Trollskull Manor was a money sink, but it was our money sink. Owning it created a lot of problems like a new rivalry with the tavern keeper across the street and a nasty rodent infestation caused by wererats. But it also allowed us to flesh out our characters with goals that had nothing to do with the campaign’s quests. Our Druid used the cellar to grow mushrooms and make cheese, the Rogue started up a chamber of commerce with other local businesses, and my drow Warlock gathered information from some of the city’s shadier residents over drinks and games of Sava. The tavern got everyone invested in the setting, even those with no previous attachments to the Forgotten Realms and its place amongst the best tabletop RPGs.

My love of that ramshackle pub is why I was so excited to see Wizards of the Coast offer up rules for bastions in the 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide, encouraging Dungeon Masters to give their players somewhere to call home between adventures to make them feel like they have a real stake in the game world. It’s a new spin on an old idea for the game — the earliest versions of D&D offered rules for players to build strongholds and attract followers as they grew in power, but the concept hasn’t been officially supported since 4th Edition.

Mod-cons

The new DMG rules draw on the mechanics for downtime activities published in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything. Rather than trying to gather contacts, craft, or gamble on their own when they have a week free between adventures, bastions give players the chance to build structures and hire NPCs to help them gain knowledge, items, and money. There are some great ideas in the rules, but I wish they were friendlier to lower level characters, better balanced, and offered more roleplaying hooks based on how the party is actually using their space.

Players can’t gain a bastion until level 5, well after the level 1-5 adventure Dragon Heist turns over control of Trollskull Manor. The reason is because bastions start with two special facilities which can provide bonus mundane and magic loot. A sanctuary offers a charm that allows a character to cast Healing Word without using a spell slot, while spending a short rest in a workshop can provide heroic inspiration.

But the bastion also starts with mundane facilities like a kitchen or bedroom that don’t provide any game effects beyond giving PCs a place to hang out. Why not encourage the DMs to introduce the bastion at level 2 or whenever appropriate to the story and just provide these basic features, allowing characters to upgrade them when they hit level 5 to introduce their mechanically relevant versions? Bastion upgrades are a great way of providing a sense of progress in the campaign beyond conventional loot and leveling, and getting that going earlier seems like it would be satisfying without any impact on game balance.

A place to call home

The special facilities are far from created equal both in terms of flavor or mechanical impact. I love the archive, a level 13 feature that can be used to grant PCs advantage on knowledge checks when they spend time between sessions studying the books in the collection — which can be expanded by spending more gold. The garden offers the same mix of flavor and utility, allowing characters to grow healing herbs for potions, food for rations, and flowers for perfume or bouquets.

In contrast, using the theater to put on a production takes three times as long as any of the other facilities and only provides the benefit of a single application of bardic inspiration. That’s an especially underwhelming reward since a Bard is the character class most likely to be interested in building the facility in the first place. The level 13 pub provides a bounty of magical drinks, but it’s baffling that there isn’t a lower level version that just provides the information-gathering benefit. DMs often want to give players rumors about plots going on, so having them come from your bartender or barista would actually help them with the game regardless of how powerful the PCs are.

A small table of bastion events provides a lot of potential hooks like refugees or even friendly monsters showing up or an opportunity to host a festival. I’d love to have seen an expanded version of this that goes beyond generic events that could happen at any bastion to be tailored to specific facilities like pilgrims arriving to visit your reliquary or the animals in your menagerie breeding. Tables could also be different based on where your bastion is, whether in the heart of a bustling city like Waterdeep or tucked away in the wilderness.

Hopefully the DMG is just the start to Wizards of the Coast’s exploration of bastions. Going out on adventures is the heart of D&D, but after a long day of slaying monsters and disabling traps it’s nice to have a place to come home to.

Want some new adventures to run? Check out our guide to the best D&D books. As for special extras to spruce up your game, don't miss the best D&D gifts.

As part of Catan's 30th anniversary celebrations, Thames & Kosmos is bringing us Exit: The Game - Adventures on Catan, an escape room-style game with nods to the original Catan gameplay. One that could garner quite a lot of attention, being themed around one of the best board games ever.

"Players trade with residents to build out the island and discover more resources", the press release reveals. But it's not as simple as all that. "Numerous challenges and riddles" await players trying to build a new life in a modern land, so there should be plenty of puzzles and challenges to work out with your other Catan-obsessed pals.

I'm honestly trying to envision a Catan Exit game, but without any more information from the press release it's a little hard to do so. Do you need to figure out how to sail to the island itself? Will there be wheat-based puzzles making their way onto tabletops world-round?

Time will tell, though there are a good few months to go before the game is set to release in North America. We're looking at a June 2025 launch, but pre-orders are open right now for $17.95 on the Thames & Kosmos store.

Of course, it's not the only new product in the Catan franchise - the new version of Catan is "modernizing" the board game and "updating it to today's standards." We'll be able to see how successful that was when the game's sixth edition launches at the end of this month.

For more recommendations, why not check out some other classic family board games, or cooperative board games in the same vein.

Aside from checking out our 5 tips on starting your campaign right, it's always good to brush up on techniques from relevant TTRPG books, and get some physical components in your arsenal that are necessary for a D&D campaign. This includes stuff you might not have thought of yet, like spare pencils for your players (because writing in pen is sacrilege). Even a speaker or lighting setup to get a little atmosphere going.

So, if you're serious about starting your D&D campaign (or adventures for any of the best tabletop RPGs, in fact) on the right foot, and making a good impression on your new players, the below deals should let you do so without emptying your coin purse in the process.

For more discounts, be sure to check out the latest the best D&D gifts. As for last-minute present ideas, why not drop by our gifts for gamers guide?

Depending on how high you go, where you started, and how many arches you used, you're assigned a point value that can be redeemed for cards. These cards determine how many blocks you get immediately as well as your recurring bank of blocks – but more importantly, they also have a banana point value. At the end of a Monkey Palace session, it's all about how many banana points you have; as in so many of the best board games, nothing else matters but your score.

If that sounds a bit complicated, well, yes. It does sound complicated, and trust me when I say reading the rulebook isn't going to help you consider Monkey Palace anything but fiddly. There's really no getting around it, however, and once you have wrapped your head around the rules, it can be a genuinely great time.

Features & design

• A resource management game
• Build as high as you can
• Starts simple, gets much more complex

Helpfully, because it's a board game built with Lego, the vast majority of the game's pieces are just… Lego bricks of some flavor or another. (If you're a fan of the best Lego sets, you'll feel right at home.) Mostly this is arches, columns, or single bricks with some additional decorative plants as well as a monkey, toad, and butterfly. And, of course, the base grid itself – which is covered with one of three different possible sheets to produce different kinds of maps.

Beyond the Lego bricks and the three maps, there are four different player trackers in addition to a whole mess of different cards. While the vast majority of the cards are indicative of how many Lego bricks a player should grab on a given round, some are simply meant to tally points with the game's rules being fairly clear on when that actually triggers.

As for the rulebook, there is helpfully a QR code on the box itself as well as on the first page of the rules that will likely be far more helpful than the written instructions. But for those folks that aren't able to spend time watching a video, there's honestly nothing better for understanding than playing a couple of times after getting at least a rudimentary concept of what you're supposed to do.

Gameplay

• Manage resources over several turns
• Multiple starting points for a variety of outcomes
• Earn banana points by building as high as you can

The game itself plays just fine and in a relatively intuitive way once you've actually figured it out, but if you're only using the rulebook, there might be a bit of confusion when you get started. More than once, for example, I found myself trying to puzzle out exactly what might count for points when the rules mentioned only five bricks high or more without arches but including decoration would count toward a specific objective.

The fact that Monkey Palace uses Lego bricks as such an integral part of it is both a blessing and a curse. The vast majority of people that play Monkey Palace are absolutely going to be familiar with the iconic building toy, making it rather simple to understand the fact that the main point of the game is to build up bigger and better than your rivals (making it a great board game for kids). But trying to apply a fluid framework to something that many adults might associate with explicit instructions is its own challenge, and it took multiple turns before I really began to understand all the possibilities at my fingertips that weren't simply "put this Lego brick on top of this Lego brick" over and over again.

While Monkey Palace can technically be played with just two players, I'd recommend getting as close to the full roster as possible. Because games end when you run out of pieces to grab when refilling, more players means shorter games overall. It also typically means that it's not just you and one other person backstabbing each other on every turn – there are instead multiple folks to sink the figurative knife into.

Adding more players to the mix also increases the impact of all of your decisions. Every single Lego brick you add to the growing monkey palace complicates the next player's decisions that much more. If, for example, you're able to play the little monkey on an arch end because you began in a spot that ended in a golden brick at the highest level yet, that path being blocked for multiple other players is much more significant. If it's just you and one other person trading back and forth, as my first game was, it's just as likely that you'll curse yourself with your previous decisions as you are to give your opponent a headache.

In other words? This isn't going to rank amongst the best 2-player board games anytime soon... but it's a blast with a larger head-count.

Should you buy Monkey Palace?

If you're really into Lego or want a relatively fast-paced game with familiar pieces, Monkey Palace is an easy recommendation. I'm quite picky about what games remain in rotation on my board game shelf, and Monkey Palace has settled into its own spot thanks in large part to the physicality of building wild structures.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested Monkey Palace

We played Monkey Palace several times with the different maps and optional rules. To find out more, see our guide to how we test board games. You might also read our wider GamesRadar+ reviews policy.

For recommendations, don't miss the best cooperative board games or the best family board games.

As much as I'm excited about a fishy version of Wingspan and Wyrmspan, I'm still working my way through the best board games list now. So I promise I didn't contribute to the site crash! This isn't the first time it's happened, either. Fishy Wingspan expansion Oceana crashed the Stonemaier site back in 2018, when masses of people flocked to get their pre-orders in.

There's been a lot of speculation around what the next Wingspan game would look like, which no doubt helped to foreshadowed the big influx. BoardGameGeek forum users speculated around certain trademarks in one thread, with one user noting that Finspan had actually been trademarked a while back. Having gotten the date wrong, Jamey Stegmaier of Stonemaier games chimed in to correct them.

"I'm not here to confirm or deny anything about our January 8 announcement, but I'd like to clear up one thing and make one request", he says. "We actually applied for the trademark mentioned in this thread on March 18, 2022".

So the Finspan trademark had actually been floating around for two-and-a-bit years before finally coming to a head. Either way, Jamey goes on to ask of anyone thinking of sharing trademark information – which he acknowledges is public information anyway – to keep that kind of thing out of speculation threads since "that's a spoiler, not speculation".

"The request really isn't fair for me to make, but I'll make it anyway: When you see that a company has applied for a trademark [...] please keep that information to yourself. It doesn't seem like it's in the spirit of speculation to share that. If someone really wants to know which trademarks a company has applied for, they would have looked up that information on their own."

He then goes on to thank those in the know, such as his playtesters and the like, for keeping what they knew under wraps until the big reveal. A fair request, but to expect people on the internet not to spill the tea is asking a lot.

