Subscribe now via RSS or via iTunes.
Show notes and links:
Featured game review – Shadowrun Crossfire
- Matt and Dave review Shadowrun Crossfire, a cooperative deck-building game that’s very difficult to win. Seriously, we have not won yet.
- The larger Shadowrun universe can enhance your enjoyment of the game, but those unfamiliar with it will still have fun.
- Fire and Frost is a forthcoming book set in the Shadowrun universe.
- Dominion is a similar, popular deck-building game.
- Firefly’s Mandarin swears. Matt promised to learn to pronounce some.
- Everquest as an example of an MMORPG.
- World of Warcraft, another MMORPG stalwort.
- “Faceman,” or “Face” did all the talking on The A-Team.
Recommendations:
Dave’s take: It’s fun and you should get it, but gird your loins. You probably won’t win.
Matt’s take: It’s a compelling game but I can’t recommend it as a definite buy. Too difficult. Perhaps expansions will make it easier.
What are we playing?

Dave’s messy character sheet, as described.
Aaron – D&D 5th edition. The venerable RPG has gotten a nice makeover from parent company Wizards of the Coast. Also mentioned:
- D&D Encounters, as produced by Wizards of the Coast.
- D&D adventurer’s league
- Dave’s final adventure in Achtung! Cthulhu via RPG Diaries.
Aaron’s recommendation: If you’ve got an interest in D&D, and are lucky enough to have a game store near by, to and play D&D Encounters. It’s a very casual atmosphere and extremely welcoming to new players.
Dave – Gloom (by Keith Baker, plays 2–4 ages 8 and up), a story-telling card game about making your “family” miserable while making others happy. It’s twisted in an Edward Gorey kind of way. Also mentioned:
- Here’s the Tabletop gang playing Gloom.
- Cthulhu Gloom adds everyone’s favorite elder god to the mix.
Dave’s recommendations: Gloom is hilarious but needs the right group. If you’re not comfortable making up a story on the fly, or if public speaking is not your thing, move along. Otherwise, have at it. Kids should enjoy making silly stories.
Matt – Steam Park (by Aureliano Buonfino, plays 2–4 ages 10 and up), a great-looking city-building game that’s deeper than you’d think at first glance.
Matt’s recommendation: Fun for the family and more thought-provoking than you’d think. Setup is time-consuming, though.
If you like…
This is the segment that introduces you to new games. This week our feature review was Shadowrun Crossfire. If you like that game (or deck-building games in general), you’ll probably like…
- The Pathfinder adventure card game combines elements of a classic RPG and a deck-builder. It’s a cooperative game for 1–4 players.
- Dominion. You can’t talk about deck-building games without mentioning Dominion from Rio Grande Games. Hire minions, construct buildings and stuff your treasury. For 2–4 players aged 13 and up.
- Fantastiqa. Slay creatures and fulfill quests in this atmospheric deck-builder. You build your deck by subduing creatures you find. From Gryphon games, plays 2–4 ages 8 and up.
- Android Netrunner. Cyperpunk! Expose the secrets of massive corporations hidden behind ice. Fantasy Flight Games, 2–4 players ages 13 and up.
- Munchkin. The light-hearted, hack-and-slash card game is everywhere. There are more iterations available than we can count. This one’s good for the family. Munchkin is from Steve Jackson games, and plays 2–8 ages 8 and up.
- Tanto Cuore. This (admittedly divisive) card game has you hiring maids to work in your mansion. Here’s our full review of Tanto Cuore. It’s from Japanamie Games and plays 2-4 ages 12 and up.
- Ghost Stories is another title that’s very, very difficult to win. It’s a deck-builder like the others, but it offers four levels of difficulty: Initiation, Normal, Nightmare and Hell. That should tell you all you need to know. Ghost Stories is from Asmodee and plays 1-4 players aged 12 and up.
Dave can be found at @davidcaolo on Twitter.
Aaron can be found at Wet Frog Studios and Aaron Mahnke dot com.
Matt can be found at Wicked Fun Games.