So, while at the most recent Gathering of Friends, Deck Hand Games offered each invitee one of their small format games as a welcome gift.  I managed to get a full set of the four games on offer, and … Continue reading →

    First Giants Designer: Matthew Dunstan, Brett J. Gilbert Publisher: Space Cowboys Players: 2-5 Age: 10+ Time: 30 minutes Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/42Ziqac Played with review copy provided by publisher Dive into First Giants, a race to create the … Continue reading →

  Ace of Spades Designer: Benja Amorin Publisher: DEVIR Players: 1-2 Age: 14+ Time: 40 minutes  Played with review copy provided by publisher Your path of vengeance has led you to Sweet Haven, Arizona. You know that the necromancer who … Continue reading →

  Diceocracy   Ever since you were a kid, your mama told you that you’re destined for grand things! So you’re pretty certain that things can only be better with more “you” in it! Well, it’s finally time for more … Continue reading →

The Spiel des Jahres (SdJ) jury announced the nominated games for the SdJ, Kennerspiel (“connoisseur” games), and Kinderspiel (children’s games) awards earlier today and I think it’s safe to say that nobody had these titles on their Bingo cards. For … Continue reading →

    Purrramid Designer: Renier Knizia  Publisher: Lucky Duck Games Players: 2-4 Age: 8+ Time: 30 minutes Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3PcZi55 Played with review copy provided by publisher Your grandma loves cats – but she’s adopted so many that she … Continue reading →

One of my favorite annual game awards is Spiel Portugal’s Jogo do Ano (which is Portuguese for “Game of the Year”).  What I like about it is that the nominated games are all heavier ones and titles like that often … Continue reading →

The new era of well-designed automata and solo modes for multiplayer games, coupled with excellent new solo game designs, is actually quite heartening to someone (me!) who finds something very satisfying about physically playing a game: shuffling cards, moving pieces, … Continue reading →

    Rebuilding Chicago Designer: Quinn Brander Publisher: Wizkids Players: 1-5 Age: 12+ Time: 60-120 minutes Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4n29utO Played with review copy provided by publisher In Rebuilding Chicago, a standalone successor to 2023’s Rebuilding Seattle, you’re responsible for … Continue reading →

  Catan Zip! Designer: Klaus Teuber Publisher: Catan Studio Players:  3-4 Age: 10+ Time: 60 minutes Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4tVMLCs Played with review copy provided by publisher Welcome to the unexplored island of Catan!   As you and your fellow … Continue reading →

PLAY – The Game Festival, the international event dedicated to Board-Games, Role-playing Games, Miniatures Games, Live, and Collectible Card Games returns from May 22nd to 24th at Bologna Fiere with more than 40.000 square meters of covered area in five different … Continue reading →

    Bare Bones Designer: not listed Publisher: West Coast Bias Games Players: 2-4 Age: 10+ Time: 20-30 minutes Amazon affiliate link:  https://amzn.to/4vhW0hg Played with review copy provided by publisher In Bare Bones, players each begin with an identical base … Continue reading →

BoardGameGeek has just announced the winners of their Golden Geek awards for 2025.  There are three Game of the Year categories, for best Light, Medium, and Heavy games.  Here are the top three finishers in each category, together with their … Continue reading →

Honestly, I’ve been waiting for this Unmatched box for three long years. My younger son and I were playtesters for these characters in 2023 and fell head over heels in love with them. It’s a treat to get to write … Continue reading →

A recent entry in the excellent Solo Hero series by Renegade Game Studios, Unstoppable is a unique combat-focused card-crafting game set in a dystopian future. It is a combat deck-builder where the focus of the game is to damage enemies … Continue reading →

    Catan on the Road Designer: Benjamin Teuber Publisher: Asmodee Players: 3-4 Age: 10+ Time: 15-30 min Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/47mjaZu Played with review copy provided by publisher In CATAN – On the Road, gameplay is driven by a … Continue reading →

    Treat, Please! Designer: Courtney Shernan Publisher: Solis Players: 2-4 Age: 10+ Time: 30-60 minutes Amazon affiliate link:  https://amzn.to/4cbRgAX Played with review copy provided by publisher You live a cozy life with your fellow dogs and loving human. Each … Continue reading →

    Questline Designers: Marc-Andre Lavoie and Martin Lavoie   Publisher: Thunderworks Players: 1-6 Age: 14+ Time: 15 minutes Preorder link – https://thunderworksgames.com/products/questline-card-game Played with review copy provided by publisher In Questline, players compete to earn the most reputation stars by … Continue reading →

April 2026 Games I played for the first time this month, from worst to best, along with my ratings and comments. ­­ Barcelona – 7/10 ­Barcelona is the third Dani Garcia game I’ve played. My first was Arborea, which is well-loved … Continue reading →

    DC Breakout Arkham Asylum  Designers: Brian, Sydney and Geoff Engelstein  Publisher: Wizkids Players: 2-6 Age: 8+ Time: 30-45 minutes Amazon affiliate link:  Played with review copy provided by publisher Make a mad dash out of Arkham Asylum – … Continue reading →