Tag: Geekly News

Geekly News: June 29, 2025, Fantastic Four Final Trailer

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Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang. Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. I wrote this post a day or two early because my birthday is this weekend. Yay! I’m leveling up another year. But before I eat my body weight in key lime pie and beef stroganoff, we have some Geek News to cover, starting with the final Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer. I know. I know. We’ve covered every Fantastic Four trailer. Somehow, I keep missing some of the Superman trailers. I’m equally excited for both films.

Marvel Releases Fantastic Four: First Steps Final Trailer

The MCU released the final trailer for Fantastic Four: First Steps. I appreciate that we didn’t get too many new spoilers with this trailer, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some peppered in. We may venture into spoiler territory.

The trailer begins with the Fantastic Four at the Ted Gilbert Show when an alarm on their watches sounds. The scenes before this moment give us the longest looks we’ve seen of Marvel’s first family using their powers: Mr. Fantastic stretching, Invisible Woman throwing up a force field and manipulating objects, The Human Torch flying past a Coppertone billboard of himself and setting it on fire, and a bystander wanting The Thing to say, It’s Clobbering Time.

I love the running gag of everyone trying to coax The Thing into saying, “It’s Clobbering Time.” This is a trope used in certain Fantastic Four comics, where The Thing may have said Clobbering Time once, or it was used for a television show (in First Steps, it’s a cartoon), and I can’t wait to see the payoff because, undoubtedly, he will say Clobbering Time, perhaps in the scene where Johnny carries The Thing (with a beard–look at his rock beard, that’s awesome).

A few more moments stick out. We get a better look at Shalla-Bal. I’ve talked about how I didn’t like the CGI for this Silver Surfer, and I’m glad to see an improvement with this trailer. We get an extended look at Galactus, but not a straight-on look at the titan. The Fantastic Four fly into a black hole, and it’s implied that Sue may be pregnant with Franklin at the time. Flying into a black hole while Sue is pregnant with Franklin could supercharge Franklin’s powers. Someone in the crowd by the Fantastic Four carries a sign that reads, Earth Believed In You, which implies that the Fantastic Four have already failed in some way.

And there are those three massive devices. One is by the Eiffel Tower. I’m unsure where the other two in the distance are from Paris. Could this be what Reed was working on with his massive blackboard? We’ll have to find out. I’ll paraphrase one of the top comments on this trailer. The marketing team is doing a great job by holding back three things: 1) Galactus’s face, 2) The Thing saying, “Clobbering Time,” and 3) Johnny saying, “Flame On.” I agree. It’s best to see and hear these things when Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on July 25th.

Grail Games Launches The Pixel Series on KickStarter

Grail Games returns with a trio of retro-art board games. Even though Aliens Attack!, Ohio Bob, and Harvest Valley use the same 8-bit art style, they couldn’t be more different in gameplay. Aliens Attack! is a tower defense game, Ohio Bob offers a fun adventure, and Harvest Valley is a farming sim. All three games are smaller, easier to store and transportable.

The Pixel Series even features some board game designing giants like Bruno Faidutti and Hisashi Hayashi. You can back this project and receive individual games for $10 or the entire set for $26.You can even throw in a fourth game in the series, Level 10, which is a reprinting of Okey Dokey.

I like Level 10’s retheme of guiding Izzy through a video game level without the character perishing. If you’re interested in Grail Game’s Pixel Series, check out their KickStarter page.

Mesopotamia by Meeple Pug Launches on GameFound

Even though it isn’t the Mesopotamian Royal Game of Ur, the board game Mesopotamia does include knucklebone game pieces, which were game pieces in the classic board game. Meeple Pug’s Mesopotamia puts players in the role of civilization leaders in this stunning 4X game (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate). Mesopotamia foregoes a tech tree for research tiles that make each player’s civilization unique.

I love Mesopotamia’s customizable player boards. This gaming component could spark a series of games with a similar component. Mesopotamia’s gameplay encourages trading, exploration, and combat. Those knucklebone game pieces come in handy when attacking one of your opponents. Mesopotamia’s game pieces are top-notch. This is a gorgeous game, and that’s before considering the prelaunch Hanging Gardens Miniature.

That miniature looks amazing, and Mesopotamia has plenty of other detailed miniatures. I like the addition of note one, but three solo-player modes: exploration, siege, and castle defense. Mesopotamia offers a lot of gameplay options. It launches early next week, so we don’t yet know how much this campaign costs. If you’re interested in Mesopotamia, follow its GameFound page.

Modern Classic Board Game Colosseum Receives a Glow-Up on GameFound

Yes! If you’ve ever been interested in the Wolfgang Kramer and Markus Lubke design Colosseum, The Grand Spectacle may be the edition to add to your collection. Ian O’Toole is one of the best board game graphic designers/artists working today, and Colosseum: The Grand Spectacle is a feast for the eyes.

I’ve always liked Colosseum’s take on the roll/spin and move game mechanism, which is often maligned and hated in the board game community. Colosseum does it right; take some of the chance out of rolling dice. I also agree with the Dice Tower’s Tom Vasel. Colosseum works at 5-players, which is rare in a game of this type.

If you’ve ever wanted to run your own Colosseum, you should check out Fantasia Games’ reprint of this modern board game classic. Colosseum: The Grand Spectacle has a variety of pledges, ranging from $80-140.

Death Stranding 2’s Mysterious Update

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach was released this past week and topped video game sales. In case you haven’t played the original, the first Death Stranding is on sale for most systems. Modern video games have updates during their first week, so Death Stranding 2 adding one a day after its release doesn’t raise any eyebrows. Oddly, we know nothing about this Death Stranding 2 update. The update offers no information about what it’s patching. The Death Stranding 2 team offers no clues. No one seems to know what this patch does. Hopefully, it fixes some of the game’s audio issues. Perhaps Hideo Kojima likes keeping this update a mystery.

Tamagotchi Plaza Releases on the Nintendo Switch 2

Tamagotchi Plaza, a shop simulator, was released for the original Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. It looks adorable. I have fond memories of Tamagotchi, and I’m happy if Tamagotchi Plaza popularizes the pet raising sim to a new generation of gamers. Tamagotchi Plaza looks interesting–I may check out this title at some point–but Tamagotchi Plaza continues a disturbing trend for Nintendo Switch 2. If you already own a game for the original Switch, you can play it on the Switch 2 for a small Switch 2 upgrade fee.

While the upgrade fee isn’t the same price as a full-fledged game, it comes off as a shameless cash grab. Why should I have to pay an additional $10 for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild when I already own the game? Yes. $10 isn’t that much, but if you convert each one of your original Switch titles to the Switch 2, that adds up quickly. And this practice will embolden other console producers to do the same. We already got a Horizon: Zero Dawn remaster for the PlayStation 5 when it was released on the previous console.

Tamagotchi Plaza is a new game, and players would have to buy the Switch 2 upgrade for a game they just bought if they were to pick up a Switch 2 later this year. Okay. I get it. You could play the original version of Tamagotchi Plaza, but the Switch 2 version adds new shop types. Why would you want to play the Switch version if you were to upgrade to a Switch 2 after it becomes available again? I’m concerned about this business model for the video game community. But, hey, many of us–myself included–have purchased Skyrim eleven times. How’s this any different?

That’s all we have for Geek News this week, Geekly Gang. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: June 22, 2025

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Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. We have a couple of MCU updates and new board games to talk about. This week had an extra topic or two than last week’s. Yay! Since the MCU news is juicier, we’ll begin with the latest from Avengers: Doomsday.

