Pax Porfiriana Board Game Review
Pax Porfiriana Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2012 Players: 1-6 Playing Time: 120 Minutes Let’s play a game. No, not Pax Porfiriana.
Pax Porfiriana Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2012 Players: 1-6 Playing Time: 120 Minutes Let’s play a game. No, not Pax Porfiriana.
Letters From Whitechapel Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2011 Players: 2-6 Playing Time: 90 Minutes Letters from Whitechapel (LFW) exists within a
It’s a Great Game…I Don’t Like It By MARK WILSON “Oh, Jimmy would love this game.” “You know, I think I should mention this to
Letter Jam Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2019 Players: 2-6 Playing Time: 45 Minutes I saw noted designer Eric Lang mention that
Kingdom Builder Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2011 Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 45 Minutes Restriction breeds creativity. You’ve probably heard variations on
Hardback Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2018 Players: 1-5 Playing Time: 45-90 Minutes Word games. Inherently problematic. Not in the sense that
In Defense of Subjectivity in Game Critique By MARK WILSON On a basic level, we all understand (or I hope we do) that gaming preferences
Hundreds of Horses Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2015 Players: 3-4 Playing Time: 20-30 Minutes It’s like a less-complicated Dixit. And all
Finding Your Sweet Spot in Tabletop Gaming By MARK WILSON I’m increasingly convinced that much of our gaming preferences are just people finding and defending
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2020 Players: 2-6 Playing Time: 60-200 Minutes It would be clickbait
Twilight Imperium: 4th Edition Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2017 Players: 3-6 (8 with expansions) Playing Time: 240-480 Minutes Well, this is
Fury of Dracula (3rd/4th edition) Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2015 Players: 2-5 Playing Time: 120-180 Minutes Fury of Dracula exists on
Dominant Species Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2010 Players: 2-6 Playing Time: 120-240 Minutes Every bad thing you’ll read about Dominant Species
Diamonds (2nd edition) Card Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2014 Players: 2-6 Playing Time: 20-30 Minutes I have a mostly amiable relationship with
Gardens of Babylon Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2019 Players: 1-4 Playing Time: 60 Minutes Everyone has a weakness. In fact, most
There Are No Gamers Anymore, Only Game Critics By MARK WILSON Art can be sectioned off into all sorts of sub-categories, but for our purposes
Decrypto Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2018 Players: 3-8 Playing Time: 15-45 Minutes A Divergence on Storytelling I talk about narrative arcs
Concept Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2027 Players: 4-12 Playing Time: 40 Minutes Concept feels like a victim of circumstance to me.
Chess in the Modern Digital Era By MARK WILSON Can one really review Chess? Not in the traditional sense, I suspect. I won’t be attempting
Castles of Tuscany Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2020 Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 45-60 Minutes Castles of Tuscany is a problematic game.
Balance in Board Games: A Cosmic Encounter Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 1977/2008 Players: 3-5 Playing Time: 60-120 Minutes What can I say about
Commands & Colors: Ancients Campaign Report By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2006 Players: 2 Playing Time: 60 Minutes BGG Link: Commands & Colors: Ancients My C&C:A
Systems, Simulation, and Stampedes: Commands & Colors: Ancients Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2006 Players: 2 Playing Time: 60 Minutes Commands & Colors: Ancients
Dragon Castle Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2017 Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 30-45 Minutes I play a lot of games once or twice. My
Babylonia Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2019 Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 60 Minutes I discovered Babylonia in a somewhat odd manner: a
Celestia Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2015 Players: 2-6 Playing Time: 30 Minutes I’m often wary of games that seem to bolt
Incan Gold/Diamant Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2005 Players: 3-8 Playing Time: 30 Minutes Let’s pull the band-aid off early: Incan Gold/Diamant is my
Five Tribes Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2014 Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 60-80 Minutes The Premise In a very colorful “Arabian Nights” environment, players
Tournament at Avalon Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2020 Players: 3-6 Playing Time: 45 Minutes Trick-taking feels like it belongs in a
Can’t Stop Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 1980 Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 30 Minutes If you like press your luck games, Can’t Stop will
Love Letter Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2012 Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 20 Minutes Love Letter – The Premise In Love Letter, you have
Lost Cities Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 1999 Players: 2 Playing Time: 30 Minutes Lost Cities – The Premise OH HOLY HECK it’s Lost
Tzolk’in: The Mayan Calendar Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2012 Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 90 Minutes This review assumes basic knowledge of the game’s
Lords of Waterdeep Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2012 Players: 2-5 (2-6 w/expansion) Playing Time: 60-120 Minutes The PremiseLords of Waterdeep is a worker
Get Out of the Way, Game! Trying to navigate the murky waters of genre to define my tastes By MARK WILSON I’ve got a problem,
Problematic Games And how to have better conversations about them By MARK WILSON We’re going to discuss problematic games today. That is, games with morally
Treasure Island Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2018 Players: 2-5 Playing Time: 45 Minutes In Treasure Island, you will either play as
The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2019 Players: 2-5 Playing Time: 20 Minutes I recently reviewed The Mind,