Finspan is expected to set sail on January 22, with its gorgeous artwork and apparently less complex design. You'll be able to grab it on the Stonemaier games website, which is back up now in case you were worried.

For more recommendations, why not check out the best card games or best two-player board games.

That's why their new box set has seized my imagination faster than a deserter being collared by their Commissar. Step aside, Space Marines – the Death Korps of Krieg may be the most Warhammer 40K army to ever 40K.

Most wanted

As 2025's first 40K release, the Death Korps of Krieg Army Set kicks off this year with a bang worthy of the faction's signature siege engines. Composed of 10 Death Riders (lance-weilding jockeys on monstrous horses), five Krieg Combat Engineers, an Artillery Team, and the imposing Lord Marshal Dreir, it's pitched as a way to kick off your Imperial Guard battalion in style. You're also getting the new Astra Militarum Codex rulebook here so that you can swot up on the faction's lore and mechanics, albeit with a special cover and similarly premium Datacards. In other words? It's an impressive bundle. Anecdotally, I've heard it described in my local Warhammer store as one of the community's most anticipated box sets for a long time.

I can see why. It's rare for Games Workshop to produce models that don't impress these days (they usually put miniatures in the best board games to shame), but these are soaked in the kind of John Blanche grittiness that has defined the 40K universe for a long time. Those wonky horses are the stars, of course. Thanks to pipes worked into their flesh, barcoded rumps, clawed hooves, and the obligatory Krieg gas masks, they're inspired… in a nightmarish sort of way. The massive artillery piece and the WW1-esque infantry are all well and good, but this cavalry unit steals the show.

They epitomize how dreadful everyone is in the Warhammer 40K setting, too. Sure, the Imperium may be the 'protagonists' of the story by virtue of being human. But make no mistake, they're awful. If you need an example of how little the Imperial army values life, just get a load of the brand and number sizzled into each horse's flesh. It's dark, but provides 40K with one of the most tangible universes in sci-fi.

Indeed, I'd argue that they're a more fitting example of the Imperial horde than those classic Cadian troopers who usually take the limelight (you know, the ones in bog-standard fatigues and green combat plate). The latter would fit in any number of science fiction stories from Alien to Avatar, but the Death Korps of Krieg? They're so unequivocally Warhammer that you can't mistake them for anything else, and I'm happy that they're the focus of Astra Militarum this edition.

Fighting fit

None of these models are beginner-friendly, it's true. There are a lot of fiddly bits to glue together and numerous customization options to choose from, even down to the grungy backpacks on your Combat Engineers. Yet for hobbyists who've spent a while in this quadrant of the galaxy, that's catnip.

I'll admit that it's par for the course with army sets like this, as evidenced by the T’au Empire models that give Kroot the makeover they deserve or last year's Dark Angels pack (I hate to say it, but I love Space Marines now thanks to the Deathwing Assault box). But thanks to the Death Korps' predilection for oodles of 'stuff,' from backpacks crammed with tools to the occasional tin cup lying around, it's particularly noticeable.

This isn't a 'full' army either, despite the name. Because it's only a few hundred points, you'll need plenty more models to get a working force. However, that's a prospect as rife with possibility as the customizable pieces. The Astra Militarum boasts a greater variety of troops than almost any other army, with everything from the jetpack-wielding elites seen in Hivestorm to hobbit snipers and ogre heavy-hitters. There's plenty of room to carve out your own legion.

Honestly, that's where my head is at right now – I've fallen in love with the Death Korps, so am trying to decide what I can add to make this a full fighting force despite never having considered an Astra Militarum army before. It's got me excited about 40K in a way I haven't been for ages, and may drag me away from my beloved Kill Team… if only for a while.

If you're also feeling the same itch, you can pre-order the Death Korps of Krieg Army Set now. It's obviously available via Games Workshop direct, but I'll circle back around to this piece as and when I find deals on the box. A few discounts are sure to pop up before long, so watch this space.

For recommendations of what to play next, check out these essential board games for adults or the best 2-player board games.

For recommendations of what to play next, check out these essential board games for adults or the best 2-player board games.

Seriously, I've seen a lot of weird D&D merchandise in my time, but my initial reaction to discovering scented D&D dice was "Man, I really hope my DM doesn't read this," because he's definitely going to import them and take over the table with some distinctly pungent aromas.

Discovered while perusing The Soloist (one of my favorite Substacks) this morning, I now feel like I've seen everything when it comes to Dungeons & Dragons merch. From Studio Woe – whose art has touched World of Warcraft, Darksiders, Disney, and Warhammer 40K titles – comes Scented Adventure Dice by Baron Smelly Bones. Currently up for pre-order at $20 a pop (bargain), Baron Smelly Bones' dice come in a few different scents.

Nature's Embrace dice are earthen brown and translucent green with copper numbers that emit a subtle scent of earth and fir tree. Ancient Armory dice are black and transparent silver, with micro glitter and red figures, that features notes of steel, leather, and "unbridled power". And the Fireball Char dice are yellow and transparent red with silver numbering, which emulate that campfire waft "or the smoldering remains of your ancestral home."

There's also Arcane Vapors in case you're wondering what D&D magic smells like, and Healers Balm that should make playing the party's medic a little more interesting I suppose.

The studio also Kickstarted a few other designs of the Villanous scent variety back in October. From Vampire Wine to Cemetary Soil, and even Blueberry Hag, 694 backers pledged $50,839 to make these evil scents a reality. Although you can't make late pledges, I imagine you'll be seeing them pop up on the Studio Woe website eventually.

The main question for me (other than just "WHY?") is with all that handling, how do these dice not lose their scent over time? The description helpfully explains: "Our dice are scented with a multi-phase process that infuses both the dice and the dice tin with fragrance! While your dice are not in use, store them back in their tin to recharge their aromatic battery."

That means you're getting a scented dice set and free tin to keep them in for your money, as well as the very unnecessary but very novel infusion of the scent of your choice.

All this has got me considering a really important question I spotted on the D&D Beyond forums, however: "What do Celestials smell like?" More on that at a later date.

For more recommendations, why not check out the best D&D books, or some of the best tabletop RPGs.

If you're not one for solo RPGs, I get it. Some people are just more social. But these might finally make you reconsider your need for chatter with their fantastic artwork, clear and clever systems, and prompts that will get you thinking about all kinds of deep and surreal subjects. These games have really piqued my interest this year, and when all you want is to be alone with your imagination, you can bet the journaling RPG experience will rival any of the best tabletop RPGs in terms of tranquil brilliance.

There are heaps of different themes to choose from as well, from a post-apocalyptic woodland where you play as a little foraging creature, to peaceful space conglomerates with giant fighter-mech pals. Most of them let you design the world to your own specification, too. So the only limit is your imagination… and how much ink that pen of yours has left.

Depths of Obscurum | Oh Hi Games

Depths of Obscurum is a dark fantasy featuring heretical monuments, mysterious citadels, and twisted magic. It's a more ambitious sequel to Crypts of Obscurum by the same designer, with expanded provisions, treasure, alkemy, and legendary weapon tables. There are even more spells and casting mechanics, as well as much more streamlined attribute tests and rolls.

The game can be played solo or co-op. Solo players have access to a host of hirelings as they wander through the gamebook, which is littered with supremely metal artwork from a host of creators. Whether you're looking to fight recklessly as a Zealot, uphold the holy light as a Templar, or wield dark, eldritch powers yourself as an Beckoner or Occultist, this game has plenty of opportunity to stare into the void, and have it stare right back.

Currently live on Kickstarter, you have until February 17 to back Depths of Obscurum and nab the digital PDF for just $10, or get the physical copy for $40.

Wires in the Wood | Critical Kit Ltd

Play through an abandoned world as a "curious little forager" in this solo or two-player journaling RPG. Adapted from the Carta System by Peach Garden Press, it uses a standard deck of playing cards to reveal the map, and there are plenty of strange artefacts to unearth that will help you solve issues throughout the game.

Wires in the Woods provides a lovely change of perspective, encouraging you to look at familiar items through an unfamiliar lens. You can still make a late pledge, despite the Wires in the Woods backerkit campaign having ended You can even nab yourself a themed deck of playing cards, dice, or just some of the fantastic art prints by Simon J. Curd. Not only do backers get a copy of the game, they also walk away with a free zine – All Night Breakfast at the Midnight Owl – from award-winning designer Tim Roberts, who brought Wires in the Woods to life.

Squire | Storythreads

Squire is a journaling game that focuses on your tribulations as not an honorable Knight, but his humble apprentice. It's a game for "telling stories about what it’s like to be in the middle of the action, but rarely be given attention, credit, or control over what happens next."

It leans heavily on the roll of the dice as you navigate your way through a world of your own imagining, and it doesn't limit you to medieval settings either. Squire encourages you to think abstractly, superimposing a timeless narrative onto whatever kind of setting your heart desires. Be it a high-tech world where your Leige owns a Mech rather than a steed, or a modern world where magic really does exist.

It's split into three acts, each with its own scenes that'll see players rolling fate die to establish details, interpreting challenges for the Knight to whom you have sworn your oath, and witnessing them either succeed valiantly, or royally stumble.

The best thing about it is that Squire is free on itch.io, though we recommend contributing what you can to recognise the amazing and comprehensive system and story laid out here.

The Gaping Serpent | Lur Noise

The Gaping Serpent was written for the 36 word RPG jam on itch.io, making it a TRPG equivalent of a walking sim or some kinda flash fiction. It pushes the limits of what a solo journaling game might look like. With a single, twisted prompt and roll table, your imagination is sent spiralling into the dark light of mourning.

It's a simple yet thought provoking dive into the fragile human condition, and mental health, through the lens of a 'dungeon crawler'. Also free to download on itch, The Gaping Serpent is one of those thoughtful games that distills a feeling of perpetual longing into a very concise ruleset. I just think it's wonderfully creative and super goth, and I love it.

Ion Heart | Parable Games

Touted as a "A Lo-Fi Solo Mech TTRPG" this is a gorgeously illustrated game that's been fully funded on Backerkit as of last year, and should soon be dropping digitally. In Ion Heart, you play as a mech pilot and their mech bestie in a newly war-free world known as the Astral Union – "a peaceful conglomerate of cultures [...] in which war had previously raged for millennia."

Your job is to keep the peace though physical prowess or calming words, and discover planets and cultures of your own creation. You'll grow and bond with your mech and find a home in the stars where you can unwind in the knowledge that love, like the universe, is infinite.

Late pledges are now open with the Mech Pilot pledge including the physical and digital version of Pilot's handbook, the Remembrance adventure, Pilot's Journal, dice set, and all applicable stretch goals.

Koriko: A Magical Year | Mousehole Press

This is a game of magical introspection, inspired by Studio Ghibli's Kiki's Delivery Service movie, as well as the original Eiko Kadono novel. But you don't need to be a huge fan to enjoy the tranquility of whatever world your brain conjures up.

"A passing familiarity with witches, urban exploration and teenage drama is all the background you’ll need," it says. Koriko is split into seven different sections that take between 1-2 hours to complete, so there's plenty of magic to be had as you reflect on your adventures and send off letters to your witch's mentor.