Wolverine Will Be in Avengers: Doomsday

A couple of reports/rumors about the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday surfaced this past week, suggesting that Wolverine will return in some capacity during the massive group film. Early this past week, veteran stunt double Daniel Stevens stated that he’s working on Avengers: Doomsday. Stevens is Hugh Jackman’s stunt double for his role as Wolverine. This admission doesn’t confirm Wolverine will be in Avengers: Doomsday because Stevens has worked as a stunt double for multiple characters during Avengers movies, but the second report may seal the deal.

YouTuber UnBox PHD specializes in drone footage of Hollywood films. They’re the ones who broke that Wolverine would don his blue and yellow suit in Deadpool and Wolverine months before the movie’s release. UnBox PHD took drone images of a classic Wolverine movie scene’s recreation. Marvel asked UnBox PHD to take down the images, and in return, they all but confirmed Wolverine will be in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. It’s yet to be seen in what capacity Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine will be involved. Fingers crossed for more updates.

Sacha Baron Cohen’s Mephisto to Make Appearance in Ironheart

Sacha Baron Cohen as the MCU’s Mephisto, who is a Marvel variant of the Devil, was leaked several years prior. Cohen’s Mephisto had been rumored as far back as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. He cropped up again in Agatha All Along. Just about any Marvel film or series that features a magical element has been rumored or teased Cohen’s Mephisto. Ironheart combines magic and technology. The show’s central theme will be magic versus tech; this conflict interested me in our MCU Preview earlier this year. During that same preview, I mentioned that The Hood would be Ironheart’s main antagonist. While I still believe The Hood will be Ironheart’s focal enemy, he’s a younger character, about the same age as Riri Williams, so it makes sense if someone bigger is pulling the strings.

Marvel leaked Ironheart’s schedule this past week. Next week, we’ll see the first three episodes, and the week after that, the second set of three Ironheart episodes will release. If Ironheart uses The Hood as a mid-boss, someone who’s working for a larger and bigger bad, narratively speaking, it makes sense for the bigger bad to show their face during the fifth and penultimate episode. The Hood may be failing to convert Riri to the dark side, so the one behind The Hood will need to get personal. Notice how the “M” in Karma is suspiciously highlighted in red. A red M for Mephisto? It could be. We won’t have to wait long to see if one of Marvel’s most dastardly enemies graces the screen. I love the Cohen casting of Mephisto.

If we do get Cohen’s Mephisto in Ironheart, I don’t think he’ll be in full makeup, or if he is, we’ll only catch a glimpse. This appearance will most likely introduce the character and sow the seeds for future MCU stories. Could Mephisto make an appearance in Doctor Strange 3 or Midnight Sons, or even VisionQuest? All of those projects make sense.

Paperback Adventures: Volume 2 Launches on GameFound

Paperback Adventures combines a roguelike deck-building game with a word game. Paperback Adventures (first volume) was a solo game only, but Volume 2 offers a 4-player simultaneous co-op game mode as well. The modular system allows for more variety with the more character boxes you have. Even though Geekly has yet to play this game, Paperback Adventures was a hit with several well-known board game reviewers, specifically Shut Up & Sit Down and The Dice Tower.

I like any modular game with a well-thought-out storage system, and Paperback Adventures: Volume 2 appears to have that in spades. The game’s Big Box, which may be an add-on (no word on the Paperback Adventures: Volume 2’s price point yet), has space for everything included in the game. Yes! I don’t know how many times I’ve had larger modular games with ridiculous storage.

Paperback Adventures: Volume 2 takes the original Paperback (which I have played on Steam, and it’s excellent) and adds a layer of adventure with small RPG elements to it. I never picked up a hard copy version of Paperback (and I missed the first wave of Paperback Adventures), but I may have to back Paperback Adventures: Volume 2 when it launches on GameFound next week.

Cozy Cat Cafe Launches on KickStarter

Run your own cat cafe. Arrange furniture. Recruit cats. Attract customers. Cozy Cat Cafe has coziness in its title. Player turns don’t appear to take long. You’ll have a handful of options, but Cozy Cat Cafe ups the ante if you’ve recruited the right cats. Certain cats can pull off special cat tricks (cards).

I don’t know what “Biscuit Boost” does, but I must play it at least once. Want to know more about Cozy Cat Cafe? Fortunately, Stami Games has a quick Instagram video, providing a quick overview. I like a couple of Cozy Cat Cafe’s game mechanisms. Players construct patterns to attract customers, but the customer cards can be altered on one’s turn if you think one of your opponents can attract a customer. Neat! The other game mechanism I like is the double-sided tiles. You can construct a basic piece of furniture, or you can upgrade it for a posh version. Me-ow!

Cozy Cat Cafe has adorable art that fits its theme. If you’re interested in Cozy Cat Cafe, the core box runs about $54 (plus shipping). The deluxe version is $81. There are several other options (some with signed copies of the game). Check out Cozy Cat Cafe on KickStarter.

That’s all the Geek News we have for you this week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: June 15, 2025, Spaceballs 2

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Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here, serving up another week of geek news. We’ve got a couple of television and movie updates, but the biggest one may be that Spaceballs 2 will hit theaters in 2027. Let’s talk about it.

First Spaceballs 2 Teaser Released

Spaceballs 2 rumors are flying everywhere at the moment. We don’t know what the movie’s full title is going to be for sure. The original Spaceballs dubbed its future sequel Spaceballs 2: The Search for More Money, but judging from this week’s teaser, the movie’s full title may be Spaceballs 2: The Schwartz Awakens.

Sure, Spaceballs 2 is tapping into Gen X’s nostalgia, but I don’t mind this sequel. If nothing else, it was great to see a nearly 99-year-old Mel Brooks in great health. I can’t believe he’s turning 99 on June 28th. Yikes! We know for sure that Mel Brooks will return as director, and he’ll probably reprise one or both of his roles, President Skroob and Yogurt. Several other casting rumors have swirled since the teaser. In the past, Rick Moranis has mentioned that he’d act in another Mel Brooks movie. It’s unclear if Moranis believed Brooks had another movie left to direct. Bill Pullman and his son, Lewis Pullman (who portrayed Sentry in Thunderbolts*), have also expressed interest in joining Spaceballs 2’s cast.

The original Spaceballs was a fan favorite. I could see numerous actors attached to play different roles. Only time will tell who makes the finals cast list, but despite the obvious nostalgia button being pressed, I’m excited.

Final Superman Trailer Released

Not going to lie, the teeth flying out of the enemy’s mouth and clanging off the camera are a little much. Yowza! Moving on. Despite the final Superman trailer’s brevity, it packs a punch. Pun intended. We get an idea that Lex Luthor intends to destroy Superman, but his monologue suggests that he doesn’t mean to kill Superman, at least not yet. Lex plans to kill everyone important to Superman: Lois (the reporter who does all his interviews) and the people who raised him. Dang! Lex is a certified hater. He goes as far as to say, they (the world) chose Superman, let them die. Nicholas Hoult’s Luthor doesn’t play.

Lex has discovered the Fortress of Solitude (which we saw in the previous trailers), but this trailer may sow the seeds of Lex’s machinations. Superman could pull from the Superman: Birthright comic storyline and have Lex frame Superman as an advanced scout for the Kryptonian race attempting to overtake Earth. One of Lex’s henchmen, Ultraman, could be a Kryptonian clone. He certainly has strength comparable to Superman as he pushes Supes’ face into concrete. The kaiju-style monster Superman fights could even be an animal from Superman’s zoo.

