One gimmick I thought was neat was in GALENUS. I didn't love the game overall, because there's a ton of player interaction so the competition for certain action locations can be fierce. But I like how one of the action spaces you can visit lets you buy you a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd tiebreaker token. The 1st tiebreaker token has the weakest extra perk, the 2nd tiebreaker's perk is slightly better, and the 3rd tiebreaker has the best. So if ever a tie comes up in the game-as it inevitably does-you know right away who will win the tie because of who got the tokens, and you can plan around that to give yourself the advantage.
I think its a good idea. There are definitely a lot of things that stayed a gimmic, like the cross road system from dead of winter or things like the tower in return of the dark tower. There are definitely enough games that use these unique gimicki things.
Just kept thinking about it, so there would be the wheel in barrage as an example for a clear, neat gimmick, of the gears in tzolkin, anything with clear cards, like canvas, whenever red foil is used to read hidden messages, like in Nemesis the scanner, the 15 min soundtrack for 15 min zombies with the occasional growling which has gameplay significance, everything in treasure island, all kinds of towers you throw stuff in, be it zees 10 or the dark tower of the oven is Frost Punk, the wird player powers you get in roll camera (like doing special effect noises when throwing dice or being in charge of the snacks), i would say any app used is a gimmick, depending on the game a good or bad one but definitely a gimmick, All these things are just not suitable to become staple mechanics like drafting or workerplacement, they are usually expensive to do and very specific in what they docfor the game. Other things that used to be gimmicks, like the binder used today in many campaign games, indeed became more than gimmicks. So it would be interesting to see where the dicetower xrew drew the line n.n
I have not bought many games that came out this year but the one I bought, I bought purely for its gimmick. In this game, each player board had 4 strips of cardboard that a player would extend depending on that player's action. Each strip had a specific theme and the items would get better, the further you extended the strip from the player board. The game is Carnegie.
I like King of Monster Island's volcano in principle but in practice I found it didn't work as well. The dice tend to scatter all over the place off the board and the volcano is big enough that it makes seeing the entire board more difficult. So when I play I just roll a six sided die for each of red die's location instead, it's not much more difficult that way and it eliminates those issues.
The problem with Turing machine is the easiest levels were too difficult for some and way too easy for others, I got it on the second turn every time and I had to wait SO long for everyone to finish having their turns just for me to say is solved it, while half the table had no clue what was happening. It just doesn’t work for everyone’s brains
But if that is the case, you can skip your whole first turn to give others a chance as part of the rules. Better yet, with newbies, it's much better to do it coop and all work on finding the number. Once that is done, then everyone can feel more at ease. Of course there will be differences in how fast people can uncover the code and that's where skipping your first 3 questions would help. Though I understand it might be a long downtime even so. I'm happy to play solo and do the harder ones now.
I guess I am a sucker for gimmicks. Turing machine might be my favorite game of the year and Dark Tower was an instant back when they relaunched on backerkit.
Thanks Zee, it is a great list, I enjoyed learning about these gimmicks
One gimmick I thought was neat was in GALENUS. I didn't love the game overall, because there's a ton of player interaction so the competition for certain action locations can be fierce. But I like how one of the action spaces you can visit lets you buy you a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd tiebreaker token. The 1st tiebreaker token has the weakest extra perk, the 2nd tiebreaker's perk is slightly better, and the 3rd tiebreaker has the best. So if ever a tie comes up in the game-as it inevitably does-you know right away who will win the tie because of who got the tokens, and you can plan around that to give yourself the advantage.
The Shivers with pop-up rooms! I just got my copy of the game a few weeks ago, and these pop-up rooms are so neat!
Always love your reviews the most Z ✌️
How about a top 10 gimmicks of all times?
That's be though. Whats yesterday's gimmick could be today's mechanic.
I think its a good idea. There are definitely a lot of things that stayed a gimmic, like the cross road system from dead of winter or things like the tower in return of the dark tower.
There are definitely enough games that use these unique gimicki things.
Just kept thinking about it, so there would be the wheel in barrage as an example for a clear, neat gimmick, of the gears in tzolkin, anything with clear cards, like canvas, whenever red foil is used to read hidden messages, like in Nemesis the scanner, the 15 min soundtrack for 15 min zombies with the occasional growling which has gameplay significance, everything in treasure island, all kinds of towers you throw stuff in, be it zees 10 or the dark tower of the oven is Frost Punk, the wird player powers you get in roll camera (like doing special effect noises when throwing dice or being in charge of the snacks), i would say any app used is a gimmick, depending on the game a good or bad one but definitely a gimmick,
All these things are just not suitable to become staple mechanics like drafting or workerplacement, they are usually expensive to do and very specific in what they docfor the game. Other things that used to be gimmicks, like the binder used today in many campaign games, indeed became more than gimmicks. So it would be interesting to see where the dicetower xrew drew the line n.n
I have not bought many games that came out this year but the one I bought, I bought purely for its gimmick. In this game, each player board had 4 strips of cardboard that a player would extend depending on that player's action. Each strip had a specific theme and the items would get better, the further you extended the strip from the player board. The game is Carnegie.
3000 scoundrels was a very pleasant surprise this year
Japan trick-taking has some insane gimmicks that always JUST WORK SO WELL. It's a damn hoot
Got examples I can take a look? ;p
So glad Dead Reckoning made the list, that is such a fantastic game, and you are right, that ship cube tower is just spectacular!
I do love Guild of Merchant Explorers and Cat in the Box, and they are both way outside my normal types of games.
I really enjoyed 3000 scoundrels! I’m looking forward to trying Turing Machine
Spaceship Unity did something, I haven't seen in any other game. Not for everyone - but genius.
I like King of Monster Island's volcano in principle but in practice I found it didn't work as well. The dice tend to scatter all over the place off the board and the volcano is big enough that it makes seeing the entire board more difficult. So when I play I just roll a six sided die for each of red die's location instead, it's not much more difficult that way and it eliminates those issues.
I would have bet money that planet unknown was high on this list
I think Shake That City isn’t here because it won’t be for sale until next year, but its shaker definitely belongs in next year’s Top 10 Gimmicks.
I like the tree in the background...Not really tree shape... Looks kinda like a tree post.
The problem with Turing machine is the easiest levels were too difficult for some and way too easy for others, I got it on the second turn every time and I had to wait SO long for everyone to finish having their turns just for me to say is solved it, while half the table had no clue what was happening. It just doesn’t work for everyone’s brains
But if that is the case, you can skip your whole first turn to give others a chance as part of the rules. Better yet, with newbies, it's much better to do it coop and all work on finding the number. Once that is done, then everyone can feel more at ease. Of course there will be differences in how fast people can uncover the code and that's where skipping your first 3 questions would help. Though I understand it might be a long downtime even so. I'm happy to play solo and do the harder ones now.
I figured Dark Tower would be on the list and Turing Machine would be very high. I wonder where So Clover ranks for Zee in gimmicks of 2022.
Dark Tower is on the list, no? No 4?
Oh, it was not a question, sorry!
I guess I am a sucker for gimmicks. Turing machine might be my favorite game of the year and Dark Tower was an instant back when they relaunched on backerkit.
Weird, the new dice tower "studio" didn't make the list. Lol
an overpriced pez dispenser gets #4...lol
For me, Chaotic /= fun.
Betting on horse races really doesn't work that way 😄
He didn’t say it was accurate, just that it evokes the same excitement of rooting for a horse in a race