Josh Wood is the designer behind what I consider the finest tableau-building game of all time: Santa Monica. What sets it apart from its peers is a willingness to let players not only create a scenic space, but also explore that space, moving tourists and townies along its beaches and storefronts. The effect is profound, elevating cards from mere stockpiles of victory points to textured terrain that must be traversed.

Wood’s next stab at the genre is Let’s Go! To Japan, a curiously titled game that feels like it’s trying to launch a brand. Like Santa Monica, Wood invests his players in scenic locales and tangible geographies. I’m going to do my darnedest not to draw too many comparisons between them.

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