Welcome to The Boardgame Detective! The Boardgame Detective is here to provide reviews of boardgames that are light on rules explanation and delve more into what the game feels like to play. Articles centre on the author's praise and criticisms for the game. Each article provides a brief theme and rules overview of the game … Continue reading Welcome
Case File: Fantasy Map Maker
👨👩👧👦Players: 1+⏳Time: 30-60 minutes🎂Ages: 10+⚙️Mechanisms: Dice rolling, drawing, map addition, solo Fantasy Map Maker from Doopy Games is part game, part creative endeavour, and unlike most other games, it's also completely relaxing and meditative. During the game, you will map out features such as mountains, coast, houses, and forest, as well as drawing in prominent … Continue reading Case File: Fantasy Map Maker
Case File: Crafting the Cosmos
👨👩👧👦Players: 2-4⏳Time: 60-90 minutes🎂Ages: 14+⚙️Mechanisms: Rondel, Tile Placement, Variable Player Powers, Automatic Resource Growth, Income, Contracts I didn't think a game could become a favourite so quickly, but Crafting the Cosmos from Office Dog Games takes the beauty of space, adds the puzzle-y pattern placement planning (try saying that three times fast) of games like Calico, … Continue reading Case File: Crafting the Cosmos
Azul: Mini Review
It's the mini 16th century! The beginning of a golden age of interior tiny decorating in Western Europe. Recently returned from a tour of Alhambra's finely decorated palaces, King Manuel I of Portugal has some exciting ideas for revitalising his palace. Using (tiny) colourful Azulejos - the distinctive Spanish/Portuguese tiles well known for their bright … Continue reading Azul: Mini Review
Pergola : Group Interrogation
Interviewer: Thank you for coming in. We are investigating an incident that happened under the Pergola yesterday at 6pm, and we've got some questions for you. Please state your names for the record. It's me, Rhi (Board All The Time) We're Steph and Andrew (A Tale of Two Meeples) I'm Jeremy, (The Boardgame Detective) Interviewer: … Continue reading Pergola : Group Interrogation
2025 Pax Australia Indie Tabletop Round-Up
Wow, what a great time I had at PAX Australia 2025! This years PAX had more tabletop stuff than ever before and I took the opportunity to experience some unreleased designs that people had brought to PAX to test and spruik. Of course, PAX is huge, and there were SO many games being play-tested in … Continue reading 2025 Pax Australia Indie Tabletop Round-Up
The Anarchy Review
King Stephen is struggling to control England after fracturing loyalties since snatching the throne many years ago. The lands have become lawless, some may say The Anarchy reigns! With your help the King hopes to crush disloyal strongholds and restore law and order to the lands. Hopefully, your box-ticking strategic and political skills will help … Continue reading The Anarchy Review
Case File: Arkham Horror: Lovecraft Letter
👨👩👧👦Players: 2-6⏳Time: 15-20 mins🎂Ages: 14+⚙️Mechanisms: Hand management, take that, player elimination, score and reset Would you investigate a mystery if there was a risk you could go insane? That's exactly what you'll do in Arkham Horror: Lovecraft Letter from Zman Games. "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn." Arkham Horror: Lovecraft Letter is a 2-6 player … Continue reading Case File: Arkham Horror: Lovecraft Letter
Case File: Finspan
👨👩👧👦Players: 1-5⏳Time: 45-60 Minutes🎂Ages: 10+⚙️Mechanisms: Card Placement, Engine Building Fishie-span…ahh I mean Finspan, is the third game in the Wingspan universe. Set in the ocean, you play as a marine researcher whose job is to discover new fish as you explore the murky depths. Finspan is played over four rounds of six turns each. You … Continue reading Case File: Finspan
Case File: Great Western Trail: El Paso
👨👩👧👦Players: 1-4⏳Time: 60-90 minutes🎂Ages: 12+⚙️Mechanisms: Deck building, set collection, variable set-up, track movement Howdy pardner! It's time to pony up because Great Western Trail: El Paso from Lookout Games is here, and we've got some cattle to sell! Time to get to work and sell some cattle On the trail to El Paso, players buy … Continue reading Case File: Great Western Trail: El Paso
Case File: Cavern Shuffle
👨👩👧👦Players: 1⏳Time: 15 mins🎂Ages: 10+⚙️Mechanisms: Solo/Solitaire I've been playing a lot of solo games, and one that's hitting my table a lot is Cavern Shuffle from Gravy Boat Games. Cavern Shuffle is a solo dungeon crawl inspired card game that utilizes Solitaire mechanics. Your adventuring party consists of 4 different classes of adventurers, representing each … Continue reading Case File: Cavern Shuffle
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