Origin Story: Review Information: Mechanics: Trick Taking, Engine Building Player Age: 14+ Player Count: 1 - 5 Players Time to Play: 45 Minutes Game Designer: Jamey Stegmaier, Pete Wissinger Game Artist: Clémentine Campardou Publisher : Stonemaier Games Year Published: 2026 BGG Weight: 2.10 Disclaimer: A review copy for the game was provided by the publisher. Introduction : Trick taking games is a genre I'm open to, but still exploring. Stonemaier intrigued me as soon as it was announced with Origin Story a trick taking game that had a large focus on Engine Building. Four out of five rounds every player will add one of three story cards to their engine. They will then charge the abilities from these story cards based on their strategy for the round determined by cards in hand and the alignment decided (different ways to score per round). The game is an interesting mix of engine building and planning the round ahead. Game Anatomy...
Viticulture Bordeaux: Review Information: Mechanics: Worker Placement, Engine Building, Contracts, Hand Management Player Age: 14+ Player Count: 1 - 6 Players Time to Play: 90 - 120 Minutes Game Designer: Jamey Stegmaier Game Artist: Sylvain Leroy Publisher : Stonemaier Games Year Published: 2026 BGG Weight: 3.23 Disclaimer: A review copy for the game was provided by the publisher. Introduction : Viticulture is over ten years old, it is the first game from Stonemaier. Over the years there has been an essential edition and Tuscany that revamp the rules balancing and creating new gameplay challenges for Viticulture fans. Bordeaux is an incredibly small expansion physically for the game featuring some solo components, a new board and several cubes. This board however drastically changes the gameplay loop of Viticulture, this expansion will sit with Tuscany and essential edition in revamping Viticultu...