Normale Ansicht

Shallow Sea Review — Immaculate Tile Laying

20. November 2025 um 16:30

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We review Shallow Sea, a tile-laying Euro with incredible design, no kidding! This 1-4 player low-conflict game has players managing their own coral reef, juggling fish tokens and coral/Sealife to get the most victory points come end game. There are some objectives to pursue (rewarding set collection), but it’s mostly about just building the best reef with lots of biodiversity! You tackle grid coverage in the pattern building of tiles every turn. Also the solo mode is incredibly clean with no automa needed! Is this game too solitaire, or does Bad Comet truly have another gem on their hands?

Other games featured: Wondrous Creatures, Earth, Splendor, Brass Birmingham

Table of Contents:
Overview - (0:00)
How to Play - (0:53)
Pros - (2:15)
Cons - (13:34)
Recommender Score - (15:32)
Ashton's Personal Score - (18:18)

Support us:
https://www.patreon.com/shelfside
https://ko-fi.com/shelfside

Our Website!
https://www.shelfside.co/

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
https://amazon.com/shop/shelfside

Shelfside Social Media:
https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT
https://www.instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames/
https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/
https://discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62

Links to our other stuff:
Ashton's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu
Daniel's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2

#boardgames #tabletop #review

O/U Discussion with Pierre, Joe, Luke Gearing and Seedling

20. November 2025 um 07:05

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Joe Dewhurst and I recently took part in a massive, month-long, real-time play-by-post, multi-faction sci-fi roleplaying game called OVER/UNDER, based on the Prospero’s Dream Mothership module, which billed itself as a wargame! More than 1,600 players took part, and it was a genuinely unique experience.

A small number of players were assigned as faction “bosses,” and we’ve managed to wrangle a couple of them to come talk about the game and how things looked from their side: indie RPG designers Luke Gearing and Seedling. OVER/UNDER's designer, Sam Sorensen, also created his own wargame called Cataphracts - seemingly built from TTRPG first principles - which is fascinating in its own right so we'll likely chat about that too.

Check out Luke's work at lukegearing.blot.im
Check out Seedling's work at https://seedlinggames.com/

Top 100 Board Games | Which Games Have Risen or Fallen? Several New Entries

18. November 2025 um 18:39

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PATREON

https://www.patreon.com/chairmanoftheboard

INSTAGRAM

https://instagram.com/chairman_board

KIENDA DISCOUNT LINK

Use my Kienda link below to receive a 5% discount off your first order (£60+ spend)

https://kienda.co.uk/login?ref=1028908&create_account=1

THALAMUS

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/426319/thalamus

https://youtu.be/QwftMw5sk64

available for purchase on BGG, eBay, or by direct contact for international sales.

CONTACT

chairmangames@hotmail.com

Ink Board Game Review | A Gorgeous Tile-Laying Puzzle of Color & Combos

18. November 2025 um 18:00

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Dive into Ink, a stunning tile-laying board game where colour, creativity, and clever timing collide. In this review, I take a close look at how Ink blends strategic placement, area building, and cascading objectives into one of the most visually striking puzzle games of the year.

If you enjoy games like Cascadia, Azul, or Calico, Ink might be your next favourite. With its growing “painting,” smart bottle-management system, and powerful bonus actions, this one delivers huge combo moments and a ton of replay value.

00:00 Intro
00:29 Complexity & Play Count
02:10 Victory Conditions & How It Plays
07:46 Skills
08:35 Final Thoughts
14:30 Contact & Socials



#BoardGames #TabletopGaming #BrainsOnGames #InkBoardGame #BoardGameReview #KasperLapp #FinalScoreGames #TileLaying #StrategyGames #AbstractGames #FamilyBoardGames #PuzzleGames #BoardGameCommunity #LearnToPlay

Origin Story Review

14. November 2025 um 20:47

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Origin Story Review

Not a review copy. I bought this.

If you would like to donate to Drive Thru Games, you can use the "Thanks" button under the video, or please check out the Gamefound Pledge Manager - https://tinyurl.com/2p8tbhpu

Intro (00:00);
game overview (01:41);
final thoughts and review (06:20);

Origin Story: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/454909/origin-story
by
Stonemaier Games: https://stonemaiergames.com/

Subscribe to Drive Thru Review: http://goo.gl/LrTiG5

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DriveThruGames
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drivethrugames/
BGG Geeklist: http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/65519/drive-thru-review-video-reviews

You can also find an audio podcast at the Drive Thru Review Audio feed. You can subscribe to the feed in multiple locations.

