Nothing but the Rain – A Snap Ships Tactics Review

The Snap Ships toy line is a neat creation. They’re spacecraft built of modular blocks that link together, not unlike Lego. There are cool bits such as cannons, missile pods, various wings, and all kinds of little greeblies to add distinction. They’re totally rad and a joy to tinker with. Look, I’m a 38-year-old man…

Make it Rain – An Imperial Miners Review

Tim Armstrong’s Imperial Miners is of a new style. It shares the approach of contemporary engine-builders Jump Drive and Earth, inverting the modern Euro paradigm of scarcity and instead offering abundance. This is a game that just buries you in gold and then sets you free to earn points. Refreshingly, it requires only a modest…

The Sparking Rim – Inheritors in Review

Inheritors is sort of a blur of a game. It’s ostensibly about factions in conflict over the inheritance of a recently vacated throne. But this isn’t King Lear. It’s not evocative or dramatic or even ambitious in expressing its themes. Rather, it’s a system flush card game whose principal elements are found on the perimeter.…

COIN Goes to Washington – A Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory Review

There’s nothing more revolting than modern politics. That is, from the perspective of people living in the real world where policy causes suffering and disagreement often leads to violence. But politics in games? Well, that’s something entirely different. Politics, as played out on the tabletop, is gripping, reflective, and devoid of actual repercussions. It’s purer…

Green Lung – The Mines of Pekari in Review

The Mines of Pekari is something unexpected. It’s the debut release from Oaken Table Games and designer/publisher Jay Andersen. What’s particularly interesting is the co-design credit to Jenna Felli of Devious Weasel Games. If you’ve followed my work, you would know I’m a big fan of Felli’s previous efforts, particularly Cosmic Frog, The Mirroring of…

Bad Dates – A Lost Adventures Review

Lost Adventures is every bit the look of a mouse. The box is small and unassuming. The only components of quantity are mini-sized cards and run-of-the-mill black cubes. Your objective is the plainly titled “golden chalice”. Aside from the competing adventurers sitting around the table, your primary antagonist is a faceless black pawn that begins…