Category: Medium (2-2.5 complexity)

Puerto Rico (Special 3D Edition by Awaken Realms)

Puerto Rico was the #1 Game for SIX YEARS (according to BoardGameGeek)

I purchased BOTH the base/core standard game AND the all in Grande Pledge from Awaken  Realms.  Here are my thoughts on what I will actually use when playing the game:

I think my choice of what I will use when playing the game is: Acrylic building & role tiles, 3D plantation/estate tiles, 3D Trading House (and maybe the building where the workers are recruited), 3D crates of produce (ie, bananas, corn, etc), metal coins … I think I will try playing with the 3D miniatures for the workers (though the tan circular discs are just fine too – and both will fit in the indented circle in the 3D plantation/estate tiles … I like the neoprene mat but it doesn’t fit in the box… the 3D ships are nice but perhaps easier to play with the cardboard ships. First player marker is kind of irrelevant so I may use the 3D version or the cardbard (not sure). Wooden victory point tokens are the same. I packed everything that I am going to use into the Special Edition box and there is 2 inches lid lift.

=> BoardGameGeek
=> Gamefound

=> Final Special Edition Rulebook // from=> Awaken Realms download section
=> Len’s 1pg Rule Summary (v3) for 3-5 players
=> Len’s 1pg 2player Rule Summary (v2) for 2 players

SEE ALSO=> Deluxe Edition (before the Special Edition was way way more deluxe)
=> 3D printable WAY BETTER round Resource Tray(s)

=> Video playlist Special Edition // Original Edition

This is MY unboxing of the Grande Pledge (with EVERYTHING) comparing it to the base/core game and also comparing with the original game:

Review (I think she called it a “perfect game”) PLUS she called it her #1 game of 2025 – see bottom of page:

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Cosmic Encounter

=> BoardGameGeek PLUS 7 Expansions (in order of release – first three add a player):
=> Incursion // Conflict // Alliance // Storm // Dominion // Eons // Odyssey
=> 2pg Rules Summary (not Len’s though) with Added Reference Card
=> Quick Start Guide (Official Comic Style)
=> Core Game Rulebook (Official) 2018
=> Rulebook (official) 2008 (some say it’s better)

=> Master Alien Selector v7 Spreadsheet (make a copy for yourself) / or BGG Master Aliens Selector v7 Color Coded – List PDF (Helps Choose Aliens)
=> Alien Database (figures someone would do this:)
=> Alien Sheets / Alien Tips (Fandom Wiki)
=> 3D printing planets for the game (an article about doing it – VERY time consuming) / video of them

=> Len’s Alien List v5 Color coded (2 columns per page color coded by alert AND expansion)

=> Play Online (web based)

=> Select an Alien by number (1-238) [repeat if needed]

How to play each Alien (for and against):

=> Base Game
=> Cosmic Incursion
=> Cosmic Alliance
=> Cosmic Conflict
=> Cosmic Dominion
=> Cosmic Storm
=> Cosmic Eons
=> Cosmic Odyssey

=> Video playlist

Great Overview plus How To Play:

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Rolling Realms (Redux)

1-6 players // 30 mins // Mostly easy (varies with game cards)

This is a game that is a collection of MANY mini roll and write games! Rolling Realms comes with 12 mini games. Then the Redux edition adds 12 more. Plus there are many mini game packs that you can add to the game. There already are over 100 mini games in the Rolling Realms universe!

IMPORTANT NOTE!

I now have a full 70 page website for this game!
=> MyRollingRealms.wordpress.com

BoardGameGeek => Rolling Realms // Rolling Realms Redux
Official Website => Rolling Realms Packs
Rules, Realms, FAQ => RollingRealms-promo-rulebook

=> Rolling Realms Info Cards (base game-ALL) [Len’s cards]

=> Over 200 Video Play throughs

=> Video playlist

Overview:

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Planet Unknown

=> BoardGameGeek
=> GameFound Fullfillment
=> Deluxe Reprint Kickstarter (July 2023) // Original Kickstarter
=> Rules
=> Complete “official” online FAQ // Planet Unknown FAQ

=> Len’s 1 page Rules Summary (v1)
=> Planet Unknown Score Sheet v2

NOTE: several reviewers suggest not using the optional Event Deck for multiplayer games.

=> Video Playlist

Dice Tower Review and Explanation (he gives it an EXCELLENT rating) [original version]:

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Red Rising

=> BoardGameGeek
=> Official Website / Official Rules and FAQ
=> Rules (online pop up) / Rulebook
=> Lens v4 Rules Summary

=> Video Playlist

Notes:

  • The game designer has recently stated: “a score over 200 is very good, and scores over 300 are incredible!”
  • You only get the location bonus for placing a card with the SCOUT action. You do not get the location bonus when placing a card at other times.
  • You cannot gain a card without first deploying a card from your hand (LEAD action).
  • You can’t discard a card in Red Rising. Also, when you take the Lead action, you deploy a card and then you must either gain the top card of a location or the top card of the deck. When doing this, you always end up with the same number of cards (because you deploy one and gain one)
  • Most cards have a core value over 10+, and the only penalty for having >7 cards is -10 points. So focusing on getting as many cards as possible is the way to win.
  • Some cards have an end game ability to gain a banished card. You DO get to use the end game ability of that card as well.
  • If a card’s end-of-game ability lets you take a card from a location, that card’s end-of-game ability or/and end-game bonus DOES trigger!
  • Clarification: “top non-Gold card at a location” means if the very top card is Gold, then the top non-Gold card might be the 2nd or 3rd card in the location.
  • If Apollo triggers “end game”, everyone gets one more turn (because Apollo was the first player and does get that extra turn at the end).
  • The Apollo house card has you just add a card to a location (ie, you do NOT get the placement bonus)?
  • Some gray cards let you choose to set it to another color. It then is gray plus that color.
  • A “non-Gold” card includes colorless cards (ie, face down cards).
  • When deployed sometimes you get to move another card (from top or from anywhere in a location stack?) => Discussion (with comments from two game designers)
  • Official Variant for Multiplayer Games: When choosing one or more opponents to banish, potentially banish, or steal a card from their hand without the immediate ability to regain a card, you may only choose players who have more cards in hand than their starting hand (most starting hands are 5 cards; for House Ceres it’s 6). You can still deploy cards with such abilities, but any abilities related to choosing an opponent won’t trigger. This applies to Aja, Antonia, Arlus, Karnus, Roque, and Tactus.

How to play (with a two player playthrough):

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