Dungeons & Dragons’ creative campaigns are making up for its boring sourcebooks
Recent releases have disappointed.
Opinions Archive
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From Cowboy Bebop to Dark Souls, why licensed RPGs need to do better in 2022
Big names, small ideas.
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As an autistic GM, tabletop RPGs provide a perfect structure for social interaction
Things that make life difficult for me outside of the game room often make for better sessions in it.
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If Quacks of Quedlinburg had a better name, it could be the next blockbuster board game
Plus a change in artwork.
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Games of the Year 2021: Wheels on the accessible and tactical Summoner Wars: Second Edition
Second time's the charm.
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Games of the Year 2021: Liv on the re-inventive Unfathomable
Deeply engaging.
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Games of the Year 2021: Matt on the unforgettable stories of Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile
The creator of Root and Pax Pamir does it again.
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Changes are coming, however slowly.
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Tense miniature gameplay feels at odds with half-baked thematic trappings.
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Dungeons & Dragons brought us closer when the world said to keep our distance
Joining a nerdy, diverse D&D group when I needed it most.
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A battle of galactic proportions: Eclipse: Second Dawn of the Galaxy vs Twilight Imperium 4E
Two sci-fi heavyweights enter, two are consumed by the endless void of miniature ships.
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D&D 5E players are ignoring one of its central gameplay ideas - and that’s a good thing
The RPG’s growing popularity as a storytelling format has led to a shift away from endless fights.
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As Critical Role has grown, my love for the show has died
This actual play is not actually for me.
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Playing only trans characters in tabletop RPGs helped me understand myself
Cisgender people tend to exclusively play cis characters in games such as D&D, so what’s wrong with me only playing transgender characters?
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Games Omnivorous’ adventure books show evocative art thrives under weird constraints
The minimalist RPG publisher sets ten rules for its adventure books with fascinating results.
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Horror board games could be amazing if they took more risks
living and playing dangerously.
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Why the Blade Runner RPG will stand apart from the cyberpunk crowd
It might not last - but then again, what does?
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An Arkham Horror legacy game could revive the genre
Don’t say Hastur-la vista yet, baby.
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Clank! is a risk/reward board game that laughs at your plans, and I love it
Goofs with a great big lizard.
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Blades in the Dark’s TV series could blow away the D&D film
The cinematic gameplay and dramatic heists of John Harper’s RPG makes it perfect for a small-screen adaptation.
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RPG character backgrounds are rubbish - here’s how to make a good one
Or; why Obi-Wan Kenobi is a terrible RPG character.
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MTG Arena’s differences from paper Magic: The Gathering are a confusing, exhausting muddle
Digital-only cards, exclusive sets and a lack of popular formats have made it hard for players to keep up.
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Magic: The Gathering’s new Commander decks are a good thing for every player
More dedicated products for the popular format means fewer cards elsewhere - and that helps everyone.
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5 things we want to see from the new Marvel RPG
From weird superheroes to romantic arcs.
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Adventures in the Forgotten Realms’ best gameplay mechanic isn’t new to Magic: The Gathering
Treasure decks are stronger than ever.
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Monopoly Deal is the only Monopoly worth playing, because it understands why the board game sucks
Being bad feels pretty good.
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Critical Role’s Campaign 2 finale shows just how far the hit Dungeons & Dragons series has come
Forever throwing fluffernutters.
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GMs shouldn’t always break the rules in tabletop RPGs
Tend the rules.
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Magic: The Gathering is more ban-happy than ever, and it’s holding MTG Arena back
Getting the banned back together.
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The greatest board game stories are told around the tabletop, not on it
Playing with your tale.
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Unmatched is the Avengers Assemble of board games - it successfully unites a team of unlikely heroes
Kneel before this excellent tabletop series.
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What appeared to be a Kickstarter darling and fast-growing company was a carefully projected illusion.
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As thrilling as it is simple, Pack Wars is one of Magic: The Gathering’s best overlooked formats
Here’s how - and why - to play.
