Review

  • Review: Hot Streak

    Hot Streak is a game of betting, racing, and lots of SCREAMING!!!!!!! Everyone plays as down-on-their-luck bettors wagering on the strangest “off-brand” mascots in the world. And unlike most racing games, the action never stops here for you to make decisions. All of your clever strategy is done beforehand, so everyone can just relax, cheer, boo, and yell at a hot dog man.

    This is how Hot Streak is presented to us, a design by Jon Perry (Air, Land, & Sea, Spots). First published in 2025 by CMYK in an English version. The illustrations are handled by Cécile Gariépy (Monikers).

  • Review: Mistborn – The Deckbuilding Game

    Assume the role of a Mistborn, ingesting and burning metals to access a lethal arsenal of superpowers. You will burn Steel to propel coins like bullets at your opponents; Pewter to gain superhuman strength; and Tin to sharpen your senses, among many other powers. Will you focus on Steel and Iron to become a direct damage powerhouse? Will you specialize in Bronze and Copper to hide from opponents and seek new powers in the card market? Or will you prefer a generalist approach, constantly surprising your opponent with a wide variety of new abilities?

    This is how Mistborn: The Deckbuilding Game, designed by John D. Clair (Mystic Vale, Cubitos), is presented to us. First published in 2024 by Brotherwise Games in an English version. The illustrations are handled by a large cast of artists led by Johnny O’Neal and Katie Payne.

  • Review: Forest Shuffle – Dartmoor

    The rolling hills of Dartmoor provide diverse habitats for plants and animals. While dragonflies and other insects flutter along streams, ponies and sheep graze across the heather-covered moorlands. You will also discover many other creatures living in the air and among the shrubs. Create a unique moorland landscape for all the local flora and fauna, and earn points by taking their preferences into account: some animals need to be near others of their kind, while others prefer to be on their own or live in a specific habitat.

    This is the premise behind Forest Shuffle: Dartmoor, a standalone design by Kosch (FYFE) based on the Forest Shuffle system. First published in 2025 by Lookout Games in English and German editions, the artwork is once again handled by Toni Llobet and Judit Piella, who illustrated the original game.

  • Review: Catan

    Welcome to the unexplored island of Catan! As you and your fellow explorers gaze upon the pristine landscape of hexagonal terrains, you soon discover that this unique layout offers enough space for everyone to put down roots. You race to establish your communities by collecting resources from the nearby terrain, building infrastructure, and fostering trading relationships. Beware of surprises! Your rivals may block your path or send the robber to plunder your wealth. Good luck, explorers!

    This is how Catan, a design by Klaus Teuber, is presented to us. Originally published as The Settlers of Catan in 1995 by KOSMOS in a German version. The illustrations for the current versions are handled by Eric Hibbeler (Acquire, Yukon Airways) and Quentin Regnes (Pyramidice, Eternal Palace).

  • Review: Lost Seas

    Terrible tales are told of the mysterious, uncharted depths of the lost seas. Rumors abound of gigantic krakens, hellish whirlpools, immense sea serpents, and hostile deserted islands where only the skeletons of ancient shipwrecks remain as testament to failed expeditions. The time has come to gather your navigational instruments and embark on your most ambitious expedition yet. If you succeed, you will attain glory beyond your wildest dreams, and your map will become the stuff of legends.

    This is the premise behind Lost Seas, a design by Johan Benvenuto (Harmonies, Secret Identity) and Alexandre Droit (Hiroba, Gloobz). First published in 2022 by Blue Orange in a multilingual edition, it is a re-theming of Market Garden (released that same year by the same publisher). The artwork was handled by Marine Joumard, marking her debut in the board game industry.

  • Review: Looot

    The moment they caught sight of your longships’ banners flying proudly on the horizon, the inhabitants of this wealthy land courageously fled! Seize the diverse goods they left behind and plunder the virtually defenseless buildings so you can be crowned the next Viking Jarl!

    This is the premise behind Looot, designed by Charles Chevallier (Abyss, Kanagawa) and Laurent Escoffier (Loony Quest, Doodle Quest). First published in 2024 by Gigamic in English and French editions. Illustrations are handled by Xavier Gueniffey Durin, better known as Naïade, the artist behind titles such as Seasons and Tokaido.