Ratings: Top 10 Expansions – with The Brothers Murph

Check "Top 10 Expansions" and find the best price on all items from the top among sellers all over in the Netherlands & Belgium!

#10. Champions of Midgard: Valhalla

Description from the publisher:

In Valhalla, the second expansion for Champions of Midgard, you will find yourself rewarded when your warriors die in battle. Your warriors' eternal glory becomes your earthly reward as the Valkyries bestow powerful effects, relics, and warriors upon you for use in your battles in Midgard. Some of your fallen soldiers may do more, rising to face the greatest enemies even in the afterlife, defeating epic monsters and bringing you glory from beyond the grave!

Couple these new rewards with fierce new warriors in the form of Berzerkers and Shieldwarriors, and new custom dice and powers for your leaders, and your adventures in Midgard will never be the same!

8.4
2-4 Players
60-120 Min
Age: 10+
Complexity: 2.9

Description from the publisher:

In Valhalla, the second expansion for Champions of Midgard, you will find yourself rewarded when your warriors die in battle. Your warriors' eternal glory becomes your earthly reward as the Valkyries bestow powerful effects, relics, and warriors upon you for use in your battles in Midgard. Some of your fallen soldiers may do more, rising to face the greatest enemies even in the afterlife, defeating epic monsters and bringing you glory from beyond the grave!

Couple these new rewards with fierce new warriors in the form of Berzerkers and Shieldwarriors, and new custom dice and powers for your leaders, and your adventures in Midgard will never be the same!

Not available
at the moment
#9. Pandemic: On the Brink

Pandemic: On the Brink includes new event cards, new role cards, rules for five players, and optional game challenges to increase the difficulty of the Pandemic base game. These new challenges, which can be used individually or combined for even more difficult play, are as follows:

The Virulent Strain challenge makes one disease become particularly deadly in unpredictable ways.

The Mutation challenge adds a fifth (purple) disease that behaves differently than the original four.

The Bio-Terrorist challenge pits one player against the others!

Part of the Pandemic series.

8.0
2-5 Players
45 Min
Age: 8+
Complexity: 2.7
Language dependency: 2.8

Pandemic: On the Brink includes new event cards, new role cards, rules for five players, and optional game challenges to increase the difficulty of the Pandemic base game. These new challenges, which can be used individually or combined for even more difficult play, are as follows:

The Virulent Strain challenge makes one disease become particularly deadly in unpredictable ways.

The Mutation challenge adds a fifth (purple) disease that behaves differently than the original four.

The Bio-Terrorist challenge pits one player against the others!

Part of the Pandemic series.

Not available
at the moment
#8. The Networks: Executives

The Networks: Executives, a full expansion for The Networks, changes the gameplay in a few ways.

First, the players all choose a Network Executive at the start of the game. Each Network Executive has their own advantages and drawbacks.

Second, there is a new deck of Show Cards with a different mix of Genres. Each Genre now has an equal chance of appearing, unlike in the base game where Reality and Sports shows were less common. However, Sports Shows now have a higher upkeep, and Reality Shows don't get you as many Viewers on average as another Show with a bunch of Stars.

Third, players no longer automatically get starting Public Access Shows, Stars, or Ads. Instead there is a starting "Pilot Season" draft in which players pick their starting TV shows. These starting Shows determine a player's starting resources, like Stars, Ads, and extra money.

Fourth, you now get a Mogul Card when you get your first 5-Show Genre Bonus or your second 3-Show Genre Bonus. These Mogul Cards act like supercharged Network Cards, so they're worth picking up!

7.7
1-5 Players
60-90 Min
Age: 13+
Complexity: 3.0

The Networks: Executives, a full expansion for The Networks, changes the gameplay in a few ways.

First, the players all choose a Network Executive at the start of the game. Each Network Executive has their own advantages and drawbacks.

Second, there is a new deck of Show Cards with a different mix of Genres. Each Genre now has an equal chance of appearing, unlike in the base game where Reality and Sports shows were less common. However, Sports Shows now have a higher upkeep, and Reality Shows don't get you as many Viewers on average as another Show with a bunch of Stars.