In the comics, Superman kept Kryptonian animals in a zoo enclosed in his Fortress of Solitude. If Lex wants to frame Superman and the Kryptonians for acts of violence, it makes sense if he releases one of the Kryptonian animals from the Fortress of Solitude’s zoo. It could be just as likely that this kaiju-style monster is an illusion. The Superman: Birthright storyline includes something similar with Lex’s smear campaign against Superman. But Lex may not be the only villain working behind the scenes.

Maxwell Lord appears to be the one behind the Justice Gang, this universe’s current iteration of the Justice League, that includes Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, and Mr. Terrific. It looks as though Lord will only be mentioned, but it’ll be interesting to see how he’s pulling strings. The Justice Gang looks to be wearing Lord apparel. Guy Gardner may also be the perfect Green Lantern to fight Superman. He’s a grade A douchebag, and the perfect foil for Supes. Overall, I liked this final trailer. It doesn’t spoil too much. I could be wrong about a lot of these details. And I can’t wait for Superman to hit theaters next month.

Clash of Clans Show Will Be a Workplace Comedy

We covered the Clash of Clans show announcement a couple of weeks ago. I’ll be honest; I never did get into Clash of Clans. But the news that Clash of Clans will be a workplace comedy has me intrigued. We don’t know if the characters will know they’re part of a video game or if they’re committed to the Clash of Clans’ universe. The zanier the better. Bring it on.

Plakks Basketball Launches on KickStarter

Plakks has a great track record of taking popular sports and translating them to a dexterity-based tabletop game. They’re doing the same with basketball. The pitch is simple. Players bounce the basketball on their half of the court and try to make a basket in their opponent’s goal. If they make a shot, they get to place a player on their opponent’s side of the court. Player figurines affect the ball’s bounce and shrink the playing field. Whoever places five players on their opponent’s side first wins.

Plakks Basketball looks quick and fun to play. If you’re interested, Plakks’ KickStarter page has a video of the gameplay. Pledges range between $28-55 (plus shipping). I missed out on Plakks’ Hockey and Soccer. These games look like they’d be great at a convention.

ANTgravity Preparing for GameFound

Players control ants in this interstellar version of capture the flag. But watch out! A meteor approaches, changing the rules of the game and making players’ weapons more powerful. ANTgravity takes video game concepts and applies them to a quick board game of outer space dominance.

Asteroids (the purple tiles seen above) can block your path. You can shoot them, gaining any bonuses underneath, to clear a path to your opponent’s headquarters (and their flag), but if an ant travels off the board, it floats into outer space and respawns at the hospital. Capture your opponents’ flags and bring them back to your headquarters before time runs out. ANTgravity launches early next week on GameFound. The Core Set costs approximately $34, while the Gameplay All-In runs about $57.

That’s all we have for Geek News this week. We may be a little light on news, now that we’re less than a month away from Superman and Fantastic Four: First Steps. Board game news should pick up again closer to GenCon in early August. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: June 8, 2025, Quick MCU Updates

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Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. I’m still recovering from last week’s Protospiel Twin Cities convention. Several games were played, and my wings are tired. But we have another week of Geek News. We’ll start with some quick MCU updates. Let’s get to it.

A Baby Franklin Richards Is Confirmed For Fantastic Four: First Steps

Fantastic Four: First Steps released its fourth and final teaser trailer this past week. Most of the shots are recuts of previous shots, but Marvel shared one major revelation: Franklin Richards will be in the movie. While the movie’s title, First Steps, was always meant as a nod to space exploration (one small step for man), the title was also a mention of Franklin Richards’s (a baby’s) first steps. You might be thinking, but Franklin Richards is just a baby, there’s no way he’ll factor into Fantastic Four: First Steps’ narrative in a major way. Okay. This may get into some potential spoilers. If you want to go into Fantastic Four: First Steps with little to no knowledge of the comics, you can skip past the next paragraph.

Franklin isn’t like other babies. As an infant, he was capable of manifesting adult bodies that he could control. One of those bodies was Galactus. So, Franklin might be behind Galactus in the Fantastic Four’s first MCU outing. Yikes! Fantastic Four: First Steps has already teased other Fantastic Four villains like John Malkovich, who is portraying Red Ghost (this is confirmed), and it looks like it may be all hands on deck with stopping Galactus, whether he’s connected to Franklin Richards or not. Fortunately, most of this paragraph was conjecture, so you may be okay if you didn’t head the previous spoiler warning.

No matter where Fantastic Four: First Steps takes Franklin Richards’s story, there’s no doubt he’s the most powerful character the MCU has ever introduced. He can make Wanda’s reality warping look like child’s play. In fact, Franklin Richards may be the one behind the multiverse saga’s end. He could fix all timelines if he wanted. The MCU introducing this much power into its universe is a far cry from the Russos nerfing the Hulk because they didn’t want the Hulk to be the Avengers’ “I win” card. We’ll have to see where this storyline goes.

If you haven’t yet watched Thunderbolts*, you may want to skip the next news entry.

The Ship Seen During the Thunderbolts* End Credits May Not Carry The Fantastic Four

I know. I know. The picture above clearly shows the Fantastic Four’s symbol, but the ship that bears this symbol may not contain the Fantastic Four from Fantastic Four: First Steps. The ship we’ve seen in all the Fantastic Four: First Steps trailers has three prongs, but this ship has four prongs. The ship during the Thunderbolts* end credits is a different ship from the one seen in all the Fantastic Four trailers. I mentioned a spoiler warning in the previous segment, but I’ll reiterate it here in case you want to maintain the mystery.

There are two main theories: 1) Doctor Doom may be piloting the ship; 2) the Fantastic Four are in the ship, but it’s a different Fantastic Four. The first is fun but less likely, while the second is equally as fun, and there may be some evidence suggesting that it’s true.

Theory Number 1: Since Robert Downey Jr. is portraying Doctor Doom (or at least the vision Doctor Doom wants to present), we know that Doctor Doom is aware of the Multiverse and attempting to use Tony Stark’s image to hide his true intentions. Doom could be doing the same for other universes by pretending to be the Fantastic Four. This doesn’t quite hold water because Earth-616 (the world in which the Thunderbolts* belong) doesn’t know who the Fantastic Four are. Still, Doctor Doom could be traveling from a third reality.

Theory Number 2: The Fantastic Four inside this ship are the ones from the Fox Universe. The MCU has already grandfathered in Fox’s X-Men, so they could do the same with Ioan Gruffudd’s Mr. Fantastic, Jessica Alba’s Invisible Woman, Chris Evans’ Human Torch, and Michael Chicklis’s Thing. The “evidence” that this could be true comes from Jessica Alba’s social media accounts. She stated this past week that she’s filming in London. Funny. Avengers: Doomsday began filming this past week…in London.

Regardless of who’s in the “Fantastic Four” ship during the Thunderbolts* end credits, it’ll be a wild ride, and the likelihood of the Fantastic Four from Fantastic Four: First Steps being in that ship is almost zero. Most viewers thought it was funny that the Fantastic Four would be in Earth-616’s reality before Fantastic Four: First Steps release. Yeah. They most likely aren’t on that ship.

More Information About Denzel Washington’s Role in Black Panther 3

We mentioned a few weeks ago that Denzel Washington will be included in Black Panther 3’s cast. We’ve received more tidbits that could suggest who Washington will be portraying. On Carmelo Anthony’s podcast, Denzel Washington said that since he’s 70 years old and only has a few movies left in him. He intends to retire soon. That makes sense, but what doesn’t make as much sense is the rumor that Denzel would portray Magneto in the upcoming Black Panther 3. Or does it make sense?

