It’s December, so as ever, it’s time for some Xmas recommendations, and a whole lot of stuff for you to win!

As you may know, this year I’ve been counting down over the last couple of months – spreading the festive joy a bit, and the results of our November Scythe: Expeditions Giveaway are below PLUS if you head over to @games_with_graven on Instagram, there’s still time to enter our Mid-Month Solo Game Giveaway (Star Trek Adventures: Captain’s Log and Marvel Champions: Psylocke) on the pinned post.

But here’s my other top gifts recommendations, and you can win each and every one of them in our 2023 Christmas Giveaway (details of how to enter at the bottom of the page), with over £350 of total value!

Yes, yes, I know, I’m great. You can pay me later, folding money only.

---

Marvel Champions

(RRP: £60, Hero Pack RRP: £15)

Yes, I’m always going on about this game. No, I don’t care. It’s STILL our top recommendation for Geeky Gifting: it’s fun, accessible and challenging, in all the right ways; read our full review HERE. Build your dream Marvel team, and take down everyone from Ultron to Kang, Thanos to Venomised Green Goblin!

As well as the core box, we’re even going to throw in the brand-new Angel Hero Pack (reviewed HERE) to mix up your options (and help Captain Marvel fly higher, further, faster) AND the new X-23 and Deadpool packs too! I’ve not even had a chance to review them fully yet! Ridiculous.

---

Marvel Crisis Protocol: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes core set

(RRP: £149.99)

Talking of big, Marvellous things, if you are struggling for a big box gift for the gamer in your life, we highly recommend the new Marvel Crisis Protocol Core Set – it’s an excellent treat for your pet nerd. Which I realise might be yourself ;)

We’ll be doing a full review look as part of our January Geeking Out, but suffice to say it’s a ridiculously big, beautiful box of gaming goodness (and indeed, badness). Everything you need to play: 13 models, loads of terrain, dice, tokens, rulers, cards… it’s the whole package. It is a mighty thing, burdened with great purpose, and well worth the investment.

---

Disney Lorcana TCG: Rise of the Floodborn

(Starter RRP: £17.99, Booster RRP: £4.99)

The second “chapter” (set) for Ravensburger’s WILDLY popular Disney card game is already selling out left, right and centre, bringing as diverse a range of movie characters as Winnie the Pooh and chums, the cast of Zootopia (the first PIXAR entry), Snow White and 7 diminutive gentlemen, Raya, Pinnochio and even (shock) Basil the Great Mouse Detective!

With over 200 new cards, including some reimagined variants of previous such as the likes of the fearsome Cinderella: Stouthearted and Belle: Hidden Archer fleshing out Steel and Emerald especially, and new mechanics like Amethyst Bounce or the insanity of Sapphire Jumbo Pawps draw – not to mention a whole new set of foils and Enchanteds – this is a fantastic set and great time to be getting into what’s turning into the most exciting card game to hit the market in a long time.

And oh yes, we’ve got BOTH of the new Starter Decks for you in the giveaway! Gosh.

---

Aconyte Books – Tie-in Gamebooks

(RRP: £9.99)

Now, I know that tie-in fiction might not be for everyone (I mean, you’re wrong, but still) but I have to talk about the outstanding Marvel Gamebooks from Aconyte. It’s like a retro slice of Choose your own Adventure with the Marvel Multiverse Missions Adventure Gamebook such as Moon Knight: Age of Anubis

We loved the She-Hulk and Deadpool offerings last year, so we just HAD to give you a copy of their latest! I will happily go on about the power of comics and tie-ins for improving literacy [/soapbox] but I’ll just settle for knowing that y’all know about these wee beauties.

---

Panda Party!

(RRP: £25)

Ain’t no party like a panda party! If you’re stuck for a game for the younger ones that will still keep the rest interested, then break out the terrible puns and fiendish bidding wars of Panda Party!

This delightfully fun game has you trying to collect 5 pandas, buying (and outbidding) with their favourite foods – they’ve moved on from Bamboo to the delights of donuts and pizza (very wise). Silver Pandas cost more, but have one-time trigger effects, whilst Gold Pandas are even better, with a skill you can use every turn.

Of course, you’ve got to keep the party going: different cards will mean sometimes Pandas get bored, swap places (or partners), so it’s constant Panda-monium. Honestly, we loved this game, it’s an absolute pocket smash and a go-to gift for the kids’ friends (and families!) of all ages.

