Talk Cardboard All the Games We Played at Spiel Essen 2025 Ranked
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Nov 8, 2025 Explore the thrilling atmosphere of Spiel Essen 2025, where 220,000 board game enthusiasts gathered! Discover the quirky sanitation mechanics of Night Soil and the ambiguous art of Bouba Kiki that left players puzzled. Dive into the strategic depths of National Economy and the nostalgic charm of Nocturnis. Experience the chaos of Tag Team's programming battles and the treasure-hunting overload in Thesauros. This engaging discussion ranks 16 new releases, blending humor and insight into the world of tabletop gaming.
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DNF At Essen Sparked Interest
- Efka and Elaine bought Night Soil at Essen but DNF'd it after a long day and brain fatigue prevented finishing the play.
- They remained intrigued by the artwork and core idea and plan to play it again to form a verdict.
Shared Perception Makes Or Breaks The Game
- Booba Kiki's concept works only when players share the same instant associations, otherwise it devolves into arbitrary picture-guessing.
- Elaine and Efka found many images too random, so the game's success relies heavily on immediate, shared mappings.
Solo Morning Play Revealed Pace
- Elaine played Nocturnus solo at Essen before breakfast and enjoyed its charming moth art and powers.
- She warned it's likely slow at higher player counts due to wait time and potential for missed shapes.