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Lines and veils, and other RPG safety tools, open up tabletop roleplaying for everyone
Ensuring comfortable, collaborative creativity around the table.
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Call of Cthulhu’s epic Masks of Nyarlathotep shows the perfect way to run a RPG campaign over years
Into the Months of Madness.
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Is Strixhaven a good entry point for the Magic: The Gathering newcomers? Well, it’s complicated.
For the cardboard curious.
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Disability representation in tabletop gaming matters - here are the games doing it right
Recent years have seen stories and characters that avoid ableist tropes, though there’s still work to be done.
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Dead of Winter bridges the intimidating gap between casual and complex board games
Gravely underappreciated.
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The multiverse is the perfect home for The Lord of the Rings, Warhammer and more - if handled correctly.
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Magic: The Gathering is at its best with more people - here’s why
All hands on decks.
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How Dungeons & Dragons helped me discover my gender identity
I was playing a man in real life - why not a woman in my escapist hobbies?
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6 things the new Dungeons & Dragons movie needs to do to become a critical hit
Not including a cameo from Jeremy Irons.
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Public libraries are using D&D to forge friendships and build community
No Knowledge (Arcana) check required.
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Root’s show-don’t-tell storytelling makes its world feel alive
Eyrie-lly want to go back there.
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How logging your board game plays can curate your collection - and save you money
Stats the way I like it.
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The Chess Effect: How The Queen’s Gambit turned me into a chess obsessive
What a feeling, when we’re castling on the ceiling.
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Warhammer looks expensive, but the truth is more complicated
Model behaviour.
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Games of the Year 2020: Matt on Pandemic Legacy: Season 0
A fond farewell.
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Games of the Year 2020: Johnny on The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
More like cloud nine.
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Games of the Year 2020: Meehan on deckbuilding delight Fort
The kids are alright.
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Games of the Year 2020: Junk Art co-designer Sen-Foong Lim
Making maps, committing crimes and finding friends.
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Games of the Year 2020: Alice is Missing and Icarus creator Spenser Starke
Dark labyrinths, train travel and shelf stacking.
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Plus why you should play The Wretched and The Artefact.
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The co-founders of design studio Needy Cat Games run through their top two-player picks.
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Games of the Year 2020: Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall co-creator Banana Chan
From games about a magician's dog to RPGS about eroticism, here are Banana Chan's favourite Games of this year.
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Community’s resilience during lockdown undermined by divisive design and controversial business decisions.
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X-Wing’s thrilling space combat is the perfect tabletop answer to Star Wars: Squadrons
I’m not such a bad pilot myself.
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‘Broken’ board games are better than boring ones
For balance.
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Like chess? Here's why you’ll love its Japanese cousin, shogi
Generals interest.
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The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a perfect evolution of the video games
It’s super effective.
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Digital board games don’t match the physical experience - and that can be a good thing
Some tabletop games aren’t the same when you can’t touch their bits and pieces... or are they?
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Black board games are key to the future of tabletop
New voices and perspectives at the table benefit everyone.
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Oath could finally deliver on the exciting lost potential of legacy board games
All of the memories with none of the sacrifice.
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Railroading doesn’t have to be a dirty word in tabletop RPGs
Giving players just enough guidance can enhance, rather than diminish, their role in a story and world.
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One of the best board games about war illustrates its futility
What is it good for? Money!
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Saving Throw: How Dungeons & Dragons helped me combat my social anxiety
Helping handbook.
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If you want to get into trading card games, Keyforge is the best place to start
Fanning the æmbers.
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Why tabletop roleplaying is best when it’s all in your mind
Mind yourself.
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I was a bisexual teen bloodsucker: how Vampire: The Masquerade saved me from early-2000s homophobia
A monstrous supernatural hunter gave me the space and security to, in some weird way, be myself.
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Struggling to learn Magic: The Gathering? Try playing aggressively
What is aggro, and why does it suit new players who like to go on the offensive?