Leading up to GenCon 22, there are a plethora of previews of all the new games coming out over the next year. In a crowded market, building the hype beforehand is paramount. So, of course, there are talks before, during and after of new games no quite out yet (Terracotta Army), games that have been available for a few months (Ark Nova) and the tent poles of larger publishing companies like CGE (Starship Captains) and AES (The Guild of Merchant Explorers).
But over 500 games were being shown this year. Surely amongst them are some worthy contenders for people’s attention that just didn’t have the same reach! So among the Planet Unknowns, the Brazils and the Gutenbergs, here are my Top 5 GenCon 22 Eye-Catching Under the Radar Board Games.
Evergreen
Designed by: Hjalmar Hach
Published by: Horrible Guild
1-4 players
We start off with Evergreen by Hjalmar Hach. I don’t recall seeing this on anybody’s video previews or lists. But now, after looking at all of the obligatory #GenConhaul pictures on social media, I’m seeing it everywhere. Evergreen, in my opinion, has become THE sleeper hit of GenCon 22.
This is made all the more impressive when you realize that the booth was a no nonsense affair in the far back corner of Exhibiter Hall. It sold out by mid-day Saturday and has two things going for it.
One, as mentioned before, is the production quality. Double layered player boards, cute individualized tokens representing trees and water and cards where the art goes all the way to the edges. This is a beautiful game.
The other is that it is somewhat like popular game Photosynthesis (no surprise, it’s by the same designer) with one obvious difference. Instead of competing on a single board, each player is now building their own. This gives a sense of agency and ownership that is very appealing.
This is a game I am looking very forward to getting to the table.
Nacho Pile
Designed by: Ken Gruhl
Published by: Pandasaurus
2-6 players
How can this one not catch your eye? Nacho Pile literally comes in a chip bag that hangs on a hook and is used during game play. The tokens themselves are plastic tortilla chips that are drawn out of the bag and placed in front of you in the hopes of reaching your plate.
It’s a press your luck game where you hope that you are able to get chips to your plate when it comes to your turn. The trick to this game is that the winner is NOT the person with the most plated chips, but the player who has the most chips of the LAST chip in the bag.
Nacho Pile is a family friendly game that occupies the same game space as UNO, especially in the schadenfreude department.
Gimme That!
Designed by: Dave Cambpell
Published by: Dolphin Hat Games
3-8 players
Continuing with the theme that not all games have to be narrative works of genius that transport players to other worlds and possibilities, sometimes you just want to have stupid fun with your friends. Gimme That! by Dave Campbell delivers that in spades.
Or should I say spuds.
Simple in nature, players are racing to write from 1 to 100 on their piece of paper covered in blank potatoes (I don’t know why and it really doesn’t matter). The problem is, there’s only one pencil.
One chunky dice controls the game play as tables are pounded, sheets are switched and the precious pencil is stolen.
My wife and I happened to come across this game being played in the hallways of the Convention Center. They were being very, very loud. As we stopped to check the game out, we were invited to join in on the next one. We were taught the game in one minute. Fifteen minutes later, my heart was pounding, I was sweating buckets and, most importantly, laughing my fool head off.
Any game that attracts a crowd as it is being played is doing something right.
USPS: The Great American Mail Race
Designed by: Ed Naujokas
Published by: Big Potato Games
2-4 players
USPS: The Great American Mail Race caught everyone’s attention for two reasons. One was their booth. As it’s a game about the US Postal Service, they went all out and brought in an actual front yard and mail truck(!) into the Vendor Hall. Save for EBAYs two story tall display with a podcast booth on top, it certainly wins my Biggest Eye Catching Marketing Gimmick of GenCon.
It should come as no surprise that a game about the United States Postal Service is literally a pick up and deliver game. What does come as a surprise is who published it. Known more for their party and trivia games, Big Potato took a big chance by creating an actual board game, board-placed-in-the-middle-of-the-table and all.
The game itself is a light affair geared more towards families, as Big Potato likes to make their games as accessible as possible. But they have one more gimmick up their sleeve. For the individual scoring pad, instead of marking off accomplishments with a pencil, included in the game is a check mark stamp that is very, very fun to play with.
Game developers take note: If possible, add a CA-CHUNK! to the game.
Winterhaven Woods
Designed by: Joel Bodkin
Published by: Featherstone Games
1-6 players
While I was at the Featherstone Games booth, I had a chance to talk with the designer Joel Bodkin. He explained he designed Winterhaven Woods to teach the mechanics of Magic: The Gathering and booster drafting to his young son.
While that alone is a very cute and admirable story, there’s one big reason why I purchased this game. Along with being the game designer, Joel is also the artist. The artwork on the individual cards and the magnetic box are absolutely gorgeous!
Calm, eye-catching and beautiful, I can not wait to get this game to the table.
Those are my top 5 eye catching sleeper hits of GenCon 22. I’m sure there were others that caught your eye. Be sure to leave a comment below of some of yours.
I look forward to getting all of these games to the table and giving them and others the full review treatment.
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