Category: Card Games

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Pixel Tactics and a Mystery Wine!

Pixel Tactics and a Mystery Wine!

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Meeples & Wine: A Tactical Sip and Battle

Hey there, friends! It’s Michael and Suzy, your hosts of Meeples & Wine, the podcast where we review board games perfect for couples, with a drink in hand to keep things fun. We love hearing from you, so drop us a line at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn, or leave a voicemail at (707) 572-5282 or via our Speakpipe.

Also we’ll be at Lodge Con on November 1st! It’s at Will County Fairgrounds Atrium
710 S. West St., Peotone Illinois!

Let’s dive into this week’s episode!

Sipping Something Special

Today, we’re pouring a delightful wine to set the mood for game night. It’s WATER from the fridge, hailing from our kitchen. We’ve had quite a few Oktoberfest celebrations in the last few weeks, and for our own health and ability to function we have decided to skip the tasting for this episode. Remember everyone, re-hydrate!

Game Night: Pixel Tactics

This week, we’re playing Pixel Tactics, a head-to-head tactical card game that’s all about outsmarting your partner. You can find it on BoardGameGeek, though sadly, it’s no longer in print from Level 99 Games. Designed by D. Brad Talton, Jr. (the mind behind BattleCON Fighting System) and with art by Fábio Fontes and Maciej Mutwil, this game has a 6.8/10 rating on BGG and a medium-light complexity of 2.62/5. It’s strictly for two players, which makes it perfect for our couples’ game night.

So, what’s Pixel Tactics all about? Picture a pixelated battlefield where you and your opponent each command a 25-card deck. You secretly choose a Leader card to anchor your strategy, and their unique abilities shake up how every other card in your deck works. Each card can be played in three ways: as a Leader to start the match, as a one-time Order for a quick effect, or as a Hero placed in a 3×3 grid around your Leader. Heroes’ powers change depending on their position—Vanguard (front), Flank (sides), or Rear (back)—so placement is everything.

The game plays out in a series of matches, either best-of-3 or best-of-5. Each match has rounds split into three waves (Vanguard, Flank, Rear), where you take turns making moves like drawing cards, recruiting Heroes, attacking, playing Orders, clearing fallen Heroes (aka corpses), or shuffling your grid around. Combat’s a blast, with melee attacks hitting the closest enemy in a column, ranged attacks sniping anyone (unless blocked by a Hero with Intercept), or special attack powers for extra flair. The goal? Take down your opponent’s Leader to claim Trophies. First to two or three Trophies wins the game. Oh, and if you’re losing, you get to draw extra cards in later matches to even the odds—pretty clever!

There are tons of expansions out there, pulling in themes from video games, other board games, and even quirky crossovers. Check out the full list on BoardGameGeek if you’re curious!

How’s It Play for Couples?

So, how did Pixel Tactics hold up on our game night? Michael gave it a 7/10 for fun, Suzy, on the other hand, was all in with a 9/10. As for whether it’ll wreck your relationship, we’re happy to report it’s pretty safe. Michael gave it a 2.5/5 on the couch score, Suzy agreed with a 2/5.

Learning the rules took a bit—let’s call it a 1.5/5 on the time sink scale. It’s not a quick pickup, but once you get the hang of the waves and card roles, it flows smoothly. Expect a full game to run about 30-60 minutes, perfect for a cozy night in.

Wrapping Up

Before we sign off, let’s talk about what’s coming up. We’re super excited about Wizard Community College by David Marron, a cool project we found on Kickstarter. Next week, we’re diving into Terror Below from Renegade Game Studios—check out more details here.

Loved this episode? Share it with a friend or let us know what games and wines you want us to try next! Reach out at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn, or drop a voicemail at (707) 572-5282 or via Speakpipe.

That’s all for now, folks! Keep rolling dice, sipping wine, and enjoying those game nights. See you next time on Meeples & Wine! Buh-Bye!

