Opinionated Gamers

  • Dale Yu: Review of Finca (2024)

    Finca Designer: Ralf aur Linde and Wolfgang Sentker Publisher:  Pandasaurus Players: 2-5 Age: 10+ Time: 45 minutes Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4hMgV4E  Played with review copy provided by publisher Sprawling estates, or fincas, are ripe for the taking in each region … Continue ...

  • All By Myself: A Quartet of Solo Mini-Reviews

    January & February are big “on the road” times for my job – which means less time for mid-week gaming with friends and family. On the other hand, it does mean I play a lot of solo games. In the … Continue reading →

  • Dale Yu: Review of Botanicus

    Botanicus Designers: Samuele Tabellini Ferrari, Vieri Masseini  Publisher: Hans im Gluck Players: 2-4 Age:  12+ Time: 45-60 minutes Amazon affiliate link: Played with review copy provided by publisher How about creating your own botanical garden? As an aristocrat in … Continue reading ...

  • Preview: Auctions of Alchemists

    Designer: Tanax Publisher: Tanax Games Players: 2-4 Playing time: 30-60 minutes Preview is based on prototype played online, there may be changes before the final production.. In Auctions of Alchemists, players will use strategic bidding to gather the resources needed … Continue reading ...

  • Larry Levy – Review of Star Realms:  Rise of Empire

    Designers:  Robert Dougherty, Darwin Kastle Publisher:  Wise Wizard Games Developer:  Derek Funkhouser Players:  2 Age:  12+ Duration:  30 minutes Times Played:  14 Star Realms is a popular deckbuilding game that was first released in 2014.  Designed by a couple of … Continue reading ...

  • Josiah’s Monthly Board Game Round-Up – February 2025

    February 2025 Games I played for the first time this month, from worst to best, along with my ratings and comments.­ ­ Slavika – 3/10 ­Slavika is a take-that card game with a theme of Slavic folklore. These less-familiar creatures … Continue reading →

  • Dale Yu: Review of Cook Islands

    Cook Islands Designer: Klaus-Jurgen Wrede Publisher: Trefl Players: 2-4 Age: 8+ Time: 30-60 minutes Amazon affiliate link: Played with review copy provided by publisher Wspaniała przygoda na Oceanie Spokojnym, podczas której gracze biorą udział w wyprawie Jamesa Cooka i odkrywają … ...

  • Dale Yu: Review of Moon Colony Bloodbath

    Moon Colony Bloodbath Designer: Donald X. Vaccarino Publisher: Rio Grande Games Players: 1-5 Age: 14+ Time: 45 minutes Amazon affiliate link: Played with review copy provided by publisher Cities on the moon! This will be humanity’s crowning achievement. At … Continue reading →

  • OG Review: Windmill Valley

      Windmill Valley Designer: Dani Garcia Publisher: Board & Dice Players: 1-4 Age: 14+ Time: 45-90 min From the publisher: It’s the late 19th century, and more than 9000 windmills dot the landscape of the Netherlands, some of them purpose-built … Continue reading →

  • Alison Brennan: Game Snapshots – 2025 (Part 5)

    Alison Brennan: Game Snapshots – 2025 (Part 5) I made an off-hand remark to Dale the other day that I believe there is more compassion in gaming these days. Maybe it’s just me but it feels more important to more … Continue reading →