❌

Normale Ansicht

Published yesterday — 16. April 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

Magical Athlete Review — More than Candyland 2.0

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside
16. April 2026 um 22:00

💾

Roll and move makes a comeback with this simple party game? We review this re-release by CMYK, of taking an asymmetric zany racer, and rolling a D6 on your turn to move! It has no hand management and little dice manipulation within the race, but you will be drafting and secretly selecting your racers for each race! And one of the maps has spaces to make you trip or go forwards/backwards. Is this a bargain at only $30, or does the gameplay have too little agency for what it is?

Other games mentioned: Hot Streak, Candyland

Play Uprising Curse of the Last Emperor: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/nemesisgames/uprising-big-box-true-solo

Table of Contents:
Intro - (0:00)
How to Play - (1:49)
Pros - (2:41)
Cons - (8:58)
Recommender Score - (14:05)
Ashton's Personal Score - (17:17)

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
Published — 06. April 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

Marvel Dice Throne is Excessively Mid — Review

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside
06. April 2026 um 16:30

💾

After playing with every Marvel character in this box, we review this version of Dice Throne! The fast-paced Dice Throne can be played 1v1, or more of a king of the hill method with 3 players (free-for-all). We did not test the team modes though. Also known as Marvel Dice Throne: Battle Chest, this box has popular hasymmetric eroes like Thor and Dr. Strange, then some villains like Loki! Ashton’s favorite to play is Black Panther. There’s plenty of take-that and hand management with the specific and generic cards. But fundamentally, this card is all about dice rolling and doing damage, where straights and 6’s will benefit you to do big damage! Ideally, you want to do damage that cannot be defended against, since that will allow your opponent to defend against it.

Play Uprising Curse of the Last Emperor: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/nemesisgames/uprising-big-box-true-solo

Table of Contents:
Overview/How to Play - (0:00)
Pros - (3:14)
Cons - (12:59)
Recommender Score - (25:57)
Ashton's Personal Score - (29:38)
Alexander’s Personal Score - (30:20)

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
Published — 01. April 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

Survivor Teaches Fellow UNO Enjoyers that No One Has the Right To Make Them Play a Different Version

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside
01. April 2026 um 16:30

💾

Sometimes you don’t want to play a different UNO, and that’s ok. You have the right to say no.

Games mentioned: UNO No Mercy, UNO Golf, Uno Bilie Eilish, Uno Platinium, UNO Flex, Liar’s UNO

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:

"SCP-x2x (Unseen Presence)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"Dopplerette" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"Come Play with Me" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

#boardgames #tabletop #tabletopgames
Published — 30. März 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

Reviewing EVERY Uno at Target

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside
30. März 2026 um 16:30

💾

We bought every single UNO product at our local Target, and reviewed them! In total, we’re covering 16 items, from packs like UNO Bilie Eilish to UNO Golf. But are these games meaningfully adding onto the UNO formula of hand management and some dexterity through shouting UNO? After all, the color matching is the most important thing with minimal take-that through the draw 2 card. Admist all of the top BGG games we normally review, and even Exploding Kittens that we reviewed, can these games get a decent score? Can making UNO like a TCG with booster packs in UNO Elite, with drafting, improve it? A speed mechanic to increase the amount of cards played every turn? Or adding in a machine to spray out cards in UNO Attack? At the end of it, maybe you should just buy the $2 packs instead.

Other games mentioned: Golf (Playing Card Game), BS, Exploding Kittens, Catan, Flip 7, UNO Splash, Giant UNO, UNO Elite F1, Yugioh, UNO Zero

Table of Contents:
Intro/Overview - (0:00)
UNO (Base) - (1:58)
UNO Retro - (8:39)
UNO Reverse Pack - (10:48)
UNO Swap Pack - (12:32)
UNO Stack Pack - (13:56)
UNO Speed Pack - (15:23)
UNO Bilie Eilish Pack - (17:53)
UNO Attack - (20:17)
UNO Spin -(22:53)
UNO No Mercy - (25:46)
Liar’s UNO - (31:14)
UNO Party -(35:17)
UNO Teams -(38:50)
UNO Flip - (41:21)
UNO Elite - (44:22)
UNO Golf - (50:53)
Buying Guide & Final Thoughts - (57:07)

