The Spiel

In Ya Blew It, you roll your stick of dynamite (a nifty 8-sided die!) trying to scoop up the best claims of gems before the prospector decides to nab them all.

Hardback is a delightful, fun and challenging twist on both deck and word building. It will make you look at the simple task of spelling in a totally new way. Each word is an engine that drives your novel forward generating income, abilities, and points.

We recap our impressions of GenCon 2018, including discussions of industry news and games of note. Special Guests: Darrell Ottery, Gubbins Boffin

We’re heading toward a marriage of cardboard and digital games. We discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by crossing the cardboard and digital divide. Panelists: Ted Alspach, Tim Fowers, Tim Burrell-Saward.

What challenges and opportunities are unique to working with a media license? How do you forge an alliance between good media and good games? Panelists: James Ernest, Rob Daviau, David Brashaw, Francesco Nepitello.

We invite a fun-loving group of people in the gaming media to join us for a free-wheeling chat on a variety of topics both serious and silly. Panelists: Scott Alden, Bebo, Marguerite Cottrell, Eric Summerer.

The art of the pitch is a learnable skill. We discuss the essential elements of a successful pitch, plus tips and tricks to help make your game design stand out from the crowd. Panelists: Mike Selinker, Stephen Buonocore, Tim WK Brown, Erica Bouyouris

Games can be brilliant teaching tools both in the classroom and beyond it. We discuss how each panelist uses games in creative ways to facilitate learning and develop life skills. Panelists: John Knoerzer, Beth Heile, Kathleen Mercury

As publishers, designers, and players, what choices can we make and what steps can we take to help the world of games include and reflect the vast variety of fun loving players in it? Panelists: Sen Foong Lim, Maggi Cottrell, Isaac Vega, Katie Aidley

We delve into how different designers and publishers approach game development, hoping to gain a better appreciation of how important this step is to the life of any game. Panelists: Matt Leacock, Christopher Badell, Ray Wehrs, Jason Hill Geoff Engelstein

The Coleson-Conway era of The Spiel comes to a close with a celebration of our shared passion and love of trick-taking card games. We review Anansi and Take the A Chord plus we delve into the history of Jeux de Tarot.

In Heaven & Ale, you are the master brewer at a German monastery in the Middle Ages. Gather hops, water, barley, and yeast and recruit monks to build your brewery. Each decision leads to an innovative scoring system that packs a great cerebral punch.

Your team of spies intercepts a secret transmission. 3 words. A code tied to a sequence of numbers. Can you decipher this sequence when the pressure is on? Remember, the other team is trying to unravel your sequence at the same time! Welcome to Decrypto!

Professor Evil uses his time machine to rob the world of priceless antiques. Your group has been sent to rescue treasures before they are locked away. It's charming, engaging, great for players young and old, and sure to provide many hours of Major Fun.

Cursed Court is a clever auction game that draws its inspiration from stud poker. Each season, you bid on a noble or group of nobles based on hidden and public information. Bid wisely, you'll gain influence at court. Bid poorly, you'll be scrubbing pots!

Pioneers is a gateway game for a new generation. You’ll discover new layers of depth and fun by charting different paths with each pioneer you settle. Best of all how everyone else plays will change your decisions and let you see the game in a new light.

It's the 16th century and you're in charge of a fledgling colony in the New World. Santa Maria is a dice-based action selection game which offers a fantastic variety of strategic decisions. The game is constantly challenging and consistently fun.

Ancestree is a tile drafting game where each player cultivates a family tree. You'll build dynasties, marriages, and wealth to score points. The game is wonderfully simple to learn but the scoring system makes each decision matter and each decision fun.

Majesty is an easy to learn, wonderfully elegant and interactive card game. Each player recruits subjects to help create a prosperous new realm. Each character offers a simple but specialized way to bring wealth, health and security to the crown.

In Raiders of the North Sea you assemble a crew, collect provisions and journey north to plunder... even if it ends in a glorious death! It's a worker placement game with a brilliant balance of strategy and simplicity. And a perfect intro to the genre.