Hello everyone!
Here we go with Day 2 of my very first SPIEL Essen! If you missed the start of the adventure, you can catch up on Day 1 here.
Day 2 was a day of contrasts, with some wonderful moments, some frustrating ones, and one big lesson: a good presentation can change everything.
Getting there
The day started with a lovely sunny morning, at least until we left the hotel. Then it turned windy and rainy. 🌧️
Getting to Essen was easy this time, no Uber adventure needed! The metro between Essen Central Station and the Messe was packed, but nothing abnormal.
We were both more tired than yesterday, though, and the Messe was already crowded when we arrived. That brought a feeling of tiredness and impatience for both of us.
Esper Games: 99x1 and Dream Hoppers
99x1: designed by Rodrigo Esper · Illustrated by OKU · BGG page Dream Hoppers: designed by Rodrigo Esper and Alex Olteanu · Illustrated by Gou Eisuke · BGG page Published by Esper Game Studio
Our first stop was Esper Games, where we talked with Rodrigo Esper, the founder and designer. He presented two games to us, and the story behind them won me over straight away. They first talked with the artists, and only then designed the games around their art. Instead of art made for a game, you get a game made for the art. I love that idea!
In Dream Hoppers, you are guardians of a child’s dreams, preparing good dreams and memories while keeping the nightmares away. It’s a cooperative game for 3 to 6 players, illustrated by Gou Eisuke in a colourful Japanese style. Even the backs of the cards are gorgeous!
99x1 is a competitive/cooperative game where one player is the swordsman and the others play the demons, to see who wins the fight. It’s illustrated by OKU, and I loved how the red demons are drawn as a family, happy and close together, while the swordsman in blue looks colder and less friendly.
We only saw the games presented, without playing. Even though the ideas and art are gorgeous, both are games for 3 players or more, so they don’t really fit my way of playing. Still, I loved the presentation and the games themselves.
Vesuvius Media: the Dwar7s saga
Designed and illustrated by Luís Brueh · On BGG: Dwar7s Fall, Dwar7s Winter, Dwar7s Spring and Flame & Forge
I’ve been following the Dwar7s saga for a while now, so I was curious to hear about it at Vesuvius Media. The person at the booth was so enthusiastic, and it was refreshing: everything made sense. The way he explained the gameplay of each game, and the story that connects them, was magnificent.
What I love most is how the saga follows the cycle of the seasons. In Fall, you fight against each other for power. In Winter, you fight creatures. In Spring, you start exploring more and more. And you end in Summer with Flame & Forge, and a dragon destroying everything. The image of that cycle is wonderful.
I was completely charmed, and I wasn’t the only one: the presenter’s enthusiasm made my boyfriend smile too, and I think he’d say yes to playing it. Unfortunately, only half of the four games in the series can be played solo, and I don’t feel like buying them right now. Maybe another time! Either way, thank you for this joyful moment. 😊
Into the crowds
Next, I went looking for Fame & Fable from Board Game Circus. I was so curious about this one, and the art looks gorgeous, but the only copy available was in German. I’ll try again tomorrow!
After that, we spent a lot of time moving between booths, trying to avoid the most crowded spots. The thing I noticed most today was the big bags and suitcases everyone carries around for their games. They turned moving around the Messe into real confusion and madness.
A tougher stretch: Gaudí and Oniro
Gaudí: designed by Dani Garcia · Illustrated by Edu Valls · Published by Devir · BGG page Oniro: published by Magic Box
After that frustrating moment, I stopped by Devir hoping to try Gaudí, but all the tables were taken. Looking at it more closely left me with mixed feelings. I was expecting a wow moment from the board, but it felt confusing and not as bright as I’d imagined. Maybe I was just too tired to enjoy it, and I’d need to play it to really understand it.
Then I tried Oniro at Magic Box, a solo puzzle game where you’re in a labyrinth, shown on a single card, and have to find the best combination of moves to get out. The explanation was so superficial that I couldn’t understand the goal or the story behind it. I played two challenges and struggled to solve them, which is unusual for me, as I’m normally good at this kind of game.
