The three MS Edizioni releases are self-contained games with distinct settings that have gained popularity in the Italian market. Green Oaks offers a narrative-driven roleplaying experience where players take on the roles of elderly residents in a mysterious, rumor-laden retirement home. Five Days presents an experience centered on character-driven storytelling. Last Resort is a cooperative game where players are survivors on a tropical island during a zombie apocalypse.

Nigredo Press’s three releases bring unique concepts for RPG enthusiasts. Cthulhu Bay combines investigative elements with Lovecraftian horror, allowing players to piece together clues in a flexible narrative. Flail Kült is an artbook featuring illustrations that explore themes of mythology and death. Forsaken Scriptures offers minimalist maps for Mörk Borg and similar fantasy RPGs, aimed at providing no-prep adventures.

Mega Empires: The West & The East

One of the key releases from Ares Games is Mega Empires, a reimagined edition of the classic Mega Civilization. Available as two standalone games—Mega Empires: The West and Mega Empires: The East—these games let players guide their civilization through 8000 years of history. Players can expand their territories, engage in diplomacy, trade, and face calamities. Mega Empires accommodates between 3 to 18 players and offers flexible game lengths, from short sessions to full-day experiences. Both titles can be combined for a larger game with up to 18 players.

Pre-orders for Mega Empires are open with free shipping to the contiguous USA and European Union, and the game is expected to ship in December 2024.

Builders of Sylvan Dale

For those who enjoy tile-placement games, Builders of Sylvan Dale presents a unique 3D construction challenge. Players take on the role of architects designing a woodland realm by building structures on top of trees. The game offers a combination of card collection and strategic tile placement, with players competing to earn the highest prestige points by constructing the most prominent dwellings.

Pre-orders are now available, with free shipping offered for orders over $50 in the EU and contiguous USA.

Altay: Dawn of Civilization

Altay: Dawn of Civilization is a civilization-building deck game that offers strategic depth. Set in a mythical world where ancient societies face the arrival of human settlers, players must decide how to respond—whether by embracing new innovations or maintaining their traditional ways. The game features unique factions, deck-building mechanics, and a map with diverse terrain. Players can expand their kingdoms, build monuments, and develop their civilizations while competing against others.

Pre-order bundles for Altay include deluxe components and a special promo set. Free shipping is available for qualifying orders, and the game is expected to ship by November 2024.

Essen Spiel Offers

For attendees of Essen Spiel, Ares Games is offering the opportunity to pre-order and pick up their games directly at the event from booth 3-A-112. Pre-orders for Essen close on Monday, September 30th, at 10 AM CEST.

For those unable to attend, Ares Games is offering free shipping on orders over $50 to the contiguous USA and European Union when using the promo code FREESPIEL24. This offer is valid through October 15th.

‘Aeterna’ tasks players with expanding their influence by managing the iconic Seven Hills of Rome, contributing to the city’s architectural landscape, and promoting the expansion of Roman territories. The game incorporates elements of worker placement, majority control, card drafting, and strategic planning to create a competitive environment where players must also keep the city’s population content to avoid unrest.

The game is designed for two to four players and is played over three rounds, with each round taking about 30 minutes per player. This makes ‘Aeterna’ both accessible and engaging for players looking for a moderate-length gameplay experience.

The English edition of ‘Aeterna’ will be published and distributed worldwide by Ares Games under a licensing agreement with MS Edizioni, and was developed by Ergo Ludo Editions. The game is set for release in November 2024, with an initial preview scheduled for Essen Spiel in October 2024. The suggested retail price for the game is USD 65.

In Port Arthur, two players are transported to the early 20th century, engaging in the land and naval conflicts between Japan and Russia. The game challenges participants to either take on the role of the Japanese forces, leveraging their strategic positioning and naval capabilities, or command the Russian forces, tasked with defending against landings and awaiting reinforcements.

The objective of Port Arthur is straightforward yet challenging: players must gain control over more zones than their opponent within six turns to win. The game emphasizes the importance of naval supremacy, with each ship in the game having three important attributes. Players manage fleets within Sea Areas, making strategic decisions to outmaneuver their opponent.