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/drive-thru-review-audio/id1065301287

Top 20 Most Anticipated Games of Tokyo Game Market (Autumn/Fall 2025) | ゲームマーケット2025秋

14. November 2025 um 20:47

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We're headed back to Tokyo for Tokyo Game Market Autumn / Fall 2025 and for the first time we thought we'd share our research into the games that we're most anticipating. Remember though, we haven't played these titles and even worse, we're often relying on google translate to try to understand the rulebooks (if available!)

If you are headed to TGM have a fantastic con, and please say hi if you see us!

めっちゃわくわくする!

A&M x

Here's some helpful links below. Reservation forms are below the timestamps but these do close randomly, and it's easiest to use if you are able to translate the page from your browser!

Official website: https://gamemarket.jp/
Link to map of hall [Booth numbers listed below!]: https://gamemarket.jp/map
Tips/Advice video: https://youtu.be/VQLt-xnmoxk?si=E4cghBWiVwW1Ne6a

SPOILERS AHEAD - Scroll down for timestamps!
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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
03:26 Number 20 Septentrick (A08)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3592y5LWGWId0VKl_yN5OQ4LbcmhVXqlctchGIom5UZUZ1A/viewform
04:52 Number 19 Outrick (H31)
06:39 Number 18 Wizard's Showdown (H42)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfQTAg002My-SU3FEtfUvljUSCdF-ZRP-1YCdPKdPn_OeE3aQ/viewform
08:35 Number 17 Doppelkopf (T26)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe8i5T30kn9PH652xbULQIDt3xbpwUT5LNsiVumPrp3JovHrg/viewform
10:20 Number 16 Shady Lady (Area 63)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc1Pm4LSbkzleAQg0hN6TE9LMJuUHZjb1hS172Xl4ZHipG9ZQ/viewform
13:04 Number 15 I Don't Want to Walk
14:17 Number 14 Splitrick (V22)
16:00 Number 13 Magic Shop (X26)
17:53 Number 12 I'm the CEO
20:19 Number 11 Dodicitre
21:24 Number 10 The Third Man
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe8i5T30kn9PH652xbULQIDt3xbpwUT5LNsiVumPrp3JovHrg/viewform
23:09 Number 9 10/12 Heart (P24)
https://forms.gle/J3F1q8FT2yMDjwLs5
26:09 Number 8 Balance the Ark (H33/34)
28:44 Number 7 Ants
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfCCexOvNhf-PEMtMO-Sa-3lD9hGOM-2NCAsrqhzukVUBD6AA/viewform
29:55 Number 6 Tactile Crane Championship (H33/34)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfCCexOvNhf-PEMtMO-Sa-3lD9hGOM-2NCAsrqhzukVUBD6AA/viewform
31:19 Number 5 Catte (R15)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScynkBvPm6NMo5VntMLS8IpwBjEalAFYuwbIKOVIsy2GnARVQ/viewform
33:01 -Number 4 For the People (S26)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3InKqPhnwAUsu8uCVV2gAxeTt9dA0OWGLG7a9oX2qrtWTGw/viewform?usp=send_form
35:01 Number 3 New Record, Continue? et al (B01)
43:36 Number 2 Ouroboros Trick (X09)
45:52 Number 1 BATS (X07)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScmW06Rs45NylhwU-y-N5u_-ukQfooLE0URF5FS7DaFhyADAg/viewform
49:19 Tokyo Game Market Tips

#ゲームマーケット2025秋 #ゲームマーケット

Thanks for stopping by! We're Amy & Maggie aka ThinkerThemer. We're an Australian couple with two very different perspectives of what makes a great board game - Amy (Thinker) is all about the mechanics and enjoys tight, competitive games, and Maggie (Themer) is all about the storytelling and the theme of the game, and the 'world' that the designer is trying to create. Subscribe to our channel to hear us talk about these two elements of a game, and how well integrated we feel these are in delivering a cohesive and wonderful game experience.
#boardgames #tabletopgames #thinkerthemer ❤🏳️‍🌈🇦🇺

Sardegna / Kreta — Side-by-Slide Board Game Comparison 👥

13. November 2025 um 19:15

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I recently talked about Kreta, a German-only Stefan Dorra game from 2005, and its recent micro-sized remake Sardegna. Well, micro-sized in packaging, but not in components! Let me explain, side-by-slide!


