Gen Con 2014

I survived my second Gen Con and am pleased to report that the gaming industry is thriving.  Dubbed the best four days in gaming, Gen Con set a new attendance record of over 56,000 unique visitors and weekend turnstile counts surpassing 184,000.  Last year I dubbed a winner of Gen Con, but this year did not have a feeling that one gaming company had a stronger show than another.  It really was a situation that the gamers are the real winners considering the innovation and creativity that this industry is producing.

Biggest Surprise - Munchkin Panic
I will admit that I had my reservations about the Munchkin branding of one of my family's favorite games.  Castle Panic and Dead Panic are staples on my gaming shelf that really deliver a great cooperative gaming experience that I didn't think would mesh with the Munchkin way.  I am happy to report that I was dead wrong and should learn to trust Fireside Games.  Justin De Witt took us through a demo and it was an absolute blast.  The great John Kovalic produced some stunning visuals for the game and the mechanics of treasures, castle cards, and curses created a unique experience that makes this a completely different experience than Castle Panic. I wish we got to try it with the mini-expansion that is included in the game to add even more Munckin to our game, but I appreciate that the game allows you to customize how much Munchkin you incorporate into your tower defense.

Best Event - Pandemic Survival
My friend and I had the good fortune of participating in Z-Man Games first ever Pandemic Survival event.  It brought together teams of two and had them compete in the same game of Pandemic in a valiant effort to save mankind from the four diseases that seek to wipe it out.  While we didn't fare as well as we had hoped (we were second to last), it was one of the highlights of the convention.  It was an absolute blast and I walked away feeling excited and that I was ready to play again.

Best of my Haul:
Enough about that. What about the games that I picked up?  One of the highlights is filling up the trunk of my car with the new games and hoping my wife isn't too upset with the amount of money spent.  Here are a couple of the notable games that I have already been enjoying with my family.

Machi Koro - It was great to finally play this game and bring a copy home to play with my son (he loves it!).  It is a game where the premise is simple and light in the early stages, but ramps up as you progress and unlock the ability to build new buildings and unlock special abilities.  Lots of tense moments late in the game as you attempt to roll for the card that will put you over the top.

King of New York - The sequel to King of Tokyo had a lot to live up to, and I am pleased to report that it is a worthy sequel to its predecessor.  What I love most about King of New York is that the player actually is a giant monster rampaging through the city.  You gain points and abilities for knocking down buildings, are fired upon by the military, and get to trek all over the city as you attempt to earn your 20 victory points.

Thursday Morning Superhero: Gen Con Edition

As you read this I will be either adventuring on the exhibition floor or playing in a ticketed event as I embark on my second Gen Con experience.  Last year was an absolute blast and, with one year under my belt, I feel better prepared to take advantage of all the Gen Con has for us gamers.  For my second dance I will be competing in a Munckin tournament, a Doomtown: Reloaded tournament, and am going to be one of the lucky few playing the Cones of Dunshire of Parks and Rec fame.  Throw in fighting the crowds to pick up exclusives, demo upcoming titles, and bringing home loot for the family, and it is going to be a great four days of gaming.  Today I am going to present the top five games that I am most excited about getting my grubby paws on.  Not all of them are releasing at Gen Con, but I will be able to play them and am looking forward to seeing if they are as good as I hope.  They are presented in no particular order.

1.  Machi Koro from IDW Games and Pandasaurus Games - Machi Koro sounds like it is going to be a streamlined, Catan-style game, that can be played from start to finish in 30 minutes.  In the game, players are assuming the role of a newly appointed mayor who is seeking to upgrade the town to keep the citizens happy.  This is done through the construction of building and dice rolling.  What is intriguing to me is that you are collecting only one resource, money, and that later in the game you can focus on buildings that would require you to roll two dice or only one.  It looks as if it is going to be one of those rare games that is both simple and complex at the same time.  The amazing art doesn't hurt either.

2.  King of New York from Iello - King of Tokyo is possibly my favorite game that currently resides on my gaming shelf.  It is incredibly easy to learn, difficult to master, and combines enough strategy and luck that it is fun for all involved.  When I am introducing a new friend to gaming it is one of the gateway games that I turn to.  King of New York adds new monsters, new abilities, and allows the monsters to invade one of multiple Burroughs in the Big Apple.  I am going to start my Con this year by rushing with the masses to the Iello booth to see the press event and hopefully purchase a copy of my very own.

3. The Battle at Kemble's Cascade by Z-Man Games- They actually found a way to create a tabletop version of a classic arcade shooter.  I want to say more, but the trailer has more impact than anything I can say here.

4. Sheriff of Nottingham by Arcane Wonders - The first title in its Dice Towers Essentials line, the Sheriff of Nottingham seems like it will be loads of fun.  Lately games that are more social and involve bluffing have found the way to our gaming table.  When we have enough people we always break out The Resistance and have been playing a ton of Coup.  Sheriff of Nottingham seems to up the ante on bluffing games as you attempt to smuggle in goods into Nottingham by either bluffing or bribing the Sheriff.  What I am most intrigued by is the fact that the role of the Sheriff changes as the game is played.  Sounds like a lot of fun as players lie, cheat, and bribe their way past the Sheriff.

5.  Samurai Spirit by Funforge Games - All I needed to know about this one is that it is a cooperative samurai game designed by Antoine Bauza.  Can you and your fellow samurai defend the village from the invading bandits?  The more you fight the quicker you unlock your beast abilities, but there is always a cost associated with your choices.  With a competitive 7-year old gamer at home, I am always looking for more co-op games to play with him.  Samurai that turn into beasts sounds right up his alley.

POSTED BY MIKE N. -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.