Third, players no longer automatically get starting Public Access Shows, Stars, or Ads. Instead there is a starting "Pilot Season" draft in which players pick their starting TV shows. These starting Shows determine a player's starting resources, like Stars, Ads, and extra money.

Fourth, you now get a Mogul Card when you get your first 5-Show Genre Bonus or your second 3-Show Genre Bonus. These Mogul Cards act like supercharged Network Cards, so they're worth picking up!

Not available
at the moment
#7. Terraforming Mars: Prelude

As the mega corporations are getting ready to start the terraforming process, you now have the chance to make those early choices that will come to define your corporation and set the course for the future history of Mars - this is the prelude to your greatest endeavors!

Terraforming Mars: Prelude introduces the new Prelude cards. At the start of the game, each player chooses from Prelude cards that jumpstart the terraforming process or boost their corporation's engine. This expansion also includes 5 new corporations and 7 new project cards that thematically fit the early stages of terraforming a new planet and can be added to the game even if you're not using the Prelude cards; and a new solo mode where your goal is to get to 63 TR before time runs out instead of completing the global parameters.

Prelude is an expansion to Terraforming Mars, and can be combined with any other Terraforming Mars expansions or variants.

8.8
1-5 Players
90-120 Min
Age: 12+
Complexity: 2.5

As the mega corporations are getting ready to start the terraforming process, you now have the chance to make those early choices that will come to define your corporation and set the course for the future history of Mars - this is the prelude to your greatest endeavors!

Terraforming Mars: Prelude introduces the new Prelude cards. At the start of the game, each player chooses from Prelude cards that jumpstart the terraforming process or boost their corporation's engine. This expansion also includes 5 new corporations and 7 new project cards that thematically fit the early stages of terraforming a new planet and can be added to the game even if you're not using the Prelude cards; and a new solo mode where your goal is to get to 63 TR before time runs out instead of completing the global parameters.

Prelude is an expansion to Terraforming Mars, and can be combined with any other Terraforming Mars expansions or variants.

Not available
at the moment
#6. Great Western Trail: Rails to the North

Great Western Trail: Rails to the North introduces a new railway system for players to compete on as they grow their cow herding businesses.

With this expansion, players deliver their herds to northeast United States with stops in Chicago, Detroit, and New York City, amongst other cities, in an effort to become the most successful cow rancher this side of the Mississippi. Be advised that business is much more difficult on this rail, so players will want to take advantage of friendly hospitality by establishing branchlets and helping form towns. In addition to the new railway system, players will also discover new station master tiles, private buildings, and an expanded player board to offer more strategic depth in their decision making.

8.5
2-4 Players
75-150 Min
Age: 12+
Complexity: 3.8

Great Western Trail: Rails to the North introduces a new railway system for players to compete on as they grow their cow herding businesses.

With this expansion, players deliver their herds to northeast United States with stops in Chicago, Detroit, and New York City, amongst other cities, in an effort to become the most successful cow rancher this side of the Mississippi. Be advised that business is much more difficult on this rail, so players will want to take advantage of friendly hospitality by establishing branchlets and helping form towns. In addition to the new railway system, players will also discover new station master tiles, private buildings, and an expanded player board to offer more strategic depth in their decision making.

Not available
at the moment
#5. Abyss: Leviathan

News from the outpost is worrying. The Leviathans, these terrifying sea monsters, are converging towards the border and threatening the Kingdom. Will the Allies and the conscripts, mandated by each of the Guilds, contain them? Exploring is now dangerous: fighting is not easy, and fleeing can be even more dangerous — but the opportunity is unique to prove your worth and use this influence to gain access to the throne.

In Abyss: Leviathan, the threat track is replaced by the border board on which Leviathan cards will be placed. When you explore the depths, if the revealed card is a monster, you can fight a Leviathan on the border. Some new lords and some allies will help you fight, using their power. The player who has killed the greatest number of sea monsters takes the statue and wins 5 extra points at the end of the game — and if you do not fight, you may get injured...

