Steam] PC Board Game Special Part 2: Spring Vacation Bodoge Sweepstakes at Home!

1. "Potion Explosion" is an exhilarating chain game in which players smash balls into each other! Potion Explosion, a falling-puzzle-style competitive board game

• Potion Explosion" (Studio Clangore)
• Genre: Board game
• Release date: May 16, 2018
• Price: 720 yen (as of March 7, 2021)
• Copyright: (c) 2018 Studio Clangore

Fallen object puzzles are a major genre of puzzle games, typified by "Puyo Puyo" and "Tetris. Potion Explosion" is a board game reminiscent of such falling puzzles.

The setting is a magic school in a fantasy world. Players take on the role of a student at the school and try to create magic potions for the final exam.

This title, "Potion Explosion," is an official port of the award-winning competitive board game, "Potion Explosion. Incidentally, the analog version of this game is a very unique board game that uses a large number of colorful marbles of four different colors.

The objective of the game is to create "potions," or magic potions. Each potion has a set score, and players ultimately compete with their opponents for the total score of the potions they have completed, plus the bonus score they receive for completing the potion. The basic action a player performs to create a potion is to remove a single colorful ball, the ingredient for the potion, from the ejector located on the left side of the screen. Since only one ball can be removed per turn, for example, to make a potion that requires two red and four blue balls, it would take six turns if the balls were removed one at a time as usual.

The key to creating potions efficiently is the "chain" element, which is the key element of this game.

When the player pulls a ball out of the ejector, the ball above it falls according to gravity, and if two balls of the same color collide with each other, an explosion occurs, and the player can get that ball as well. If the balls of the same color collide with other balls of the same color, an explosion will occur, and the player will be able to get those balls as well.

The most exciting part of this game is the trial-and-error process to see how many chains can be generated by removing a single ball. Since the ejector is shared by all players, it is sometimes necessary to choose to take a ball in order to interrupt an opponent's chain. This strategic game of attack and defense between players is one of the charms of this title.

Note that balls do not explode even if they are aligned horizontally or diagonally. Note that balls of the same color will only disappear when they collide vertically.

The potions made by collecting materials do not end after completion; each of the eight types of potions has various special effects, such as "taking one material from the ejector" or "taking all materials held by the opponent," etc. Players can use completed potions freely only once in their turn. They can use them freely. One of the most interesting aspects of this game is that players have to decide how and where to use the potions, depending on the battle situation, whether to use them to build their own chain or to interfere with their opponent's chain.

Potion Explosion" is a board game that allows players to enjoy the falling puzzle like "Puyo Puyo," and to tell you the truth, I have played the analog version of this game before.

The analog version of the game has a big gimmick where you pull marbles out of a sloping ejector to create a chain of marbles that roll down one after another, which is the charm of the analog version, but the digital version available on Steam also has its own charm. The digital version, which can be played on Steam, also has its own unique charm. A ranking function is also implemented, so you can compete with players from all over the world. This is a nice feature that allows players to experience something that is not possible in the analog version of board games.

Potion Explosion" combines the exhilaration of falling-puzzle-like chains with the strategic sense of thinking about the best move while reading your opponent's next move, offering a unique playing experience. It is a recommended game for people who don't usually play board games.

2. The goal is to become the best bird lover! WINGSPAN" is a healing card game in which players collect birds.

• WINGSPAN (Monster Couch)
• Genre: Board game
• Release date: September 18, 2020
• Price: 2,050 yen (as of March 7, 2021)
• Copyright: (C) 2020 Monster Couch

Birds are familiar animals that have become a part of our daily lives, just as the chirping of sparrows reminds us of morning and the cawing of crows reminds us of dusk. According to my research, there are approximately 10,000 species of birds in the world today, many of which we have never seen before.

This is the digital version of WINGSPAN, winner of the Expert Grand Prize of the German Annual Game Awards 2019. The German Annual Game Award is one of the most prestigious awards in the board game industry, and as the winner of the award, the game is well-known for its fun factor. The board game version of "WINGSPAN" was once at a premium in Japan, and board game fans will be happy to be able to play "WINGSPAN" on their PCs anytime and easily.

