UKGE - 2026 | Most anticipated games!!

0:05 Hi everybody and welcome to a new video. Today I'm going to talk to you about all the games that I'm excited for for the UK Games Expo that's coming up so soon. Once this video goes up, it's like in a week, I'm pretty sure. So, oh my gosh, I'm so so so so so excited. I cannot wait to see so many of my lovely friends again, to just roam around the halls, play some games, have a great time. I cannot tell you how freaking excited I am. It's going to be a blast. I'm going to go with my friend Jennifer again. Uh this time we're flying together. Um last year I drove, which is obviously great to bring back a bunch of games. This time we're flying, it's just a little bit easier, a bit more convenient. Um but that does mean that I have to really think about what I'm bringing back.

1:00 Because my suitcase will be bursting at the seams.

1:05 [sighs and gasps]

1:06 So, we'll see how that goes. Um I'm excited nonetheless cuz it's just going to be a great time. Um so yeah, today I'm going to just talk you through a bunch of games that I'm excited for. Um there is a lot, so we're just going to get started and dive right in. Okay, we have a lot of games to get through, so let's get our asses moving. Um I'm just going to go through them. We'll see what happens. I You know, this is just going to be a casual I'm showing you the games uh type video. Uh don't expect too much of me. Um I just like to showcase. So, we're starting with two games that I've actually already played um that will be at UK Games Expo. Uh and those are Bookshelf and Fox Glove Farm.

1:56 Um I have videos of both of these games on my YouTube. So, if you want to know more about them, go check out those videos. You can pre-order these games as well. So, if you want to do that for like pickup at UK Games Expo or whatever, you can go and do that. Both are solo playable, which is awesome, of course. I always look for the solo games, as you guys know. There are a couple of games in here that are not just solo or not have a solo option, because obviously I get tempted sometimes, but most of these will have a solo mode. Um but yeah, Bookshelf, really cute game where you have to stack cards with books between them, and there's a little cat over here that's like trying to climb the bookshelf, very in theme with what cats actually do, and it's just a very, very cute game. It's one of their tin games. If you know Alley Cat Games, you know like Tinder Blocks and Tic Tac Track, which is my number one favorite of their tin boxes, which isn't even a solo option, but I love it so much. Um and we have Foxglove Farm, which is not on BGG yet. Um not sure why. I think it is a rebrand of the game Mine Cart Town, if you're familiar with that game. So, this is a redesign of that game. The gameplay is the same, but the artwork is obviously

3:26 uh cutified to fit more like the Alley Cat game aesthetic, and it's like in the same style as Timber Town, which is really, really cute. Um and I'm curious to see if they're going to do more games in this like series, I guess, cuz they are saying like it's a sequel to Timber Town, which I think that's great. Very excited to see what else they will do. Uh and I'm just excited to chat with the Alleycat Game crew, uh which is just a whole fun time. All right, next up we have Railway Porters. Now, this is one of the games I am most excited for. It does not, sadly, have a solo mode. Um I don't know the gameplay yet. It is the the new Sashi and Sashi game. If you know me, you know I love Sashi and Sashi games. I have a couple of their games, and they're some of my favorite games of all time. Um sadly, this one though does not have a solo option. I'm kind of hoping that I can maybe adapt a solo option, or someone else will. Um it's a dice game. There as you can see, not a lot of uh info available yet, but you play as a porter, placing luggage dice onto station boards. There are six different station boards, each with its own unique scoring system. You'll need to think carefully about where you place your dice. It's a fresh new dice placement game where smart planning is mixed with the exciting energy of a dice game. So,

4:59 obviously, Sashi and Sashi, they're known for being amazing. In my book, at least. So, I'm very curious to see uh the gameplay. I'm hoping to be able to get a play of this game into my uh schedule. So, very excited about that. Next up, we have uh a couple of games that are actually like in the same style. So, these are all by Grail Games. We have Aliens Attack, Harvest Valley, and Ohio Bob. So, these games have already come out. Um they're like, as you can see, a Game Boy style game, where it's just like a tiny game with cards, um and you have to do a bunch of stuff, I expect. Um, the one that's Harvest Valley, obviously theme-wise, this one speaks to me the most. It's like a Stardew Valley inspired cutesy little game. Sadly though, this one is two to five players, but both Aliens Attack and Ohio Bob are one uh have like a solo mode. So, I'm just want to I'm just going to check it out.

