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2011
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Best Game Expansion Winner of 2011
Summoner Wars is a fast-playing, action-packed card game for 2-4 players in which they take on the role of Summoners: powerful beings who harness the power of mysterious Summoning Stones to lead their race to conquest on the war-torn planet of Itharia. These Summoners wield terrible magic on the battlefield, freezing their foes in place, draining their enemies of power, and even bringing rains of fire down from the heavens. But most notoriously, they summon their great race's hordes of warriors to the battlefield, to clash in the never-ending struggle for supremacy. A Summoner is both mage and general, and must combine their wizardly might with clever tactics to defeat the enemy Summoner on the opposite side of the battle.

The Summoner Wars Master Set contains six new and different complete factions from which to choose:


Play as the Shadow Elves and conceal your plans in swirling darkness!
Choose the Benders and confound your foe, turning his own troops against him!
Command the Vargath, mountainous goatfolk who call lightning from the heavens!
Select the nefarious Sand Goblins and delight in malicious trickery!
Muster the Deep Dwarves and control the forces of Geomancy!
Lead the ferocious Swamp Orcs to war and hack upon your foes as they are snared in your vines!


Strategy shapes the composition of each deck of cards and how they are used. Tactics determine the effectiveness of those cards in battle. Call walls of stone to protect you in combat and serve as magic portals for you to summon your warriors. Call your forces forth and send them in a surging wave against your enemy. Cast spells that bolster your forces and cut down those who would oppose you.

Victory can come only from the death of your opponent's Summoner...

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Year Published: 2011
Designers: Colby Dauch
Publishers: Plaid Hat Games
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Best Game Expansion Nominee of 2011
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Philippe Keyaerts
Publishers: Days of Wonder
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Mike Elliott
Publishers: Alderac Entertainment Group
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Antoine Bauza
Publishers: Repos Production
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Alan R. Moon
Publishers: Days of Wonder
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Philippe Keyaerts
Publishers: Days of Wonder
2011
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Best Party Game Winner of 2011
Dixit Odyssey is both a standalone game and an expansion (Dixit: Odyssey (expansion)) for Jean-Louis Roubira's Dixit, which won Germany's Spiel des Jahres award in 2010.

Game play in Dixit Odyssey matches that of Dixit: Each turn one player is the storyteller. This player secretly chooses one card in his hand, then gives a word or sentence to describe this card—but not too obviously. Each other player chooses a card in hand that matches this word/sentence and gives it to the storyteller. The storyteller then lays out the cards, and all other players vote on which card belongs to the storyteller. If no one or everyone guesses the storyteller's card, the storyteller receives no points and all players receive two; otherwise the storyteller and the correct guesser(s) each receive three points. Players score one point for each vote their image receives. Players refill their hands, and the next player becomes the storyteller. When the deck runs out, the player with the most points wins.

Dixit Odyssey contains 84 new cards, each with a unique image drawn by Pierô and colored by Marie Cardouat, artist of Dixit and Dixit 2. The stand alone version also includes a folding game board, 6 new rabbit scoring tokens (12 total), and a box large enough to hold all the Dixit cards released to date. The stand alone version of Dixit Odyssey includes enough components for up to twelve players and also has variant rules for team play and for new ways to play with the cards.

Expansion versus standalone versions of the game.

Standalone version is in a square box (released in 2011 but may still be available).
Expansion version is in a rectangular box (available from 2013 onwards): Dixit: Odyssey (expansion)


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Year Published: 2011
Designers: Jean-Louis Roubira
Publishers: Libellud
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Best Party Game Nominee of 2011
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Brian Weinstock
Publishers: North Star Games
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Jay Cormier
Publishers: Tasty Minstrel Games
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Matthew Nuccio
Publishers: Out of the Box Publishing
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Scott Porter
Publishers: Eagle-Gryphon Games
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Brian Weinstock
Publishers: North Star Games
2011
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Best Small Publisher of 2011
The call comes in... "911, what is your emergency?" On the other end is a panicked response of "FIRE!" Moments later you don the protective suits that will keep you alive, gather your equipment and rush to the scene of a blazing inferno. The team has only seconds to assess the situation and devise a plan of attack – then you spring into action like the trained professionals that you are. You must face your fears, never give up, and above all else work as a team because the fire is raging, the building is threatening to collapse, and lives are in danger.

