As the summer wrapped up, August turned into a month of revisiting beloved classics, trying out fresh experiences at a local board game café, and enjoying a few solo sessions. Here’s a rundown of what we played and our thoughts on each game.
Dice Throne: Season One – A Battle for the Ages
Dice Throne never fails to deliver an exciting experience, and this month was no different. We had a thrilling three-player free-for-all featuring Black Panther, Paladin, and Artificer. My son and his friend are exploring different heroes to find their favorites for a future Dice Throne Adventure campaign. The game’s fast-paced, tactical dice rolling, combined with unique character abilities, made this session a blast. Each hero brought something different to the table, keeping us on our toes the entire time.
Dominion – A New Spin on an Old Favorite
Dominion is a staple in our game nights, and this time we mixed things up with the Hinterlands expansion. Unlike many of our previous games, this one didn’t offer many +1 Action cards, which forced us to rethink our usual strategies. The lack of chaining actions made the game feel fresh and challenging, as we had to adapt to a slower, more deliberate pace. It was a great reminder of why Dominion continues to be a favorite—there’s always a new way to play.
Concept – A Café Hit Worth Adding to Our Collection
We took a trip to a local board game café and stumbled upon Concept, a game that quickly became a highlight of our visit. The premise is simple but genius: get players to guess a specific word or phrase by marking related concepts on a board. We had a blast trying to communicate ideas using only symbols, leading to plenty of laughs and “how did you get that?” moments. This one’s definitely going on our must-buy list for the next game night!
Everdell – A Beautiful Strategy Game That Keeps on Giving
Everdell is a game that never ceases to amaze us with its charming artwork and deep strategy. This month, we revisited this worker-placement gem, enjoying the process of building our critter-filled towns. The blend of resource management and tableau building kept us engaged from start to finish. We’re already planning to bring the Spirecrest expansion to the table next time to add even more depth to the experience.
Project L – A Solo Puzzle Challenge
I took on Project L solo for the first time this month, and it was a unique experience. The tactile feel of the polyomino tiles combined with the puzzle-solving aspect made for a satisfying game. However, I’m not entirely sure I played the solo variant correctly—I’ll need to revisit the rules to confirm. Despite the uncertainty, the game’s minimalist design and strategic depth kept me hooked, and I’m looking forward to trying it with more players.
Calico – A Cozy Brain-Burner
Calico may look cute and cozy, but don’t let the charming theme fool you—this game is a real brain-burner! Balancing the need to match patterns and colors for points while also trying to attract cats to your quilt was more challenging than expected. Every tile placement required careful thought, making it a deeply strategic experience. It’s one of those games that leaves you feeling mentally exhausted but in the best way possible.
Railroad Ink Challenge – A Serene Puzzle Experience
Railroad Ink Challenge is one of my go-to comfort games. Whether I’m playing with friends or quietly working through routes on my own, it’s always a serene experience. The simplicity of rolling dice and drawing routes is calming, yet there’s enough strategy to keep things interesting. This game has become a staple for winding down after a long day.
Flamecraft – A Beautiful Game with a Tricky Rulebook
At the board game café, we also tried Flamecraft, a game we’d heard a lot about. The theme is delightful, with adorable dragons helping to craft magical goods, but we found the rulebook a bit tricky to navigate. It felt like we were missing something, and that took away from the experience. Despite the initial disappointment, I’m eager to give it another shot—maybe a how-to-play video will help clear things up.
Azul – A Colorful Classic
Azul is a game that’s become another comfort favorite. There’s something deeply satisfying about selecting tiles, creating patterns, and trying to avoid penalties. It’s a game that’s easy to pick up but always offers a challenge, making it perfect for a relaxing yet engaging game night.
August was filled with a mix of old favorites, exciting new discoveries, and a few solo adventures. What games have you been playing?
