Abstract Strategy

These games focus on strategy rather than luck or a theme. They usually have minimalistic designs and rules, emphasizing skill and critical thinking. Examples include “Chess” and “Go” and “Stratego”.

Ingenious - Ingenious, KOSMOS, 2023 — front cover (image provided by the publisher) - Credit: W Eric Martin
Rating: 4.8/5

Ingenious Review

'Ingenious' hits the sweet spot between being easy to learn and offering deep strategic play. With its high replay value and great component quality, it's a must-have in any game collection, despite its luck factor. A solid 4 out of 5 stars.

Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4.3/5

Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition Review

Railroad Ink: Deep Blue Edition shines with innovative dice-driven mechanics, fostering strategic multiplayer interaction, boosted further by its fantastic replay value through exciting expansions—a delightful challenge for friends and family alike.

Canvas: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4/5

Canvas Review

Canvas mixes art with clever card layering. The see-through cards wowed my friends, but luck sometimes paints outside the lines. Still, it's a creative, beautiful puzzle that's worth hanging on your board game wall.

Turing Machine: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4.5/5

Turing Machine Review

Excerpt from Turing Machine Review: Boasting ingenious puzzles and compelling player interaction, Turing Machine offers deep strategies and high replayability—making each session a unique excursion into the brilliance of collective problem-solving.

Chess: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4.5/5

Chess Review

Chess is the granddaddy of fair games! No dice, no luck—just you, your wits, and maybe too much coffee. If you want a brain workout and endless battles, this is it.

Project L cover
Rating: 4.3/5

Project L Review

In my exploration of Project L, I found its puzzle-solving gameplay, top-notch components, and interactive dynamics combine to create a deeply engaging experience that shines particularly during group play.

Tiny Towns: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4.5/5

Tiny Towns Review

Tiny Towns shines in its intricate blending of resource management with spatial planning. This board game requires strategic foresight and social interaction, unraveling in unexpected alliances and clever gameplay—all within wonderous town-building.

Schotten Totten: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4.5/5

Schotten Totten Review

In this Schotten Totten review, we ventured through the game's sleek card management, intense player dynamics, and substantial strategic depth — all contributing to a fast-paced, engaging experience that smartly balances simplicity and strategy.