This game uses not your average pack of cards, but a deck of tarot cards alongside a stack of standard, six-sided dice. You can nab a digital copy for $18 on itch, or get two physical booklets for £45 / $57 on the publisher's site – that's half price for your witchiest pal.

For more recommendations, why not check out the best D&D books or maybe some Levitating Dice to amuse you.

The game is currently down to £44.95 at Zatu, from it's usual price of more than £62. And it sure is cheaper than an actual Formula 1 experience day. Trust me, my dad is obsessed.

Every Sunday, both TV sets were ablur with racing cars from the moment I was born until – well, I imagine it's still going on now I've moved out. That's got me feeling a bit nostalgic, but at least I can bring that cosy Sunday fun to the kitchen table for him for fathers day when it rolls around, and with £18 off.

Should you buy HEAT: Pedal to the Metal?

While we've not looked at HEAT: Pedal to the Metal ourselves, IGN reckons it's able to emulate an "actual sense of breakneck speed". With its simple, fast paced deckbuilding system, players take to the track in a 1960's Grand Prix. You play a number of cards equal to your current gear to get around the track, and have to manage your hand, downshifting at the corners and gaining heat.

It's a fantastic-sounding system that means as much as you can rev up and get into first place, holding onto it is much much harder. It's a game of pushing your luck like many of the best board games, and balancing your speed and heat so you don't have to slow down so much that it'll cost you the race.

It looks like it really manages to give that sweat-fuelled, Red Bull funded racing experience without messing it up with what could have been a really terrible game design.

For more discounts, be sure to check out the latest these board game deals for January 2025. As for last-minute present ideas, why not drop by our gifts for gamers guide?

Not bad, and well earned by anyone who can bring a little magic to the D&D campaign table.

According to one backer, "If you want to jump from dice Goblin to dice Dragon, then you can't do better than a magical flippin' D20." And I'm inclined to agree. Just imagine lifting your DM screen to reveal a dice floating in mid air as your Cleric attempts to commune with their God, or for that one big roll that could turn the fate of the entire campaign. If that idea's grabbed your interest, why not check out our D&D gift guide?

Currently you can still make pledges on the Kickstarter page, though there aren't many left and most of the wholesale lots are all gone at this point. One D20 set with the base, base protector, gift box and USB Type-C cable will set you back around £129 ($160), just so you know what you're getting yourself into.

Just to be clear, these floating dice aren't illusion magic or even a new artificer technology; it's magnets. Just magnets. Sorry to pop your fantasy bubble. It's not even a new thing, hence the name Ascendice 2. They're the second installation from the same company – with an extra 22% levitation height, I'll have you know – and while they are captivating for sure, I must acknowledge that it has all been done before. Back in May last year, another Levitating Dice project was 1,961% funded on Kickstarter, in fact, thanks to 1,672 backers. Floating dice are also widely available across the web.

Still, in my opinion, none have made it look as classy as Ascendice. Plus their dice designs are named stuff like Voidheart, Envy's Cut, and Bloodlust. I mean, how much more metal can dice get? You've got a limited time before the Kickstarter closes, so now's the time to make a sleight of hand check.

For more recommendations, why not check out the best tabletop RPGs or best D&D books.

Swapping out the sky for oceans, it focuses on fish of all kinds and will arrive January 22 (presumably direct from the Stonemaier Games store) followed by a late February retail release. Much like Wingspan, Finspan is an engine-building board game that sees you collecting fish across a variety of environments from coral reefs to the deep-sea midnight zone. It's made for 1 to 5 players, and should take between 45 and 60 minutes from start to finish.

Although Wingspan designer Elizabeth Hargrave wasn't directly involved in Finspan's development (it was designed by David Gordon and Michael O'Connell), she consulted on it at "several key points in the development process." The mechanics will also be recognizable to fans of the best board games, but this time fish can be consumed or discarded to free up space. Diving has also been woven into gameplay.

This is the second Wingspan spin-off we've had so far (Wyrmspan swooped in last year), and as someone that loves both the original and snorkeling, I'm more than game to go beneath the tabletop waves. Particularly because I'm sure there will be some proper weirdo fish found in the darkest depths. Being able to exclaim "urgh, what the hell is that?!" with fellow players is one hell of an icebreaker.

As is par for the course at this stage, Finspan is gorgeous as well. The franchise's artwork has always been one of its strongest assets, and these illustrations – from Ana María Martínez, Catalina Martínez, and Mesa Schumacher – live up to that legacy with the same class and verve we've come to expect from the watercolor paintings. Fish are some of nature's greatest show-offs, so the cards certainly pop.

I love how diving has been worked into the game's mechanics too. You either place a fish or swim down to activate certain effects on your turn, and while this is basically a jazzed-up version of Wingspan's action cube system, it's a much more thematic spin. I always appreciate gameplay blending with theme in this way, as it makes for a more immersive experience overall.

Regarding the game, Hargrave notes that "fish have been a surprisingly common request from Wingspan fans but I didn't feel like I had the bandwidth to do them justice. So I'm absolutely delighted that someone else was available to take this one on. As I did with Wyrmspan, I played the game and weighed in on the design at several key points in the development process. It's been such an interesting puzzle to help make games that feel like they're in a family with Wingspan, while still delivering a different play experience."

It seems as if early January is the time for Wingspan spin-offs to spread their wings; the Wyrmspan reveal happened to take place around this time of year in 2024. With that in mind, will we get another 'span' game to add to our collection in 12 month's time? Probably not, but a man can dream. If you'll excuse me, I'll be manifesting a Wingspan/Pokemon crossover...

For recommendations on what to play next, don't miss these essential board games for adults. As for Finspan's predecessor, Wrymspan feels more complex and isolating than Wingspan, but that's just how spelunking goes.

In a previous interview, Crawford told us that the new D&D Monster Manual would include "a high-CR construct, a Colossus, that is a skyscraper tall", but how these beasts were going to change compared to previous D&D books mechanically was still a mystery. Now we understand that their deep re-tuning of legendary creatures might finally keep monsters with a high challenge rating feeling just the right level of terrifying.

The problem with CR

In WotC's livestream, the two started off chatting about how monster books are their favorite and how, with 500 stat blocks, this is going to be "the biggest monster manual D&D has ever had". Then finally they addressed the titan in the room – Legendary CR. In previous editions, Crawford admits, challenge ratings for legendary monsters "often led to a monster feeling weaker than it should" because "many of us as DMs found that sometimes we don't want to choose the most deadly option every round." So how have they worked to fix the issue?

"A decade ago, the way we calculated CR was focussed on if the DM chooses the most powerful option every round, here is the monster's CR", says Crawford, which left things feeling unbalanced. In order to combat the issue, they've changed their methodology in that "no matter which sequence of legendary actions you pick, that monster is still going to be on CR."

They reckon that this change is "going to actually have a cumulative effect of making these monsters seem more terrifying because there will not be those drop-offs that people had before."

Not only do they promise that the changes will make it "much easier for the DM to find their way through the stat block of an ancient dragon, or the Blob of Annihilation", but also "keep that monster terrifying in a way that is appropriate for its challenge rating."

Show, don't tell

Time will tell as to whether DMs world-round agree, but at least we can say the Monster Manual's artwork has an impressive way of showing you just how terrifying these monsters can be.

"It's a book that's really rooted in showing you how these monsters exist in the worlds of Dungeons and Dragons", says Schneider.

Where previously, many monsters were pictured in a vacuum, out of context for you to imagine in your campaign setting, Schneider says "I don't think that there's a single monster in this book that's just 'here's a critter floating in white space'. They're all in these worlds, doing the thing that makes them exciting."

The upcoming D&D Monster Manual is set to land next month on February 18, so now's the time to pre-order on the D&D store if you're looking to get scary with the all-new monster challenge rating mechanics.

For more recommendations, why not check out the best tabletop RPGs. And if you're after a change of pace, why not check out some of the best board games.

Player interaction is definitely down against Wingspan, its acclaimed predecessor by Elizabeth Hargrave. But there's something a lot of people are missing as they swing their swords in protest, claiming that a game about dragons should be all about conquering your foes and hoarding gold. (Granted, it is a little bit about the latter.)

As a game designer, storyteller, and purveyor of the best board games, I'm here to unearth something far deeper and more important than scratching the itch for a good scrap between pals in a dragon game. Because Wyrmspan is not just a dragon game, it's a game about extreme caving.

A solo endeavor

Samantha pretty much nailed my initial sentiment in our Wyrmspan review. It's a game that "Ramps up the complexity, but not the interactivity" against its predecessor. And although I've changed my mind about that being a negative thing, it still rings true. So what's the difference between Wingspan and Wyrmspan?

In Wyrmspan, you entice the dragons in your hand of cards into caves on your player board using resources, similarly to how you would entice birds into habitats in Wingspan. You build a system with the dragons that will net you bonuses when you eventually get to the exploration part of the game. The better the system, the more exciting the cave exploration.

Thanks to the omission of what Wingspan called The Bird Feeder – which saw players competing for a random, limited selection of resources – there are far fewer interactions between players that can mess up each other's strategy. Other than scooping up cards from the display before your opponent, the Birdfeeder was the main source of 'take that' action. Granted, Wyrmspan still presents you with a selection of common round goals that can give you an edge against your opponents, but there's little reason to keep an eye on your opponent's next move.

In an attempt to curb this, the guild board was added – a circular track with small rewards, that lead you to extra-good reward spaces with limited spots. Get there first and you could end up with an immense boon. And while you'll check it periodically to see if you're in the running, it's still not enough to keep you invested in what your opponents are up to – something that's impossible to predict, in any case.

Our Samantha says Wyrmspan "feels like playing solitaire with other people at the table," which I'm not sure is a fair assessment. It's far more complicated than solitaire and certainly a step up from Wingspan, which isn't exactly a beginner's game.

Before any dragons move in, you've got to excavate caves for them to live in – another layer of complexity that keeps you honed in on your own strategy. On top of that, there's the guild to consider. As well, the introduction of coins to pay for moves gives Wyrmspan a whole internal economy to think about over Wingspan's simple Action Cube system. With action cubes you know you'll have one less action per round and that's that. The coins not only add complexity, but an element of uncertainty thanks to an even greater mass of potential tactics

Choke point

With so many mechanics and goals demanding your attention, Wyrmspan can start to feel overwhelming, particularly in the late game where any move could spell failure. But that's where its true nugget of brilliance lies – that feeling of being caught up in choice paralysis. It's something cavers experience all the time, and it marries the mechanics perfectly to the theme.

Spelunking, or potholing for the UK cavers among us, is dangerous. It requires heaps of planning even before you set foot in the cave mouth: How deep are we going to venture? Do we have enough food? What are our goals here? And once you're inside you have to be hyper-aware of your foot placement, your status, your oxygen levels… You're often squeezing through tight gaps, feeling trapped and with not a soul in earshot, let alone eyeline.

In Wyrmspan, the action hinges on these tense moments of personal progression, where there are countless ways to squeeze your way into real trouble, and very few ways to get it right. This tension boils to a point until you finally take an action that sees everything fall together, where you strike gold, and make one great push to the surface to share your stories of success.

