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Tokaido: Rapid Review Information: Mechanics:  Time Track, Set Collection,  Player Age:  8+  Player Count:  2 - 5 Players Time to Play:  45  Minutes  Game Designer:   Antoine Bauza Game Artist:  Xavier Gueniffey Durin Publisher : Funforge Year Published:  2012 BGG Weight:  1.74 Disclaimer:  A review copy for the game was provided by the publisher. Rundown: Players are travelling through Japan and with any good holiday you know it's always about the journey, not necessarily the destination. That is exactly what this game has players focusing on; the journey. This is a time track game that allows players to stop at any destination along the track, knowing that only one player can visit a destination at a time. At the start of every turn the active player will be the last player on the track. On their turn they can choose to go to any location as long as it isn't past the next inn. These destinations vary from taking in glori...

Jekyll & Hyde Vs. Scotland Yard: Rapid Review  Information: Mechanics:  Cooperative, Trick Taking, Track Movement, Hand Management  Player Age:  10+  Player Count:  2   Players Time to Play:  20  Minutes  Game Designer:  Gaëtan Beaujannot, Olivier Cipière Game Artist:   Vincent Dutrait Publisher : Mandoo Games Year Published:  2023 BGG Weight:  2.24 Disclaimer:  A review copy for the game was provided by the publisher. Rundown: Jekyll & Hyde vs. Scotland Yard is a cooperative trick-taking game played over two rounds where players are trying to get their token to reach the end of the track. If they fail, they lose. Each movement is gained by the amount of tricks the lower-scoring player has won, and any highest value eight cards in any of the players won tricks. If Scotland Yard catches Jekyll & Hyde then the players lose. Scotland Yard will move if Jekyll & Hyde moves any further than the las...

Azul Duel: Review Information: Mechanics:  Abstract, Drafting, Tile Placement, Duel Player Age:  10+ Player Count:  2 Players Game Designer:  Michael Kiesling Game Artist:  Maëva da Silva BGG Weight:  2.35 Publisher:  Next Move Games Time to Play:  30 - 45 Minutes  Year Published:  2025 Disclaimer:  A review copy for the game was provided by the VR Distribution. Introduction: Many popular games are getting duel re-interpretations that are reworked and optimised for two players, the latest of these games being Azul Duel. The base game of Azul is a popular abstract mechanism with clever tile placement and drafting, but the question is whether the two-player edition holds up to the original classic or might it even outdo it?  Game Anatomy: Tiles: There are five tile colours; red, yellow, black, dark blue and light blue. Factories: There are four small factories and one large factory. Each of these have a day and night section. The...

Monkey Palace: Review Information: Mechanics: Engine Building, Shared Board, Lego Placement Player Age:  10+ Player Count:  2  -  4   Players Game Designer:  TAM, David Gordon (I) Game Artist:  Matthieu Martin Publisher:  Dotted Games  Time to Play:  45 Minutes  Year Published:  2025 Disclaimer:  A review copy for the game was provided by the VR Distribution.  Introduction: For all the Lego-Lovers out there, Lego has made a reemergence into the board game hobby. Monkey Palace is a communal Lego placement game where players build an entwined staircase. Based on how well you build a staircase on your turn will determine how many bananas you gain through monkey, trophy and bonus cards. The player who has the most bananas at the end of the last round is the winner.  Game Anatomy: Lego Bricks: The core Lego Bricks come in three types and colour does not matter. A brick is one high and a standard single piece, a c...