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2012
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Best Game Reprint of 2012
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Android: Netrunner is an asymmetrical Living Card Game for two players. Set in the cyberpunk future of Android and Infiltration, the game pits a megacorporation and its massive resources against the subversive talents of lone runners.

Corporations seek to score agendas by advancing them. Doing so takes time and credits. To buy the time and earn the credits they need, they must secure their servers and data forts with "ice". These security programs come in different varieties, from simple barriers, to code gates and aggressive sentries. They serve as the corporation's virtual eyes, ears, and machine guns on the sprawling information superhighways of the network.

In turn, runners need to spend their time and credits acquiring a sufficient wealth of resources, purchasing the necessary hardware, and developing suitably powerful ice-breaker programs to hack past corporate security measures. Their jobs are always a little desperate, driven by tight timelines, and shrouded in mystery. When a runner jacks-in and starts a run at a corporate server, he risks having his best programs trashed or being caught by a trace program and left vulnerable to corporate countermeasures. It's not uncommon for an unprepared runner to fail to bypass a nasty sentry and suffer massive brain damage as a result. Even if a runner gets through a data fort's defenses, there's no telling what it holds. Sometimes, the runner finds something of value. Sometimes, the best he can do is work to trash whatever the corporation was developing.

The first player to seven points wins the game, but not likely before he suffers some brain damage or bad publicity.

The Revised Core Set for Android: Netrunner released in late 2017 includes cards from the original Core Set released in 2012 as well as cards from the Genesis Cycle and Spin Cycle series of Data Packs. While the cards in this set have been released previously, the art on some of them is new.

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Year Published: 2012
Designers: Richard Garfield
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
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Best Game Reprint Nominee of 2012
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Christopher Badell
Publishers: Greater Than Games, LLC
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Daniel Clark (I)
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Roberto Di Meglio
Publishers: Ares Games
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Richard Hamblen
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Christopher Badell
Publishers: Greater Than Games, LLC
2012
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Best New Designer of 2012
It's your lifelong dream – to join the Star Patrol and be part of the crew of an interstellar Starship. You've worked hard, graduated from the academy, and received your first assignment as part of a team of young recruits, confident in your training and ready to be put to the test. Nothing can possibly go wrong as you are prepared for anything...

You are the Space Cadets.

Space Cadets is a fun and frantic cooperative game for 3-6 players who take on the roles of Bridge Officers of a Starship. Each officer must accomplish his specific task in order for the team to successfully complete the mission. You might be the...


Helmsman, plotting the ship's course through asteroid fields and nebulae.
Engineer, using dominoes to get enough power to each system.
Weapons Officer, completing puzzles to load the torpedoes and flicking a disc down a track to launch them.
Shield Officer, using tiles to form poker hands to get the strongest shields.
Sensor Officer, using your sense of touch to scan and lock on enemy targets.
Captain, setting the plan and making sure that everyone stays focused and does their job.


If your crew can work together to accomplish the mission goals, you just might make it home in one piece.

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Year Published: 2012
Designers: Geoff Engelstein
Publishers: Stronghold Games
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Best New Designer Nominee 2012
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Jerry Hawthorne
Publishers: Plaid Hat Games
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Bryan Pope
Publishers: Arcane Wonders
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Peter Lee
Publishers: Wizards of the Coast
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Aaron Dill
Publishers: Gale Force Nine, LLC
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Jerry Hawthorne
Publishers: Plaid Hat Games
2012
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All of the eligible young men (and many of the not-so-young) seek to woo the princess of Tempest. Unfortunately, she has locked herself in the palace, and you must rely on others to take your romantic letters to her. Will yours reach her first?

Love Letter is a game of risk, deduction, and luck for 2–4 players. Your goal is to get your love letter into Princess Annette's hands while deflecting the letters from competing suitors. From a deck with only sixteen cards, each player starts with only one card in hand; one card is removed from play. On a turn, you draw one card, and play one card, trying to expose others and knock them from the game. Powerful cards lead to early gains, but make you a target. Rely on weaker cards for too long, however, and your letter may be tossed in the fire!

Number 4 in the Tempest: Shared World Game Series

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Year Published: 2012
Designers: Seiji Kanai
Publishers: Alderac Entertainment Group
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Best Family Game Nominee of 2012
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Peter Lee
Publishers: Wizards of the Coast
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Paul Peterson
Publishers: Alderac Entertainment Group
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Geoff Engelstein
Publishers: Stronghold Games
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Devin Low
Publishers: Upper Deck Entertainment
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Peter Lee
Publishers: Wizards of the Coast
2012
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Best Game of 2012
Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game is a tactical ship-to-ship combat game in which players take control of powerful Rebel X-wings and nimble Imperial TIE fighters, facing them against each other in fast-paced space combat. Featuring stunningly detailed and painted miniatures, the X-Wing Miniatures Game recreates exciting Star Wars space combat throughout its several included scenarios. Select your crew, plan your maneuvers, and complete your mission!

