Notebook Nations: Flames & Fishes
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- Arrives
- December 11, 2026
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The FroGames review
The Ember Spirits scorch the land to advance. The Merhamster Kingdom floods the plains to colonize. Someone reaches the finish line first. But the map will remember who was there.
WHAT IT IS
The 4X that grows fast and leaves scars on the board
Flames & Fishes is a standalone expansion for Notebook Nations, the compact 4X published by Dux Somnium Games in 2026. It adds two new nations with unique mechanics: Ember Spirits and Merhamster Kingdom. The system is cross-compatible with the base game and other expansions, allowing for always different mixes at the table. The aesthetic remains that of a hand-drawn notebook, signed by Sebastian Tiplea.
Build special Crown buildings called destruction zones: they give you immediate resources but become impassable for everyone. Then you can recover them with the Restoration Zone ability. The canonical 4X remains: explore, expand, exploit, conquer. But here you do it in 50 minutes instead of 3 hours, without losing the choices that matter. Victory by points, via science, culture, or military conquest. Every nation tells a different story on the map.
What they say abroad
"charming on the surface, clever underneath"
Charming on the surface, clever underneath
— Dux Somnium Games
Flames & Fishes is an expansion that adds tactical personality with zones that shape the map. First impression of the available data: the concept promises marked asymmetry, but it needs to be tested at the table to assess balance and longevity.
— FroGames
Notebook Nations: Flames & Fishes
Official solo mode: you face an opposing nation guided by an AI with specific behaviors (exploration, construction, research, combat). Strategic choices remain complete, but you lose the negotiation and bluffing of multiplayer. A good alternative to test the nations.
FrogScore · FroGames editorial review · first impression: based on the rules and official presentation, updated with the first gamesThe new nations
Ember Spirits and Merhamster Kingdom
Ember Spirits
Fire spirits that leave destroyed zones: scorch the land to get immediate resources, then block passage for anyone.
Merhamster Kingdom
Kingdom of aquatic hamsters that colonize floods: you transform the map into impassable terrain that only you can exploit.
Destruction zones
Unique Crown buildings: they give you one-time resources but become impassable. You recover them with the Restoration Zone ability to reuse them.
Cross-compatibility
You can mix these nations with those from the base game and other expansions: every game is a different combination.
🎲How to playThe rules in four steps▼
How to play
The flow of each turn
A full turn takes place in four quick phases: gain, move, act, fight.
Collect the resources generated by your buildings. Destruction zones give resources only once, at the time of placement.
Move your Avatar on the map, use Source powers, collect encounters. Then place Crown buildings like destruction zones.
Build new buildings, recruit military units, research on the tech tree. If you use Restoration Zone you recover a destruction zone to reuse it.
Move your units and attack enemy town halls to get military victory points. Destruction zones block paths: those who planned well have free attack routes.
⏱️Your first gameThe chronicle, moment by moment▼
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Nation selection
Choose between Ember Spirits and Merhamster Kingdom. Each reads the asymmetric powers and immediately understands that this game will be different from the others. Those who play the ember spirits are already thinking about where to burn the ground. Those who have the aquatic hamsters want to flood the plains.
The first destruction zones
Place the first Crown building and get resources immediately. But now that territory is impassable: even you cannot return. Someone laughs because they closed a passage to the opponent. Someone regrets because they blocked themselves.
Race for points
Halfway through the game, someone is winning with science, someone with culture. The destroyed zones shape the map: some paths are closed, others become strategic. Those who had burned badly now try to recover with Restoration Zone.
The unexpected attack
Someone decides to militarily conquer the opponent's town hall. The units move between destruction zones and free territories. Those who had planned well win the fight. Those who had burned too much find themselves isolated.
End of game
Someone reaches the number of victory points chosen at the beginning. The points are counted: science, culture, military. The map tells the story of how each nation grew: burned zones, flooded territories, buildings and conquests. Someone says: 'Revenge with the other nation'.
🐸Good to know beforeThree honest things, from friends▼
Good to know before
Three things to consider
Game just released
Flames & Fishes is a 2026 expansion with few votes on BGG. The sheet is based on the official data of the publisher: balance and longevity need to be verified at the table with real games.
Zone planning
The destruction zones are permanent (until recovery). A placement error at the beginning of the game can block your strategic paths for the entire duration of the game. It takes 2-3 games to understand where to burn them.