Board Gems highlights older board and card games that are still great games today, and deserve to not be forgotten!

Join & Support: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX9Ab6egkU1ru3sgP8TUI2A/join
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/boardgems.com
BGG Blog: https://boardgamegeek.com/blog/10011

Brought to you by Pizzeria Ludica! https://www.ludica.ca/

BGG Listing:
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/15600/sardegna

Music provided by Chillhop Music
Strehlow, Glimlip - Crema Cafe
https://chll.to/a4be18a2

#boardgames #tabletop #vancouver #ludica

Cross Bronx Expressway Review

12. November 2025 um 16:23

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Cross Bronx Expressway Review

Not a review copy. I bought this.

If you would like to donate to Drive Thru Games, you can use the "Thanks" button under the video, or please check out the Gamefound Pledge Manager - https://tinyurl.com/2p8tbhpu

Intro (00:00);
game overview (02:33);
final thoughts and review (23:41);

Cross Bronx Expressway: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/347601/cross-bronx-expressway
by
GMT Games: https://www.gmtgames.com/

Subscribe to Drive Thru Review: http://goo.gl/LrTiG5

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DriveThruGames
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drivethrugames/
BGG Geeklist: http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/65519/drive-thru-review-video-reviews

You can also find an audio podcast at the Drive Thru Review Audio feed. You can subscribe to the feed in multiple locations.

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/drive-thru-review-audio/id1065301287

Combat Commander: Vietnam - Preview of the upcoming tactical wargame

12. November 2025 um 10:57

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Developper Joe Dewhurst comes back on Homo Ludens to showcase the upcoming Combat Commander game about Vietnam. This Chad Jensen project has been picked up by Stephen Rangazas & Non-Breaking Space.

Support the show on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/homoludens1871

Find more info about the game on GMT's website: https://www.gmtgames.com/p-1160-combat-commander-vietnam.aspx

Patrick's channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXfBw670IAUE4VtYayeWqxA

Gene's article about the genealogy of the game: https://insidegmt.com/for-everything-there-is-a-season-the-origin-story-of-combat-commander-vietnam/

The Ultimate Top 10 Board Games of All Time

12. November 2025 um 00:23

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PATREON

https://www.patreon.com/chairmanoftheboard

INSTAGRAM

https://instagram.com/chairman_board

KIENDA DISCOUNT LINK

Use my Kienda link below to receive a 5% discount off your first order (£60+ spend)

https://kienda.co.uk/login?ref=1028908&create_account=1

THALAMUS

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/426319/thalamus

https://youtu.be/QwftMw5sk64

available for purchase on BGG, eBay, or by direct contact for international sales.

CONTACT

chairmangames@hotmail.com

Ludicon 2025 Recap: I Challenged a World Champion … Guess the Game!

11. November 2025 um 18:00

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A tour of Montreal’s board-game convention—demos, prototypes, friendly chaos—and a tense showdown against a world champion. Drop your guess before you hit the reveal chapter!

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:30 What Is Ludicon?
04:23 Asmodee Correction: the Lego game is Brick Like This)
07:16 Randolph & Scorpion Masqué
11:32 Mystery Challenge (no spoilers)
12:25 The Match vs. a World Champion
17:57 Contact & Socials

Highlights & Notes
• Packed demo tables and a welcoming learn-to-play crews.
• Friendly tournament energy and lots of casual games all weekend.
• The match against the champion was my highlight of the con.

First-Timer Tips
• Book demos early; popular tables fill fast, but there are multiple copies of many games.
• Bring a small daypack: water bottle and protein bar or other snacks (no food or drinks are available on-site)
• Schedule “walk the floor” laps between games to discover hidden gems.
• Budget time for social games—you’ll meet great people.

Credits
• Event: Ludicon 2025 (Montreal, QC)
• Big thanks to Alain Fragman and all of the organizers, volunteers, and the designers/publishers who taught games on camera.
• World Champion: name withheld here to avoid spoilers—check the pinned comment after you’ve watched!

Filming Gear
Shot handheld on iPhone 17 Pro Max and DJI Osmo Pocket 3 with DJI Mic 3.

Work With Me
Brains On Games reviews how play builds thinking skills. For review inquiries or previews: brian@brainsongames.ca


#Ludicon2025 #MontrealBoardGames #BrainsOnGames #BoardGameConvention #BoardGameVlog #WorldChampion #MysteryGame #Tabletop #BoardGamesCanada

10, OUT OF 10 (Part 21): We're bringing it back! Settle in friends 🍵 it's a long one....