It's this emulation that Wyrmspan aces, the claustrophobia of extreme cave exploration, that makes it such a brilliantly cohesive game. One that takes an intense hobby and distills it in board game form, and adds some dragons for dressing.

Wyrmspan doesn't let people's need for a game about dragons to revolve around a contest. It rips you from the clenching jaws of would-be competition and sets you clambering into an entirely different challenge, one of trepidation, isolation and wonderment.

For more recommendations, why not check out essential board games for adults and the best cooperative board games for an alternate take.

You may have missed the December sales when the game was down to $71, but paying $87.99 at Amazon sure beats its $103 price tag at the start of last year. Our preferred price checking software reckons it's had a few dips in price this year, such as in late October time when it was around $81, but now we're looking at a steady discount for the time being.

If you're over in the UK, the game is just £73 at Amazon, versus its usual £110 price tag. Not too shabby.

If all this sounds interesting to you, maybe check out our best cooperative board games.

Should you buy The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle Earth board game?

Not only does it give a great cooperative experience for lovers of the Lord of the Rings franchise, it lets them take on the forces of evil, and turn the tides with their very own fellowship. In it, 1-5 players take on the role of heroes with unique stats such as might, wisdom, agility, spirit and wit. They choose between burglar, captain, guardian, hunter, musician and pathfinder as their role, though these are non permanent.

The game uses a companion app to give the experience more of a dynamic feel. The campaign is open-eneded, and always continues at the end of each adventure, regardless of the way things turn out.

It's a fascinating take on a much loved franchise, and with its superb rulebook and freedom to interact in lots of fun ways, this one is well worth your time and cash.

For more discounts, be sure to check out the latest the best board games for January 2025. As for last-minute present ideas, why not drop by our gifts for gamers guide?

If you instantly reached for your dice when you heard the news, now might be the time to get on the best tabletop RPGs list, while you wait for this one. To clarify, the news comes from the EN World 2025 survey, where voters cast up to three votes on a list of 39 nominations at the start of the year.

Quite the achievement with so much competition, then. Lets give them a round of applause or, more appropriately, a clatter of dice. Even more so as, last year, Son of Oak game studio raised an impressive $855,686 of Legend in the Mist's $50,000 goal on the game's Kickstarter, and plans to bring the game to us very soon this year.

Based on the City of Mist TRPG engine by the same studio, Legend in the Mist takes cues from "The Lord of the Rings, The Wheel of Time, Princess Mononoke, and many other classic fantasy stories." It's a tag-based system, which doesn't rely on stats. Tags can be both positive and negative, such as the Apple Picker's 'Scrappy' tag, which gives them some bonuses such as 'Unkempt Charm' during play, but also means they "Never Listen". Adding these power tags together, minus any negative tags, in a way that makes narratological sense is how you give your rolls power.

Legend in the Mist is currently available for pre-order at a discounted price on the City of Mist online store, and Core Book Chapters 1 and 2 are planned to release on January 31, digitally. That includes a learn-as-you-play comic to make figuring it out easy for first time players, and Hero/player rules and tools to get everything off to a flying start.

Physical copies aren't expected to drop until the summer, but do keep an eye out on their Kickstarter updates page for more info.

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As the board game's sixth edition since the series began in 1995, this update is focused on "modernizing the Catan brand for today’s players" according to CEO Guido Teuber. However, that doesn't mean the essentials are changing – those iconic mechanics haven't been meddled with. The art and rulebook are the center of attention instead.

Besides an overhaul that sees the game's tiles, cards, and packaging rebuilt from scratch, the instructions have been streamlined with clearer examples that will apparently help newcomers find their feet faster than before. Catan's storage solutions have also leveled up thanks to eco-friendly box trays and organized card holders to keep everything in order (an eternal thorn in the side of the best board games).

Catan managing director Benjamin Teuber noted that the team's goal "was to enhance many parts of the player experience without redefining the game play – redesigning our packaging, evolving the game’s art across components, focusing on functionality, and even reimagining the rulebook to simplify the learning component of picking up the game for the first time. It was of utmost importance to us to of course maintain the brilliant and still contemporary game mechanics that our father [Klaus Teuber] created 30 years ago, while giving the game a fresh look and updating it to today's standards."

A couple of the most prominent expansions, Seafarers and Cities & Knights, have also been given a fresh lick of paint with a style that matches the new edition. It's unclear if more of the range will be updated.

While I don't think Catan was in dire need of a makeover, I can't argue with the results. Sixth edition is noticeably more vibrant and full of life than its predecessor, yet still pays homage to that instantly recognizable cover illustration. The cards have a far cleaner aesthetic as well, adding to that 'modern' feel.

We don't have a precise release date yet for Catan 6th Edition, but we know it'll launch in 'Spring 2025,' so it isn't all that far away.

For recommendations of what to play next, why not try these board games for adults? You can also check in on the best 2-player board games if you'd prefer something head to head, or the best cooperative board games if you prefer working together.

The expansion was spotted over Black Friday for just $5 less, but with this being only the second time it's ever been $59 at Amazon, you can bet you're getting a great price for something that really gives the base game a good refresher.

If you're over in the UK, I'm afraid it's not on offer. But for one of the better expansions of the lot, £43.99 at Amazon isn't too bad considering what you get for your money.

Should you buy the Dawnguard expansion for Skyrim the Adventure Game?

Not only does the Dawnguard expansion extend the game with four new playable heroes to try the game out with all over again, there are also heaps of new storylines threaded through new and fantastic sidequests, as well as three extra chapter campaigns.

On top of that, you can become a vampire or join the Dawnguard, as well as play with some new fort and faction mechanics that give the game a little more depth. That means the Dawnguard expansion gives the base game some semi-competitive play elements to make it that little bit less chummy, because vampires don't really have friends.

For more discounts, be sure to check out the latest the best board games for January 2025. As for last-minute present ideas, why not drop by our gifts for gamers guide?

"I've watched every episode of Survivor since the first season – 24 years ago", Lee notes. "It has had a massive influence on my own game designs." It's likely the show's influence has been seeping into our experience of playing Exploding Kitten games for years already, then. And sure, there are heaps of challenges to inspire board game mechanics in the show, but will it be in the running for a spot on the best board game list this year?

Only if it can "Outwit. Outplay. Outlast" the rest, I imagine.

Lee says that he's always wanted to translate the long-running show into something for people to play at home, but admits "condensing a multi-week game to less than 30 minutes has been challenging. After two years of working closely with Jeff Probst, we've finally done it… with all the fun, strategy, alliances, and betrayal packed into a beautiful box."

You can expect many of the show's major themes to surface, including that of secret alliances and vote casting, as well as cards that let you steal or sneak a peek at your opponents cards. Some cards allow you to declare yourself tribal council leader, or provide protection from elimination. On top of all that, prominent contestants from over the years feature as playable characters, so you can relive those wild moments

Survivor: The tribe has spoken is set to release on Jan 12, so keep an eye out for it in stores if you're a fan of the show, and get ready to drop your buffs in an evening of bluffing and sneaky negotiations.

For more recommendations, why not check out the best card games or best two player board games.

So, a couple of questions for you. Have you been bitten by the Lord of the Rings bug after War of the Rohirrim or Rings of Power? Do you enjoy slaying goblins and being a general menace to monsters in RPGs? Have you always been curious about trying games like D&D? Sound the horn of Gondor, because there's a certain roleplaying game you must meet.

Enter The One Ring, or its D&D counterpart, The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying. Developed by Free League (a developer known for excellent tie-ins, from Alien to Blade Runner), these both serve as incredibly authentic but fun windows into Tolkien's world. Actually, the only difference is that LotR Roleplaying uses Dungeons & Dragons rules whilst The One Ring employs its own system.

No matter whether you're new to tabletop RPGs or are used to rolling those bones, I'd argue that they're must-have additions to your shelf.

If you're willing to try something new, I highly recommend picking up The One Ring Starter Set or the core book and an adventure like Moria: Through the Doors of Durin. Although the system may take a bit of getting used to if you usually play D&D, it's very easy to pick up. In addition, I'd say it's a better introduction to tabletop roleplaying in general than Dungeons & Dragons; it's much easier to get your head around, and doesn't make you faff with modifiers nearly so much. In fact, the Starter Set takes place almost exclusively in the Shire and is a delightful yet gentle entry-point for greater adventures. It dovetails nicely into the wider world seen via the main rulebook or various expansions such as Tales from the Lone Lands that thrust you head-first into deeper mysteries.

Meanwhile, the D&D versions simply trade out The One Ring's mechanics for Dungeons & Dragons systems; they're still the same adventures, albeit with different names. That means you can still get in on the action even if your regular group is reluctant to move away from the dragon game.

Well, metaphorically speaking. While combat is obviously included here (and can be rather clever due to positioning or role in The One Ring), it's not necessarily the focus of the game. Rather, it's about journeying across and exploring Middle-earth with your friends, just as it was for the original novels. Yes, you'll be able to stave some orcish heads in. But second breakfasts and elven hideaways are just as important.

For more recommendations, why not check out the best board games? As for last-minute presents, don't miss these gifts for gamers.

If you've not heard about this system, it's set in the same universe as Warhammer 40K and is still made by Games Workshop. However, it offers a more focused slice of action that doesn't take so long to play. Because it involves squads that don't usually number more than 10, it's also a lot less hassle to prep for. Intimidated at the thought of painting an entire army, or short on time? This is far quicker, and a smaller commitment on the whole (though I'd say it's every bit as satisfying, because each fighter is arguably more characterful than standard rank-and-file). That also means you can branch out into other factions you may never normally touch - the cost for each squad is pretty reasonable, and most are sold separately.

While you can certainly get going with the official 2024 Starter Set (I've been hands-on with it and would say it's a good way to learn the ropes), it's surprisingly difficult to track down right now. Plus, I'd recommend diving in with Kill Team: Hivestorm anyway. So far as I'm concerned, it's a far stronger beginner box for a couple of reasons.

To begin with, Hivestorm contains everything you need to play rather than giving you a taste of the full rules (which is what the Starter Set opts for). Alongside two brand-new Kill Teams, you're getting a board's worth of scenery that can be used in Warhammer 40K games, 3D accessories for playing the game, all the necessary tokens, a scenario book setting up this year's narrative, and the full core rules. As such, it's far better value on the whole. As an example, that core rulebook normally costs $60 by itself.

I'd say that the Kill Teams featured in Hivestorm are a better representation of what the game's about than the Starter Set equivalents. This is a skirmish game at its core with engagements between small, elite squads who do something better than anyone else - be it stealth, guerrilla warfare, close combat, or manoeuvrability by way of jetpacks. That's why the Starter Set's collection of run-of-the-mill Space Marines and Plague Marines don't quite cut it in my eyes. Yes, I know that they're supposed to be humanity's most powerful troops in the lore. Those models are also gorgeous. But because they're not exactly... uncommon in games of 40K, or its marketing, or even its fiction, they feel more like bog-standard troops than the highly specialized operatives we're used to in Kill Team. Personally, I'd been hoping for a rerun of the Phobos Strike Team for the Starter Set as a result - they're still Marines, but have a far more specific set of skills.

