**🔝 САМЫЕ ОЖИДАЕМЫЕ НОВИНКИ на самой большой выставке настольных игр (ESSEN SPIEL 2026) — Transcript & Summary | SozAI**
Source: https://sozai.app/transcript/most-anticipated-board-games-essen-spiel-2026/

Explore the top 10 most anticipated board games at Essen Spiel 2026 with insights, reactions, and a special giveaway for supporters.

## Key Takeaways

- Essen Spiel 2026 promises a wide variety of innovative and thematic board games.
- The video provides detailed first impressions and expectations for each highlighted game.
- Community engagement is emphasized through giveaways and social media updates.
- Economic Eurogames with unique mechanics and thematic depth are highly anticipated.
- The hosts value both gameplay innovation and artistic design in their selections.

## What the video covers

- Essen Spiel 2026, the largest international board game exhibition, is approaching in two weeks.
- The hosts select and discuss their top 10 most interesting and diverse upcoming board games.
- Games covered include Night at the Zoo, Rival Seas, Queen ALICE, and Aeon's Blackout Protocol among others.
- Night at the Zoo features a puzzle mechanic with animals escaping and returning to enclosures.
- Rival Seas is an economic Eurogame involving sea routes, container delivery, and stock market elements.
- Queen ALICE is themed around Alice in Wonderland with chess-piece movement and card mechanics.
- Aeon's Blackout Protocol is a post-apocalyptic survival game managing underground bases and radiation.
- The video includes a giveaway of a board game worth 10,000 rubles to a Boosty supporter.
- The hosts plan to visit the expo in Germany and share timely updates on their Telegram channel.
- Additional bonus games and plans to meet notable designers like Vital Lacerda and Eric Lang are mentioned.

## Chapters

1. 00:00 Introduction to Essen Spiel 2026 and video overview
2. 02:08 Discussion of Night at the Zoo board game
3. 04:02 Information about Telegram updates and community engagement
4. 06:06 Review of Rival Seas economic Eurogame
5. 08:16 Overview of Queen ALICE and its mechanics
6. 10:16 Plans for expo visit and additional game impressions
7. 32:18 Bonus games and future content previews

Answers

## Questions about this video

What is the theme of the board game Night at the Zoo?

Night at the Zoo is about animals escaping from the zoo at night, and players must return them to their enclosures before the keepers arrive, using tile placement and path-building mechanics.

How does Rival Seas differ from typical economic Eurogames?

Rival Seas combines sea route building, container production and delivery, and a unique stock market mechanic where company money is separate from personal funds, adding strategic depth.

Will the hosts provide updates during Essen Spiel 2026?

Yes, the hosts plan to share timely and up-to-date information on their Telegram channel and VK, with a preference for Telegram due to better reliability.

## Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown

00:01

Speaker A

In two weeks, the international board game exhibition called Essen Spiel 2026 kicks off. It is high time to pick out the projects we find most interesting.

00:11

Speaker A

Kris isn't familiar with this list yet, so she'll be reacting to the games I've selected.

00:17

Speaker A

Besides Roman announcing his most anticipated board games and gauging my reaction regarding this exhibition, in this video, we will gift a board game worth 10,000 rubles to one of our Boosty supporters. Of their choosing.

00:32

Speaker A

We'll determine the winner during this video and talk about the interesting things we'll bring back for our supporters from Essen Spiel 2026, because on October 10th, we're flying to Germany and will, naturally, visit this expo. But for now, I suggest we

00:48

Speaker A

don't delay. Let's go. Opening the list of games to be presented and released at this exhibition, there's just so much to choose from. And actually, I set a goal for myself to select 10 as diverse board games as possible that are worth

01:04

Speaker A

checking out. Once I reached twenty, I realized I had to cut it down significantly and returned to the idea of ten. Watch this video until the end.

01:14

Speaker A

Today we'll share the ten most interesting board games, but there will also be a small bonus.

01:19

Speaker A

Then I suggest we move on to the first game in this selection. The first board game we'll talk about stands out for its unusual theme, which we rarely pay attention to, and it's called Night at the Zoo.

01:31

Speaker A

Night at the Zoo. Yes, in this board game, animals have escaped from the zoo at night, and our task is to return them to their enclosures before the keepers arrive.

01:39

Speaker A

We will select tiles, lay out paths on our personal player boards, and lead the animals along them. Each animal species will have its own movement rules and victory point scoring. The game looks like a short and small, quite fun puz-puz-

01:56

Speaker A

The game looks like a

02:08

Speaker A

quite fun and amusing puzz-

02:19

Speaker A

The game looks like a puzzle. Quite amusing and fun. Quite amusing and fun, and based on the behavioral patterns of these animals.

