Board Games

  • Review: Fromage

    The dawn of the 20th century. You are cheesemakers in a French village, striving to craft, age, and sell artisan cheeses. Your journey will be a symphony of passion and dedication as you work to create the most prestigious fromagerie with the most coveted cheeses in all of France.

    This is the premise of Fromage, a design by Matthew O’Malley and Ben Rosset (both responsible for games such as The Search for Planet X and Between Two Cities). It was first published in 2024 by Road To Infamy Games in English following a successful crowdfunding campaign. The artwork was illustrated by Pavel Zhovba (Formaggio).

  • Review: Luthier

    We travel to 18th-century Europe, the golden age of classical music. Players step into the shoes of master craftsmen specialized in the construction of musical instruments. Your patrons will be influential nobles, virtuoso performers, and renowned composers such as Bach, Beethoven, or Mozart. To win, you must achieve the highest possible reputation by crafting and repairing instruments in your workshop while satisfying the demands of prestigious patrons. Will you have the skill required to become the most celebrated luthier in all of Europe?

    This is how we are introduced to Luthier, a design by Dave Beck (Distilled) and Abe Burson (his debut game). First published in 2025 by Paverson Games in an English edition following a successful crowdfunding campaign. The artwork is handled by Vincent Dutrait (Heat, Quest for El Dorado) and Guillaume Tavernier (Le Grand Voyage, One Card Wonder).

  • 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.

  • Review: Emberleaf

    Deep within the oldest forest in the world, the Emberlings lie hidden, their presence a secret known only to the wisest. Many moons have passed since the armies of Lord Vesh burned their groves and destroyed their homes. Today, the forest has healed and an awakening is felt. Five brave Emberlings emerge from the forest floor, their spirits unbroken. They call upon their kin, urging them to rebuild their homes. Together, they will reclaim their land, rekindle their bond with their beloved forest, and restore the Emberleaf to its sacred sanctuary. The time for renewal has arrived.

    This is the premise behind Emberleaf, a design by James Tomblin (Defection) and Frank West (The Isle of Cats). First published in 2025 by The City of Games in an English edition following a successful crowdfunding campaign. The illustrations are credited to the designers themselves.

  • Review: Rumble Nation

    Take on the role of warlords during the Sengoku period of civil wars in Japan. Strive for supremacy by competing for the conquest of eleven castles across the territory. Three dice determine where you deploy your soldiers, and tactic cards allow you to take control of the course of the war. To master the game, you will need a good combination of wisdom and luck. Every battle is a spark that could set the entire nation on fire! Watch out for reinforcement chains or use them to your advantage to turn defeat into victory.

    This is how Rumble Nation is presented to us, designed by Yogi Shinichi (Trojan Horse & Heroes). Originally published in 2017 by 77spiele in a Japanese edition. It was later republished by Hobby Japan in several languages. The artwork is by Yamamoto Masaaki (his debut work in the board game world).

  • Review: Great Western Trail – El Paso

    El Paso, late 19th century. Five railway companies have incorporated the “Sun City” into their networks, transforming it into the nerve center of the cattle trade. Ranchers from the surrounding areas, both from Texas and Mexico, bring their herds to the city to ship them anywhere across the United States. Take on the role of one of these ranchers and bring your cattle to El Paso to earn money and victory points. Hire cowboys, craftsmen, and engineers to achieve your goals.

    This is the premise behind Great Western Trail: El Paso, designed by Johannes Krenner (Challengers!, Age of Dirt) and Alexander Pfister (Maracaibo, Mombasa). It was first published in 2025 by Lookout Games in an English and German edition. Chris Quilliams (Reef, Azul) was in charge of the illustrations.