Designer Game Reviews
Reviews of designer board games and card games, also known as German games. These games are generally strategic in nature, usually play in less than 90 minutes, and tend to keep all players in the game until the end.
Armada
A strategic pirate-themed exploration game that plays best with four players.
A strategic pirate-themed exploration game that plays best with four players.
Clans
Clever and quick, Clans is one of the rare 30-minute strategy games that feels much more substantial.
Clever and quick, Clans is one of the rare 30-minute strategy games that feels much more substantial.
Clash of the Gladiators
An arena filled with gladiators battling to the death, fighting each other and ferocious animals.
An arena filled with gladiators battling to the death, fighting each other and ferocious animals.
Dragon's Gold
Dragon's Gold begins with players working together to kill various dragons. It sounds hard, but it's not. When it comes to dividing their treasure, however -- look out.
Dragon's Gold begins with players working together to kill various dragons. It sounds hard, but it's not. When it comes to dividing their treasure, however -- look out.
Drake and Drake
Two pirates, brothers by birth, try to dig up the most buried treasure on a remote island.
Two pirates, brothers by birth, try to dig up the most buried treasure on a remote island.
Fightball
Fightball takes basketball into the future, with shooters and blockers, shots and balls being played all over the court at a furious pace. The best coached team will win.
Fightball takes basketball into the future, with shooters and blockers, shots and balls being played all over the court at a furious pace. The best coached team will win.
Fish Eat Fish
Fish Eat Fish is a clever abstract game that can be played and enjoyed by novices and children, but offers enough depth to appeal to serious gamers and adults.
Fish Eat Fish is a clever abstract game that can be played and enjoyed by novices and children, but offers enough depth to appeal to serious gamers and adults.
Fist of Dragonstones
If you enjoy auction games with blind bidding, Fist of Dragonstones will be a welcome addition to your game collection.
If you enjoy auction games with blind bidding, Fist of Dragonstones will be a welcome addition to your game collection.
Gouda! Gouda!
There's a pile of cheese at the end of the race, and in Gouda! Gouda! each player controls a team of five mice eager to get their hands on it.
There's a pile of cheese at the end of the race, and in Gouda! Gouda! each player controls a team of five mice eager to get their hands on it.
Lord of the Rings - The Confrontation
Fans of The Lord of the Rings will find The Confrontation to be engaging, challenging and entertaining. This is a brilliantly designed two-player strategy game.
Fans of The Lord of the Rings will find The Confrontation to be engaging, challenging and entertaining. This is a brilliantly designed two-player strategy game.
Mystery of the Abbey
One of the best deduction games I've ever played, Mystery of the Abbey also has some laugh-out-loud moments.
One of the best deduction games I've ever played, Mystery of the Abbey also has some laugh-out-loud moments.
Odin's Ravens
The Rio Grande Games / Kosmos line of two-player games is filled with winners, and Odin's Ravens is no exception.
The Rio Grande Games / Kosmos line of two-player games is filled with winners, and Odin's Ravens is no exception.
Pizarro & Co.
Players bid for the services of six great explorers, including Magellan, Columbus and Pizarro. A great auction game.
Players bid for the services of six great explorers, including Magellan, Columbus and Pizarro. A great auction game.
Settlers of Catan
Players compete to build roads, settlements and cities on the island of Catan in this game, which has sold millions of copies around the world.
Players compete to build roads, settlements and cities on the island of Catan in this game, which has sold millions of copies around the world.
Simply Catan
A review of the board game Simply Catan, designed by Klaus Teuber and published in 2006 by SimplyFun.
A review of the board game Simply Catan, designed by Klaus Teuber and published in 2006 by SimplyFun.
Ticket to Ride
Ticket to Ride is an absolutely top-notch game with broad appeal, playing in less than an hour and providing a lot of depth without being complicated. Players compete to build railroads across the United States and Canada, both developing their own plans and disrupting the plans of others.
Ticket to Ride is an absolutely top-notch game with broad appeal, playing in less than an hour and providing a lot of depth without being complicated. Players compete to build railroads across the United States and Canada, both developing their own plans and disrupting the plans of others.
War and Sheep
Competing flocks of sheep try to eat the best grass while avoiding the wolves in this two-player game.
Competing flocks of sheep try to eat the best grass while avoiding the wolves in this two-player game.