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:
Kevin Macleod — Apero Hour, Big Drumming, Cloud Dancer, Ether Vox, Evening, Fox Tale Waltz Part 1, Goblin Tinker Soldier Spy, Jazz Brunch, Magic Scout - Cottage, Magic Scout - Manor, Paradise Found, Pleasant Porridge, Upbeat Sport Rock

Chill Hip-Hop Vlog by Infraction [No Copyright Music] / I Can't Help Myself
https://youtu.be/Z0DiockHcSI?si=ybP92Zr0-XpYyWRS

Upbeat Sport Rock by Infraction 5 tracks [Copyright Free Music] / Get Wild
https://youtu.be/ATmyNYrCM7k?si=nyiLHakQ_IGPr3b-


#boardgames #tabletop #review
Published — 26. März 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

Reviewing EVERY Exploding Kittens Game of 2025

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside
26. März 2026 um 15:30

💾

We cover Exploding Kittens’ 10 year anniversary with the reprint of the card game and the exploding kittens board game! As well as 11 other entries, for a total of 13 games covered in this massive review! Admist all of the take that and hand management of these games, do have the depth we’d expect from our normal coverage of BGG games? In fact, the games are quirky with solid components, but their quality control with balance and rules may need some work. Still, there’s social strategy with alliances in something like Survivor: The Tribe Has Spoken, or educational elements in Monster Match! Just hope you don’t get eliminated too quickly in some of the longer ones! Even Tim Ferris and Jeff Probst are designers amongst all of these selections!

Other games featured: Flip 7, UNO, Throw Throw Burrito, Poetry for Neanderthals, Cards Against Humanity, Spoons, War, Codenames

SUSD Article: https://www.shutupandsitdown.com/review-cards-against-humanity/

Table of Contents:
Intro & Overview - (0:00)
Exploding Kittens, 10 Year Anniversary Edition- (2:17)
Exploding Kittens - (11:23)
Giants Moving Tiny Furniture - (17:11)
Coyote -(21:11)
Exploding Pigeon - (27:03)
Row Your Goat - (30:50)
Monster Match - (36:58)
Survivor: The Tribe Has Spoken - (39:56)
Survivor: Let’s Go to Rocks - (49:16)
Pickle Grab - (55:32)
Roly Poly Goalie - (1:02:40)
What Were You Thinking? - (1:07:48)
Horrible Couple: Extra Horrible Edition (NSFW) - (1:18:35)
Ashton’s Final Thoughts - (1:25:53)

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:
Kevin Macleod — Professor and the Plant, Monkeys Spinning Monkeys, Adventures in Adventureland, Devonshire Waltz Allegretto, Grand Dark Waltz, Laconic Granny, Divertimento K131, Winner Winner, Farting Around, Casa Bossa Nova, Ambler, Dentaneosuchus Hunt, Goblin Tinker Soldier Spy, Starting Out Waltz Allegretto, Morning, Lords of the Rangs

Vlog Indie Rock Advertising by Infraction, Independece [Copyright Free Music] / Switchblade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPU3nIZrnlU&list=RDCPU3nIZrnlU
Blues Lounge Vlog by Infraction [Copyright Free Music] / Blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYRfV-NovEc&list=RDkYRfV-NovEc
Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings Track 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDcZXEMF84k&list=RDNDcZXEMF84k
Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings - Track 8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkOC5BnnXwU&list=RDPkOC5BnnXwU
Age of Empires 2 The Conquerors Track 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRWpooKRLwg&list=RDGRWpooKRLwg
Age of Empires 2 The Conquerors Track 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jDWRC9_Gk0&list=RD5jDWRC9_Gk0
Age of Empires 2 The Conquerors Track 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BaShAjqNFE&list=RD6BaShAjqNFE
Age of Empires 2 The Conquerors Track 6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7fzvohmvsQ&list=RDU7fzvohmvsQ
Age of Empires 2 The Conquerors Track 7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ed1G4I_UpE&list=RD3Ed1G4I_UpE
Age of Empires 2 The Conquerors Track 8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JUdalWK-vI&list=RD5JUdalWK-vI

#boardgames #tabletop #review
Published — 14. März 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

Europa Universalis: The Price of Power | Shelfside Review

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside
14. März 2026 um 23:59

💾

The 4x video game experience now comes to the table! This massive war game plus Euro has all of the X’s (e.g. exploit) while piloting historical European powers like Castille. Players can use action points do perform actions, and also launch military campaigns which are resolved by dice roll. You can hand management your generals, and even develop your own provinces! How many ages will you play in your run of this? Will you lean harder into military or exploring the new world? How long will this Aegir's Games game actually take for you, since it makes other grand board games like Ti4 and Sid Meier’s Civilization 2010 feel like entry level experiences?

