Like every year, the board game-adjacent was adequately represented: cosplayers, anime screenings, and computer gaming. And the authors, like every year, were mostly ignored. This time they were placed in a section of the lobby across from the Exhibit Hall looking mournful. The Origins Film Festival boasted 50 entries this year. And there was a vast assortment of hand-crafted plushies, jewelry, and gorgeous art for all tastes with a slant toward sci-fi and fantasy. There was a hilarious comedy show featuring nerdy comedians Larry XL, Mikey Mason, Violet Gray, and Jimmy Meritt. And around every corner, performers playing music or entertaining us in other ways.
Despite the size of this year’s Origins, the excitement of seeing colorful promotional signs and games was not dampened by the smaller show. I still felt the same wave of dopamine run across my shoulders and down my spine as I walked past table after table of my gaming brethren and sistren. The camaraderie was strong in 2021.
WHAT ABOUT THE GAMES?
Of course, it’s all about the games. Origins may have been half the con it usually is, but it was clear that designers and publishers had been hard at work during the pandemic.
Many of our favorite games saw new editions or got the “deluxe” treatment. IELLO was there with King of Tokyo: Dark Edition, a sleek and darker version of Richard Garfield’s classic family dice chucker. Designer Justin De Witt had Castle Panic: Deluxe Collection on full display in the Fireside Games booth. To be released next year, it is an impressive edition complete with plastic minis and all the expansions.
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SUBASTRAL
Subastral is an elegant and simple card game with a layered scoring system that makes each choice challenging.
THE KEY: MURDER AT THE OAKDALE CLUB
Three crimes have been committed with different weapons, at different times, by different people, at different locations, with different modes of escape used. Can you sort out the details for each crime?
SUPER FANTASY BRAWL
FUN, FAST-PACED, COMPETITIVE, BRAWL-ICIOUS!
Scenario-Based Gaming
With the mega successes of games such as Pandemic Legacy, Gloomhaven, and Sleeping Gods in recent years, the addition of in-depth storytelling and scenario-based experiences has taken hold in the hobby.
So Clover is Major Fun!
MAJOR FUN REVIEW
KTBG: Where Kids Get a Taste of Serious Games
Kids Table Board Games (KTBG), established in 2015 by Josh and Helaina Cappel, occupies the area that loosely divides board games into the vaguely defined categories of casual and serious.
PICTWIST: BOB ROSS
Race against your opponents to be the first to unscramble your painting.
MOUNTAINS OUT OF MOLEHILLS
Burrow underground, build molehills, and plan carefully to become the master mole who controls the mountain!
Gaming With a Purpose: How To Serve Your Community Through Gaming
Many board gamers will say that gaming has increased their quality of life.
FLOURISH
Will your garden flourish as you fill it with beautiful flowers, paths, and walls?