Sea of Thieves is the latest video game to tabletop adaptation courtesy of Steamforged Games. That’s a matter of fact introduction, but this is a matter of fact game. Unlike many of the other titles produced by this publisher, there are no swanky miniatures or glitzy plastic upgrades. The box size is what we used…
The Last Kingdom is a Netflix series that found modest success across its five seasons. Based on a collection of novels from Bernard Cornwell called The Saxon Stories, this historical drama follows Uhtred of Bebbanburg, an enigmatic and ambitious warrior who was born a Saxon but raised by Vikings. It emerged in a cluttered historical…
I’m not terribly familiar with Dan Hundycz’s body of work. While he’s designed several titles, the only release of his I’ve previously played is an odd one called AFFLICTION: Salem 1692. Unfortunately, that was not about the clothing brand of the same name, but instead focused on the hysteria of the Salem witch trials. It…
Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols (LRRPs) were a fixture of U.S. military doctrine during the Vietnam War. They consisted of small teams of well-trained soldiers with a versatile armament and skillset. These units traveled deep into enemy-held territory to perform a variety of tasks. They are also the titular subject matter of Mike Lambo’s 17th solitaire…
Right out the gate, Gears of War: The Card Game has a hill to climb. Steamforged Games’ take on this Xbox franchise is always going to be fighting for ground against Fantasy Flight’s 2011 Gears of War board game. That fantastic dungeon crawler was one of many classic titles birthed by the FFG studio during…
Christopher McDowall’s The Doomed is a piercing guitar riff. Something distorted and fuzzy, cutting through a smokey room and blasting eardrums with ferocity. It’s ugly and unclean. It’s heavy. The Doomed is part of the modern wave of agnostic miniatures games that have become increasingly popular in the past decade. Games of this style trace…
Space Marine: The Board Game is nothing like Space Marine the video game. Contrary to that rich over-the-top digital release, this product is a stripped-down ruleset that is vaguely reminiscent of the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop experience. It’s 40K LaCroix. If you cock your head toward the North and take a deep breath, you get a…
Borderlands: Mister Torgue’s Arena of Badassery is a long and absurd title. It’s not snappy or easy to remember. By all accounts, it fits the content. This is a cooperative skirmish game that is absolutely over-the-top. It features a somewhat complex ruleset that will furnish some first-time jitters and take effort to get right. The…
The Binding of Isaac: Four Souls is a card game adaptation of the hit indie video game series of the same name. If you’re ambivalent to the concept or have no idea what any of this means, just say no. There’s nothing here for you. If you’re a Binding of Isaac fan, perhaps even someone…
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…
Player Elimination 