Category: Reviews

In the world of board games, some classics deserve a fresh coat of paint. Diamant (2024) by IELLO...

Stamp Swap delivers a refreshing twist on drafting mechanics, blending open drafting with the tense “I cut, you choose” mechanism. This unique combination creates genuine tension and captivating decisions as players split their collections to mislead opponents. With diverse scoring paths through contest cards and specialist abilities, strategic depth emerges from simple choices. The solo mode’s challenging Pinzetta opponent captures the psychological elements of multiplayer. Stonemaier Games has crafted an engaging, highly replayable experience that transcends its unassuming theme.

SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence is a stellar eurogame with a unique rotating solar system mechanism. Explore space, launch probes, and discover alien life through strategic card play and resource management. Beautiful components and high replayability make this a must-have for heavy strategy fans.

Explorers of Navoria blends worker placement, set collection, and exploration mechanics into an engaging strategy game. Manage resources across three rounds, carefully recruiting townsfolk and expanding into colorful territories. With multiple viable paths to victory, solid components, and great scaling across player counts, it’s a fresh yet accessible experience.

Re;ACT: The Arts of War is a two-player card-driven combat game where players control anime-inspired artists who duel with their craft, from calligraphy and painting to summoning fish through dance. Each artist plays differently, with unique mechanics like dice-rolling for the Painter or flooding the board with clay constructs as the Sculptor. The deluxe edition offers premium components like acrylic standees and stitched playmats. The “React Chain” system and asymmetric gameplay create tense battles of strategy and timing, constantly keeping players on their toes.

Doomlings offers a delightfully chaotic yet strategic card game where you guide species towards inevitable doom, juggling Trait cards and managing your Gene Pool while contending with game-changing Age and Catastrophe cards that keep each playthrough fresh and unpredictable.

Discover Pizza Roles, a pocket-sized social deduction card game that transforms the chaos of group pizza ordering into a fun, strategic 10-minute adventure.

Tiny Epic Dinosaurs packs substantial gameplay into a small box. Players manage dinosaur ranches through worker placement and resource management over six rounds. The game features quality components, including detailed dinosaur meeples and barriers. While the setup is involved, the gameplay flows smoothly with clear phases and meaningful decisions throughout.

A medium-heavy Euro that stands out with its unique theme and clever mechanics. Players manage insights, treat clients, and publish theories while moving around Vienna’s cultural locations. The game shines through its interconnected systems – from the Meeting Table action selection to the multi-layered client treatment process. Demanding but rewarding

Resafa puts you in charge of a merchant empire in ancient Syria. Through clever card play and resource management, you’ll build workshops, establish trade routes, and construct vital water networks. What sets it apart is its unique dual-action card system and the way garden placement integrates with workshop development.

Forges of Ravenshire combines familiar Euro-game mechanics with fresh innovations in dice placement. Players manage their forges through clever resource conversion and guild recruitment. While the mystic token system adds strategic depth, the core gameplay remains accessible. It’s a solid medium-weight game that rewards planning without overwhelming complexity.

In Monster Rock, players lead rock bands through a fantasy city, building their following while avoiding robot police. This 1-5 player game combines area movement with resource management as you write songs, perform gigs, and spark a revolution. The unique stamina system and thematic blend of fantasy/rock elements create engaging gameplay decisions. Works equally well solo or competitively.