02:33

Speaker A

It is for them that we will lay out our tiles and lead them to the zoo. What do you say about the theme and the fact that it's a small, relatively fast puzzle for a small group? I'll start by

02:47

Speaker A

commenting on the setting, and considering I tried a board game relatively recently and fell head over heels for it, it seems my attitude toward animal games has become much better since then, because I've shown that game to a huge number of people

02:59

Speaker A

and recommended it for purchase. So, it will actually be curious to try. The process you're describing didn't seem boring to me, let's put it that way, because I suspect that, based on what you said, there will likely be a

03:04

Speaker A

real-time element in the game. Because if the story is about having to get things done by the time the zoo opens, and so on, it feels like we should be under a time limit. I don't know how that will be implemented, whether it's

03:11

Speaker A

real-time or some kind of timer. I'll back you up here; it will probably be interesting to see what it is.

03:20

Speaker A

Yes, I also liked the semi-humorous theme. With cool artwork. It's kind of comic-book style, Chris, unfortunately.

03:33

Speaker A

I haven't seen the artwork yet, but we'll check it out at the expo and will definitely share it with you on our Telegram channel as soon as we see the game.

03:43

Speaker A

So, if you aren't subscribed to our Telegram channel yet, we recommend you do so. We will try to duplicate all the information on VK. However, our experience from last year and our visit to the Spiel 2025 expo shows that VK

03:53

Speaker A

was glitchy. We couldn't always upload videos in a timely manner. We ended up doing it in the evening when we got home with Wi-Fi and everything else.

04:02

Speaker A

Therefore, Telegram will definitely have timely, up-to-date information. Subscribe if you haven't yet. Which game is in ninth place on your most anticipated list?

04:13

Speaker A

Uh-huh. The next game features one of the themes that I think we both like in Eurogames. The game is called Rival Seas.

04:21

Speaker A

Uh-huh. And I assume it's Vital Lacerda. No, here we build sea routes, produce and deliver containers, buy company shares, and fight for the CEO position.

04:37

Speaker A

The most curious detail is that the company's money is not our personal money. It’s surprising, because usually, the company's money is always our money.

04:55

Speaker A

You can develop an excellent shipping network and still lose to someone who invests in its shares at the right time. I really liked the idea of it being an economic Euro, where we not only earn money through the shipping theme

05:03

Speaker A

and container placement, but there's also a cool idea of buying company shares to earn even more. So far it sounds like [John Company], so I'll probably have to try and take a closer look because I love [John Company], but

05:15

Speaker A

if it's a carbon copy or not very different from it, then there’s no need to add it to the collection.

05:26

Speaker A

Well, I was hooked by the fact that it’s an economic Euro plus stocks. I often keep an eye on games like this, and one with such a striking theme involving containers and ships really caught my attention. But nevertheless,

05:35

Speaker A

in the Ustinskaya company, you also travel on ships and also acquire shares of other players. How is that not exactly what you described for Ustinsky? Anyway, we'll see. If it's an exact copy, let's agree right now that we

05:42

Speaker A

aren't buying it, because we already have Ustinsky. And why should we take up space in our suitcase with a game that's no different from the one we already have and love? Agreed.

05:53

Speaker A

Agreed. Well, in eighth place, we have a board game you’ve actually already heard about. It’s called Queen ALICE.

06:06

Speaker A

It’s themed around Alice in Wonderland. There’s a lot of discussion about it right now, and people are saying a lot about it. The game has a pretty interesting mechanic.

06:14

Speaker A

Chess pieces move using cards, and the space a piece lands on is the action you perform. Sounds interesting. In the end, we will have to choose which queen Alice becomes, the Red Queen or the White Queen. And this will affect the

06:21

Speaker A

overall scoring of victory points. I also like the design, how it's done in the style of old fairy tales. And not those modern, semi-acidic tones.

06:33

Speaker A

That’s what drew me to the game. We definitely need to take a look and see what it’s all about. And I hope the game will be curious and interesting.

06:52

Speaker A

You know, based on what you’re describing, I have some concerns about the game, in what sense? Are you really in control of the process? Because based on what you described, just flipping a card and moving to the spot

07:06

Speaker A

you played, well, that doesn't sound great. Playing a card to move a piece. I had the board game "Silent House" in my mind. It’s clear that... a chessboard.

07:20

Speaker A

You move pieces, you play a card, and, well, you have a choice, one that restricts you, but for some reason, the description reminded me of it. You probably just mentioned chess pieces, so I immediately imagined a board, so

07:36

Speaker A

it’s interesting how that will look. I can't say that the description impressed me much. So far, out of all three games you mentioned, the first one with animals surprisingly interested me the most. Obviously, I want an economic Euro, if it’s

07:42

Speaker A

different from Ustinsky. So far, this sounds the weakest. I picked this game partly because I like games based on books and series, and when there’s some background beyond the game itself. That really appeals to me. Well, the next board

07:49

Speaker A

game is called Aeon's Blackout Protocol. And this game takes us into a post-apocalyptic world.

