The Spiel

A review of Boom, Bang, Gold! written by Stephen Conway.

Your team of spies intercepts a secret transmission. 3 words. A code tied to a sequence of numbers. Can you decipher this sequence when the pressure is on? Remember, the other team is trying to unravel your sequence at the same time! Welcome to Decrypto!

A review of Spirit Island written by Stephen Conway.

Professor Evil uses his time machine to rob the world of priceless antiques. Your group has been sent to rescue treasures before they are locked away. It's charming, engaging, great for players young and old, and sure to provide many hours of Major Fun.

A review of Linkee written by Stephen Conway.

A review of Azul written by Stephen Conway.

Cursed Court is a clever auction game that draws its inspiration from stud poker. Each season, you bid on a noble or group of nobles based on hidden and public information. Bid wisely, you'll gain influence at court. Bid poorly, you'll be scrubbing pots!

A review of Candygrams written by Stephen Conway.

Pioneers is a gateway game for a new generation. You’ll discover new layers of depth and fun by charting different paths with each pioneer you settle. Best of all how everyone else plays will change your decisions and let you see the game in a new light.

It's the 16th century and you're in charge of a fledgling colony in the New World. Santa Maria is a dice-based action selection game which offers a fantastic variety of strategic decisions. The game is constantly challenging and consistently fun.

A review of Witches of the Revolution written by Stephen Conway.

A review of Squaremino written by Stephen Conway.

Ancestree is a tile drafting game where each player cultivates a family tree. You'll build dynasties, marriages, and wealth to score points. The game is wonderfully simple to learn but the scoring system makes each decision matter and each decision fun.

Majesty is an easy to learn, wonderfully elegant and interactive card game. Each player recruits subjects to help create a prosperous new realm. Each character offers a simple but specialized way to bring wealth, health and security to the crown.

Winner of The Spiel of Approval Award: The Lost Expedition! Written review by Stephen Conway. Designed by Peer Sylvester Art by Garen Ewing Published by Osprey Games 1-5 players 30-60 min ages 14+

A review of Pocket Ops written by Stephen Conway.

In Raiders of the North Sea you assemble a crew, collect provisions and journey north to plunder... even if it ends in a glorious death! It's a worker placement game with a brilliant balance of strategy and simplicity. And a perfect intro to the genre.

Robot cheetahs, dentures, musical failure, D and D resources, pooping Amazons, and board games galore. Join our cavalcade of misfit nerds for a freewheeling conversation spanning the wide world of geekdom. And be ready to laugh! A lot.

In Ethnos players vie for control of a fantasy realm by collecting and playing sets of cards. The game offers challenging decisions through simple to learn but innovative mechanics. Ethnos is familiar yet fresh - tense and interactive to the end.

A review of Rhino Hero: Super Battle written by Stephen Conway.

Codenames: Duet offers a tense two player transformation of the original. You and your partner must contact 15 agents using a grid of word cards and a very limited number of clues. The big problem is each of you only know half the agents in play!

A review of Wordsy written by Stephen Conway.

In Photosynthesis, each player tends a colorful cardboard forest, soaking in sunlight as it moves around the board. The game is beautiful inside and out - a wonder to behold on the table and its simple, elegant mechanisms provide hours of challenging fun.

A review of Bonk written by Stephen Conway.

Word Slam is a team-based word guessing game that forces each team to use a fixed set of words as clues. The word you want is never there, so the game pushes you to be creative with the words provided - to find freedom inside the limits imposed.