Author Archives: Cyrus

About Cyrus

Editor in Chief, Owner/Operator, Board Game Fanatic, Father of Three, and Nice Guy, Cyrus has always enjoyed board, card, miniature, role playing, and video games, but didn't get back into the hobby seriously until early 2000. Once he did, however, he was hooked. He now plays board games with anyone and everyone he can, but enjoys playing with his children the most. Video games continue to be of real interest, but not as much as dice and little miniatures. As he carefully navigates the ins and outs of parenting, he does his very best to bestow what wisdom he has and help nurture his children's young minds. It is his hope and ambition to raise three strong, honorable men who will one day go on to do great things and buy their Mom and Dad a lobster dinner. Cyrus goes by the handle fathergeek on Board Game Geek. You can also check him out on CyrusKirby.com. Yes, he has a URL that is his name. His ego knows no bounds, apparently....

Secret Hoard Game Review (Prepublished Version)

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Indian teacher, philosopher, and royal adviser, Chanakya, wrote, “The biggest guru-mantra is: never share your secrets with anybody. It will destroy you.” In this game, secrets are necessary to win. Collect your cards in secret and be careful not to inform your opponents of your intent. Subtlety might be needed, but of even greater importance is staying agile and knowing that when you collect to your secret hoard, no one way is a sure victory. Continue reading →

STAK: The Sophisticated Simple Strategy Game Review

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Whether you know it as Tic-Tac-Toe, Noughts and Crosses, or X’s and O’s, you have played the game at least once in your life. Most likely, it left you feeling either deeply frustrated or arbitrarily awesome. This game has existed, with little change to its basic premise, since ancient Egypt (around 1300 BC). It continues to be played to this day in the sand with sticks, on notebooks, and pub tables around the world. Its basic premise is easy to understand, and the gameplay is fast enough to make it worthwhile, regardless of your personal tastes in gameplay. In this game, the primitive approach of matching rows, columns, and diagonal lines is enhanced by introducing another dimension to the game’s strategic and tactical thinking. Continue reading →

S.P.A.M. Game Review

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Morphos, a shape-changing race of creatures, are being captured in order to protect them from the dangers of the world. Once placed in their protective shelter, the morphos can be studied, made safe, and preserved for generations to come. In this game, you’ll be taking on the role of one of these morphos, exploring your enclosure in search of cookies to munch on. Along the way, you might find opportunities to steal cookies or even get so distracted as to lose a turn. Don’t let your hunger blind you! Continue reading →

Please Don’t Burn My Village Game Review

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The dragon came out of nowhere, landing in the middle of your village. It demanded to speak to you, the village leader, and told you it would return and burn your town to the ground, utterly destroying everything. Maybe. At which point, the dragon raised an eyebrow and let the unasked question hang in the air until you realized what the dragon wanted: treasure. Now you are charged to collect as much treasure as possible to satisfy the dragon’s greed, satiating its desire to destroy. But so too are other village leaders, and the dragon has no intention of playing favorites. Quickly find all the treasure you can and hope it is enough to appease the great beast before the time is up! Continue reading →

Blaze Game Review

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The firebird is a mythical creature that represents both hope and doom according to Slavic folklore. It is a creature of incredible beauty and highly coveted by the rich and powerful. They yearn for it and enlist the help of young adventurers to seek it out, capture it, and bring it home. This quest to capture a creature of untamable beauty is doomed, but still, there is always hope that the adventurer will outthink and outwit the challenges that lie before them. In this game, players will attempt to claim the firebird for themselves, but their opponents will not make that shared goal easy in the slightest. Continue reading →

Time Fenix Game Review (Prepublished Version)

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The great Stoic philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger said, “A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.” In this game, players will test their strategic and tactical thinking, learn from their mistakes, and rejoice in even the most minor victories. As they navigate maze after maze to find its center and a terrible enemy, they must learn how to manage their resources and, more importantly, their expectations. Risk it all and dive deeper into an abandoned underground facility in one last desperate chance to save all existence. Continue reading →

Time Division Game Review

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The concept of a multiverse has been explored and discussed by fiction writers and scientists. The idea that there are infinite possibilities all unfolding simultaneously is both fascinating and bewildering. In this game, two different universes with their timelines have merged into one. The new combined universe is self-correcting by eliminating redundancies and duplicates to stabilize itself. Those who are aware of this now race to save their original timeline and thwart others from attempting to do the same. This game is a race against and for time. Continue reading →

Polyhedral Predicaments: Dungeon Demise Game Review

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The dungeon has existed for as long as anyone can remember. Countless stories are told about it around fires at inns and taverns. Many believe that great treasure can be found in its depths, but such riches and the power that would come with it are jealously guarded by things from nightmares. The stories suggest that many brave heroes have attempted to obtain these treasures, but none have yet returned to verify the dungeon’s dangers or riches. Which has many thinking the dungeon is just as deadly as the stories suggest, or even worse. You have listened to these tales and think you have what it takes to venture into the dungeon to find the gold and glory within. With a weapon in hand and supplies on your back, you walk towards the dungeon’s entrance. Your fate awaits you in the dark. Continue reading →

Batman: The Animated Series – Almost Got ‘Im Game Review

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Batman: The Animated Series premiered on television in 1992 and ran until 1995. It was exceedingly well received by fans and critics alike for its excellent writing, superb art direction, and outstanding voice acting. One of the many memorable episodes was when Batman hid among a group of villains who were playing cards and telling stories about how they almost got Batman. You can find that episode online, and I suggest you give it a shot. An excellent story with a surprise ending. This game attempts to capture the feeling of that episode, pitting one player as Batman, hiding in plain sight, against a table full of enemies. Can Batman stay hidden, or will he get caught? Play the game and find out. Continue reading →

The Big Cheese Game Review

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Tom Wilson, American cartoonist best known for his Ziggy cartoons, said, “I wouldn’t mind the rat race – if the rats would lose once in a while.” In this game, you have to work your little rat butt off in hopes of catching the favorable eye of the retiring CEO. And while hard work usually pays off, you are not alone in your attempt to please the Big Boss. Others are in hot pursuit of the opportunity to earn clout and favor. Get ready to earn that promotion and be the next Big Cheese! Continue reading →

Tails On Fire Game Review

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Jeremy Taylor, a cleric in the Church of England in the 1600s, said, “Love is friendship set on fire.” This is not a bad way to suggest that passion can introduce new levels of energy and activity, both physically and emotionally, if a friendship takes a dramatic turn. This game aims to create as much fire as possible through clever card plays and sneaky thefts with you and your friends. The game ends when all the fire is out and only one player has captured all the heat! Continue reading →

Combo Game Review

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Jonathan David Haidt, an American social psychologist and author, said, “The most powerful force ever known on this planet is human cooperation – a force for construction and destruction.” Which I agree with. Spot on. As a group, we can create wonders and destroy them. This duality of man’s nature to create and destroy is best represented in semi-cooperative card games, where players are forced to straddle these two opposite and equally powerful forces to achieve victory over others through cooperation. To win this game, you must collaborate, but victory only goes to the one who dominates. Continue reading →