Aquatica, designed by Ivan Tuzovsky, transports players to a vibrant underwater world where they explore and conquer oceanic locations to gain prosperity. With its stunning components and innovative card and board mechanics, Aquatica offers a streamlined experience. However, its light strategy and limited depth leave it feeling like a missed opportunity for those seeking a […]
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Red Rising, designed by Jamey Stegmaier and Alexander Schmidt, is a strategic hand management game based on the dystopian world of Pierce Brown’s novels. Players represent competing houses, aiming to rise to power by assembling the most synergistic hand of characters. With a mix of card play, tableau building, and resource management, Red Rising offers
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Gorinto, designed by Richard Yaner and published by Grand Gamers Guild, is an abstract strategy game rooted in the Japanese concept of the five elements. Players aim to achieve balance and wisdom by strategically gathering and stacking element tiles on their personal boards. While the theme of understanding and harmony is intriguing, Gorinto shines as
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Firenze, designed by Andreas Steding, is a classic Eurogame that challenges players to construct the most prestigious towers in Florence during the 12th-14th centuries. Originally released in 2010 and now revived, Firenze has stood the test of time with its engaging mechanics, beautiful production, and satisfying balance of strategy and interaction. While it may be
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Hadara, designed by Benjamin Schwer, invites players to guide the growth of their civilizations through three epochs. With a clever mix of drafting, resource management, and track advancement, Hadara strikes a balance between accessibility and strategic depth. Its streamlined gameplay and beautiful production make it a standout in the genre, offering a rewarding experience for
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5 Towers, designed by Kasper Lapp, invites players to compete as master architects, constructing their own sets of five distinct towers. The game combines bidding, resource management, and a touch of spatial puzzle-solving. While the mechanics are simple and accessible, the game ultimately feels a bit light, offering fun moments but lacking the depth to
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Acquire, designed by the legendary Sid Sackson, is a game of corporate intrigue, investment, and strategic tile placement. Players act as savvy investors, founding and expanding hotel chains, merging companies, and profiting from their stocks. With its elegant mechanics and rewarding gameplay, Acquire has stood the test of time as a classic in the board
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Finca, designed by Wolfgang Sentker and Ralf zur Linde, makes a welcome return under Pandasaurus Games after a long period out of print. Players take on farmers’ roles, harvesting fruits and delivering them to fulfill orders across the idyllic island of Mallorca. While the game’s simplicity and charm remain intact, it struggles to compete for
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Robo Rally, designed by Richard Garfield, is a strategic programming game that pits players against each other in a frantic race through a hazardous factory floor. Players take control of quirky robots, plotting their movements through simultaneous action programming while avoiding conveyor belts, lasers, and other mechanical mayhem. A hallmark of the genre, Robo Rally
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