The Magenta line feels like the right thing at the right time. One of the big recent trends in tabletop gaming has been the popularization of small footprint card games. The Crew really shook the earth and sparked a wave of creative trick-takers whose impact spilled over into other similar games of historically traditional style.…
“And deep down in your heart, you know we never should’ve left the island.” – John Locke I have a difficult time recalling 2012. With particles floating through the air and crumbling upon close inspection, it all feels like an out of focus dream. What I do remember is that this was one of the…
Ba-dum, ba-ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-ba-dum, ba-duuuuummmmm, CRASH! Ba-ba-dum, too-toooooo-toooom! CRASH! Ba-dum, ba-ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-ba-dum… Listen up all you sly cats, studious mice, and surly humans. Shuffle and Swing is the third ditty in the Bitewing Games jazz trio, and it’s a daggum different rodent than its two companions. Bebop designer Robert Hovakimyan returns, although he’s shed…
Cthulhu: Death May Die is a fascinating story. It originated as a combined effort between Eric Lang and Rob Daviau under the auspices of CMON Games. Elements are clearly carried forward from Lang’s previous effort, The Others. That game was a one versus many affair that didn’t quite deliver despite several inspired details. The Others…
If I told you that Robert Hovakimyan was a pseudonym for Reiner Knizia, you’d believe me. At least that would be the case after playing Bebop, Bitewing Games’ old-school Euro-design that swims in the same sea as Babylonia and Samurai. That’s not the case, however, and Hovakimyan deserves a great deal of credit for fashioning…
While I couldn’t muster up much enthusiasm for another recent entry in the Dice Tower Essentials line, ito is an entirely different story. This Arcane Wonders party game doesn’t look like much. It’s a small box holding two decks of cards; one comprised of numbers and another with various sentences. In the midst of play,…
Reiner Knizia’s Cat Blues was originally released way back in 1998. This unique card game blends elements of Rummy with a Knizian auction mechanism in a volatile encounter. Fortunately, it’s been resurrected and given new vigor under the guidance of Bitewing Games. Like other productions from this publisher, it’s a handsome artifact that manages to…
When I heard Themeborne would be publishing a Last of Us board game, I was a little surprised. Their Escape the Dark series features atmospheric adventure designs that are concise and brutal. Narrative pops through large encounter cards with a few sentences of descriptive prose, often giving way to very straightforward dice rolling. They’re neat…
January’s already fading and 2025 is putting up a fight with some hot new titles. But right now, it’s time to focus on 2024 and the 10 games that kept me up at night. 10. Tidal Blades 2: Rise of the Unfolders My full review can be read here. Why it Matters – Look, we…
When I first saw Tiny Laser Heist I held my breath, crossed my fingers, and said my prayers. It looks so utterly cool as if it should be wearing shades and smoking a cig. Let me set the scene. Plastic pillars frame a stylish board depicting a jewelry store. In their locked cases sit chunky…
Player Elimination 