Dungeon Decorators Game Review (prepublished version)

English interior designer and socialite, Nicky Haslam, said, "Interior decoration partly thrives on being social." Which makes sense, but how would that work if you were tasked to design the "perfect dungeon" for a malevolent evil entity with a penchant for ruling the world with an iron fist? What kind of throw pillow fabric pattern goes well with hanging skeletons and flesh-eating monsters? Paisley? Maybe. In this game, you get to make all those choices. You've been hired to design the perfect dungeon, with twists, turns, and the proper accents to make the evil dwelling really "pop"!

Plunder: A Pirate’s Life Game Review

Pirates and the life of a privateer have been romanticized over the years making it seem that such a trade was full of adventure, treasure, and bold deeds. It was for some. For most, it was a life of hardship, danger, and sickness. I bet you won't see a Disney film like that and thankfully, you don't need to truly relive it, either. It's fun and can be exciting to imagine what it would be like to own a ship, a crew, and have an unquenchable desire for gold. In this game, you get to live out that fantasy by leading a small armada, finding treasure, and sending your enemies to the bottom of the sea.

Kingdomino Duel Game Review

You have won the realm, but now you must rule it, and to do so, you must divide it among your loyal royals. And while you want to reward each for their service, you know that each royal will not provide you the same level of prestige you seek. "Divide and conquer" was your motto when on the battlefield, leading your troops. Now you must do the same with the politics of the land. Some would say it was easier to fight and bleed for the realm in times of war than manage it during times of peace.

The #UpsideDownChallenge Game Review

Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, Marcus Aurelius, said, "Everything that happens, happens as it should, and if you observe carefully, you will find this to be so." In this game, what you observe everyday is turned - literally - upside down. The sky is at your feet, the table is hanging from the ceiling, and left is most certainly right. Prepare to enter a world where even the easiest of tasks like writing a word becomes a legendary chore. It'll be challenging, to say the least, but to win you only need to observe your new temporary reality with its wacky flip-flopped rules.

Thalara: The Last Artifacts Game Review (prepublished version)

Magic, like any other resource, is finite. It has great power but was squandered on petty miracles and destructive wars. A new age is now beginning where the magic in the world has become rare, but its potential is still limitless. You frantically search for powerful artifacts that contain magical reserves that you can tap into. As magic dwindles, the hunger of those who use it grows ever more intense. Now you and others fight for the magical table scraps that remain.

Stripes Game Review

Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and theatre designer, Pablo Picasso, said, "Why do two colors, put one next to the other, sing? Can one really explain this? No. Just as one can never learn how to paint." In this game, players will be shifting the position of colored stripes, making patterns. The complexity of the game is not the matching of the colors, but the proper arrangement and timing of the alignment. In the act of doing so, the players bring forth color harmony.