This week, I tell Julius all about the one-shot RPG, Dawn of the Orcs. In this game, you and up to seven friends will play as the council of a kingdom under attack for a more powerful enemy empire. To fight back, the council approves the creation of an army of orc creatures. You play through a number of chapters describing the ongoing war and the evolution of the orcs you have constructed.

I really enjoyed this game and found it easy to play.

* Dawn of the Orcs (itch.io)

This week Julius previews So You've Been Cursed. It's a Scott Almes game that was on Kickstarter and has now been sent to backers so should be available soon. This is based on So You've Been Eaten, which we covered way back in episode 275! This is an asymentric game that can be played by 0, 1 or 2 players. You play as a wizard that has been cursed to turn into a werewolf at night; or, you play as a werewolf that is trying to make that curse permanent so he can always be a werewolf. When playing solo, you can choose whichever side you want to play an AI controls both. The game can be played against itself by having it play both sides!

• So You've Been Cursed (BGG)

I tend not to like roll and writes. I'm not sure what exactly it is but I don't seem to like the write aspect of the games, except for Yahtzee and maybe the Catan Dice Game. Fortunately, Julius is here to tell us about other roll & writes like the very large and complex Tend.

• Tend (BGG, IV Studio)

This week we look at a big game. S.E.T.I.: Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence is a game about trying to find alien life forms through science and exploration. The science and exploration portion is based on pretty darned real science. This is a really cool game by Tomáš Holek and published by Czech Games Edition. With simple rules, this game has a complex set of mechanics that are simple to understand because of how well the integrate with the theme.

• S.E.T.I. (BGG, CGE)

This week Julius and I look at games that use only cards and no other components. Julius snuck one game in that didn't quite fit and I tried to but wasn't as good at it.. Fortunately, there are quite a few games that fit the description. :D

• 02:30 For Northwood! (BGG)
• 06:50 Onirim (BGG)
• 10:00 Maiden's Quest (BGG)
• 13:18 Deckscape (BGG)
• 16:05 Skytear Horde (BGG)
• 20:40 Star Realms (BGG)

Honorable mentions

• 19:50 Kingdom Legacy: Feudal Kingdom (BGG)
• 22:50 PAX (BGG)
• 23:40 Oh My Goods! (BGG)
• 24:05 Button Shy Games
• 24:55 Fast Forward: Flee! (BGG)

Drive through African savannahs collecting exotic animals and plants for your nature park. This week we go wild with Habitats!

* Habitats (BGG)

This week we look at yet another Pandemic game. This one is the Lord of the Rings themed Fate of the Fellowship. This game does an excellent job of putting the characters into the story of the Lord of the Rings. The goal of this game is to take the ring to Mount Doom in Morder and destroy the ring by casting it into the flames.

It's a highly thematic game set that any Lord of the Rings fan should at least play once.

• Fate of the Fellowship (BGG, Z-Man)

This week, Julius talks about the game Oros. In this game, you play a good raising lands so that your followers can build you powerful temples atop volcanoes!