You must succeed. You are the brave men and women of fire rescue; people are depending on you. This is what you do every day.

Flash Point: Fire Rescue is a cooperative game of fire rescue.

There are two versions of game play in Flash Point, a basic game and expert game.
In both variants, players are attempting to rescue 7 of 10 victims from a raging building fire.
As the players attempt to rescue the victims, the fire spreads to other parts of the building, causing structural damage and possibly blocking off pathways through the building. Each turn a player may spend action points to try to extinguish fires, move through the building, move victims out of the building or perform various special actions such as moving emergency vehicles. If 4 victims perish in the blaze or the building collapses from taking too much structural damage, the players lose. Otherwise, the players win instantly when they rescue a 7th victim.

The expert variant included in the game adds thematic elements such as flash over, combustible materials, random setup, and variations on game difficulty from novice to heroic. The game includes a double sided board with two different building plans and several expansion maps are available.

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Year Published: 2011
Designers: Kevin Lanzing
Publishers: Indie Boards & Cards
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Best Small Publisher Nominee of 2011
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Christopher Badell
Publishers: Greater Than Games, LLC
Year Published: 2009
Designers: Jean-Christophe Bouvier
Publishers: Rallyman
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Mr. Bistro
Publishers: Plaid Hat Games
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Anne-Marie De Witt
Publishers: Fireside Games
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Christopher Badell
Publishers: Greater Than Games, LLC
2011
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Best Production Values of 2011
Description from the publisher:

Horrific monsters and spectral presences lurk in manors, crypts, schools, monasteries, and derelict buildings near Arkham, Massachusetts. Some spin dark conspiracies while others wait for hapless victims to devour or drive insane. It’s up to a handful of brave investigators to explore these cursed places and uncover the truth about the living nightmares within.

Designed by Corey Konieczka, Mansions of Madness is a macabre game of horror, insanity, and mystery for two to five players. Each game takes place within a pre-designed story that provides players with a unique map and several combinations of plot threads. These threads affect the monsters that investigators may encounter, the clues they need to find, and which climactic story ending they will ultimately experience. One player takes on the role of the keeper, controlling the monsters and other malicious powers within the story. The other players take on the roles of investigators, searching for answers while struggling to survive with their minds intact.

Do you dare enter the Mansions of Madness?

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Year Published: 2011
Designers: Corey Konieczka
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
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Best Production Values Nominee of 2011
Year Published: 2019
Designers: Erick N. Bouchard
Publishers: Ganesha Games
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Chris Birkenhagen
Publishers: Ninja Division
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Peter Lee
Publishers: Wizards of the Coast
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Rob Daviau
Publishers: Hasbro
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Peter Lee
Publishers: Wizards of the Coast
2011
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Best Game Reprint of 2011
A strategic two-player abstract with a heavy deduction element. At the start of the game, neither player knows how their own pieces move. Via performing attempted moves, each player tries to deduce the movement of their own pieces. As you determine how to move your pieces, your goal is to capture the neutral piece, initially located in the center of the board, and deliver it to your opponent's side of the board.

From the new Stronghold Games version, Confusion: Espionage and Deception in the Cold War:

The Cold War. A dangerous time for the world. A dangerous time to be a spy... but that is exactly what being a spy is all about. As the shadowy clouds of intrigue and subterfuge settle across the globe you have been called upon by your country to obtain the Top Secret information that will ensure your country's safety and supremacy. But not all is as it seems; your spies are difficult to control on a global scale, and even worse, there's a Double Agent in your midst who threatens the entire mission!

At the start of a game of Confusion, players aren't aware of the talents and skills their own spies possess! Your opponent can see what your spies can do, but you cannot. Your job as a wise leader is to first deduce exactly how each of your spies move, then employ your knowledge by using each spy for maximum effect. But be on alert, because your opponent has placed a double-agent in your team of spies! The first player to take the Top Secret Briefcase from the middle of the board and deliver it to his opponent's capital is the winner.

Can you achieve your goals at the expense of your opponent, or will the entire operation collapse in a sea of Confusion?

Confusion is game #1 in the Stronghold Games "Castle Line".

