UK Games Expo 2024
The build up to this year’s UK Games Expo (UKGE) has been more turbulent than I liked. Despite booking the hotel over a year ago I forgot to book the time off work! Other commitments also means we will not be stomping the halls as a family, a mix of GCSE revision and other opportunities.
Of course, the thing I am most looking forward to, like always, is seeing people from the board game community. Some, I will be lucky enough to sit down and play a game with too. One of the big draws of UKGE for me is the open gaming and it is one of the big things I missed when I went to Essen Spiel last year.
You’ll notice some numbers in brackets in this post. These relate to the location in the halls of the NEC and I include them as they may be handy to you!
Something that probably doesn’t get enough love in my UKGE Previews is the small independent stall holders. I will be rushing to buy a cute and colourful dragon from Lapin Crafts (1-208), seeing the wares on offer at Brambledown Designs (1-1155) and Critical Kit (2-458), looking at the art on show at Meeple Design (2-989), adding to my collection of Shirts and Merch tees (2-358), and looking for more D20 potions at Roll for Creativity (2-454) to name but a few that may well lighten my wallet!
I do tend to walk blinkered past the majority of board game sellers as the majority of the games can be purchased cheaper, often from the same stores online! That said Button Shy are hard to find and I like their wallet games. They sold out quickly last year so will be paying them more attention earlier!
Not on this list are games that are at UKGE that I have already played and love, if these new games aren’t on your radar yet, be sure to go check them out: Faraway, Sky Team, Art Society and Lacuna!
Stuff by Bez (1-T11)
I feel like I say this every year but visiting Bez’s stand is always worthwhile! It is a tradition for me now! Their games may take you out of your comfort zone, but Bez’s creations are guaranteed to delight and entertain. If you can’t find the stand keep your eyes peeled for a blast of red in hall one!
Cities (1-602)
Although this list isn’t in any particular order Cities is high up the list as it was one that looked like it was my kinda game. It felt accessible to learn but with plenty to think about. Plus, it is designed by Steve Finn and Phil Walker-Harding. If you’re there anyway, you might also want to check out the pick-up and deliver game Sand that has been grabbing some of the hotness lists recently!
Happy Home (1-714)
I can’t decide which of Alley Cat Games new releases I am more excited about, Ada’s Dream or Happy Home. I think it is the latter but only because I am more likely to get it to the table often and the names Matthew Dunstan and James Gilbert are attached to it. These two have been producing some cracking games recently so I am excited for this one! Ada’s Dream has a more interesting premise however. The game centers around math’s pioneer and daughter of Lord Byron, Ada Lovelace. Specifically her vision for the first ever computing machine building on the principals of the analytic machine created by Charles Babbage.
The Strange Forgeries Of Mr. S.C. Rheber (2-889)
Is a crowdfunded game from independent publisher Beyond Words Games that I am questioning why I didn’t back! The curious title: The Strange Forgeries Of Mr S.C. Rheber is echoed by the quirky artwork that reminds me of the illustrations of Ronald Searle and Gerald Scarfe I saw in books growing up. It’s an induction game with drawing elements. If like me you want to find out what that means, you will have to head over to the stand!
Rebirth (1-618)
The Kickstarter campaign for the deluxe copy of Rebirth is nearly finished so this is a great opportunity to see the game before you pledge on the campaign. I am super close to clicking the pledge button on this new Reiner Knizia title and probably will have by the time you’ve read this! If you are at the Mighty Boards stand, you might as well check out Art Society at the same time!
Courtisans (2-614)
There is always so much to see at the Hachette stand, not least the fancy dress of the team! I am surprising myself that I am not leading their offerings with Pacman Quoridor, Slide, or the unusually named Doggerland (not a game about what you think!) Instead, Courtisans grabbed my attention the most, not least because it is the number one game that my good friend Marie (@burtons_boards on Instagram) wants to check out. It’s simple to learn yet still strategic with a touch of spice. It’s probably best if I just quote Marie: “It’s pretty and I have a soft spot for games that hide their meanness behind their beauty!”
Luthier (1-726)
I mentioned Luthier when I talked about Distilled in my UKGE Preview last year. The Vincent Dutrait artwork sings like a siren luring you in to the Paverson Games stand. The heavier weight and synergy between theme and mechanics should keep you lured in. If you want to add another string to your bow at UKGE be sure to check out this violin-themed board game!
Molehill Meadows (1-325)
Flip and write fans will rejoice at the snug feeling that Molehill Meadows exudes. Tunnel across the flower-filled meadows and unlock mighty worm powers. I backed it on its recent Gamefound campaign so I will be stopping by to pick up my copy of the game! It’s also not too late to ‘late pledge’ on Gamefound if you fall in love with Mika the Mole too!
Ironwood (1-618)
Any title by Mindclash Games deserves attention. The production quality is always impressive and the gameplay equally as beguiling. This 1-2 player game is currently available to preorder on Gamefound. Ironwood boasts highly asymmetric skirmish gameplay and one of my favourite mechanisms: dual-use cards!
Don Quixote: The Ingenious Hidalgo (2-863)
There is something about this title that cajoled me into investigating it further. Based very closely to the text of Miguel de Cervantes, players will vote each round whether to help in Don Quixote’s quest of love or glory, or increase his delusion! With a clever mechanic that changes the value of your set collection as you go, it might be worth seeing if this one is for you too!
Spokes (1-228)
The colour palette of Spokes zings and is tied in nicely to the racing gameplay. The velodrome is the arena for this game and players will be swapping spokes on their wheel for one on the track aiming to make contiguous coloured tracks to whizz around the velodrome. It looked great and I am keen to see how it plays over the weekend. I will also be checking out the second edtion of Forks also by Radical 8 Games as I pledged for a copy of that earlier this year.
Muster: Raise the Banners (2-899a)
I cannot tell you what drew me to Muster Raise the Banners amongst the plethora of new titles at UKGE. However, something about this two player game grabbed my attention. This card game feels kind of similar to Schotten Totten which is no bad thing, but the artwork and twists that this game offers makes it still one to see!
SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (1-618)
New titles from Czech Games Edition always peak my interest and this heavier planetary exploration title looks like it will be another universal hit! Explore, probe, survey or orbit to hopefully discover extraterrestrial life forms! Sounds like a stellar board game right?
Belratti (1-602)
This offering from Kosmos Games offers some wholesome family fun. Work together in two roles: buyers and painters, against the game. You will be trying to avoid the fake works of art by the famous Belratti (a rodenty play on the name of German art forger Beltracchi). While there you will probably be wowed by the table presence of Nunatak: Temple of Ice too!
Final thoughts on UKGE 2024
The UK Games Expo is always a lot of fun, but staying up this late to tell you all about the exciting stuff I’ve seen at the Press Preview means this conclusion is short! I cannot wait to explore the halls some more, catch up with friends, old and new, and play some board games! Be sure to say hello if you see me about!
