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....

Subtle Much? Game Review (prepublished version)

American singer, songwriter, and actress, Lauryn Hill, said “Reality is easy. It’s deception that’s the hard work.” In this metagame, players will be attempting to subtly achieve objectives without drawing attention to themselves. All the while, the players will also be expected to play the main game that is nothing more than a facade to cover the “real game” boiling below the surface. Continue reading

Fantasy-Opoly Game Review

Monopoly began showing up on gaming tables as early as 1933 and continues to be produced using different themes. You can now play Monopoly that depicts Alpacas and even bacon. Within the gaming community, Monopoly is quietly respected as a means into the hobby, but little else. The newest addition to the themed Monopoly family whisks us away to a realm of fantasy and high mortgage rates. Continue reading

PWNs Game Review (prepublished version)

A pawn is used and abused for the greater good. Sometimes the pawn is aware of this and sometimes not. In either case, it never goes well for the pawn. But what if the pawns were given weapons and the freedom to make their own choices? Once power is given, it’s difficult to take back. Especially is you are trying to arrest power from a pawn holding a bazooka. Continue reading

Barrage Battle Game Review (prepublished version)

The 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant, said “The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving.” In this game, the trick to victory is pressing the advantage, but striking it with a balance. Warmongers will have might on their side, while those who seek other routes will find different roads to victory. Continue reading

JurassAttack! Game Review

American paleontologist, Jack Horner, said “Children have a great urge to learn about dinosaurs.” Speaking from personal experience, as a one-time child and father of 3 little boys, dinosaurs are the coolest. Even as an adult, I still like learning about them and visiting museums to see the remains of the colossal monsters. In this game, you get to see which dinosaur really is the “biggest and the baddest”. Continue reading

Here, Kitty, Kitty! Game Review

English stand-up comedian, actor, and writer Eddie Izzard said, “Cats have a scam going – you buy the food, they eat the food, they go away; that’s the deal.” Cats certainly do seem to be independent creatures, always thinking for themselves, and never doing anything without a purpose. Regardless if you are a “cat person” or not, this game is all about attempting to persuade felines to see things your way. Much easier said than done. Continue reading

March of the Ants: Minions of the Meadow Game Expansion Review (prepublished version)

English nature writer, Richard Jefferies, wrote “It would seem that the ant works its way tentatively, and, observing where it fails, tries another place and succeeds.” Ants are industrious and tenacious, never losing site of their goals. With this expansion, players are given additional opportunities and pathways to explore, but also new dangers to avoid. Nothing comes easy in the world of ants. Continue reading

Co-Mix Game Review

Legendary graphic novel writer Alan Moore said, “It may be true that the only reason the comic book industry now exists is for this purpose: to create characters for movies, board games and other types of merchandise.” One cannot deny that comic books are a great source for ideas. Full of color and creativity, they inspire us to imagine the impossible. In this game, you’ll get to create your own creative comic. Continue reading

March of the Ants Game Review

American author, poet, and many other things, Henry David Thoreau, said “It is not enough to be busy. So are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?” Which is to say, work for the sake of work is meaningless without a goal. In this game, players will put their ants to work and there is much to keep them busy, but victory will go to the player who has a plan. Continue reading

Quickpick: Island of Monster Masks Game Review

On a remote island in the South Pacific dwell monsters. The locals tell you that no person is safe on the island unless they have the ability to mimic the monsters’ expressions. Finding this to be fairly odd, you charter a boat and make your way to the island. Once on shore, you encounter your first monster and quickly realize the benefits of mimicking something that is 10 times as tall as you. Continue reading

Tome of Calling Game Review

When each beast and bird was created, its true name was given. Powerful mages have learned these names and recorded them in what would be known as the Tome of Calling. Using the tome, a mage could summon creatures to do their bidding. They would, in essence, become unstoppable. You have but a few pages of the tome, but enough to challenge any foe. Continue reading

Blend Off! Game Review (prepublished version)

It was a slow night at the diner. The night manager was about to tell everyone to close up, when a bus filled with high school students stopped near the entrance. Out pours a small army of kids who are hungry for just one thing: a smoothie. The diner comes to life and the blenders are plugged in. The goal is simple: make as many orders as you can, as fast as you can, without messing up. Continue reading