The Mind Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2018 Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 15 Minutes I scoffed at The Mind. Raised my eyebrow
Abomination: Heir of Frankenstein Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2019 Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 90-180 Minutes You know how board games sometimes inspire phrases
Multiplayer Solitaire vs. Bash the Leader By MARK WILSON I dislike tribal mentality leaking into my hobbies. Hopefully it’s clear what I mean by that,
Survive: Escape From Atlantis Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 1982 Players: 2-4 (2-6 w/expansion) Playing Time: 45-60 Minutes Thousands of titles have been buried
The Emotional Spectrum in Gaming By MARK WILSON A Comparison Between Gaming and Pizza I occasionally get annoyed at the limitations of our language when
Takenoko Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2011 Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 45 Minutes Look kids, it’s cute pandas! Look mom, you only need to
Buttons Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2015 Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 20-30 Minutes Buttons is an entry into the “press your luck”
Food Chain Magnate Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2015 Players: 2-5 Playing Time: 120-240 Minutes This is the perspective of someone who’s played several
Seasons Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2012 Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 60 Minutes Seasons is a game with a lineage. It’s not uncommon to
Songbirds Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2016 Players: 1-4 Playing Time: 20 Minutes Songbirds vs. Birdie Fight – What’s In a Name?
Saboteur Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2004 Players: 3-10 Playing Time: 30 Minutes Saboteur is one of several games I discovered through
Tokaido Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2012 Players: 2-5 Playing Time: 45 Minutes Tokaido – The Premise In what may be one of the
Libertalia Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2012 Players: 2-6 Playing Time: 40-60 Minutes “Pirates” is a theme that’s well covered in board games. Libertalia
Paperback Card Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2014 Players: 2-5 Playing Time: 45 Minutes Paperback – The Premise Dominion and Scrabble had a
Elfenland Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 1998 Players: 2-6 Playing Time: 60 Minutes A Forgotten Pioneer Elfenland is an odd duck; it’s Alan Moon’s
One Night Ultimate Werewolf Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2014 Players: 3-10 Playing Time: 10 Minutes ONUW – The Premise There are two teams:
Dice Forge Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2017 Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 45 Minutes Dice Forge is a gimmick game. I don’t mean that
Targi Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2012 Players: 2 Playing Time: 60 Minutes Targi – The Premise Targi is a moderately abstract worker placement
Colt Express Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2014 Players: 2-6 Playing Time: 30-40 Minutes In Colt Express, you’re a train robber trying to get
Tales of the Arabian Nights Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 1985 (2009 reprint) Players: 1-6 Playing Time: 120 Minutes (longer at 5-6P)
Mr. Jack Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2006 Players: 2 Playing Time: 30 Minutes Mr. Jack – The Premise Jack the Ripper is one
Dixit Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2008 Players: 3-6 Playing Time: 30 Minutes Dixit – The Premise Dixit is a simple card game wherein
Quacks of Quedlinburg Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2018 Players: 2-4 (2-5 w/expansion) Playing Time: 45 Minutes Quacks of Quedlinburg breaks a general rule
El Grande Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Big Box 2015 reprint Year Published: 1995 Players: 2-5 Playing Time: 90 Minutes El Grande Gameplay Spain
Tigris & Euphrates Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 1997 Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 90 Minutes Tigris and Euphrates (T&E) is a pillar of board
Keyflower Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2012 Players: 2-6 Playing Time: 90-120 Minutes Keyflower plays out over four rounds (seasons). In each season, you’ll
Emergent Gameplay Emergent elements in board games, video games, and tabletop roleplaying games By MARK WILSON Emergent gameplay is a slippery duck. Any longtime gamer
Magical Athlete Review Roll and move…probably backwards By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2002 Players: 4-5 Playing Time: 60 Minutes Magical Athlete – The Premise The
Scythe Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2016 Players: 1-5 Playing Time: 90-115 Minutes What’s in a Name? 4X Games in Modern Board Gaming There
Concordia Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2013 Players: 2-5 (2-6 w/Concordia: Venus) Playing Time: 100 Minutes Concordia is a game with a lot of
Forgotten Waters Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2020 Players: 3-7 Playing Time: 120-240 Minutes Forgotten Waters is a game that is trying to be
Russian Railroads Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2013 Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 90-120 Minutes Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: a dense,
War of Whispers Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2019 Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 30-60 Minutes There’s a word I love using in reference to
Sushi Go Party Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2016 Players: 2-8 Playing Time: 20 Minutes If I ever want to remember the value of
Mysterium Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2015 Players: 2-7 Playing Time: 42 Minutes The Balance of Ambiguity When I play Mysterium, I see something
Dune Board Game Review The Black IPA of Board Games By MARK WILSON Year Published: 1979 (2019 reprint) Players: 2-6 Playing Time: 120 Minutes The
Board Game Roundup #9 Keyflower, Whitehall Mystery, Board Game Arena By MARK WILSON Board Game Roundups are where I discuss games I’ve been playing recently.