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Sake-Fueled Samurai Showdown: Sipping TYKU Black While Dueling in Kiri-ai: The Duel

Sake-Fueled Samurai Showdown: Sipping TYKU Black While Dueling in Kiri-ai: The Duel

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First things first—what’s in the glass? We cracked open a bottle of Junmai Ginjo Super-Premium Sake, aka TYKU Black from the TY KU Sake Brewery. Brewed in Japan and bottled in Ewing, NJ (fancy, right?), this bad boy clocks in at 15.5% ABV with a 60% polish ratio—meaning they’ve shaved down the rice to unlock those silky flavors. We’re talking rich texture, hints of natural sweetness, peach, and vanilla on the nose. Over 200 flavor components and higher amino acids make it a killer white wine stand-in.

Pairing-wise? Oh man, it’s perfect for full-flavored seafood, marinated proteins, or oven-roasted dishes. We imagined it with some grilled salmon or teriyaki chicken while plotting our next move. Pro tip: If you’re feeling adventurous, grab a bottle here on their site and let it breathe a bit. By the end of the episode, that final sip? Still smooth as ever—no harsh changes, just pure elegance. Cheers to that!

The Game: Kiri-ai: The Duel – Clash of the Card-Programming Titans

Now, onto the star of the show: Kiri-ai: The Duel, a super-quick two-player brawler from designer Kamibayashi (with art by Unreliable Wizard) and publisher Mugen Gaming (US distribution via Lucky Duck Games, the folks behind Flamecraft). “Kiri-ai” is a badass compound word—”kiri” for “cut” or “sword,” and “ai” for “meeting” or “clash.” Basically, it’s the poetic way to say “let’s throw down.”

This one’s all about programmed movement and rock-paper-scissors tension. You’ve got a hand of cards for moves, attacks, and special strikes on a simple battlefield. Each round, you both secretly play two cards face down (the one closest to the battlefield goes first), then reveal and resolve ’em one by one. Advance, retreat, strike high or low—land two damaging hits on your opponent’s samurai, and boom, victory. BGG rates it a solid 7.1 with a light 1.42/5 complexity, so it’s accessible but sneaky strategic.

Quick Rules Rundown (No Spoilers, Promise)

  • Components: 16 cards total (2 samurai, 10 actions, 4 specials), plus a battlefield card (standard or advanced side).
  • Setup: Pick your color (Red or Blue Samurai), slap down the battlefield, deal 5 action cards each, snag a random special attack, and ditch the extra. Start in Heaven stance, three spaces apart.
  • Play: Program your two cards, reveal ’em. Movement first, then attacks. No passing your foe—if you try, you cozy up in the same space. Specials like Kesa or Counterattack add that “oh snap” factor—one use only, then they’re gone.
  • Endgame: Return your first card to hand, bench the second for the next round. Rinse, repeat. Two damage? You win.

We even chatted about the Don-ten no Kiri-ai expansion variant—flip the battlefield, divvy up all three specials, pick your starting spots and stances. Bonus: Corner your opponent in their back space without dying? Instant win. Check the full deets on Mugen Gaming’s site for the nitty-gritty.

For two players? It’s chef’s kiss intimate—like a chess match with swords. Pure duel energy, no downtime, and that simultaneous reveal had us yelling “What?!” more than once. Fun factor? Let’s just say it sparked some laughs (and maybe a little trash talk). Couch-banishing potential? Low—it’s quick and fair, unless you’re really competitive.

Head over to BoardGameGeek to geek out on ratings and expansions.

Last Call: Eyes on the Horizon

Before we pour one out, our Kickstarter radar pinged on Capybaras vs Pelicans by Disco What—a wild, absurd showdown that’s got us hyped. Capybaras chilling in hot springs? Pelicans dive-bombing? Sign. Us. Up. Back it here on Kickstarter and tell us what you think!

That’s a wrap, friends—another round of games, drinks, and zero regrets. Hit us up at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, drop a voicemail at (707) 572-5282, or slide into our DMs on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Love the show? Share it with your game-night squad!

See you next time on Meeples & Wine. Buh-bye! 🍶🎲

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Targi and Borsao Selección Blanco

Targi and Borsao Selección Blanco

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Borsao Selección Blanco is a delightful blend of Chardonnay and Macabeo grapes. The Chardonnay brings bright, fruity aromas, while the Macabeo provides structure and body. To preserve its vibrant fruit character, the wine is aged briefly, fermenting in French oak barrels.

