Deepvale is the hotly anticipated expansion to one of my favorite titles of 2024. Justin Keppainen’s Leviathan Wilds is an impressive indie cut that captures much of the excitement in bouldering across giant beasts. It’s The Shadow of the Colossus in board game form. Deepvale is the type of no-nonsense expansion that is unlikely to…
First time designer Yoni Goldstein offers a brick to the temple with his debut title, Chicago ’68. This historical game is set during the tumultuous events surrounding the Democratic National Convention of the titular year. It informs and stylizes the riotous gathering of protestors, a large swathe of people incensed by world events and the…
Beyond Sextus Empiricus (a noteworthy Greek skeptic, not an Imperator from the Citadel), absolutely no one should be doubting that Bitewing Games has cornered the Reiner Knizia market. Their reign of cardboard terror continues with the doctor’s Ichor, a reworking of his 2009 positional abstract Battle for Olympus. I have no experience with that previous…
I’m not familiar with the comic Manifest Destiny. I don’t need to be. The concept of Lewis and Clark embarking Westward with the ulterior motive of slaying monsters is totally righteous. I’m a St. Louisian; we grow up learning about Lewis and Clark and giggling at their dog Seaman. This concept of twisted reality just…
The smell was unbearable. It was a mixture of sweat and piss; the suit forever marked with the fluids of previous captives. His eyes burned but all he could do was feebly rub his forearm around the eyeholes and wince through it. Looking up to the crowd, the weight of pity and doubt fell like…
“Now my doom is upon me. Let me not then die ingloriously without a struggle, but in the working of some great deed to be told among men hereafter.” Reiner Knizia’s latest – a truly new release and not one brought back from the dead – depicts the ferocious battle between Achilles and Hector as…
My kid is all in on ducks. I don’t know why. I’m not sure she knows why. But a year or so ago, at the age of 10, she decided she was all about fowl. I will tell you, it’s difficult to find a board game about ducks that is not awful. Oussama Khelifati’s Duck…
Cyclades‘ release in 2009 was a watershed moment. Alongside Chaos in the Old World, it was responsible for the conception of the hybrid design, blending together elements of Ameritrash and classic Euro principles. The hybrid movement is one of the most important developments in modern board gaming. It irrefutably influenced the hobby, resulting in contemporary…
“Deep Regrets is an unfortunate fishing game about pulling progressively more horrifying things out of the ocean. Decide what to eat, what to sell, what to mount, and how many regrets you’re willing to carry, as you push yourself too far and spiral towards a conclusion in this strategic horror fishing game.” Sometimes you can’t outdo…
Emerson Matsuuchi’s been through the ringer. Whispers of his Metal Gear Solid adaptation first arose in 2018. The game was commissioned by IDW’s board game imprint which resulted in cautious optimism due to their success with the TMNT and Batman Animated Series adventure system games. This was also shortly after the release of Matsuuchi’s Specter…
Player Elimination 