By contrast, Hivestorm features the jetpack-wielding Tempestus Aquilons and insectoid Vespid Stingwings. The former are children of landed gentry who have been offered up as tribute and provided with the very best training the Imperium can offer, giving "haughty RAF flyboy from WW2 movie" vibes. Meanwhile, the latter are creepy xenomorphs controlled by the alien T'au Empire via remote to act as air support. It's a cool blend we don't usually see on the 40K battlefield.

When combined with the core rulebook rather than a stripped-down beginner tutorial as is found in the Starter Set, not to mention oodles of terrain and premium accessories, Kill Team: Hivestorm might be the best starter set Warhammer has made if you ask me. Yes, it's more expensive - but oh boy, is it worthwhile.

Want some other tabletop recommendations? Don't miss the best board games. As for more savings, be sure to check out these Christmas sales for gamers.

Obojima is a stunning 5E campaign setting for D&D boasting over 250 pages of whimsical goodness to explore, and unsurprisingly, it managed to raise over two million bucks via its Kickstarter. The setting, which 1985 Games creative director Jeremiah Crofton admitted in an interview last year is akin to that of "Ghibli and Zelda," isn't just visually breathtaking - it's packed to the brim full of content for players to enjoy, too.

@obojima

♬ original sound - Obojima

There are entirely fresh mechanics for potion crafting, for one, which 1985 Games says are "reminiscent" of cooking in Breath of the Wild. With over 130 ingredients plus 180 craftable potions, it sounds as though it'll never get old - but there's more. There are eight subclasses new to D&D with Obojima, along with a diverse plethora of backgrounds, feats, races, spells, weapons, and more to discover while journeying.

Despite its cozy visuals, however, Obojima is no stranger to fast-paced action. With more than 60 new monsters to slay and various familiars with unique abilities to employ, it seems like the campaign setting never gets boring. I mean, you can play as a literal Origami Mage - what more could someone aspire to be on the battlefield? There's also a Sheep Dragon, and yes, the airborne beast is exactly what it sounds like it is.

If the enchanting tabletop experience sounds like it's up your alley as much as it is my own, you can snag a copy for $50 right now on BackerKit. There's plenty of merch to explore there as well, from spell and potion card decks to gorgeous sets of dice I personally can't wait to get my own hands on. For any fellow enjoyers of stickers and pins, there are a good few of those to snag via BackerKit, too - and snag I shall.

More? Here are the best tabletop RPGs you can play right now.

The updated bestiary, which packs over 500 monsters, is the last revamped core Dungeons & Dragons books and it's releasing in February, 2025. While it’s crammed with expanded lore and rebalanced stats, I’m mostly interested in the handful of behemoths that will truly test a party’s might – and after playing an adventure with Crawford in the DM's chair, I got to ask him and D&D principal designer James Wyatt about what facing the monstrosities of the Forgotten Realms will be like with this refreshed book.

What's that coming over the hill

While these massive monsters may sound completely new, eagle-eyed readers of the 2014 Monster Manual will recognize that a few entries, such as the Tarrasque and Kraken, had a "(titan)" tag already. What did this mean exactly? Well, nothing, unless you read a particular sidebar on page 11 of the 5e Dungeon Master’s Guide explaining that titans are divine creations. As Wyatt points out, that was the only place you could learn the meaning, and nobody could ever find it when playing one of the best tabletop RPGs.

This served as the perfect excuse for Crawford, Wyatt, and the D&D designers to give the titans a major upgrade for the 2025 Monster Manual.

"In the new Monster Manual we now have a whole family of [titans]", Crawford says. "And part of our goal was making sure each creature type had some kind of apex monster that you could put in a fight with a Tarrasque, but more likely, put it in a fight against high-level characters.

"And so now the Tarrasque and Ancient Dragons are joined by a high-CR ooze, the Blob of Annihilation. We even have a high-CR construct, a Colossus, that is a skyscraper tall," Crawford adds. There's also the previously mentioned Arch Hag and several others joining the fray.

The meaning of the tag remains the same too, with these creatures being descended from or created by gods, but the Blob of Annihilation gets its titan status thanks to the skull of a god stuck inside it. With this narrative setup, there are sure to be plenty of creative ways you can use these titans – Crawford's point about them being designed with the Tarrasque in mind makes me wonder how feasible a Pacific Rim-style adventure would be where players could pilot the titanic construct to beat up the rest.

Monster math

But, as well as adding a host of god-like creatures, Wyatt reckons that the 2025 Monster Manual also makes it easier for DMs to "provide appropriate challenges for [player] characters, especially around level 10." Striking the balance of fun and challenging in D&D combat can be tricky as a DM, so I'll gladly take the almighty titans. But with the class improvements and changes in the 2024 Player's Handbook, they certainly aren't the sole solution to this problem.

Crawford explains that the tweaks in the 2025 Monster Manual include changes to the underlying math of D&D too. "10 years ago, once you got to level 10, the monster math for high-CR monsters was progressing pretty linearly," he says. "Whereas now there are some major jumps under the hood in the math that will, I think, be bracing for some people when they reach certain levels."

While these difficulty spikes sound ideal for players climbing the upper echelons, I couldn't help but think about potential adverse effects on the levels below. However, Crawford says that he isn't concerned because of how these monster difficulty spikes interact with linear player character power. "The higher level you get, that's when suddenly you will be like 'oof! This high-CR dragon is hitting way harder than it was 10 years ago!', but it will take a while before you get there. So, 1st to 5th level will feel pretty similar to how they felt before, although even around 3rd level, you'll start noticing some creatures that are packing a bit more of a wallop than they did before."

While I'm obviously not out to kill my players, I'm looking forward to figuring out which hardened monsters I can throw out with this updated Monster Manual. Hopefully the number changes and new tricks will make monsters as interesting for DMs to use as they are for players to fight. Then you can put them up against the biggest monster mashup the world has ever seen.

Want to work out which adventure to play next? Don't miss our guide to the best D&D books. As for presents to give the pen-and-paper RPG fan in your life, check out these D&D gifts.

The Artificer was first introduced to one of the best tabletop RPGs in 2004, as a class specific to the steampunk Eberron setting, though it’s since appeared in other supplements like Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything. While the class is still played pretty widely, D&D Beyond still puts it dead last behind the other 12 classes, reporting in 2023 that the Artificer had half the number of players on average than the Monk.

It was notably absent from the 2024 rules revision, never appearing in the heaps in playtests or the eventual sourcebooks that were released this year. But it’s clear that D&D’s designers are looking to bring the Artificer up to speed with the new rules as soon as possible – likely for a new supplement in 2025.

Arcane upgrades

You can see the new Artificer playtest on D&D Beyond, with a number of small fixes and upgrades to bring the class in line with the game’s 2024 mechanics.

The first thing to note is that the bones of the Artificer class are largely the same. This is still a ‘half-caster’ we've seen in existing D&D books with a slow progression of spell levels, 1d8 health die, tinkering and crafting capabilities, and a focus on Intelligence as a primary stat. However, there are some subtle changes under the hood.

Your first-level ability, Magical Tinkering, is no longer limited to making Tiny objects with some basic audio, visual, and olfactory effects. Instead, this feature lets you craft common adventuring items like a net, bedroll, vial, shovel, rope, torch, or caltrops. (Characters are often assumed to have these kinds of objects automatically, mind, given they’re usually included in starting equipment, so I’m not confident this will stay the same after some playtest feedback.)

Other tweaks to the base class may sound minor, but are quite impactful. Flash of Genius, which lets you use a reaction to aid an ally’s ability check or saving throw, now triggers if your ally fails, rather than before you find out the outcome, meaning you’ll only use the feature when it’s really needed. And a later ability for storing spells in items also now allows for souped-up Level 3 spells – like Fly, Revivify, or Haste – rather than capping out at Level 2.

My favorite change is alternative ways to gain or use spell slots, as a ‘half-caster’ class that only gets so many. Now, at Level 6, an Artificer can ‘drain’ a replicated magic item to regain spell slots in a pinch, while the Alchemist subclass is able to use up spell slots to create more potions.

Flash of genius

The Alchemist in particular is a subclass that sounds very flavorful, but can feel very limiting in play. Currently you have to roll a dice to find out what magical potion you create every day – potentially making the feature useless if you don’t get something relevant to your challenges that day. This is unchanged in the playtest, but you can now choose a specific potion if you use a spell slot to do it, or if you roll a 6 on a six-sided die. It’s a smart compromise that lets the player decide if their magical resources are worth getting something specific, rather than something purely random.

Elsewhere, some boosts to damage and healing for the Alchemist’s core abilities are very welcome – given the power upgrade most classes got for the 2024 rules.

However, the Alchemist’s Chemical Mastery ability also ditches access to some high-profile spells (Greater Restoration, Heal) and replaces them with Tasha’s Bubbling Cauldron, a spell that conjures a number of common or uncommon potions that can be collected, one by one, by your allies each turn. It’s highly useful for stocking up on supplies outside of combat, but very limiting in the midst of a dangerous situation.

The Armorer subclass is mostly unchanged, but comes with a new option for your character’s wearable power armor. Like the Guardian option, ‘Dreadnought’ armor is designed for hitting things hard in melee, but is more focused on battlefield control, with a 10ft weapon reach and the ability to push creatures 10ft away from you on a hit – alongside the ability to temporarily increase your size, like a giant-descended Goliath.

The Artillerist subclass, a ranged weapon specialist, makes your cannons a little more versatile in combat too. Instead of choosing one of three cannon options when you make it, each cannon can swap easily between these different functions, using a flamethrower one turn and healing allies on another.

It’s not clear at the moment how many iterations of the Artificer we’ll see: some classes in the 2024 ruleset playtest were changed and presented to players multiple times, but the Artificer seems to be getting a lighter redesign than, say, the Monk or Druid.

What is clear is that the design team is looking to make the Artificer more flexible in its options, with mechanics that are more immediately useful – like faster crafting times for weapons and items, increasing damage and healing across each subclass, and features that more reliably give you the outcome you want.

My biggest complaint is that there’s no mention of Weapon Mastery, a feature given to many other classes that gives you additional combat benefits linked to the weapon you’re holding, like toppling and pushing creatures on a hit.

An updated Artificer that doesn’t engage with the biggest change of the 2024 rules – even for the Battle Smith subclass, which is the only one to get access to harder-hitting Martial Weapons – feels like a missed opportunity.

But hey, the feedback survey opens on December 24, so there’s still time for you to change their mind.

Want some present ideas for the pen-and-paper RPG fan in your life? Don't miss these D&D gifts - they're amongst the best gifts for gamers out there.

Fortunately, the Alien we've got at home is Nemesis, a spectacular semi-cooperative sci-fi horror board game from Awaken Realms. We're playing as a ragtag crew of space truckers who awaken from hypersleep to find their ship infested with biomechanical monsters straight out of H. R. Giger's sketchbook. Of course, all the names have been changed and the designs have been tweaked just enough to avoid the ire of 20th Century Fox's lawyers.