The objective of the player in this game is to become a bird lover, discover the best birds, and attract them to the wildlife sanctuary you manage. While this is a strategic game in which up to five players compete against each other, the main feature of this game is that it is relaxing and enjoyable, with many soothing elements such as the gentle touch of the bird illustrations and the beautiful watercolor-like background graphics.

The game progresses on a turn-based system for each player. There are only one of four actions that can be performed on one's turn: placing a bird from the hand, getting food from the feeder, making the bird lay eggs, and replenishing the hand. Since food and eggs are required to place birds on the field, players are faced with the dilemma of only being able to perform one action per turn.

A game consists of 4 rounds of 26 turns in total, during which each player aims for first place by earning a score set for each bird, a score based on targets presented in each round, and a score obtained from what is written on "Bonus Cards," which are separate from bird cards.

There are three types of places where birds can be placed: "forests," "grasslands," and "wetlands," and each bird has its own habitat where it can be placed. Some birds have special effects, and when the player performs an action to "acquire food," "spawn," or "replenish hand" in the "forest," "grassland," or "marshland," respectively, the effects of the birds placed in each habitat are activated in turn.

The chain of these special effects can create large combo-like effects, and one of the most exciting aspects of this game is the trial-and-error process of creating combos with the combination of birds on hand. One of the most exciting parts of the game is the trial-and-error of the combos with the birds you have on hand.

The basic principle of victory in this game is to play a card from your hand and put more and more birds on the field, and there are a total of 170 bird cards in the game.

The game is so elaborate that no two of the 170 bird cards are the same, and all have different names, illustrations, effects, and habitats. The special effects and habitats are based on the actual ecology of the birds, so you can feel as if you are learning a little more about birds while playing.

Furthermore, by right-clicking during the game, the text on the bird card changes to trivia about the bird, such as "A peregrine falcon can reach speeds of up to 320 km/h when pouncing on its prey" or "In the 1880s, the slender feathers of a snowy egret were worth as much as the same weight in gold. The game is not a game of chance, but a game of chance. Although these trivia do not affect the outcome of the game, they are all interesting trivia that will make you say "huh! Incidentally, there is also an illustrated book-like mode where you can view the bird cards, so you can take your time to expand your knowledge of birds in between games.

Now that we have introduced the features and fun of "WINGSPAN" as a game, let's take a look at some of the unique elements and attractions of the Steam version.

First of all, you can start playing anytime without preparation. The board game version of "WINGSPAN" includes 170 bird cards, egg tokens, food tokens, action cubes, and quite a few other contents. The well-crafted components (a generic term for board game components such as panels and game boards), such as the cute little egg-shaped egg tokens and the dice tower that resembles a bird feeder, are part of the game's charm, but the time-consuming preparation and cleanup process can be a hassle for some players. However, the time required to prepare and clean up for play can be a hassle for some people. The ability to play easily without such hassles is a major advantage of the digital version.

Another advantage of the digital version is the tutorial. In the analog version, you have to read the rulebook or ask an experienced player to teach you how to play, but in this digital version, you can learn the rules while actually operating the game through a detailed tutorial.

The smooth animations of the birds on the cards and the chirping of the birds during the game are another attraction of the digital version. The background music is also beautiful and relaxing, making you forget that you are playing a mindless game.

Although it is a competitive game, there are few elements that interfere with other players, and you can fully enjoy the fun of carefully planning your strategy. The game also supports online play, so you can battle with a stranger or play leisurely with friends. WINGSPAN" is recommended for everyone, whether you like board games or not. If you are interested in this game, please give it a try.

3. The person who enjoys the trip along the Tokaido the most wins! Tokaido" is a strategic backgammon game that does not use dice.

• Tokaido " (Funforge)
• Genre: Board game
• Released on December 4, 2017
• Price: 1,010 yen (as of March 7, 2021)
• Copyright: (c) 2017 Funforge

Tokaido Highway is one of the five highways developed during the Edo period. Because there are many beautiful views and places of interest along the way, it is a famous road that has been the subject of ukiyoe paintings such as "The 53 Stages of the Tokaido" and stories such as "Tokaido Chu Hizakurige," a well-known Yaji-san Kitasan story.

This is a digital version of "Tokaido," a board game that has sold more than 250,000 copies worldwide. Nominated for numerous board game awards around the world, "Tokaido" features beautiful components set in Japan. This digital version of the game was developed by the publisher of the original board game, and while based on the same beautiful design as the board game version, the main attraction of this digital version is the 3D representation that can be enjoyed only in the digital version.