Archona Games: Light in the Dark
Designed by Kai Starck · Illustrated by Daniel Cunha · Published by Archona Games · BGG page
At Archona Games, I got a presentation of Light in the Dark, a solo dungeon crawler set in the Pest universe. I love the theme: you defend the city against animals and invaders, while trying to grow your renown and become a reference in the city by fighting the plague and healing it. So it caught my interest, and I came back later to buy the base game! There’s also an expansion in late pledge on Gamefound, but it wasn’t available yet.
The presentation itself, though, lacked enthusiasm and didn’t explain the theme well, when it could have shone. If I hadn’t already known the theme, I probably wouldn’t have been won over. The purchase was a bit odd too: when I asked for a receipt, I was told it needed the boss’s approval first, which surprised me.
Cephalofair Games: Gloomhaven: Buttons & Bugs
Designed by Joe Klipfel and Nikki Valens · Illustrated by Yanis Cardin and Mofei Wang · Published by Cephalofair Games · BGG page
And then came the presentation that changed everything.
As I told the presenter, I’ve never been able to bring myself to play Gloomhaven. The size of the box, how big the game is, the theme, the way it looks: none of it attracts me. I’ve even tried watching videos on Facebook, and there was no way.
So he presented Buttons & Bugs to us, with a full explanation of the rules. His enthusiasm and clear explanations changed my mind, and I decided to give it a try. I bought it! My boyfriend liked it too, especially the fighting side. A brilliant presentation. 👏
Lovemore Games: Jewel Box
Designed by Zac Loveless · Illustrated by Megan Galura · Published by Lovemore Games · BGG page
At Lovemore Games, we discovered Jewel Box, a lovely-looking game about collecting beetles. Sadly, the presentation didn’t manage to sell it to me: I still don’t know what the goal is, who we are or what we’re doing. It sounded a little like In the Footsteps of Darwin, but I didn’t really get it, which makes me a bit sad, because the game looked beautiful.
XOLLOX Games: The Fog: Escape from Paradise
Designed by Robert Müller-Reinwarth · Illustrated by Unique Litani Soparie · Published by XOLLOX Games · BGG page
The young woman presenting The Fog: Escape from Paradise was very nervous, even shaking, but her presentation was good! The game takes place on an island where a sudden fog starts spreading, and you need to bring everyone to the boats to keep them safe. Everything sounded nice, and visually it made sense too. They also mentioned their next game, The Voyage, which will follow the journey of the people from the boats, though it wasn’t on display at the fair.
Then I was invited to join a table that was just starting, so I did. The game was shortened on purpose for the fair, and we played three rounds. That was too short to feel its whole potential, but enough to get a taste. My only criticism is the way rounds work, as you can spend a lot of time waiting without playing. Still, I enjoyed testing it and figuring out how to use the different movement types, and having to think about who was left behind is a nice twist.
My favourite of the day
The Dwar7s saga, without hesitation. The art by Luís Brueh has that childlike touch that is so characteristic of the series, and the cycle of the seasons gives the whole saga a wonderful sense of story. If I ever dive in, Fall would be my first season to play, right at the start of the cycle. ✨
What I take away from Day 2
On the second day, tiredness sets in and people become less patient. The fair is very crowded, and there’s almost nowhere to sit unless you take a booth table to play or a seat in the busy food areas. My boyfriend isn’t that keen on board games, so it would have been nice if he could rest somewhere while I carried on with my visit. In the end, he managed a little break on one of the few booth couches. A fair this big really needs places to rest.
The bags and suitcases alone would be manageable, but a lot of people don’t mind pushing you to get past, and that’s not nice at all.
As for the presentations, today showed me both sides: some people clearly loved board games and shared that love, while others seemed less engaged. To be fair, by the second day, the people working at the booths are probably just as tired as we are. Still, for me, the presentation and the story behind a game are a big part of the experience. I didn’t come here to buy on impulse. I came to discover our industry, and publishers and games I didn’t even know existed. That’s why a presenter who takes a moment to understand who’s in front of them makes such a difference.
End of Day 2
A tiring day, but one full of discoveries, and two new games coming home with me: Light in the Dark and Gloomhaven: Buttons & Bugs.
And a small confession: remember my promise of a notebook full of names? Today I was too tired to write any down. 😅
Tomorrow is my last day, with second attempts at Fame & Fable and Fear of the Dark on my list!
Have you ever been to SPIEL Essen? And what makes a booth presentation win you over?
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