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: 4/5

Politico Review

Politico is where you negotiate, scheme, and bribe your way to the top. It's smart, a bit sneaky, and always rowdy—just keep one eye on your friends and the other on Steve, who cheats at everything.

Brew: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4/5

Brew Review

Brew surprised us with wild dice chaos, beautiful art, and sneaky moves. Sometimes luck steals the show, but strategy matters too. Not perfect, but it’s a wild, funny ride if you don’t mind a little randomness.

Skyward: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4/5

Skyward Review

Skyward throws you into a sky city brawl where you split cards, squabble, and laugh at your own bad luck. It’s fast, fun, and has just enough strategy to keep you blaming yourself instead of the dice.

Drive: Box Cover Front
Rating: 3.8/5

Drive Review

If you like fast turns, bright cards, and yelling at friends for blocking your perfect lane, Drive is a blast—just watch out for that sneaky luck messing with your plans!

Celtic: Box Cover Front
Rating: 3.8/5

Celtic Review

Celtic is a fast and clever game where you trade, block, and sometimes steal your aunt’s route—sorry, Aunt Linda! Gorgeous looks, smooth play, and everyone’s still talking afterward (and forgiving, mostly).

Amazons: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4.5/5

Amazons Review

Amazons nails the sweet spot between chess and chaos—pure strategy, zero nonsense. If you like your board games fair and clever, this one's a real winner (as long as you don’t lose your arrows under the couch!).

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!