Written by Jim Ziegler

Several months ago I talked about product fatigue, and mentioned that Magic, in particular, frequently starts the next spoiler season before the latest set is fully digested. Last month, Wizards of the Coast seemed to be trying to take it to the next level.

The newest Magic set, Aetherdrift, comes in at a weird time. It’s releasing on Valentine’s Day, which is fitting for a set that puts a fresh spotlight on Chandra and Nissa’s relationship. But spoiler season for the race-themed set started about a week before Innistrad Remastered was released, so many of us barely saw the cards for Innistrad before being run over by a bunch of wacky racecars.

Innistrad may be my favorite plane in the entire Magic cosmology. The gothic-horror theme has so much overlap with the traditional fantasy settings of old-school Magic, like Dominaria and Mercadia that it felt like going home after less familiar settings like Mirrodin and Kamigawa. It probably also helps that after quitting Magic for a few years, Innistrad was the set that I came back to.

That overlap also allows Innistrad to feel like a more fleshed-out setting than planes introduced in other top-down sets. The different styles of clothing, while they evoke vampire hunters and mad scientists, feel like they fit with the Clerics and Barbarians and Minions of Dominaria, maybe a couple hundred miles removed where the styles are a little different. It never felt like characters we’ve known and loved were visiting a theme park and dressing up to play tourist in Wild West World.

Bloomburrow was fresh and inviting. Duskmourne felt trope-y again, but it rolled so quickly into Foundations that I can hardly recall how excited I was for it. Now, Innistrad remastered is here and gone again in the blink of an eye, in time for a set that doesn’t even bother to hide the Mario Kart Easter eggs.

On the bright side, there are a lot of new toys for Pilot decks, a fun new variant of Commander in which you get to include Vehicle or Mount in your Command Zone, along with a creature to pilot it. If you haven’t heard of it yet, it’s worth a look! 

FIRST FRIDAY MARKET

Friday, 5:00 PM

Stop by for Gam3Escape’s First Friday Market! TCG vendors include @tcg808marketplace, @shakacardz, @tcghawaii, @tcg808rips, & @porygontrainer. @shaylax.ink will be there with her games and kawaii stickers, and a new vendor, @malahanaipua, that has Sanrio items, keiki goody bags, FUNKO Pops, art and crafts, and games! @filedabahiadohavai will be there with Brazilian plates! Plus freeze-dried candy, face painting, and balloon animals.

SUPER SMASH ULTIMATE PARTY

Saturday, 1:00 PM

Gam3Escape is once again excited to host Super Smash Bros. tournaments in conjunction with the UH Hilo Smash Bros Club! Double-elimination, with casual play between matches. Bring your own Joy-Con. Entry fee: $10.00

IN THE WORLD OF POKÉMON

Pokémon TCG Standard Constructed Tournament

Saturday, 3:00 PM

Best of 1 format, 30 minute matches, age divisions honored as much as possible based on participation. Prizes include packs, promos, and other Pokémon merchandise. Entry fee: $10.00

Pokémon League Casual Play

Monday and Saturday at 6:30 PM, Sunday at noon

Receive a pack of your choice from any in the store, as well as a promo pack. Participants are entered into the end-of-season prize pool. Entry fee: $10

GATHER FOR MAGIC

Aetherdrift Prerelease Event

Friday & Saturday, 6:00 PM

Start your engines! Build your deck from a prerelease kit and race to first place! Winners get early Aetherdrift packs, losers get to eat their dust. Entry fee: $35

Partner CommOnderish League

Thursday, 6:00 PM

New League Season starts in February. See in store for details. Entry fee: $10

Casual Commander

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 6:00 PM

The most popular format in Magic, Commander, is back on the table. Bring your favorite deck, or playtest a new one against other magicians. No entry fee: These battles are for honor, not prizes!

TIME TO DUEL! Yu-Gi-Oh!

Advanced Constructed Tournament

Wednesday & Friday, 7:00 PM, Saturday, 2:00 PM

Duel for supremacy in the Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game. Earn booster packs and OTS Tournament Packs while demonstrating your skills as a duelist. Entry fee: $10

A WHOLE NEW WORLD

Azurite Sea Lorcana League

Monday, & Saturday, 6:30 PM

The adventures in the Inklands continue with Locana League. Bring your sealed deck, or join the fun! The initial entry fee includes a starter deck of your choice, a booster pack, and a 200-card deck box to keep your sealed cards from getting mixed up with your collection. Entry fee: $25 (one-time charge)

STAR WARS: UNLIMITED

Constructed Tournament

Tuesday, 6:00 PM

Battle on the ground and in space to take down your opponent’s base. Bring your favorite Star Wars: Unlimited deck and compete for pride and prizes. Entry fee: $10

Casual Play League

Tuesday, 5:00 PM, Saturday, 1:00 PM

Whether you’re an aspiring Jedi, a sinister Sith, or a bounty hunter looking for your next score, Star Wars: Unlimited has all the excitement of your favorite space opera in cardboard form. 

THIS MEANS WAR(HAMMER)!

Casual Warhammer

Friday & Sunday, 5:00 PM

In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war. At Gam3Escape, there is only Warhammer! Whether it’s a Tyranid terror or a Blood Angel battalion, stage your army and prepare for battle at the weekly Casual Warhammer event. 

CARDFIGHT! VANGUARD!

Divinez Constructed Tournament

Monday, 5:30 PM

Bring your cards and get ready to fight! Cardfight! Vanguard is back with weekly tournaments, every Monday night. Entry fee: $6

Check out Jim's articles at The Gamer: https://www.thegamer.com/author/james-ziegler/ Jim also writes for CoolStuffInc! Check out his latest article:  https://www.coolstuffinc.com/a/jimziegler-seo-01312025-why-cant-werewolves-have-nice-things  Like, follow, and subscribe to his Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Alolan_Professor