I wouldn’t rule anything out, but whoever will play Magneto in the MCU during the Mutant Saga will need to have more than a few movies left in their career. The Mutant Saga will run for almost ten years and require five or six movies from its Magneto of choice. So, if Washington were to play Magneto in Black Panther 3, he would most likely be playing an alternate reality Magneto. Denzel Washington will most likely portray a one-and-done villain like Achebe. This could still be fun. Achebe is the Joker to Black Panther’s Batman. Achebe would be a role we’ve never seen Denzel Washington play. Whoever Washington plays in the MCU will be a joy.

Ryan Gosling as Black Panther Meme

The Ryan Gosling as Black Panther meme reentered the zeitgeist. While there’s little proof to suggest that Gosling will even be in the MCU, I wouldn’t rule out anything (like Denzel Washington as Magneto). There is a precedent of sorts in the comics. Gosling could portray White Wolf, Black Panther’s adopted white brother (and frequent adversary/ally), and this White Wolf could hail from an alternate universe. I won’t spend too much time on this. It’s a meme. It’s designed to upset people. But I could see Gosling as a real White Wolf. The MCU has dropped the “White Wolf” nickname for Winter Soldier as early as the first Black Panther. Anything could happen, even something this wild. Talk about a Multiverse of Madness.

Agricola Special Edition Launches on GameFound

Uwe Rosenberg’s Agricola is a classic farming worker placement game. Originally released in 2012, Awaken Realms gives Agricola a stunning makeover. What else would you expect from Awaken Realms? This company is known for over-the-top production value. Just look at these miniatures.

And I got excited when Agricola used animeeples. Look at the details of the various farmers, the animals, and even the reeds. They’re so intricate. Awaken Realms knows how to make miniatures. Of course, these miniatures are an add-on, but the animeeples players can receive without the miniatures upgrade are also fantastic.

You won’t need the miniatures. The cow and sheep meeples, the player board, the ornate fences in the player’s color, and the detailed resource tokens. Yowza! I’ve always been dubious of Awaken Realms games. They cost a lot, and players may fall victim to the sunk cost fallacy. This game is good because I took out a second mortgage to own it. This isn’t the case for Agricola. Almost a decade and a half after its original release, it maintains a spot on Board Game Geek’s Top 100 games.

Fortunately, Awaken Realms offers the updated Agricola at different price points. Agricola Special Edition has a standard, cardboard version, which costs €79 or $90. You can upgrade to wooden bits (like the ones pictured above) by spending €109 ($124). Or you can go for every expansion ever made for the original game. That’s a lot of content, so it doesn’t come cheap. The suggested price is €164.00, which is about $186. Players can upgrade to miniatures by selecting the Sundrop option at checkout. These miniatures (the detailed ones depicted at the top of this post) cost €49 or $55. A pledge of any kind makes you eligible for all stretch goals like irrigation channels.

If you’re interested in Agricola Special Edition, check out Awaken Realms’ GameFound page.

Sunnygeeks 2.0 Modular Gaming Table on GameFound

I’ve been looking at gaming tables for a while. My favorite types of gaming tables can double as dining tables, and that’s exactly what Sunnygeeks 2.0 Modular Gaming Table does. As the name “modular” suggests, gamers can build their own table to suit their needs. Do you need extra storage for bits? Add some stackable drawers. Would you like some LED lights to set the mood? Go right ahead.

Each table comes equipped with a water-resistant dining table topper. Just slap on the table topper if you want to use the table for a meal.

I love the idea of a table topper. Sunnygeeks 2.0 also has a topper docker, which allows for easy storage. You can even store some of your unused board game supplies. But speaking of board game storage, the modular table companion is amazing and my favorite feature. Even if I don’t pick up a gaming table, I’d consider buying a couple of modular table companions.

Modular table companions come in a variety of colors. Each one has wheels, and they’re stackable, which means you can have a large tower of board games that can roll. Yes!

As you can imagine, Sunnygeeks 2.0 isn’t cheap (easily in the thousands of dollars), but this is where GameFound’s Stretch Pay makes sense. Customers can pay ten interest-free payments over ten months. I never saw the need to use Stretch Pay for board games; if you’re spending so much on a single board game that you must use a payment plan, that’s excessive. But gaming furniture is another matter. Build the gaming table of your dreams by checking out Sunnygeeks 2.0’s GameFound page.

Magic x Final Fantasy Pre-Release This Week

The Magic: The Gathering and Final Fantasy crossover event is scheduled to release on June 13, 2025, but gamers can get in on the fun early with pre-release events. Local board game stores across the United States (and other countries) will feature pre-release tournaments. Now may be the best time to get back into Magic if you haven’t played in several years–like me. Or if you’re a huge Final Fantasy fan, you should check out the new set.

If you’re interested in a pre-release event, here’s a brief rundown of what to expect at a tournament. Players are given a set amount of time to open (a set number of) boosters and build a limited, 40-card deck using the cards from those packs. You will then play three games against other participants in the tournament. Most tournaments use a Swiss Style match-making, which means you’ll play against other people with your record. The winner will receive a small prize like a booster pack, sleeves, or a deck box. But everyone’s a winner because you got to play the Magic: The Gathering and Final Fantasy crossover event early. Pre-release events can be fun because no one has had time to construct the “perfect deck.” You all received random cards.

I can’t wait to get my hands on some Magic x Final Fantasy cards. Woo hoo!

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.

Geekly News: June 1, 2025, Hulk Joins Spider-Man Brand New Day Cast

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Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. I’m away on a second trip (another Protospiel, this time in Minnesota), so today’s Geekly News will be brief like last week’s. It will also be MCU-heavy because of news and trailers that drop earlier this week. Without further ado, let’s get to this week’s geek news.

Hulk Returns in Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Industry insider Nexus Point News reported on Memorial Day that Mark Ruffalo is set to return as Jade Jaws in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Since Brand New Day will likely be a multiverse film (our Geekly News post last week confirmed as much), we won’t know which version of the Hulk Ruffalo will portray. Nexus Point News even suggested that Ruffalo could portray more than one version of the Green Goliath.

Fans have stated that they prefer a more savage Hulk. The Russos (who helm this leg of the MCU) could oblige and revert Hulk to his savage self. This could work to set up a World War Hulk project that the MCU has teased for years but hasn’t produced because of copyright issues.

A second industry insider, Alex Perez, shared that Spider-Man: Brand New Day will contain the biggest stunt sequence in the MCU. This stunt sequence will mostly include practical effects and will take a month to shoot. Typically, the MCU adds the Hulk through motion capture, but this doesn’t exclude a potential battle between the Hulk and Spider-Man. Brand New Day could shoot the practical effects and add Hulk later. Regardless of who will be involved in this stunt sequence, it bodes well that the MCU will use mostly practical effects. The scene’s scale also hints that this battle could occur in New York City, which would include a lot of coordination and blocking of city blocks. Spider-Man: Brand New Day sounds exciting. Director Destin Daniel Cretton has a history of brilliant stunt sequences. I loved Cretton’s practical effects in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

I still have my fingers crossed for a Spider-Man and Hulk battle. We’ve seen Spider-Man and the Hulk side-by-side in the MCU, but they haven’t had many interactions. It would be fun to see the two spar.

This news also muddies the waters of who will be Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s villain. Will it be an alternate version of Hulk? Is someone pulling the strings? If so, who? Let us know who you think will be Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s villain or villains.

