The Meeple Digest

Where Every Game Tells a Story, One Meeple at a Time.

  • Does Race for the Galaxy still hold up after almost 20 years?

    Does Race for the Galaxy still hold up after almost 20 years?

    Welcome to this week’s review! This week I’m discussing a game that was originally released in 2007, and you can check out an unboxing of the revised second edition here. So without further ado, let’s jump into my thoughts. Disclosure: A review copy of this game was provided to The Meeple Digest in exchange for…

  • Inventing Devices with Dice: Inventors of the South Tigris Review

    Inventing Devices with Dice: Inventors of the South Tigris Review

    Welcome to this week’s review! This week I’m discussing the third game in the South Tigris trilogy from Garphill Games and my most recent unboxing (here). So without further ado, let’s jump into my thoughts. Disclosure: A review copy of this game was provided to The Meeple Digest in exchange for an honest, unbiased review….

  • My Brother’s Top 5 Games of All Time

    My Brother’s Top 5 Games of All Time

    Intro To switch things up this week, I thought it would be fun to get my brother on the blog.  We grew up playing board games together and both got into modern board gaming around the same time. While we share some similarities in tastes, there are also quite a few differences when it comes…

  • Translating Ancient Scrolls: Scholars of the South Tigris Review

    Translating Ancient Scrolls: Scholars of the South Tigris Review

    Welcome to this week’s review! This week I’m discussing the second game in the South Tigris trilogy from Garphill Games and one I recently did an unboxing for here. So without further ado, let’s jump into my thoughts. Disclosure: A review copy of this game was provided to The Meeple Digest in exchange for an…

  • Returning to the Galapagos: Darwin’s Journey Fireland Expansion Review

    Returning to the Galapagos: Darwin’s Journey Fireland Expansion Review

    Welcome to this week’s review! Last week I reviewed the base game for Darwin’s Journey, and for this week, I’ll be reviewing the first large expansion for the game – the Fireland Expansion. So without further ado, let’s jump into my thoughts on the expansion. Darwin’s Journey: Fireland Expansion Darwin’s Journey: Fireland Expansion is the…

  • Worker-Placement in the Galapagos: Darwin’s Journey Review

    Worker-Placement in the Galapagos: Darwin’s Journey Review

    Welcome to this week’s review! This week I’m discussing a game that has been on my radar for quite some time now. So without further ado, let’s jump into it! Darwin’s Journey Darwin’s Journey is one of latest games from designer Simone Luciani. I’ve generally enjoyed Luciani’s designs – both Lorenzo il Magnifico and Nucleum…

  • Arcs Review – Conflict and Collapse in the Reach

    Arcs Review – Conflict and Collapse in the Reach

    Welcome to this week’s review! This week I’m discussing the last game I picked up at PAX Unplugged last year and arguably one of the hottest games to come out in 2024. So without further ado, let’s jump into my review. Arcs Arcs is designed by Cole Wehrle, best known for designing games such as…

  • My Top 10 “New to Me” Games of 2024

    My Top 10 “New to Me” Games of 2024

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! As I mentioned in my 2024 Year in Review, I managed to play 85 different games last year. While a decent chunk of those were games that I had played before, many were also new to me as of last year. This week, I’ve decided to rank all of…

  • Investigating Crimes – MicroMacro: Crime City – Full House Review

    Investigating Crimes – MicroMacro: Crime City – Full House Review

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This week I’m discussing one of the most unique games I’ve played. So without further ado, let’s jump into my review. MicroMacro: Crime City – Full House MicroMacro: Crime City – Full House is the second game in the MicroMacro series and the sequel to the Spiel des Jahres…

  • The Return of Resource Wheels: A Review of Black Forest

    The Return of Resource Wheels: A Review of Black Forest

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This week I’m discussing another game I picked up at PAX which I also did an unboxing for here. So without further ado, let’s jump into my review. Black Forest Black Forest is the latest game from Uwe Rosenberg. I’ve never played Glass Road, but Black Forest feels like…

  • 2024 Year in Review

    2024 Year in Review

    Intro Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This week I’m taking a bit of a break from reviews to talk about my year in 2024, including highlights, my most played games, and goals. So without further ado, let’s talk about 2024! Highlights Starting off with the most recent highlight: PAX Unplugged. This was my first…

  • From Earth to the Stars: My Thoughts on SETI

    From Earth to the Stars: My Thoughts on SETI

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This week I’m discussing one of the hottest games released in 2024. I also recently did an unboxing for the game that you can check out here. So without further ado, let’s jump into the review. SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence is the latest…

  • Early Impressions of Unconscious Mind

    Early Impressions of Unconscious Mind

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This week I’m discussing a heavy euro game with a unique theme and beautiful production. So without further ado, let’s jump into my early impressions. Unconscious Mind I first heard about Unconscious Mind quite a while ago, as it has often appeared on reviewers’ most anticipated lists. However, this…