10. November 2025 um 21:09

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It's been a little while since our last 10 [comma] out of 10 - we've been recording more short-form content to make sure we can post more videos... but let's be honest, we're really long-winded people 😂 So now that we're up and running with board game shelving again in our new studio / games room, we're bringing it BACK!
Thank you for watching and Happy Tuesday, or Monday, wherever you are in the world! A&M x

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
02:02 Finspan
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/436126/finspan
07:14 Vantage
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/420033/vantage
18:24 Uffbasse!
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/444209/uffbasse
24:25 The Hobbit: There & Back Again
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/436215/the-hobbit-there-and-back-again
29:13 Shallow Sea
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/428440/shallow-sea
36:20 Ruins
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/428635/ruins
40:59 Oddland
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/428636/oddland
45:31 Tacta
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/401636/tacta
50:21 Pergola
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/424573/pergola
55:23 Nightshift
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/383172/nightshift
01:01:33 Wrap up

Thanks for stopping by! We're Amy & Maggie aka ThinkerThemer. We're an Australian couple with two very different perspectives of what makes a great board game - Amy (Thinker) is all about the mechanics and enjoys tight, competitive games, and Maggie (Themer) is all about the storytelling and the theme of the game, and the 'world' that the designer is trying to create. Subscribe to our channel to hear us talk about these two elements of a game, and how well integrated we feel these are in delivering a cohesive and wonderful game experience.
#boardgames #tabletopgames #thinkerthemer ❤🏳️‍🌈🇦🇺

Worth the Play? 10 Board Game Reviews

09. November 2025 um 20:58

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PATREON

https://www.patreon.com/chairmanoftheboard

INSTAGRAM

https://instagram.com/chairman_board

KIENDA DISCOUNT LINK

Use my Kienda link below to receive a 5% discount off your first order (£60+ spend)

https://kienda.co.uk/login?ref=1028908&create_account=1

THALAMUS

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/426319/thalamus

https://youtu.be/QwftMw5sk64

available for purchase on BGG, eBay, or by direct contact for international sales.

CONTACT

chairmangames@hotmail.com

The Hottest Games from Spiel Essen

08. November 2025 um 19:05

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#boardgames #review #spiel If you'd like to support thoughtful and responsible board game media, consider donating to us on https://patreon.com/nopunincluded

Our board game podcast is called Talk Cardboard which you can find on your podcast devices or our website https://nopunincluded.com

Find us here:

Website - https://nopunincluded.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/NoPunIncluded/

BlueSky - Efka - https://bsky.app/profile/nopunincluded.com

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nopunincluded/

BGG Review list - https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/174680/

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro
3:04 16
6:33 15
11:31 14
15:12 13
19:14 12
24:55 11
33:41 10
38:39 9
45:30 8
57:28 7
1:04:52 6
1:13:47 5
1:23:57 4
1:33:10 3
1:53:02 2
2:00:24 1
2:11:43 Outro

Exploding Kittens Made a Sword-Fighting Game?! #boardgames #brainsongames #podcast

05. November 2025 um 21:00

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Get ready to duel without the danger! In Let’s Hit Each Other With Fake Swords from Exploding Kittens, players grab foam swords, draw action cards, and swing for hilarious victory. It’s fast, physical, and full of laughter — the perfect party game for families and friends who don’t mind looking ridiculous.

In this quick review, I’ll show how the game plays, what makes it so funny, and why it’s one of the most absurd games Exploding Kittens has ever made.

#ExplodingKittens #BrainsOnGames #BoardGames #PartyGame #TabletopGames #FunnyGames #CardGames #FamilyGameNight #QuickReview #GameShorts

Twilight Imperium 4: Thunder's Edge | Shelfside Review

05. November 2025 um 16:30

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We review the latest Ti4 expansion, after playing it four times! Well technically, we played Codex 4 3 times, then this once, but there’s a lot of crossover! This 2nd expansion for the top BGG game, Ti4 (with Pok) includes more asymmetric factions all the way to new 4x mechanics (Thunder’s edge + fracture). Explore the fracture and invest into the new legendary planets! Or play an entire new game mode with drafting, in Twilight’s Fall! There are patched cards from the codexes and cardboard pieces like the strategy cards. With the 20 galactic events, you can fix voting or even introduce RTS-isms with the Monuments to the Ages! Will this be the definitive first expansion to get, even with Prophecy of Kings already being out? How do the 6 new factions fare? What has become of the massive product Twilight Imperium, as maybe there could be a Ti5 one day?