08:00

Speaker A

I was just about to say, it sounds like something along the lines of Mission Impossible or something like that. Come on, tell me what it’s about.

08:15

Speaker A

Yes, this board game visually resembles, at least to me, something like Revive or Recall, which are games that we’ve generally come to love.

08:27

Speaker A

Uh-huh. A nuclear disaster is taking place in the world. We will be managing our own underground bases. We need to balance the project to save the world with going up to the surface to collect survivors, as the radiation is slowly

08:37

Speaker A

spreading. We will constantly be faced with this thematic choice. Should we focus more on savi-

08:46

Speaker A

But given that this game isn't from the same authors, we'll need to look at it very carefully. At the same time, what you're describing sounds interesting.

08:54

Speaker A

And it's interesting how making decisions will affect the outcome of the game. Is it possible to just go down and develop your worlds, completely ignoring the people, or, conversely, act as a peacekeeper who saves everyone? Most likely, well,

09:08

Speaker A

it’s logical to assume there should be some sort of balance. It will be interesting to try. Let’s see.

09:13

Speaker A

And those who love these kinds of thematic actions in Euro-games should definitely take a look at this one. So, if you didn't know about this game, definitely keep an eye on it. You're treading a dangerous path, because people once said the same about

09:24

Speaker A

Unconscious Mind, claiming it had amazing theming, but in the end, we didn't really feel it. I am generally very cautious about claiming that a Euro-game has theming that fits its mechanics well, because that is truly a rarity. Most often, it’s a stretch,

09:41

Speaker A

so we’ll see how it actually turns out. And right now, it feels like it’s time to take a short break in your selection and let me have a word.

09:49

Speaker A

As a co-host, I don’t want to just be part of the furniture. So, I’d like to ask you to write in the comments which of the games Roman has already mentioned. Which ones would you like to see first, and which of the ones listed

10:01

Speaker A

would you recommend we take a look at primarily? And hit the like button under this video if you want to see a similar video after the exhibition, where we compare expectations to reality, revisit all these 10 games we

10:16

Speaker A

told you about in this video, and share how it actually turned out. And if we managed to play it, we'll share our impressions, and if we just took a look and bought it, we'll talk about how our expectations matched reality.

10:30

Speaker A

Well, in the meantime, we are moving on to the sixth spot. And that is a board game called Greenwood. In the Greenwood board game, we will lead clans of forest spirits and free mythical creatures. We can use the abilities of

10:43

Speaker A

our own traveler by sending them into the forest for knowledge, or use someone else's companion's ability— it's quite a curious mechanic where you don't just use your own powers, but you also steal abilities from your opponents. We will be pressed by druids

10:57

Speaker A

, who will force us to change our plans right in the middle of a session. The game has a pretty eye-catching design.

11:04

Speaker A

It's all very magical, related to spirits. What do you think about the idea itself, where you have the option to use not only your own abilities, but also steal them from other players?

11:16

Speaker A

If by stealing from an opponent you also deprive them of that ability, that's great, but it will seem very infuriating when they steal from you, especially when you were really counting on that ability. So, it sounds interesting. I won't say that the

11:30

Speaker A

setting description sounds catchy to me , because I don't like all that mythical stuff and prefer more realistic art and plots. So, of course, I'll have to take a closer look, but for now, the project doesn't sound very

11:43

Speaker A

intriguing to me. Well, in the next board game, we will dive into myths once again. But these are the myths of King Arthur. Welcome to Avalon.

11:52

Speaker A

Now, that sounds interesting. The board game Avalon: The Riven Veil. In this game, factions from Arthurian legends explore a fog-shrouded island, and many people know that the island of Avalon is directly linked to the myths and legends of King Arthur. We have to

12:09

Speaker A

occupy territory, and that means it's area control. We will search for artifacts and tame magical creatures.

12:17

Speaker A

The game has an interesting combat mechanic, since we will be pushing our luck a bit. We will be flipping a certain number of cards from a deck and can choose when to stop, just like in a push-your-luck mechanic. And if we

12:28

Speaker A

reveal more power than is required, everything will burn up. And that is this kind of risk mechanic in combat.

12:35

Speaker A

Plus, it's combined with area control. What do you think of such a hot fusion?

12:41

Speaker A

How much do you think it will actually burn at that moment? I think it will absolutely burn, because when you are greedy, when you want to win and you fail yourself because you made the wrong decision, that is the most

12:53

Speaker A

hurtful thing. It's not as painful when an opponent defeats you as it is when you've messed up yourself. Please excuse my slang. And from what you've just described, I'm insanely curious to see how it will all be implemented on

13:07

Speaker A

the table. I really want to try it, and it sounds very intriguing—both the theme and the gameplay mechanics you described. It seems like both are really interesting. I’m scared to even imagine what you have ranked higher than this.

