How To Play

Get the best tips, tricks & strategies for mastering your favorite games!

Aquarius - Aquarius, Looney Labs, 2021 — front cover (image provided by the publisher) - Credit: W Eric Martin

How To Play: Aquarius

Aquarius is a wild card-laying game where you match elements, swap goals, and block your friends. Knowing How To Play aquarius means mastering sneaky card placement, smart goal swapping, and well-timed blocking. Embrace chaos cards and keep your friends guessing—it's fast, funny, and not as easy as it sounds!

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Ranger: Box Cover Front

How To Play: Ranger

Quick Ranger Recap

Ranger shines with smart card combos, sharp timing, and clever resource moves. Predicting opponents wins you big. Don’t forget the fun—Ranger is easy to learn, but hard to master. If you want to know How To Play ranger, grab some friends and outsmart each other today!

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New York: Box Cover Front

How To Play: New York

New York is a fast, sharp city-building game where you grab resources, pick prime building spots, and time your moves to outwit rivals. I played it with friends and got crushed twice (thanks, Barry), but learned a ton. Master resource use and timing, and you'll rule the city. Maybe.

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Napoleon: Box Cover Front

How To Play: Napoleon

Napoleon is a strategy board game about commanding armies, managing territory, and outthinking rival players. On each turn, players move forces, gather resources, plan attacks, and react to shifting threats. Victory comes from choosing battles wisely, protecting key areas, and building enough power to control the board.

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Ohio: Box Cover Front

How To Play: Ohio

Ohio is a strategic tile-laying game where players build patterns, manage their hands, and score points by placing tiles wisely. On each turn, choose a useful tile, watch your opponents’ plans, and block key spaces when possible. The player with the best score at the end wins.

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*Star: Box Cover Front

How To Play: *Star

*Star is a tactical board game where players place pieces, claim useful spaces, and plan routes across a shared board. Each turn gives you a small choice with a big effect, so watch rival plans closely. Build your position, block key moves, and finish with more control than your opponents.

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Focus: Box Cover Front

How To Play: Focus

Focus is a tactical abstract game where players move stacks of pieces across a square board. Each move travels orthogonally a number of spaces equal to the stack’s height. Landing on enemy pieces captures them, while clever blockades and positioning can trap opponents, steal their pieces, and secure the win.

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Delta: Box Cover Front

How To Play: Delta

Delta is a tactical board game where players guide boats through shifting waterways, place prototypes, gather resources, and chase points. On each turn, choose actions carefully, upgrade your fleet, and watch rivals steal the best routes. Smart timing matters, because a flashy move can leave your whole plan stuck in the mud.

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Pizza: Box Cover Front

How To Play: Pizza

Pizza is a fast, tasty strategy game where players build orders, manage toppings, and use limited oven space to serve hungry customers. Each turn brings choices about timing, spending, and which pizzas to make. Plan carefully, chase demand, and keep your kitchen moving to earn the most money.

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Shazamm!: Box Cover Front

How To Play: Shazamm!

Shazamm! is a magical duel where two wizards battle across a bridge. Each turn, players secretly spend energy to cast spells, block attacks, or push their rival backward. Manage your power, read your opponent, and time each spell carefully to survive and knock them into the water.

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Pirates!: Box Cover Front

How To Play: Pirates!

Pirates! is a swashbuckling board game where players build crews, sail for profit, face rival captains, and chase fame. Each turn brings choices about trading, fighting, exploring, and romance. Smart planning helps, but bold risks often win the day—especially when your friends start arguing over the last treasure.

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Shazam: Box Cover Front

How To Play: Shazam

Shazam is a fast card game where players use heroes, energy, and clever timing to outplay their rivals. Take turns playing cards, building combos, claiming rewards, and managing limited resources. Watch what others save, spot their threats, and make each move count. The player with the strongest final score wins.

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Pirates - Box cover - Credit: JohnPurdue

How To Play: Pirates

Pirates is a swashbuckling board game where players sail, gather treasure, battle rivals, and improve their ships. Each turn, choose your route carefully, manage your crew and coins, and grab chances before opponents do. The player with the most valuable haul at the end wins.

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Museum - Museum, Holy Grail Games, 2019 — front cover (image provided by the publisher) - Credit: W Eric Martin

How To Play: Museum

Museum is a strategy game about building the world’s greatest collection. Draw artifacts, place matching items in your museum, and earn prestige through clever exhibits. Manage your influence, accept donations, and watch your rivals. The best curator balances smart sets, strong links, and well-timed actions to win.

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Goodwill: Box Cover Front

How To Play: Goodwill

Goodwill is a light auction game where players bid on mystery lots filled with useful, odd, or downright terrible items. Take turns offering cash, judging each lot’s hidden value, and deciding when to pass. After the final sale, players score their collections, and the shopper with the best haul wins.

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