One of the things we like to do here at the Malted Meeple is give some extra attention to our favorite board game publishers and designers. In our monthly Publisher’s Spotlight we provide a bit of background on the publisher, discuss a few of their games, and may even announce a visit to The Meeple by some of the publisher’s representatives!
This month, we shine our Publisher’s Spotlight on a true titan of the gaming industry: Asmodee! While the company still produces its own games, they also distribute many familiar titles across the globe. Few companies touch as many corners of the globe as Asmodee. Headquartered in Guyancourt, France, Asmodee currently publishes and distributes board games in Europe, North America, and China.
Asmodee Games was founded in 1995 by former employees of the RPG publisher Siroz Productions. Since then, they have made it their mission to seek out the best games for a wide audience. From light fun games for the whole family to immersive games filled with conflict, and everything in between. Many of their games have won prestigious awards, including several which have been listed as our Malted Meeple Game of the Month! Asmodee’s game catalog includes:
Splendor, which won the 2014 Golden Geek Best Family Board Game and the 2015 Origins Award for Best Card Game. In Splendor, players take on the role of renaissance gem merchants trying to purchase mines, specialists, and shops. As you purchase more and more cards, you are able to increase your buying power and prestige. Whoever has the most prestige at the end of the game is the winner. Splendor masterfully blends fun simple game play with engine-building strategy. This game is a Malted Meeple favorite and was our game of the month in January of 2015.
Dixit won the coveted Spiel des Jahres award in 2010. This innovative party game allows players of a variety of ages and skill levels the chance to play together. In the game, one player, the story teller, will make up a sentence that relates to one of the cards in their hand and then play that card. Each other player must then play a card face down that also relates to the sentence. All the cards are shuffled and then players bid on which card they think was the storyteller’s card. The storyteller does not earn any points if everyone or no one finds the storyteller’s card. The key for the storyteller is to be specific yet vague enough that some, but not all, players find your card. The game is so simple that even children of 6 years or older can play. This game sees play often at the Malted Meeple and is a guest favorite.
The unique drafting game, 7 Wonders won the prestigious Kennerspiel des Jahres or connoisseur/expert game of the year in 2011. In 7 Wonders, players lead the seven great cities of the ancient world. They must gather resources, develop trade, and protect their boarders with military might. The game lasts three rounds, also known as ages. During each round, players will receive seven cards from the age deck and must choose one of the cards and pass the rest to the next player. Then, they will take the next six cards from the player adjacent to them. Play continues until each player has six cards from that particular age. Players then reveal their cards simultaneously, pay or receive resources, and activate special abilities. Then, players begin the next age. After three ages, the game ends and whoever has the most victory points wins. This unique card development game is also a Malted Meeple favorite.
The next time you visit the Malted Meeple be sure to ask your Game Master for their favorite title from Asmodee!
Karington Hess is a lifelong gamer whose passions for hospitality and all things game-related led him to Ravenwood Castle, where he served as an Innkeeper before joining The Malted Meeple. When not pouring beers, crafting milkshakes, or teaching boardgames, Karington can be found behind the DM’s screen, weaving intricate stories for his fellow gamers.