Grid Movement

  • Review: Enso

    Enso is a game inspired by the Zen concept of the Enso (円相): the circle drawn by Zen monks. Players move their stones and capture their opponent’s, aiming to position one of their stones so that it is surrounded by open spaces in eight directions, as if enclosed within a circle. What makes this game unique is that the moves a stone can make depend on whether it is adjacent to opponent stones.

    This is the premise behind Enso, a design by Dieter Stein (Urbino, Volo). First published in 2026 by Kanare_Abstract in a bilingual English and Japanese edition, with cover illustration handled by Kanare Kato.

  • Review: LAG

    A game in which the pieces move toward opposite sides of the board, but the distance they travel depends on the number of groups of your pieces on the board. When a player can no longer move any pieces, the player with the fewest objects wins. To achieve victory, you must skillfully control your pieces, which often behave unpredictably, as if experiencing input lag.

    This is how LAG is presented to us, a design by Takuro Kawasaki, this being his first design to hit the market. It was first published in 2026 by Kanare_Abstract in an English and Japanese edition. Kanare Kato is responsible for the cover illustration.

  • Review: Diluvium

    A long, long time ago, when our ancient civilization was in its golden age and myths and legends still walked among men, a cataclysm struck the world. The sea swallowed the land, leaving barely a few isolated archipelagos above its surface. Of the old and powerful empires, only those skilled in building ships capable of exploring the seas in search of the last emerged lands survived. You are the leaders of those civilizations in exile. You must establish new settlements, find food, and gather weapons to face the terrible creatures that still inhabit the islands.

    This is how Diluvium is presented to us, a design by Antoni Guillen (Monki, Mojo). First published in 2024 by Nuts! Publishing in an English and French version. Maud Chalmel (Take Time, Shamans) is in charge of the illustrations.

  • Review: Ahoy

    You are smugglers and soldiers on the high seas. Each round, you will roll and place dice to perform actions unique to your faction. Control Regions and deliver Cargo to gain Fame and win the game!

    This is the premise of Ahoy, designed by Greg Loring-Albright (Leviathan, Bloc by Bloc: Uprising). It was first published in 2022 by Leder Games in an English edition following a successful crowdfunding campaign. The artwork was handled by Kyle Ferrin (Root, Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile, Vast: The Crystal Caverns).

  • Review: Planet Unknown

    Greetings, planetary colonists. As you know, we have depleted Earth’s resources and must act now to preserve the future of humanity. You have been chosen to develop a Planet Unknown that will ensure mankind’s survival. You will win the game if you are the player who earns the most Medals. To achieve this, efficiently develop your Planet, advance along your resource tracks, collect Pods, remove Meteorites, and outscore your neighboring Planets.

    This is the premise of Planet Unknown, designed by Ryan Lambert and Adam Rehberg (co-designers of Swordcrafters and Truck Off: The Food Truck Frenzy). It was first published in 2022 by Adam’s Apple Games, LLC following a successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. Illustrations were provided by Yoma (Legacies, Sweet Mess).

  • Review: Gravity Superstar

    In the furthest reaches of known space, the most famous adventurers converge on a strange little planet that has the unique ability to attract precious stardust through its fluctuating gravity. They are there to collect as much of this resource as possible, while their rivals constantly try to steal it from them. You are one of these superstars in search of wealth, and you must overcome the gravitational challenges that lie ahead!

    This is how we are introduced to Gravity Superstar, designed by Julian Allain (Titan Race, Dungeon Academy). The game was published in 2019 by Sit Down! in a multilingual edition (English, French, German, and Dutch). Illustrations are handled by Gyom (Magic Maze, Overbooked, Goths Save The Queen).