6:11 Um, if I like the vibe of it, I might pick them up, maybe just one. I don't know yet, uh but I am very curious about these games and they look really, really fun. So, we'll see what happens. Next up, we have Thunderworks Games. I love Thunderworks Games so much. Uh, most of you might be familiar with them because of Cartographers, which is their like biggest game, I would say. Uh, Flip Tunes has also been doing really, really well, which is also new. And then we have Citizens of the Spark. Um, I'm very curious about Citizens of Citizens of the Spark. Citizens of the Spark. Uh, Flip Tunes also have a solo mode though. I haven't played it yet. Solo, I've played it multiplayer on BGA. Um, so I should maybe try the so I don't know if they have the solo on BGA. I should try that maybe, but I'm very curious about Citizens of the Spark. I don't know if this one will adapt very well to the solo because I've seen gameplay of the multiplayer and it looks really fun. But it does seem like it works very well multiplayer. So, I'm curious to check it out. I just I love Thunderworks Games.

7:23 They're so great. I've been really, really loving uh So Stone Spire Architects, which is so good. Um, and I want to This is not a new game, but I really want to pick up Ten Penny Parks. Thunderworks Games are just hard to find. Only Cartographers is a game that you see regularly in the Netherlands in board game stores. All their other games, not really. So, 10 Penny Parks, I'm hoping they'll have it in stock. I think they probably will. And I'm mostly excited to just pick up a copy of that cuz people have been telling me that I will love that game. So, I'm very excited to do that. But, yeah, very excited to check out some more gameplay of Citizens of the Spark. Next up, we have All Play. Um we have a game called Container. Now, as you can see, this is a three to five player game.

8:16 Which, you know, that's a thing. Um I do play When I play with friends, I usually play with three players. So, potentially I could use it there. But, I just love the way this looks. This looks like it's right up my alley. Look at this. I think this will be so so so fun. Um let's read a little bit of what it's about. So, it has uh an auction and bidding mechanism, so that's why you can't do the solo. Um pick up and deliver. I really want to do more pick up and deliver and set collection. God, it sounds really fun. Um every decision you make in Container shapes the market. During play, you build factories, produce containers, set prices, negotiate with your rivals, sail across the sea to trade, and obviously buy low and sell high. At least, that's the goal, but can you make it happen?

9:09 I'm excited I'm just curious to try this. Um so, I uh I'm just I love All Play in general. So, excited to just be at their booth and just vibe. I love this Their booth is so I don't How do I say? Their booth it has such a great vibe. Their setup of the games is stunning and so efficient. And they just have a great vibe going there every year. I love going there. so I'm just excited to be at their booth, uh check out some games. I'm very excited about the new River Valley game, the River Valley Jewel Craft. I backed it on Kickstarter. I'm very excited about it. Um I might have to pick up a copy of River Valley Glassworks because I don't actually own that yet. So, I might have to just get that in preparation of River Valley uh Jewel Craft. And it looks so fun. I'm so excited for that one, but it won't be at UK Games Expo, of course, but I'm excited for it nonetheless. So, yes, I do want to check this game out. It looks very interesting. Next, we have Class of '89.

10:16 I had this on my list for Spiel, but I didn't end up really seeing much about it, or I just couldn't find it. I don't remember. Um but, I'm excited that it will be at UK Games Expo, and I'm hoping to be able to get a play in. You are designing uh the yearbook, which just also sounds very fun. Um where you're designing I mean, that looks fun. So, I'm excited to check this out. I don't really know much about it besides that. It's by Paverson Games, designer Corey Jordan. Um but, yeah, it it seems like it will be very fun, and it has a solo mode, so just want to check it out and see if it might be uh for me. Next, we have a game I'm very excited about. It's Flip Pic Towers.

11:02 I've seen a bunch of people talk about this game. Hannah Plays Games has been talking about it, um and I'm just It looks really fun. It's a um flip and write, or a roll and write, one of the two, I think. Um but, you're drawing towers. Um and it has a solo mode. I think this will be a great addition to the solo collection. It's by Osprey Games. They do a lot of fun things, as well. Um so, yeah, it's It kind of gives me Cartographers vibes because of the drawing. Um so, you're building towers. No clue on how the scoring works. Um but, it looks like a great fun time, and I'm very excited uh to see what the gameplay will actually be like and if it will be my my vibe. I think it might be my vibe. So, I'm curious to see. Next, we have a game that you guys know I love. It's Hercules and the 12 Labors.

