The evenings are officially getting colder, which means prime indoor season is right around the corner. Sooo... board games, board games, board games! For the first time in a while, I managed to get games to the table every day, sometimes multiple times a day. Vacation is officially over, so I'm guessing my play count is going to take a hit, but I'm enjoying it while I can. There was a fun mix of new games, old favorites, games I'm still figuring out, and a few that have already earned a spot on my “I want to play that again” list. Games not listed in any particular order:
Wingspan Pocket: Katie and I learned Wingspan Pocket. I'm curious about how a game translates into a smaller format, especially when it's based on a game I'm already familiar with. I got to learn it from someone who already knew it and then taught it to my wife. Definitely one I'm really excited to now own. My only question is why is it called pocket if it doesn't fit in one?
Ace of Spades: Have you tried Regicide or The Gang? I feel that if they had a baby, you'd end up with Ace of Spades. I've been trying to get more into solo gaming, and this one does really well, even though the hand management and relentless pressure make winning an absolute uphill battle. I thought I had a clean run going on my second solo attempt to realize, I was close, but no cigar. We had better luck when we tried this at two, even though scaling up the player count tightens the screws even further. Devir titles have a way of finding a fun niche, and this one was no exception.
If you play board games with other couples, Cross the Line is an absolute must try. It's such a blast to bring out because it's a brilliant reminder that knowing your friends or partner only gets you so far before things start getting hilariously awkward. You think you're completely on the same wavelength, until a single prompt completely derails everything and leaves everyone laughing. Plus you get to learn loads about each other.
The Voynich Puzzle, which predictably launched me straight down an unnecessary rabbit hole regarding the actual Voynich Manuscript. Alien-looking botanical illustrations, bizarre zodiac imagery, and absolute historical ambiguity? Naturally, I needed to know everything immediately.
Ferris Wheel Rush also made it back to the table, and yes, I am still completely obsessed with how cute the meeples are. This one also prompted a detour into amusement park history because my brain refuses to let me play a thematic game without immediately researching its real-world roots.
Excursions by Kinson Key Games made it back to the table, and it was one of the highlights of the last few weeks. If you know Galactic Cruise, you'll recognize the universe, but Excursions takes things in a lighter, more approachable direction. It uses simultaneous actions, which means zero downtime waiting for everyone else to finish their turn. The focus also shifts directly toward the actual vacations and destinations. I'm always interested in a game that takes the DNA of a heavyweight design and makes it realistic to get to the table. Galactic Cruise is great, but it's a massive time and table-space commitment. Excursions bridges that gap cleanly. The Kickstarter has been a massive success, and I can't wait for it to be delivered. Can it be 2027 yet?
Peacock / Fetching Feathers from Unfringed Games: I like to sit with a game for a few sessions before locking in a final verdict, so this one is still in the "let's see how the table meta settles" phase. The art is jaw-droppingly gorgeous, which makes staring at the table while trying to figure out where to put the birds remarkably painless.
Flip Pick Towers I know some players have had mixed reactions, but I genuinely love it. We are sucker for games where we get to draw and color. I don't quite get the extra personalities at the bottom, so I ignore them. This was suggested to us and has been a massive win for our household's ongoing flip-and-write addiction.
Beacon Patrol made it back to the table! There is a distinct joy in dusting off an older title and realizing it deserves way more shelf rotation than it's been getting.
My First Dominion Set: I finally built my first custom Dominion set! It worked surprisingly well, right up until the exact moment I realized I forgot to add Tiara. Oh bother, we need to play it again to properly evaluate the setup. A terrible burden, I know.
We taught MLEM: Space Agency, and I managed to make it to the top twice. Which sounds genuinely impressive until you realize I did NOT win. BOOOOOOOO!!! Turns out, successfully launching cats into outer space isn't worth much if someone else outscores you on the way up. Still zero regrets on this impulse buy.
Cat-in-8: speaking of feline energy, the final production copy finally arrived! Having played the prototype, getting the retail version to the table was a treat. We are massive Sequence fans, and this version refines the formula into pure, puzzly cat-themed goodness. I can't wait to introduce it to our regular Sequence gaming couple.
Turing Machine had hit the table A LOT. This is one I am culling in physical form to claw back precious shelf space, but mostly because it plays better in digitally on Board Game Arena. We play it during virtual lunch-break sessions with friends who live across the country. Digital board gaming at its absolute finest, it makes me wish Dominion was on BGA as well.
Coffee Rush, Coffee Rush Grab & Go, 5 Minute Dungeon & Kemet The rest of the weeks were rounded out by fillers and a long-overdue return for Kemet. I love stretches where the gaming mood swings wildly from frantic real-time card shedding to heavy regional control.
And That's What We've Been Playing
So that's a look at what has been hitting our table lately. A chaotic mix of reviews-in-progress, old staples, and instant replays. I am notoriously terrible at photographing every session. Now I need to get back to reality and finish putting the finishing touches on my reviews. The evenings are getting colder, the days are getting shorter, and the forecast prognosticates loads of board gaming.
About the Author
Coty is a board game blogger, reviewer, and accidental LEGO art collector. When she’s not testing rulebooks or trying to beat her wife at two-player games, she’s playing ice hockey. Follow her adventures on Instagram or read more at KaCo Plays.
