortunately, I don’t believe anyone drinks Ion Bru within Void Bastards. The can pictured before this entry is used as an upgrade material. Ion Bru is included in the following recipes: air freshener, colon cleanser, and germspiker. Germspiker and colon cleanser? Are we sure we should be drinking Ion Bru?
4) Mazte (Elder Scrolls Series)
Typically, the Elder Scrolls series calls its beers by a generic name, or it replaces beer with mead. But the Elder Scrolls does have a beer from Morrowind: Mazte. I know. I know. Mazte may be the Dunmer name for beer, but it’s unique enough to make this list. And we’re striking out on beer brands for this list. Ion Bru may not be a drink people consume, matze may not be a brand, and I don’t know about the next entry. I love Morrowind, so mazte takes the fourth spot.
According to its entry in the Morrowind guide, Mazte is a local beer brewed from fermented saltrice. Cheap, plentiful, and invigorating, this beverage is popular, despite its dulling effect of wit and judgement. For the price, folks are willing to feel dumb and weak-willed, so long as they feel strong. Sounds like beer to me, but fermented saltrice? I don’t know about that. It might raise my blood pressure.
3) Pißwasser (Grand Theft Auto Series)
Grand Theft Auto is one of those video game series with plenty of beer brands. Even Sprunk Cola has its own alcohol variant, which may venture into Nuka-Cola Dark territory. So, we decided to go with Pißwasser. I know. I promised tasty fictional beers. Pißwasser may not fit that bill.
Pißwasser (or Pisswasser) made its first appearance in Grand Theft Auto IV and has been a staple in the series ever since. The German import lager is advertised everywhere. You’ll hear about it on the in-game radio and see it on television or billboards (many of which have suggestive themes; I didn’t include one billboard that may show a woman recycling what she drank–ew). The name suggests that Pisswasser doesn’t taste great, but everyone in the GTA universe loves it. You can even purchase stocks of the brand and try to get rich.
You may be in for a good time. Whoops! I butchered the tagline. You’re in for a good time with Pisswasser. Yuck. Just make sure you don’t drink too much, or else you’ll stumble and lose your bearings and maybe worse.
2) Gamma Gulp Beer (Fallout Series)
While Gwinnett has an entire line of beers in Fallout 4, they don’t capture the imagination as much as Gamma Gulp Beer from Fallout 2 and Fallout Tactics. This beer hasn’t been seen much in the series since, but that could change. I would love to see an updated Gamma Gulp in Fallout 5 or even Fallout 76. Make it happen, Bethesda.
Just look at the happy ghoul in the picture above. How can you resist a sip of Gamma Gulp? Come to think of it, the Fallout universe must’ve started brewing Gamma Gulp after the bombs fell. That or they predicted ghouls. Interesting.
1) Poseidon Pilsner (BioShock Series)
Poseidon Pilsner had to take the top spot because it inspired a brewery in California of the same name. Poseidon Pilsner made its first appearance in BioShock. Most of Rapture’s bars sports the pils; there are even bars named after the beer.
I like how BioShock layered the above Poseidon poster over an advertisement for 123 Beer, which is another beer that could’ve made this list if we didn’t have our pesky one beer per franchise. Poseidon gets the nod because it’s the only beer on this list–so far–that has inspired a real-world brewery. I’m going to be honest. If a Pisswasser becomes a thing, I may have to try a sip.
That’s our list. Which video game fictional beers would you include on this list? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Friday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with a Fantastic Four: First Steps review. Right off the bat, I must say 2025 is a banner year for superhero films and shows. The DCEU had been flailing for years; Superman (2025) gives the franchise new hope. The MCU has been a shell of itself in previous years, but Thunderbolts* and Fantastic Four: First Steps have been a return to form. I love that little MCU homework is needed for Fantastic Four: First Steps. Spider-Man: Homecoming aside, Fantastic Four: First Steps is the closest the MCU has felt to a Phase One movie in almost a decade. Fantastic!
I’ll try to avoid spoilers in this review. If you’ve read the Fantastic Four comic book, you should know the basis for a Galactus story. Fantastic Four: First Steps is the most comic book accurate Fantastic Four film. I mentioned in a previous Geekly News post that Shalla-Bal does have a basis in the comics; she’s Norrin Radd’s longtime romantic interest and has powers comparable to the Silver Surfer. In alternate universes, Shalla-Bal becomes Galactus’s herald in Radd’s stead, so if Earth 828 (nice tribute to Jack Kirby’s birthday, August 28th) is an alternate universe, it makes sense if she becomes Galactus’s herald. This allows Radd to become the Silver Surfer in Earth 616 (or some other Marvel universe). And Galactus is terrifying.