Other games mentioned: Cuba Libre, John Company 2nd Edition, Europa Univeralis 4

Table of Contents:
Intro - (0:00)
How to Play - (3:21)
Pros - (6:31)
Cons - (15:09)
Recommender Score - (23:05)
Ashton's Personal Score - (27:56)
Pranav’s Personal Score - (36:24)
Daniel’s Personal Score - (38:56)
Alexander''s Personal Score - (43:55)

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:
Violin Concerto in F minor, RV 297 'Winter' - the modern chamber orchestra
Violin Concerto in A flat Major
Violin Concerto Gavottes
D. 960 - III. Scherzo (Allegro vivace con delicatezza)
Fantasy in C Major Op.15 D.760 'Wanderer' - I. Adagio
Fantasy in C Major Op.15 D.760 'Wanderer' - IV. Allegro
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - 01 - Aria
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - 03 - Variatio 2 a 1 Clav.
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - 20 - Variatio 19 a 1 Clav. I.
Allegro moderato Orchestral suite no. 3 in D major, BWV 1068 - 1. Ouverture
Partita no. 2, BWV 826 - III. Courante Paul Pitman - Moonlight Sonata Op. 27 No. 2 - III. Presto
Polonaise in C minor, Op. 40 no. 2 Violin Concerto in F major, RV 293 'Autumn' - III. Allegro
Violin Concerto in G minor, RV 315 'Summer' - the modern chamber orchestra
March of the Eagles Calm, Battle

#boardgames #tabletop #review
Published — 11. März 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

Shelfside Announcement on AI Art

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside
11. März 2026 um 15:30

💾

We talk about covering AI art in our review-like content!

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 #tabletopgames
Published — 10. März 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

Every game of Heat ever

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside
10. März 2026 um 00:52

💾

Days of Wonder's deck and hand management racing game!

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 #tabletopgames
Published — 05. März 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

Board Game Psychographics are Weird

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside
05. März 2026 um 16:30

💾

What of the 3 types of board game psychographics are you? We liberally borrow from the MTG terms (from Mark Rosewater) of Timmy, Johnny, and Spike, then place them into a board game framework. So, we have to factor in types of board gaming like solo board gaming all the way to large group gaming like Social deduction. Also, how do genres of games like area controls fit into this discussion? Or perhaps popular board game youtubers like Dice Tower's Tom Vasel and Shut up and sit down from 2015?

Games mentioned: Patchwork, Twilight Imperium, Risk, Risk Legacy, Wingspan, Cosmic Encounter, Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective, Arkham Horror LCG, Vantage, Ark Nova, Le Havre, Star Wars Rebellion, Brass Birmingham, Incan Gold

Table of Contents:
Intro - (0:00)
Timmy, Johnny, and Spike in Board Gaming - (0:43)
Guessing Board Game YouTubers’ Stats - (14:07)
Alexander’s Stats - (17:39)
Ashton’s Stats - (20:12)

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:

Relaxing Lofi – Pentacosa by Sascha Ende
https://ende.app/en/song/13609-relaxing-lofi-pentacosa

Kevin Macleod — Magic Scout: Northern Glade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFKDc4vIN90&list=RDUFKDc4vIN90
Kevin Macleod — Samba Isobel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY81kVOuwPo&list=RDJY81kVOuwPo

Kevin Macleod — Alien Restaurant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqZijh1H1HQ&list=RDEqZijh1H1HQ

Kevin Macleod — Carpe Diem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpudWId2naA&list=RDHpudWId2naA

Kevin Macleod — Hustle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bKrcRybc3I&list=RD7bKrcRybc3I

Kevin Macleod — Whiskey on the mississippi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWmP_Vng-YM&list=RDqWmP_Vng-YM

Kevin Macleod — happy Happy Game Show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6nc9IkQfcc