13:22

Speaker A

Oh, if only you knew what an incredibly cool first place it is. Must be a Vital Lacerda game.

13:28

Speaker A

No. Darn it. From major area control, while still being very beautiful, we’ll move on to a sandbox game based on the video game Kingdom Come: Deliverance.

13:39

Speaker A

Welcome to Bohemia. This is the territory of modern-day Czech Republic. We have to take on the role of a single character and live out their life. It feels like it might somewhat resemble something like the Witcher genre, where we compete and complete quests.

13:54

Speaker A

It’s not certain we’ll be fighting monsters, since this is modern Czech Republic at a time when Bohemia was part of the Holy Roman Empire. And there is absolutely no magic or anything like that in the game. It’s based on the computer game. As a fan of

14:08

Speaker A

this game, I can’t just walk past such a big box. Most likely, we won’t buy it, I understand that, but I’m very interested.

14:16

Speaker A

If there’s a narrative component, and , naturally, it’s a foreign language, of course it’ll be difficult to play.

14:21

Speaker A

And, naturally, well, I want to believe that if it’s a truly successful project, it will be localized by some wonderful publisher, of which we have many. There. With all that said, man, listen, you’re describing it in such an incredibly interesting way, even

14:36

Speaker A

knowing that these will likely be long sessions, which I don’t really like. But considering it’s a realistic setting, considering I adore the Czech Republic and love being there—I've visited, and I’m insanely captivated by the architecture and history of this

14:53

Speaker A

country—it seems, at the very least, very intriguing. The game is clearly made for fans of the video game and those who love to immerse themselves in the universe and live out this life, as you will receive your own tasks like in sandbox games,

15:07

Speaker A

forge your own stories, and live out one interesting life. That’s exactly what hooked me too. I think it’s going to be a truly excellent game. But the box is certainly of an impressive size. It will be very difficult to haul

15:18

Speaker A

around. On the other hand, we are flying Aeroflot, and theoretically, we can take up to 10 kg of carry-on each. Plus we have two suitcases at 23 kg each, if we don’t take any clothes at all.

15:32

Speaker A

Right? No, no, no. Come on, really? Don’t make things up. Well, no. Well, we'll throw everything out. Except for the essentials. bought it.

15:40

Speaker A

Yeah, that's what I thought. And before Roman tells us about the top three, the three games that he thinks are the best, I want to say that we really look forward to your views and likes on all the content we plan to

15:54

Speaker A

release from the SNspiel 2026 exhibition. We plan to do it exactly the same way we did last year. On a daily basis, after the exhibition day ends, we will go back to our room, record a video right away, edit it, and

16:10

Speaker A

release it the next morning so you can experience all the emotions, feelings, and impressions with us that we experience every day at the exhibition, because we feel that such live content immerses you the most in what is happening at the show. So, definitely

16:26

Speaker A

subscribe, hit the bell, and follow us on all our social media channels. Wherever possible, we will certainly post all the video content related to the exhibition. That includes texts, impressions, and unboxings. Last year taught us that you need to unbox all

16:44

Speaker A

board games immediately on the days you buy them, because we had a questionable experience with a board game that, thank god, we unboxed during the exhibition as soon as we bought it. We actually did it for practical reasons,

16:58

Speaker A

to pull out the punchboards and, uh, make the box lighter. But we didn't find the cards in it. We went back and returned the box. They exchanged it for a new one. We unboxed it right there in front of them and checked all the

17:08

Speaker A

contents. So subscribe, here we definitely tell you a lot of useful and interesting stuff, including things related to the exhibition.

17:15

Speaker A

I would also like to ask you to recommend this and our other videos to people who are into board games. It will help the channel grow, and you will make it a little bit better. And now we move on to the three most

17:29

Speaker A

interesting board games. The first thing I'll do when I enter the exhibition is try to head straight to those three booths. The first board game is called, I don't remember how it is in English. Anyway, it's called -60

17:41

Speaker A

°. This is a board game from the famous author who made Maracaibo, who made Great Western Trail. He is coming out with his new Euro 0 °. And in this game, we have to immerse ourselves in an alternative 1971. A meteorite falls

17:58

Speaker A

in Antarctica, and research teams head to the impact site. We will build a network of our stations, gather resources, and prepare expeditions to carry out our scientific projects. In the game description, they promise us quite risky decisions from players in

18:14

Speaker A

their competition. It will be a big, complex Eurogame with a nice theme that isn't encountered often. What other cool Euro games do you remember with a theme involving diving under ice or moving across it?

