Reviews

  • Review: The Isle of Cats Duel

    ByiMisut Hours
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    You are a citizen of Squall’s End on a rescue mission to The Isle of Cats. You must rescue as many cats as possible before the evil Lord Vesh arrives. Each cat is represented by a unique tile and belongs to a family. You must find a way to fit them all onto your boat while keeping families together.

    This is how The Isle of Cats Duel is presented to us, the 2-player version designed by Frank West (The City of Kings, Vadoran Gardens). The game was published in 2024 by The City of Games. Illustrations are handled by the designer himself alongside Dragolisco.

  • Review: Fromage

    ByiMisut Hours
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    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: The Old King’s Crown

    ByiMisut Hours
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    The old king has left us; some say he died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by the love of subjects and advisors. A beautiful farewell to a benevolent and compassionate reign. There are others, however, who insist that he was the most avaricious of men and that the horrible disease that befell him was an appropriate end. Elsewhere, whispers are heard of foul play, of a knife, or poison or something worse, at the hands of one of his rivals or even one of his relatives. There are those who even claim that the old king is still alive, that he has gone into hiding abroad for reasons yet unknown, or that he has been seen wandering the windswept heath, his eyes wide in the darkness. Be that as it may, the old king is gone and the crown of the kingdom has remained unclaimed for too long.

    This is how The Old King’s Crown is presented to us, designed by Pablo Clark (his first game). First published in 2025 by Eerie Idol Games in an English version. The illustrations are done by Pablo Clark himself (also his first artistic work in the world of board games).

  • Review: Hot Streak

    ByiMisut Hours
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    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

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    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

    ByiMisut Hours
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    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.