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”.

Politico: Box Cover Front
Rating: 3.5/5

Politico Review

Politico is a wild ride of deals, betrayals, and laughter. If you love debating and sneaky moves, it’s your kind of chaos—just don’t expect total fairness every round.

Brew: Box Cover Front
Rating: 3.3/5

Brew Review

Brew is a magical, dice-chucking game with adorable art and plenty of chaos. Great for laughs and casual fun, but if you crave pure strategy and balance, you might want to look elsewhere.

Skyward: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4/5

Skyward Review

Skyward takes card drafting to new heights—literally. With clever play, fair mechanics, and stunning art, it kept my friends and me on our toes (and at each other’s throats, competitively speaking). Fun, fair, and absolutely replayable.

Drive: Box Cover Front
Rating: 3.8/5

Drive Review

Drive throws you and your friends into a wild, speedy race where cards fly, cars get bumped, and sneaky moves win the day. Fast, fun, and a bit chaotic—just how a good game night should be!

Celtic: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4/5

Celtic Review

Celtic is a charming, quick game where you outwit pals with sneaky moves and collect treasures. It’s great for casual fun, but die-hard strategists might want more. Still, I loved how everyone laughed—mostly at my bad luck!

Amazons: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4.3/5

Amazons Review

Amazons is pure strategy with zero luck nonsense. After a few rounds, even my cleverest friends begged for rematches. If you want a brain-sizzling duel with no excuses, this one’s a winner. Just hide the board from sore losers.

Torres - Torres, HUCH! & friends/IDW Games, 2017 — front cover (image provided by the publisher) - Credit: W Eric Martin
Rating: 4.5/5

Torres Review

In my journey with Torres, I discovered a game where strategic depth meets engaging player interaction. The fair scoring system rewards thoughtful planning, making every game a thrilling yet balanced experience worth diving into repeatedly.

Take 5: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4.5/5

Take 5 Review

Take 5 turns simplicity into an art form, masterfully balancing luck with strategy. Its scoring system and player interactions engage without overcomplicating, making it a staple for game nights.

Churchill: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4.5/5

Churchill Review

Churchill impresses with its blend of strategy, history, and diplomacy. Although lengthy, it's a captivating ride through WWII. However, the complex mechanics may daunt beginners. Definitely a hit for history buffs and strategy fans!

Element - Element, Rather Dashing Games, 2017 — front cover (image provided by the publisher) - Credit: W Eric Martin
Rating: 4.5/5

Element Review

'Element' thrills with its mix of strategy and nature's powers. Easy to learn but challenging to master, it's a hit at game nights. Just when you think you've got it, Element surprises you again. A solid 4.5 stars!