18:27

Speaker A

Ice, yes, actually. And when you started describing this board game, I actually had associations—well, it's clear why , most likely because -60 ° automatically suggests something cold and naturally a story involving ice. At the same time, in the board game Ice,

18:45

Speaker A

we also set out, meaning we chip at glaciers, collect resources, and compete, moving toward artifacts and removing layers of ice. So it will be interesting to see, actually, how this board game is implemented. But judging by the fact that it’s in your top

19:00

Speaker A

three most anticipated, we are definitely going to get it. And what’s more, correct me if I’m wrong, but you’ve already pre-ordered it to make sure we get our copy. And I think we’ve even paid for it already, right? It’s one of those games, so

19:13

Speaker A

I’m really looking forward to it. Plus, well, the famous author who created several hits. Alexander Pfister , I think—correct me in the comments if I’m slightly off with the name.

19:23

Speaker A

He’s created cool games, so I want to know what else he’s come up with.

19:28

Speaker A

Plus, I really liked that the designers who created this game use iconography and describe it with text below. So it will be easy to read, both through the text and the iconography on the action cards themselves. Well, let's move on

19:42

Speaker A

to second place. It’s not here by accident. I stumbled upon it two days ago, and when I saw it, I was completely blown away. This board game will be called Isaac Asimov's Foundation. It’s a game based on Isaac Asimov's Foundation books. One of

20:00

Speaker A

those truly iconic science fiction writers who fundamentally laid the groundwork for a huge number of sci-fi films. "I, Robot," or did you know that’s also based on his books? And, naturally, the Foundation series. And the game is made specifically based on

20:15

Speaker A

Foundation. We will represent one of five factions creating their own plans on how to save the universe before its destruction. And the game won't wait for us to implement these plans. It could start at any moment. Overall, this should be a big Euro game. There

20:31

Speaker A

is very little information about it, other than the promise that five factions will battle in a Euro-style system with a high degree of conflict.

20:38

Speaker A

And it's unknown when this plan will be triggered. As I said, I really like that games created based on book universes, they are much more immersive.

20:50

Speaker A

It’s interesting what this game will show us and what you will say about it?

20:55

Speaker A

Considering I’m not much of a sci-fi fan, this doesn’t sound very intriguing or captivating to me. At the same time, I know how much I love any board games that are connected in one way or another to a backstory, a book,

21:09

Speaker A

a real-life event, or anything of the sort. So, I guess it’s worth a try.

21:16

Speaker A

That said, you know, based on what you described regarding the gameplay, if there’s a competition where one person wins by executing their strategy the best and the fastest, then sure, it’s worth a shot.

21:33

Speaker A

A question: if a game seems really great, would it give you the incentive to watch the show or read the book it's based on?

21:40

Speaker A

Well, you know, probably not. Let me explain why—you can clearly see how I’m reacting to the show we’re watching right now. It’s pure nonsense. Well, surreal, but not the board game kind.

21:53

Speaker A

Krys is talking about the show "The Widow's Bay" right now. It has high ratings, so we started watching it. The beginning is quite creepy.

22:01

Speaker A

Actually, it’s not the creepiness I dislike about this show, but rather the absurdity of what's happening. That is exactly why I am generally very cautious. And I don’t enjoy or get into every piece of science fiction. So , it’s not a given that I’d want to

22:15

Speaker A

watch the show or read the book here either. Although, how can I rule it out entirely? We’ll have to see how it goes. Maybe I really will fall in love with this game enough to want to.

22:27

Speaker A

Like Dune, for example. Well, let’s talk about Dune. I was familiar with Dune before the game, so that’s an unfair and completely irrelevant comparison.

22:35

Speaker A

Okay. Well then, first place? Yes, it is. And it's a game you've even played.

22:42

Speaker A

It’s a different version of it. Well, I thought so. It’s going to be Dracula vs. Van Helsing, just for a larger group.

22:48

Speaker A

No. Dammit, how could you not include it in the selection? How could you? I decided against smaller games in general because, well, it’s cool, we’re waiting for it, but I’m not sure it will bring a lot to the table.

22:59

Speaker A

Anyway, this is a commercial break, and I’ll tell you which game I’m waiting for. The only game I’m looking forward to from Spiel Essen, the one I’m invested in, and I expected it to be here in Roman’s selection. And, surprisingly, it isn't.

23:13

Speaker A

It’s the spiritual successor to the board game Dracula vs. Van Helsing. Only here, if Dracula vs. Van Helsing is a duel version, this one can be played—correct me if I’m wrong—by up to four players. And the visuals of

23:26

Speaker A

the game are practically no different. It’s all the same artwork. Well, I mean, visually the style is very...yeah , yeah, yeah. The visual style is very recognizable, but, naturally, these are different game mechanics.

