Latest Game Reviews
Between Two Castles: Essential Edition – Board Game Review
In 2018, Stonemaier games released a true mashup. Designers Matthew O’Malley and Ben Rosset took their game, Between Two Cities, and smashed it into Castles of Mad King Ludwig by Ted Alspach. If you’ve never played either of those two games, let’s talk briefly about how Between Two Castles: Essential Edition plays.
Crusaders: Thy Will Be Done – Board Game Review
I’m always on the lookout for interesting twists on action selection mechanics. From the most basic systems to interesting worker placement mechanics, to rondels, and everything in between, I find the way that games let you take actions to be a fascinating puzzle. Sometimes, when it’s too restrictive, I feel frustrated. But when there’s tension and trade-offs and I get to make interesting decisions, that’s when I feel the joy for board games that really hooked me into this hobby in the first place.
In The Hall of the Mountain King – Board Game Review
The best board games tell a story. In Galaxy Trucker, you're transporting pipes across the galaxy by building ships out of them and hurtling through space. In Food Chain Magnate, you're the CEO of a burgeoning fast food empire, as long as you can stay one step ahead...
Magnetic – Board Game Review
Kluster is exciting when the end of the game is nigh, and placing a magnet on the table causes others to wobble ever so slightly. When they collide, the chaos cascades into other magnets in a very exciting way. In Kluster, with the big, chunky magnets, the rocks zoom together with speed and force, crashing, and bouncing across the table, causing more of that chaos. It’s just fun to play. Magnetic on the other hand, with their pea sized magnets, are just so much less effective. They slip together with a tiny click, and that’s the end. All the tension of a limp noodle.
In the Year of the Dragon – Board Game Review
In the Year of the Dragon is an action selection game by designer Stefan Feld, and published by Alea in 2007. Players take on the role of Chinese rulers around the year 1000, and strive to earn the most prestige during a month in which a lot of bad stuff happens.
Curses & Covens – Board Game Review
urses & Covens shines as a fast, accessible filler game or a convention experience. It’s the kind of game that ends with players, laughing about the wild guesses, then immediately demand a rematch. There’s a delight in its simplicity and tension that makes it perfect for casual yet competitive groups.
Thunder Road: Vendetta – Board Game Review
I really respect the mission of Restoration Games. They take old games, refresh them for modern gaming sensibilities, a fresh coat of paint, and give the games a second chance. Games like Whosit turning into Dinosaur Tea Party, Star Wars: Epic Duels into Unmatched, and Top Race into Downforce. I love seeing how they manage to retain the core of the game, but breath so much life and character into these dated games.
Bark Avenue – Board Game Review
The life of a dog walker seems like an envious one. Picking up playful pooches, giving them a job around the block in the sunshine, throwing a ball or a Frisbee at the park, then depositing them back at their home and collecting a paycheque. That said, I also know the struggle of starting and building a business, which is a ton of effort and stress. So instead of building a business for real, let’s talk about Bark Avenue, designed by Mackenzie Jungck and Jonathan Jungck.