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Join Rob from This Board Game Life as he cracks open the big box of Ostia: Mariner Edition, the new deluxe release for 2026. In this unboxing, Rob works through the rulebook, checks out the jumbo reference cards, and pulls apart the punchboards, boards, and player components. From the linen-finish pages to the little ships, buildings, and horses, he takes a close look at everything packed inside this hefty box for 1–4 players. Ostia is a modern classic that blends mancala-driven resource management with action selection and a race across the sea routes of ancient Rome. Players amass a fleet of merchant ships, establish ports across the ocean, and gather trade goods, exotic beasts, and the support of the nobility back home to secure their place in history. This Mariner Edition from Crafty Games folds the base game together with the Merchants and Patronus expansions, deluxe content, and a custom storage solution, all with upgrades for smoother, faster play. Designed by Totsuca Chuo, it plays in 100–120 minutes and includes a solo mode. 00:00 Intro 01:36 Rule Book 05:00 Player Aids 05:45 Punchboards And Board 07:03 Player Boards 07:43 Ships And Buildings 09:29 Cards 10:19 Resources 11:14 Component Overview 13:04 Repacking The Box 13:53 Final Thoughts https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/469388/ostia-mariner-edition

This week Mark and Rob share what they have played recently which is a mix of old and new games. Share some industry news, and then have a discussion around the high cost of Crowdfunding. Enjoy. 00:00 Intro 04:10 What We Played 42:00 News 48:40 Is Crowdfunding to Costly? 1:24:50 Crowdfunding Corner

In this video, Mark unboxes Lost Ruins of Arnak: Surprise Shipment, the newest expansion from Czech Games Edition. Join him as he works through a few live setup and lighting hiccups while walking through everything included in the box, from the new site tiles to the updated site that replaces the crashed plane. Mark also digs into the stack of 50 new cards, covering clarifications and showing off some of the fresh items like the motorboat, buggy, and glider. Stick around for a hands-on first look at what this final Arnak expansion has to offer. Lost Ruins of Arnak: Surprise Shipment is the final addition to the world of Arnak, a game where players return to a mysterious jungle island to unearth treasures and uncover secrets. This expansion adds 50 new cards (30 artifacts and 20 items), two new sites, and an updated site to gear up for another expedition. Designed by Elwen and Mín for 1–4 players and playing in about 30–120 minutes, it comes in a beautifully illustrated box that fits right into any Arnak collection. 00:00 Intro 01:35 Setup Troubles 04:11 New Site Tiles 06:22 Replacement Tile 07:22 Card Clarifications 07:57 Item Cards 09:52 Artifact Cards 12:10 Final Thoughts https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/475207/lost-ruins-of-arnak-surprise-shipment

Join Mark for a mailbag of Lost Ruins of Arnak: Surprise Shipment, the final expansion for the popular Lost Ruins of Arnak. Lost Ruins of Arnak: Surprise Shipment is the last expansion for Czech Games Edition's world of Arnak, sending players back to the mysterious island to unearth more treasures and secrets. It adds 50 new cards—30 artifacts and 20 items—along with two new sites and an updated site to expand your adventures. Designed by Elwen and Mín and published in 2026, it supports 1–4 players with games running roughly 30–120 minutes. Gear up with new items and head back into the jungle for one final return to Arnak. https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/475207/lost-ruins-of-arnak-surprise-shipment

July had Mark playing 13 games for a total of 30 plays. What did he play? Let's find out. 00:00 Intro 01:10 Wondrous Creatures 05:03 Panda Royale 07:22 Zombicide White Death TMNT Timecrash 09:53 Champions of Midgard 12:50 The Game Makers 17:16 Container 19:08 Captain Sonar 21:45 Mechs vs. Minions 23:55 Oak 26:27 Masters of Renaissance: Lorenzo il Magnifico – The Card Game 28:23 Pandemic Legacy Season 2 29:27 Sniper Elite The Board Game 32:39 Cover Your Assets

In this video, Mark unboxes 20 Strong: Etherfields from Chip Theory Games. He walks through the contents of this compact box, exploring the rulebooks, player aids, and the high-quality PVC cards inside. Along the way, Mark explains how the 20 Strong system works, how it connects to the core game, and how this release fits into Chip Theory's growing lineup of titles. Join him at the table for a first look at the components and artwork of this brand-new release. 20 Strong: Etherfields is a solo game where your hero travels through an ever-shifting dreamscape, making connections and spending resources to trigger special actions in evocative rooms. Cards flip during play and stay that way across future sessions, creating a deck that's uniquely shaped by every decision you make over time. Using influence cards to augment your dice pool, you're free to take actions whenever you wish, leading to highly creative play. Over repeated sessions, you'll work to uncover the deck's secrets and defeat every hidden boss Etherfields has to offer. Designed by Josh J. Carlson and Salem Scott, it plays in about 40–60 minutes for one player. 00:00 Intro 02:05 Twenty Strong System 06:44 Item Cards 07:42 Influence Cards 10:38 Hero Cards 11:51 Enemy Cards 14:44 Map Cards 15:07 Final Thoughts https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/466598/20-strong-etherfields