Galactus reminds me of the Reapers in Mass Effect: part living being and part machine. This visual effects decision makes sense. It allows for Galactus to look like his comic book counterpart. I cheered when I saw him onscreen. Galactus’s look is another great comic book accurate element. Johnny Storm figuring out Shalla-Bal’s history and pleading with her to save Earth was another classic comic book moment. Both Radd and Shalla-Bal sacrificed themselves to save their planet (Zenn-La) from Galactus, only to become Galactus’s pawns and destroy other planets.
I even liked the montage at the beginning of Fantastic Four: First Steps. It shows the team has been in the superhero/explorer/adventuring business for years, while not bogging down the film with extra runtime. While I would’ve liked to have seen John Malkovich’s Red Ghost, it made sense for Fantastic Four: First Steps to cut his scenes from the movie. Fantastic Four: First Steps had a tight 114-minute runtime. Just under two hours. That’s unheard of with modern blockbusters. Rumors swirled a few months ago that Fantastic Four: First Steps had a runtime of over two and a half hours, which would’ve made it one of the longest MCU films before edits. Fantastic Four went from being one of the longest MCU films to the fifth shortest. The audience got what it needed in that runtime. Kudos to Fantastic Four for cutting unneeded scenes.
Fantastic Four: First Steps is just what the MCU needed. Just like Superman (2025) got me excited for DC Comics movies again, Fantastic Four: First Steps got me excited for the MCU again. And like Superman, I have some notes for Fantastic Four: First Steps. The biggest is Galactus’s timeline. While Galactus does lumber through the universe on his never-ending quest for sustenance, it doesn’t make sense that Earth prepares for the titan’s visit when he’s already in our solar system. Galactus passes Jupiter by the time the Fantastic Four share their plan with the world, a plan that would take months to prepare. When the team’s first plan fails, they don’t switch to their second plan until Galactus is passing the moon. What? That timeline makes little sense.
Galactus entering our galaxy when the Fantastic Four share their first plan, and then reaching Jupiter when the Fantastic Four pivot to another plan, would make more sense. This is a nitpick, but I chuckled at this timeline’s absurdity. Invisible Woman giving birth in space with no bodily fluids is another one of my silly nitpicks. I get why Fantastic Four: First Steps chose not to include a zero-gravity placenta, but I figured I’d mention the lack of bodily fluids. Don’t get me wrong, I just finished a jumbo-sized popcorn and pretzel bites before the birth scene. My stomach appreciated the lack of floating bodily fluids. Still, Franklin Richards’s birth was the most sterile birth I’ve ever seen.
I could mention another nitpick or two, but those are smaller nitpicks, and they didn’t detract from Fantastic Four: First Steps. This is the Fantastic Four film I’ve waited for decades, and I’m so glad I got to review it on Geekly. I watched the 2015 Fantastic Four in the theater and reviewed it. Fantastic Four: First Steps was a huge upgrade. This film features the most comic book accurate Fantastic Four. And I hope Fantastic Four: First Steps begins a new trend for the MCU: less MCU homework for each project and cutting out unnecessary scenes for tighter runtimes. Fantastic Four: First Steps continues the MCU’s upward trajectory. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy fifth Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. Since it’s the fifth Wednesday of July, that means our writers will be sharing personal updates. I’ll get things started.
Kyra’s Writing
My writing and game design will sound similar this month. The two center around the same concept. I wrote a first draft of a novel based on one of my board games, Rustbucket Riots, and I’m in the throes of reverse outlining.
Reverse outlining is an important stage of writing/editing that I learned after multiple novels. During the reverse editing stage, I take note of what happens in each chapter/scene, looking at the novel from a macro level, rather than a micro level (like line editing). Reverse outlining allows me to see who the point of view (POV) character is for each chapter (if there’s more than one POV character for the novel). If a character has only one POV chapter, I may need to give them more chapters or consider omitting the chapter or using a different POV character. Jotting down what happens in each chapter makes it easier to see which chapters are pulling their weight (from a narrative perspective), which ones could do more, and which ones may not be needed.
