Each month at For The Win Board Game Cafe, we take a look at a few future releases that we're really excited about. From new games, to expansions, to Kickstarters we'll be covering it all monthly.

A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition) – Mother of Dragons

One of the best tabletop adaptations is finally getting an expansion. A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition) - Mother of Dragons expands the world of Westeros to include the free cities of Essos. Additionally, this is the first time players will be able to play as House Targaryen. Yes, that’s right, it also means you gain control of the almighty dragons. House Arryn makes an appearance as well, with a different set of House Cards than their Feast for Crows iteration.

We are huge fans of A Game of Thrones: The Board Games (Second Edition) and the show itself, so we are very excited for this one. The last two expansions were more mini-modules that only slightly altered the game, but Mother of Dragons looks to add a ton of new features that will bring major changes to the formula. For anyone who has been hungry for more, this looks to be everything you could ask for.

A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition) - Mother of Dragons arrives sometimes in Q1 2019.

Railroad ink

Borrowing from the always successful Pokemon video game franchise, Railroad Ink is releasing with two editions: Deep Blue and Blazing Red. But unlike Pokemon, there are a few fundamental differences in both versions. Each edition comes with its own unique gameplay mechanics, to make owning both games seem worthwhile. And while each game supports up to 6 players, combining both allows for a whooping 12 player game.

Players compete to connect as many exits as they can on a grid using the different types of roads and rails as they are rolled on the game’s dice. Each player has their own map but how the players use the dice will be the determining factor in finding a winner. It’s quite similar to Karuba or even Ricochet Robots. It’s a sneaky title that will likely surprise many gamers. Keep an eye out!

Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition will be available by December 2019.

Braintopia Beyond

If you’ve ever been to our cafe and asked for a recommendation, we’ve likely pointed you toward Braintopia. It’s a staff favourite, as it provides a quick-thinking experience without the need for much tabletop expertise. It’s a step above Ghost Blitz and Speed Cups, which we find is a popular difficulty level among most gamers looking for a casual but competitive game.

Braintopia Beyond is the sequel that brings 8 all-new challenges to the table. And while there is little information as to what they may be, you can be sure that the familiar, frantic energy of the original will be present.

Braintopia Beyond will be available before the end of 2018.

Bargain Quest

Bargain Quest is not so much a new game as it is a second chance for many gamers to get their hands on this previous Kickstarter title. We’re among those who missed it the first time around, but we’re all aboard this time. While most games highlight the players as heroes off to fight monsters, Bargain Quest instead puts players in the role of shopkeeper. If you’ve played Recettear, this may be a familiar role for you!

Players draft items to stock in their shops, in hopes to attract heroes to visit and equip themselves. Once the heroes have stocked up, they will venture out to defeat monsters for prestige earning points for whoever’s shop they last visited. It’s got a bit of a Boss Monster feel to it.

Bargain Quest is now accepting pre-orders for their second print run. Copies will be shipped out by January 2019.

Monumental

Like most Kickstarter games, we were drawn to Monumental because of its beautiful aesthetic and accompanying miniatures. Most successful campaigns tend to feature incredibly detailed minis, and Monumental is right up there with the best. However, looks are just one small part of any game. What’s more promising is the game’s design which blends deck-building with 4X elements.

Monumental supports 1 to 4 players, meaning it even accommodates the always rare, single player mode. With a modular board and cards that can be combined to create hundreds of combos, there’s a big promise of variety and replay value. If everything works out, Monumental may be the Civilization game we’ve always wanted.

Click here to visit the Kickstarter page. Monumental ships to backers in September 2019.