The gameplay is structured around a sequence of turns, each comprising several phases including Fleet sortie, Operational Phase, Scoring Phase, and Return to Port Phase, followed by the advancement of the turn marker. Victory can be achieved through different conditions. For instance, a major victory occurs if the Japanese forces do not establish an army in Mukden by the end of the sixth turn. Alternatively, victory is determined by which side’s Points of Control (POC) track the marker is on, with POCs reflecting the dynamic shift of control over sea zones and victory points throughout the game.

The expansion incorporates new factions into the gameplay, including the Northmen allied with the Free Peoples, the Easterlings, and the Ruffians siding with the Shadow. “Fire and Swords” aims to enrich the game’s narrative and strategic depth, providing players with new cards, paths, and battlegrounds focused on the War in the North.

Designed to support up to six players, the expansion offers scalable gameplay that can be adjusted for smaller groups. It is compatible with the first expansion, Against the Shadow, introducing new Shadow cards for both solo and cooperative play.

The pre-order bundle includes the “Fire and Swords” expansion set, featuring new cards for the Free Peoples and Shadow factions, new paths, and battlegrounds. Also part of the bundle are two metal card boxes with premium sleeves: the Radagast Card Box and the Red Bannerman Card Box, both adorned with thematic art. Additionally, pre-ordering provides exclusive access to two special Promo Cards: Goldberry and Old Man Willow.

Offered at $49.90, the pre-order bundle represents a 20% savings off the suggested retail price of $61.70, including free shipping to the contiguous USA and European Union. The bundle’s pricing and shipping offer are intended to make the expansion accessible to a broad audience. Delivery is expected in the summer of 2024, aligning with the expansion’s release period.

Priced at $189.90, exclusive of VAT and shipping charges, this edition is a collector’s dream. It features a stunning, hot-foil printed and embossed box with a double lid and magnetic opening. What truly sets this edition apart are the hand-painted miniatures, including a painted version of the Treebeard promo and three versions of each of the Free People sovereigns, totaling 18 figures in Kings, 8 in Lords, and Treebeard. Additionally, the upgraded high-quality components elevate the gameplay experience.

Limited to just 2000 copies, this edition is a testament to Ares Games’ commitment to quality and exclusivity. The estimated release date is set for June 2024, making it a highly anticipated addition to the War of the Ring series.

The deluxe edition offers more than just aesthetic enhancements. Players will find two separate perfect-bound rulebooks for Kings and Lords, each with textured covers and special paper. Overlays and tiles are included in both standard and deluxe sizes, compatible with various game boards. The mini-expansion “The Fate of Erebor,” now with overlay tiles suitable for different game boards, and the promo card set “The Seeing-stones” add depth to the gameplay. Each copy also comes with a numbered limited-edition certificate, adding to its collectible value.

The “Kings and Lords” release is not just a new product but a response to the community’s long-standing request. The original Lords of Middle-earth limited edition was designed to complement the Collector’s Edition over a decade ago. With the Anniversary Release in 2017, owners of the limited sets expressed a desire for Lords as an expansion in a similar format. Ares Games saw the development of Kings as an opportunity to fulfill this request, offering both expansions in a single, beautifully crafted package.

Pre-orders are now open on the Ares Games webshop, limited to one per customer, offering fans a unique chance to complete their War of the Ring collection with this extraordinary release.

The “Kings of Middle-earth” expansion introduces two new types of characters to “War of the Ring Second Edition”: Sovereigns and Dark Chieftains. This expansion delves into the crucial role that the Sovereigns of the Free Peoples played in the battle against Sauron, who sought to manipulate them through various deceitful means, such as using the palantíri (seeing stones) or emissaries like Gríma.

Key characters such as Brand, Dáin Ironfoot, Denethor, Théoden, and Thranduil are highlighted in the expansion, allowing players to rally around these charismatic figures to fight against the Shadow.

In addition to the Sovereigns, the expansion also brings the Dark Chieftains to the Shadow hosts. One for each of the three Shadow Nations — the Black Serpent, the Shadow of Mirkwood, and Uglúk — these new characters add another layer of complexity and strategy to the game.

The “Kings of Middle-earth” expansion includes new rules, miniatures, cards, and Action dice that will enrich the gameplay experience. These elements are designed to allow players to fully explore and engage with the conflicts and roles of the characters in the “War of the Ring” universe.

