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Normale Ansicht

Published today — 23. April 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

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There's ONLY 7 Types of Board Games | BGG Top 10 Discussion 23. April 2026 um 16:30

There's ONLY 7 Types of Board Games | BGG Top 10 Discussion

23. April 2026 um 16:30

There's ONLY 7 Types of Board Games | BGG Top 10 Discussion — Traditional game labels of Ameritrash and Euro are very useful, but how about 7 new types of labels? We used 7 varied fantasy Japanese Clans (from The Legend of the 5 Rings) to describe Top BGG games. This discussion doesn’t fret about area control or competitive/coop so much, rather just what the designers had in mind when creating it. Regardless of modern day kickstarter campaigns or expanding strategy games, these labels apply universally! Though there is room for some debate, just like how dungeon crawlers are a room of some debate on labeling!

Other Games mentioned: Star Wars Unlimited, Azul, Tokaido, Europa Universalis The Price of Power, Uno, Wingspan, 7 Wonders, Catan, Battlestar Galactica, Santorini, Alice is Missing, John Company 2nd Edition, Diplomacy, Unfathomable, Alice is Missing, Brass: Lancashire, This War of Mine

Table of Contents:
Intro - (0:00)
Background - (0:40)
Lion Clan - (1:27)
Crane Clan - (3:04)
Phoenix Clan - (4:21)
Dragon Clan - (5:06)
Unicorn Clan - (6:42)
Crab Clan - (8:33)
Scorpion Clan - (10:05)
Star Wars Rebellion (BGG #10) - (11:52)
Terraforming Mars (BGG #9) - (12:55)
War of the Ring 2nd Ed (BGG #8) - (14:38)
Dune Imperium Uprising (BGG #7) - (17:13)
Twilight Imperium 4e (BGG #6) - (20:44)
Gloomhaven (BGG #4) - (26:00)
Pandemic Legacy Season 1 (BGG #3) - (28:25)
Brass Birmingham (BGG #1) - (30:16)
Our Favorite Clans - (31:40)

Support us:
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Links to our other stuff:
Ashton's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu

Stuff Used:

Age of Empires II Soundtrack - Track #2 - I Will Beat On Your Behind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK_BmWIDVdY&list=RDaK_BmWIDVdY

Age of Empires II Soundtrack - Track #4 - Machina del Diablo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcY5s5FwZhM&list=RDEcY5s5FwZhM

Age of Empires II Soundtrack - Track #8 - Smells Like Crickets, Tastes Like Chicken
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EemMCUiqA2c&list=RDEemMCUiqA2c

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 #tabletopgames

Published — 21. April 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

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We tried a JRPG on a table! 21. April 2026 um 22:24

We tried a JRPG on a table!

21. April 2026 um 22:24

We tried a JRPG on a table! — We completed one 8 hour session of a JRPG TTRPG, of controlling heroes to go through a story! In Last Arc: Tactics Analogue you will craft a character (akin to DnD with D20 rolls) by choosing a class and the corresponding Technicks. You’ll even get money to spend on early equipment! With Alex’s Pathfinder experience of DM’ing almost weekly, we jump into this game and discuss combat, the setting we made, and the story that emerged. Will Gandalf the Green survive?

Other games mentioned: Imperial Assault, Heroquest, Dungeons and Dragons 3.5

Play Last Arc: https://gamefound.com/projects/succubus-publishing/last-arc-tactics-analogue?refcode=nwZjO4gsKkqkf39YVpXM1w

Table of Contents:
Intro - (0:00)
Our Class Creations - (0:59)
Combat Mechanics & Standout Moments - (5:05)
Our Session’s Story - (8:45)
Our Personal Impressions - (17:58)

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:
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

Stuff Used:
Age of Empires II Soundtrack - Track #8 - Smells Like Crickets, Tastes Like Chicken
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EemMCUiqA2c&list=RDEemMCUiqA2c

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

#boardgames #tabletop #tabletopgames

Published — 16. April 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

Shelfside
Magical Athlete Review — More than Candyland 2.0 16. April 2026 um 22:00