The Macabeo grape, also known as Viura, is a versatile white wine grape found on both sides of the Pyrenees in Spain and France. Its flavor profile is quite dynamic; when harvested early and aged in stainless steel, it can be fresh, floral, and aromatic. However, when harvested later and aged in oak, it develops a more weighty, honeyed, and nutty character. This makes it a great wine to accompany your appetizer or pair with fish like hake or monkfish. (In case you’re wondering the image below is a monkfish…)

Big,monkfish,(lophius,piscatorius),on,a,white,background

Tonight’s game is Targi, a highly-rated 2-player board game with a BGG rating of 7.6/10 and a complexity weight of 2.34/5. Designed by Andreas Steiger and illustrated by Taira Akitsu and Franz Vohwinkel, this game is published by KOSMOS.

Targi

In Targi, you take on the role of a leader of a Tuareg tribe. Unlike other cultures, the Tuareg men, known as Targi, cover their faces while the women do not. As a tribal leader, you’ll trade goods like dates, salt, and pepper to earn gold and other benefits, all while trying to expand your tribe.

The game is played on a 5×5 grid, with 16 action spaces along the border and nine blank spaces in the center. Players take turns placing their meeples on the border spaces (avoiding corners and spaces directly across from an opponent’s meeple). Once all meeples are placed, you collect cards from the central grid that correspond to your meeple’s row and column. You can also carry out the actions on the border spaces.

We also have our eye on a cool game on Kickstarter: Camp Grizzly Second Edition by Trick or Treat Studios. After being out of print for over 10 years, this horror survival board game for 1-6 players is back. You play as camp counselors stalked by a maniac named Otis the Bear. To win, you must collect objectives to trigger one of four Finales. The game is filled with Easter eggs and lore, promising 80’s horror moments through the whole game.

If you’ve got a game that you’d like us to demo get in touch at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, at our Twitter (@Meeplesandwine) or Facebook or if you’d like to leave us a voicemail you can go to 

https://www.speakpipe.com/MeeplesandWine or call at (707) 572-5282!

You can also check out our quicklinks page! https://podcast.show/meeplesandwine/

87 radlands featured
Radlands and The Culprit Red Blend

Radlands and The Culprit Red Blend

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Welcome to Meeples and Wine! Your podcast of board game reviews for couples, with a drink in hand!

This week we’re playing Radlands by Roxley Games, a two-player only card game that pits you and your opponent as rival gangs in a post-apocalyptic world! Drawing from the same deck, you’ll defend your three camps with people ranging from the super accurate sniper to the lowly punk (though, remember, PUNKS ARE PEOPLE TOO!) Find synergies and combos to do damage and eventually destroy your opponent’s camps, while launching your raiders to do direct attacks! You can find Radlands at Roxley’s page HERE. (We don’t get any commissions, just helping you find it easy!)

We’re sipping on The Culprit red blend! “The Culprit” is a fruit-forward wine with intense aromas of ripe raspberries and toasty vanilla oak. It offers rich flavors of blackberry jam and dark chocolate, framed by a velvety texture, with a long, lingering, and smooth finish.

For our Last Call, we’re discussing “The Pawn’s Gambit” a chess card game on Gamefound right now! The Pawn’s Gambit is a chess-inspired card game for up to 6 players, blending strategy and tactical duels. Players aim to checkmate rivals or be the last with a surviving king using three card types: Opening Cards, which set unique strategies with medieval characters; Piece Cards, reflecting classic chess pieces; and Imbalance Cards, depicting warfare scenarios that shift game conditions. Win by securing two rounds or outlasting opponents in a chaotic, strategic showdown. You can get notified when it launches HERE! If you love the art, as we did, you can find their Instagram HERE.

If you’ve got a game that you’d like us to demo get in touch at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, at our Twitter (@Meeplesandwine) or Facebook or if you’d like to leave us a voicemail you can go to 

https://www.speakpipe.com/MeeplesandWine or call at (707) 572-5282!