12:00 I'm just excited to uh chat with Envoy Born Games again. I look forward to that very, very much. Um they obviously have a Kickstarter live right now, or I'm not sure if it's a Kickstarter or Game Found. I'm not sure for uh Jason and the Argonauts, which is their next game in this series. Obviously, that won't be at UK Games Expo, but Hercules will be. Um so, if you're curious about uh this style of game, definitely go check them out. It's a solo a roll and write where you're in this case going through the 12 Labors as Hercules. Um and it's just the most stunning game. It's so pretty. Um where you have to roll these stunning dice. Um and you have to like try to get through the Labors. If that makes sense. It's like it's a a dice placement game. You have some uh abilities that let you modify the dice, and as you play, you will gain more and more uh ways to adjust the dice, gain back health, things like that. Um it's very fun. I love this game a lot. Uh and I'm very I love Greek mythology for those that don't know. So, I'm very excited about Jason as well.

13:17 Next, we have a Market Fresh. Uh this, I'm not sure about this one, but it looks fun, so I'm excited to check it out. Uh it's by Avalon Hill, and it is like a grid coverage market game where you have like these tiles, but they're like 3D tiles which that looks fun. Look at the tiles. That's so fun. And you have to like place them in your market. Now this could just be gimmicky and not that great, but I am very curious to see how it will play and if it will live up to peak solo puzzle placement uh gameplay cuz it it could potentially be that. So uh curious to find out. Next up we have Ringyo. I'm not sure if I'm saying that right. It's a Japanese uh themed game which say less. Love that.

14:11 Um this is a bit of a bigger game. There's not really much um to show yet, but it is a an auction bidding game, but soloable. So I'm always curious to see how that plays cuz it usually solo that doesn't work very well. Um but it's worker placement and it's set during the Edo period of Japan and you play as a daimyo or like a feudal lord overseeing a personal province. This sounds really cool. Let's see if there is some images. Um we have like one image of the board. I mean this looks very pretty. So I am curious to see what it will be like. So I'm just going to see if they have it uh available to play. I don't know, but we'll we'll see if we can get a demo in. Next we have Shug. I'm so excited for this game. Oh my god, it looks weird in a in a way that I enjoy. Um it's one to six players.

15:11 Rome old England, gather monsters on your quest uh to find Shug and topple the tyrant. That already sounds so whimsical. It's like an adventure game dice rolling. It's cooperative grid movement. I know nothing besides that it looks crazy and I need to know what it's going to be like. It's set in England where King Charles the Cursed is hell-bent on monster slaying carnage. As a puny peasant, your only chance to spark a revolution is to fulfill a bizarre legend. Find the creature Shug and bring it to the fabled pub. What are you talking about? What are you talking about? Look at this. The art is wild.

15:59 It has some wild artwork and I do enjoy myself some crazy art. So, look at the box design. This has to be fun. There's no way that this is not fun and whimsical. So, I need to see what this is about. I need to discover it. I need to find out. Okay, I'm very excited about this game. Next we have Song of the Wild Kin one to four players area movement cooperative game deck bag and pool building. That all sounds perfect to me. Um it's by Boken Boken Games uh designed by Hermes Peak and I mean look at that artist Andrew Bosley.

16:47 Say less. But no not sure what the game play is going to be like. It's Song of the Wild Kin a cooperative adventure for one to four players. Find your missing mentor Hammer Wildmane and safeguard your community for the mysterious forces turning peaceful wood beasts into frenzied threats. So, we don't have anything to show yet really. So, we only have the box art. But look how cute that looks. What? That looks and this is if I am not mistaken, this looks like it's going to be an axolotl. Yo. Say less. I'm very curious to see what the gameplay is going to be like. Oh, here is Jason and Argonauts. Now live on backerkit, guys. Here it is.

17:33 Go check it out. Next we have Temple Twist by Cosmos. Again, this is looking crazy. If you only look at the box, this looks crazy. What are you talking about? Temple Twist, say less. I'm curious to see what it's going to be about. A cryptic notebook leads your archaeological expedition deep in the jungle to an ancient temple rumored to hold incredible artifacts. Your goal, explore the rooms of the temple and escape before your energy runs out. Action-packed co-op game. Players take turns to choosing an action card from their hand to strategically manipulate the three-dimensional temple and move the explorer cube through the maze of rooms. This could again be very gimmicky. But I'm curious to see.

18:21 I'm curious. We're going to check it out. Next we have The Old Ones of Eldorado. This one was on my list for Spiel as well. Didn't get a chance, sadly, to check it out. So, we're trying again at UK Games Expo. I mean, it's obviously Cthulhu themed. Love that. So, we're going to check it out. It looks really cool. With like the whole temple and everything. So, the artwork is stunning. I'm very excited to see if the gameplay will be good. I don't know. It might suck, you know. We We never know. So, I'm going to find out. I think it will be great.