8.0
2-5 Players
30-60 Min
Age: 14+
Complexity: 2.5

News from the outpost is worrying. The Leviathans, these terrifying sea monsters, are converging towards the border and threatening the Kingdom. Will the Allies and the conscripts, mandated by each of the Guilds, contain them? Exploring is now dangerous: fighting is not easy, and fleeing can be even more dangerous — but the opportunity is unique to prove your worth and use this influence to gain access to the throne.

In Abyss: Leviathan, the threat track is replaced by the border board on which Leviathan cards will be placed. When you explore the depths, if the revealed card is a monster, you can fight a Leviathan on the border. Some new lords and some allies will help you fight, using their power. The player who has killed the greatest number of sea monsters takes the statue and wins 5 extra points at the end of the game — and if you do not fight, you may get injured...

Not available
at the moment
#4. Wingspan: Oceania Expansion

Wingspan: Oceania Expansion focuses on birds in Australia and New Zealand. It's designed by Elizabeth Hargrave and features birds illustrated by Natalia Rojas and Ana Maria Martinez.

In this second expansion to Wingspan colorful and awe-inspiring birds from Oceania are added. The Oceania bird cards are designed to be shuffled into the bird cards from the base game, with or without other expansions.

This expansion includes new player mats and a new food type, allowing players to explore different strategies in this new environment. It also includes new bonus cards and more end-of-round goals, as well as a new color of egg. In addition, it includes a two-player cooperative variant that adapts the solo rules to allow a team of two to play against a game-controlled opponent.

8.5
1-5 Players
40-70 Min
Age: 10+
Complexity: 2.7

Wingspan: Oceania Expansion focuses on birds in Australia and New Zealand. It's designed by Elizabeth Hargrave and features birds illustrated by Natalia Rojas and Ana Maria Martinez.

In this second expansion to Wingspan colorful and awe-inspiring birds from Oceania are added. The Oceania bird cards are designed to be shuffled into the bird cards from the base game, with or without other expansions.

This expansion includes new player mats and a new food type, allowing players to explore different strategies in this new environment. It also includes new bonus cards and more end-of-round goals, as well as a new color of egg. In addition, it includes a two-player cooperative variant that adapts the solo rules to allow a team of two to play against a game-controlled opponent.

Not available
at the moment
#3. A Feast for Odin: The Norwegians

The first large expansion for A Feast for Odin, The Norwegians, includes a viking-sized number of additions to the game, adding new strategies and puzzle-tiles.

Renewed action board: The largest of the new additions, made of three double-sided pieces that can be flipped to show different actions based on the number of players, opening up new action paths and increasing the chances of players getting in each others' way. It contains new opportunities like butchering, elk-hunting, fishing, and thievery, along with changes for some old actions. It's now easier, for example, to play an animal strategy, because you can now get two of the same animals in one action. There is also a new fifth column with (better) actions that require only one viking. For example, you can now forge a grey special tile with a sword value of 8 or less by using an ore and only one viking! Another totally new 1-viking action is to do a "small emigration" using a whaling boat, which covers one space at the banquet table instead of two but is worth 7VP and costs no silver to do so. And as a bonus, you can send two vikings to this column instead of one to play an occupation card in addition to the action. The catch is, once you use an action from the fifth column, you can't place any more vikings for the rest of this round.

New puzzle-tiles: 2x5 rectangle (horse/pregnant horse/leather/vadmal) and 5 spaces in a "U" shape (herbs/pig/antlers/tools). The red versions of these tiles feature two new animals, horses (worth 6VP) and pigs (worth 1VP and breed every round as opposed to every other round) respectively, adding yet more paths for an animal strategy. There are also five new grey special tiles such as a pan, a hauberk and an anvil, most of which can be forged with ore. Also included is a third goods box to hold all the new tiles.

Four new exploration boards: Islands on the frontside (Isle of Man, Isle of Skye, Islay, Outer Hebrides) with Irish coastal viking-settlements on the backside (Waterford, Wexford, Cork, Limerick), where people from Norway came to stay through the winter, to trade at, and to settle nearby. Also included are renewed versions of the four exploration boards from the base game, with updated iconography and some with adjusted VPs.

