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” →

Sky 5

Similar to Flip 7 but a MUCH MORE FRIENDLY version! The game designers achieved a game that aligns with their values the most. When one person gets too greedy, the system is designed to spread the wealth. When one person has the resources they need, they must gift their excess to those with less. Players can’t harm each other; they can only enrich each other. But we like to classify this as optimistic push-your-luck.

=> BoardGameGeek
=> Rules
=> Len’s 1 page Rules Summary (v3)

=> Video playlist

How to play with an example game:

Continue reading “Sky 5” →

September 25, 2026 0

Mists Over Carcassonne (co-op)

Finally! A co-op version of Carcassonne! From a review: The game also plays very fast. There often are few realistic choices for tile placements, so games, especially at Levels 1 and 2, can take only minutes in some cases. So if you lose, there is a strong desire to try it again; and if you win, you may want to push your luck and try for a second win.

=> BoardGameGeek
=> Rules
=> Commonly Missed Rules
=> Suggestion: play level 6 with The River 2 expansion (view photo for example)
=> Reference: Visual of all the tiles / 2pg PDF of all tiles
=> 120 spaces score tracker (replaces the one that comes with the game)
*Updated from: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License.
=> 3D Score Tracker with thin markers
=> Len’s 2 page Rule Summary (v4) All rules needed for levels 1-4 on the first page!

=> Video playlist

Tutorial 2 player playthrough

Continue reading “Mists Over Carcassonne (co-op)” →

September 17, 2026 0

Defenders of the Dictionary

I pre-ordered this … due April 2027.

Coop Game – can play as a one time one shot game (as many times as you wish) or as a 17 game campaign where players can come and go as part of the team (does not need the same number of players each time). It is like an adventure version of Scrabble… but with limited communication about what tiles you have (similar to “The Crew”)

=> BoardGameGeek
=> Kickstarter
=> Tiles Available Checklist
=> Rules

=> Video playlist

Overview and How To Play (queued to a cute quote near the very beginning: “Basically, we are trying to defend good grammar and word usage”:)

Continue reading “Defenders of the Dictionary” →

September 14, 2026 0

Fire Tower

With Expansions (most are simple and good – leaving out the complicated not so good ones)!

=> BoardGameGeek: Core Game / Expansion
=> Kickstarter: Core Game / Expansion
=> Official website
=> Rules: Core Game / Expansion
=> Len’s 1 page Rule Summary (v5) includes a 2nd page in story form! PLUS more notes at the end of this page
=> Winning and Waning (v1) How to win with 2, 3, 4 or 5 players (slight changes with player count, including Sudden Death Mode with 3 players)

=> Video Playlist

Note: 2 players? Use the variant of 2 side by side towers for each player, but only 1 bucket & hand of cards!

Note: when placing a fire gem on the board, it must be orthogonally adjacent to a fire gem (or eternal fire in the center). This means it must be edge to edge next to a fire gem already on the board (ie, diagonally is NOT adjacent for placing fire gems). However, the game is interesting because the purple firebreak tokens are the opposite and must NOT be placed edge to edge next to another purple firebreak tokens (but diagonal is fine).

How To Play (5 mins)

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August 26, 2026 0

Detonate

=> BoardGameGeek
=> Official Website
=> Len’s half page Rules Summary (v2)
~~=> Rules~~

~~=> Video playlist~~

How To Play:

Continue reading “Detonate” →

August 17, 2026 0

Confusing Lands

Ordered original game plus the new stand alone Icebound Isles (play each separate or combine together for 3-4 player game) including the two promo card sets.

=> BoardGameGeek: Original // Icebound Isles
=> Rules: Original // Icebound Isles

=> Video playlist

How To Play (Icebound Overview):