18:58 It's one to four players as well, so I'm very excited that I'm able to um play that solo potentially. I see the artist is Shwoki Davis, which is also uh artist here, I think. Yes, amazing. Welcome to the club. Then we have Betsit Games. Let's have a round of applause for Betsit Games. If you know me, you know that I love Betsit Games um and they have a new small tin game that is the Siege of the Shadow's Horn. Very excited to check this out. I'm going to pick it up um for sure. I don't even have to think about it. This is just an insta buy for me. I'm just going to get it. Um which I'm very excited about. They also have a new game uh Twittens. This one has been out a little bit longer uh but this also looks very fun.

19:52 Gosh, the thing is I'm flying. I might have said this in the intro um but I'm flying this year. So, we're going to have to see what we realistically can bring home with us. So sad, but it's good. It's good that it's going to have to I'm going to have to think really think about what I want to bring with me. Next, we have a couple games that um look just very cute. I don't know if the gameplay will be good, but they look so so freaking cute. We have Vegan Cafe um and we have Use Up All Your Sick Days, both by Dylan Coyle. Um they just look so cute and they're both one to four or like at least this one's one to six and this one's one to four players. I mean, this is just going to be fun, I think.

20:45 Again, not a lot of pictures that we have yet, so can't really show you much, but this is a game about wanting to open your trendy cafe. Your dominoes have ingredients on one side and recipes on the other. Both sides have arrows you you point to yourself to score points at the end of the game. The challenge is to protect your own ingredients while you cover other ingredients with your recipes. No, we're we're we'll find out. Not sure how that will play, but we'll see. Then we have Usable Your Six Days, um which is more of like a card game. Look at how cute that looks. I'm sorry, but that looks so cute. I just want to see what they're all about. Don't know if there will be uh any fun, but I want to check them out. Okay, we're nearing the end.

21:31 Um we're almost there. So, we have Yōkai, which also was at Spiel. Sadly, didn't get a chance to check it out, but I really want to. I'm very, very sad that this does not have a solo option because it looks so freaking cute and it's like you're like harvesting potatoes, I think, around Mount Yōtei, which is in northern Japan. Um and you're like there's like you're harvesting potatoes and stuff. But look at how cute this artwork looks. I love the style of this game so much. So, we're going to see if we can get a demo in and hope maybe I'll just bring a copy back. Even if it's just because it's a very unique game that I'm not going to be able to easily find somewhere else, just to have it in the collection as like a prized possession. I might just do that. We'll see. We'll see. Next we have a couple games that aren't on BGA.

22:31 So, we're just I'm just I think this is the last one, actually. So, I'm showing it like this. We have Mariners. Look at how stunning this looks. I mean, excuse me? If you think this uh art looks familiar, you might be right. This designer has another game called Fame and Fable. This one's already out. I am I don't have it. Um I'm very excited to check it out at UK Games Expo this year. I think they will have a demo, probably. Um so, I'd love to play it and maybe get it if they have it available. But, this also looks just stunning. But, somehow because I'm definitely more of a fantasy girly than a sci-fi girly. But, some for some reason this grabs me even more.

23:20 I don't know why. It looks absolutely incredible and I'm very curious to see I don't know if they'll have a demo for this or just like an announcement for the Kickstarter or anything. But, I'm excited to check it out. So, we're going to do that and I'm very excited. I'm very I met him I met Owen Davey at Spiel. I think my first Spiel so 2 years ago. Where he had a little stand announcing the Kickstarter for Fate, Fame and Fable. He was so lovely. So, I am very curious. I didn't back it because choices. But, I am very excited to to see it and maybe maybe get it this time. Who knows? So, that's everything.

24:07 I hope you guys enjoyed um that um I'm very excited about UK Games Expo. I can't believe it's already so soon. Oh, I'm so excited. I can't wait. I need it to happen right now. I'm very very very very very excited to see everybody and to just have a great time play games, eat some English delicious food and just have the best time ever. I'm very excited. Okay, I hope this was a fun overview of some of the games that will be there, some of the games I'm excited for. And if you're going, please say hi to me. Absolutely, that would be amazing.

24:53 Don't be shy, just come up to me and say hi. I'd love that. Um so, yeah, I hope you guys all have a great time if you're going. Have a great, you know, weekend or day, uh however long you're going. And yes, thanks so, so much for watching and I'll see you guys soon with a new video. Bye.