New buildings: Also totally new is the idea of a random start-building. Everybody gets one of the six double-sided "artisan shed" boards, and whenever a player could build a shed during the game, they may instead build the front or backside of their artisan shed. Just like the stonehouse and longhouse, the artisan sheds offer new spaces to place orange and red tiles to earn bonus goods, silver and VP, and many of them require specific tiles to be placed in specific spaces. So everybody has another different start-opportunity - like the occupation cards.

VP tokens: Another new option is that, whenever a player would play an occupation card into the game, the player may instead discard the card for a VP token, which are worth 4, 3 or 2VP at the end of the game. A nice little competitive element, as there are a limited number of the 4VP and 3VP tokens.

Other stuff: The expansion also includes another mountain strip, more two-silver coins and more beans/mead and oil/runestone tiles.

The expansion includes another almanac about the new game-elements and their viking-history. But again it was written by Gernot Köpke as a "historical-science"-journalist and learned local newspaper editor and the main elements will be published on BGG at Expansions-Almanac / Almanach für Erweiterungen.

—adapted from the description from the designer

8.9
1-4 Players
30-120 Min
Age: 12+
Complexity: 4.0

The first large expansion for A Feast for Odin, The Norwegians, includes a viking-sized number of additions to the game, adding new strategies and puzzle-tiles.

Renewed action board: The largest of the new additions, made of three double-sided pieces that can be flipped to show different actions based on the number of players, opening up new action paths and increasing the chances of players getting in each others' way. It contains new opportunities like butchering, elk-hunting, fishing, and thievery, along with changes for some old actions. It's now easier, for example, to play an animal strategy, because you can now get two of the same animals in one action. There is also a new fifth column with (better) actions that require only one viking. For example, you can now forge a grey special tile with a sword value of 8 or less by using an ore and only one viking! Another totally new 1-viking action is to do a "small emigration" using a whaling boat, which covers one space at the banquet table instead of two but is worth 7VP and costs no silver to do so. And as a bonus, you can send two vikings to this column instead of one to play an occupation card in addition to the action. The catch is, once you use an action from the fifth column, you can't place any more vikings for the rest of this round.

New puzzle-tiles: 2x5 rectangle (horse/pregnant horse/leather/vadmal) and 5 spaces in a "U" shape (herbs/pig/antlers/tools). The red versions of these tiles feature two new animals, horses (worth 6VP) and pigs (worth 1VP and breed every round as opposed to every other round) respectively, adding yet more paths for an animal strategy. There are also five new grey special tiles such as a pan, a hauberk and an anvil, most of which can be forged with ore. Also included is a third goods box to hold all the new tiles.

Four new exploration boards: Islands on the frontside (Isle of Man, Isle of Skye, Islay, Outer Hebrides) with Irish coastal viking-settlements on the backside (Waterford, Wexford, Cork, Limerick), where people from Norway came to stay through the winter, to trade at, and to settle nearby. Also included are renewed versions of the four exploration boards from the base game, with updated iconography and some with adjusted VPs.

New buildings: Also totally new is the idea of a random start-building. Everybody gets one of the six double-sided "artisan shed" boards, and whenever a player could build a shed during the game, they may instead build the front or backside of their artisan shed. Just like the stonehouse and longhouse, the artisan sheds offer new spaces to place orange and red tiles to earn bonus goods, silver and VP, and many of them require specific tiles to be placed in specific spaces. So everybody has another different start-opportunity - like the occupation cards.

VP tokens: Another new option is that, whenever a player would play an occupation card into the game, the player may instead discard the card for a VP token, which are worth 4, 3 or 2VP at the end of the game. A nice little competitive element, as there are a limited number of the 4VP and 3VP tokens.

Other stuff: The expansion also includes another mountain strip, more two-silver coins and more beans/mead and oil/runestone tiles.

The expansion includes another almanac about the new game-elements and their viking-history. But again it was written by Gernot Köpke as a "historical-science"-journalist and learned local newspaper editor and the main elements will be published on BGG at Expansions-Almanac / Almanach für Erweiterungen.

—adapted from the description from the designer

Not available
at the moment
#2. Shakespeare: Backstage

Description from the publisher:

You can find everything you need in the backstage: Lord Chamberlain to get additional stunning actors, a prompter for those who forget their lines, a milliner for a costume with a panache, an architect to redesign the frontage of your theater...