In previous novels, I made the mistake of line editing after writing the first draft. That doesn’t work–at least, not for me. The sunk cost fallacy (the tendency to continue an endeavor because of the time and effort spent on the project) is strong when a writer does this. Slapping together a crappy first draft and then taking a macro look at each chapter makes it easier to “kill one’s darlings.” If I haven’t spent hours editing a chapter, that chapter hasn’t reached the status of one of my darlings. It’s easier to make cuts.
Depending on when you’re reading this, I may be slashing through thousands of words in one keystroke. Can you hear the ink cry?
On a different note, I’m still querying agents. Fingers crossed.
Kyra’s Game Design
I received a ton of great feedback for Rustbucket Riots and Whirligig Pets. Both games are well on their way to being publishable.
I’m continuing to refine my other designs, and I’ll be at Comic Con Nebraska this weekend. If you’re in the area, stop by and say hi. I’ll be in the game room, demoing various designs that will include Rustbucket Riots and Whirligig Pets. I’ll even have JK Geekly badge ribbons.
Tangent: I joined a board game publication and pitching course, so hopefully, my board game pitches will improve in the coming months. Lol
That’s all I have for these past three months. Let’s check in with Skye.
Skye’s Update
Believe it or not, I do have a life. I know, I was surprised too. Not much has happened since the last time I did one of these, but there were a couple of things I wanted to mention.
First, I have a new job at my local movie theater. Y’all know how much I love movies, so this kind of job is right up my alley. There’s a more community-oriented culture at Marcus Theaters with several opportunities to learn and connect with the team, which I love. Of course, there’s also free movie tickets. This means that I can start covering recently released films on my personal blog, TGIMovies, in a more financially responsible way.
Second, I took this summer off from college. So far, I’ve been having a good time relaxing and dedicating my time toward things I love, such as my hobbies, my relationships, and this community. I’ve learned a lot about myself, spent time with those I care about, and started working towards my future. At this point in my life, I’m the most excited I’ve ever been about what’s to come. I’m glad I got to share it with y’all!
Thanks for reading about my experiences and for inviting me to this website. Though I don’t say it often, I’m greatly honored to be a part of this community, to experience geeky content with like-minded people, and to have a platform to offer my thoughts. I’ll see y’all next week with another “Whatcha.” Take care!
Kyra Kyle here again. Season doesn’t have an update for the past three months. She graduated from college with a Bachelor’s and continues to look for work in her field. Fingers crossed that she’ll find something soon. And feel free to share what you’ve been working on over the past three months. We’re all part of the Geekly Gang. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Cretaceous Rails combines trains and dinosaurs in one board game. Holy Fish Heads! That may or may not be a direct quote from the Cretaceous Rails game designer. Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. I’m doing something a little different with today’s board game review. As you might be able to tell, I know Cretaceous Rails’ game designer, Ann Journey, and the publisher Spielcraft Games. I’ll attempt to stay unbiased, but I wanted to be upfront about that relationship. In Cretaceous Rails, people have learned that dinosaur parks built in the modern world are too deadly. Instead, they send people back in time to witness dinosaurs in their natural habitat. Players compete to create the best dino safari resort experience. We’ll get to the game, but first, let’s discuss some disclaimers.
The Fiddly Bits
Designer: Ann Journey Publisher: Spielcraft Games Date Released: 2025 Number of Players: 1-4 Age Range: 14 and up Setup Time: 10-15 minutes Play Time: 45-120 minutes (depending on the number of players)
Game Mechanisms
Modular Board Network and Route Building Pick-up and Deliver Worker Placement
Game Setup
Cretaceous Rails’ rulebook has a streamlined setup section, so I’ll be using the rulebook as the basis for this section.
Action Tiles
* Shuffle all 16 action tiles and randomly place them face up in a 4×4 grid within reach of all players to create the action grid.
* Place the first player marker on the Draw Cards action tile with the first player marker icon (shaped like a raptor claw).
Resort Card Display
* Place the resort card display board within reach of all players.
* Shuffle all 84 resort cards and place them face down in the resort card deck space near the resort card display board.
* Deal eight cards from the deck face up onto the eight spaces of the resort card display board.
* Place the round tracker on the dinosaur footprint labeled “1.”
Player Setup
Each player chooses a company. The only difference among the companies is the starting dinosaur, the beginning point value of dinosaurs, and aesthetics. None of these differences significantly affect the gameplay, so pick the company that looks cool or begins the game with your favorite dinosaur.
