Jamie in his proper element: With all of his board games

Jamie Hopkins

With years of dice-rolling, card-flipping, and strategic planning under my belt, I've transformed my passion into expertise. I thrive on dissecting the mechanics and social dynamics of board games, sharing insights from countless game nights with friends. I dive deep into gameplay mechanics, while emphasizing the social joys of gaming. While I appreciate themes and visuals, it's the strategy and camaraderie that truly capture my heart.

How To Play: Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases – Setup, rule summary and strategy

Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases: Box Cover Front

Quick Summary

Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases offers an immersive and captivating gaming experience for fans of mystery and deduction. With a well-crafted storyline set in Victorian London, players will embark on a challenging journey, employing their detective skills to solve intricate cases.

Effective planning and strategy are key to success in this game. Players must carefully gather and interpret clues, manage their time, and make efficient use of resources. With each expansion case, the challenge deepens, providing hours of engaging gameplay.

The game emphasizes cooperation, allowing players to combine their deductive reasoning to crack the cases. Collaboration and sharing of insights play a pivotal role, enhancing the gameplay experience for all participants.

With high-quality components, detailed casebooks, and realistic artwork, the game immerses players in the ambiance of Victorian London. The inclusion of official solutions invites players to compare their deductions, providing valuable learning opportunities to refine their detective skills.

Whether you're a fan of Sherlock Holmes or simply enjoy unraveling mysteries, Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective offers an unforgettable experience that will keep you hooked from start to finish. Take on the role of the brilliant detective, step into the foggy streets of London, and let your investigative instincts guide you to solve the unsolvable.

How To Play: Targi – Setup, rule summary and strategy

Targi: Box Cover Front

Targi is an immersive and strategic board game set in the desert that offers a unique gaming experience. With its innovative action selection mechanic, players must strategically place their Targi tokens on the central grid to perform actions, gathering resources, trading, and establishing tribes to earn victory points. The game features deep strategic gameplay, requiring careful planning, resource management, and tactical decision-making. Engaging in negotiation with opponents, evaluating cards, and maximizing victory point opportunities are crucial for success. Along with the game's exceptional component quality and stunning artwork, Targi offers compelling gameplay that keeps players engaged and coming back for more. From placement tactics to resource management, the intricate strategies and thought-provoking decisions make each playthrough a dynamic and rewarding experience. Targi is an absolute delight for strategy game enthusiasts and those seeking a challenging and immersive desert adventure.

How To Play: Res Arcana – Setup, rule summary and strategy

Res Arcana: Box Cover Front

Quick Summary

In Res Arcana, prepare to explore a realm of magic, strategy, and epic battles. With clever card play, resource management, and tactical decision-making, you can claim victory over your opponents. Establish a thematically cohesive tableau, balance your resource production, and maximize card synergies to wield impressive combos. The game involves carefully timing your moves, strategically planning your actions, and adapting to the game state. Seize opportunities, counter your opponents' strategies, and optimize your deck to create an unstoppable engine. With each turn, progress towards victory by earning victory points through controlled places of power, claimed monuments, and shadow cards. Res Arcana caters to a deep sense of strategy and provides a captivating and engaging gaming experience. Master the art of Res Arcana, harnessing the power of magic, and emerge as the ultimate mage in the realm. The realms of Res Arcana await your strategic prowess - embrace the challenge and let destiny be shaped by your skilled hands.

How To Play: Dwellings of Eldervale – Setup, rule summary and strategy

Dwellings of Eldervale: Box Cover Front

In Dwellings of Eldervale, a captivating world of strategic possibilities awaits. Build and manage your resources, position your dwellings strategically, unleash powerful creature combos, complete objectives, and dominate the realm. With deep gameplay mechanics, stunning artwork, and high replayability, Dwellings of Eldervale offers an immersive and thrilling experience for players.

This comprehensive strategy guide has provided you with valuable insights and expert tips to maximize your chances of victory. From resource management to strategic positioning, powerful creature combos, balancing expansion and dominance, and objective completion strategies, you've gained a strong foundation to approach each game with confidence.

Remember to adapt your strategies to the evolving game state, anticipate the actions of your opponents, and seize opportunities to gain an edge. By carefully considering your decisions and exuding cunning and flexibility, you'll navigate the complexities of Eldervale and emerge as the radiant champion of the realm.

Now it's time to put your knowledge into action, rally your forces, and embark on a captivating journey in Dwellings of Eldervale. May your actions be bold, your strategies be swift, and your triumph be resolute as you forge your path to victory!

How To Play: Parks

PARKS: Box Cover Front
Parks is a board game about hiking through beautiful trails, managing resources, and optimizing your path. It includes seasonal events that affect strategies. Players must plan moves carefully to win. The game components are well-made, offering an immersive experience. My friends and I love its strategic depth and scenic artwork.

