Quick Guide

In the Madison Area? Why not drop by and play a game? Just EMail me or use the CONTACT page to send me a message!

Yes, this is my favorite thing (well, one of them:)
=> My Favorite Thing

Need Help Choosing a Game? Once you are viewing a game, there will be a list of all the games in alphabetical order in the right panel (very nice way to scan the games, though you also can just type in a name in the search box). 

That right side panel also has a cool selection list that is just like this:

Plus here are just SOME of the games here at our house (alpha order) with a quick summary about each game (how many players, estimated time to play and complexity rating):

Continue reading “Quick Guide” →

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WordSpot

2 Players //  20 mins // Easy to learn and play

Like a page in a Word Search book … a grid of letters and you try to find words in a straight line up, down, left or right or even diagonal!

=> BoardGameGeek

=> Len’s half page Rule Summary (v2)

  • One of my games has 28 2×2 grid tiles and 60 translucent brown marker squares.
  • Another edition has 32 grid tiles

Make it a four player game? 32 tiles in one game plus 28 tiles in the other – 60 tiles. Instead of 4×4 with 16 tiles … 6×6 with 36 tiles … each player keeps the same number of markers to start the game (ie, 25 for each player – 26 for first player). Or perhaps two 4×4 grids (32 tiles) and you choose which one to find your word on. Or perhaps 5×5 grid (25 tiles) plus give each of the four players one grid (25+4=29 tiles) to place anywhere on any turn (just like gaining one by finding a word that has letters on 3 or more tiles)

A great quick look at dozens of Word Games (but NOT WordSpot):

And another TEN word games list (again, doesn’t include WordSpot though):

WordSpot game:

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Top Games I Played in 2025

For the curious … here are the top games that I played over the past year (2025):

Note: I actually played Dice Miner more than 24 times because I track it by the number of players and this is just from 3 player games (I think). Likewise I played Trails of Tucana a bit more with the larger map which I tracked separately.

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Puerto Rico (Special 3D Edition by Awaken Realms)

Puerto Rico was the #1 Game for SIX YEARS (according to BoardGameGeek)

I purchased BOTH the base/core standard game AND the all in Grande Pledge from Awaken  Realms.  Here are my thoughts on what I will actually use when playing the game:

I think my choice of what I will use when playing the game is: Acrylic building & role tiles, 3D plantation/estate tiles, 3D Trading House (and maybe the building where the workers are recruited), 3D crates of produce (ie, bananas, corn, etc), metal coins … I think I will try playing with the 3D miniatures for the workers (though the tan circular discs are just fine too – and both will fit in the indented circle in the 3D plantation/estate tiles … I like the neoprene mat but it doesn’t fit in the box… the 3D ships are nice but perhaps easier to play with the cardboard ships. First player marker is kind of irrelevant so I may use the 3D version or the cardbard (not sure). Wooden victory point tokens are the same. I packed everything that I am going to use into the Special Edition box and there is 2 inches lid lift.

=> BoardGameGeek
=> Gamefound

=> Final Special Edition Rulebook // from=> Awaken Realms download section
=> Len’s 1pg Rule Summary (v3) for 3-5 players
=> Len’s 1pg 2player Rule Summary (v2) for 2 players

SEE ALSO=> Deluxe Edition (before the Special Edition was way way more deluxe)
=> 3D printable WAY BETTER round Resource Tray(s)

=> Video playlist Special Edition // Original Edition

This is MY unboxing of the Grande Pledge (with EVERYTHING) comparing it to the base/core game and also comparing with the original game:

Review (I think she called it a “perfect game”) PLUS she called it her #1 game of 2025 – see bottom of page:

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