Each company gets: * 1 Player board (all other items must match your company’s color and design) * 4 Executives * 30 Rails * 1 Train Engine Tile * 8 Train Car Tiles
* Place your Train Engine in front of your player board. This begins your train, but doesn’t count as storage.
* Place 2 Train Car Tiles behind your Train Engine Tile to form your starting train.
* Draw 1 card at random from the resort card deck and add it to your hand.
* Place the remaining Train Car Tiles, 30 Rails, and 4 Executives off to one side within reach.
* Take the tourist, dinosaur, and jungle token indicated by the icons on your player board and place them on their respective icons on your player board.
* Place the remaining tourists in the tourist sack.
Map Setup
* Place the starting map tile for the appropriate player count in the center of the table within reach of all players.
* Place 1 randomly-selected jungle map tile per player beside the starting map tile to form the map.
* Place one jungle token on each hex marked with a jungle token icon.
* Place a matching dinosaur miniature on each hex marked with a dinosaur icon. Each tile has two of Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops, Titanosaurus, and Parasaurolophus.
* Randomly place 4 tourists from the Tourist Sack on each cabin hex and each player’s home hex.
Starting Positions
* Randomly select who goes first. Play will proceed clockwise from the first player.
* In reverse turn order, starting with the last player, select home hexes on the starting map tile.
* When you select a home hex, place two Rails on the starting map tile. Place the first Rail on the line pointing out of your chosen home hex, and the second Rail on the line going to the left or right in front of the first rail.
HINT: Choose your home hex based on the dinosaurs and volcanoes near it, the tourists on it, and your plans for building your rail network into the jungle.
Game Flow
Cretaceous Rails is played over four rounds. Each player receives four turns per round.
Each turn, players will place an Executive on a vacant action space between two action tiles. Players will take both actions adjacent to the Executive they just placed. You may choose the order in which to take your two actions each turn. You can also forgo one of your actions and unload your Train Cars onto your player board.
Outside of unloading your Train Cars, there are six actions depicted on the Action cards: Lay Rails, Draw Resort Cards, Build Resort Cards, Clear Jungle, Safari, and Capture Dinosaur.
Lay Rails allows players to place two Rails (train minis) on the map, extending their company’s rail network.
Draw Resort Cards lets players draw Resort cards from the Resort Card Display Board.
If you meet any number of Resort Card requirements and take the Build Resort Cards action, you may build any number of Resort Cards in your hand that you can legally place. The third (top) row can only hold as many Resort Cards as the number of Resort Cards in the second row. The second (middle) row can only have as many Resort Cards placed in it as the number of Resort Cards in the first (bottom) row. The bottom row has no restrictions. Go nuts! But most Resort Cards receive bigger boosts in higher rows.
The remaining three actions will add items to your Train Car Tiles that you will then have to unload in your player boards. These actions may cause you to replace one of your adjacent actions with empty Train Cars.
Clear Jungle has the player take a jungle token from any hex adjacent to their rail network. You must place the jungle token on one of your empty Train Cars. Jungle tokens aren’t refilled throughout the game. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. You cannot take the Clear Jungle action if you don’t have at least one empty Train Car.
The Safari action has a couple of steps. Take a tourist from any hex adjacent to your network and place it in one of your empty Train Cars. Again, if you don’t have at least one empty Train Car, you cannot take the Safari action. You may not take a tourist from another player’s home hex. When you take a tourist, add up the number of dinosaurs adjacent to your rail network of the color and type that corresponds to the tourist you picked. Only count dinosaurs in hexes with no jungle tokens (your tourists can’t see through dense jungle). Each volcano adjacent to your rail network counts as a dinosaur of that type. Move the rating marker on your player board for that dinosaur color/type up the rating track that number of spaces. This number determines the value of each dinosaur in your resort.
Capture Dinosaur allows players to take a dinosaur from any hex adjacent to their rail network with no jungle token and place it in one of their empty Train Cars. Again, you cannot take the Capture Dinosaur action if you don’t have at least one empty Train Car.
End of Round
A round ends after all players have taken four turns each.
At the end of each round, perform these steps, in this order (skip these steps in the final round): * Each player performs the Unload Train Cars action.
* Each player takes back all four of their Executives.
* Discard all eight Resort Cards in the display. * Refill the display with eight new Resort Cards from the deck. * Pick up all of the Action Tiles, shuffle them, and randomly distribute them into a new action grid. * The player who took the First Player Marker this round places it back on its draw cards Action Tile. That player will go first next round.
