Area Control

Players compete to dominate and control more areas or territories on the game board. It often involves conflict, strategy, and negotiation. Examples include “Risk” and “Smallworld”.

Confrontation: Box Cover Front
Rating: 3/5

Confrontation Review

Confrontation dazzles with great minis and wild battles, but the rulebook might make you cry. If you like chaos with style, it’s worth a shot—just bring patience, snacks, and maybe a thesaurus.

Ming Dynasty: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4/5

Ming Dynasty Review

Ming Dynasty mixes clever planning and lovely artwork, but throws in some surprise event cards that can mess with your plans. Still, I had a blast (even when my empire crumbled). Great for fans of strategy and history.

Rating: 3.8/5

The Boss Review

The Boss is all about bluffing and guts, with hilarious stand-offs and sneaky plays. Sure, the art’s a bit goofy, but if you like double-crosses and risky gambles, it’ll keep your crew talking long after game night.

Birth of a Nation: Box Cover Front
Rating: 3.8/5

Birth of a Nation Review

Birth of a Nation nails its theme and gets most history right. You’ll plot, scheme, and maybe yell at your friends—just like real history—but with much better snacks. Watch out for the odd clunky rule or two.

Terra Nova - Terra Nova, Capstone Games, 2022 — front cover (image provided by the publisher) - Credit: W Eric Martin
Rating: 4.5/5

Terra Nova Review

Terra Nova brings sharp strategy, clever blocking, and just enough variety to keep things spicy. It’s easy to learn and perfect for groups who hate losing to dumb luck. Grab some friends, get competitive, and watch the friendships wobble!

King of New York cover
Rating: 3.8/5

King of New York Review

King of New York is wild, loud, and loaded with flashy monster fights. If you like dice and unpredictable chaos, it's a blast. But if you prefer deep strategy, you might want to look elsewhere for your city-smashing fix!

Siege - Siege, Alderac Entertainment Group, 2016 — front cover (image provided by the publisher) - Credit: W Eric Martin
Rating: 4/5

Siege Review

Siege challenges your strategic mind while crafting alliances and rivalries. Its stunning art and quality make each game an epic tale, despite minor balance hiccups. Get ready for thrilling medieval battles with friends, ensuring endless fun.

Gettysburg: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4.5/5

Gettysburg Review

Gettysburg delivers intense strategy and historical depth. It requires cunning tactics over sheer luck, making each match a nail-biter. Highly replayable and historically immersive, it's a must-try for strategy lovers seeking a fair challenge.

Queen Bee: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4.3/5

Queen Bee Review

Queen Bee buzzes with bright artwork and strategic gameplay, although luck can sting some players. It's perfect for a fun-filled evening. Watch out, though—my neighbor Jeff tried to frame the bee cards! Who knew board games could be so artsy?