Abstract Strategy Games
Last time we talked about luck in board games, so let's look at the opposite this time. Abstract strategy games usually don't have luck element but rely on one's skill and strategy instead. The theme is either thin or non-existent. Even if there is a theme, the game would function the same without it.
Chess is probably the first game that comes to mind when thinking about abstract strategy games. One of the oldest board games, originating before 7th century (as it's believed) is still hugely popular and played by millions of amateurs and professionals. Checkers, Go, Backgammon and Mahjong are other most well-known classical games that fall into this category.
A modern era brought us a number of new games, including Patchwork a #1 abstract game on BGG, YINSH and similar games by Kris Burm, Onitama, The Duke, Ingenious, Blokus... as well as last year's Tak and beautiful Santorini.
Also check out The Dice Tower's Top Ten Abstract Games (a bit older and not necessarily strategy games) and Boards and Bees' The Eleven: Abstract Strategy Games.
News
Board Game and Tabletop News – April 12th 2017
Chris Bryan gives an overview of the latest board game news. Brass, Super Mario: Level Up!, One Deck Dungeon expansion, Temporum: Alternate Realities, The Imposters.
ICv2: Critical Mass, Expansions for Sheriff of Nottingham, Onitama, More
At the GAMA Trade Show, ICv2 spoke with Arcane Wonders to find out about upcoming 2017 releases, expansions, and new retail support initiatives.
New Game Round-up: Evolution Goes Deep and Ticket to Ride Returns to Germany
W Eric Martin from BGG gives an overview of new game announcements. Ticket to Ride: Germany, Evolution: The Oceans...
ICv2: Portal Games Introduces Retailer Sales Tools
At the GAMA Trade Show, ICv2 spoke with Polish games publisher Portal Games’ Ignacy Trzewiczek to learn about retailer tools the publisher is providing to help spark sales on Tides of Time and Imperial Settlers.
Articles and Videos
True Story: How Monopoly Saved Thousands of Lives
A truly interesting part of its history only came to light 40 years after it happened, when the British Government declassified a set of documents from World War Two. It turns out that Monopoly’s impact on the West was far more profound and life-changing than the millions of copies sat on dusty shelves across people’s homes would ever suggest.
The Age Of Kickstarter Games: How Crowdfunding Changed The Rules
Kickstarter Games, those who create them, and those who fund them, have fundamentally changed this hobby. It’s a fact.
Top 5 Boardgame Themed Things To Do This Easter
Us Brits get a lovely long bank holiday weekend for Easter, four days of freedom away from work! What to do with all this time? Why not celebrate with something boardgame related? Here are a few ideas for all the family to enjoy.
Frank West, the creator of THE CITY OF KINGS
Tompet Games continue their series of Kickstarter interviews... This time they interview Frank West, author of The City of Kings which is on Kickstarter at the moment.
Top 10 Super Hero Games - with Tom Vasel
Tom Vasel from The Dice Tower shares his Top 10 super hero themed games!
These New Classic Board Games Are Now New Apps
Board game apps are ideal for gaming on the go, playing a quick game when there’s no one else around to sit down at the table, and even for simply learning the basics of a game before playing the real thing.
Rising Sun: What I Learned as a Creator by Backing My First CMON Campaign
When I learned this past summer that one of the most successful game designers ever, Eric Lang, was working on a game called Rising Sun, I was incredibly excited for it.
Crowdfunding
Dead Man's Doubloons by Gonzalo Aguirre Bisi
A simultaneous action selection game of high piracy: attack, pillage, & board rivals, racing to endless riches on the mysterious isle!
Five Seals of Magic Board Game 2-5 Player 60 Minutes by Seth Hiatt
Explore the dungeon of the Arcana Tower in Five Seals of Magic to find powerful spells! Magical seals of four elements block your way!
Petrichor by Mighty Boards
A 1-5* player highly interactive board game of controlling clouds and mastering the weather!
Get Off My Land! by First Fish Games
A game of “Close Quarter Farming” as players compete for limited land and resources. Will you be the most successful farmer?
Smiths of Winterforge by Table Tyrant Games
A competitive strategy game of Dwarven blacksmithing, set in the fiery heart of the mysterious Winterforge mountain for 2 to 5 players.
Dungeon Dice: THE LOST KING and Boxed Game by Potluck Games
Dungeon Dice returns with a new expansion, The Lost King and a box with room to hold all add-ons. Now there's more dice to love & roll!
Reviews and Playthroughs
Lost Cities Review - Reiner Knizia
Today we’ll be talking about Lost Cities. Created by the incredible mind of Reiner Knizia, it’s a card game about mounting expeditions to go exploring ancient ruins.
"VS" - Exit: The Game versus Unlock! (Kosmos/Space Cowboys) Review by Man Vs Meeple
David and Jeremy review and compare two escape room style games - Exit: The Game and Unlock! Spoiler free.
Welcome to the Dungeon (2013)
Welcome to the Dungeon reminds me an awful lot of ‘name that tune’. For those of you too young to get the reference this was a pleasingly mediocre game show popular in the 80s in the grimmest days of Thatcher’s Britain when we had precious few things about which to be happy.
A Feast for Odin Gameplay Runthrough
Rahdo runs through the latest game by Uwe Rosenberg, A Feast for Odin. Btw, check out Rahdo's campaign for year six on Kickstarter.
Tsuro of the Seas Review – Row, Row Your Boat
In Tsuro you’ll be manning the helm of a Red Seal ship, intent on charting the unknown waters in the name of the Emperor who has decreed that from the edges of the seas to the mountain peaks belongs to him and him alone.
7 Ronin Review
Würfel Reviews review of 7 Ronin, an asymmetric two-player game in which one player controls a group of ninja attacking a village that's defended by seven ronin (masterless samurai), which are controlled by the other player.
What is Your Favorite Color? - A Double-Take Review of Quests of Valeria
Today's review has us exploring Valeria once again, after a successful foray into the Villages of Valeria. Quests of Valeria has gamers playing as guildmasters hanging out in the local tavern, looking to hire citizens of Valeria to go a-questing in order to score victory points.
Influencers
Cody Carlson
Cody is the man behind the very popular The Discriminating Gamer YouTube channel, easily recognizable by his trademark hat and jacket :) and of course by his great sense of humor. He first started writing board game reviews for his local paper, The Deseret News and in 2014 decided to jump into video reviewing, together with his friends. The channel now has hundreds of videos.
Unfortunately (for us), just a few days ago Cody announced that he will have much less time to shoot videos since he is moving to Texas to pursue his PhD. We can only wish him luck in following his dreams and enjoy the content he has created so far.
To learn more about him, check out The Cardboard Republic interview, or his website. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.