  • PAX Unplugged 2024 Recap Part 2

    PAX Unplugged 2024 Recap Part 2

    Intro Welcome to this week’s gaming post! Last week I talked about my overall experience this year at PAX Unplugged 2024, including highlights from the convention and a few tips and tricks I learned along the way that I recommend you check out here. This week, I’ll be talking about the games I managed to…

  • PAX Unplugged 2024 Recap Part 1

    PAX Unplugged 2024 Recap Part 1

    Intro Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This past weekend I attended my first ever large board game convention: PAX Unplugged. I attended all three days with friends and was at the convention center every day essentially from open to close, only stopping briefly for food breaks. Since there is a ton about my experience…

  • My Favorite Games of All Time (10-1)

    My Favorite Games of All Time (10-1)

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This is the grand finale to my four-part series where I cover my top 40 games as of this moment. If you missed the previous lists, then I recommend you check that out here. We’re onto the final batch – my all-time favorites! There isn’t usually a ton of…

  • My Favorite Games of All Time (20-11)

    My Favorite Games of All Time (20-11)

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This is the third post in my new four-part series as we count down my top 40 games as of this moment. If you missed the previous list, then I recommend you check that out here. We’re getting into the best of the best, and I’m really enjoying this…

  • Games I’m Looking Forward to at PAX Unplugged 2024

    Games I’m Looking Forward to at PAX Unplugged 2024

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! We’re taking a short break from my top 40 series to talk about a few of the games I’m looking forward to at PAX Unplugged 2024. This year, I’m super excited to be attending the convention for the first time, and while I don’t know exactly what to expect,…

  • My Favorite Games of All Time (30-21)

    My Favorite Games of All Time (30-21)

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This is the second post in my new four-part series as we count down my top 40 games as of this moment. If you missed last week’s list, then I recommend you check that out here. I’m really enjoying this series so far, so without further ado, let’s jump…

  • My Favorite Games of All Time (40-31)

    My Favorite Games of All Time (40-31)

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! I’ve discussed my favorite gateway, medium-weight, and heavy-weight games, and now it’s time to unveil my all-time favorites. This is the first in a new four-part series where I’ll be discussing my top 40 games as of this moment. While this is the first time I’m disclosing my list,…

  • How Nucleum Powers Up Board Game Night

    How Nucleum Powers Up Board Game Night

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This week I’m discussing a heavy, economic euro game that I recently did an unboxing for. Be prepared to strap in because I have a lot of thoughts on this game, so without further ado, let’s jump into the recent highlights. Nucleum Nucleum is a euro game focused around…

  • Ranking the Games I Bought during Nerdz Day 2024

    Ranking the Games I Bought during Nerdz Day 2024

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This is the follow-up to an article I wrote a couple months ago listing some of the games I was hoping to see during this year’s Nerdz Day sale. While not all of the games I mentioned ended up showing up during the sale, I still managed to pick…

  • Distilling My Thoughts: My Early Impressions of Distilled

    Distilling My Thoughts: My Early Impressions of Distilled

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This week I’m discussing a very thematic spirit-making game. So without further ado, let’s jump into the recent highlights. Distilled I recently did an unboxing video for Distilled, and now I’ve also had the chance to get it to the table for a few plays. Distilled is a game…

  • Exploring the Ancient Marvels: Early Impressions of World Wonders

    Exploring the Ancient Marvels: Early Impressions of World Wonders

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This week I’m discussing a relatively new polynomial/tile laying game, and I also recently did an unboxing for it. So without further ado, let’s jump into the recent highlights. World Wonders I recently picked up World Wonders during this year’s Nerdz Day sale. During the game, each round players…

  • My Top 5 Heavy Games

    My Top 5 Heavy Games

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This is the conclusion to my three-part series where I talked about my favorite Gateway games, Gateway + games (effectively medium-weight games), and now for this week I’ll be discussing my favorite heavy games. Everyone has a slightly different definition of what a heavy game entails (no these are…

  • Small Game that Packs a Punch: No Burgers Sold at this White Castle

    Small Game that Packs a Punch: No Burgers Sold at this White Castle

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This week I’m discussing one of the hottest euros from last year. So without further ado, let’s jump into the recent highlights. The White Castle I recently picked up The White Castle during this past Nerdz Day sale and had the chance to get it to the table for…

  • Let’s Talk About One of My Favorite Games

    Let’s Talk About One of My Favorite Games

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This week I’m discussing one of my favorite euro games. So without further ado, let’s jump into the recent highlights. Lost Ruins of Arnak I recently played a two-person game of the Lost Ruins of Arnak. In this Indiana Jones themed game, in each round players alternate taking actions,…

  • My Top 5 Games that Have Fallen Off

    My Top 5 Games that Have Fallen Off

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This is the follow-up to the post I did a few weeks ago where I discussed a few games that have grown on me over time. This time I’ll be flipping it and will discuss games that I enjoy less now compared to when I first played them. This…

  • Construction to Destruction: Exploring Praga and Blitzkrieg!