23:38

Speaker A

I forgot what the game is called. I think it’s BL something or other. But you can see the box on the screen right now, basically. Well, it’s a pity that this will have to be edited in later. I have at least one expectation

23:48

Speaker A

that should be cool, well, besides the ones I'll talk about later. At the same time, when Chris heard that this game was coming out, he was like: "No more words, we're getting it immediately." And my arguments that it’s very difficult, that we can’t

24:00

Speaker A

buy it, and all that. He was like, it doesn't matter, we must have it, we already paid for it, right? This was a game that we had difficulties with regarding payment.

24:09

Speaker A

Well, naturally, we pre-ordered it to make sure we got it, because last year's experience showed that the most interesting hit items, we either stood in huge lines for them, or they simply weren't available at all. We didn't manage to buy them. And here the

24:25

Speaker A

difficulty was that it had to be paid for only via PayPal and no other way.

24:30

Speaker A

And we didn't have PayPal. So we were looking for ways to make that happen.

24:34

Speaker A

In the end, of course, we did it. We wouldn't be us if we hadn't, but the fact is that, yes, there were problems with it. Tell me, what are you waiting for most?

24:42

Speaker A

A board game is coming out. It was also recently announced that it will be a demo booth, not immediately for sale.

24:48

Speaker A

It’s Nemesis Lockdown. What? Is it just incredible to talk about Nemesis? A few words. This is the game we played. I just absolutely adore it.

25:01

Speaker A

It’s no surprise that my number one is one of those games, the sequel of which also has a Legacy component. You are survivors in space in the base game and just wake up with no memory. You have two objective cards, and at some

25:13

Speaker A

point, you will have to choose one. What's important here is that one of the objectives is essentially peaceful, helping everyone else, while the second one has an element of betrayal, where you do well for yourself but make things not so good or even bad for your

25:27

Speaker A

neighbors at the table. Yes, and it can play out differently; the game can be absolutely cooperative if everyone chooses good goals, or if no super-bad goals are drawn, but someone could suddenly become a traitor , or everyone except one could become

25:41

Speaker A

traitors. There are games like that, where everyone is trying to destroy everything, and you're the one crazy person trying to save the ship somehow.

25:49

Speaker A

The game is like a big movie that you'll live through while surviving on a starship. Or, in other parts, you might be surviving after arriving on Mars. Or the third part, which unfortunately I didn't like, where you're already super-tough marines and

26:02

Speaker A

start shooting everyone. The survival element is lost. And then Legacy comes out, which brings us back to survival.

26:11

Speaker A

You will be upgrading your character as you go along. The only thing that, in my opinion, is debatable, though it makes no difference to me. I just love this universe, I like this game, that in the campaign they removed the

26:25

Speaker A

betrayal element. Perhaps it appears, but they don't talk about it. So it's a Legacy, it is Legacy, but when you play , you play cooperatively; you upgrade, new elements appear, the game levels up , and each time, even after playing one

26:38

Speaker A

or two missions, you can launch a standard semi-cooperative one, that destruction mission mode. You simply add and shuffle in extra components.

26:46

Speaker A

Am I correct in understanding that this isn't a case of having a base game and this being an expansion? So it's a full , standalone game that you can just sit down and play, exactly like Ticket to Ride or Western Legends.

27:00

Speaker A

Yes. Yes. At the same time it's interesting. What I like about this Legacy idea is that at every stage you can play your free traitor missions. Well, the basic Nemesis ones. And the game only develops as you play through, giving

27:14

Speaker A

you more and more. Is it language-dependent or independent ? Well, most likely, you need to learn the text on the cards. Well, there is text in Nemesis, but it's understandable, of course, and there are usually translations for it, but

27:29

Speaker A

this will only be a demo, so we'll be able to see it. We'll be able to buy it no matter what.

27:35

Speaker A

Yes, just so you understand, my head is already scheming about taking board game bags, taking them as carry-on, and putting Nemesis inside. I was already thinking about how to fly an international flight when we leave Germany for Turkey. What about that?

27:53

Speaker A

How do I buy extra luggage there? So, the machinations have already started in my head. And that says that I absolutely agree with you here, that of everything listed, this project sounds the most interesting. It's the one I

28:04

Speaker A

want to see the most. It's a shame it's not on sale yet, because I think this could become an absolute hit, which I'm sure will be in high demand at home, at our camps, and at our game nights. And

28:19

Speaker A

it's a real shame that it's only a demo version for now. Well, with all that said, it's logical that if they launch it for sale, even on a global pre-order , we'll most likely look for ways to get in on it and get our hands on this

28:31

Speaker A

wonderful box. Yes, unfortunately, since it's a Polish publisher, localization will be very difficult, but perhaps some translations will appear, and that will, well, make the game more accessible, like, for example , "Rainbow Six": meaning, it doesn't have an official one, but there is a

28:47

Speaker A

large fan community that translates it and... other boxes, just like Nemesis, are also translated in this amateur way.

