Z-man Games has announced its board game line-up for the first half of 2012, with two new games and one reprint of a popular title.

Goa: A New Expedition is a revised reprint of the 2004 Rio Grande board game Goa: Destination Spice Islands by Rudiger Dorn (see “Rio Grande Announces Upcoming Releases”).  Like the first edition, Goa: A New Expedition recreates the spice trade of the early 15th century between Portugal and the spice rich province of Goa on the west coast of India.  Players must build a business from the ground up, creating as much spice trade as possible by founding colonies, building ships, collecting taxes, all in attempt to earn victory points and have the most successful spice trade.  This newest edition will include new tiles and strategies added by Dorn himself.  Goa is for two to four players ages 13 and up, plays in around 90 minutes and releases in April.

Battle Beyond Space is an all out space battle between four alien races in an asteroid field.  Designed by Frank Banham, the game utilizes a unique dice-less combat system.  Players command a fleet of ships, and have nine movement cards that dictate their fleets’ range and damage.  Hits are automatic if in range.  Asteroids get in the way, and sensor probes provide extra points.  And each player’s race has a unique special power that only they can use.  After nine turns the player with the most victory points is the winner.  Battle Beyond Space is for three to four players ages 13 and up, plays in 30 to 60 minutes and releases in June.

Atlantis Rising is a cooperative board game designed by Galen Ciscell that challenges players to work together to save the dying civilization known as Atlantis.  Players take the role of a counselor and must utilize resources, use forges and harness the mystic energy of Atlantis to build the 10 key components of a “cosmic gate” that will transport the island to safety before it sinks beneath the waves.  During the game, misfortune cards cause the unique six-sectioned game board to disappear slowly as the island slowly floods from the outside in, destroying the very resources they need to win.  Atlantis Rising is for two to six players ages 13 and up, plays in 60 to 90 minutes and releases in July.