---

Sherwood Bandits

Now we understand that some of you have, like us, the challenge of a family that’s a mixed bag of ages but still want a slightly more challenging board game experience. Well luckily, Italians publisher Ludus Magnus have your back with the deceptively cute Sherwood Bandits.

I will completely honest, I wasn’t 100% sold on this game to start with. Its somewhat Roblox-esque aesthetic felt a little too kiddy for me, but that belies the game’s arresting mix of luck and strategy. However. it’s well worth a shot: you play a group of wannabe Bandits, with a bit of help from Robin Hood’s best, raiding the Sheriff’s cargo and stealing gold, gems and trinkets. It’s a set collector with a dash of worker placement, and works really well for families that are used to gaming.

It’s not as accessible to younger players, but it is a very good one for those who want a bit more of a challenge. It also has – as you would always expect from Ludus Magnus – stunning production values with beautiful custom meeples and BUILDABLE TREASURE CHESTS! (sorry, but that’s exciting). It’s a grower of a game: yes, it could maybe do with a player aid for the iconography, but it’s pretty self-explanatory and after a couple of goes you’ll race through it.

---

GeekEtched

Uk Etsy seller GeekEtched make high-quality nerd merch, often with a meme flavour. Personally, I’m hugely fond of my Winchester Tavern Beer mug (and wait for all this to blow over), using my matched set of Nick Cage/Pedro Pascal coasters, or maybe angry woman/cat ones.

It’s a struggle not to get myself a set of Inevitable / Betrayal glasses, or blaming it on the Bunnies, whilst grinning at players with a D20 cup of doom.

Their range is great, quirky and fun, and they’ll even do you a custom special order – Q’Pla!

---

Shirts and Merch

Talking of nerd merch, how about a meeple-tastic T-Shirt?

Shirts and Merch make brilliant, high-quality t-shirts on a variety of board game themes – I am VERY fond of my Great Indoors T, as you can tell.

They have a huge range of meeple (and other) themed shirts, and the lucky winner will get one of their choice. You too can look this trendy (um…)

---

Now when it comes to purchasing your geeky gifts, please take a moment to consider our lovely bricks and mortar partners Mighty Lancer Games (using our reference link if you’re so minded)

However, always support your own FLGS if you can! We’re truly blessed in Scotland (and Glasgow especially) with some fantastic stores, so please support yours – in Glasgow, that’s Settlers on the South side (Shawlands), Static (Trongate) and Geekaboo (Queen St) in the city centre and West End Games in the… west end, surprisingly (Woodlands).

Of course it’s not practical for everyone to get to a store, so don’t forget our old chums Zatu (board-game.co.uk) the UK’s largest independent games retailer!

---

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Ok, so, massive bundle, our biggest ever! Hard to carry, easy to win.

To enter the Giveaway, as always, our traditional question at this time of year is: what will you be hoping to unwrap on 25th Dec (or whenever you unwrap gifts from a festive invader)?  Let us know in the comments section below.

And in case you need a reminder, here’s the full prize list (over £350 value!) courtesy of Asmodee UK, Ludus Magnus Studios, Panda Party, GeekEtched and Shirts&Merch (thanks guys!)

• Marvel Champions Core Box
• Marvel Champions Angel Hero Pack
• Marvel Champions X-23 Hero Pack
• Marvel Champions Deadpool Hero Pack
• Marvel Crisis Protocol – Earth’s Mightiest Core Set
• Panda Party Card Game (including Halloween Bambooster)
• Disney Lorcana – Rise of the Floodborn Amber & Sapphire Starter Deck
• Disney Lorcana – Rise of the Floodborn Amethyst & Steel Starter Deck
• Sherwood Bandits Board Game
• Moon Knight: Age of Anubis Gamebook
• Your choice of board game-themed t-shirt from Shirts&Merch
• Your choice of tankard (or other glassware) from GeekEtched

 

Remember to Like, Comment and Share across your socials (FB, Insta and/or the artist formerly known as Twitter, if it survives) tagging us @bigcomicpage & @games_with_graven to bag yourself a bonus entry! UK only unless you’re willing to fork out the postage, alas (there’s a lot of stuff, man!)

AND the winner of last month’s solo bonanza (bagging a tonne of extra entries on the socials, I might add) is… Ron Senior! Congratulations!

Remember to get in touch with admin@bigcomicpage.com within 30 days to claim your prize!

---

The Writer of this piece was: Sam Graven
Article Archive: Geeking Out
You can follow Sam on Twitter and Instagram

---