Prepare for success and a new theater season with Shakespeare: Backstage, the first expansion for Shakespeare! New actors, new objectives, new costumes, and an innovative stage set allow you to shine when the curtain rises and all the lights are on you. Backstage cards allow players to utilize unwagered cylinders by placing them on the deck and spending them on special abilities, such as placing fewer rest tokens, adding hats to actors, or increasing ambiance.

8.0
1-4 Players
20-90 Min
Age: 14+
Complexity: 3.0

Description from the publisher:

You can find everything you need in the backstage: Lord Chamberlain to get additional stunning actors, a prompter for those who forget their lines, a milliner for a costume with a panache, an architect to redesign the frontage of your theater...

Prepare for success and a new theater season with Shakespeare: Backstage, the first expansion for Shakespeare! New actors, new objectives, new costumes, and an innovative stage set allow you to shine when the curtain rises and all the lights are on you. Backstage cards allow players to utilize unwagered cylinders by placing them on the deck and spending them on special abilities, such as placing fewer rest tokens, adding hats to actors, or increasing ambiance.

Not available
at the moment
#1. Viticulture: Tuscany Essential Edition

Tuscany Essential Edition is an expansion for Viticulture which features the three most popular expansion modules from the original Tuscany expansion:

Extended Board: New game board featuring four full seasons for worker placement.

Structure Cards: New cards that players can build to supplement their existing structure figures.

Special Workers: New workers with their own special abilities, which players can train.

All other expansions from the original Tuscany expansion will go out of print.

Tuscany Essential Edition is recommended for use with Viticulture Essential Edition, but it is compatible with older versions of Viticulture as well.

8.6
1-6 Players
60-150 Min
Age: 14+
Complexity: 3.3

Tuscany Essential Edition is an expansion for Viticulture which features the three most popular expansion modules from the original Tuscany expansion:

Extended Board: New game board featuring four full seasons for worker placement.

Structure Cards: New cards that players can build to supplement their existing structure figures.

Special Workers: New workers with their own special abilities, which players can train.

All other expansions from the original Tuscany expansion will go out of print.

Tuscany Essential Edition is recommended for use with Viticulture Essential Edition, but it is compatible with older versions of Viticulture as well.

Not available
at the moment

Ratings: Top 10 Expansions – with The Brothers Murph

Check "Top 10 Expansions" and find the best price on all items from the top among sellers all over in the Netherlands & Belgium!

#10. Champions of Midgard: Valhalla

Description from the publisher:

In Valhalla, the second expansion for Champions of Midgard, you will find yourself rewarded when your warriors die in battle. Your warriors' eternal glory becomes your earthly reward as the Valkyries bestow powerful effects, relics, and warriors upon you for use in your battles in Midgard. Some of your fallen soldiers may do more, rising to face the greatest enemies even in the afterlife, defeating epic monsters and bringing you glory from beyond the grave!

Couple these new rewards with fierce new warriors in the form of Berzerkers and Shieldwarriors, and new custom dice and powers for your leaders, and your adventures in Midgard will never be the same!

8.4
2-4 Players
60-120 Min
Age: 10+
Complexity: 2.9
#9. Pandemic: On the Brink

Pandemic: On the Brink includes new event cards, new role cards, rules for five players, and optional game challenges to increase the difficulty of the Pandemic base game. These new challenges, which can be used individually or combined for even more difficult play, are as follows:

The Virulent Strain challenge makes one disease become particularly deadly in unpredictable ways.

The Mutation challenge adds a fifth (purple) disease that behaves differently than the original four.

The Bio-Terrorist challenge pits one player against the others!

Part of the Pandemic series.

8.0
2-5 Players
45 Min
Age: 8+
Complexity: 2.7
Language dependency: 2.8
#8. The Networks: Executives

The Networks: Executives, a full expansion for The Networks, changes the gameplay in a few ways.

First, the players all choose a Network Executive at the start of the game. Each Network Executive has their own advantages and drawbacks.

