Hundreds of new games are debuting at Essen this year. Some are brand new, some are returning favorites, and a handful are already working their way onto wishlists everywhere. Here are a few I’ve played and thoroughly enjoyed 🍖 Barbecubes This is like an appetizer filled with chaos. You are trying to grill tiny pixelated proteins with a pair of tongs while everyone watches and silently judges you and prays that your hand-eye coordination fails you. If you drop a cube, you ta

Every October, the board game world lights up for Spiel Essen (spiel meaning game and Essen being the city where the convention takes place), the biggest board game event of the year. This is where the hottest new releases are revealed, Christmas wishlists start forming, and the games that will dominate tables in the coming year first make their appearance. It’s the place to see which titles are capturing hearts and dice cups around the world. Even from afar, following Essen

You know when life is fine… and then someone introduces you to something like sriracha or Chick-fil-A sauce? Your life was perfectly okay...

I’m on a mission 🎯—a full-on board game purge. Specifically, I'm diving deep into my two-player collection and putting my criteria to...

June is Pride Month — a time to celebrate love, identity, and community. And for me, it’s also a chance to celebrate one of the most...

Whenever I visit a new city, there’s one stop I always  make room for: the local board game store. It’s one of my favorite ways to get a...

Over the last two years, I’ve had the chance to try out a few Playte Games, and I’ve really come to appreciate their clever design. I...

🚀 This year is flying by! 2025 goals update: 🎲 21% of collection played 👑 19/100 Dominion kingdoms 📦 Collection <500 games = ✅ It's...

One of my 2025 resolutions was to review all my two-player games and decide which ones are keepers and which ones need to be gifted or...

Are you tired of hearing "Happy New Year"? I am! But I'm not tired of gaming, and I'm already excited to see what 2025 has in store. This...

It’s October 3rd—the Mean Girls holy grail of days. What better way to honor it than with a game night featuring these board games and...

Wingspan, a relaxing multiplayer game where you build a bird sanctuary. It's strategic but friendly competition.

let't explore the five that would provide comfort (and competition) in the face of this dystopian nightmare

Dominion isn't winning any beauty contests at first glance. The box is...a box, and the art is...unique

Check out Hens a strategic and quick card game that plays well at every count including solo!

Knarr, strategic card game for 2-4 players. It shines with quick playtime. Viking theme, affordable, and deep strategy despite simple rules

Carcassonne was my gateway board game. The familiar tile-laying mechanic, the meeples, and the replayability hooked me into the gaming world

I love Stonemaier Games. From Wingspan to Liberatlia the great components and ability to play the games solo, as a couple, or with friends

Literary game nights stuck in the past! Authors, embrace the modern board game revolution & enrich stories with hidden gems beyond classics

Rochester newbie finds solace in board games, builds epic collection, but a mountain of unplayed titles looms.

Ditch Cards Against Humanity! Jokes rely on stereotypes & hurt. Try Monikers or Wavelength for inclusive, fun gameplay. New games, good time

Connect with players worldwide & explore an ever-expanding library Master classics like Catan. Play solo, compete, or learn new games

INTRO ¡Hola! Are you ready for the ultimate gaming extravaganza? If you haven't already, you absolutely must check out the mind-blowing...