Whatever your chosen vessel, the rules of X-Wing facilitate fast and visceral gameplay that puts you in the middle of Star Wars fiercest firefights. Each ship type has its own unique piloting dial, which is used to secretly select a speed and maneuver each turn. After planning maneuvers, each ship's dial is revealed and executed (starting with the lowest skilled pilot). So whether you rush headlong toward your enemy showering his forward deflectors in laser fire, or dance away from him as you attempt to acquire a targeting lock, you'll be in total control throughout all the tense dogfighting action.

Star Wars: X-Wing features (three) unique missions, and each has its own set of victory conditions and special rules; with such a broad selection of missions, only clever and versatile pilots employing a range of tactics will emerge victorious. What's more, no mission will ever play the same way twice, thanks to a range of customization options, varied maneuvers, and possible combat outcomes. Damage, for example, is determined through dice and applied in the form of a shuffled Damage Deck. For some hits your fighter sustains, you'll draw a card that assigns a special handicap. Was your targeting computer damaged, affecting your ability to acquire a lock on the enemy? Perhaps an ill-timed weapon malfunction will limit your offensive capabilities. Or worse yet, your pilot could be injured, compromising his ability to focus on the life-and-death struggle in which he is engaged...

The Star Wars: X-Wing starter set includes everything you need to begin your battles, such as scenarios, cards, and fully assembled and painted ships. What's more, Star Wars: X-Wing's quick-to-learn ruleset establishes the foundation for a system that can be expanded with your favorite ships and characters from the Star Wars universe.

Reimplemented by Star Wars: X-Wing (Second Edition)

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Year Published: 2012
Designers: Jason Little
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
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Best Game Nominee of 2012
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Bryan Pope
Publishers: Arcane Wonders
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Jerry Hawthorne
Publishers: Plaid Hat Games
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Daniel Clark (I)
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Peter Lee
Publishers: Wizards of the Coast
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Joanna Kijanka
Publishers: Portal Games
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Geoff Engelstein
Publishers: Stronghold Games
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Richard Garfield
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Aaron Dill
Publishers: Gale Force Nine, LLC
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Vital Lacerda
Publishers: Giochix.it
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Bryan Pope
Publishers: Arcane Wonders
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394

In this show, we talk about Five Tribes, Xia, Krosmaster Junior, Mystery Rummy # 5 - Escape from Alcatraz, X-com, and Pressure Cooker.  We are joined by a host of contributors offering strategy, Christmas gaming, old games, and how to build a game group.  We have a tale of amazement and one of horror, and bring back gaming stererotypes!  Finally, we end the show with our favorite ways to play Catan.

In this show, we talk about Five Tribes, Xia, Krosmaster Junior, Mystery Rummy # 5 - Escape from Alcatraz, X-com, and Pressure Cooker. We are joined by a host of contributors offering strategy, Christmas gaming, old games, and how to build a game group. We have a tale of amazement and one of horror, and bring back gaming stererotypes! Finally, we end the show with our favorite ways to play Catan.

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393

In this show, we talk about Witness?, OWACON, Bullfrogs, Captains of Industry, Imperial Assault, and Cubo.  We also answer a pile of questions, and end the show with our favorite games from 15 years ago - the year 2000!

In this show, we talk about Witness?, OWACON, Bullfrogs, Captains of Industry, Imperial Assault, and Cubo.  We also answer a pile of questions, and end the show with our favorite games from 15 years ago - the year 2000!

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392

In this show, we talk about Empire Engine, Artificium, Kings of Israel, Robot Turtles, Cthulhu Wars, Hyperborea, Pints of Blood, and Dogs of War.  We have a tale of horror and of amazement, Mark talks about his kids, Mary about Tichu strategy, and Brian about Mancala.  Tom discusses why the Dice Tower is about games, but especially the people who play them; and we end the show with our favorite dice found in games.

In this show, we talk about Empire Engine, Artificium, Kings of Israel, Robot Turtles, Cthulhu Wars, Hyperborea, Pints of Blood, and Dogs of War. We have a tale of horror and of amazement, Mark talks about his kids, Mary about Tichu strategy, and Brian about Mancala. Tom discusses why the Dice Tower is about games, but especially the people who play them; and we end the show with our favorite dice found in games.