Second, there is a new deck of Show Cards with a different mix of Genres. Each Genre now has an equal chance of appearing, unlike in the base game where Reality and Sports shows were less common. However, Sports Shows now have a higher upkeep, and Reality Shows don't get you as many Viewers on average as another Show with a bunch of Stars.

Third, players no longer automatically get starting Public Access Shows, Stars, or Ads. Instead there is a starting "Pilot Season" draft in which players pick their starting TV shows. These starting Shows determine a player's starting resources, like Stars, Ads, and extra money.

Fourth, you now get a Mogul Card when you get your first 5-Show Genre Bonus or your second 3-Show Genre Bonus. These Mogul Cards act like supercharged Network Cards, so they're worth picking up!

7.7
1-5 Players
60-90 Min
Age: 13+
Complexity: 3.0
#7. Terraforming Mars: Prelude

As the mega corporations are getting ready to start the terraforming process, you now have the chance to make those early choices that will come to define your corporation and set the course for the future history of Mars - this is the prelude to your greatest endeavors!

Terraforming Mars: Prelude introduces the new Prelude cards. At the start of the game, each player chooses from Prelude cards that jumpstart the terraforming process or boost their corporation's engine. This expansion also includes 5 new corporations and 7 new project cards that thematically fit the early stages of terraforming a new planet and can be added to the game even if you're not using the Prelude cards; and a new solo mode where your goal is to get to 63 TR before time runs out instead of completing the global parameters.

Prelude is an expansion to Terraforming Mars, and can be combined with any other Terraforming Mars expansions or variants.

8.8
1-5 Players
90-120 Min
Age: 12+
Complexity: 2.5
#6. Great Western Trail: Rails to the North

Great Western Trail: Rails to the North introduces a new railway system for players to compete on as they grow their cow herding businesses.

With this expansion, players deliver their herds to northeast United States with stops in Chicago, Detroit, and New York City, amongst other cities, in an effort to become the most successful cow rancher this side of the Mississippi. Be advised that business is much more difficult on this rail, so players will want to take advantage of friendly hospitality by establishing branchlets and helping form towns. In addition to the new railway system, players will also discover new station master tiles, private buildings, and an expanded player board to offer more strategic depth in their decision making.

8.5
2-4 Players
75-150 Min
Age: 12+
Complexity: 3.8
#5. Abyss: Leviathan

News from the outpost is worrying. The Leviathans, these terrifying sea monsters, are converging towards the border and threatening the Kingdom. Will the Allies and the conscripts, mandated by each of the Guilds, contain them? Exploring is now dangerous: fighting is not easy, and fleeing can be even more dangerous — but the opportunity is unique to prove your worth and use this influence to gain access to the throne.

In Abyss: Leviathan, the threat track is replaced by the border board on which Leviathan cards will be placed. When you explore the depths, if the revealed card is a monster, you can fight a Leviathan on the border. Some new lords and some allies will help you fight, using their power. The player who has killed the greatest number of sea monsters takes the statue and wins 5 extra points at the end of the game — and if you do not fight, you may get injured...

8.0
2-5 Players
30-60 Min
Age: 14+
Complexity: 2.5
#4. Wingspan: Oceania Expansion

Wingspan: Oceania Expansion focuses on birds in Australia and New Zealand. It's designed by Elizabeth Hargrave and features birds illustrated by Natalia Rojas and Ana Maria Martinez.

In this second expansion to Wingspan colorful and awe-inspiring birds from Oceania are added. The Oceania bird cards are designed to be shuffled into the bird cards from the base game, with or without other expansions.

This expansion includes new player mats and a new food type, allowing players to explore different strategies in this new environment. It also includes new bonus cards and more end-of-round goals, as well as a new color of egg. In addition, it includes a two-player cooperative variant that adapts the solo rules to allow a team of two to play against a game-controlled opponent.

8.5
1-5 Players
40-70 Min
Age: 10+
Complexity: 2.7
#3. A Feast for Odin: The Norwegians

The first large expansion for A Feast for Odin, The Norwegians, includes a viking-sized number of additions to the game, adding new strategies and puzzle-tiles.