MCU 2025 Preview Fantastic Four

New Fantastic Four: First Steps Trailer

There isn’t much to cover with the latest Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer. Essentially, the third trailer is a recut of the second trailer with a few shots added for good measure. First off, I like how Fantastic Four: First Steps is marketing itself. During the fourth game of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, ESPN incorporated the spot as a game sponsor. The trailer proceeds to show its events as something that happened in the past (specifically the 60s) and runs with it. I also like Fantastic Four: First Steps’ choice of not showing too much before the movie releases. Too many trailers spoil the movie’s plot.

Our first new shot is a new angle of Shalla-Bal asking if the Fantastic Four are the protectors of this world.

She looks about the same as she did in the first two trailers. The second new shot we get is a good look at Marvel One, the Fantastic Four’s spaceship, and the ship that transported Marvel’s first family to Earth-616’s timeline during Thunderbolts* end credits. Oops! I guess that was a spoiler.

H.E.R.B.I.E. does more than cook. He’s flying up toward Marvel One, possibly conducting some final calibrations before liftoff. The third trailer’s third new shot is an extended look at the Fantastic Four’s classic vehicle, the Fantasticar.

I did omit a couple of longer shots of the Fantastic Four before they presumably climb into the Fantasticar, and a recut, an extended shot, of the same scene we saw of Galactus’s shadow over New York City.

In the bottom left, you can see Galactus’s hand as if he’s reaching out to claim this world. Awesome stuff. Those were the only differences I spotted between the second and third Fantastic Four: First Steps trailers. Did you spot any others? Let us know in the comments.

Tomb Raider: The Crypt of Chronos Launches on KickStarter

Even though Iconiq Studios is a relatively new board game company, they have experience bringing popular intellectual properties (like They Live, SAW, and Evil Dead 2) to the tabletop space. Tomb Raider: The Crypt of Chronos looks promising. This board game adaptation of the popular video game series features many Tomb Raider hallmarks: exploring, some combat, puzzle solving, and researching unique artifacts. Throw in some crafting, and Tomb Raider: The Crypt of Chronos offers a lot of options for tabletop gamers.

Tomb Raider: The Crypt of Chronos features plenty of detailed miniatures. An Adventure Book provides a story-driven game, but gamers can ditch the story for some chaotic tomb raiding fun. I like the fact that the game offers various player counts (1-6). Explore four unique locations with Tomb Raider: The Crypt of Chronos. If you’re interested in an epic Tomb Raider board game, check out Tomb Raider: The Crypt of Chronos’s KickStarter page.

The Battle of the Divas Set To Launch on GameFound

While we don’t know much about The Battle of the Divas’ gameplay (because it hasn’t yet launched on GameFound), publisher Salt and Pepper has a history of making stellar games with interesting themes. Resist! is a modern solo-game classic. The Battle of the Divas could do the same for a two-player-only game. Take the stage against your opponent and become the best diva.

Players will perform classic arias at iconic venues like The Met and La Scala. I like the artwork. I don’t know how the keyboard element works, but it has me intrigued. If The Battle of the Divas strikes the right chord, check out the game’s page on GameFound.

That’s all the Geekly News we have for this week. I’m on the road again this weekend. If you’re at Protospiel: Twin Cities feel free to say hi. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: May 20, 2025, Sadie Sink’s Role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day

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Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. My partner and I are celebrating our 28th anniversary, and it happens to be Memorial Day weekend as well, so we’ll have a shorter Geekly News than usual. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t have anything to talk about. Let’s get to this week’s Geek News.

Sadie Sink’s Role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day

A leak about Sadie Sink’s role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day occurred the day last week’s Geekly News posted, so we’re a little late with this update. Geekly has also covered Sink’s role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day in a previous geek news post, but we may have been bamboozled. A month ago, we learned that Sink’s character would be a mutant. Geekly assumed that meant that Sink would tie into the X-Men in some fashion (possibly Jean Grey, more likely Firestar). Now, it appears that Sink’s character will be connected with Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man, but Sink could still be a mutant.

Marvel kept a tight wrap on who Sadie Sink would play until Podcaster and MCU insider John Rocha revealed on The Hot Mic podcast that Sink will be playing Mayday Parker, the daughter of Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker/Spider-Man. This reveal lines up with Maguire’s Spider-Man in Spider-Man: No Way Home. While Garfield and Holland’s Spider-Men (Spider-Mans?) complain about not being lucky in love, Maguire’s Spider-Man suggests that he’s married. In the comics, the Spider-Baby (the child of Earth-982’s Peter and Mary Jane Parker) becomes Spider-Girl. This would also track with what we learn about Maguire’s Spider-Man in No Way Home. Maguire’s Spider-Man is retired. Why would he need to fight crime when his daughter is Spider-Girl?

Sink as Spider-Girl solidifies Spider-Man: Brand New Day as a Multiverse story. This also makes sense. The MCU will need to tie up loose ends to its Multiverse Saga before it can begin the Mutant Saga. And Spider-Girl could still count as a mutant. If she inherited her abilities from her father, Peter, this version of Mayday Parker would’ve been born as Spider-Girl. May Parker would be a mutant.

Murder on the Rocks Launches on Kickstarter

Murder on the Rocks looks amazing, even if the game doesn’t appear to be one I typically like. Gamers take on quirky roles at a cocktail, masquerade party. One player is a murderer. The murderer attempts to kill each partygoer one by one, while the other partygoers try to deduce who the murderer is. In short, Murder on the Rocks sounds like it plays similarly to Werewolf. If you like Werewolf, Mafia, or any tabletop game with hidden roles, you should check out Murder on the Rocks.

I like the inclusion of red and green vials. If the partygoers get aspects of the murder correct, they add drops from the green vial. Whenever the murderer claims a victim, they add drops from the red vial. I assume the red and green liquids inside the vials are food coloring, so gamers should be able to add more “envy” or “blood” to each vial. Players also wear blindfolds (masquerade masks). That could be a fun twist on Werewolf. And Murder on the Rocks ditches a game box for a drink mixer. Oddly shaped game containers can be difficult to store, but this container strengthens the game’s theme.

Pledge values for Murder on the Rocks range from $32 for the base set (Straight Up) to $116 if you want the Reserve Collector. Murder on the Rocks has a lot of cool bits. I’ve never seen vials used like this in a game. If you’re interested in Murder on the Rocks, check out their Kickstarter page.

Knight Moves Kicks Off on Gamefound

I like what I’m seeing from the board game producer, Solo Game of the Month. The company does what it says, it releases about one solo game every month. We covered Dicemancy last month on Geekly News, and Solo Game of the Month is at it again with Knight Moves. This adorable solo game features double-sided stage and boss cards. The player cards are also double-sided because gamers may choose melee or ranged attacks. Players program their knight and then execute their actions.

You can place and move barrels, defeat enemies, and upgrade your knight. Multiple scenarios provide plenty of replay value. Most games take about 45 minutes, which is a good length for a solo game. And the price tag of $25 makes Knight Moves a lot of game for not a lot of money. I’m impressed by Solo Game of the Month’s dedication to providing great solo-gamer experiences. Solo games are exploding in tabletop games. I also love the art. Solo Game of the Month keeps things clean, easy-to-read, and charming. If you’d like to pledge for Knight Moves, check out its Gamefound page.

Netflix Announces Clash of Clans Animated Series

Netflix continues a growing trend of turning popular video games into television series. The streaming giant announced this week that it intends to release an animated series based on Clash of Clans.