How To Play: Roll for the Galaxy – Setup, rule summary and strategy

Roll for the Galaxy: Box Cover Front

Quick Summary

In this comprehensive strategy guide for Roll for the Galaxy, we have covered all the key aspects you need to master in order to achieve galactic domination. From a rules summary and understanding the objective of the game to diving into dice management, resource allocation, technology and planet selection, risk assessment, timing, and strategy adaptation, this guide has equipped you with the knowledge and strategies necessary to secure victory.

Roll for the Galaxy challenges you to strategically allocate your dice, make critical decisions about settling worlds and developing technologies, managing resources and mitigating risks, and adapting your strategies based on the dynamic nature of the game. By following the recommended strategies and exploring different approaches, you can outpace your opponents, accumulate victory points, and emerge as the ultimate leader among the stars. Remember, flexibility, timing, and a keen eye for opportunities will play key roles in your path to triumph.

Now, armed with a deep understanding of the game's mechanics and a toolbox of strategic insights, you are ready to embark on thrilling space adventures, outwit your rivals, and conquer the galaxy in Roll for the Galaxy. May the dice roll in your favor, and may your strategic brilliance guide you to victory!

How To Play: Forbidden Stars – Setup, rule summary and strategy

Forbidden Stars: Box Cover Front

Quick Summary

Forbidden Stars is an epic and exhilarating space conquest board game that challenges players to strategize, command fleets, and outmaneuver opponents for galactic dominance. In this quick summary, we will highlight the key points of the game.

In Forbidden Stars, players choose factions, battle for control of sectors, and complete objectives to obtain victory points. The game features stunning artwork, high-quality components, and engaging gameplay mechanics that immerse players in a vibrant and dynamic space opera.

With various paths to victory, players must carefully manage resources, develop strategies, and adapt to changing game conditions. Map positioning and control play a crucial role in determining success, as players strategically deploy fleets, secure objectives, and manage their territories throughout the game.

Combat tactics also take center stage, allowing players to utilize unique faction abilities, maneuver fleets, and employ powerful action cards to gain a tactical edge and emerge victorious in battles.

Through careful objective acquisition, effective resource management, clever combat maneuvers, and strategic map dominance, players can triumph over rivals and shape the fate of the universe.

Embrace the challenges, command your factions, and set forth on an extraordinary journey to conquer the stars in Forbidden Stars - a game that combines depth, strategy, and thrilling gameplay into an unforgettable experience.

How To Play: Champions of Midgard – Setup, rule summary and strategy

Champions of Midgard: Box Cover Front

Champions of Midgard is an immersive board game that brings the world of Norse mythology to life. With its engaging gameplay mechanics, stunning artwork, and strategic decision-making, it offers an exciting and dynamic gaming experience for players. The game encompasses various aspects, such as worker placement, resource management, combat tactics, quest prioritization, and the utilization of Viking clan abilities.

Players must navigate the ever-changing landscape of Midgard as they gather resources, recruit warriors, embark on quests, and battle fearsome monsters. Effective resource management, careful planning, and adaptability are crucial in the pursuit of victory.

By mastering combat tactics, such as choosing the right warriors and upgrading equipment, players can achieve success in battles and earn valuable rewards. Prioritizing quests and optimizing their completion yield beneficial outcomes, while Viking clan abilities add strategic depth and uniqueness to each playthrough.

Endless opportunities for strategic maneuvering, interaction with other players, and the high replayability factor make Champions of Midgard a must-play game for enthusiasts of strategic board games. Embrace the challenges, stand as an honorable Viking leader, and prove yourself as the true Champion of Midgard.

How To Play: Yokohama – Setup, rule summary and strategy

Yokohama: Box Cover Front

Quick Summary

In Yokohama, an immersive and strategic board game, you are tasked with building your trading empire in Meiji-era Japan. Through optimal worker placement, balancing short-term and long-term goals, effective resource management, strategic contract fulfillment, and building a strong trading network, victory can be yours.

Navigate the dynamic gameplay, adapt to changing circumstances, and make calculated decisions to outwit your rivals. Efficiently manage your workers, resources, and actions to maximize your advantages and score the most victory points.

With high-quality components and stunning artwork, Yokohama immerses you in the bustling streets of historical Japan. Modular board setups, expansions, and variant rules ensure infinite replayability, promising a fresh gaming experience every time.

Through careful planning, skillful strategy, and a keen eye for opportunity, you can rise to the top as a master of Yokohama. Will you seize control of the trading routes, fulfill valuable contracts, and build a thriving trading empire? The choice is yours.

Engage in a game where strategic brilliance and shrewd decision-making pave the path to victory. Gather your resources, master the art of negotiation, and forge your prosperous destiny in the captivating world of Yokohama.