Blog Archives
Age of Blunders
In 2019, a video game named Age of Wonders: Planetfall came out. It was the fifth entry in the Age of Wonders series, a crossbreed of Civilization and Heroes of Might and Magic, and the only non-magical entry thus far. It has since been supplanted by Age of Wonders 4, the sixth entry in this increasingly inaccurately-numbered series.
Now there’s a board game adaptation of this four-year-old video game.
Why? Why is there a board game? I couldn’t tell you. Nor could I tell you why Stepan Opalev, the game’s designer, chose to adapt a series famous for its 4X openness by designing a tableau-builder. Apart from the in-game models that have been ported over as illustrations, Age of Wonders: Planetfall doesn’t capture the first thing about Age of Wonders: Planetfall.
World War XVIII
Just when I thought I’d seen everything you could do with the humble battle line game — Schotten-tots, as I prefer to call them — Jon Perry decided it was a good time to drop Air, Land, & Sea in my lap. Rather than going big, bigger, or biggest, Perry has gone the other direction entirely, crafting a devious gem that lands plenty of punches with only 18 cards.
Good Goodcritters
There’s no joy quite as pure as ripping off your friends. Sadly, I never got around to playing Tiefe Taschen, Fabien Zimmermann’s previous friend ripper-offer. Fortunately, thanks to the appearance of Goodcritters, there’s no need. This thing is lean and punchy. Exactly how I like my frivolous time wasters.
Even the Masters Are Pawns
I have a tender spot in my theme-and-potatoes soul for abstract games. And Onitama is one of the most gripping, teachable, and clever abstract games I’ve played in a very long time — perhaps the best, even, since The Duke. Maybe even better.
Sheriff of Yessingham
I want you to imagine something with me. Close your eyes. Squeeze them tight. Tighter.
Now open them so you can continue reading the article.