Clash of Clans will join Angry Birds, Splinter Cell, Cuphead, Castlevania, Dragon’s Dogma, and many more on Netflix. The streamer hasn’t given a timeframe for Clash of Clans’ release. Geekly’s guess–and it is a guess–will be that the show will release some time before May 2026.

That’s all the news we have for this week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: May 18, 2025, New Superman Trailer

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Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. We’ve had quite a few trailers over the past week. We’ll start with Superman, because the DCU hasn’t received nearly enough shine from JK Geekly, and that’s on me. Let’s fix that with this week’s Geekly News post.

New Superman Trailer

JK Geekly didn’t cover the first Superman trailer, mostly because that trailer received unnecessary–and frankly, baffling–criticism. The most vocal critics didn’t care for the first trailer’s comedic elements. One tweet that ripped apart a small scene with robot medics, where one (voiced by Alan Tudyk) said there was no reason for Superman to thank the robots because they don’t possess feelings, and the next robot medic shows emotion, received 37 million likes. That was a joke. Most of the responses didn’t seem to understand comedy. I would get the criticism if the joke wasn’t well told. That wasn’t what most people suggested. Regarding the comedy, I thought it worked well enough for a quick joke. But this doesn’t even get into fans’ costume vitriol.

I probably should’ve covered the first trailer anyway, but I waited for the second trailer, so let’s get to it. John Murphy’s interpretation of John Williams’s classic Superman theme was fantastic. I like the premise this second Superman trailer presents. Lois knows Clark is Superman. Thank goodness. Superman presumably stopped a war, which is something he might do, and that causes an international incident (which would definitely happen if other nations believed Superman represented the United States), and that leads Lex Luthor to sow doubt in the Earth needing a Superman. So far, this is all on brand.

I love this premise. Pa Kent and Lois nail their portrayals. Ma Kent cleaning Superman’s boots so he could help people was adorable. Lex might be a little campy. Nicholas Hoult is an accomplished actor; I’ve liked him since his major acting debut in the BBC series Skins. I have hope this is Hoult channeling a bit of Gene Hackman’s Lex (not Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex), and the moment where he ventures into camp is fleeting. I can’t stress this enough. These trailers offer glimpses of an over two-hour movie.

Similarly, I’m a little concerned about David Corenswet’s Superman losing his cool with Lois. From what we see (in a trailer for a two-hour movie), Lois doesn’t press him too much. Perhaps, there’s more to this scene that we’re not seeing. But Corenswet’s Superman slightly loses his cool. This isn’t a Michael Gambon as Dumbledore screaming at Harry Potter when the text in The Goblet of Fire clearly states that he calmly asks Harry a question. Outside of losing his cool while saying, “People were going to die,” Corenswet looked and sounded like he could be a younger, slightly arrogant, and naive Superman.

The two Superman trailers have me excited for the movie. I can’t wait to see the movie in a couple of months.

Ironheart Trailer Drops

The MCU’s Ironheart trailer dropped this week, too. This marks the closest a Marvel project was to releasing before it received its first trailer. Even Werewolf By Night, a surprise Marvel project in 2022, had a trailer months before it released. I don’t know what this means for Ironheart. This could mean that the studio has little faith in the project or that they have the utmost confidence. It could also be a nothingburger. I find it odd that Ironheart didn’t receive a trailer sooner when Sinners (a film by Ironheart’s producer Ryan Coogler) was atop the box office.

My favorite comment for the Ironheart trailer was “I’m genuinely impressed they haven’t disabled the comments.” lol. Same. Most viewers didn’t care for the premise, and to be fair, Ironheart didn’t do a good enough job of setting up its premise. I’ve read the show’s description, and Ironheart sounds like it could be great. Riri Williams (Ironheart) picks up where Iron Man left off. The Hood (the main antagonist) is a magic user who runs a criminal underground. SciFi versus Magic. What’s not to love? Ironheart and The Hood’s relationship gives me strong vibes of what Iron Man and The Mandarin should’ve been. And Ironheart could be setting up the ultimate magic meets technology with Doctor Doom. I’ll amend what I said. Ironheart could be epic.

But this trailer falls flat. It’s paint-by-numbers. Reintroduce Riri (in case people forgot who she was from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), clumsily introduce the antagonist, and give the viewer a vague idea of the show. Still, I like Ironheart’s inclusion of practical effects; Riri’s armor-up scene was tight. And Ryan Coogler wouldn’t attach his name to a stinker. Ironheart still interests me. The trailer could’ve done more.

Coexist Will Launch on Gamefound on May 19, 2025

Take control of a wildlife conservation team with Coexist. Publisher Matagot Games has an amazing track record. They’ve teamed up with Stonemeier Games for Wingspan, Scythe, and several others. One of Matagot Games’ originals, Takenoko, still hits my table. We don’t know much about Coexist’s gameplay. Matagot has shared that the core game flow is recruiting caretakers, welcoming animals to your conservation headquarters, and releasing animals back into the wild after their needs are met, or you may lower your reputation by placing the animals in a reserve.

Matagot Games has teamed up with Human Initiative to Save Animals (HISA). I love it when board game companies do this; whenever this happens, a portion of the game’s profits will go to HISA, a real-world conservation organization that’s based in Bordeaux. Coexist’s art looks fantastic.

Bordeaux street artist A-Mo provides Coexist’s art. Matagot Games stays true to its Bordeaux roots. HISA is headquartered there, and A-Mo is from there. I love the theme, Matagot Games seldom releases a poorly received game, and the varied animal types needing specific things (so one conservation team cannot save every animal) could supply a lot of strategic value.

Since Coexist hasn’t yet been released, Geekly doesn’t have specifics for the campaign’s pricing. If you’d like to follow the campaign, feel free to visit Coexist’s Gamefound page.

Battle Monsters Launches on Kickstarter

Strategic kaiju battles await with Restoration Games’ Battle Monsters. This title reimplements 1992’s Battle Masters, which used the Warhammer intellectual property. That makes sense. Restoration Games is known for taking old games (like Thunder Road: Vendetta and Fireball Island), occasionally retheming the game if they cannot use the license, and re-engineering old games for modern gamers. Battle Monsters looks to be another great title.

Wow! Those detailed miniatures look amazing. A lot comes in the box, no matter which box you choose. The game features quick dice-based combat. Players control a kaiju and a team of soldiers. Coordinating your forces is the key to victory. You can mix and match any titan (kaiju) and faction on any map. I also like that there’s a solo play option; that’s a great trend for the board game hobby.

The smallest pledge amount is $125, and you must choose between the Godzilla and Kong boxes. The Big Bundle runs $299, and gamers receive Godzilla, Kong, and the Mothra expansion. The Mega Bundle costs $379, but backers at this level receive all Battle Monsters’ content, including upgrades like specialty stands for each kaiju miniature. If you’re interested in getting your kaiju on, check out Battle Monsters’ Kickstarter page.

SquareEnix Leaks Kingdom Hearts IV Screenshots

While we knew SquareEnix was working on Kingdom Hearts IV, the game released its first images. Most of the images are of low quality. We chose one of the better shots to show gamers what they could expect from SquareEnix’s upcoming title. Kingdom Hearts IV’s environment looks like a virtual Shibuya. These photos reveal little of the game’s story or other locations. We’re certain Shibuya will be one of several locations players will visit.

The above image is grainy as heck, but one thing is for certain. The player is controlling Mickey. This may be a first for the Kingdom Hearts series. Mickey is seldom a playable character. I can’t wait to see if players will get to play as the famous mouse.

