![Japanese Game Round-up: Explore the Abyssal Depths and Deal in Flighty Artifacts](https://cf.geekdo-images.com/5kK5XOZSPLHFLFPIt7oKdQ__medium/img/KW3wHdmEWJ-hHxr9Lm6j76UM7w4=/fit-in/500x500/filters:no_upscale():strip_icc()/pic5358140.jpg)
At Tokyo Game Market in April 2020, analog lunchbox had planned to release Abyssal Line, which is for 3-4 players and has a playing time of 30-45 minutes. Here's an overview of the game's setting and what you're trying to do:
However, navigating the darkest depths of the ocean is no easy feat. You need to seek inspiration from the creatures that dwell there in order to upgrade your ship's equipment. Doing so will make it easier for you to sail your plotted course.
You also want to publish your findings as you expand your knowledge of deep sea creatures while piloting your vessel.
Will you be able to overcome the adversities of the abyss and gain prestige as both deep sea captain and oceanographer?
Okay, we have no gameplay details at this time, so you need to suss out info about how to play the game from the image above, or you could potentially acquire the game yourself to learn it firsthand because the game will be available for purchase online through the Arclight Games shop starting on April 25, 2020, the day that Tokyo Game Market was to take place. I have no idea how many copies will be available, and shipments appear to be possible only within Japan, but I've asked for clarification on that.
• Designer Masaki Suga has a second brand through which he releases titles on his own, and the second POLAR POND GAMES title, following insect inc. in May 2019, will be Antique or Ghost?. This is a card game for 3-5 players, and here's an overview of who you are in the game and how it plays:
At the start of the game, each player receives a random fate card (the "GHOST" in the title) that indicates one type of artifact that won't be worth anything at game's end. Each player starts with a mystery face-down artifact in their collection as well as a hand of artifact cards and two artifact cards in their window as products that can be acquired. A market card for each of the six types of artifacts is laid out, with the order of these cards determining their value at the end of the game.
On a turn, you refill your hand and refill your window, then you pick a product that someone has displayed in their window. The owner of that product has two choices:
—Let you take that product into your permanent collection, while they use the power on that card, or
—Take the card into their own collection, while you then get to use that card's power.
Each type of artifact has a different power, such as increasing your hand size, changing the order of cards on the market, and locking a card's value on the market.
Once you have five cards in your collection, you receive one of the completion chips and are now out of the game. Once all players have completed their collections, you reveal fate cards to see which items are worthless, then sum the value of your collection based on the antiques' value on the market.
As with Abyssal Line, ANTIQUE OR GHOST? will be available for purchase through the Arclight shop. I've also seen a few JP publishers start to sell titles due out at TGM in April 2020 directly through the BGG marketplace, and perhaps more will do so in the weeks and months ahead.