You can also check out our quicklinks page! https://podcast.show/meeplesandwine/

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Sea Salt and Paper with Sea Glass Sauvignon Blanc

Sea Salt and Paper with Sea Glass Sauvignon Blanc

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This week we play PandaSaraus Game’s “Sea Salt & Paper” a nice relaxed set making game with some fantastic aquatic origami images with Sea Glass Winery’s Central Coast Sauvignon Blanc. Lately we’ve been playing some serious “take that” games like Smash Up, we take a 180 turn with Sea Salt & Paper, where you gather shells, octupi and other sea life to gather points to win. But be careful, if your opponent thinks they’ve got more points they can declare “Last Chance” and put all their (and your) points on the line!

We’re tasting Sea Glass winery’s Central Coast Sauvignon Blanc, a California white that keeps a citrus nose with a pear flavor, but keeps the bright acidity that New Zealand wines are known for.

Remember that if you want to get in touch, just give us a call at (707) 572-5282‬!

If you’ve got a game that you’d like us to demo get in touch at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, at our Twitter (@Meeplesandwine) or Facebook or if you’d like to leave us a voicemail you can go to 

https://www.speakpipe.com/MeeplesandWine or call at (707) 572-5282!

You can also check out our quicklinks page! https://podcast.show/meeplesandwine/

Smash Up! and the Whiskey Smash Cocktail

Smash Up! and the Whiskey Smash Cocktail

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Welcome to episode 80! This time around we’re playing the deck-drafting game Smash Up! by Alderac Entertainment Group. This 2-4 player game pits all the teams that you’ve wanted to see fighting against each other to lay claim to bases to score 15 victory points to win. Have you ever wanted to play Zombie Truckers, Kung-Fu Sheep, or Robot 70’s Vigilantes? All possible in Smash Up!

This episode we’re also not tasting a wine, but a cocktail, the Whiskey Smash (see the connection?) This simple cocktail with only a few ingredients, whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup and mint. It’s easy to make and has a nice sweet/sour flavor that goes well with just chilling out and playing your favorite game.

The Kickstarter last call is the Fallen London RPG based off the long running online text-based game of the same name. Venture into the world of Fallen London, which now sits at the bottom of a miles deep chasm, where demons and monsters dwell.

We also have an actual voicemail line now! Call us at 707-572-5282 and leave us a message!

If you’ve got a game that you’d like us to demo get in touch at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, at our Twitter (@Meeplesandwine) or Facebook or if you’d like to leave us a voicemail you can go to 

https://www.speakpipe.com/MeeplesandWine or call at (707) 572-5282!

You can also check out our quicklinks page! https://podcast.show/meeplesandwine/

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Summoner Wars and Ménage à Trois – Northern Seduction Red Blend

Summoner Wars and Ménage à Trois – Northern Seduction Red Blend

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Happy New Year and welcome to 2025! For our first show of the year we taste Ménage à Trois – Northern Seduction Red Blend, and play Summoner Wars! This hearty red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah has some intense tobacco and leather notes on the nose with a solid dark cherry flavor, some tartness and a mild tannin at the end. We also talk about our play-through of the Vanguard vs Fallen Kingdom in Summoner Wars.

We’re also going to be at the Midwest Gaming Classic again this year! You can find more info on this great gaming event at www.midwestgamingclassic.com. They’ve recently moved into Tabletop and Board Games, Michael and Suzy will be hosting the “Meeples and Wine Tabletop Stage” again this year! If you would like to assist, or if you are a game designer or in the gaming industry go to their Become a Presenter page!

If you’ve got a game that you’d like us to demo get in touch at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, at our Twitter (@Meeplesandwine) or Facebook or if you’d like to leave us a voicemail you can go to https://www.speakpipe.com/MeeplesandWine!

75 Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Unmatched: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon

Unmatched: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon

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Meeples & Wine: Buffy and the Devil’s Cellar!

