BGG | The Hotness

In the 2400s, mankind begins to terraform the planet Mars. Giant corporations, sponsored by the World Government on Earth, initiate huge projects to raise the temperature, the oxygen level, and the ocean coverage until the environment is habitable. In Terraforming Mars, you play one of those corporations and work together in the terraforming process, but compete for getting victory points that are awarded not only for your contribution to the terraforming, but also for advancing human infrastructure throughout the solar system, and doing other commendable things. The players acquire unique project cards (from over two hundred different ones) by buying them to their hand. The projects (cards) can represent anything from introducing plant life or animals, hurling asteroids at the surface, building cities, to mining the moons of Jupiter and establishing greenhouse gas industries to heat up the atmosphere. The cards can give you immediate bonuses, as well as increasing your production of different resources. Many cards also have requirements and they become playable when the temperature, oxygen, or ocean coverage increases enough. Buying cards is costly, so there is a balance between buying cards (3 megacredits per card) and actually playing them (which can cost anything between 0 to 41 megacredits, depending on the project). Standard Projects are always available to complement your cards. Your basic income, as well as your basic score, is based on your Terraform Rating (starting at 20), which increases every time you raise one of the three global parameters. However, your income is complemented with your production, and you also get VPs from many other sources. Each player keeps track of their production and resources on their player boards, and the game uses six types of resources: MegaCredits, Steel, Titanium, Plants, Energy, and Heat. On the game board, you compete for the best places for your city tiles, ocean tiles, and greenery tiles. You also compete for different Milestones and Awards worth many VPs. Each round is called a generation (guess why) and consists of the following phases: 1) Player order shifts clockwise.2) Research phase: All players buy cards from four privately drawn.3) Action phase: Players take turns doing 1-2 actions from these options: Playing a card, claiming a Milestone, funding an Award, using a Standard project, converting plant into greenery tiles (and raising oxygen), converting heat into a temperature raise, and using the action of a card in play. The turn continues around the table (sometimes several laps) until all players have passed.4) Production phase: Players get resources according to their terraform rating and production parameters. When the three global parameters (temperature, oxygen, ocean) have all reached their goal, the terraforming is complete, and the game ends after that generation. Count your Terraform Rating and other VPs to determine the winning corporation!

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Based on simple and intuitive hand management, Heat: Pedal to the Metal puts players in the driver's seat of intense car races, jockeying for position to cross the finish line first, while managing their car's speed if they don't want to overheat. Selecting the right upgrades for their car will help them hug the curves and keep their engine cool enough to maintain top speeds. Ultimately, their driving skills will be the key to victory!Drivers can compete in a single race or use the "Championship System" to play a whole season in one game night, customizing their car before each race to claim the top spot of the podium. They have to be careful as the weather, road conditions, and events will change every race to spice up their championship. Players can also enjoy a solo mode with the Legends Module or add automated drivers as additional opponents in multiplayer games.

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Arcs is a sharp sci-fi strategy game for 2-4 players, set in a dark yet silly universe. Ready yourself for dramatic twists and turns as you launch into this galactic struggle. Seize the initiative: Take actions with multi-use cards. Copy the leader, pivot to new tactics, or take the initiative for next round. Timing is everything. Declare ambitions: In each game, you define the objectives that everyone competes over to win. Crush your foes: Amass your navy for battle, plan your strategy with three kinds of dice, then roll them all at once to resolve the battle in a flash. Each game contains: 100 wooden ships and agents; 18 custom engraved dice; 1 beautiful six-panel board; Tons of cards with over 60 pieces of unique art.

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In Ark Nova, you will plan and design a modern, scientifically managed zoo. With the ultimate goal of owning the most successful zoological establishment, you will build enclosures, accommodate animals, and support conservation projects all over the world. Specialists and unique buildings will help you in achieving this goal. Each player has a set of five action cards to manage their gameplay, and the power of an action is determined by the slot the card currently occupies. The cards in question are: CARDS: Allows you to gain new zoo cards (animals, sponsors, and conservation project cards). BUILD: Allows you to build standard or special enclosures, kiosks, and pavilions. ANIMALS: Allows you to accommodate animals in your zoo. ASSOCIATION: Allows your association workers to carry out different tasks. SPONSORS: Allows you to play a sponsor card in your zoo or to raise money. 255 cards featuring animals, specialists, special enclosures, and conservation projects, each with a special ability, are at the heart of Ark Nova. Use them to increase the appeal and scientific reputation of your zoo and collect conservation points.

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This item is a pre-order item with an expected release date of 01/17/2025. 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.  Journey Begins! Step inside the legendary world of Middle-earth in The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game! Work together to navigate the story of this cooperative card adventure, meeting new characters and completing special quests as you journey through the first book in the beloved The Lord of the Rings series. EXPLORE MIDDLE-EARTH: Dive into the epic world of Middle-earth as you navigate the story of The Fellowship of the Ring with this cooperative trick-taking card game. COOPERATIVE GAMEPLAY: Play your cards carefully as a team to avoid peril and progress through exciting chapters from the Shire to the breaking of the Fellowship. NARRATIVE ADVENTURE: Follow the narrative of the beloved novel in a unique gameplay experience, meeting new characters and completing quests as you progress. STAINED-GLASS ARTWORK: Enjoy the visually striking cards featuring all-new stained-glass artwork that brings each character and scene from the first novel vividly to life. VERSATILE GAME MODES: Engage in multiple game modes that enhance replayability, allowing you to revisit the challenges and tales of Middle-earth in various ways. Contents: 144 Cards 5 Tokens  1 Rulebook

