Where the Story Comes First The Short Version – Tl;Dr Betrayal at House on the Hill is one of the oldest games on most hobbyists’ shelves, first published in 2004, and it is still the one I reach for when I want a game night that feels like a horror film rather than a puzzle. … Read more
Some games arrive quietly, sit on a shelf for a while, then suddenly reappear with confidence. Tacta is one of those. Originally designed by Jason Tremblay and first published by The Op Games, it drifted past a lot of players the first time around. Then a fresh edition landed via Osprey Games, backed by a … Read more
The Zoo Game That Earns Every Inch of Table Space The Quick Summary – TL;DR Ark Nova looks like a spreadsheet fell off a desk. It covers your entire table, takes the better part of an evening, and has a card pool so large that no two games feel the same. And yet the core … Read more
If you’re a fan of tile-laying games, chances are you’ve come across Kingdomino at some point. Kingdomino Duel takes the tile-laying puzzle of the original Kingdomino and strips it down into a two-player roll-and-write that plays in about twenty minutes. It is a leaner, faster, more portable game that sacrifices some of the original charm … Read more
A Cosy Yet Cunning Two-Player Board Game Patchwork is one of the games I recommend most often for two players. It is an easy teach, plays in about thirty minutes, and manages to pack a genuinely clever economy into what looks on the surface like a cosy quilting game. Do not let the theme put … Read more
Azul is a visually stunning and engaging tile-laying game that has been a favourite among board gamers since its release. It’s simple to learn, yet packed with strategic depth, making it a fantastic choice for both newcomers and seasoned players. Over time, the Azul series has expanded, with each new game putting a fresh spin … Read more
For a good few years, this was easily the most played game at Christmas with my family. It’s easy to learn but has loads of depth. You start out thinking it’s just about matching colours and shapes, but after a few rounds, you realise there’s plenty of strategy involved. If you’re looking for something that’s … Read more
An Azul Strategy Guide for Dominating the Game Azul is a game of careful planning, tactical drafting, and a little bit of psychological warfare. While it might seem like a simple tile-laying game at first, a keen understanding of its mechanics and a solid strategy can make all the difference. If you want to outplay … Read more
This game provides a calm and thoughtful challenge, encouraging players to carefully consider each move as they cultivate their bonsai garden. It’s a tile-placement game about growing a bonsai tree that turns out to be the most satisfying 35 minutes in my collection. I am a sucker for a pretty game. I will admit that … Read more
A Stunning Tile-Laying Adventure in the Pacific Northwest Cascadia is one of the most consistently recommended games on this site and for good reason. It is accessible, beautiful, well-produced, and produces genuinely interesting decisions across every player count. It won the Spiel des Jahres in 2022 and it earns that award every time it hits … Read more
