11 kinds of beans (this English version includes all the cards from the original game and the first expansion). Players try to collect large sets of beans to sell for gold. There is limited growing space and always new beans to plant. To avoid planting unwanted beans, players trade them to other players who want them for their bean fields.

Europe is in the age of imperialism. Internationally operating financial investors aim for the highest political influence in Europe. Great Britain, German Reich, Russian Empire, Austria-Hungary, Kingdom of Italy, and Republic of France are each controlled by different investors.

A Fool’s Fortune is a game of mischief, magic, mirth, and lore all portrayed in the style of Rummy. Players dive into the Book of Fate to reveal mysterious fortunes: resources, realms near and far, supernatural forces, intriguing folk, and more as they race to make sets and recruit all sorts of wondrous characters.

Empires rise and fall. In the buffer areas and crossroads between civilizations, however, a clever ruler can sometimes adopt new ideas, establish trade, and found a city state — such as the great Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon — that will outlast many neighboring empires. Phoenicia is about building an empire worthy of an entry into the annals of time. You must build up your economy and increase your population whilst holding all others at bay. You will be challenged by your neighboring countries to the next technology advancement …

The surrounding civilizations offer rich booty and the Gods support those who worship them and build great monuments to their glory.

There’s one thing I can definitely say that I’ve learned about tabletop gaming this week, it’s to not judge a game by the box it comes in

Players representing different Mayan tribes place their workers on giant connected gears, and as the gears rotate they take the workers to different action spots.

I like this better than the original. I pretty much never want to play the base game again.

Very surprised how much I enjoyed this one.

Brutal little “gateway” filler.