Welcome back to Meeples & Wine, where Michael and Suzy bring you the latest in board game reviews for couples—alongside a delicious glass of wine! In this episode, we dive into the world of both vampire slaying and Chilean wine. We’re tasting Casillero del Diablo’s Cabernet Sauvignon, known for its bold cherry and blackcurrant notes with a hint of vanilla, perfect for pairing with grilled meats and mature cheeses. With medium body and marked tannins, this wine unfolds a story as rich as the legend behind its name: “The Devil’s Cellar.”

On the board game front, we’re taking on the supernatural forces of Unmatched: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. With a versatile lineup of beloved characters like Buffy, Spike, Willow, and Angel, players battle it out using unique abilities, whether it’s Buffy’s iconic cartwheel kick or Willow’s foray into black magic. With a BGG rating of 7.6 and a complexity of 2/5, this action-packed game plays well with two to four players, offering a great mix of strategy and fandom. Will Unmatched: Buffy prove to be a relationship builder or a couch sleeper? Tune in for our “Fun Score” and “Couch Score” ratings to find out!

To wrap things up, we explore the evolution of our wine over time and highlight a new Kickstarter find—an upcoming Discworld RPG by Modiphius. Don’t forget to follow us on social media, drop us a voicemail, or reach out via email at meeplesandwine@gmail.com. And remember, sharing is caring—so pass on Meeples & Wine to a friend!

If you’ve got a game that you’d like us to demo get in touch at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, at our Twitter (@Meeplesandwine) or Facebook or if you’d like to leave us a voicemail you can go to 

https://www.speakpipe.com/MeeplesandWine or call at (707) 572-5282!

You can also check out our quicklinks page! https://podcast.show/meeplesandwine/

The Hunger Featured
The Hunger and Vampire Vineyard’s Cabernet Sauvignon

The Hunger and Vampire Vineyard’s Cabernet Sauvignon

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Hello, Meeples and Wine listeners! This week, we sunk our teeth into The Hunger, a vampire-themed deck-builder by Richard Garfield. In the game, you play as vampires hunting humans to gain points, but there’s a catch: you need to make it back to your castle before sunrise, or you’ll burn to ash! It’s a fun push-your-luck experience where you must balance collecting points with your race against time.

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We paired the game with a bottle of Vampire Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, which was a solid hit with its smoky, oaky flavor and rich notes of plum and mocha. The game was great for two players, but we both agreed it would be even better with a few more friends to compete against. We also touched on the expansion, Hunger: High Stakes, which adds werewolves and vampire hunters into the mix, making the game even more intense.

If you love spooky deck-builders, we definitely recommend giving this one a try, especially with some vampire wine on the side! More info on the wine here.

If you’ve got a game that you’d like us to demo get in touch at meeplesandwine@gmail.com, at our Twitter (@Meeplesandwine) or Facebook or if you’d like to leave us a voicemail you can go to 

https://www.speakpipe.com/MeeplesandWine or call at (707) 572-5282!

You can also check out our quicklinks page! https://podcast.show/meeplesandwine/

Fire Tower
Fire Tower and Toasted Head Chardonnay

Fire Tower and Toasted Head Chardonnay

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In this episode, we review Fire Tower and taste Toasted Head 2022 Chardonnay, along with the Last Call Kickstarter “Wild Imaginary West”.

00:00 Welcome to Meeples and Wine
00:24 Meet Your Hosts: Michael and Susie
00:47 Contacting Meeples and Wine
01:02 The Voicemail Debate
02:13 Today’s Game: Fire Tower
02:39 Wine Tasting: Toasted Head Chardonnay
08:41 Fire Tower: Game Overview
12:04 Fire Tower: Game Mechanics
16:42 Fire Tower: Strategy and Gameplay
21:04 Fire Tower: Special Cards and Roles
22:25 Winning Strategies for Shadow of the Wood
22:47 Champion of the Wood: Special Abilities
23:34 Fire Tower: Rising Flames Expansion
25:23 Playing Fire Tower with Two Players
26:11 Balancing Offense and Defense
27:51 Fun Score and Relationship Impact
29:17 Final Thoughts on Fire Tower
32:35 Wild Imaginary West RPG
41:06 Meeples and Wine: Where to Find Us