Not-So-Secret Santa Return #5: Matt S. (formerly of Bubba's Bangin' Batch of Baseball Bits)

Today, I have a special treat in store in that I have a Not-So-Secret Santa package to open up courtesy of Matt (formerly of Bubba's Bangin' Batch of Baseball Bits). 

I sent Matt a game for his soon-to-be three-year-old that my son used to enjoy a lot as well as a couple of disc golf discs and some assorted baseball cards that I thought might appeal to Matt.  In exchange, Matt sent me a number of cool things for my various interests.  

We'll start with the lone baseball card in the package - but it's a good one as it is the final mini that I need from this year's Allen & Ginter's Save Room for Desserts insert set!

I'm not a big dessert guy myself but I will indulge in a piece of cheesecake every now and then.  Matt has also officially closed the door on my 30th completed set for 2023!  

Like myself, Matt is big into various board games and his return package for me held a few such gifts!  We'll start with this little game called Doctor Esker's Notebook.  

According to the letter Matt included, Dr. Esker is a fun puzzler that he played with his wife.  I don't know that I'll convince my wife to play (but I won't say never because she is starting to play more and more games with me)!  

I had never heard of Dr. Esker before but the boardgamegeek description certainly sounds interesting to me:  

"Each puzzle is composed of a set of cards. You can solve the puzzle by reading, comparing, arranging and pondering the messages, drawings, and artwork on the cards. Solving the puzzle reveals a sequence of numbers. When you think you’ve got it, gather the solution cards corresponding to the number sequence and flip them. If you see a message or image, you’ve solved the puzzle. Persevere to the end and receive Dr. Esker's greatest praise."

**update**

Since the time I wrote this post, I ended up playing some of Dr. Esker (by myself).  It's definitely a fun little puzzle game.  I'm about a third of the way through the game at this point and I'm enjoying the variety of puzzle types already!

**end update**

The second (of three) games that Matt sent my way was a bunch of cards (plus two unopened packs) of the Munchkin Collectible Card Game.

I have a ton of Magic: The Gathering cards in my possession so I'm not sure I'm ready to take on collecting Munchkin but I do think the game might be a fun to at least try out.  A quick glance at the rules makes this game look similar to Magic (but simpler - but also with a cheating mechanism that is in line with the Munchkin universe I guess).

Finally, Matt also sent me a second collectible card game but this one is one that I've been meaning to check out for quite some time:  

Yep, that's Lorcana - the newest Disney themed CCG on the market.  I'm not actually a huge Disney fan but I see the appeal of the cards immediately (and I can't help but think that this might be fun game to play with my son before too long)!  I'll have to go through the two team bags to see exactly what Matt sent me (I don't yet know how one constructs a game-worthy deck so I've quite a bit of learning to do on this one)!

I'm always excited to get new games to try out and Matt certainly delivered.  In addition, Matt helped me complete my 30th set of 2023 so I'd say this was a wonderful Not-So-Secret return package - thanks Matt!