Every October, Spiel Essen lights up with the hottest board games, indie gems, and clever reprints you might otherwise miss. One publisher that has been catching my eye is Playte. Over the last few years, I’ve played a bunch of their titles, and I love their clever design, compact boxes, and thoughtful use of every component, sometimes even the box itself. Whether you’re at the convention or following from afar, these are the kinds of games that sneak into your bag and onto y

I wasn’t sure what to expect with Etherstone. The art is gorgeous, the rules are light, and once you get rolling it’s deeper and faster...

I’m a sucker for two-player games, and Hanafuda: Koi-Koi is a reprint of a fast, elegant game that checks all my boxes. Pencil First...

Ever wonder how much slang has changed over the past 100 years? Slanguage teaches you all about it in about 30-minutes. This 3-8 players...

Introduction Lately, I’ve been obsessing over Playte games. I love their clever design and small boxes packed with big games. Enter,...

Introduction Two player games are our favorite, and cooperative ones always give us just the right amount of stress. Codenames Duet ...

Some games teach you how to plant crops or stack engines. Watergate is about corruption, conspiracy, and dragging a president’s...

Tasso Banana  is fast, silly, and way more strategic than you'd expect from a bunch of wobbly wooden bananas. It’s also a Playte  game,...

Let's Talk Farkle! 🎲Farkle is a game that's pretty easy to learn, but boy, it can be a real challenge to master. In this dice game, you...

Everdell, but shrunk down for the younger crowd? Or maybe a quicker version? Yes please. But don’t let the “Lil” fool you—this is still a...

I heard about Rainbow Bunny Bop  on a podcast and I had to get it. A rainbow game where you race? Sign me up. Adorable bunnies, fast...

"You Can't Say Umm" by Big Potato Games is a fast-paced party game for 4–10 players that sharpens public speaking, vocabulary, and teamwork skills. Describe hilarious object combos without using filler words like "umm" or "ah" to score points. Easy to learn, quick to play, and packed with laughter and replayability

I love Trio by Happy Camper! This game is designed by 宮野 華也 (Kaya Miyano) and illustrated by Laura Michaud and 別府さい (Sai Beppu) . This...

Jumping Dice designed by Taewon Moon and published by Boardboom Inc is a quick, loud, and chaotic party game for up to four players. Need...

History buff? Still no. War games? Only if they’re fast! Enter Caesar!: Seize Rome in 20 Minutes! —a two-player area control showdown by...

Introduction: 🍷A Toast to Vineyard Four friends—Greta, Joe, Sylvie, and Tomás—are out to craft the finest wines, and honestly? I want...

FIKA  is the Swedish tradition of taking a break and enjoy a hot drink with a snack. That sounds peaceful, well think again. FIKA is a...

Never did I think I would channel my inner city planner, scrutinizing every street, park, and pool. My weekends used to be all about...

I love art. Fun fact: I started college thinking I’d become an art director. Instead, I pivoted to engineering, but my passion for...

In Traitors Aboard , you’re either a loyal pirate or a sneaky mutineer—and trust me, things are about to get suspicious. In this 3-8...

After a year of playing Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West , we finished the campaign—and I WON! 🎉 For the first time ever, we...

Hanging out with friends is great, but pairing a beer with a game? Even better! Especially when the beer shares the name of the game—like...

The holidays are here, and that means love, laughter—and yes, the inevitable family drama. Why not channel that chaotic energy into a...

When I first heard about Pictures published by Rio Grande Games and PD-Verlag, I wasn’t sure what to expect. A game where you recreate...