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391

In this show, we talk about Shadow Throne, Murano, Roll Through the Ages: The Iron Age, Canterbury, and Tesla: Master of Lighting.   Greg talks about the new Counter magaizine, Bill gives tips for running a game event, and we answer a pile of listener questions.  Finally, we go back ten years, and talk about our favorite games from 2005.

In this show, we talk about Shadow Throne, Murano, Roll Through the Ages: The Iron Age, Canterbury, and Tesla: Master of Lighting.  Greg talks about the new Counter magaizine, Bill gives tips for running a game event, and we answer a pile of listener questions. Finally, we go back ten years, and talk about our favorite games from 2005.

2013
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Best Game Theme of 2013
Early in the history of the United States, slavery was an institution that seemed unmovable but with efforts of men and women across the country, it was toppled. In Freedom: The Underground Railroad, players are working to build up the strength of the Abolitionist movement through the use of notable figures and pivotal events. By raising support for the cause and moving slaves to freedom in Canada, the minds of Americans can be changed and the institution of slavery can be brought down.

Freedom is a card-driven, cooperative game for one to four players in which the group is working for the abolitionist movement to help bring an end to slavery in the United States. The players use a combination of cards, which feature figures and events spanning from Early Independence until the Civil War, along with action tokens and the benefits of their role to impact the game.

Players need to strike the right balance between freeing slaves from plantations in the south and raising funds which are desperately needed to allow the group to continue their abolitionist activities as well as strengthen the cause.

The goal is not easy and in addition to people and events that can have a negative impact on the group's progress, there are also slave catchers roaming the board, reacting to the movements of the slaves on the board and hoping to catch the runaway slaves and send them back to the plantations.

Through careful planning and working together, the group might see an end to slavery in their time.

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Year Published: 2012
Designers: Brian Mayer
Publishers: Academy Games, Inc.
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Year Published: 2013
Designers: Antoine Bauza
Publishers: Repos Production
Year Published: 2013
Designers: Ole Steiness
Publishers: Common Man Games
Year Published: 2013
Designers: Cédrick Chaboussit
Publishers: Ludonaute
Year Published: 2013
Designers: Corey Konieczka
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
2013
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Most Innovative Game Winner of 2013
In Terror in Meeple City (formerly known as Rampage), you arrive in Meeple City as a gigantic, famished, scaly-skinned monster! Your goal: Dig your claws and dirty paws into the asphalt, destroy buildings, and devour innocent meeples – in short: sow terror while having fun. The monster who has caused the most damage after the carnage finally ends wins the game.

The buildings in Meeple City are comprised of floor tiles and meeples, with the meeples serving as pillars that support the floors. Four wooden vehicles are on the ground in the eight neighborhoods in the city. Each monster, which consists of a wooden paws disc and a wooden body, starts in one corner of the game board. On a turn you take two actions from four possibilities, repeating an action if desired:


Move: Pick up your monster body, flick the paws disc, then place the body back on the disc.
Demolish: If your paws are on the sidewalk surrounding a building, you can pick up your monster body, drop it onto a building, then collect any floors that have no meeples on them.
Toss a vehicle: If you're in a neighborhood with a vehicle, you can pick up the vehicle, place it on your body, then flick the vehicle at a building or another monster.
Breathe: Even while away from sidewalks with no vehicles, you can cause destruction by placing your chin on your monster's body and blowing across the board.


Monsters tend to be messy when obtaining meals, but if you knock meeples off the city board, you might be punished for letting food go to waste, costing you a tooth or letting other players take an additional action. After your two actions, you can eat unprotected meeples on the ground in your neighborhood, but you can eat only as many as the number of teeth you have. If you knock another monster to the ground, you break off one of its teeth, thereby keeping it from stealing your food! Meeples come in six colors, with the colors representing different types of inhabitants: blue (journalists), green (military), yellow (blondes), grey (old people), red (heroes), and black (businessmen). For each set of six you collect in your stomach, you score 10 points at game's end. You score points for collecting floors and teeth, too, and you can also score for achieving the goal on your character card.

In addition to the character card, each player has a power card and a superpower card unique to his monster, with the former lasting the entire game and the latter being a one-shot effect that's revealed only upon use.

Terror in Meeple City includes rules for monsters that evolve over the course of the game, that lose points for meeples not in sets, and that want to combine two game boards to allow for play with up to eight players.

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Year Published: 2013
Designers: Antoine Bauza
Publishers: Repos Production
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Most Innovative Game Nominee of 2013
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Brian Mayer
Publishers: Academy Games, Inc.
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Jacques Bariot
Publishers: Matagot
Year Published: 2013
Designers: Mike Selinker
Publishers: Paizo Publishing
Year Published: 2013
Designers: Scott Nicholson
Publishers: Stronghold Games
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