That’s all the geek news we have for this week. Next week, I’ll be out of town, so Geekly News may be rather short. We’ll see when the day comes. Thank you for reading. And wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: May 11 2025, World Video Game Hall of Fame Inductees

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Happy Mother’s Day, Geekly Gang. We wish all the mothers out there a great day. Since today is Mother’s Day, we may go a little light on Geekly News. We may have some events we’ll have to do today.

World Video Game Hall of Fame inducts Defender, Tamagotchi, GoldenEye 007, and Quake

The World Video Game Hall of Fame inducted four games this past week. All four video games are worthy additions. Defender raised the bar on difficulty in video games. The game might be too difficult for some people; I remember avoiding Defender while in the arcade. GoldenEye 007 was one of the best multiplayer first-person shooters. I would lose even while playing Odd Job. I’m sensing a pattern with these games. I stink at them. 🤪Quake ushered in a new generation of graphics, while Tamagotchi marked the first pet simulator. This list is impressive.

But so are the video games that didn’t quite make the cut. The World Video Game Hall of Fame competition was fierce. Finalist games included Age of Empires, Angry Birds, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Frogger, Golden Tee, Harvest Moon, Mattel Football, and NBA 2K. Some of these games should enter the hall next year.

Bumfuzzled Set to Launch Early Next Week on Gamefound

We’re doing something a little different today. Bumfuzzled is a set of wooden puzzles that feature unusual piece shapes. It should launch some time next Tuesday (May 13, 2025), and I’m excited for these. The puzzles look amazing. And look at the piece shapes.

If you’re tired of the same old puzzles, give Bumfuzzled a try in a few days.

Allplay Announces Another Round of Kickstarter Games

Allplay produces a lot of great games of various shapes and sizes. I mentioned Allplay as one of the board game companies that produces stocking stuffer games. Allplay also releases waves of these games on Kickstarter, and they just announced another nine games for a future Kickstarter campaign. Nine games! Wow! Seven of these nine games will be of the small box variety (great stocking stuffers). As of writing this post, there are no details about when these games will ship, but Allplay tends to ship bundles like these within a year. We only know of four games for sure: Alibis, High Rise, Wordsy, and Piñatas.

All of these games look promising. Alibis is designed by Don’t Mess With Cthulhu’s Yusuke Sato. Sato has done a great job with social deduction in the past, and Alibis appears to be a cooperative deduction game. Interesting. Allplay is reprinting two fantastic Gil Hova designs Wordsy (which is a well-regarded word game) and High Rise (a strategic city-building game with a touch of corruption). The final game is a new design by Reiner Knizia, Piñatas. Piñatas is another trick-taking game by the board game legend. I’ve been playing a lot of Knizia’s most recent trick-taking game, Don’t LLAMA. It’s a good bet that Piñatas will be excellent.

We’re keeping today’s Geek News brief. Happy Mother’s Day again. Thank you for reading, and whether you’re a mother or not, wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: April 27, 2025, Thunderbolts* Fan Screenings

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Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. It’s another Sunday, so we have another week of Geek News. There is plenty of tariff news and updates, but we talk about that a lot. Let’s sandwich those stories with more cheerful news.

Thunderbolts* Fan Screenings

Thunderbolts* becomes the first MCU movie in history to receive advanced screenings for fans. Typically, advanced screenings are reserved for critics, who must sign a non-disclosure agreement and a gag order preventing them from leaking any information about the movie. Advance movie screenings are meant for critics to form an opinion and write a review in advance of the movie’s release. Those reviews will feature zingers the studio can use in future trailers and teasers. But Thunderbolts*’ advanced screening includes fans. Fans don’t care about a gag order.

In fact, the MCU may be banking on fans talking, generating word-of-mouth buzz. It takes a week or so for word-of-mouth to take effect. Thunderbolts* dropping advanced screenings with fans will accelerate this effect. But be careful on the internet. Thunderbolts* may become the MCU movie with the most spoilers.

Geekly has no idea what this development means for the MCU or the Thunderbolts* movie. Will this become the norm? Is Marvel so confident about Thunderbolts* that they’re comfortable with whatever fans will say? Who knows? I will say that heading into this year’s slate of films, Thunderbolts* had me intrigued. Thunderbolts* wasn’t one of the MCU’s make-or-break 2025 titles, but in our 2025 MCU Preview, I listed it as a potential sleeper hit.

Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Order Wave One Ends

On Thursday, April 24, 2025, Nintendo opened United States pre-orders for its latest hybrid game console, the Switch 2. Pre-orders continued until the order quota was reached. Taking current United States trade policies into consideration, the order quota was based on how many copies the video game company thought would yield the best results.

The Switch 2’s United States pre-order wave one lasted less than one day. Customers who were able to buy a copy won’t receive their systems until June 2025. Don’t worry if you weren’t one of the lucky few who snagged a copy. Nintendo intends to run another Switch 2 pre-order within another eight months (in time for the holidays), when the company believes it can turn a profit by sending systems to the United States. Unfortunately, staged releases for the United States are the new normal.

Rising shipping costs and tariffs have caused tech companies like Nintendo to re-evaluate their business with United States customers. This has become an issue with other business types; Geekly covers geek culture, so we’re interested in video games and board games. We’ll have more on board games in the next segment. Getting back to the Switch 2, most of Geekly’s statistics are derived from an interview with a GameStop manager. I live in the greater Omaha area, and according to the GameStop manager, the Midwest quad-state region (Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri) received 2,000 total Nintendo Switch 2 systems. That is 2,000 Switch 2s for a population of over 14 million. Granted, most of the 14 million people living in those four states have no desire to purchase a Switch 2 at this time, but Wal-Mart overordered and had to issue tens of thousands of refunds in the Midwest quad-state region alone.

Geekly will keep you posted on when the next waves of United States Switch 2 pre-orders will occur. Good luck to all of you who want a copy. We’ll also give updates on any new developments. Hopefully, there will be a resolution to the United States’ trade war soon.

Geekly News CMON Games Tariffs

Board Game Company Madness

We’ve discussed board game companies and the effect rising tariffs have had on them in the past; this will be a quick update. Final Frontier Games and Boardlandia have closed their doors. Greater Than Games and CMON Games have suspended all future crowdfunding campaigns and board games under development, and laid off countless employees until a viable manufacturing/shipping option becomes available. Small board game publisher, Rookie Mage Games, joined forces with three other indie board game companies in suing President Trump over his new tariffs.

According to Jordan McLaughlin, founder of Rookie Mage Games (via The Columbus Dispatch), “I will not stand by and allow my years of hard work and the hard work of many other small businesses to be ruined in a desperate political ploy for attention and ego validation.” McLaughlin continues, “Attempting to move manufacturing jobs back to the United States is a worthwhile effort. There are smart ways to do it, and there are dumb ways.” Numerous board game companies, including Stonemaier Games (producer of Wingspan and Scythe) have joined Rookie Mage Games’ lawsuit. We’ll keep you posted on this emerging story.

This War of Mine, Second Edition Launches on Gamefound

The award-winning board game adaptation of This War of Mine returns to Gamefound. This War of Mine features countless morally gray choices for players to make while they attempt to survive in a war-torn country. Since the game is fully cooperative, players share the experience and the consequences.

This War of Mine, Second Edition showcases numerous updated maps to explore. Producer Awaken Realms is known for its ornate miniatures, and This War of Mine, Second Edition includes additional scenario books. Countless hours of griping stories await. This War of Mine, Second Edition has plenty of pledge options on its Gamefound page.

