It is day two at Essen Spiel, and unlike the first day, we have decided to explore more than Hall 3. With our go-pro ready in the sky, we have decided to go on an adventure and try to visit all the halls and see what they offer. Our adventure begins after crossing over Hall 8, which is only for shipping games and wardrobe storage.
Hall 7
This hall had a little bit of everything. Most notable were the board game discount vendors, which had terrific sales of 75% off. Unfortunately, the games on sale were only in German, and none of us spoke German, so it was a disappointment for us. Besides discount stores, there were also major German publishers like Schmidt. There was also the business lounge where many famous designers hang out to meet and greet. The hall was a bit overcrowded because it was the entry point, and common people who were not into the hobby were visiting also.
Hall 6
When we entered hall 6, we noticed a change in the atmosphere from a common area to a more family-friendly space. Clearly, this hall was designed for family-friendly and party games. We played shooting elephants and many other dexterity games. One noticeable game we played was making our own toast or sandwich with cards, which made us hungry. Also, no one can forget the River Valley Glassworks and its beautiful gems. We also got free coffee.
Hall 5
Hall 5 was the crossing threshold into board games or, more specifically, gateway games. There were some famous board games suitable for newcomers and advanced gamers. Some of the most renowned publishers, like Hasbro, Haba, and Iello, presented their old-time favorites like Monopoly, Stratego, and King of Tokyo and some new ones like Diamant, Flip Circus, and Clash of Magic Schools. After day one, when we were still jet lagged and exhausted, it was very nice to see old-time favorites reprinted in the latest versions and also play some new games like Diamant.
Hall 4
Entering Hall 4 was like traveling into the future of board games because this hall contained games that were about to be published on Kickstarter and gamefound. It was amazing to see what the future holds for board games. One game in particular caught our eye, Harakiri by Synergic Games. We have a more than 20-minute video of the designer himself explaining the game, leaving us speechless and in awe of its remarkable story, theme, and mechanics.
The game was so masterfully crafted it made us want to play it immediately, but unfortunately, playing such a great game would take us more than a day, and we had only three days to experience as many games as we could. The game’s core mechanic was similar to Gloomhaven, where players are put into roles of different characters fighting monsters and recovering treasures and ancient artifacts while simultaneously rescuing innocent people from the jaws of great evil. However, a character’s death does not mean the game is lost. On the contrary, players can sacrifice their character to receive ultimate power for a few turns, enough to beat the final bosses and rejoice in the team’s victory.
Hall 3
We have mentioned a bit on day one about Hall 3. It is our favorite hall because there were some of the best board games and their publishers, like CGI, Pegasus Spiel, Archona games, Queen Games, Feurland, and the Dice Tower. Many of these publishers graced us with their fantastic games, and we can’t wait to tell you more about them in the following month, so visit us regularly for juicy reviews. One game, in particular, fascinated us, Colosseum, by Fantasia Games, where players are put into the roles of noble Roman families organizing gladiatorial games and getting prestige, which is like victory points. Unfortunately, we could not procure a copy because the game was still in early development and will be released through Gamefound. On the bright side, we gained many other great games like SETI, Unconscious Mind, Stamp Swap, Resafa, and many more.
Hall 2
With all these great games we mentioned, to make the experience even more immersive, we need some cool accessories like custom dice and minis, and these can be found right here in Hall 2. This hall was a mixture of all the halls, with discount stores, significant publishers like Hans im Glück, major toy brands like Hot Wheels, and even wine tasting. However, the best feature of Hall 2 was the game accessories like dice, wooden meeples, player mats, custom 3d printed Miniatures, and even whole 3d printed battlefields for D&D and similar games. There were also different types of artists, like painters, sculptors, weavers, and toy makers; on top of all that, there were unbelievable gaming tables, which were every gamer’s dream.
Hall 1
We have seen all kinds of board games and even their accessories, and now it is time for the ultimate games, TCGs and CCGs. That’s right, Hall 1 was all about trading card games like Magic the Gathering, Yu Gi Oh, and Pokemon. The first thing that caught our eye was the golden demon’s head in the air beside the Warhammer stand. We have visited many famous publishers like Asmodee, Fantasy Flight, and CMON and saw their unique products. Another thing that piqued our interest was the library of extra rare trading cards. From Yu Gi Oh to Pokémon, this library contained every rare card you could find on the market, pricing from 25 euros up to 3.000 for the ultra-rare Pikachu card.
Highlight of Day 2 – Meeting Mike DiLisio and Tom Vasel
The bustling halls of Essen Spiel were filled with excitement, but nothing could compare to the thrill of encountering two giants of the board game world. As we navigated through the crowded aisles, we stumbled upon none other than Tom Vasel and Mike DiLisio, the dynamic duo behind The Dice Tower. Their friendly demeanor immediately put us at ease, and we found ourselves engrossed in a passionate discussion about the latest gaming trends and hidden gems of the convention. Tom’s infectious enthusiasm and Mike’s insightful commentary provided a unique perspective on the industry, making this chance meeting an unforgettable highlight of our Essen Spiel experience. The opportunity to share our love for board games with these influential figures left us inspired and eager to explore more of what the convention had to offer.
Summary
Now that we have gained our bearings, we could not be more thrilled to be here at this marvelous event. Nevertheless, Hall 3 remains our favorite hall, and we will probably visit there again tomorrow for some quick gaming. However, we might also see other halls for some game merchandise and discount stores. We will most likely visit Hall 6 for some hilarious party games, and who knows, some of us might buy some rare Pokémon cards in Hall 1.