28:54

Speaker A

Therefore, anything is possible, Thursday. That's it. So, before we move on to the bonus—which includes three more short titles I really want to mention, they just didn't fit into this top ten, but I can't help but talk about them. Let's

29:07

Speaker A

probably determine who will receive the board game worth 10,000 rubles. And after Roman turns on the top-down camera, I will shuffle all the cards, and the person whose name is on the card that comes up will choose a board

29:21

Speaker A

game worth up to 10,000 rubles. Or, by the way, if they have already managed to pay for participation in our November camp and decide they don't want the game, we will refund them 10,000 for their camp participation.

29:34

Speaker A

Why did we decide to implement it in this format? Because all the spots for the camp are sold out, and this time there's some crazy demand, so instead of the usual two houses, we'll have three, and there will be a total of 35

29:48

Speaker A

of us. So, the mini-camps are already shifting to a larger format, but I've digressed. What do you need to do to participate in such an activity next month? And the prize there will be cool . We'll talk about that now. You need

30:01

Speaker A

to subscribe to our Boosty or VK at the "Hero with Us" tier and above, from "Club Co-author" and above.

30:08

Speaker A

From "Club Co-author" and above. And, accordingly, your name will be added to this list if you sign up for this subscription before October 20th. Well, and now Roman is rolling the die, and we are opening card number 15.

30:21

Speaker A

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Drumroll.

30:34

Speaker A

Drumroll, 15. Stepa, congratulations! You can choose any board game worth up to 10,000 rubles. As far as I remember, you aren't participating in the camp, but I could be wrong. 35 people. Please forgive me if I just haven't remembered

30:51

Speaker A

that you're joining us yet. And, actually, we're waiting for your choice and we'll buy the box you want for you.

31:00

Speaker A

Uh-huh. And now, as we finish opening your cards, it's the perfect time to say thank you to everyone, regardless of how you support us. Whether it's your likes, comments, shares, or recommendations. Or a subscription on Boosty, a subscription on VK, or simply

31:19

Speaker A

using our very convenient website. Anything at all. A huge thank you to you all. And it's time to talk about what we will be giving away in the same way next month. Next month, those who support us at the Softer Club tier and

31:33

Speaker A

above will be able to receive what we’ll call a Bogoviz Mystery Box, containing the very games we bring back from SPIEL. We'll curate a small selection, pick a few games, put them in a mystery box, and of course, show

31:49

Speaker A

it in the next video, yes, when we will be determining the name of the person who will take this very box home. So, if you want to get something that has just gone on sale and was presented at Essen SPIEL, now

32:03

Speaker A

is the time to sign up and click that precious button. But for now, we're wrapping this up and telling you about three more games, and then I'll share what I'm looking forward to at this year's board game exhibition.

32:18

Speaker A

I promised a bonus, and these will be three additional games that just didn't make it into the top ten. They are very interesting for various reasons, and I want to highlight them. The first board game is called The Book Woman. This

32:31

Speaker A

board game is dedicated to librarians who delivered books to remote settlements in the Appalachians. In the game, we will be planning our routes, drafting and placing dice, managing resources, and developing a library network. This was a very famous

32:44

Speaker A

profession back in the day. The board game is based exactly on this profession. What do you think of the theme in general? Listen, it sounds very interesting, and I think it would be a fun game to gift to people who are

32:57

Speaker A

passionate about reading. It will be very thematic, at least that's how it sounds. Well, okay, the theme is super unusual. I don't know how the game mechanics will be implemented, but it seems that's not as important. The theme itself sounds so attractive and

33:14

Speaker A

unusual right now that it feels like something worth looking into. Yes, I also added this game because it has a very unusual and rather curious theme.

33:24

Speaker A

The second game is a title that one of our favorites, Ludus Magnus, will be selling.

33:32

Speaker A

Uh-huh. It's a new Eurogame they are making, called Opera Magnifica. It's about creating an opera, as far as I understood. And in the game, we will be supplying the construction of a cathedral in Florence. We will buy goods, develop a workshop, and deliver

33:46

Speaker A

materials to the construction site. Market prices will change after players 'actions, so you'll have to watch what your opponents are planning to do. It's quite interesting what Ludus Magnus is doing, because they are known for their cool Ameritrash games. Black Rose Wars

34:02

Speaker A

is still one of our favorite games, but they periodically try to discover the Euro-style component for themselves.

34:10

Speaker A

In fact, all their previous Euro projects were not very popular and didn't seem very successful. Well, at least in terms of sales. So, yes, it will be interesting to see. I still hold out hope that Ludus Magnus will

34:23

Speaker A

eventually start making decent Euro games too. And that these Euros will be just as popular as their Ameritrash games. Because, well, it's not only Black Rose Wars that we like from what Ludus Magnus has done. Well, the third

34:38

Speaker A

board game hasn't been officially announced for the exhibition yet. But you already know that No, no, I don't know, but I'm looking forward to it immensely. A board game called The Resort. And this is Vital Lacerda's new game.

