Today I discovered I have reached leaning-forward-in-the-chair-when-playing-racing-games-against-the-kids-years-old. Hmmm.

Whilst largely forgotten in the transition from oral tradition to written history, the thirteenth labour of Hercules was putting a pair of finger gloves on a three-year-old child.

A two-player, long-overdue return to Underwater Cities, last night. This game has cemented itself as an all-timer for me, up there with the very best that euro designs have to offer. #boardgames

My wife has unfortunately completely lost her voice. Which means any time I hear a whispered “Stop eating the kids’ biscuits” it takes me a moment to work out if it’s my conscience, the house is haunted, or it’s a missive from senior management.”

Very rarely do I manage to go in completely blind to a movie, but managed it for Companion. Just a delight, and comfortably the best thriller I’ve seen this year. Guessed the first reveal very early but none of the others. @kermodemovie.bsky.social, loved your giddy reaction to this in your review.

Really want to try this. Seems a little tricky to find in Europe still, looking at some of the second-hand prices anyway.

Damn, missed an open goal there! :)

Really enjoying my first foray into Vantage. The stop-start mechanical nature of constantly swapping in and out cards takes a little while to relax into, but I’m enjoying my otherwise languid exploration of this otherworldly place. Having fun building out my character. #boardgames

I should have realised something was up when my wife expressed an interest in heavier board games… New rug looks nice anyway. Or it will when it flattens out. #boardgames

Seemed to be a dads-only day in the park this morning. The first warning was the lousy parking of buggies around the gate, to beat the lunchtime getaway congestion. The second was buggies fitted with cup and mobile phone holders.

You ever have one of those days where you keep checking over your shoulder to see if Country & Western singers are following you around to pick up ideas for lyrics?

“A little rain never hurt no-one…” Time, if not Tom, waits whilst I lay out A Gentle Rain once again. Designer Kevin Wilson offers up a moment of calm in this meditative tile-laying experience. #boardgames

All the King’s horses and all the King’s men… Travelling to see family this Easter weekend and daughter asked for a refresher in Chess. Noblesse oblige… #boardgames

Jason Moore's very thorough preview of our Mine 77 #boardgame, which is funded now in @kickstarter. Back your own copy, it'll not be in retail. Read @deckof51.bsky.social preview:
tinyurl.com/3t8k7hzd

Nothing like rekindling your love for a game that’s been away from the table a little too long. Scythe was introduced to two newer gamers in our group last night. Every time it comes out I’m blown away by just how good it is - and how gorgeous. #boardgames

Zombie Kidz Evolution. Daughter and I made it to the end of the campaign, opening the final envelope, after countless entertaining plays. Very much a game you’d play with the family, with a cleanly-presented theme that does nothing to dissuade the youngest gamers. Enjoyed our time a lot #boardgames

All those years writing macabre fiction, and I’ve still never written anything as scary as a Braille sign that says: do not touch. #writing

Ore-some Wells (or: Mine your own Business) - a Deck of Fifty-One preview | Mine 77 They say an infinite number of monkeys, armed with an infinite number of typewriters, will eventually reproduce the entire works of Shakespeare. If you're pushed for time and want to see what six monk...

Kicking off a big run of reviews, as I velcro myself back into the saddle, my preview of Mine 77 is now up on BGG. Dual rondels, worker-placement and deck-building combine in this wonderfully meaty effort that launches on Kickstarter on 31st March.

boardgamegeek.com/thread/34864...

#boardgames

Long game of Terraforming Mars with four players (two new and two long-time fans) last night. One of our new members cinched the win by a single point whilst my hapless card draws saw me locked in a thrilling contest for last place. Fun. #boardgames

Sure, call it a swear jar if you like... but I know a suggestion box when I see one.

Honestly it seems immaculate having had a good look through. The only thing I found was that one tile wouldn’t squeeze into a storage tray. Not the end of the world.

I’ve been hearing previewers and those fortunate enough to try a demo play suggest that Galactic Cruise is going to be one of the biggest and best games of 2025, for over a year now. If the gameplay is even half as satisfying as this unboxing, they might well be on to something. #boardgames

It is the season of Fasnet in Germany right now. For context, try to imagine an entire country taking up Morris Dancing at the same time, whilst dressing like they were planning on infiltrating a fourteenth-century Gay Pride festival… for gruffalos.

First play of the highly-venerated Hansa Teutonica. Pretty straightforward in principle; put down a cube or move them around to create trade links. Zero luck and constant interaction; I’d love to properly dig into it some more very soon. #boardgames

After an atrocity of a week, in which I was once again acquainted with the very worst that hospital cuisine has to offer, I’m home and looking forward to chewing on a first play of something sweet. Unmatched Adventures: Tales to Amaze. Looks tasty. #boardgames

I never really believed you could fall asleep listening to language recordings and develop your vocabulary subconsciously.

Last night I fell asleep listening to a Rammstein album. It's not helped me "speak" German any better, but I can scream it through a PA system at the folk across the road now.

...and this place is all the better for it. :)

I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on Verdun. @ren-ddp.bsky.social has put out some really clever small-box titles in the past couple of years.

I’ll be honest, it’s not the ‘spice’ that would be flowing if this popped out at me. The 7th Continent is accepting travel bookings once again. #boardgames

Not saying I'm a terrible cook, but I once served leftovers from a meal no-one had ever seen before.