Page 8 - Spielbox Special 2023 – EN

Current. Fall Preview 2023
leaves. In this way, a delightful little bonsai literally flourishes in front of us.
But there are a few constraints, none of them too restrictive. Initial-
ly, we cannot stockpile more than five tiles; watering cans increase that limit. In addition, we may only place those tiles that are shown on our Sheizi tile, which we receive at the start of the game, as well as on our growth cards. So, we need to be smart in collecting tiles to be able to place them.
Then there are masters, who grant us more tiles, and helpers, who also let us place tiles while drawing cards. And parchments that dish out points at the end (like the various goal tiles). Bonsai is definitely a family game, and its well-im- plemented theme and beautiful illus- trations exude a feel-good atmosphere around the table. The plant theme is cer- tainly in vogue—and the game, at least after my first impression, is fast, uncom- plicated, and entertaining to play. The publishers have announced its European release on their homepage for October 6. A mini-expansion with the 2 modules “vigorous growth and specialists” for more tactical depth will be available at Essen. (ab/cs)
ETdition Spielwiese (2D110) he tile-laying game Havalandi looks both beautiful and colorful. Designer Reiner Knizia makes up to four players the proud owners of a hot-air balloon fleet, who have to place their balloons and let them rise. A triangular board serves as their base. An airship orbits this triangle, controlled by dice, and its lines of sight determine where a balloon may be added.
Once there is a connected group of your own balloons, other options arise. The goal is to launch the balloons in fleets. To do this, at least one of them must have been placed on a gravel road. If the ot- hers are adjacent on tulip, meadow, or sand spaces, they score additional points. Alternatively, you can score by enlarging groups of your own balloons or by com- pleting tasks at the end of the game.
Each fleet has 20 normal balloons and three with additional abilities for special actions. Players end the game for themselves by using up all their normal balloons, which takes about 45 minutes. The age rating “from eight years” makes
Growth-limited and aesthetically-shaped throughout: Play Bonsai and see a small tree rise on your table.
Havalandi a family game, and it will be available at the Essen fair. (sd/cs)
FAeuerland-Verlag (3 S120) fter various expansions of the new classic Terra Mystica, there is now a standalone addition to the game family: Age of Innovation. The component-filled newcomer tops its older sibling Gaia Proj- ect, and not just when it comes to box size.
Designer Helge Ostertag (see interview next page) has left the overall structure unchanged, as it is still fine: We terraform landscapes. However, he includes some new features, such as the twelve commu- nities, which are now no longer assigned a fixed landscape color. In addition, there are two variants: one with drafting for ex- perienced players, who pick the best com- bination at the beginning of the game. The other one has a race: The palace, a large building, is now no longer connect- ed to any fixed special abilities; they, too, are exchangeable on a modular basis. Whoever builds the palace first chooses one of the features in play – out of 17 different ones. In the drafting, these fea- tures are additionally added to the selec- tion at the start of the game.
Brand new is a fourth currency for the game: In addition to money, power and tools, there are now books in four colors. With them you pay for the innovations that give the game its name, unlocking further personal advantages. Other than that, everything you knew from Terra Mystica is there. Just different. There is a lot to discover, which is also reflected in the fact that the publisher states the
Photos: Becker, Ostertag
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