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”.

Upstream: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4/5

Upstream Review

Upstream turns a salmon run into a clever race of timing, growth, and gentle sabotage. The river keeps moving, your fish keep eating, and your friends keep blocking the best route. Rude, but wonderfully fun.

Lawless: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4/5

Lawless Review

Lawless turns ranch building into a friendly scrap for land, money, and bragging rights. Its choices feel smart, the luck stays fair, and nobody leaves without plotting one more game.

On Fire!!!: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4/5

On Fire!!! Review

On Fire!!! kept my friends arguing, laughing, and blaming the luck gods. Its quick turns give everyone smart choices, though a few wild moments can swing the game. Still, it brings plenty of heat without burning out the table.

Quantum: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4/5

Quantum Review

Quantum packs big space battles into a neat box. Its dice drive clever choices, not boring luck, while every colonised world makes your friends glare across the table. Lovely stuff.

Nomads - Nomads, Ludonaute, 2017 — front cover (image provided by the publisher) - Credit: W Eric Martin
Rating: 4/5

Nomads Review

Nomads turns simple tile collecting into a sharp little contest. My friends and I loved the tense choices, fair scoring, and quick turns. It rarely felt lucky, which kept my grumpy side quiet.

Wildlands - Wildlands, Osprey Games, 2018 — front cover (image provided by the publisher) - Credit: W Eric Martin
Rating: 4/5

Wildlands Review

Wildlands rewards clever movement, bold attacks, and knowing when to hide. My friends and I kept shouting across the table like tiny warlords. A few faction quirks show, but the fights stayed tense and fair.

War and Peace: Box Cover Front
Rating: 3.8/5

War and Peace Review

War and Peace gives history fans plenty to chew on, with smart tactics and tense battles. Luck can still kick the door in wearing muddy boots, but strong choices usually win the day.

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.