Table of Contents
Overview - (0:00)
What’s New - (1:50)
Pros - (2:37)
Cons - (18:15)
Recommender Score - (20:36)
Alexander’s Personal Score - (26:21)
Ashton’s Personal Score - (28:42)

Support us:
https://www.patreon.com/shelfside
https://ko-fi.com/shelfside

Our Website!
https://www.shelfside.co/

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
https://amazon.com/shop/shelfside

Shelfside Social Media:
https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT
https://www.instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames/
https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/
https://discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62

Links to our other stuff:
Ashton's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu
Daniel's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2

Stuff Used:
Spirit of the Law — Everything You’ve Wondered About Wonders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBEkT92YjC4

#boardgames #tabletop #review

Ayn Thor Max: Ultimate Dragon Quest Machine (Dragon Quest 1-11, Mods, Translations)

04. November 2025 um 16:15

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Ayn Thor Max: Ultimate Dragon Quest Machine (Dragon Quest 1-11, mods, translations)

Intro (00:00);

Which Games Are We Talking About (03:10);

Dragon Quest I (04:02);
Dragon Quest II (10:31);
Dragon Quest III (12:41);
Dragon Quest IV (17:48);
Dragon Quest V (20:33);
Dragon Quest VI (22:49);
Dragon Quest VII (23:43);
Dragon Quest VIII (27:45);
Dragon Quest IX (30:19);
Dragon Quest X (31:25);
Dragon Quest XI (33:30);

Dragon Quest Action RPGs (36:19);
Dragon Quest Builder Games (38:16);
Dragon Quest Mystery Dungeons (40:09);
Dragon Quest Monster Games (43:24);

IsaacOS Pokémon video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpC9szZEbQk

MelonDualDS - https://github.com/SapphireRhodonite/melonDS-android/releases

Azahar For Dual Screen - https://github.com/SapphireRhodonite/azahar

Joey's Ayn Thor Setup Guide - https://www.joeysretrohandhelds.com/guides/ayn-thor-setup-guide/

Retro Game Corps Android Handheld Starter Guide - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4mqgcDYZFo

Joey's NetherSX2 Guide - https://www.joeysretrohandhelds.com/guides/nethersx2-setup-guide/

Dragon Quest X Offline Mod - https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonquestxoffline/mods/2


𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗦

COPYRIGHT - Any use of copyrighted content on this channel constitutes fair use pursuant to 17 U.S. Code § 107 as it is utilized for the purpose of criticism, comment, or news reporting allowed under that statute. See, e.g., Monster Communications, Inc. v. Turner Broadcasting Sys. Inc., 935 F.Supp. 490 (S.D. N.Y., 1996); SOFA Entertainment, Inc. v. Dodger Productions, Inc., No. 2:08-cv-02616 (9th Cir. Mar. 11, 2013); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 14-09041 (C.D. Cal. Oct. 13, 2015).

PLEASE NOTE: I AM NOT A JOURNALIST. Nor am I a scholar providing academic-level peer-reviewed journal articles in video form. These videos are news commentary. I have made every attempt to cite my sources in this description.

This video is for entertainment and educational purposes only.

Arydia Exceeds All Expectations!

04. November 2025 um 15:23

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Shelfside's thoughts and impressions after reaching level 4 in Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread! A campaign board game heavily inspired by ttrpg's like dnd, players will create characters to adventure and roleplay with a d20 checks system and pre-painted minis! With by far the BEST components we've ever seen coming out of massive kickstarter projects alongside incredibly smooth story and tactical gameplay using 2 standard and 1 minor actions from your loadout of equipment and abilities.

Arydia gets a reprint soon! https://gamefound.com/en/projects/far-off-games/arydia-2nd-printing

Support us:
https://www.patreon.com/shelfside
https://ko-fi.com/shelfside

Our Website!
https://www.shelfside.co/

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
https://amazon.com/shop/shelfside

Table of Contents:
Preamble - 0:00
Game Overview - 3:34
Why Components Are Amazing - 5:43
Combat Simple Yet Thoughtful - 10:34
Very Smooth Experience - 13:10
Wrap Up - 16:20

Shelfside Social Media:
https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT
https://www.instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames/
https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/
https://discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62

Links to our other stuff:
Ashton's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu
Daniel's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2

#boardgames #tabletop #tabletopgames
❌