Reviews

The worst part of being a critic is reviewing derivative, mediocre works. It’s a strange problem that often causes division between the critic and their audience. Why? Well, audiences often like mediocre, derivative things if they’re similar to what they … Continued

Ben Franklin said, apocryphally, that “beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy”. As much as I enjoy beer, I think dogs might be the ultimate proof. What other creature is so boundlessly happy, loyal, … Continued

Co-op games have become very popular in the modern boardgaming hobby. Pandemic in particular was a huge success and has contributed to the growing popularity of boardgaming generally. The problem with co-op games is that they’re almost always essentially solo … Continued

I just realized the main irony of Friday. It would be a great game to have with you if you were stuck on a desert island. It’s portable, a solo game, challenging, and replayable. Plus it’s about being stuck on … Continued

The name Seikatsu confuses me. The rulebook says that it is a Japanese word meaning “life”, but all of my life I have associated “katsu” with deliciously breaded and fried cutlets. I mean, if there’s anything more life-affirming than fried … Continued

It’s the kind of thing where you play it, and then wonder why no one had thought of it before. Quantum, above all else, is novel and elegant in its main conceit–essentially using dice for every task. Your dice act … Continued

I don’t like to take walks, much to the chagrin of my doctor, who tells me I should probably exercise, like, at all. Talk to my wife and she’ll tell you how pointless it is to try to get me … Continued