A Triple Threat of Talent, Taste, and Terrain: The ALL aBOARD EXPO Exclusives
Hello, Gaming Library fam! One thing I’ve been reflecting on lately is how board games have this incredible power to act as a mirror. We play to escape, sure, but we also play to see ourselves, our stories, and our culture reflected on the table. When we first started planning for ALL aBOARD EXPO, we knew we wanted something special. Something that felt unmistakably Filipino, something that told a story bigger than the games themselves. (Okay, lofty goal. It feels too serious, but let me just wax poetic for a bit :D)
Three games, three facets of Filipino culture.
What began as scattered ideas slowly became a meaningful collection that celebrates the creativity, flavor, and natural beauty of the Philippines. Today, we’re incredibly proud to finally share them. From gallery walls to kitchen tables to the forests and seas that define our islands, these are the EXPO Exclusives.
1. Art: Modern Art Philippine Edition
The Palette of Our People
This project has been the longest labor of love in our library. I’ve adored Dr. Reiner Knizia’s Modern Art since the moment I entered the hobby, but the idea of a Philippine Edition always felt like a beautiful long shot. It is a game about value, perception, and the hustle of the art world, and I kept thinking about how perfectly that fits our local scene. In the labyrinth of publishing, not every good idea reaches the table. There were many moments where we thought this one might be lost forever due to licensing hurdles or production snags. (Real talk: the team was actually teary-eyed when we received the digital printed proof. Seeing those colors pop on actual cardboard made it all real. But wait, we are still not out of the woods. HAHAHA! We are still a few months away, and we need all the good luck to make sure everything goes perfectly.)
For the first time ever, this global classic is reimagined through the lens of Filipino creativity. Featuring works by National Artists Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Larry Alcala, and Abdulmari Imao, together with Raul Lebajo and Juvenal Sansó, this edition transforms every auction into a living gallery.
This is a first of its kind because we didn't just stick to one medium. We included paintings, illustrations, sculptures, and even tapestries. From the bold, nostalgic lines of Larry Alcala’s comics to the expressive modern forms of Sansó, five distinct visual styles come together. It turns every round of the game into a celebration of Philippine creativity from Luzon to Mindanao. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Fundación Sansó for safeguarding these legacies. We hope this helps more Filipinos appreciate our local art and gives international players a bid of Filipino brilliance!
PS: We also have a Deluxe Edition of Modern Art PH. It includes the base game along with a curated art book and an exclusive Sansó "Fat Cat" archival print.
2. Food: Sinigang
A "Sour" Strategy for the Soul
After the high-brow auctions of Modern Art, we knew we needed something light, fun, and flavorful to balance the menu. When the opportunity arose to work with Button Shy Games, the masters of wallet-sized brilliance, we knew their game Stew was the perfect recipe for a Filipino spin.
Sinigang is a fast-paced game of suspicion and timing. You are all working together to cook the perfect pot, but expect plenty of tension and laughter along the way. You never really know if you have scored enough points or if the broth is about to turn too sour because a "friend" snuck in an extra tamarind!
Why Sinigang? We had a very hearty discussion in the office about which dish to choose. Tinola? Pochero? Bulalo? In the end, Sinigang won the soup-eriority contest because it is the ultimate equalizer. Whether it is a rainy day or a family celebration, Sinigang is always there. Honestly, Tinola is my personal favorite, but I have to admit that Sinigang is the undisputed king of the Filipino table.
To capture that quirky slice of life, we tapped the incredible Kapitan Tambay. We’ve been fans of his reimagined MtG tokens for the longest time, and his art style is just perfect for this. It is small-box brilliance with big-pot impact. It represents our desire to showcase not just the legends in the art world, but also the modern creators who are currently shaping our visual culture.
3. Wildlife: Kalikasan (Cascadia PH Edition)
Building Better Biodiversity
Kalikasan was the true surprise of the season. As Michael Scott from The Office famously quoted (and let's stick to quoting Michael for his management genius, not the original guy’s politics! HAHA!): "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." AEG and Flatout Games had never done a local version of Cascadia before. At most, they have done translations. But we asked anyway. Cascadia is a game about harmony and ecosystems, which makes it the perfect vessel to talk about our own natural treasures.
In this exclusive edition, you will build harmonious habitats for five beloved Philippine animals: the majestic Philippine Eagle, the resilient Tamaraw, the elusive Palawan Binturong, the charming Philippine Tarsier, and the culturally significant Bangus. We wanted to move away from the Pacific Northwest and dive deep into our own rich landscapes.
To get that encyclopedia feel, we worked with illustrator Ferd Torres, who is a true advocate for the Philippine Eagle Foundation. We wanted the art to look like those classic nature books we grew up with. We chose animals that were analogous to the original game. The Tamaraw stands in for the Elk, and the Eagle for the Hawk. As for the Bangus? That was a bit of a team mystery! While it might not be endangered, it is definitely endemic to our breakfast tables and culturally iconic.
We cannot wait for you to hold these masterpieces in your hands this May at the ALL aBOARD EXPO. Whether you are bidding for a Sansó, simmering a pot of Sinigang, or protecting the Philippine Eagle, you are part of a bigger story. Publishing is a tough business, but we believe in the "Big-Table Impact" of Filipino stories. You really have to grab these opportunities when they present themselves. These three games are proof that our culture is worth playing.
About Gaming Library
Gaming Library aims to be the go-to resource for board games, providing not only titles that can be enjoyed by families, but also to be enjoyed by friends both newcomers and veterans alike. By pulling from different resources from all over the world, we at Gaming Library curate an impressive collection of games for consumers to choose from, suitable for anybody from casual players to hardcore hobbyists. In doing so, we hope to provide the best means to foster activities that strengthen family ties and friendships, while teaching relevant skills and practical critical thinking that can be applied to your everyday life.