Kevin Macleod — Octoblueshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25xg93vqmNw&list=RD25xg93vqmNw

#boardgames #tabletop #tabletopgames
Published — 03. März 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

Re;MATCH Prototype Review — A Deep Marble Fighter

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside
03. März 2026 um 16:30

💾

We review Re:MATCH, an asymmetrical 1v1 fighting game with marbles! You try to reduce your opponent’s credits to 0 first! In this arcade-styled MATCH3 game by Brother Ming Games, you will take a set of connected marbles on your turn to launch an attack! There are 3 colors of marbles for 3 colors of attack for each player. But every time you take marbles, you can set up your opponent accidentally! We cover 6 different variable player powers in this box, with more on the way! How does this Marble Puzzle compare to other direct conflict card and board games? The marbles in this kickstarter are not just a gimmick, but perhaps aren’t for everyone…

Play Re;MATCH: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/brotherminggames/rematch

Table of Contents:
Overview - (0:00)
How to Play - (1:22)
Pros - (3:44)
Cons - (15:15)
Scoring - (16:31)
Alexand’er Personal Score - (21:53)
Ashton’s Personal score - (26:00)

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
Published — 02. März 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

I tried a "Smart" TCG

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside
02. März 2026 um 16:30

💾

I tried an upcoming card game that is filled with NFC tech! It features deckbuilding with grid control ideas, as you try to conquer the most land and have the most overall strength before the game ends. STCG Ragnarok's board automatically keeps track of cards’ health and abilities upon play. The board has speakers and lights to assist in all this, with a rechargeable battery! There’s no need for chips or counters to play. On your turn, you either play a card or pass, that’s it! How does this compare to other TCGs and LCGs like Magic the Gathering or Yugioh?

Preorder now to get 50% off!: https://s-tcg.com/pages/ragnarok-prelaunch
STCG Discord: https://discord.gg/7bFEREZmhQ

Table of Contents:
Overview - (0:00)
Cool Stuff - (2:33)
Concerns - (10:48)
Overall Thoughts - (13:11)
Ashton’s Personal Score - (15:53)

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 #tabletopgames
Published — 27. Februar 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

Why Pope Tom Vasel couldn’t stop the 1517 Protestant Reformation

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside
27. Februar 2026 um 16:30

💾

Could the Dice Tower’s Tom Vasel actually stop the sweeping religious movement of the 16th century? You might have thought he was in this era, with BGG and the internet, but perhaps he’s been around for longer…

Games referenced: Red Cathedral, Sagrada, Yugioh, Biblios, Munchkin, Candyland, Catan

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:

Kevin Macleod —Georgian Chant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICYH-bSLXms&list=PLfP6i5T0-DkJE9iy1r9ws8YPLxMzM0MLf

Destiny by Aylex
https://freetouse.com/music

Infraction — Discovery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKaofBhPqhE&list=RDnKaofBhPqhE

#boardgames #tabletop #tabletopgames
Published — 21. Februar 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

We played TI4 every month for a year

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside
21. Februar 2026 um 08:57

💾

In 2025, we challenged ourself to play Twilight Imperium 4 once a month for a year! And after 2025 (and some time after) passed, we have completed the journey! There has been 12 games completed, all with varying levels of expansions/modules. We got to play with Codex 4, Prophecy of Kings, Thunder’s Edge, and Twilight’s Fall. How did this Ameritrash Area Control hold up to this many playthroughs? Do we any observations about how Ti4 fits into the zeitgeist of board games? Is the increased weight and component bloat worth it for most matches of Twilight Imperium? What are the best galactic events to use? How many hours of twilight Imperium have we played at this point, and with what factions? Will we ever move onto other sci-fi area controls like Arcs and Eclipse?

