Imagine a world where you’re not just collecting resources, you’re chasing them down a mountain riverbed like an enchanted marble-obsessed maniac. That’s the promise of 12 Rivers, the magical new worker placement game just announced by Good Games Publishing, and we are absolutely frothing over it.
This isn’t your standard, static, “move the cube, gain a fish” kind of affair. In 12 Rivers, you and your crew of villagers are racing to gather mystical coloured pearls as they actually roll down a sloped board in real-time. It’s physical. It’s shiny. It’s everything a tactile-loving, neurospicy board game gremlin could want.
Who Needs Dice When You’ve Got Gravity?
Here’s the setup: you’re the leader of a tribe exploring twelve legendary rivers that all flow from a magical lake high in the mountains (as you do). These rivers aren’t just pretty scenery, though. They’re literal chutes for glowing pearls of power that tumble their way down the board toward your waiting traps. You place your workers strategically to catch ’em before anyone else, racing to fulfil your villagers’ collection goals and snatch victory before the last marble drops.
A Gen Con Tease and a Full October Drop
Can’t wait either? If you’re heading to Gen Con 2025, limited advanced copies of 12 Rivers will be up for grabs, either at the Good Games Publishing booth (#1443) or the Good Games Indianapolis store, which is just a five-minute walk from the convention hall. If you’re more into delayed gratification (or just not attending Gen Con), you’ll be able to grab it in stores this October when the full retail release hits.
Until then, we’ll just be sitting here thinking about glittery marbles rolling down a hill and how badly we want to beat our friends to them.
TL;DR
- 12 Rivers is a kinetic worker placement game with real rolling pearls
- Match magical marbles to collection goals as they cascade downriver
- Limited early copies available at Gen Con 2025 (booth 1443 or Good Games store nearby). Pre-order for pickup here.
- Full release in October 2025 – mark it, nerds
- A must-play for anyone who’s ever hyperfixated on marbles
Get your traps ready. The pearls are coming. And we want them all.
Stay unruly.