Renewed action board: The largest of the new additions, made of three double-sided pieces that can be flipped to show different actions based on the number of players, opening up new action paths and increasing the chances of players getting in each others' way. It contains new opportunities like butchering, elk-hunting, fishing, and thievery, along with changes for some old actions. It's now easier, for example, to play an animal strategy, because you can now get two of the same animals in one action. There is also a new fifth column with (better) actions that require only one viking. For example, you can now forge a grey special tile with a sword value of 8 or less by using an ore and only one viking! Another totally new 1-viking action is to do a "small emigration" using a whaling boat, which covers one space at the banquet table instead of two but is worth 7VP and costs no silver to do so. And as a bonus, you can send two vikings to this column instead of one to play an occupation card in addition to the action. The catch is, once you use an action from the fifth column, you can't place any more vikings for the rest of this round.

New puzzle-tiles: 2x5 rectangle (horse/pregnant horse/leather/vadmal) and 5 spaces in a "U" shape (herbs/pig/antlers/tools). The red versions of these tiles feature two new animals, horses (worth 6VP) and pigs (worth 1VP and breed every round as opposed to every other round) respectively, adding yet more paths for an animal strategy. There are also five new grey special tiles such as a pan, a hauberk and an anvil, most of which can be forged with ore. Also included is a third goods box to hold all the new tiles.

Four new exploration boards: Islands on the frontside (Isle of Man, Isle of Skye, Islay, Outer Hebrides) with Irish coastal viking-settlements on the backside (Waterford, Wexford, Cork, Limerick), where people from Norway came to stay through the winter, to trade at, and to settle nearby. Also included are renewed versions of the four exploration boards from the base game, with updated iconography and some with adjusted VPs.

New buildings: Also totally new is the idea of a random start-building. Everybody gets one of the six double-sided "artisan shed" boards, and whenever a player could build a shed during the game, they may instead build the front or backside of their artisan shed. Just like the stonehouse and longhouse, the artisan sheds offer new spaces to place orange and red tiles to earn bonus goods, silver and VP, and many of them require specific tiles to be placed in specific spaces. So everybody has another different start-opportunity - like the occupation cards.

VP tokens: Another new option is that, whenever a player would play an occupation card into the game, the player may instead discard the card for a VP token, which are worth 4, 3 or 2VP at the end of the game. A nice little competitive element, as there are a limited number of the 4VP and 3VP tokens.

Other stuff: The expansion also includes another mountain strip, more two-silver coins and more beans/mead and oil/runestone tiles.

The expansion includes another almanac about the new game-elements and their viking-history. But again it was written by Gernot Köpke as a "historical-science"-journalist and learned local newspaper editor and the main elements will be published on BGG at Expansions-Almanac / Almanach für Erweiterungen.

—adapted from the description from the designer

8.9
1-4 Players
30-120 Min
Age: 12+
Complexity: 4.0
#2. Shakespeare: Backstage

Description from the publisher:

You can find everything you need in the backstage: Lord Chamberlain to get additional stunning actors, a prompter for those who forget their lines, a milliner for a costume with a panache, an architect to redesign the frontage of your theater...

Prepare for success and a new theater season with Shakespeare: Backstage, the first expansion for Shakespeare! New actors, new objectives, new costumes, and an innovative stage set allow you to shine when the curtain rises and all the lights are on you. Backstage cards allow players to utilize unwagered cylinders by placing them on the deck and spending them on special abilities, such as placing fewer rest tokens, adding hats to actors, or increasing ambiance.

8.0
1-4 Players
20-90 Min
Age: 14+
Complexity: 3.0
#1. Viticulture: Tuscany Essential Edition

Tuscany Essential Edition is an expansion for Viticulture which features the three most popular expansion modules from the original Tuscany expansion:

Extended Board: New game board featuring four full seasons for worker placement.

Structure Cards: New cards that players can build to supplement their existing structure figures.

Special Workers: New workers with their own special abilities, which players can train.

All other expansions from the original Tuscany expansion will go out of print.

Tuscany Essential Edition is recommended for use with Viticulture Essential Edition, but it is compatible with older versions of Viticulture as well.

8.6
1-6 Players
60-150 Min
Age: 14+
Complexity: 3.3