Board Games
How board game reviews are biased
How to Criticize a Board Game & Why No One’s Criticizing Board Games
So, a while ago, I wrote an article titled How to Review a Board Game, which has been really well received. Teachers, new board game reviewers, and a few designers have reached out to me, thanking me for creating that resource. But I’ve been thinking about my favorite reviews that I’ve read lately, and I […]
The Ultimate Gloomhaven Enhancement Guide
One of my favorite parts of Gloomhaven wasn’t even originally a part the game: enhancements. Isaac came up with the idea as a stretch goal during the initial kickstarter, a goal that funded just a few days before the campaign ended. Oddly enough, the commenters on that post were largely against the idea: the “destruction” […]
Cardboard Mountain News
An update on the state of the site. Cardboard Moutain is just over a year and a half old now, and I wanted to mention to my viewers what I’ve been working on for the site. I love the strategy content I’ve put up so far, and I hope you do too, but going forward, […]
The Ultimate Res Arcana Strategy Guide
Res Arcana is one of my favorite games. I reviewed Res Arcana quite positively a while back, and after the game was released on Board Game Arena, I figured it was time to write a little bit more about the game. Res Arcana strategy is like an onion, and after getting to play it online […]
Sushi Go Vs Point Salad: The Best Simple Drafting Game
In 2013, Sushi Go was released, a charming card drafting game that’s simple enough to teach in a few minutes, yet compelling enough to bring out on game night. For me, that’s made it the perfect gateway game to carry around and teach to non-gamers. But last year, a new super light drafting game came […]
Board Games, Global Pandemics & Bears! Oh My!
The age of Covid has been weird. People have more time than ever, and increasingly fewer things to spend that time on. It almost seems trite to say “a global pandemic that has killed nearly one million people has ruined my game night,” but right now interpersonal connections are a commodity that many of us […]
What Changed in the New Rebalanced Edition of 7 Wonders?
A new edition of 7 Wonders was announced today, with new art and design, and lots of metallic finish. Honestly, it looks like a much needed visual overhaul for the game. You can check out the announcement trailer below. However, the trailer doesn’t mention the most important thing: the game was rebalanced in edition. The […]
Res Arcana Review
A card drafting, engine building game has been my holy grail game. I’ve tried for years to find it, I’ve even tried to design it myself. Is this it? Let’s evaluate Res Arcana in this review. When Res Arcana hit the scene last year, it perfectly fit the description. So, when it was announced, I […]
Should You Play Go? A Review 2500 Years Later
Go is a game with more history and depth than any other, but does that make it fun to start playing today? In this go review, I answer that and more.
How Changing One Word in Cartographer’s Rulebook Could Drastically Improve It
The other day, I saw a facebook post about playing the game Cartographers with the solo rules. The poster hated it. People were agreeing with her. People who otherwise loved this game felt so bad about the solo rules, they vowed never to play it again. Why? Read on to find out.
How War Lead to Modern Board Gaming
Perhaps the single biggest influence on modern board gaming was the Franco-Prussian War. Watch the video to find out why.
Game Design by Example: How Lords of Waterdeep was Balanced
When a budding writer wants to write a novel, they’ll study novels, and learn their underlying structure. It’s incredibly important to understand how those who came before you worked, so you can stand on their shoulders. When a musician wants to write music, they’ll listen to music, and learn its underlying structure for the same reason. And when a game designer wants to balance a board game, they should study board games, and you guessed it, study its underlying structure. If you want a game balance example, read on.
Mechanica Review: A Conveyor Belt Board Game for Humans & Robots
There is something absolutely enchanting about this game. I can only hope it comes across in this review of Mechanica. The art and design is beautiful, the jigsaw puzzle mechanic is brilliant, and I even want to rave about how clever the box insert is, since it allows you to play the game right out […]