Huh, I'm cool with this.

Apropos to the below post, my family played Modern Art as a bit of Easter gaming. This was the first time for our younger son, who indulges us by playing stuff but doesn't love board gaming. But this game was wildly successful. He was engaged the whole time, and never complained about the length.

This is an endlessly wonderful thread. Anything involving Milhouse is very popular with my kids. "Everything's comin' up Milhouse" is a common quote for us, and the sequence below is one of our favorites.

Games played in January 2026. Lots of two player games, including those that play more.

Sometimes I wonder why I bother playing anything else...

I've played three games of Duel for Middle-earth, and I've spent a lot of mental energy trying to decide how I feel about it. I have typed up like 1000 words in my BGG comment on the game litigating the whole thing. I don't remember the last time a game generated that in me, so that's something.

I got a German copy of Fire & Axe a couple months ago, and we finally got to play it last night. While our play was longer than I like it was still so much fun. Lots of subtle design flourishes that are quietly brilliant, and very evocative of the viking age. Really looking forward to playing again.

post a perfect album from the 90s that isn't nirvana, Pearl Jam, soundgarden, or Alice In Chains

Been playing a lot of LotR: Duel for Middle-earth lately, as a big fan of the original 7 Wonders Duel. My big-if-true assessment is that I like some things about it and other things not so much.

Played Duel for Middle-earth with my nephew and really enjoyed it. It’s not very ambitious but it looks nice and makes lots of good adjustments to the 7WD formula that work really well.

Well, @giantbrain.co.uk will bring thrilled to know that I bought myself Lords of Vegas recently and finally got to play it this weekend. I had previously played like 10 years ago, loved it, and never got around to buying it until it was already out of print.

Someone gifted me a very old, illustrated copy of The Pilgrim's Progress. How old? 1897! I really love classic novels, and I really like old media of any kind, so it's an incredibly thoughtful gift. Just very touched that someone would give me something like that.

Let's take a minute to talk about Rivals for Catan, the 2010 remake of the classic Catan Card Game. It might be...the best Catan game?

GUARDIANS ARE 2025 AL CENTRAL CHAMPS!

Played a family game of Cosmic Encounter tonight. My younger son (the Calculator) and my wife (the Perfectionist) shared the win. It was our first time playing with moons, having been added in the most Odyssey expansion from a couple years ago.

I've been thinking lately about where Fate of the Fellowship lies in the pantheon of Tolkien board games, especially compared to the 2000 Knizia game. I THINK it's right up there, but it has a weird tendency to create situations where a player doesn't have all that much to do on their turn.

The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost...for none now live who remember it.

I solemnly swear that I actually did play all of these games a fair bit. Except Contraption Maker, I wonder why I bought that. Actually ended up rebuying Jedi Knight on GOG, because their version actually, you know, works.

Fired up the smoker for the first time in four years, and it was (I assume) well worth the weight. I assume, because shhh, it's resting.

I'm sure @seanfranco.bsky.social will be thrilled to know that I tried Dungeon Twister yesterday, after getting it in a trade. I had a lot of fun, partially because I won. (My opponent was by his own admission not really trying, but I will take it.)

Last night I played The Pillars of the Earth for the first time since...I had kids? That was in 2010! Anyway, it was a lot of fun to revisit. I feel like this is a weight class that is somewhat neglected now. It's a bit complex for casual gamers, but not a brain-burner and is over in 90 minutes.

I have been playing Fate of the Fellowship on BGA, and I am shocked at how good it is. "LotR Pandemic" is a terrible elevator pitch for me, but color me impressed. It forces the player to make very thematic choices, namely "how can I distract Sauron to help Frodo?"

Combat Commander: Europe. I've had very little experience with tactical games, particularly hex-and-counter. This one was a lot of fun though. The card play creates a great flow and makes everything feel very dynamic. I can see how a more serious wargamer would HATE this, but it worked for me.

Washington's War was our first session together. We completely biffed the setup but after some hasty correction we had a lot of fun. The card-play feels pretty primitive compared to newer CDGs, but I like the lighter feel and focus on political control.

Spirit Island is becoming the sort of game I think about when I'm not playing it. Probably the most complex cooperative game I've ever played, but maybe one of the most rewarding too.

A snow day game of Ark Nova with my 14-year-old. I squeaked out a very narrow win, just 3 points. If we have to be cooped up in this hideous weather, this definitely softens the blow.

I think my most played game of 2025 so far has been The Gang, and it's not close. This co-op take on Texas Hold 'Em is subtly very clever. When you remove better from Poker, you remove most of the mechanics. So The Gang exists almost totally above the table. But it's got a lot to chew on still.

No Star Wars. No Star Trek. Name a favorite sci-fi franchise. (Include the name in the alt text)

Quest for El Dorado with the Heroes and Hexes expansion. Why did I wait until 2024 to play this? As an aside, I have never seen a game that seems like such an obvious slam-dunk success, be hobbled by edition confusion, availability, visibility, and just generally a baffling marketing strategy.

It's not a new game, but Ark Nova was my birthday present to myself. I've played three times this week and it's the sort of game that makes you think about it while you aren't playing. I've also been building Marvel Champions decks with my kids. Always a fun one.