BGG | The Hotness

Powerful Spirits have existed on this isolated island for time immemorial. They are both part of the natural world and - at the same time - something beyond nature. Native Islanders, known as the Dahan, have learned how to co-exist with the spirits, but with a healthy dose of fear and reverence. However, now, the island has been "discovered" by invaders from a far-off land. These would-be colonists are taking over the land and upsetting the natural balance, destroying the presence of Spirits as they go. As Spirits, you must grow in power and work together to drive the invaders from your island... before it’s too late!

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  In Feya's Swamp, you take on the role of a clan of swamp dwellers aiming to become the most prosperous in the area. To succeed, you need to adapt to your surroundings by finding the best fishing and settlement spots, as well as choosing the right trading partners. You can also venture into nearby abandoned temples where powerful deities lie in wait to be awakened. The game takes place over four rounds, with each round consisting of three phases: the income phase, the turn phase, and the maintenance phase. During the turn phase, you use unique characters to position your clan's workers in order to take various actions that help you gain victory points and gain advantages over the other players. You take actions by moving your boats across the swamp, and these actions include fishing, trading with other clans, exploring abandoned temples in Feya, and building new settlements that will enhance your clan's abilities. Some actions don't require moving through the swamp, such as improving your navigation, which increases your boat speed; hosting festivals where each clan contributes fish to earn victory points; or building new cult spaces that bring prestige to the small islands that form in the swamp. The main objective is to become the clan that contributes the most to the development of Feya, and to achieve this, you will also need to meet the variable goals specific to each game session. LEAD YOUR CLAN TO PROSPERITY: Guide a clan of swamp dwellers as you adapt to shifting conditions, optimize resources, and compete to become the most influential force in Feya. NAVIGATE THE SWAMP FOR STRATEGIC ACTIONS: Move boats through the wetlands to fish, trade with rival clans, explore abandoned temples, and build settlements that expand your abilities. PLACE UNIQUE CHARACTERS FOR TACTICAL PLAY: Position specialized workers during the turn phase to unlock powerful actions, gain advantages, and earn victory points across four evolving rounds. AWAKEN DEITIES AND DEVELOP CULTURE: Venture into ancient temples, improve navigation, host festivals, and construct cult spaces that bring prestige to your islands without always traveling the swamp. REPLAY WITH VARIABLE GOALS EVERY GAME: Pursue session-specific objectives alongside long-term development, ensuring each game of Feya’s Swamp offers new strategies and challenges. Contents: 1 swamp board 4 Double sided Clan boards 1 Round board 4 Turn order pieces 12 Objective pieces 21 Worker pieces 12 Boat pieces 4 Sailing pieces 80 Settlement tiles 1 Island totem 1 Blocking piece 8 Neutral Worker pieces 4 Score markers 4 VP tiles 5 Special Salamander Clan tiles 40 Manage gems 10 Spirit tiles 52 Gold pieces 80 Fish pieces 20 Temple tiles 20 Round Bonus tiles 10 Guide cards 8 Race cards 6 Score cards 6 Fish cards 4 Reference cards

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This item is a pre-order item with an expected release date of Q4 2026 Orders containing a pre-order items WILL NOT SHIP until the final pre-order item is able to be shipped. Dates and product details are subject to change as new information from the manufacturer is updated. Listen up, I'm absolutely fizzing about this one. The Old King's Crown is a phenomenal board game that absolutely deserves your attention. This is the type of rare box that is able to induce that kind of bounding enthusiasm the excitement that gets you day dreaming about when you're able to get it to the table, that promise that shivers through you as each rule rattles with possibility. And not just the rules, but the presentation too!" - Shut Up and Sit Down The Old King’s Crown is a game of card-driven conquest, where you play as heirs to a vacant throne, vying for control of an ancient, overgrown kingdom. Wield unique abilities and leverage your followers’ traits to best outwit your opponents across a map that stretches from the teetering heights of the castle to the dappled light of the necropolis. As leader of your faction you will be staking claims with Heralds openly as well as positioning your forces in secret, hoping to claim the locations that fit your designs. However, keep an eye on your rivals, as they too have agents and agendas, poised to undo your best laid plans. Royalty, rebels or ruses. What crown will you wear? In The Old King's Crown, players move their Herald to locations, hoping to claim them. Then simultaneously players play cards from their hand, facedown to regions of the board. These are then revealed and resolved. Winning these clashes will result in different rewards that further their position and grant them the game's primary goal, influence. The player with the most influence by the end of a set number of rounds will be declared the winner. What We're Saying We're big fans of Root's asymmetry, Inis' art styling, and the bluffing mechanics of Dune; Old King's Crown somehow combines all three into a package that is fairly accessible given just how big it is. That doesn't mean the gameplay is easy or by any means simple, but it does mean it's intuitive and won't send people used to more medium weight games running for the door when you bring this box out.  We're really excited for Old King's Crown and we're expecting to see this on the Hotness list more and more as the initial Kickstarter run is supported by a mass-market printing hitting in Spring. This game will be hitting your table often, and if the secondary market is any indicator it's going to be highly sought after for years to come. 

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  Leave your nobility at the door in this lighthearted game of hilarious backstabbery! Use any tool to find Excalibur and keep it safe in your “virtuous” hands. Excalibur is a delightful party game filled with bluffing and subterfuge. Draw tiles from Avalon to find Excalibur, then use the powers of Arthurian legends to keep it safe from the other would-be kings 'round the table! 2-8 Players Ages 14+ 20 minute playtime

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