End of Game
Each player performs the Unload Train Cars action one final time. Then, each player tallies their score. There are two sources of victory points: Captured Dinosaurs and Resort Card Scoring Multipliers. Players can use the scoring guide and pad to keep track of each player’s victory points. Whoever has the most victory points at the end of the game wins.
Review
Cretaceous Rails has two standout elements: the Action Grid and Resort Cards. Ann Journey says that she got the idea of the Action Grid from another game, but I haven’t seen this version of worker placement. It’s quick. The Action Grid gets shuffled and reformed, resulting in varied gameplay from round to round. What may be a good tactic in an early round may not be that good of a tactic in later rounds. The actions themselves are balanced and provide a lot of strategic possibilities. I can lessen someone’s safari bonus by capturing dinosaurs. I can play keep away by taking resources from the main map, while reserving my home hex’s tourists. And all of these actions work well with the Resort Card system.
I love how Resort Cards are placed. The bottom rows needing to be larger than the ones above them makes thematic sense if one thinks of the player board as one’s resort, which it is. You can’t have a top-heavy structure. The Resort Cards themselves are multi-use, and that’s one of my favorite game mechanisms, and a trend I like continued in more board games. Each Resort Card has three rows. The top shows what the player needs to place on the Resort Card to construct it. Any Dinosaurs placed on Resort Cards are worth their full value, while Dinos left on Player Boards are worth half points, rounded down. This does enough to entice players to build Resort Cards, even if they don’t stand to gain as much from the Resort Card’s effect.
The Resort Card’s effect is indicated in the middle row of each card. Many of these effects have levels that are determined based on which row you build the card. This adds even more tactical choices to each game of Cretaceous Rails. I don’t know how many times I took a penalty (like lowering a dinosaur’s rating) because I needed the effect of a Resort Card. And each Resort Card has endgame scoring modifiers at the bottom. Again, I’ve spent plenty of Cretaceous Rails games building Resort Cards that I only wanted for the endgame scoring. Players only score the Resort Cards they managed to build. This is the magic of multi-use cards. Love, love, love.
My main critique of Cretaceous Rails is that the game can run a little long. While individual player turns don’t take long, analysis paralysis can be an issue. I tend to plan my turns in advance and then adapt if someone takes the set of actions I want, but other players don’t play that way, and certain players—you know the type—can take extremely long turns. Cretaceous Rails is one of those games (specifically at higher player counts) where the board state can change a lot before you receive another turn, and I have second-guessed my decision on several turns.
The Cretaceous Rails box lists the game’s runtime as 30 minutes per player. However, it’s more like 45 minutes at the lowest player count and 30 minutes for each additional player after the first. Upkeep between rounds can take a hot minute. Typically, I have one player handle one part of the setup (like shuffling Action Tiles and resetting the Action Grid), while another player handles another part of the in-between round setup (like wiping the Resort Card Board and setting up the new round’s Resort Card Board). While Cretaceous Rails doesn’t have a lot of setup between rounds, it does slow down gameplay.
Despite the occasional gameplay slowdown, Cretaceous Rails does a wonderful job combining trains and dinosaurs, and that’s what the game sets out to do. Trains and dinosaurs together at last! The Rails (train minis) play out like a fusion of Ticket to Ride and Catan. Experienced gamers will have an idea of how they work; players new to the board game hobby may struggle. I also like how the trains are two-fold. While the network plays like Ticket to Ride, the Train Car Tiles provide a tasty dollop of resource management. Since every player unloads their Cars at the end of each round (even the last one), you’ll want to time when you unload your Train Cars in the middle of each round. So, time is a hidden secondary resource one must manage. I love it.
One final note: Cretaceous Rails’ production value is phenomenal. That’s something you can expect from Spielcraft Games. I know. I have a relationship with Spielcraft Games’ owner, but it’s true. Alex Wolf puts in a lot of work to ensure his games look top-notch. Getting back to Cretaceous Rails, if you’ve ever wanted to play a combination of trains and dinosaurs, Cretaceous Rails is your game.
Too Long; Didn’t Read
Cretaceous Rails captures its theme of gamers running a dino safari resort experience. While the game mechanisms interestingly converge, the multi-use Resort Cards and the Action Grid stand out. Cretaceous Rails offers plenty of ways to win, but that can also cause analysis paralysis and may not be the best for gamers who are new to the board game hobby.
Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. It’s the beginning of a new week, and it’s time for us to break down the geek news from the previous week. A lot happened over the past week, but we’ll begin with some fun MCU news.
MCU Will “Reset” After Avengers: Secret Wars
“Reboot is a scary word,” President of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige said during a media bonanza this past weekend. Instead of a “reboot,” Feige claims the MCU will “reset” after the Multiverse Saga concludes with Avengers: Secret Wars. This MCU reset will include Marvel Studios recasting The X-Men. Geekly may have jumped the gun with this recasting. We did our own X-Men Geekly Casting a couple of months ago, and personally, I thought Deadpool and Wolverine was the Fox X-Men’s swansong, but we only saw a handful of mutants in Deadpool and Wolverine, and I’m okay with one final sendoff.
The X-Men may not be the only ones getting recast. Feige suggested that the MCU will recast several of its characters after Avengers: Secret Wars. While Feige cited Superman (2025) as a great show and didn’t expand on the statement more than that, Superman’s success could have pushed Marvel Studios to make this decision. The MCU was always going to do something after several box office failures; the young DCU’s success shows that the MCU could find success by “resetting.”
The MCU has already shifted to projects (like Fantastic Four: First Steps) that require less homework before viewing. I’m all for less MCU homework. And while Thunderbolts* was one of the MCU’s best recent films (here’s a link to Geekly’s Thunderbolts* review), Feige made another statement last week that Thunderbolts*’ poor box office sales could be attributed to the film having too many characters who originated on Disney+ shows. Feige has a point. I count at least five members of the main cast who came from Black Widow (released exclusively on Disney+ due to the pandemic) and Falcon and Winter Soldier.
The combination of the MCU organizing their releases on Disney+ and theaters to certain character types (Disney+ shows are for street-level heroes, while MCU films are for larger-than-life characters) and an MCU “reset” should result in more cohesive storytelling. And the MCU would mirror its source material. Every decade or so, the major comic book publishers “reset” their universes. Now, we only need to see Thor crying over Deadpool’s death.
GameFound Buys IndieGoGo
For five years, GameFound competed directly in the board game industry with crowdfunding giant, KickStarter. On July 20, 2025, the Polish-based crowdfunding giant GameFound acquired the tech-centric crowdfunding website, IndieGoGo. This merger opens GameFound to other avenues of innovation.
IndieGoGo has raised billions of dollars since its inception in 2008 (note: IndieGoGo was the first crowdfunding site), while GameFound has revolutionized the board game industry over the past five years, offering flex spending (allowing donors to pay over time) and insurance for online pledges. GameFound raised over $165 million in 2024 for board games alone. Think of how much business GameFound can do by absorbing tech giant IndieGoGo.
GameFound not only protects backers, but it also offers a lower cost of entry for creators on its site. IndieGoGo has struggled with campaign costs in the past. The GameFound-IndieGoGo merger may cause a seismic shift in the crowdfunding landscape.
Pixie Trails Prepares to Launch on GameFound
Speaking of GameFound, Pixie Trails will launch in the next two days on the crowdfunding site. Pixie Trails is a light strategy game. Pixie Trails uses a simultaneous selection game mechanism. Each player simultaneously picks the direction their Pixie (denoted by a standee) will move on a three-by-three tile grid. After everyone reveals their direction (card), they take the actions pictured on their tile, gaining extra instances of the action for each other pixie on the tile. I love this trend in modern board games. Your choices can improve if others choose the same action. And Pixie Trails sounds like it has a lot of meaningful choices in a small game.
You win the game if you’ve eaten the most food at the end of four rounds, or you can alternatively win the game if you reach seven (the max level) on the Friendship Track. I don’t yet know how the Friendship Track works, but I wonder if this has something to do with landing on the same tile as another player. A twist like that could pour gasoline on the fire of each player’s choices. Color me intrigued.
Since Pixie Trails has yet to launch, we don’t have information on the various pledge levels. Pixie Trails also marks publisher Mystic Circus Game’s first release, so we also don’t have previous campaigns for comparison, but Pixie Trails should have a few pledge options in a day or two. Feel free to follow Pixie Trails’ GameFound page.
Scratch Island Sets a Course for GameFound
Publisher Garlock Games is another relatively new board game company, but they have a stellar reputation with 2023’s deckbuilding game, Dorian. The company’s follow-up title is Scratch Island, a treasure-hunting game. Scratch Island has an exciting new game mechanism of scratching the board to play.
