Worker Placement

Players use tokens to select actions or spaces on a shared board, determining what actions are available to them. Examples include “Agricola,” “Lords of Waterdeep,” and “Viticulture.”

Burger Joint: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4/5

Burger Joint Review

Burger Joint serves up tasty choices, cheeky table talk, and enough strategy to keep the grill hot. Luck adds spice without wrecking the meal, though hungry players may find the ingredient race a little fierce.

Waters Edge: Box Cover Front
Rating: 3.8/5

Waters Edge Review

Waters Edge offers bright art, clever choices, and enough replay value to keep game night afloat. A little luck can rattle the boat, but smart play usually keeps you sailing.

Distilled: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4/5

Distilled Review

Distilled turns spirit making into a clever race of recipes, markets, and timing. Luck adds a little fizz, but smart planning wins the bottle. Just expect a thirsty learning curve.

Foodies - Foodies, CMON Limited/Spaghetti Western Games, 2019 — front cover - Credit: W Eric Martin
Rating: 3/5

Foodies Review

Foodies is a tasty blend of light strategy and luck. It’s colorful, quick, and fun, but don’t expect deep thinking. Best served as a light snack between heavier games!

Cryo - Cryo, Z-Man Games, 2021 — front cover (image provided by the publisher) - Credit: W Eric Martin
Rating: 4.3/5

Cryo Review

Cryo serves up chilly tension and tough choices. Worker placement feels clever and rewarding, but if you mess up, that's on you—not the dice! My group couldn't stop at one round. It's a brain-freeze worth catching.

Magnolia: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4.5/5

Magnolia Review

Magnolia surprised me with its lush garden theme and clever rules. It’s fair, quick to learn, and full of sneaky moves—my friends didn’t stop laughing (or plotting) for the whole game. Great for chill but competitive nights!

Amalfi: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4/5

Amalfi Review

Amalfi wowed our group with clever strategy and gorgeous bits, even if the setup took longer than finding my missing sock. Worth a play if you like brains over luck!

The Colonists: Box Cover Front
Rating: 3.5/5

The Colonists Review

The Colonists is a beast of a board game—it rewards planners, not gamblers. Set aside your weekend, gather your most patient pals, and prepare for a satisfying, brain-burning empire building marathon. Bring snacks, bathroom breaks, and possibly an alibi.

The Flood: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4/5

The Flood Review

From saving animals to dodging my friends’ ‘accidental’ floods, The Flood kept us laughing and scheming all night. Strategy beats luck here—mostly. Just don’t blame me if the animals get a little seasick.

Taverna: Box Cover Front
Rating: 4.5/5

Taverna Review

Taverna tosses you into a wild night of bribery, beer, and backstabbing. The art’s a treat, the rules are simple, and the only thing messier than my last game was the bar floor!