Primal Just Got Even Better @Shelfside

Primal Just Got Even Better @Shelfside

Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

Primal the Awakening expansion pre-orders just dropped! Reggie Games hit us with more peak campaign board game content in the form of extra player characters who use a spear and wardrum, 10 new biome playmat maps that can modify your boss battles, and the nightmare variation cards of the last 13 monsters without them! There's so many new combos and strategies to deck build with, plus challenges to take on! And of course, there's new organizers to avoid any tabletop clutter to support the new components.

Check out Primal here: reggiegames.com

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Table of Contents:
What this is - 0:00
New Hunters - 1:52
Nightmares & Biomes - 14:06
Buyer's Guide - 19:15

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#boardgames #tabletop #tabletopgames

Primal Just Got Even Better

The Mole ▸ Shelfside Plays

$Worker Placement Explained We explain the popular game mechanic of Worker Placement! This is a Euro-leaning tabletop mechanic, typically featured in games with lower randomness and more resource management gameplay. It is a very splashable idea, being in many thematic games (although not in too many Ameritrash usually), and heavily featured throughout boardgamegeek top #200 games. We try to break down the interaction between meeples, fun factor while moving chits, and how easy it is to grasp. Workers can also be dice in some games, or family members in ones that have more hand management ideas. Not every popular euro has this worker placement, like Scythe is technically not a worker placement. Use our code ‘SHELFSIDE’ at checkout for a free custom play surface and help the channel (worth $200): https://bbopokertables.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=39&url=70 Games featured: Lords of Waterdeep, Everdell, The Godfather: Corleones Empire, Argent: The Consortium, Caverna, Agricola, Parks, Star Wars: Rebellion, Castles of Burgundy, Lost Ruins of Arnak, Dune: Imperium Table of Contents: Intro - (0:00) What is Worker Placement? - (1:05) Why Worker Placement - (2:58) Worker Placement’s Popularity - (4:38) Worker Placement Common Complaints - (6:52) Support us: https://www.patreon.com/shelfside https://ko-fi.com/shelfside Our Website! https://www.shelfside.co/ Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link) https://amazon.com/shop/shelfside Shelfside Social Media: https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT https://www.instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames/ https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/ https://discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62 Links to our other stuff: Ashtons Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu Daniels Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2 Stuff Used: Upbeat Travel Event by Infraction [No Copyright Music] / Afro Beat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJLia2d3WoQ #boardgames #tabletop #tabletopgames$

Earth | Shelfside Review

$Twilight Imperium 4: Thunders Edge | Shelfside Review We review the latest Ti4 expansion, after playing it four times! Well technically, we played Codex 4 3 times, then this once, but there’s a lot of crossover! This 2nd expansion for the top BGG game, Ti4 (with Pok) includes more asymmetric factions all the way to new 4x mechanics (Thunder’s edge + fracture). Explore the fracture and invest into the new legendary planets! Or play an entire new game mode with drafting, in Twilight’s Fall! There are patched cards from the codexes and cardboard pieces like the strategy cards. With the 20 galactic events, you can fix voting or even introduce RTS-isms with the Monuments to the Ages! Will this be the definitive first expansion to get, even with Prophecy of Kings already being out? How do the 6 new factions fare? What has become of the massive product Twilight Imperium, as maybe there could be a Ti5 one day? Table of Contents Overview - (0:00) What’s New - (1:50) Pros - (2:37) Cons - (18:15) Recommender Score - (20:36) Alexander’s Personal Score - (26:21) Ashton’s Personal Score - (28:42) Support us: https://www.patreon.com/shelfside https://ko-fi.com/shelfside Our Website! https://www.shelfside.co/ Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link) https://amazon.com/shop/shelfside Shelfside Social Media: https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT https://www.instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames/ https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/ https://discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62 Links to our other stuff: Ashtons Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu Daniels Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2 Stuff Used: Spirit of the Law — Everything You’ve Wondered About Wonders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBEkT92YjC4 #boardgames #tabletop #review$

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$Catan Starfarers Duel Review — Memorization Catan We review the newest Catan game, a reprint of Starship Catan! In this sci-fi themed 2 player tabletop game, you will use a ship and fly around the galaxy, memorizing areas you’ve gone to before to score victory points. You’ll also perform some microeconomics with buying/selling resources, with modular upgrades that can affect your dice rolls. There are the Catan-isms of rolling for resources, and competing over certain objectives. Push your luck on your turn, and trade at the end of your turn. Will you see aliens or pirates to disrupt your crunchy plans? Is this game’s connection to the original Starfarers helping or hurting it? Would Klaus Teuber be happy with this print? The GTT Arena Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gametheorytables/the-arena-game-table-digital-ttrpg-table Table of Contents: Overview - (0:00) Game Theory Tables - (1:03) How to Play - (1:33) Pros - (3:03) Cons - (11:05) Recommender Score - (19:10) Adumb’s Personal Score - (23:27) Ashtons Personal Score - (28:15) Support us: https://www.patreon.com/shelfside https://ko-fi.com/shelfside Our Website! https://www.shelfside.co/ Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link) https://amazon.com/shop/shelfside Shelfside Social Media: https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT https://www.instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames/ https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/ https://discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62 Links to our other stuff: Ashtons Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu Daniels Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2 Stuff Used: Upbeat Event Travel by Infraction [No Copyright Music] / Good Vibe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrY7LBvrY4g #boardgames #tabletop #review$

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Primal Just Got Even Better