Ethnos Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2017 Players: 2-6 Playing Time: 45-60 Minutes Ethnos burst onto the scene with some fanfare, in large part
Board Game Roundup #8 Food Chain Magnate, Mage Knight, Dragon Castle By MARK WILSON Board Game Roundups are where I discuss games I’ve been playing
Board Game Roundup #5 Gardens of Babylon and After Midnight Games By MARK WILSON Board Game Roundups are where I discuss games I’ve been playing
Board Game Roundup #7 Tiny Towns, Bruges, Targi By MARK WILSON Board Game Roundups are where I discuss games I’ve been playing recently. These aren’t
Sun Tzu Board Game Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2005 Players: 2 Playing Time: 30 Minutes Calling your game Sun Tzu is a dangerous
Captain Sonar Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2016 Players: 2-8 Playing Time: 45-60 Minutes Captain Sonar – The Premise Captain Sonar is an audacious,
Board Game Roundup #6 Raiders of the North Sea, Unexploded Cow, Mysthea By MARK WILSON Board Game Roundups are where I discuss games I’ve been
Board Game Roundup #4 Condottiere, Sherlock Holmes and Fillers By MARK WILSON Board Game Roundups are where I discuss games I’ve been playing recently. These
Tsuro of the Seas Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2012 Players: 2-8 Playing Time: 30 Minutes BGG Link: Tsuro of the Seas The Premise
Board Game Roundup #3 Brass: Birmingham and Concordia: Venus By MARK WILSON Board Game Roundups are where I discuss games I’ve been playing recently. These
Guide to Gaming on Board Game Arena By MARK WILSON Like many during the COVID-19 crisis, I’ve shifted to playing a lot of online games.
Board Game Roundup #2 Treasure Island, Archipelago, Concordia By MARK WILSON Board Game Roundups are where I discuss games I’ve been playing recently. These aren’t
Board Game Roundup #1 Roll For the Galaxy, Tammany Hall, Inis By MARK WILSON Board Game Roundups are where I discuss games I’ve been playing
Codenames Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2015 Players: 2-8 Playing Time: 15 Minutes Codenames – The Premise Two teams and a 5×5 tableau of
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 1981 Players: 1-8 Playing Time: 60-120 Minutes Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective – The Premise Sherlock
Seasons of Inis Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2019 Players: 2-5 Playing Time: 90 Minutes I’m a huge fan of Inis; it might be
Viticulture: Essential Edition Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2015 Players: 1-6 Playing Time: 45-90 Minutes How To Play Viticulture Essential Edition Add-Ons Components The
Project Dreamscape Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2015 Players: 1-4 Playing Time: 30 Minutes Theme & Concept It’s easy for card games to get
Lanterns: The Harvest Festival Review With The Emperor’s Gifts expansion By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2015 Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 30 Minutes Lanterns – The
Laser Cat Attack Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2014 Players: 2-4 Playing Time: 10 Minutes This is a bit of a divergence for my
Inis Review A masterpiece of a game By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2016 Players: 2-4 (2-5 w/expansion) Playing Time: 60-90 Minutes Normally I break down
Pretense Review MetaMicroGaming By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2015 Players: 2-12 Playing Time: 60-360 Minutes The Premise Pretense is a game that happens concurrently with
Secrets Review By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2017 Players: 4-8 Playing Time: 15-35 Minutes Secrets – The Premise Secrets is an elaborate shell game, the
Two Rooms and a Boom Review Problems and praise in a wildly social, deduction party game. By MARK WILSON Year Published: 2013 Players: 6-30 Playing