K2: Reaching Thematic Heights

When K2 was released in 2010, it didn’t cause much of an uproar, more of a small trickle than an avalanche. However, it deserves far more attention than it has been given. It is a wonderful race game which is heaped in its mountain-climbing theme. If you like thematic games, pay attention. K2 is rich […]

Puerto Rico: The Ultimate Eurogame

The board game boom in the last decade was ushered in by the rise of eurogames: games designed for deep strategy with interesting mechanics, a de-emphasis on the role of luck, and tighter gameplay. Settlers of Catan kicked off the trend, and ever since games have been released which have tried to master the elegance […]

Cyclades: Get Your Greek On

Theme is an important aspect of board games. Of course some simply don’t have a theme, such as Backgammon, and others have tired themes which are vastly overused, like the annoying influx of dungeon crawl games out there. But when you see a game with a theme based on one of your other interests, it’s […]

Vinhos: An Excellent Vintage

Many popular board games today are praised for being highly accessible and easy to learn, simple yet fun. Vinhos is not one of those games. It seems fitting that such a rich and complex game is about wine; a beverage which is notorious with being connected with elitists and enthusiasts, whose value seems to only […]

Small World Underground: A Step Below the Original

I love Small World. I love the theme, the artwork, the variable player powers, the strategies. I love all of the expansions. So when I heard that a whole new base game with a new board set in a subterranean world with all new races and powers was going to be released, I was very […]

7 Wonders: A Colossal Hit

Sometimes new games being introduced to a group will strike just the right chord and become an instant hit. Seven Wonders certainly didn’t have to go through three ages to gain popularity. It became one of these instant hit games and captured the attention of all who were there for the inaugural game. It has […]

Tobago: X Marks the Fun

Within the realms of board game geekdom, there are games which are considered vastly more popular than others. This may seem weird to those people who don’t know much about board games beyond Monopoly or even those who think that more serious board gamers just play Catan. But within board game circles, there are varying […]

Stone Age: Tribal Tedium or a Prehistoric Pleasure?

Stone Age is a game of worker placement, resource collection, and civilization building. There are many other games with these same ideas. So is Stone Age special, or is it just another run of the mill Eurogame designed to bore your pants off? Let’s find out, shall we? Looking into the game mechanics without going […]

Ticket to Ride: All Aboard the Bandwagon

Every once in a while a game comes along with captures the attention of casual and serious gamers alike, which dominates the leisure room table, whose reputation spreads through word of mouth like wildfire. Ticket to Ride is certainly one of the best examples of this type of game. Released in 2004, Ticket to Ride […]

Small World: The Next Big Thing

Designer games have exploded onto the board gaming scene over the last decade and as a result board gaming has never been so popular. The success of these designer games has been propelled by three particular games: the Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, and Ticket to Ride. These are the tent-poles of the Eurogame movement. The […]

Zooloretto: Strategy in Camouflage

Zooloretto looks like a children’s game. And at first glance is may seem and feel like a children’s game. By behind all the flashy colours, underneath the furry spots and stripes, beyond the cute and cuddly animals, lies a game which is full of strategy and wit. The game may be quick and simple, but […]

Pandemic: Infectiously Intense

Some board games are great at creating a unique gaming experience which feels different from all other games. Pandemic is one such game. Pandemic is different than many games for two reasons: its a cooperative game where all players work together, and it is incredibly intense. You feel like you are on pins and needles […]

Lord of the Rings: True to Tolkien

I am a geek in many different ways; I am a film buff, a board gamer, a Star Wars fanatic, an X-Phile. I am also a faithful admirer of JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. I will not go so far as to say that the Lord of the Rings is the best book […]

Ticket to Ride Europe: A Train Trip Through Memory

Ah Europe, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways… while also playing a really cool board game. I received Ticket to Ride:Europe from my sister last Christmas and decided to go with the Europe version of the popular train game series because she knew that I have a certain soft spot for […]

Hive: Believe the Buzz

Hive: either you know it, you’ve heard of it but never played it, or you’ve never heard of it. If you are the former, chances are you love it. If you’ve heard of it before, you’ve probably heard great things. And if you are in the latter group, you are in for a treat. Hive […]