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”.

Tropico - Tropico, Cocktail Games, 2017 — front cover (image provided by the publisher) - Credit: W Eric Martin
Rating: 3.5/5

Tropico Review

Ruling Tropico means stealing bananas, bribing friends, and getting double-crossed by your gran. It’s silly, chaotic fun—if you don’t mind a pinch of luck setting your island dreams on fire.

A Place in the Sun: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4/5

A Place in the Sun Review

A Place in the Sun brings laughs and bright colors to my table, but watch out—luck sometimes clouds your strategy. If you like lively chatter and don't mind a bit of randomness, this game shines.

Landlord!: Box Cover Front
Rating: 3/5

Landlord! Review

Landlord! gives you laughs, table-flipping moments, and a taste of being a ruthless property tycoon. Just don’t expect much strategy—luck runs this show. Fun for a rowdy group, but probably not for hardcore gamers or sore losers.

Kensington: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4.5/5

Kensington Review

Kensington is pure tile-laying chaos with a retro vibe. Every turn, you plot, block, and bargain your way to victory. Fast, strategic, and packed with table talk—this classic will either make you laugh or flip the board!

La Strada: Box Cover Front
Rating: 3.8/5

La Strada Review

La Strada hits that sweet spot between quick strategy and friendly competition. Roads get tangled, friendships get tested, and I still can't pronounce "La Strada" correctly after my third soda. A clever pick for fans of route-building games!

Captains of Industry: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4/5

Captains of Industry Review

Captains of Industry is a cutthroat game where your brain sweats more than your brow. If you like smart moves, tough choices, and stealing markets from your friends, you’ll find plenty to love (and a little to grumble) here.

The Keep: Box Cover Front
Rating: 3.8/5

The Keep Review

The Keep shines with sneaky moves and plenty of backstabbing, but those pesky dice can spoil even the best plans. Still, my group keeps coming back for more wild swings and laughs. If you like chaos, you’ll enjoy it.

Evo: Box Cover Front
Rating: 3.3/5

Evo Review

Evo lets you mess with dinosaur genes and outbid your friends for cool dino upgrades. It’s wild, sometimes unfair, but always hilarious—unless you hate losing because of dice. Then you’ll need a hug. Or a different game.

High Ground: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4.3/5

High Ground Review

High Ground surprised me! The game served up clever tactics, wild shoves, and lots of laughs. If you enjoy friendly chaos and smart moves, this one's a blast—just watch your back and your pieces.

Barony: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4.5/5

Barony Review

Barony is the game where brains beat luck every time. Simple rules, tight strategy, and a medieval look that even my cat found fascinating—if you like smart games, Barony delivers the goods (and some ruthless moments).