Today I'm going to discuss the unpopular topic of collection maintenance. How, when, and why does my library remove board games from our collection. Space is always limited in a library. While I hope nontraditional collections in the library have an opportunity to grow and expand, I understand that eventually it'll butt up against available … Continue reading State of the Library! Collection Maintenance and Culling
Raiders of the North Sea is an original take on worker-placement games. The snappy turns, variable pacing, solid eurogame roots, and delightful artwork, provides a very satisfying experience for a wide array of players. While not the best gateway game, new and seasoned players alike will love it.
In Photosynthesis, you are a species of tree engaged in an ages-long struggle for precious sunlight. Sap has not been shed in generations and you hope to see your wind-blown progeny emerge innocent from seed and grow to haggard adulthood. Until, that is, they are harvested for points on the whim of an uncaring and … Continue reading Board in the Stacks: Photosynthesis
IELLO is diving into the realm of Cthulhu with Mountains of Madness; a quirky, cooperative party game from designer Rob Daviau. The game draws inspiration from the H.P. Lovecraft novel, At the Mountains of Madness, focusing on the events of an ill-fated Miskatonic University expedition to Antarctica as adventurers are driven slowly mad by exposure … Continue reading Board in the Stacks: Mountains of Madness
Four adventures are stuck in a mall without any supplies. They’re your stock standard dwarf, elf, barbarian and mage who need to dash and grab some supplies and get out as quickly as possible. This isn’t new to this group of explorers. It’s practically the same as delving into a dungeon and escaping the dragon, RIGHT? Just get to your preferred loot and get out again!
Everything is getting too crowded. You thought you had enough room but you are, after all, bunnies and you've proliferated yourself into an environmental catastrophe. Now to survive, you need to expand into new lands to build a new BUNNY KINGDOM.
In Samurai Gardener — first published as Edo Yasiki in Japan — from Osprey Games and Hisashi Hayashi, 2-5 players quickly grab and then place cards to construct impressive gardens and score points and bonuses by having rows/columns of similar areas. Each card consists of six sections with different types of features (pond, tatami mat, garden, and … Continue reading Board in the Stacks: Samurai Gardener
Welcomes to the Wastelands. Try not to die.
In preparing a review for Osprey Games' The Lost Expedition, I was struck by the inclusive representation of queer characters in the game. This is the resulting brief exploration.
In Near and Far, 2-4 players are competing explorers roaming the land in search for the Last Ruins. To accomplish this, the players travel across several maps (and game sessions) hunting for treasure, discovering artifacts, setting up camps, and completing quests. There are two broad choices what to do on your turn: Stay in town … Continue reading First Looks: Near and Far from Red Raven Games
Board in the Library 