Play Race to Kepler: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/conduitgames/race-to-kepler?ref=96q6hu

Table of Contents:
We finished the Challenge - (0:00)
The 12 Ti4 Games - (1:45)
Final Thoughts - (41:28)

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:
Kevin Macleod — Monkeys Spinning Monkeys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr42azVZi3o&list=RDpr42azVZi3o&start_radio=1

Kevin Macleod — Martys Gots a Plan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhRNWAbeBpE&list=RDRhRNWAbeBpE&start_radio=1

Infraction - War
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03gYvNTWShg&list=RD03gYvNTWShg&start_radio=1

Infraction - Aliens (Raspberry Music)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H8kJBjdYvU&list=RD2H8kJBjdYvU&start_radio=1

Broke for Free - Something Elated
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rmfZul3_bQ&list=RD3rmfZul3_bQ&start_radio=1

#boardgames #tabletop #tabletopgames
Published — 13. Februar 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

After 2 years , I finally share my John Company 2nd Edition thoughts

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside
13. Februar 2026 um 19:32

💾

I unveil my personal score for John Company 2nd Edition, one of the heaviest board games I’ve ever played. This popular game about the East India Company on the Indian subcontinent has fans galore, yet how do I feel about the portrayal of such an environment in a tabletop experience? After all, despite all of the praise on BGG, this isn’t a Cole Werhle game for just anyone. Does pretending to be a greedy British imperialist entertain me during game night? Or do I need more area control within my negotiation games? It’s a game that is extremely educational and requires a certain level of commitment to steer this dysfunctional company.

Games mentioned: Twilight Imperium 4, Bohnanza, Chinatown, Arcs, Root, Oath, Sidereal Confluence

Support us:
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https://www.shelfside.co/

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
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Shelfside Social Media:
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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
Published — 12. Februar 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

John Company: A Game of Administering Atrocities

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside
12. Februar 2026 um 16:30

💾

Cole Wehrle’s John Company has players taking on the roles of powerful English families utilizing the East India Company for personal gain, using its state sponsored monopoly to secure power to further their own greed. This extensively revised 2nd edition has new rules and components to better represent the Company’s insidious growth into the Indian subcontinent, and its highly dysfunctional modes of operation, requiring heavy amounts of negotiation and bribes. To get victory points, players retire family member pieces from their office cards, paying exorbitant amounts of money gained from unscrupulous exploitation. This satirical yet frank portrayal of British imperialism and globalization explores a deep involvement in horrific structures by making the players understand the processes of how the English involvement worked and why such pillaging was so blatantly done by these powerful interests.

Articles:
Luke Winkie’s “Board but Not Boring”
https://slate.com/human-interest/2024/01/best-board-games-root-cole-wehrle-john-company-molly-house.html
Cole Wehrle’s “Going into Empire”
https://wehrlegig.com/blogs/essays/going-into-empire
Cole Wehrle’s “Affective Networks At Play: Catan, COIN, And The Quiet Year”
https://analoggamestudies.org/2016/05/affective-networks-at-play-catan-coin-and-the-quiet-year/

Table of Contents:
Preamble (0:00)
How to Play (4:31)
An Empire’s Historical Process (11:19)
Not Really a Review (32:15)

Support us:
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https://www.shelfside.co/

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
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Shelfside Social Media:
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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
Published — 03. Februar 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

How Instagram Changed Board Gaming

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside
03. Februar 2026 um 20:29

💾

Social media has had a real impact on board game design! We’ve been 3 major trends throughout the last decade or so, whether or not a game has been kickstarted or not. From feels good outcomes, to drawing a lot of cards and seeing new information, instagram has definitely made things have better accuracy, or better first impressions. We can see this in many popular BGG games, whether or not they’re Euros, as this applies to campaign and Ameritrash games too! Even the 4x genre is left changed. But this isn’t a bad thing, it just means that the tabletop experience is changing, with the cream of the crop strategy gaming tending to rise to the top.

Table of Contents:
Intro - (0:00)
Insta-Plussing - (1:05)
Feels Good Gaming - (8:19)
Design Considerations - (15:03)
Discovery vs. Mastery Discussion w/BrotherMing - (17:01)
Aesthetics over Depth? - (20:32)
Final Thoughts - (22:08)
Quick word about TCGs - (26:18)

Games featured: Earth, Wingspan, Root, War of the Ring, Twilight Struggle, Thunder’s Edge, Twilight Imperium, Dune Imperium, Everdell, Wyrmspan, Finspan, Chess, Boop, Lords of Waterdeep, Splendor, Carcassone, El Grande, Yugioh, Sid Meier’s 2010 Civilization Revolution, Re;ACT, Dead of Winter, Hive, Shogu, Scythe, Puerto Rico, Nemesis Retaliation, Fate of the Fellowship, Terraforming Mars

Research: https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/memory-replay-prioritizes-high-reward-memories

Support us:
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https://www.shelfside.co/

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
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Shelfside Social Media:
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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
Published — 28. Januar 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

Race to Kepler Prototype Review — Accessible Deckbuilding meets Bidding!