While there are official Alien board games out there, including the rather excellent Alien: Fate of the Nostromo, it's no hyperbole to say that Nemesis is the ultimate Alien experience and one of the best board games in the cosmos.

Features & design

• A survival horror story
• Sessions last up to 3 hours on average
• Expensive, but jam-packed with content

Nemesis is a sci-fi horror semi-cooperative board game in which one to five players team up to survive the Nostromo experience. You'll battle the alien menace while trying to complete your own secret objectives, not all of which are beneficial to the rest of the crew. You'll be exploring the ship, repairing broken rooms, battling own-brand xenomorphs and trying to prevent your internal organs from becoming external organs.

Let's kick off with the obvious — Nemesis is a big board game for adults and probably not for the casual gamer, with an average game taking two to three hours in my experience. It comes in a hefty box packed with gorgeous plastic miniatures for both the player characters and the aliens, called the Intruders.

Alongside the models, there are a whole host of cards, tokens, and player aids packed into the box. The whole package feels extremely premium. The miniatures and artwork are stunning, the two-sided game board is thick and durable, and even the cards and tokens feel like they were built to last. This is good, because Nemesis isn't cheap, but at least you feel like you're getting your money's worth.

There is also a detailed rulebook to help walk you through your first "getting murdered in space" experience. It's a well-written guide that teaches you how to set up the board and play through a game without ever force-feeding you huge chunks of dry text.

Now, there is quite a bit going on in Nemesis, and you'll likely progress through your first few turns at a snail's pace as you constantly flick back to the rulebook. However, to Nemesis's credit, while it has a ton of rules, the actual flow of the game is surprisingly intuitive once you get going. There are also some player aids to remind everyone of their turn order, the basic actions they can always perform, and reference cards for what every room in the spaceship does.

Gameplay

• Hurls choices at you at every turn
• Secret objectives add tension
• Brutally difficult

At the start of the game, you and the rest of the crew wake up groggy from the long cryosleep and can't remember the layout of the ship (a lovely excuse for the randomized ship layout). A foggy memory isn't your biggest issue though — that would be the nearby corpse of a crew member with a gaping hole in their torso… almost as if something burst out of his chest. The first unfortunate victim of the alien Intruders, but probably not the last. The ship has seen better days, with malfunctioning systems and raging fires compounding the extraterrestrial threat.

Things are reasonably chill at the outset of the game as you're let loose to explore the ship. Each player has their own pair of secret objectives — one personal, one corporate — that they can work towards. When the first Intruder arrives on the board, everyone will be required to choose one, throwing the other away.

Your personal objective will likely be neutral, or even altruistic towards your fellow players. Make sure everyone survives, destroy the alien nest – stuff like that. Corporate objectives tend to include more shady enterprises like smuggling an egg out with you, or even getting other players killed. This is where the semi-cooperative element of Nemesis comes in, as you don't know what objectives your crewmates are working towards. You won't survive on your own, so you'll need to work with the other players while also keeping an eye out for betrayals (or planning your own). It creates such a magical sense of tension. Of course, you'll need to balance watching your comrades with fending off the murderous nightmare creatures that have overrun the ship...

In other words? It's like a far more dangerous Unfathomable, with shades of Betrayal at House on the Hill.

Moving around the ship makes noise, and if you make too much noise, you'll draw the attention of one of the Intruders. While these Giger-esque monsters range in size (and threat) from tiny Larvae up to the gargantuan Queen, you'll spend most of your time battling Adults. Did I say battling? I mean running away from.

Combat is tough in Nemesis, as it should be. You're a ragtag spaceship crew fighting for their lives, not a crack team of space marines. You'll need to expend time and resources to battle, and even then your success or failure is down to the whim of the dice gods. Fights can result in you getting infected, seriously injured, and even killed, so choosing your battles is key.

In fact, choice is the overriding theme of Nemesis. The game hurls decisions at you at every turn. Outside of the basic actions, most of your moves come from Action cards in your hand, but each of these cards also comes with a cost, which must be paid in… you guessed it, Action cards. To use a card, you'll have to throw another card or two away and that choice may come back to haunt you next turn when you really need a repair card, but it's sitting at the top of your discard pile.

You'll need to choose between objective cards, choose your route through the ship, and choose who to trust. I adore this sense of paranoia that Nemesis instills in you. It's not just the distrust of other players, it's the agonizing over your own decisions and whether you've made the right choices. Oh, and of course you’ll be juggling all this whilst racing against the clock as you only have 15 turns.

If there is a weakness to Nemesis, it's that it is brutally difficult, and it doesn't always reward good decision-making, or even skillful play. Nemesis is trying to tell a story, creating an emergent narrative through the players' actions, randomized alien movements, combat, and event cards. Sometimes the story will be about how you made the right choices and escaped, but others it will be about how you entered a room, the door locked behind you, and the Alien Queen dropped out of the vents and cut your legs off (true story, happened to a friend in one of our games — he still comes back for more).

Nemesis is trying to be Alien, and nobody would remember Alien if everyone had survived. It's not the winning that counts, sometimes dying in a suitably cinematic or ironic way is its own reward. Like how your teammate is waiting for you in an escape pod and you’re one turn away from joining them… and then the event phase jettisons said escape pod due to a malfunction and you’re left watching your friend wave goodbye as you’re left behind on an exploding spaceship. I’m not bitter about that at all. Nope.

Should you buy Nemesis?

If you're a fan of chunky, in-depth board games, emergent storytelling, and/or sci-fi horror then I can easily recommend Nemesis. My friends and I have played about a dozen games of Nemesis and we’re still always hankering to come back for more, despite the fact that we’ve got a 20% survival rate.

Every game of Nemesis is packed with tension, drama, and betrayal. It oozes atmosphere and there really is nothing else out there quite like it. It's simply my favorite board game of all time.

Yes, it does have a high price tag, but it offers so much replayability through a single-player mode, a ‘harder’ side of the board, and numerous characters to play with various objectives. However, if you want to save a hunk of cash, then The Captain is Dead: Dangerous Planet and Alien: Fate of the Nostromo offer a similar-ish tabletop gaming experience for less money.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested Nemesis

I have hosted many a board game night with Nemesis as the main course, and I played a couple of extra games in preparation for this review (any excuse to play more Nemesis to be honest).

For a more thorough look at our process, see this guide to how we test board games, or the wider GamesRadar+ reviews policy.

For more recommendations, why not check out these 2-player board games? As for more sci-fi goodness, don't miss the best Star Wars board games.

Trading Pokemon cards has been an age-old tradition ever since The Pokemon Company had the bright idea to trap the adorable critters in paper form, but in recent years, Poke Card prices have absolutely ballooned to the point where you can now buy (or resell) really valuable ones for thousands of dollars online. That high price tag has attracted more than just collectors to the TCG scene, however.

Shunkai Gendai online reports (with translations from Automaton) that a former crime syndicate head dished out on the growing large-scale laundering schemes. Criminals will reportedly chase the most expensive Pokemon cards because they're relatively small and easy to travel with. Money launderers who are moving cash abroad usually don't take the actual physical notes - they'll instead buy expensive goods that don't depreciate in price, like designer watches, and then resell those goods for whatever local currency is strong. Pokemon cards fit right in with that criteria since airport security can't exactly tell you off for carrying a shiny Charizard. 

Shunkai Gendai's investigation also explains that the criminals will use either metal detectors or weights to determine which five-card-packs contain the most valuable pocket monsters, that are usually encased in foil, before opening them. They'll then apparently resell the unopened packs for retail price and sell the rare shiny ones at a predictably extortionate price. 

A Pokemon archivist spent hundreds of hours learning how to develop a website to create the ultimate TGC database, which currently includes over 23,000 cards from more than 500 artists. 

The developer has made a name for itself as a studio that creates deceptively deep and strategic fare wrapped up in the fantastical art of Kyle Ferrin. Titles like Root (which is arguably one of the best board games overall), Fort, and Ahoy have found themselves as common staples of my game nights thanks to the richness of the worlds that the team has created and the tactical depth they pack in. Arcs continues this tradition with a game that may just be the team's most approachable title, especially at the smaller two-player count.

Features & design

• A grand space opera strategy game
• Uses card-based action system
• Multiple ways to earn points

Following a successful Kickstarter campaign, Arcs (designed by Cole Wehrle and with Kyle Ferrin returning to deliver his recognizable art style) began reaching backers and finally landed in retail this year, much to eager fans’ delight. In this strategy game, the goal is simple – be the one with the most victory points at the end.

A match consists of five "chapters" where players will be playing cards, building and moving their army of starships around the galaxy, constructing buildings, waging war, and spreading their influence. All of this is done in pursuit of completing "Ambitions," which are particular tasks that will net you those coveted victory points. These Ambitions, which are declared by the player with the initiative (more on this in a bit), include destroying the most ships in a chapter or having the most of a specific resource.

Perhaps the most defining aspect of Arcs is how it handles player actions through a unique card system. A majority of your actions come from the cards you play, dealt out at the start of each round. These fall into one of four possible suits (Aggression, Mobilization, Construction, and Administration), and the number printed on them can be thought of as their strength. The higher the value, the harder it is to surpass. Each card also features pips that show how many times the actions of the suit can be taken. Meanwhile, the Ambition symbol shows what goal the card will activate.

The first player in each round sets the suit for the turn and can take advantage of all the pips on their card by default. From there on, the other players have three possible actions:

• Surpass - Playing a card of the same suit but with a higher card number allows them to gain initiative and use the action as many times as there are pips on their card.
• Pivot - Playing a card from a different suit will allow that player to take a single action from the card they played.
• Copy - Playing any card face down will let them take a single action of the leading card.

A player is able to seize the initiative marker from whoever has it as well, but this can only be done once per round. This action will leave you one card short, meaning that you are in essence sacrificing a later turn to be the first player. Still, since this coveted spot will let you play any card in your hand and take all the actions it offers, it also gives you the chance to declare the Ambition you want, potentially letting you score a lot of points at the end of the chapter.

Gameplay

• Encourages numerous approaches
• Unique characters add replayability
• Some luck-of-the-draw elements

The heavy reliance on luck of the draw will, understandably, be a turn off for some folks, and I get it. Some of this luck can be mitigated by the ability to use resources you gain from taxing cities to add a specific action on your turn, but Arcs is still a game that is won or lost thanks largely to the cards you draw. Feeling like you are boxed in and can’t do what you want is frustrating.

My view however, is that this turns Arcs from a standard tableau into a puzzle game, where how you manage a bad situation (e.g. a bad hand) is almost as, if not more, important than the strategy you play out. During my sessions of Arcs, the only thing I knew I could count on was the fact that I couldn’t count on being able to do exactly what I wanted. But knowing about this uncertainty and planning for it was where I found the game's real strategy.

For fans of more asymmetrical gameplay, Arcs offers players the option to pick from a host of Leaders and Lore cards at the start of the game that will add special powers and unique setups. These additional elements are completely optional, with the rulebook even going so far as suggesting NOT to use them your first couple of games until you acclimatize. Once you start using them, though, it’s tough to return. Whether you randomly deal out these cards or draft them, they add so much variety and replayability. For instance, one allows you to sacrifice a ship to destroy someone else's in the same system whenever you take the Move action. Another lets you reroll any dice when a specific Ambition is declared. Take my word for it: you will want to work these Leader and Lore cards into your games of Arcs as soon as you can.