Magical Athlete Review — More than Candyland 2.0

16. April 2026 um 22:00

Magical Athlete Review — More than Candyland 2.0 — 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

Shelfside
Marvel Dice Throne is Excessively Mid — Review 06. April 2026 um 16:30

Marvel Dice Throne is Excessively Mid — Review

06. April 2026 um 16:30

Marvel Dice Throne is Excessively Mid — Review — 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

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Survivor Teaches Fellow UNO Enjoyers that No One Has the Right To Make Them Play a Different Version 01. April 2026 um 16:30

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

01. April 2026 um 16:30

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

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Reviewing EVERY Uno at Target 30. März 2026 um 16:30

Reviewing EVERY Uno at Target

30. März 2026 um 16:30

Reviewing EVERY Uno at Target — 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

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Reviewing EVERY Exploding Kittens Game of 2025 26. März 2026 um 15:30

Reviewing EVERY Exploding Kittens Game of 2025

26. März 2026 um 15:30

Reviewing EVERY Exploding Kittens Game of 2025 — 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

Shelfside
Europa Universalis: The Price of Power | Shelfside Review 14. März 2026 um 23:59

Europa Universalis: The Price of Power | Shelfside Review

14. März 2026 um 23:59

Europa Universalis: The Price of Power | Shelfside Review — 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
Shelfside Announcement on AI Art 11. März 2026 um 15:30

Shelfside Announcement on AI Art

11. März 2026 um 15:30

Shelfside Announcement on AI Art — 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

Shelfside
Every game of Heat ever 10. März 2026 um 00:52

Every game of Heat ever

10. März 2026 um 00:52

Every game of Heat ever — 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

Shelfside
Board Game Psychographics are Weird 05. März 2026 um 16:30

Board Game Psychographics are Weird

05. März 2026 um 16:30

Board Game Psychographics are Weird — 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

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Re;MATCH Prototype Review — A Deep Marble Fighter 03. März 2026 um 16:30

Re;MATCH Prototype Review — A Deep Marble Fighter

03. März 2026 um 16:30

Re;MATCH Prototype Review — A Deep Marble Fighter — 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
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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

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I tried a "Smart" TCG 02. März 2026 um 16:30

I tried a "Smart" TCG

02. März 2026 um 16:30

I tried a "Smart" TCG — 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)
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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 — 27. Februar 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

Shelfside
Why Pope Tom Vasel couldn’t stop the 1517 Protestant Reformation 27. Februar 2026 um 16:30

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

27. Februar 2026 um 16:30

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

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

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We played TI4 every month for a year 21. Februar 2026 um 08:57

We played TI4 every month for a year

21. Februar 2026 um 08:57

We played TI4 every month for a year — 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
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https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/
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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

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

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After 2 years , I finally share my John Company 2nd Edition thoughts 13. Februar 2026 um 19:32

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

13. Februar 2026 um 19:32

After 2 years , I finally share my John Company 2nd Edition thoughts — 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:
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 #review

Published — 12. Februar 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

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John Company: A Game of Administering Atrocities 12. Februar 2026 um 16:30

John Company: A Game of Administering Atrocities

12. Februar 2026 um 16:30

John Company: A Game of Administering Atrocities — 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:
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:
https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT
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https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/
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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

Shelfside
How Instagram Changed Board Gaming 03. Februar 2026 um 20:29

How Instagram Changed Board Gaming

03. Februar 2026 um 20:29

How Instagram Changed Board Gaming — 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:
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:
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 — 28. Januar 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

Shelfside
Race to Kepler Prototype Review — Accessible Deckbuilding meets Bidding! 28. Januar 2026 um 16:30

Race to Kepler Prototype Review — Accessible Deckbuilding meets Bidding!

28. Januar 2026 um 16:30

Race to Kepler Prototype Review — Accessible Deckbuilding meets Bidding! — 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
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 — 22. Januar 2026 ⏭ Shelfside

Shelfside
Vantage | Shelfside Review 22. Januar 2026 um 16:30

Vantage | Shelfside Review

22. Januar 2026 um 16:30

Vantage | Shelfside Review — 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
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