Solo Game Dicemancy Releases on Gamefound

I love the increased number of great solo board games. Dicemancy looks interesting. It’s a tower defense game with plenty of combotastic abilities. That’s music to my ears. Players construct unique spells they think will help them ward off enemies. I like the domino-style spell cards players can stack for power-ups. Dicemancy plays quickly (about 45 minutes), has minimal setup, and doesn’t appear to take up too much table space.

Dicemancy features adorable art, and at $25 (plus $5 for shipping), it’s a low-cost option for a new board game. Feel free to give Dicemancy’s Gamefound page a look.

That’s all we have for Geekly News this week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: April 20, 2025, 2nd Fantastic Four Trailer

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Happy Easter if you celebrate the holiday. If not, happy Sunday. We have another week of geek news. What better way to celebrate than to cover the second Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer and reveal its Easter eggs?

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. We may go light on geek news this week, Geekly Gang. I’m not going to lie. I’ll be eating my body weight in sweets, but the MCU dropped the second Fantastic Four trailer, so let’s dish.

Fantastic Four: First Steps Second Official Trailer

The biggest reveal the second Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer gave us was the upcoming movie’s basic plot. Speculate no further. The movie will revolve around Galactus visiting this version of Earth. This story looks like it may parallel the Avengers’ Battle of New York during their first movie. Aliens invade. The world’s protectors need to intervene. But while the Avengers were either unknowns or distrusted, the Fantastic Four are treated as celebrities, as evidenced by their appearance on the Ted Gilbert Show and how civilians treat them. I love the interactions we see during this montage. Gilbert says, We can never repay them, but we can celebrate them. And the Fantastic Four are celebrated.

Geekly News Fantastic Four First Steps Stage

I also like that the show host’s name is Ted Gilbert, which is an obvious play on the Ed Sullivan Show. We mentioned in our post about the first trailer that the Fantastic Four are introduced on a stage similar to the Beatles when they played on the Ed Sullivan Show. Ted Gilbert is the perfect name for an alternate timeline Ed Sullivan. I love the Gilbert and Sullivan reference. I may have to rewatch The Pirates of Penzance.

“I am the very model of a Modern Major-General…”

I’ll stop.

Ted Gilbert succinctly breaks down the Fantastic Four’s origin. Four brave astronauts head up into space and come back forever changed. We’ll probably see snippets of the Fantastic Four’s origin, but I like that First Steps won’t go into the team’s origin in great detail. I also like that Fantastic Four: First Steps takes place on an alternate Earth. Moviegoers won’t need to watch (or rewatch) hours of MCU content to prepare for Fantastic Four: First Steps. Sure. There will be nods to the multiverse. The Fantastic Four will approach this subject because they’ll need to mosey over to the main MCU timeline, but there should be little to no “MCU homework.”

The second trailer revisits the dinner scene from the first trailer, but we receive a bombshell of a plot thread. Sue is pregnant with Franklin Richards. This could be huge. First, Franklin Richards is a mutant, so he’ll fit right in with the upcoming Mutant Saga. Second, Franklin Richards would be one of the most powerful characters introduced in the MCU, and that includes Asgardians and even Galactus. Third, there is a storyline where Franklin controls Galactus.

Yes! I like that this Fantastic Four is a veteran team, and we may not need to wait too long for Franklin and Valeria (von Doom) Richards’ mayhem. Oh, yeah. Valeria has a mean streak like her godfather Victor. This should be fun. During the second trailer, Reed Richards mentions that the Fantastic Four may have stretched the boundaries of space, and they (Galactus and his heralds) heard. I like this angle. Typically, Reed gets the Fantastic Four and the Earth at large into trouble that he must then get them out of, but there may be another reason Galactus chooses to visit Earth. The MCU may be setting up a Galactus-Franklin Richards dynamic.

Galactus looks great in the little we see of him. I’m less thrilled about Shalla-Bal’s look. Shalla-Bal is the woman Silver Surfer. In the comics, Shalla-Bal is the empress of the planet Zenn-La, the planet where Norrin Radd (Silver Surfer) originates. Shalla-Bal was introduced as a character in the 1960s (she’s also in the underrated ’90s Silver Surfer cartoon, which is available on Disney+), and she’s Radd’s longtime love interest.

Shalla-Bal has powers comparable to the Silver Surfer and has served as one of Galactus’s heralds, but she is a different character. Shalla-Bal’s inclusion leaves the door open that Norrin Radd could appear in the MCU’s future. Getting back to my original point, Shalla-Bal’s CGI looks rough. I hope this is an issue with the trailer and not the movie, and the final graphics for the movie look better. Movies work on their graphics until the film is released. Fingers crossed.

The second trailer ends with Galactus taking a stroll in downtown New York City. This could be a nod to Godzilla or the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters. Classic.

If you can’t tell, I’m hyped for Fantastic Four: First Steps. This second trailer introduces some great plot points but holds back enough for the audience to discover when the movie releases in July.

Quorum by Devir Games Released

In Quorum, players take on the role of Roman senators who share the power of Rome and its provinces. The goal is to be the most powerful and influential senator by gaining victory points, which are awarded in various areas of influence over twelve rounds.

Designed by Raul Franco and Fran Martinez, Quorum accommodates 2-4 players and lasts about 45 minutes. The game’s double-sided cards show a province on one side (which will score points in that province on the central board) and on the opposite side show one of four groups: military, intrigue, architecture, and commerce, which grant different bonuses when placed in the player’s personal zone. Players are presented with interesting choices each turn. Quorum is easy to learn and quick to play, but offers plenty of strategy.

Check out your local game store or Devir Games’ website.

Hutan: Life in the Rainforest Released

We have another interesting board game release this week, Hutan: Life in the Rainforest. Inspired by the Indonesian rainforest, Hutan allows players to step into the rainforest’s natural splendor.

Each player controls their own patch of rainforest, where they will plant seeds that, over time, will grow into towering trees. When a habitat is created, an iconic forest animal arrives: the orangutan, the Sumatran tiger, the rhinoceros hornbill, the cassowary, or the Sumatran rhino. Hutan plays over nine rounds. All players have two turns each round. On your turn, you may take a flower card from the shared market and place the flowers into your rainforest. If you place a flower on top of a matching flower, you grow a tree. When an area has nothing but trees, the last tree is replaced by an animal. The player with the most animals wins.

Hutan: Life in the Rainforest accommodates one to four players and lasts about 45 minutes. Check your local game store or OP Games’ website.

Nintendo Switch 2 Receives United States Release Date

After several weeks of deliberation (over tariffs and price hikes), Nintendo announced that customers in the United States can preorder their Switch 2 starting April 24, 2025. Pricing for the a la carte console and bundle with Mario Kart World will not change, but prices for accessories like extra Joy-Cons, a Switch 2 Dock, and the new pro controller received price bumps between $5 and $10.

Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Screenshots Leaked

The rumored Oblivion remaster/remake that will release soon had some screenshots leaked this week on the developer’s website. An Oblivion remaster/remake has been believed to be in production for the past several years. Some wondered if the game would release last year for the holiday season. It doesn’t appear that Bethesda/Zenimax will wait for next holiday season. Check out the screenshot below.

The new rumor is that the Oblivion remaster/remake will be announced and released next week. I may have some gaming to do. If you need me, I’ll be in Cyrodiil.

That’s all the geek news we have for you this week, Geekly Gang. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.