News Flash: My First Castle Panic, Smash City Announced

My First Castle Panic
Fireside Games has announced a preschool version of their hit game Castle Panic. "Like its predecessor, My First Castle Panic is a cooperative game in which players work together to defend their castle. However, the game play has been simplified in the preschool version to allow children ages 4 and up to play independently."
Source: https://firesidegames.com/announcing-my-first-castle-panic/

WizKids Announces Smash City
Currently available for pre-order, Smash City will have players wreaking havoc through a town. "In this dice-rolling game designed by Stephen Avery, and inspired by Japan’s iconic kaiju creatures, players become giant monsters powered by different types of energy, battling for dominance. The game features three-dimensional city buildings that players can knock over to gain different abilities."
Source: https://wizkids.com/2019/01/07/storm-the-city-and-wreak-destruction-in-smash-city-coming-soon/

Tsuro: Phoenix Rising Launches on Kickstarter
Calliope Games has launched a Kickstarter campaign for Tsuro: Phoenix Rising. "An exhilarating board game of tiles, floating lanterns, and constellations for 2-8 players."
Source: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/781219801/tsuro-phoenix-rising

Squeezamals Freeze 'N' Squeeze Game Now Released
Big G Creative has released Squeezamals Freeze 'N' Squeeze Game and it is now available. "Squeezamals Freeze ‘N’ Squeeze Game is an entertaining twist on the classic game of hot potato. Players take turns making a yummy treat for their Squeezamal to enjoy. The player caught holding the plush when it’s time to eat must pay for the treat!"
Source: http://www.biggcreative.com/games/freezensqueeze/

Looney Labs Releases Print-n-Play
Ove the Christmas holidays, Looney Labs released IceToids, a print-n-play game for two to four players. "In IceToids, a game board is created out of 16 special tiles. The symbols are hidden at first and are gradually revealed as players explore the board. Be the first to position your three pieces on the three tiles that display the icon of your color."
Source: https://www.looneylabs.com/news/looney-labs-holiday-gift-2018

10 Best Cooperative Board Games of 2018
Co-op Board Games lists their favorite coop games from last year. "2018 was an interesting year for cooperative board games. The best of the best weren’t quite as strong as they were in 2016 and 2017, in my opinion, but it did seem like my group enjoyed a higher percentage of games than we did in past years."
Source: https://coopboardgames.com/rankings/top-10-cooperative-board-games-of-2018

Reviews
Upstream (Table Top Gaming): “Nothing in Upstream is going to stretch your powers of strategic planning or drive you to fury – unless you’re David Attenborough – but it’s pleasant and different, and a surprisingly meaty filler.
Source: https://www.tabletopgaming.co.uk/board-games/reviews/upstream-review

Raids (Gaming With Sidekicks): “Raids really hits for me on combat and action selection/set collection and one I am glad to have in my library.”
Source: https://gamingwithsidekicks.com/2019/01/08/game-review-raids/

Hokkaido (Geeks Under Grace): “Much deeper than most card games like it. For such a simple game system, it offers a surprising amount of strategic decisions.”
Source: http://www.geeksundergrace.com/tabletop/review-hokkaido/