As of the time of this write-up, little is known about Scratch Island’s gameplay aside from scratching various locations on the game pad and the tagline of “Kingdoms Rise and Fall,” which is similar to Garlock Games’ first title, Dorian. Scratch Island may be set in the same world. Either way, a scratchable board is good enough of a hook. If you’re interested in Garlock Games’ latest title, check out Scratch Island’s GameFound page.
Goats & Goblins Emerges on KickStarter
Full Disclosure: I may have played a very early version of Goats & Goblins at a Lincoln or Omaha, Nebraska, game designer meet-up. I may be a little biased.
Goats & Goblins is a great twist on the push-your-luck mechanism. Each round, one player is the expedition leader. They choose how deep into a cave they intend to go (how many facedown cave cards they will draw). Everyone else chooses if they’re “in” or they’re “out.” The expedition leader flips over the number of cards from the cave deck that they chose, and then players can play cards to help or hinder the expedition. If the expedition succeeds, the players who were “in,” including the leader, split the gold. If the expedition fails, the players who were “out” split the gold. Whoever has the most gold at the end of the game wins.
Goats & Goblins offers a couple of pledge options and some add-ons. The base pledge is $20, while the “All-In” runs $38. You can also pick up a copy of B. A. Games’ other titles, Cult of the Deep for $35 or Forges of Ravenshire for $65. Goats & Goblins is a phenomenal gateway game that’s sure to pack a lot of giggles. Check out Goats & Goblins’ KickStarter page.
Melancholy Happy Trails
This past week saw the passing of a lot of geek culture icons. Typically, we don’t include too much about celebrity deaths, but this past week was brutal.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for his role as Theodor Huxtable in the 1980s sitcom The Cosby Show, died Sunday, July 20, 2025, in an apparent drowning off the coast of Costa Rica. He was 54. A preliminary investigation found Warner allegedly swept away by a current while in the Caribbean Sea. I always liked Warner in The Cosby Show. Warner was also known for his role as Malcolm McGee in the 1990s UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie and as Dr. AJ Austin on the Fox medical drama The Resident (2018-2023). Thank you for the memories, Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Rest in peace.
Julian LeFay
Father of The Elder Scrolls Julian LeFay passed away Tuesday, July 22, 2025, after years of battling cancer. He was the chief engineer behind The Elder Scrolls: Arena and Daggerfall. In 2019, he cofounded game studio OnceLost Games and began work on the spiritual successor to the original Elder Scrolls, The Wayward Realms. LeFay’s visionary design continues to inspire open-world RPG development. Thank you for your guiding light, Julian LeFay. Rest in peace.
Chuck Mangione
Legendary composer and jazz musician Chuck Mangione passed away on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. He was 84. A virtuoso flugelhorn and trumpet player, Mangione began taking music lessons at age 8 and played in a jazz combo with his pianist brother, Gap, during his high school years. Mangione made jazz cool again in the 1970s with hits like “Feels So Good.” “Children of Sanchez” is still one of my favorites, and don’t be surprised if Mangione’s album An Evening of Magic, Live at the Hollywood Bowl makes my Geekly Tunes post for August 2025. Thank you for the good vibes, Chuck Mangione. Rest in peace.
Ozzy Osbourne
Heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness, passed away Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Birmingham, England, at age 76. Osbourne died weeks after reuniting with Black Sabbath for a final concert. Osbourne, born John Michael Osbourne, found rock ‘n roll stardom as a member of Black Sabbath before branching out on a solo career. Osbourne found success later in life as a reality television star with his wife and children. I’ll piggyback on Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan’s idea, and add that I’d love to see Ozzfest return as an annual tribute concert to Ozzy Osbourne. I always liked how Ozzy did things on his own terms. The next life got a lot more interesting with Ozzy. Rest in peace.
Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan passed away Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Clearwater Beach, Florida, at age 71. Hogan (born Terry Bollea) died from a reported cardiac arrest. Hogan rose to prominence as a wrestler in the 1970s but attained superstardom in the 1980s as part of the World Wrestling Federation (now the WWE). I’ve never been a huge pro wrestling fan, and Hogan had some problematic political and ideological views, but our thoughts go out to his family.
That’s all the geek news we have for this week. Thank you for reading and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
jkgeekly.com 