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Year Published: 1992
Designers: Robert Abbott
Publishers: franjos Spieleverlag
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Best Game Reprint Nominee of 2011
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Christian T. Petersen
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
Year Published: 1980
Designers: Sid Sackson
Publishers: Parker Brothers

Evo

Year Published: 2001
Designers: Philippe Keyaerts
Publishers: Eurogames
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Andreas Seyfarth
Publishers: alea
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Christian T. Petersen
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
2011
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Best Game Designer of 2011
The call comes in... "911, what is your emergency?" On the other end is a panicked response of "FIRE!" Moments later you don the protective suits that will keep you alive, gather your equipment and rush to the scene of a blazing inferno. The team has only seconds to assess the situation and devise a plan of attack – then you spring into action like the trained professionals that you are. You must face your fears, never give up, and above all else work as a team because the fire is raging, the building is threatening to collapse, and lives are in danger.

You must succeed. You are the brave men and women of fire rescue; people are depending on you. This is what you do every day.

Flash Point: Fire Rescue is a cooperative game of fire rescue.

There are two versions of game play in Flash Point, a basic game and expert game.
In both variants, players are attempting to rescue 7 of 10 victims from a raging building fire.
As the players attempt to rescue the victims, the fire spreads to other parts of the building, causing structural damage and possibly blocking off pathways through the building. Each turn a player may spend action points to try to extinguish fires, move through the building, move victims out of the building or perform various special actions such as moving emergency vehicles. If 4 victims perish in the blaze or the building collapses from taking too much structural damage, the players lose. Otherwise, the players win instantly when they rescue a 7th victim.

The expert variant included in the game adds thematic elements such as flash over, combustible materials, random setup, and variations on game difficulty from novice to heroic. The game includes a double sided board with two different building plans and several expansion maps are available.

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Year Published: 2011
Designers: Kevin Lanzing
Publishers: Indie Boards & Cards
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Best Game Designer Nominee of 2011
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Christopher Badell
Publishers: Greater Than Games, LLC
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Brian Engelstein
Publishers: Z-Man Games
Year Published: 2011
Designers: David Gregg
Publishers: Alderac Entertainment Group
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Jason Little
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Christopher Badell
Publishers: Greater Than Games, LLC
2011
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Best Family Game of 2011
In King of Tokyo, you play mutant monsters, gigantic robots, and strange aliens—all of whom are destroying Tokyo and whacking each other in order to become the one and only King of Tokyo.

At the start of each turn, you roll six dice, which show the following six symbols: 1, 2, or 3 Victory Points, Energy, Heal, and Attack. Over three successive throws, choose whether to keep or discard each die in order to win victory points, gain energy, restore health, or attack other players into understanding that Tokyo is YOUR territory.

The fiercest player will occupy Tokyo, and earn extra victory points, but that player can't heal and must face all the other monsters alone!

Top this off with special cards purchased with energy that have a permanent or temporary effect, such as the growing of a second head which grants you an additional die, body armor, nova death ray, and more.... and it's one of the most explosive games of the year!

In order to win the game, one must either destroy Tokyo by accumulating 20 victory points, or be the only surviving monster once the fighting has ended.

First Game in the King of Tokyo series

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Year Published: 2011
Designers: Richard Garfield
Publishers: IELLO
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Best Family Game Nominee of 2011
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Kevin Lanzing
Publishers: Indie Boards & Cards
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Mike Elliott
Publishers: WizKids
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Dominic Crapuchettes
Publishers: North Star Games
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Donald X. Vaccarino
Publishers: Queen Games
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Kevin Lanzing
Publishers: Indie Boards & Cards
2011
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Best Game of 2011
The galaxy has been a peaceful place for many years. After the ruthless Terran–Hegemony War (30.027–33.364), much effort has been employed by all major spacefaring species to prevent the terrifying events from repeating themselves. The Galactic Council was formed to enforce precious peace, and it has taken many courageous efforts to prevent the escalation of malicious acts. Nevertheless, tension and discord are growing among the seven major species and in the Council itself. Old alliances are shattering, and hasty diplomatic treaties are made in secrecy. A confrontation of the superpowers seems inevitable – only the outcome of the galactic conflict remains to be seen. Which faction will emerge victorious and lead the galaxy under its rule?

A game of Eclipse places you in control of a vast interstellar civilization, competing for success with its rivals. You will explore new star systems, research technologies, and build spaceships with which to wage war. There are many potential paths to victory, so you need to plan your strategy according to the strengths and weaknesses of your species, while paying attention to the other civilizations' endeavors.

The shadows of the great civilizations are about to eclipse the galaxy. Lead your people to victory!

