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

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

And just like that, Q3 is over! Somehow summer disappeared in a blur of dice, cards, and late-night table time. Let’s see what made it to the table this quarter and how the 2025 goals are holding up. Spoiler: Dominion still rules, but plenty of challengers fought for table space 🏆 Most Played Games This Quarter Some games just kept calling us back: 👑 Dominion – The reigning champ. Still discovering new combos and kingdoms. We are so obsessed with this game, we bought an ex

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 ...

A.E.G.I.S.: Second Ignition is all about sparks, steel, and smashing robots together until they combine into something bigger, or get...

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...

Witch better have my package  💌 Tried Delivery Witches  by a new publisher Undigital. The game is designed by Eric Rodriguez and...

I blinked and somehow it’s July. It's time to check on those 2025 board game goals and see what’s actually making it to the table....

Our First Look at Cat in 8 🐾 We pounced on the chance to try a prototype of Cat in 8 , and I gotta say, we’re already clearing shelf...

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...

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

🚀 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...

Last summer, I spotted Nice Buns at Five Below, and let me tell you—finding a Big Potato Games game for five bucks? Instant grab. And...

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...

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...

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

Imagine a wonderful wooded world filled with adorable cute little creatures making their life peacefully together. The birds sing...

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...