The area that I found Arcs to be lacking in the most is its combat, which doesn't have the excitement that I'd associate with flying around and fighting in space. Encounters boil down to the classic "roll some dice, tally up the damage" routine, but the action is one-sided, with the defending player having no involvement or input in the skirmish. Depending on the dice result, the attacker’s ships will take damage, the idea being that the defenders have fought back, but there is a distinct lack of input on the side of the defender to make these encounters dramatic.

I wasn’t expecting something like Star Wars: Rebellion or Twilight Imperium with their extensive list of ship statistics, tech trees, and weapon profiles, mind you. That’s not what I'm looking for in a game like Arcs either. Even in Root, arguably Leder Games’ most well-known title, the defender could play an ambush card if they had one for some possible interaction. But something like that is missing in Arcs. I would like to see an expansion add a bit of depth or at least interaction on both sides of the encounter as a result.

In the meantime, a house rule my friends and I introduced to address this criticism was having the dice marks that would normally indicate a counterattack (damaging the attacker’s ships) instead give the defender that many dice to roll themselves. It does reduce the damage that can be done back to the attackers, but this little tweak did an excellent job in adding to the tension of encounters nonetheless.

Luckily, Arcs provides players with a good variety of avenues to explore and pursue in their quest for galactic victory, meaning you can avoid combat altogether if you want. Feel like buffing yourself with new abilities to set you up for success? Spread your influence among the space guilds to gain their cards, or try to steal from other players. Or just become a space oil baron, in control of all the fuel in the galaxy. Seeing as earning victory points is dependent on what Ambitions are declared, you can declare for the ones that you prefer – such as being a resource baron or the best empath in the galaxy. Want to wage war, on the other hand? That is just as valid of an option, so let loose those missiles.

There's plenty more to love here, too. For as much as I enjoy Leder’s catalog, one recurring issue I have is that most aren’t as enjoyable at minor player counts, particularly as 2-player board games. As a case in point, Root and Ahoy lock players into using specific factions to avoid an unbalanced experience. Arcs, I am happy to report, is an excellent time at any player count, including just two, which is what I spent most of my time with. The mix-and-matching nature of the Leaders and Lore cards, or omitting them altogether, gave us more control over the experience, and I never felt like I had to hinder myself from having a good time by not being able to choose my preferred faction or playstyle.

Should you buy Arcs?

The tight ship that Arcs runs, paired with Kyle’s art, has rocketed Leder Game’s latest offering straight onto my game shelf. Arcs provides players with a whole lot of game in a small package, and offers flexibility in ways to play. This is all further expanded with Leder Games’ other Arcs offerings, such as the expanded Leaders and Lore add-on or the massive Blighted Reach campaign expansion that turns Arcs into a multi-part adventure.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested Arcs

Our reviewer played Arcs multiple times to get a better sense of its mechanics and longevity. They also tried it with different player-counts to see how the experience varied, and spent most sessions in a head-to-head duel.

For more on our process, don't miss this guide to how we test board games. To get a broader overview, see the GamesRadar+ review policy.

For other recommendations, why not check out these board games for adults? You can also drop in on our guide to the best cooperative board games.

Recently, Paizo has been rolling out a series of products focused on War of Immortals, a new meta-storyline focusing on the death of the war god Gorum and its effects on the world of Golarion. In addition to shaking up its core campaign setting, Pathfinder will also receive a host of new rules additions, including new character classes, new lineages, and the return of mythic play as a new subsystem. War of Immortals represents a brand new jumping-on point not only for the Pathfinder game, but also the unique world that the game takes place in.

Make it rain

For those unfamiliar with Pathfinder, the game is a fantasy tabletop RPG that emerged as an alternative to Dungeons & Dragons in the early 2000s. The game has always leaned into crunchier rules and more options for players, both in terms of character creation and what a character can do in and out of combat. While Pathfinder has similar trappings to D&D in terms of using a D20-based system and fighting dragons, the game features many unique classes and ancestries meant to encourage players to forge their own path instead of sticking to standard fantasy options.

Unlike Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder has only one “official” campaign setting (although players are welcome to create their own homebrew realm). Golarion is a rich world with a slew of cultures, iconic characters, and plenty of conflicts and stories that are explored in official Pathfinder adventure paths and lorebooks. Perhaps most importantly, Golarion is a world that has changed over the course of the game.

Each adventure path has a canonical ending that impacts the wider world of the game, setting up future conflicts and stories. A barmaid in an early adventure path is now the empress of a far-off country, while a once-imprisoned lich now threatens all of the living. Even Anastasia (the lost princess of Russian fame) is now the leader of a frozen land once ruled by winter witches. Big changes are the norm for Pathfinder fans, but never quite in this explosive fashion.

War of Immortals represents a first for Pathfinder – an event that spans multiple adventures, rulebooks, and even tie-in novels. The catalyst for War of Immortals was revealed in August’s Prey for Death adventure – Gorum realized that his existence caused evil to fester in the mortal realms and manipulated the mantis god Achaekek into killing him. Gorum’s armor exploded and the remnants of his godhood manifested as rain that poured across Golorian, spreading both war and sparks of divine power across the world and potentially into the hands of player characters.

For players, the War of Immortals rulebook provides options on how to create characters that are impacted by Gorum’s so-called Godsrain. The book contains rules on playing as an animist and an exemplar, the latter of which is a demigod-like character. For characters impacted by the Godsrain itself, players can also choose to utilize Mythic play, which opens up even more character-building options and greater threats and stories for players to tackle.

Choose-your-own-blockbuster

Gorum isn’t the only god dying in War of Immortals. The Lost Omens Divine Mysteries book explores the various faiths of Golarion, showcasing several new gods and also revealing other gods who died in the aftermath of the God's rain. We’ll also see some of that play out in the new Triumph of the Tusk adventure path, a new low-level adventure set in the orc nation of Belkzen. Finally, Paizo is releasing a new tie-in novel titled Godsrain that explores four of Pathfinder’s iconic heroes as they receive new powers in the wake of Gorum’s death and are sent to fight a Mythic threat.

Gorum’s death will continue to reverberate across future Pathfinder products over the next year, with next year’s expansion Battlecry exploring new martial classes as war continues to rumble across Golarion and future adventures showing off how other corners of the world are impacted by the spread of war and the death of gods.

One of Pathfinder’s greatest strengths is its deep and endlessly interesting world, and War of Immortals is a great place to dive in for the first time. The event should set up a new status quo, introduce fresh threats and mysteries, and offer up even more playstyles for players. If you want to dive into Pathfinder for the first time, you just need the Player Core rulebook and find some friends to join in the action.

Even if you aren’t ready to commit to a full Pathfinder campaign, the new Godsrain novel and Lost Omens Divine Mysteries book should provide a solid introduction into the world of Golarion and will likely spark an even deeper dive into Pathfinder’s lore in the future. If you want to experience what it’s like to live through a blockbuster-style event, get a Pathfinder character ready and dive into War of Immortals.

Want something new to play? Be sure to check our guide to the best board games, or these essential board games for adults.

It's called Project K, and we've been given our first details about it courtesy of a video from some of its developers. Game director Dave Guskin explains that, notably, Project K isn't just "a physical version of the fantastic Legends of Runeterra," Riot's digital card game that launched in 2020. However, Guskin says that the new game "does inherit some of the rich champion design philosophies" from it, and will feature "incredible art drawn from all over the Runeterra IP and other League IP games." 

As for the game itself, it'll be possible to play it 1v1, but it sounds like there'll be a lot of different ways to approach it, too. "Whether your jam is team 2v2 battles or free-for-alls, a way to relax with friends or go all-in on alliances, backstabbing and betrayals, we think we've created the best social TCG out there, and something you will really enjoy," explains Guskin. 

Obviously, this is big for any tabletop game fans, especially since it's being advertised as something that can be either highly competitive or entirely casual depending on how you approach it, but there's the collectible part of it too that's sure to be enticing for any League lovers. Everyone knows that opening a pack of cards and being greeted with a rare one you've been looking for is a thrill, so there'll likely be plenty of people who get into Project K for this reason alone. 

Either way, it sounds like Riot is planning to go all-in on making sure Project K sticks, as executive producer Chengran Chai says that the game thriving "means more than just product stocked on shelves." Riot wants "competitive play that reaches from the store level all the way up to national-level tournaments and maybe even global events.

"We will invest in Project K and make it worthwhile for you to invest your time and energy into it too," Chai continues.

As for its release, Riot explains that it'll be staggered across different regions, starting with its debut in China in early 2025 – the developer hopes to share news about a global launch soon. 

We'll just have to see if Project K has what it takes to be one of the best card games when it rolls out. 

The 2024 tome features heavily revised versions of all 12 core Dungeons & Dragons classes, and almost all of them have gotten upgrades of some kind with many having more access to their core resources and abilities. However, there are a few classes that I’m more excited to see in action at my D&D table.

One of my recurring frustrations with the 2014 version of D&D 5^th Edition despite it being arguably one of the best tabletop RPGs was that some classes felt too one-note and repetitive unless you picked a specific build. Several classes had an “illusion of choice” to them, one that forced the player to either pick the optimal subclass or deal with a character that couldn’t keep up at the table. As someone who almost exclusively runs games as the Dungeon Master, having certain classes at the table meant extra time planning combat sessions to ensure that these characters had something rewarding to do besides smack an enemy a few times and then wait for their next turn to start.

Damage-dealer

For instance, the 2014 Fighter is fantastic at dealing consistent damage at low levels, but it quickly became a boring class unless you picked a subclass that added either spellcasting or Battle Maneuvers to your character’s loadout. With the 2024 rules, all Fighters now have access to a robust Weapon Mastery system that lets players utilize different weapons to impose different effects on enemies. Not only does this mean that a player might want to choose a weapon that deals less damage on a turn, the Fighter is also a tactical expert in any situation thanks to their ability to utilize multiple Weapon Mastery options.

Imagine a Fighter loaded up to the gills with different weapons, all of which now provide more uses than different damage types. When faced with an oncoming horde of enemies, a Fighter can spend their first turn throwing a javelin to slow one foe and reduce its move speed. As their opponents continue their approach, the Fighter can switch over to a Flail on their next turn to sap a foe and impose disadvantage on their next attack rolls, before finally switching over to a Greatsword to more reliably deal damage on the horde’s boss, even if that boss is heavily armored. Not only does the Weapon Mastery system encourage players to carry different weapons, it also helps the Fighter feel like more than a flat damage dealer.

