We are tackling Miniature Adventures: Adventure 1 – Goblin Troubles. Published by Lowtek Games LLC and designed by Jon Lowman, this is an exciting co-op card game inspired by old-school 16-bit RPGs.

The Premise:

The Kingdom of Delriah is having some serious goblin issues, and they need an adventuring party to help! You choose a Hero and a class, then work together to overcome four levels of challenges:

1. Misty Forest
2. Mountain Path
3. Goblin Fortress
4. Goblin Throne

How it Plays:

It plays 1–4 players and relies on dice rolling mechanisms. You slot your rolled dice into your character card to determine your Initiative (speed), Power, and Actions. You have to survive various Encounters, including Mobs (enemies) and Challenges (perils), to win.

🏆 The Scores

Is it fun? Will it wreck your relationship? Here is our final verdict:

• Fun Score: We both loved it!
  • Michael: 8/10
  • Suzy: 8/10
• The Couch Score: (Will it wreck the relationship? 1 = Safe, 5 = Danger)
  • Since it’s co-op, it’s pretty safe!
  • Michael: 2/5
  • Suzy: 1/5
• Time Sink: We rated this a 1 (No Problem)—you can learn it in one or two games without needing hours of tutorials.

🔦 Kickstarter Spotlight

We love checking Kickstarter for the coolest new games. This week we shouted out Maiden of the Dark, a Game Boy game by TigerChainsaw.

📞 Connect with Us!

If you liked the show, be sure to share it with a friend!

• Email: [email protected]
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See you next time on Meeples and Wine! Buh-Bye!

We look for the coolest games coming out on crowdfunding sites, and this one is heading to Gamefound! You can back it HERE!

📣 Last Call

That’s all for this week! What do you think of the Mescalita recipe? Are you planning on backing The Mix? We want to hear from you!

• Email Us: meeplesandwine[at]gmail[dot]com
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If you loved the show, the best thing you can do is share it with a friend.

See you next time on Meeples and Wine!

• Title: Arkham Horror: The Card Game
• The Gist: It’s a cooperative Living Card Game where you and your partner take on the roles of Investigators trying to solve a scenario’s mystery before the forces of the Mythos overwhelm you. You’ll be using Action Points to move, play cards, and test your skills (Willpower, Intellect, Combat, Agility) against a random Chaos Token drawn from the bag. Get those clues, progress the Act deck, and try to survive!
• BGG Rating & Weight: It holds an impressive 8.1/10 on BoardGameGeek and is definitely a thinker at a 3.56/5 complexity.
• Designers: Nate French and MJ Newman (who also worked on Marvel Champions: TCG and LOTR:TCG).
• Awards: This game is well-loved, having won the Dice Tower’s Best 2 Player and Best Co-Op Game in 2016, plus several BGG Golden Geek Awards!
• Learn More: You can find the game’s page on BGG right here: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/205637/arkham-horror-the-card-game
• Expansions: There are TONS of expansions, including scenario boxes, investigator decks, playmats, and more, if you’re looking to expand your Arkham experience!

Our Ratings

• Fun Score (1-10): We both gave it a super high 9! This is a great co-op experience.
• Will it Wreck the Relationship? (Couch Score 1-5): A low-stress 1 from both of us. It’s a great game to play with your partner!

🎙️ Last Call

We always take a peek at the latest and greatest coming to crowdfunding, and this week we checked out Joyride: Full Throttle by Rebellion Unplugged.

• The Game: This is a high-octane racing game for 2–6 players where you choose your racing line, trade paint on corners, and smash opponents! This new edition includes an expanded team mode, portals, and new cars, items, and maps.
• Find it Here: You can check out the campaign on Gamefound: https://gamefound.com/projects/rebellion-unplugged/joyride-full-throttle
• BGG Page: Read more about it on BGG: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/380728/joyride-survival-fastest

👋 Meet-Ups & Contact

• See Us In Person! We’ll be at Lodge Con on November 1st at the Will County Fairgrounds in Peotone, IL. The halls are open from 10 am – 5 pm, but gaming is open from 8 am till midnight. Stop by and say hi!
• Email Us: [email protected]
• Socials: Find us everywhere—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn—by searching Meeples & Wine!
• Voicemail: Leave us a message or ask a question at (707) 572-5282 or use our Speakpipe link.

If you liked the show, please be sure to share it with a friend!

See you next time on Meeples and Wine! Buh-Bye!

Hey there, Meeples & Wine fans! It’s Michael and Suzy, your go-to duo for board game reviews tailored for couples, always with a glass of something tasty in hand. Got a game or wine you think we should try? Shoot us an email at [email protected], connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn, or leave a message at (707) 572-5282 or via our Speakpipe. Let’s jump into this week’s episode!

We’re kicking things off with a bold pour of Dearly Beloved I Thee Red 2023, a red blend from Lodi, California. This wine’s got serious autumn vibes with its Dia de Los Muertos-inspired bottle art. Crafted from a mix of Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Tannat, and Tempranillo, it’s bursting with dark cherry, plum, and spicy vanilla oak aromas, plus flavors of blueberry, black currant, and toasted vanilla bean. It’s perfect for sipping solo or pairing with aged cheeses, roasted meats, or pasta with a hearty red sauce. We’ll check back later to see how it’s evolved since we popped the cork!

Now, let’s talk about the star of the show: Terror Below from Renegade Game Studios. Designed by Mike Elliott (known for Marvel Dice Masters and Thunderstone Quest) with art by Eric Hibbeler (Sky Team), this game has a 6.7/10 rating on BoardGameGeek and a light 1.94/5 complexity, playable by 1-5 players. In Terror Below, you’re racing through the Nevada desert, collecting Worm Eggs, delivering them for bounties, and maybe even hunting giant W.O.R.M.s (Weapons of Remote Massacre) if you’re feeling brave. The catch? Moving fast attracts those vicious underground worms, so strategy is key!

Here’s how it plays: your goal is to hit 20 Victory Points first by collecting and delivering Eggs, completing bounties, or slaying worms. Each turn, you play a Vehicle card to distract a worm, moving its Target token to keep it off your tail. Then, you spend Action Points to move your pawn, clear rubble, pick up Eggs, or deliver them to Locations for points. Special card abilities add some flair, and you refill your hand to three cards at the end. Between turns, worms might attack, dropping Eggs and Rubble—or worse, catching you in a fight. If you’re armed with Weapon or Item cards, you can hunt the worm for a VP or bounty; if not, your Leader might bite the dust and you’ll respawn with a new one. It’s a wild mix of action points, dice rolling, grid movement, and pick-up-and-deliver mechanics with variable player powers for extra spice. Oh, and there’s a Hidden Cache Expansion if you want more chaos!

Before we sign off, we’re hyped about some upcoming games we found on crowdfunding. Check out Dice Throne Vanguard on Kickstarter and Trenchcoat Raccoons: A Chaotic, Fail-Forward Heist RPG by OneShot TPK on Gamefound. Next week, we’ll be diving into another game—stay tuned for details!

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend and let us know what you want us to play or sip next at [email protected], on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or via (707) 572-5282 or Speakpipe. That’s all for now—keep sipping, gaming, and loving those game nights. See you next time on Meeples & Wine! Buh-Bye!

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 [email protected], 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 [email protected], 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!