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Hello, student beings! The cosmic faculty of the Technical Academy of Creation is delighted to welcome you to your Civolution, the final exam in Civilization Design! For this occasion, we prepared a humanoid scenario on an isolated continent. Here, each of you holds the rank of a local deity which is closely linked to its very own civilization and must lead it to success over the other civilizations. Your developmental possibilities are endless and reach from cultural and technical progress to evolutional adaptations. For example, what would you consider more beneficial to your tribes: inventing the wheel or growing wings? Demonstrate your ability to operate your civilization console and show us how well you can adjust to changeable environmental conditions and mild creational chaos. When the exam ceases after four eras, whoever managed to gather the most success points will not only pass the exam but will become a full member of the Technical Academy of Creation and garner the opportunity to be promoted to the next instance. Civolution is a medium heavy to heavy euro-style game that utilizes a dice selection mechanism to trigger actions on a tech tree-like structure. As you figure out how to best use your dice and put your unique cards into play, tons of strategies and paths to victory emerge, though each time you play, you will only explore a fraction of the possibilities that the game’s system and many cards provide.

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In this thrilling game, players try to escape a sinking island with the most possible treasures… But beware of lurking monsters… And other players! This version of Survive The Island comes with a brand-new monster, a fifth player and a refreshed packaging. EXCITING SURVIVAL GAMEPLAY: Navigate a sinking island to escape with the most treasures, dodging new terrifying monsters and rival players who might thwart your plans. INCLUDES NEW MONSTER CHALLENGE: Enhance your game with the inclusion of a brand-new monster, adding unpredictability and thrilling challenges to every round. EXPANDED PLAYER OPTIONS: Now accommodating up to 5 players, this version allows more friends and family to join in the suspenseful escape from the treacherous island. STRATEGIC GAME OF RISK AND REWARD: Players must balance the pursuit of treasure with their survival instincts, making strategic decisions that could either aid their escape or doom them to the island’s fate. PERFECT FOR FAMILY GAME NIGHT: Designed for players aged 10 and up, this game is an ideal choice for family gatherings, offering a blend of strategy, excitement, and competitive fun. Contents: 1 board 40 terrain tiles 50 explorer meeples 12 wooden ship tokens 1 wooden creature dice 5 individual player boards 13 monster meeple (6 sharks, 5 sea serpents, 2 kaijus) 1 rule booklet

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Plunge into the modern era, where our planet's vast interconnected ocean scape is one of the last frontiers to discover and explore. Experience a deep new ever-changing adventure in this followup to the smash hit Endeavor: Age of Sail!In Endeavor: Deep Sea, you head an independent research institute with the goal of developing sustainable projects and preserving the fragile balance of marine life. Throughout the game, you’ll recruit field experts and use their abilities to explore new locations, research dive sites, publish critical ecological papers, and launch conservation efforts.Expand your expertise, develop your team, and learn as much as possible about the sea. The action your institute takes now, could mean a healthy ocean and a sustainable future for the planet.Endeavor: Deep Sea is designed by Jarratt Gray and Carl de Visser, the same creative team behind the smash hit Endeavor: Age of Sail. This edition is set in a new era of nautical discovery, but uses streamlined rules which will be familiar to fans of the original game.

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This item is a pre-order item with an expected release date of 02/14/2025. Orders containing a pre-order item 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.The Nightmare expansion takes you to the spooky side of the mind, with Nightmare Dreams, Metamorphoses Grief Layers, Uncanny Clients, and more.These chilling images might haunt you at first - but don’t be too afraid; your emotional-support pet will be by your side to help.CONTENTS:• 4 Nightmare Dials• 4 Pet Meeples• 12 Metamorphosis Grief Layers• 4 Pet Tiles• 5 General Uncanny Client Cards• 5 Advanced Uncanny Client Cards• 21 Nightmare Dream Cards• 1 Rulebook• 6 Research Cards• 1 Gramophone Standee• 1 Journalist Meeple• 24 Madness Tokens• 1 Nightmare Treatise Tile• 6 Madness Insight Tokens• 1 Spooky Goal TileAges 12 and up1-4 Players60-120 minute playtime

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This item is a pre-order item with an expected release date of 02/14/2025. Orders containing a pre-order item 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.In the early 1900s, the Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud established a revolutionary theory called psychoanalysis, related to the study of the unconscious mind. As his work took hold, a number of followers were invited to meet at Freud’s apartment every Wednesday afternoon to discuss various ideas about psychology and the meanings of dreams. This group was called the Wednesday Psychological Society. It marked the beginning of the worldwide psychoanalytic movement.Ages 12 and up1-4 Players60-120 minute playtime

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This item is a pre-order item with an expected release date of 01/17/2025. Orders containing a pre-order item 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. Slay the Spire: The Board Game is a co-operative deck-building adventure. Craft a unique deck, encounter bizarre creatures, discover relics of immense power, and finally become strong enough to slay the Spire! Ages 12+1-4 players45-60 minutes play time Contents:4 miniatures450 art sleeves650+ cards112 small cards26 large cards4 player boards2 main boards1 merchant board1 HP board1 die1 meeple50 cubes113 tokens1 token trayReference bookRulebook  

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SCOUT is a ladder-climbing game in which cards have two potential values, players may not rearrange their hand of cards, and players may pass their turn to take a card from the current high set of cards into their hand. The decisions to scout or skip could mean winning or losing.

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