War of the Ring – The Card Game, a celebrated title in the gaming community, offers players the opportunity to create their version of the beloved trilogy. Utilizing uniquely designed card decks that depict the strengths and weaknesses of the characters and peoples engaged in the War of the Ring, players can now forge their destiny within this age-old conflict.

The upcoming expansion, Against the Shadow, enhances the game by introducing the option for solo or cooperative play. Players will take on the role of the Free Peoples, following the standard rules and cards provided in War of the Ring – The Card Game.

Introducing a novel element to the gameplay, automated players will control the Shadow decks, offering a challenging encounter for solo adventurers or cooperative play. These Shadow decks will entirely replace the cards from the core set and are specifically crafted for individual or cooperative play. Together with an intuitive flowchart, these new Shadow decks add a layer of complexity, promising a sophisticated gaming experience for one or two players.

In addition to this, Ares Games is offering an exclusive pre-order bundle for the expansion, priced at just $40.00 (+VAT where applicable). This exclusive deal includes the new Balrog’s Whip card box and two “Against the Shadow” promotional cards. As a bonus, Ares Games is offering FREE shipping to the Continental USA and European Union. This bundle promises to offer an immersive and thrilling gaming experience for both seasoned veterans and newcomers to the War of the Ring.

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The new Special Packs will feature Observation Balloons, specifically the Caquot M / Ae 800 Drachen models. Historically, these “guardians of the skies” played a crucial role during World War I, assisting in troop support, intelligence gathering, and artillery fire coordination. They were heavily defended by anti-aircraft guns, machine guns, and patrolling fighter aircraft, and were also equipped with special weapons like Le Prieur rockets to take down their challengers.

The Special Packs will provide players with the opportunity to feature these significant aerial devices at the center of their gameplay scenarios. The packs include the Caquot M / Ae 800 Drachen in two base colors, Sand and Brown, and will also contain a decal sheet for customization.

In addition to the Observation Balloon Special Packs, Ares Games will also introduce three new versions of the famous Nieuport 16 fighter airplanes: Navarre, Escadrille Lafayette, and De Guibert.

The Navarre version of Nieuport 16 is named in honor of Jean Navarre, “Sentinel of Verdun”, the first French pilot officially recognized as an ace and the first to shoot down two enemy aircraft in a single day.

The Escadrille Lafayette version is dedicated to the renowned squadron named after the French hero of the American Revolutionary War, symbolizing the long-standing camaraderie between the French and the Americans.

The De Guibert variant pays tribute to Henri De Guibert, a respected French pilot who was honored as Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur after 19 years of service.

“The addition of Observation Balloons and the new versions of the Nieuport 16 will truly elevate the gameplay experience for our players,” said an Ares Games representative. “We believe these historical elements will further enrich the engaging narratives and strategies in our WW1 Wings of Glory games.”

These new models are expected to release in September 2023, providing players with an enriched and more nuanced WW1 Wings of Glory experience.

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Funded successfully through a Kickstarter campaign in May 2021, the eagerly anticipated game is set to hit retail stores in August 2023, right after the backers’ fulfillments are completed. This summer release is not just limited to the core book of “Fantasy World.” Alongside, gamers can also look forward to the release of the supplement “Kosmohedron,” an anthology of quick-settings designed to enrich the game experience, as well as a special Fantasy World Dice Set.

“Fantasy World” presents an interactive realm where magic is tangible, gods are silent, cities are few and far between, and every journey comes with its perils. Each game session demands the players to make consequential decisions, often involving tough choices and personal sacrifices, thus driving their adventure forward.

The gameplay designates one participant to play the role of the World, creating scenarios and conflicts for the rest of the players to navigate. The game comes with a variety of common moves, including action, info, violence, and adventuring moves, along with special moves, offering players a comprehensive toolkit to face the many challenges the game presents.

Adding to the allure of the core book is the “Kosmohedron” supplement. Authored by an international lineup of writers, it expands the Fantasy World setting, introducing new quick-settings, improved rules, and gameplay features. It also presents new classes and a wealth of new objects, adding depth and variety to the gaming experience. To round off this immersive experience, the Fantasy World Dice Set, with three dice featuring gold-colored engravings, is the perfect companion for adventurers in this fantastical world.