This title can be easily categorized as a backgammon type game. However, there are two major differences between this game and the widely-known Sugoroku games. The first player to reach the goal does not win, and the game does not use dice. So, let me explain them in order.

This game is set on a single long stretch of the Tokaido Highway. Players start from Kyoto, the starting point, and proceed toward Edo, the goal. As mentioned earlier, in this work, reaching Edo, the goal, first does not constitute victory. The objective of this work is not to rush ahead, but to "enjoy the journey" to the fullest. Players must stop at hot springs, souvenir shops, and other squares along the way to score points for victory. The unique system of this game, in which players must take their time and stop at various squares to score points, rather than rushing ahead, is a unique feature that sets this game apart from other Sugoroku games.

Another unique feature of this game is that it does not use dice. The game is played by selecting a square anywhere you want to go, and then moving on to the next square. You might be thinking, "Well, why not just go one square at a time, scoring points as you go?" However, in this game, only one player can stop at the same square (when playing with four or more players, up to two players can stop at a particular square). Also, you can only move forward, not backward.

Furthermore, and this is another major point of this title, the rule is that the frames are moved in order starting with the player closest to Kyoto, i.e., the player farthest to the rear. This makes it important not only to "choose the squares you want to go to," but also to "move ahead to squares that other players are likely to choose to obstruct your opponent," thus making the game more than just backgammon; it allows players to enjoy highly strategic play.

There are a variety of ways to score points and enjoy the journey along the Tokaido Highway. Let's take a look at the different types of squares on the board.
First of all, there are "landscape" squares. There are three types of squares: rice paddies, mountains, and the sea, and each time you stop at a square, you get a corresponding landscape card. The more landscape cards of the same type you collect, the more points you get. 3 cards for paddy fields, 4 cards for mountains, and 5 cards for the ocean complete the landscape.

The "Onsen" squares are squares where you can get either 2 or 3 points when you stop. Which one you will get is random and completely up to your luck.

In the "Village" squares, you can pay money to buy souvenirs. There are 4 types of souvenirs x 6, and you can get more points if you get the same type of souvenirs. Like the "Temples, shrines and temples" squares, where you can earn points by donating money, these squares require money, which you can get by stopping at the "Rice field" squares. Conversely, since there is no other way to get money except by stopping at the "Field" squares, the "Field" squares tend to be the most popular squares among players and are the most competitive squares in the game.

And we must not forget the bonus points called "feats" to score points. These are important points that can make the difference between winning and losing, and are awarded to the player who, at the end of the game, has completed each landscape the fastest, taken the most hot spring baths, or has the most souvenirs. The most important points are awarded for purchasing expensive meals at the "inns" squares located at certain distances, where all players must stop, and for meeting many people at the "encounters" squares, where you can randomly meet people who can give you favorable effects.

It is also important to keep an eye on the situation at all times to understand what other players are aiming for, and sometimes it is important to boldly change the direction of your own aim. The appeal of this game is its simple gameplay in which players simply advance their panels to the desired squares, but it also offers the enjoyment of a strategy game where players must carefully plan their moves.

The features and attractions of the board game "Tokaido" have been introduced so far, but let's touch on some points unique to the digital version of the game.

First of all, the graphics are beautiful. The game screen, which has a simple design based on white, the same color as the board of the board game version, has 3D objects such as torii gates and stores arranged according to the squares, adding a touch of glamour to the journey along the Tokaido Highway.

The online element is also a key point not to be forgotten. You can play online against other players, or you can use Steam's Remote Play Together feature to play with a friend as long as one of you has the game. The ability to casually play against friends who are far away is an appeal unique to the digital version of the game.

Another advantage of the digital version is that each player's score is automatically calculated. The rules of this game allow players to earn points based on many factors, such as the scenery they have collected, the hot springs they have entered, and the feats they have accomplished, making the final tally of scores rather cumbersome. You can enjoy a non-stressful and speedy game.

With its easy-to-understand rules and simple operation, "Tokaido" offers an unusual and strategic game of backgammon. The game can be played in a few minutes per game, so if you are looking for a light board game that you can enjoy with your family and friends, please check out "Tokaido".

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