Hey Holly,

Ra is in-between printings, so the secondary market is currently selling them for far too much. A new version of Ra is coming soon that should be gorgeous and more affordable: https://gamefound.com/projects/draft/psnrxee6vxfltigtv1l1stexan1

It looks like Bus is also currently sold out (not sure about a reprint). Yet the publisher is Splotter, who typically sets all their games at a higher price ($90-$120). It looks like there are some options to snag a copy on the BGG market that aren’t too overpriced though: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/552/bus/marketplace/geekmarket

I haven’t tried the card game version of T&E (Euphrates & Tigris: Contest of Kings), but it sounds like most people prefer the original board game. That one is also out of print, but word on the street is that it will be reprinted in the next year or so.

Why are Bus and Ra so expensive?? Also there is a Tigris and Euphrates card game; are they related?

Wow, thanks for following up, Matteo! This was fun to hear. I recently bumped my BGG rating of Babylonia up to a 10 (which is also my rating of Pax Pamir 2e). Can’t get enough of those games myself. I’m thrilled that you found some new favorites.

Thanks for the support! Your kind words give us energy. 💪

It looks like it’ll be a fun 2022 for Bitewing Games. Glad to have you along for the ride! Happy New Year!

Dear Nick, here at the end of 2021 I’m finding to write up the promised upgrade. Babylonia has become one of my favorite tile laying games due to it’s easy to learn rules and hard to master gameplay. Also it worked really well with a lot of different groups, be it as an starter for gamenight with experienced players or the main game for some people who have little to no experience with boardgames at all. The presenation is also nice ( Though the standees are a bit …S@#t. I fixed them with some little rubber feet, now they work fine 😉 )

Now a couple of weeks ago in early december I got a package. Pax Pamir finally arrived! Since then we have played it about 8 times…which would be impressive for a normal month but is insane for the same month as christmas! It’s safe to say I do really love the game. The tension, the shifting alliances, the madness when a second domination card enters the market and all your carefully laid plans go to hell… and don’t get me started on the production value! Insane.

To summarize: Both games your Blog promted me to buy turned out to be excellent and further solidified the idea that our gaming tastes align quite well! Excited to see what you cook up in the coming year! Oh and I can’t wait to try the criminal capers collection which ofc I had to get.

It does sound like we share the same tastes! El Grande is excellent, I’m really wanting to play that again soon.

I think Chinatown, Hansa Teutonica, Babylonia, Modern Art, Irish Gauge, and Renature would all be great elegant & interactive options for you!

Pretty much most of Reiner Knizia’s classics scratch this itch as well.

I love mean games but unfortunately not many like it as well. Been meaning to buy the estates but afraid that this is too mean for my group’s taste. Been hesitating to purchase Bus, Chinatown, Tournament of avalon (easy rule but pretty deep games). But I guess this post will make me to purchase those. What do you choose as the best “simple rules but deep games (with a lot of interaction” games?

Thanks for this list!

Ah yes, Arizona. That’s a mere 9066.89 KM away, according to google maps. So a casual game here and there should be NO problem… *cries in european*

Haha, ooo baby, I’m excited for you to try Pamir and Babylonia!

It sounds like you need to move to my neck of the woods in Arizona so we can get ourselves a proper game group going.

Sidereal Confluence is definitely a lot to take in. If you want the faster & more accessible version of it, I highly recommend Chinatown!

Love some of your picks, don’t much care for some personally ( Wavelength fell super flat for me for example, Feast is too dry of a euro for me and confluence confuses the hell out of me) but overall this list somehow spoke to me.

PS: Also, I really wanna share some of your board gaming tastes, since I went all-in on the 2ed Kickstarter for your favorite game and CANNOT wait to try it.

PSPS: Great, now you made me buy Babylonia too