Opinionated Gamers

  • Best New (to me!) Games of 2024

    Look, I play a lot of games. In 2024, that included right around 160 new games… well, new to me games. That’s pretty typical – it was approximately 145 in 2023 and 150 in 2022. (I’m privileged and blessed to … Continue reading →

  • Talia Rosen: Prototypes Prevail and Legacy Looms Large

    Once upon a time, I played strategy board games, but then I got bitten by the design bug and I fell into a designer playtesting group.  My logged plays from 2024 reflect a dramatic and unexpected change in how I’m … Continue reading →

  • Dale Yu: Review of Ninjan

    Ninjan Designer: 6jizo  Publisher: Helvetiq Players: 2-5 Age: 7+ Time: 15 minutes Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3Ah9v9f  Played with review copy provided by publisher Ninjas bring rocks, scissors, and paper to a fight in Ninjan to help you recruit the strongest … Continue reading ...

  • Dale Yu: Review of Power Grid: Outpost

    Power Grid: Outpost Designer: Friedemann Friese Publisher: 2F / Rio Grande Players: 2-6 Age: 12+ Time: 90 minutes Amazon affiliate link:  Played with review copy provided by publisher In Power Grid: Outpost, the colonization of the new planet advances … Continue reading →

  • Josiah’s Monthly Board Game Round-Up – December 2024

    December 2024 Games I played for the first time this month, from worst to best, along with my ratings and comments. ­ Kelp: Shark vs. Octopus – 5/10­ Sometime in the early 2000’s, I acquired a free copy of N.Y. Chase, … Continue reading →

  • The OG’s Do Their ABC’s – Part C

    Welcome to the third chapter of the Opinionated Gamer’s Alphabet List!  Just to summarize, 30 of us listed our three favorite games that begin with each letter of the alphabet (as well as those that start with a numeral).  Each … Continue reading →

  • The OG’s Do Their ABC’s – Part B

    Welcome to the second chapter of the Opinionated Gamer’s Alphabet List!  Just to summarize, 30 of us listed our three favorite games that begin with each letter of the alphabet (as well as those that start with a numeral).  Each … Continue reading →

  • The OG’s Do Their ABC’s – Part A

    Happy New Year, everybody!  The OG staff wishes you all a very happy, healthy, and prosperous 2025, with more of the things you love about life and less of the things you hate.  The former will hopefully include lots of … Continue reading →

  • Dale Yu: Review of Snowcrest

    Snowcrest Designer: Philip duBarry Publisher: Grail Games Players: 1-4 Age: 14+ Time: 15-60 minutes Played with review copy provided by publisher Deep in the remote mountains of a snowy land, holy ones seek to rediscover powerful knowledge that has been … Continue reading →

  • Dale Yu: Review of Choconnect

    Choconnect Designer: Sandro Blasich Publisher: Snovid Players: 2-4 Age: 14+ Time: 15 minutes Played with review copy provided by publisher In the game Choconnect you are chocolatiers, immersing yourselves in a tantalizing world of confectionery mastery. Your task: skillfully arrange … ...