The Opinionated Gamers

Minikin City Designer: Simone Luciani, Matthieu Verdier Publisher: Cranio Creations / Capstone Games Players: 2-5 Age: 10+ Time: 30 minutes Preorder link: https://capstone-games.com/collections/all?

So officially, the Wednesday at Essen is the setup day.

This is part 3 of my recap of the Renegade Games virtual “convention” (RenegadeCon) and the new information they revealed about the next wave of armies and terrain (due to be released in the first half of 2027).

Ashes & Amber Designer: David Falla de Acebo Publisher: David’s Games Players: 1-4 Age: 14+ Time: 40 min/player Played with review copy provided by publisher The inevitable will come.

Well, I’ve had a few days to travel around Germany prior to SPIEL, and I’ve had a grand time seeing old castles, beautiful vistas, and yummy plates filled with meat and potatoes.

After looking back at my Gen Con experience each year, I also like to look back at my Gen Con writing.

It’s been a crazy fall and so the Gen Con articles have been pretty strung out, but with Essen basically already around the corner, I thought it necessary to chuck one final post over the finish line.

September 2026 Games I played for the first time this month, from worst to best, along with my ratings and comments.

Dance of Ibexes Designer: Wolfgang Kramer Publisher: playte Players: 2-8 Age: 14+ Time: 45 minutes Preorder link: preorder.playte.com Played with review copy provided by publisher Dance of Ibexes, which was first released as Tanz der Hornochsen!

Upland & Prairie Designer: Peer Sylvester Publisher: Osprey Games Players: 2-4 Age: 14+ Time: 15-25 minutes Played with review copy provided by publisher Race to rewild the land in this quick and charming strategy game.

Bubble and Shadow Designer: Kai Zu Publisher: Broadway Toys LTD Players: 2-5 Age: 10+ Time: 30 mins Preorder link: https://forms.gle/RqukaTumiF9zULs1A Played with review copy provided by publisher Bubble and Shadow is a light strategy board game with a ……

Isle of Bears Designer: Daisy Yi-Ching Chen Publisher: Heybye Gaming Players: 2 Age: 8+ Time: 15 minutes Played with review copy provided by publisher Isle of Bears is a two-player card-driven abstract strategy game set in the summer … Continue reading →

Always a Bridesmaid Designer: Jimic Publisher: Kado Games Players: 2-5 Age: 10+ Time: 20 minutes Played with review copy provided by publisher Always a Bridesmaid is a simultaneous card game about trying to shine just enough — but … Continue reading →

Syzygy Designer: Asuka, IKE Publisher: EmperorS4 Players: 3-6 Age: 6+ Time: 15 minutes Played with review copy provided by publisher The solar system we live in exists thanks to a miraculous arrangement of planets.

Traveluencer Designer: Ryo Nakamura (中村 良), Zhonghao Yang, Kai Zu Publisher: Broadway Games Players: 2-4 Age: 8+ Time: 30 minutes Amazon affiliate link: Played with review copy provided by publisher In Traveluencer, players must try to make their … Contin…

Lotus Card Shuffler V2 Affiliate link: https://play-lotus.com/?

Pandasaurus has been on a bit of a run this year reprinting classic games.

Plotters, Inc.

Chambered Nautilus Designers: Ace & Anna Ellett Publisher: Grand Gamers Guild Players: 1+ Age: 13+ Difficulty Rating: 2/3 Time: 60 minutes on the box; 48 min in reality Played with review copy provided by publisher Weblink – https://grandgamersguild.com/G…

Once upon a time, there was a tiny company located in a small town in Tennessee…and through hard work and careful planning and taking the time to get it right, they managed to produce a game that won multiple awards … Continue reading →

Stonk Market Designer: Reiner Knizia Publisher: Allplay Players: 3-6 Age: 9+ Time: 20 minutes Amazon affiliate link: Played with review copy provided by publisher Everyone knows that line goes up.

I love checking out the Leder Games offerings as they often dive deep into asymmetric play.

Nijar Designer: David Bernal Publisher: Perro Loko / Devir Players: 1-4 Age: 14+ Time: 25 min/player Played with review copy provided by publisher Bathed by the crystal-clear waters of Cabo de Gata and under the white light of … Continue reading →

Yes, we’re (thankfully) nearing the end of my Gen Con G(J)ournal, probably just a few posts left.

Hellas Designer: Stefan Dorra Publisher: Playte Players: 2-4 Age: 14+ Time: 45 minutes Preorder link: preorder.playte.com Played with review copy provided by publisher Hellas, 480 BC.

This is part 2 of my recap Renegade Games virtual “convention” (RenegadeCon) and the new information they revealed about the next wave of armies and terrain (due to be released in the first half of 2027).

Dickory Designer: Hanibal Sonderegger, Sean Ross Publisher: Playte Players: 2 Age: 14 Time: 20 mins Preorder link: preorder.playte.com Played with review copy provided by publisher Be the first to get rid of your cards in this climbing game … Continue rea…

Well, fellow fans of Heroscaper (and those who are weirdly fascinated by my obsession with this crazy miniatures combat system), it’s time once again to recap Renegade Games virtual “convention” (RenegadeCon) and the new information they revealed about the

K-Pop Demon Hunters: Battle for the Spotlight Designers: Seiji Kanai and Waleed Ma’arouf Publisher: Asmodee Players: 2-6 Age: 8+ Time: 15 mins Amazon affiliate link: https://link.amazon/B00eNn9x0 Played with review copy provided by publisher Tune in to the

Gloomhaven: Buttons & Bugs Designers: Nikki Valens Publisher: Cephalofair Players: 1 Age: 10+ Time: 20 minutes Preorder link: https://cephalofair.com/products/gloomhaven-pubcrawlers-a-buttons-bugs-expansion Copy provided by publisher Gloomhaven: Buttons &…

There was an active crowd at Wacky Wizard Games (the Wise Wizard Games nom-de-plume for their lightweight titles) around the Caution Signs sequel, More Fun Ahead, a complete version with new cards.

Gachapon Trick Designer: Daniel Newman Publisher: Playte Players: 2-4 Age: 14+ Time: 30 minutes Preorder link: preorder.playte.com Played with review copy provided by publisher Oh boy!

Exit: The Game Advent Calendar – The Magic of Christmas Designers: Emely, Inka and Markus Brand Publisher: Kosmos Players: 1+ Time: 5-10 min/day x 24 days Played with review copy provided by Thames and Kosmos Amazon Affiliate link – https://amzn.to/4wLZ2tT

The winner of the 2026 Jogo do Ano award was recently announced.

Jibber Jabble Designer: Cassie Sikes Publisher: Allplay Players: 3-10 Age: 8+ Time: 15 minutes Played with review copy provided by publisher Your goal each round is to convey a secret word to the round’s guesser.

Grabble Designer: Naoki Fukuda Publisher: CMYK Players: 2-6 Age: 6+ Time: 5 minutes Played with review copy provided by publisher Here’s how it works: you have a box of gloriously mismatched pieces from games that never existed—hogs, bananas, … Continue r…