    Construction to Destruction: Exploring Praga and Blitzkrieg!

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This week I’m discussing a heavy euro set in medieval Prague and a two-player, tug-of-war World War II game. So without further ado, let’s jump into the recent highlights. Praga Caput Regni I recently played a four-person game of Praga Caput Regni which is a heavy euro game designed…

  • I Really Wanted to Love Dinosaur World

    I Really Wanted to Love Dinosaur World

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This week I’m discussing one of my least favorite plays I’ve had in a while. So without further ado, let’s jump into the recent highlights. Dinosaur World A couple weeks ago, I played a four-person game of Dinosaur World, a sequel of sorts to Dinosaur Island, for the first…

  • My Nerdz Day Wishlist 2024

    My Nerdz Day Wishlist 2024

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! With Nerdz Day only one week away, I figured I’d talk about a few of the games on my wish list for this upcoming (unofficial) holiday. If you’ve never heard of Nerdz Day, it’s a large board game sale put on by Game Nerdz. This year, there will be…

  • My Thoughts After 12 Hours with Sleeping Gods: Distant Skies

    My Thoughts After 12 Hours with Sleeping Gods: Distant Skies

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This week I’m discussing a cooperative open-world adventure game. So without further ado, let’s jump into the recent highlights. Sleeping Gods: Distant Skies I recently started my first solo campaign of Sleeping Gods: Distant Skies, the sequel to the extremely popular 2021 game Sleeping Gods. If you’ve played the…

  • My Top 5ish Gateway Plus Games

    My Top 5ish Gateway Plus Games

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This is the follow up to a post I did a few weeks ago where I discussed a few of my favorite games to introduce to new board gamers. This time, I’ll be discussing games that are a step up from Ticket to Ride or The Crew, but still…

  • Dwarfs and Stormtroopers

    Dwarfs and Stormtroopers

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This week I’m discussing a heavy euro and a head-to-head deckbuilder. So without further ado, let’s jump into the recent highlights. Caverna: The Cave Farmers First up is Caverna: The Cave Farmers, a sequel/reimplementation of Agricola. If you’ve played Agricola, then Caverna plays very similar, except Caverna has room…

  • Mines, Cheese Cubes, and Temples

    Mines, Cheese Cubes, and Temples

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This week I’m discussing a heavy euro, a push-your-luck racing game, and a cooperative living card game (LCG). So without further ado, let’s jump into the recent highlights. Skymines First up is Skymines, the 2022 reimplementation of Mombasa. I’ll preface that if you didn’t enjoy the gameplay of Mombasa,…

  • My Top 5 Games that Have Grown on Me

    My Top 5 Games that Have Grown on Me

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! I wanted to mix up this week’s content by discussing a few games that have grown on me over time. These are games that I liked initially, but it took more plays to fully appreciate them. I don’t necessary like the number one game on this list more than…

  • Donating, Horse Racing, and Pirating

    Donating, Horse Racing, and Pirating

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This week I’m discussing two heavy euros and a party, horse-racing game. So without further ado, let’s jump into the recent highlights. Carnegie First off, I recently played a four-person game of Carnegie. Carnegie is a heavy euro-game focused around managing employees across four types of departments which each…

  • Madness, Caravans, and Dwarfs

    Madness, Caravans, and Dwarfs

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This week I’m discussing a cooperative LCG, a heavy euro, and a bidding/set-collection game. So without further ado, let’s jump into the recent highlights. Arkham Horror: The Card Game I recently completed The Path to Carcosa campaign for Arkham Horror: The Card Game. If you’re unfamiliar with Arkham Horror…

  • My Top 5 Gateway Games

    My Top 5 Gateway Games

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! I’ve received a few requests for suggestions on games I’d recommend for people just getting into board gaming – also known as gateway games in the hobby. Maybe you’re already familiar with the classics, such as Catan, Carcassonne, or Ticket to Ride, so here are a few newer games…

  • Wine, Tricks, and Gigantic Dice

    Wine, Tricks, and Gigantic Dice

    Welcome to this week’s gaming post! This week I’m discussing a medium-weight euro, a cooperative trick-taking game, and a beast of a roll-and-write. So without further ado, let’s jump into the recent highlights. Viticulture First, let’s discuss Viticulture with Tuscany. For clarification, this is for the Essential Edition of both, rather than the original versions….

  • Space, Meeples, and Cows?

    Space, Meeples, and Cows?

    Welcome to my second official blog post! This week I’m discussing a couple of medium-weight euro games and a classic gateway game. So without further ado, let’s jump into the recent highlights. Beyond the Sun Let’s start with Beyond the Sun, a space-themed medium weight euro game where each turn you take an action on…

  • Art, Mechs, and Fauna?

    Art, Mechs, and Fauna?

    Hi, and welcome to my first official blog post! If you’d like to learn more about my journey into board gaming, see the About page. In these posts, I will focus more on discussing games I’ve been playing, and what I like and don’t like. I may even throw in the occasional top 10 list…