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Year Published: 2011
Designers: Touko Tahkokallio
Publishers: Lautapelit.fi
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Best Game Expansion Nominee of 2011
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Rob Daviau
Publishers: Hasbro
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Richard Garfield
Publishers: IELLO
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Brian Engelstein
Publishers: Z-Man Games
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Nate French
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Mike Elliott
Publishers: WizKids
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Martin Wallace
Publishers: Treefrog Games
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Stefan Feld
Publishers: alea
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Mike Elliott
Publishers: WizKids
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Vlaada Chvátil
Publishers: WizKids
Year Published: 2011
Designers: Rob Daviau
Publishers: Hasbro
2012
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In Mice and Mystics, players take on the roles of those still loyal to the king – but to escape the clutches of Vanestra, they have been turned into mice! Play as cunning field mice who must race through a castle now twenty times larger than before. The castle would be a dangerous place with Vanestra's minions in control, but now countless other terrors also await heroes who are but the size of figs. Play as nimble Prince Collin and fence your way past your foes, or try Nez Bellows, the burly smith. Confound your foes as the wizened old mouse Maginos, or protect your companions as Tilda, the castle's former healer. Every player will have a vital role in the quest to warn the king, and it will take careful planning to find Vanestra's weakness and defeat her.

Mice and Mystics is a cooperative adventure game in which the players work together to save an imperiled kingdom. They will face countless adversaries such as rats, cockroaches, and spiders, and of course the greatest of all horrors: the castle's housecat, Brodie. Mice and Mystics is a boldly innovative game that thrusts players into an ever-changing, interactive environment, and features a rich storyline that the players help create as they play the game. The Cheese System allows players to hoard the crumbs of precious cheese they find on their journey, and use it to bolster their mice with grandiose new abilities and overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.

Mice and Mystics will provide any group of friends with an unforgettable adventure they will be talking about for years to come – assuming they can all squeak by...



Expansion advice:

For those who have expansions for this game the recommended order by the game designer for playing them is as follows (see original post HERE):

Sorrow and Remembrance (Base game)
Cat's Cradle (Lost Chapter 1)
Heart of Glorm
The Ghost of Castle Andon (Lost Chapter 2)
Downwood Tales
Portents of Importance (Lost Chapter 3), connected to the story in Tail Feathers



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Year Published: 2012
Designers: Jerry Hawthorne
Publishers: Plaid Hat Games
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Year Published: 2012
Designers: Vital Lacerda
Publishers: Giochix.it
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Joanna Kijanka
Publishers: Portal Games
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Geoff Engelstein
Publishers: Stronghold Games
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Aaron Dill
Publishers: Gale Force Nine, LLC
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Vital Lacerda
Publishers: Giochix.it
2012
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Best War Game of 2012
1812 - The Invasion of Canada

The year is 1812. War is raging across Europe and Russia. Napoleon, emperor of France, is seeking to dominate Europe through conquest. France’s enemies, led by England, are engaged in a desperate struggle to defeat Napoleon. England, in dire need of men, is impressing men to serve in its navy. Included are Americans who are pressed into service at gunpoint.

The young American nation objects. Eager to defend its sovereign rights and to strengthen its position in North America, the United States declares war on Britain on June 18, 1812. Taking advantage of the British Army being occupied in its struggles against Napoleon, American forces invade Canada in order to drive the British from its last remaining colony on North American soil. Surprised, Britain reels from the attack and now has to face another enemy threat on another front.

In 1812 - The Invasion of Canada, players take on one of the roles of the major factions that took part in the War of 1812. On the British side these are represented by the British Regulars (Redcoats), Canadian Militia and Native Americans; and the American Regular Army and American Militia comprise the American players. Players for each side will cooperate with each other in order to plan and conduct their campaigns. Each side will attempt to capture Objective Areas on the map. When a truce is called, the side that controls the most enemy Objective Areas wins.

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Year Published: 2012
Designers: Beau Beckett
Publishers: Academy Games, Inc.
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Best War Game Nominee of 2012
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Jason Matthews
Publishers: GMT Games
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Ed Beach
Publishers: GMT Games
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Volko Ruhnke
Publishers: GMT Games
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Dan Verssen
Publishers: Dan Verssen Games (DVG)
Year Published: 2012
Designers: Jason Matthews
Publishers: GMT Games
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