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....

Grackles Game Review

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I remember looking out the car window when I was a kid as my family traveled from one end of the United States to another and seeing a long line of birds sitting on a telephone wire. I thought to myself, “what are they waiting for?” Years later, I would watch Hitchcock’s The Birds and know the horrific truth. In this game, you’ll be helping to organize a gaggle of grackles on multiple telephone wires. Lucky for everyone, these birds are here for fun, not for human blood. Continue reading →

The Curse of Misfortune Lane Game Review (prepublished version)

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Every town has its secrets. Its dark past. Your town is no different. Except for one very important detail. Every 13th of Friday, a curse is let loose that brings nightmares to all who live on Misfortune Lane. No more. You and your friends at school have decided to break this curse. But being a kid that no adults listen to, what can you do? Not much, perhaps, and the monster in the shadows is counting on it! Continue reading →

Gobs of Jobs Game Review

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Before we all had jobs and moved into a career, we had chores. These were small tasks that paid us money. Not much, but the fact that we were paid for our time and effort helped us to understand the value of money and of work. In this game, players will need to balance their time and their money, learning that how you make your money is just as important as how you spend it. Continue reading →

The Civil War Experience Game Review

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American author and a professor of history, Douglas Brinkley, said “We can only imagine the history of the free world today if, at the end of the Civil War, there had been two countries: the United States and the Confederate States of America.” In this game, you get to relive the bloody history of our nation at war with itself. Pick a side, send in your troops, and command the battleground. Continue reading →

Tahiti Game Review

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American playwright, essayist, and figure in twentieth-century American theater, Arthur Miller, said “Where choice begins, Paradise ends, innocence ends, for what is Paradise but the absence of any need to choose this action?” In this game, you live on a beautiful tropical island that is rich with beauty, but not with resources. You must brave the ocean and visit nearby islands in hopes of finding what you need to survive. Be smart or your paradise will turn into a hell. Continue reading →

Mapmaker: The Gerrymandering Game Review (prepublished version)

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Ancient Roman statesman, orator, lawyer and philosopher, Marcus Tullius Cicero, said “Nothing is more unreliable than the populace, nothing more obscure than human intentions, nothing more deceptive than the whole electoral system.” He died, by the way, for political reasons, so we can properly assume he knew what he was talking about. In this game, physical death by sword is not a possibility, but a political death is only a vote away. Continue reading →

Evil Overlord Game Review (prepublished version)

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Contemporary American crime writer, Patricia Cornwell, said “I believe the root of all evil is abuse of power.” In this game, abusing power by any means possible is the name of the game. You are a lesser lord of evil, but what you really want to be when you grow up is an Evil Overlord, the supreme ruler of all of things “not good or even remotely great”. But there’s a catch. You are not the only one with ambition and the hordes of evil at your command can be cantankerous. Oh, well. If it was easy, you’d most likely wouldn’t want the job. Continue reading →

Tales of Danger: Days of Discovery Game Review

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Portugal 1290. The known world is divided up and ruled by kings and queens, each looking for opportunities to extend their kingdoms and influence. You are an explorer, a sailor, and adventurer. You have found what appears to be an unknown chain of islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. If your charts and information is correct, these islands will serve as a foothold into the unknown world! But first, you must convince the royal powers that such a trip is worth taking, then find a crew and a sea worthy boat. Then, finally, take the voyage itself to the fabled “Land of Danger”. Continue reading →

Monkey Game Review

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The crazy wizard, Kurgill, has had it up to here with the monkeys outside his castle. He’s decided to take matters into his own hands and has cleverly placed traps on the trees the monkey’s swing from, including spells. The monkeys, not liking Kurgill very much, know that the only way to beat the old wiz at his game is to play along. And so, the monkeys make best of a bad situation, challenging themselves in the process to a race. Continue reading →

Naval Battle Game Review

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Latin writer, Publilius Syrus, said “Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.” In this game, the sea is anything but calm. It’s a battleground. Each player will command a small group of ships and hunt for their enemy. Hide behind islands and ambush your foe, but pray that the wind be at your back and luck be on your side. Victory will be given  to the bold. The loser will be sent to a watery grave. Continue reading →

Attack on Titan: The Last Stand Game Review

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A titan has breached the walls of the city! It’s up to you and your small team to take it down before it devours the nearby citizens. You’ll need to risk it all and be prepared to sacrifice everything to complete your mission. Your enemy is a relentless eating machine. It only knows how to devour, but is far from stupid. Work together to take down the giant and save the day! Continue reading →

Senshi Game Review

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Master Kahn, a character in the TV show Kung Fu, said “In striving for an ideal, we do not seek rewards. Yet trust does sometimes bring with it a great reward, even greater than good.” In this game, all the players are competing to be the best, but by doing so, they also reward their peers through their efforts. There can be only one master of the temple, but if one is to master all, players must learn that a selfish path is the slow way to victory. It’s better to share the wisdom then to leave others in the dark. But only to a certain degree… Continue reading →