Requires the base or is standalone
You can play only with this box or mix it with Notebook Nations base and other expansions. But the more boxes you mix, the more setup and component management increase.
🏆Victory and defeatWhat the end rewards▼
How it ends
How you win and how you lose
The game is a race for victory points: it ends in the round in which someone reaches the total chosen at the beginning of the game (1, 3 or 5 VP).
Victory
- Be the first to reach the number of victory points chosen at the beginning (science, culture or military, maximum 2 per type)
- Science: you unlock research on the tech tree and accumulate points
- Culture: you reach 10 then 20 culture with your built Wonder
- Military: you conquer the opponent's town halls with your units
Defeat
- You cannot reach the total VP in time: the one who has the most points at the end of the decisive round wins
- You get blocked with badly placed destruction zones and you no longer have expansion paths
- You lose the town hall conquered by an opponent: they gain military VP, you lose control
It is a 4X that ends before anyone asks how much is left. And every nation leaves its mark on the map.
💬Frequently asked questionsQuick answers before the cart▼
Frequently asked questions
FAQ on Notebook Nations: Flames & Fishes
Can I play Flames & Fishes without the base game?
Yes, it is a standalone expansion: you can play only with this box. Or you can mix it with Notebook Nations base and other expansions to have more nations to choose from.
How do destruction zones work?
They are unique Crown buildings of these two nations: you place them and get immediate one-time resources. Then they become impassable for any unit. You can recover them with the Restoration Zone ability of the Crown building to reuse them elsewhere.
How many nations are there in this expansion?
Two: Ember Spirits (ember spirits) and Merhamster Kingdom (aquatic hamster kingdom). Each has asymmetric powers related to destruction zones.
Is it good to play in 2?
Yes, BGG data indicates 1-4 players. The 4X works well in two: territory control and direct clashes are more tactical. In solo there is an official mode with AI.
How long does a game really last?
50-150 minutes according to BGG. The duration depends on the number of victory points chosen at the beginning: 1 VP is a fast race (50-60 min), 3 VP is the standard game (90-120 min), 5 VP is the long game (150 min).
Is it difficult to learn?
No, it is designed as a gateway 4X. The base rules are intuitive: gain, move, act, fight. Destruction zones add one more tactical decision, but the system remains accessible. First game explained in 15-20 minutes.
Can you play solo?
Yes, official solo mode with AI that leads an opposing nation. The AI follows specific behaviors: explore, build, research, attack. Keep all strategic choices but lose negotiation and bluff.
What mechanics does Notebook Nations: Flames & Fishes use?
Tile placement for buildings and destruction zones, grid movement for units and Avatar, tech trees for scientific research, variable player powers for nation asymmetry. The core is 4X: explore, expand, exploit, conquer.
How much replayability does it have?
High: two asymmetric nations in this box, compatibility with base game and other expansions (Sand & Snow, Terrific Towns). Three ways to victory (science, culture, military) and multiple maps. Every nation-map-strategy combination is different.
Is there direct attack or is it indirect interaction?
There is direct attack: units can conquer opponent's town halls to earn military victory points. But the main interaction is territory control and destruction zones that block paths.
How much table space is needed?
Official data speaks of a 2'x2' board (about 60x60 cm) for the main map, plus player boards and space for cards. With 4 players count at least 90x90 cm free.
What is in the box?
According to Amazon data: 1 paper map, 1 paper research tree, 2 nation mats, 2 income trackers, 2 reference cards, 2 wooden pawns, 38 building tiles, 48 unit tiles, 2 avatars, 84 tokens, 8 encounter tiles.
Do you need an expansion to have fun?
No, this is already a standalone expansion: you can play only with Flames & Fishes. If you want variety you can add the base game or other expansions, but they are not mandatory.
Is it in Italian? Do you need to know English?
The edition for sale is in English. The texts are on cards (research, encounters, nation powers) and in the rulebook. A basic understanding of English is needed to play comfortably. No official Italian translations are reported.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they have done.
Notebook Nations: Flames & Fishes is a standalone expansion for the compact 4X board game by Dux Somnium Games, published in 2026. It adds two asymmetric nations, Ember Spirits and Merhamster Kingdom, with unique destruction zone mechanics that shape the map. For 1-4 players, duration 50-150 minutes, recommended age 8+. Tile placement, grid movement and tech tree system. Cross-compatible with the base game and other expansions in the Notebook Nations line. Available on FroGames.it.
Notebook Nations: Flames & Fishes
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