34:52

Speaker A

I really hope that he shows up at the exhibition and demonstrates his new game. It's naturally a huge, complex Euro, and the way it looks—the box itself is incredibly appealing—makes you want to take a closer look at it.

35:07

Speaker A

Because, compared to that dark, brown Library, his previous game, Well, I wouldn't say it's exactly brown and dark.

35:15

Speaker A

There is a lot of brown in it. Well, no, there is more blue in it.

35:19

Speaker A

Well, fine, everyone sees what they want to see, Roman. Here, everything is just super light, super bright, and has this beach and vacation theme. I don't know why.

35:30

Speaker A

That's just what I think. Naturally, it's just interesting to see and hear what it's about and what it actually is .

35:37

Speaker A

And here, it seems there was a very seamless transition from your expectations to mine, because mine aren't related to board games. It's clear that in our family, Roman is the one responsible for that. I, for one, am really looking forward to meeting my

35:52

Speaker A

favorite authors, and to be honest, it would be a huge disappointment if Vital Lacerda isn't at the exhibition and doesn't show off this beauty of his.

36:03

Speaker A

Because last year, when we saw him presenting The Great Zimbabwe...I mean, The Library, that alone drew my attention to the game so much that I waited with insane interest to try it and played it with insane interest.

36:18

Speaker A

Recalling and referring back to how interestingly he talked about it and how he demonstrated it. And it's still that feeling of touching something great, something you recently saw and know for a fact that the maestro himself touched. It’s clear we aren't

36:34

Speaker A

talking about the exact same box, but the feeling is completely different when you’ve seen the author interact with that game in person. And I will be truly very disappointed if, all of a sudden, he isn't there. And of course,

36:47

Speaker A

when listing these wonderful people, one cannot fail to mention Eric Lang, with whom I would also like to chat a bit more, get to know him a little better, and ask him some interesting questions—and perhaps he might even

36:58

Speaker A

ask us some. Of course, that’s Reiner Knizia. I won’t say that the lis— Knizia will be there. I’ve already seen him on the lists.

37:06

Speaker A

I’ve already seen him in person. And live, he is not. I mean, he’s already registered.

37:11

Speaker A

And I won't say that I am waiting for any other authors or to meet them. Ah, but, but one more person has appeared on my wishlist whom I desperately want to meet and take a photo with, or if

37:22

Speaker A

that doesn't work out, get at least a small interview with him, and that is Ian O'Toole. And it was my great regret to learn that he was at the last exhibition. What’s more, as I understand it, he was constantly

37:35

Speaker A

located somewhere near Vital Lacerda’s booth. But we just didn’t Google what he looked like, so perhaps we even saw him last year but didn’t take a photo or pay him the attention he deserved. And you really need to

37:47

Speaker A

understand that he is a cool designer and that most of my absolute favorite games were designed by him, including On Mars.

37:58

Speaker A

What do you think of this selection? Did you find any interesting games for yourself that you would definitely like to see? Be sure to share your opinion in the comments. Also, if we didn't mention some very cool games that are

38:10

Speaker A

clearly worth paying attention to, don't be shy—write everything you think about them and why they are worth checking out. And most likely, while we are at the exhibition, we will be able to make our way over to look at, film,

38:23

Speaker A

and naturally, tell you our impressions of the games you suggest, if they interest us, as well as the games that caught our eye.

38:32

Speaker A

Write in the comments if you would be interested in hearing about our movements and travels outside of this exhibition, because just like last year , we are, of course, planning more than just a trip to the show. It will be a

38:46

Speaker A

two-week trip, during which we also plan to visit Vital Lacerda's homeland, Portugal. And we plan to travel through several cities. That will definitely include Lisbon, Porto, and Nazaré. And if you are interested in hearing about our trip as well, let us know in the

39:02

Speaker A

comments. I could, of course, suggest that you subscribe to my travel blog, which I am just starting to run now.

39:10

Speaker A

But if you happen to be interested and don't want to subscribe anywhere else, last year on our social media, among other things, we posted little sketches about our journey and told everyone where we were. If this format appeals

39:24

Speaker A

to you and you’d like something more personal, not just about board games, let us know. We would be happy to share that kind of information as well.

39:32

Speaker A

Thank you for watching us until the end . Thank you for subscribing to the channel and sharing this video and others with people who like board games . If you’ve stumbled upon us for the first time, don't forget to subscribe

39:45

Speaker A

and like this video if you haven't done so yet. We are grateful to you and look forward to seeing you in new videos.

39:50

Speaker A

Bye-bye.

Topics: Essen Spiel 2026 board games tabletop games game preview board game expo Eurogames game giveaway Vital Lacerda Alice in Wonderland game post-apocalyptic board game

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