Islebound

This was a kickstarter from Red Raven Games.  It is one of our new favorite games.  It is worker placement and works great two player.  We love the different set ups and the cool choices with the islands.  These games are also just so gorgeous.  There are tons of great choices here so if you like worker placement, you should like this one. 

Viticulture

 

I have been super excited to try Viticulture and we recently purchased it and just got it to the table about a week ago. It was SO great.  I was so excited that this lived up to the hype in my mind.  We will definitely be purchasing the expansion!  First, I like that this is a "different" theme - the wine making theme comes through really well.  Second, it plays well at two player, but I think it will also do well in a larger setting.  Last, the components are gorgeous and the mechanisms all work really well.  This is not a beginner game, but it is also not super hard to learn to teach.  Definitely worth the purchase price!

Parfum

This is a great game and I love the theme - perfume making!  I feel my husband got a bit shafted this year...he was running around Origins, buying "girl" themed games - I wanted both this and Rococo! 

 

This is a nice worker management game, not too heavy, but not super light either.  You bid on turn order and, based on how early you go, you get less actions.  So the later you go, the more actions you get....but then you might not get the good customers or the good perfume options.  If you are in the lead, it doesn't matter...you pick last and get's what left.  You actually roll dice to see if your perfumes take and you actually get nothing.  I really enjoy that this is a fun, different theme that really appeals more to the female audience.  While Ray and I have played this, I have also been playing with my sister-in-law and mother (as you can see here).  Lots of fun!

 

This does work pretty well at two player, but having now played it three player, it is better with a larger group. Much more competitive!