Board Games Reviews

Anytime Bad Comet releases a new board game, I’m instantly going to be interested. I’ve loved absolutely everything this company has put out, to the puzzled Wild Serengeti to the tile and animal laying game Life of the Amazonia. Shallow Seas is definitely the lightest game from Bad Comet, but that doesn’t make it bad. If you are looking for something like Cascadia but with a bit more depth, I think this might be it. In Shallow Seas, players will…

I have been accused of not having issues with the board games I review, and that I’d prefer to make designers and publishers happy as opposed to giving honest opinions about the games I play. While I generally recommend almost everything I review, it’s for one specific reason: I generally only ask for things I think I have an interest in. Gems of Iridescia falls into that category; this was a game that I almost backed when it was on…

When I visited the Ravensburger booth at GenCon 2025, the representative walked me through all the major titles coming from the growing publisher. Of course we all know about Disney Lorcana and the Horrified series, but the one game she sent me home with was probably my favorite. The simplicity and dexterity required in Sweet Victory made the game a fantastic experience to offset the more serious games our group plays week-in and week-out. If you are looking for something…

Thunder Road Vendetta was a game I have avoided for years because I always had the belief that, “I don’t like racing games.” Post GenCon 2025, after receiving the Maximum Chrome version of the game from Restoration Games for review, and I am a changed man: Thunder Road Vendetta is easily one of my favorite experiences in recent memory, and the Carnival of Chaos expansion only increases that love of the game. A lot of the core mechanics in Carnival…

A few days ago I wrote about Yokohama Duel and how crunchy, 2-Player games were so rare. As much as I enjoyed that experience, lighter quicker games for two players is also something I really enjoy, and Zenith scratched that itch for me. It is worth noting here that Zenith can be played with 4 players, on teams of two, but I have only played the 2-Player (base) version of the game! In Zenith, players will be playing cards into…

It’s always amazing to me when complicated board games can be stripped down into a two player variant, a variant that is equally as good as the 2-4 player counterpart. I’ve only had the chance to play the regular Yokohama once, but this duel version gives me some of the same vibes, but in a tighter, two player experience. In Yokohama Duel, players are using progressively better workers to take actions around the board, collecting resources, completing contracts, buying cards,…

Thanks to our friends at Hachette, we were able to pick up a couple copies of MicroMacro at GenCon 2025, and after purchasing another set myself when I returned home, I sat down and started working my way through the game. While this isn’t a game that will appeal to everyone, I found it really compelling – maybe it’s because I love things like Where’s Waldo? This isn’t Where’s Waldo, mind you, as you are looking at specific snapshots of…

Potions of Azerland takes something I generally haven’t loved in the past, and made it something I actually quite enjoy. Maybe it’s the cozy nature of the game, or perhaps the satisfying play length, but either way, this hidden selection experience was a lot better than I was expecting after getting my first demo at GenCon 2025. First and foremost, hidden selection games are pretty divisive as they can at times leave some players holding an empty bag. That isn’t…

When LEGO partnered with asmodee and released Monkey Palace, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy that experience as much as I did. It is still a game my kids will request often, and really changed the trajectory of what I thought LEGO games were like. The second in this partnership is now available, but could LEGO Brick Like This live up to the Monkey Palace hype? Let’s take a look! In Brick Like This, teams of two are attempting to create…

Once again I was faced with a semi-cooperative experience, and once again I had a blast playing a genre of games I generally don’t like. I think it was the chaotic nature of this one that made it fun, and while I haven’t come out victorious yet, the pirate shenanigans have me coming back for more. In We’re Sinking: A Pirate’s Dilemma, players are attempting to keep their ship afloat, fight off mighty monsters, and still collect the most treasure…