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside
28. Januar 2026 um 16:30

💾

We review this upcoming sci-fi deck builder that features multiplayer bids for some central cards! In Race to Kepler, you construct and eject from your deck of initially 10 cards, ultimately trying to get to Kepler first to win. There’s plenty of tried and true deckbuilding tabletop mechanics, like trashing cards and combo-ing hard off of money cards. By mixing in these special titan cards with the bidding dynamic, Race to Kepler is trying to smooth over problems like multiplayer solitaire. But are there trade-offs from having a bid? Players also get to play a specific city, each with asymmetric abilities to spend your energy on. There’s not much take-that, and with open drafting, so this game is readily accessible to many!

Play Race to Kepler: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/conduitgames/race-to-kepler?ref=96q6hu

Games featured: Dune Imperium, Lost Ruins of Arnak, Aeon’s End, Tyrants of the Underdark, Dominion (1st and 2nd Edition)

Table of Contents:
Overview - (0:00)
How to Play - (1:38)
Pros - (3:43)
Cons - (14:11)
Recommender Score - (18:24)
Ashton's Personal Score - (21:28)

Support us:
https://www.patreon.com/shelfside
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Our Website!
https://www.shelfside.co/

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

Shelfside Social Media:
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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
Published — 22. Januar 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

Vantage | Shelfside Review

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside
22. Januar 2026 um 16:30

💾

We review the latest Stonemaier Game, Vantage! It is simultaneously not a campaign game but also one! It is also a tabletop game but also not in some ways! In Vantage, you play as an asymmetric character to explore an uncharted planet, attempting to complete your team’s mission. You will roll challenge dice and assign them to cards, in a bit of a Euro-style. You have narrative choices by opening the storybooks and discovering what happens to your character. The world of Vantage has many secrets, and a ridiculous amount of cards/art. But how does it hold up after many plays, like how it was intended to played? How does this compare to other cooperative games, or ones with a singular story?

Games featured: Eldritch Horror, Gloomhaven Jaws of the Lion, Gloomhaven Buttons and Bugs, Tainted Grail, Tainted Grail: Kings of Ruin, Mansions of Madness, Arkham Horror the Dunwich Legacy, Oath, The Elder Scrolls Betrayal of the Second Era

Table of Contents:
Overview - (0:00)
How to Play - (2:19)
Pros - (5:12)
SPOILER Pros - (14:17)
Cons - (18:11)
SPOILER Cons - (30:42)
Recommender Score - (45:18)
Alexander''s Personal Score - (55:09)
Ashton's Personal Score - (1:02:45)

Support us:
https://www.patreon.com/shelfside
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Our Website!
https://www.shelfside.co/

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
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Shelfside Social Media:
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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
Published — 17. Januar 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

The Star Wars: Rebellion Expansion is AMAZING

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside
17. Januar 2026 um 16:30

💾

We finally got around to playing Rise of the Empire! This expansion for Star Wars: Rebellion took our enjoyment of base game and propelled it even further. The game still has the initial cat and mouse with the highly asymmetrical play, but the ameritrash combat system has been altered with tactic cards! You also get to do worker placement as some of the new leaders from Rogue One (the movie). In our two games, did the rebels win, or was the empire successful with the looming threat of the Death Star miniature?

Table of Contents:
Intro - (0:00)
Talking about new stuff - (3:57)
Talking about things we don't like - (8:51)
Scoring - (13:15)
Extras - (14:38)

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

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

Shelfside Social Media:
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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
Published — 08. Januar 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

If American Psycho was about Card Game Players

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside
08. Januar 2026 um 16:30

💾

During a very important meeting, a bunch of players discuss some differences on sleeve choice. Perhaps some preferences get in the way. They're also known as TCG (trading card game) players.

Games mentioned: Magic the Gathering, Grand Archive

Sleeves used: Ultra Pro, Dragonsleeve, Player's Choice, Ultimate Katana Guard

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

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
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Shelfside Social Media:
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Daniel's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2

#boardgames #tabletop #tabletopgames
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