Once in a while, an abstract game steps away from the norm by being overtly political. See, for example, my series on Suffragetto, Guerrilla Checkers, and Paco Ŝako. This isn’t to say that every abstract game with a real-world setting qualifies as political. But if the first thing somebody does when unpacking the game is to pour out a pile of white plastic cubes, scrape them into lines with a credit card, and then wonder aloud about the real-world cost of its weight in cocaine — which is exactly what my friend Geoff did as we sat down to give Richard Nguyen-Marshall’s GoCaine a try — continue on Space-Biff site

As someone who has owned – at one time or another – over a thousand board games, I'm not exactly dead-set against taking chances on, well, outre games. This is, among other reasons, why one ends up with 5 different games on bicycle racing, 3 different games on chariot racing, and so on.

So, a game about drug-smuggling with elements of Go looked even superficially interesting enough for me to pony up for it.

And in a nutshell, that is precisely what this game is – a game of purchasing cocaine in South America, and getting it smuggled into the U.S., while building a smuggling network much like one plays a game of Go. As in Go, there are chances parts of your network will get surrounded and eliminated, and . . . continue on BoardGameGeek site

It's hard to escape the suspicion that this is one of those games where a designer came up with the punning title before developing the actual game. In this case, Richard Nguyen-Marshall's design is an economic game themed around rival drug cartels but which draws on the core mechanics of the classic Chinese strategy game Go. No matter. It may be an odd combination but it works, and it works remarkably well! continue on Board's Eye View page

Yes, that’s correct, GoCaine. This indie design from Richard Nguyen-Marshall and Kharitago Games combines cocaine trafficking with the ancient Japanese game of Go. Peanut butter and jelly. GoCaine.

Sure, it’s a little nutty. That’s what drew me to it.

The systems employed are simple. Up to six players take turns performing a single action followed by placing one of their discs on the board. That second part is the Go aspect of the game. The idea is you slowly spread across the map, originating somewhere in the South – likely Bolivia or Peru – and stretching towards North America.

In doing so you’re building a trafficking network. Each disc you place represents a cell of dealers, thugs, and hitmen. Your people.

There’s a thoughtfulness to it. You’re seeking a piece in each . . . continue on Player Elimination site