Another underperforming class in the 2014 ruleset was the Monk, as their damage per turn consistently fell short of other martial classes and were reliant on a small pool of resources that players quickly burned through or hoarded. Having a Monk in the party meant either putting a Monk at disadvantage when planning out sessions with multiple combats or pivoting to a combat pace that provided the Monk with options, but also lessened the resource management needs of other classes. The 2024 Monk ruleset effectively doubles the class’s Focus Points (formerly known as Ki in the 2014 ruleset) by letting a Monk restore their entire Focus Point pool at the start of one combat per Long Rest. By providing the Monk with more Focus Points throughout the day, they’re encouraged to use their class abilities more often instead of holding resources back. It also means that a Monk is less likely to be caught with their pants down when the DM wants to throw a surprise encounter on their players. The Monk also received numerous small upgrades, all of which help make the class feel more dynamic and less fragile.

Glorious chaos

Another class I’m intrigued about is the Rogue, which also received a new subsystem to play with. In the 2014 ruleset, the Rogue’s core gameplay focused on opportunistic Sneak Attacks and then moving out of harm’s way. This doesn’t change in the 2024 ruleset, but Hiding rules now have more precise instructions and the Rogue also gains access to a new Cunning Strike subsystem that lets the Rogue do more than deal out massive amounts of damage once per turn. When the Rogue gains the Cunning Strike ability, they can swap out a portion of their Sneak Attack damage to impose some additional effect on their target. At lower levels, players can poison their foe or trip them, while at higher levels they can blind or even temporarily knock out an opponent. Some might complain about a Rogue having a lower damage output compared to other classes, but I think the Cunning Strike subsystem will make the Rogue’s Sneak Attack feel more meaningful.

The 2024 Player’s Handbook might not fix all of Dungeons & Dragons 5^th Edition’s issues, but I’m looking forward to the players making combat feel interesting instead of relying on the DM to build around certain class’s shortcomings. I’m sure that players will still lean on reliable builds and strategies in combat, but the new rules provide more options and give players more agency to turn combat into glorious chaos rather than a predictable slog.

Want to know which adventures you should try next? Check out our guide to the best D&D books.

First issued in 2018, this Barnes & Noble exclusive set offers a smaller-scale twist on the same principles. And while some of Games Workshop's entry-level titles (like Space Marine Adventures: Tyranid Attack!) primarily exist as a primer to the hobby, Blitz Bowl is actually a very solid and playable game in its own right.

Features & design

• Two teams included – Orcs and Dwarves
• Excellent production values on the board and cards
• Full rules for 23 different Blitz Bowl teams adds extra playability

At its heart, Blitz Bowl is basically a fantasy version of what we Brits refer to as "American Football" – albeit with more violence. The two teams tackle, shove, and batter each other senseless while trying to gain control of the ball in order to score Touchdowns in their opponent's End Zone. It's a tried-and-true system, and one that makes it a legitimate contender for lists of the best board games.

While we've seen previous sets before (featuring Humans vs. Orcs, or Humans vs. Skaven), this Ultimate Edition pits Orcs against Dwarves and packs in more advanced rules than before. The nice and sturdy game board is also different from prior versions... though anyone who has seen the old sets will find this familiar.

Each of the teams has access to a range of different player types. In Blood Bowl, teams can sprawl to 11 players on the pitch at any given time, but in Blitz Bowl the squad size – at least in this box – is restricted to six models. Both teams have multiple Linemen (your bog-standard, good-for-most-things workhorse), plus a Blitzer (who is tougher and faster), a Thrower (good for lobbing the ball), and some sort of heavy – in the case of the Orcs, a "Big Un Blocker," and a Troll Slayer for the Dwarves.

Don't get too excited about new models, mind: these are the same Orc and Dwarf Blood Bowl models that have been on offer for ages. They're good little kits – chunky, with some really nice character and detail, but they're not original to this set.

Alongside these warriors, you're getting that aforementioned board, the Challenge cards needed for the game, plus a set of Random Event cards for more advanced players, which includes things like -1 armor modifiers due to the crumbling Astrogranite pitch, and monsters bursting out of the trapdoor that usually disgorges the ball.

In a really nice touch, the set also includes a full set of Team Cards, not just for the Orcs and Dwarves, but for a total of 23 different teams, including Warhammer favorites like Khorne, Skaven, and Lizardmen, as well as more esoteric squads like Gnomes, Amazons, and Chaos Chosen. It's a canny move on Games Workshop's part; not only does it extend the life of this box considerably, it's a gentle nudge for players to invest in more teams.

Gameplay

• Players fight to control the ball and score touchdowns
• Punching and maiming is encouraged
• There's lots of advanced rules and room to expand this set

Blitz Bowl runs for an indeterminate number of turns – basically until one team has effectively lapped the other and taken a 10-point lead (earned through touchdowns and by fulfilling Challenge cards), or by getting to a point where there are no Challenge cards left in the deck.

Each player (known as a Coach in-game) gets three actions per turn, which must be divvied up between the friendly models in play. These actions are pretty much as you might expect: you can run, throw the ball, strike your opponents, or mark them – basically getting in their way and bogging them down on the pitch. Crucially, models can't repeat actions in a turn. You couldn't, for instance, have an Orc Lineman simply stand and punch someone three times, or run more than once per turn. The limited nature of the actions also means that you have to consider each move carefully. Despite this, the game tends to play fast and furious, especially when you're familiar with the rules.

The teams here are evenly matched, both well-armored and punchy. That does sometimes mean that the game, straight out the box, can occasionally get locked into a long, repetitive cycle of: an Orcs belts a Dwarf, who falls over. The Dwarf gets back up, belts the Orc, who falls over – and so on, round and round and round.

There's also no doubt that Blitz Bowl is a much simpler game than its older sibling. There are no post-match options or League rules here, and the core principles are all streamlined. Injured players, for example, are taken off the board and placed back in their own Dugout until they are called back into play. In Blood Bowl, by contrast, there are different types of injuries that can drastically change the flow of the game.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, however. Blitz Bowl boils the game down to its purest essentials and while veteran Blood Bowl players may find the lack of granularity off-putting, there's still a fair bit of depth here. Once you've learned the basics, you can apply the Advanced rules, bring in other teams, play with different arena conditions, and start having fun fouling your opponents and throwing friendly players across the pitch.

Crucially, for new or younger gamers coming to the game fresh, Blitz Bowl strikes the balance between being really easy to learn, while also being fun and rich enough to keep coming back to.

Should you buy Blitz Bowl: Ultimate Edition?

Blitz Bowl is really fun and tremendously good value for money. It's faster and easier to pick up than Blood Bowl and makes a great step up for new players wanting something that's more advanced than a traditional board game but perhaps not as complex as its bigger brother, or as potentially endless and time-consuming as Warhammer 40,000 or Age of Sigmar.

The models, too, are very nice. I hoped to get both teams painted in time for this review, but only managed the Dwarves (I painted a couple in a really horrible dark red before changing course and going with a light blue and gold scheme that felt like it fitted the vibe of the game better). I'll come back to the Orcs in due course, though – I love how chunky and jagged they are. Indeed, my only gripe with the miniatures is that the little hole on the base where you're supposed to slot the ball in is functionally useless. The game plays so fast and the ball changes player so often you'll more-than-likely end up resting it on the base instead.

Is it the best version on this family of games? No. Blood Bowl is the bigger, richer experience. There's also Dungeon Bowl, a lesser-spotted spinoff that goes deeper (literally) and weirder. But it is the fastest and friendliest of the three games and it's the one that's most likely to appeal to kids and younger siblings – or anyone who just wants to play a quick game of fantasy football.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested Blitz Bowl: Ultimate Edition

Our reviewer tested this game multiple times to get a better feel for the teams. They also painted one team from the boxset for the full experience.

For more details on our process, check our guide to how we test board games, or the general GamesRadar+ reviews policy page.

For more recommendations, check out these essential board games for adults or the best 2-player board games.

In the game, a diverse squad of Astartes make their way into a seemingly derelict Space Hulk, only to come face-to-face with hordes of Termagants, Genestealers, and Lictors. Can they make it out alive? The question, unfortunately, should be "will they want to?"

Features & design

• Five Space Marine models are included, the Tyranids are not
• A card is included for Titus – but no model
• Production values are really strong across the board

Space Marine Adventures launched with Labyrinth of the Necrons back in 2018 and was followed up by Rise of the Orks in 2020. I can't comment on the latter having never seen a copy in the flesh, but I do own the original Necron set and, in terms of format and gameplay, Tyranid Attack! is almost identical. This is basically a reskin. In other words, it feels like a cross between the much-missed Space Hulk with elements of Warhammer Quest: Blackstone Fortress - Games Workshop's attempt at the kind of RPG dungeon-crawlers that fill lists of the best board games.

In the box you get five Marine miniatures, representing the Ultramarines, Blood Angels, Space Wolves, Salamanders, and Iron Hands. None of these miniatures are new – they're actually repurposed from the Primaris Space Marine Heroes collectible range from a few years back, and are the exact same models that are included in the current Kill Team Starter Set, though here they're each moulded on different colour plastic – a nice touch that means you're not going to have to worry about painting these before playing. They fit together just fine, though for best results, you'll want to slightly trim the pegs and glue the parts.

Despite the five included characters, the game is designed for a maximum of four players, meaning that one of the squad will always sit the mission out. There's also an included card for Brother Titus of Space Marine fame – though the Titus miniature is, confusingly, not included here. For that, you'll need to pick up Space Marine: The Board Game.

The Tyranids, meanwhile, are represented by cardboard tokens. That may seem like a cheap shortcut, but it's honestly understandable given the game's status as a cheap entry point into the hobby. Put some actual plastic Termagants, Genestealers, and Lictors in the box and the RRP would massively shoot up. There's also nothing to stop you adding models from your own pre-existing Tyranid collection, if you have them.

Gameplay

• Space Marines explore an abandoned Hulk and fight Tyranids
• The 'nids don't move, or do much of anything
• There's three levels of play

Even aside from the previous Space Marine Adventures sets, Games Workshop has made quite a few titles like Tyranid Attack! by now, meaning that this feels pretty familiar from the off. The box has three "levels" of play, though the first is effectively a training mission designed to show you the ropes. Level two adds a little more variety, while level three is actually mildly challenging.

The Space Marines deploy through a single entry point, and the Tyranids are placed elsewhere around the board on specific entry points. The Activation deck is then shuffled and determines the order in which the Marines and monsters do their business. The Marine team will have a basic mission (activate a computer, or kill a leading Tyranid) to complete by moving and shooting, while the Tyranid actions are determined by Infestation Cards. Mostly these involve more Tyranid blips arriving on the board, though occasional mutations can make the enemy tougher to kill or reduce the number of actions each Marine can make per turn. Unlike in Space Hulk, a blip always represents a single creature (rather than a varying number) which removes quite a lot of the tension.

And that's... kind of it. The Marines trudge around the board shooting until they have achieved their goal and then they leave. The Tyranids, meanwhile, just sort of... sit there. No, honestly, they don't move at all. It's a far cry from the equally standalone but thoroughly excellent Combat Arena: Lair of the Beast.

That's my biggest problem with Space Marine Adventures: Tyranid Attack! in a nutshell – it never truly captures the feeling of being trapped in a confined space with hordes of Genestealers and other flesh-tearing gribblies. Tyranid blips spawn, but the only way they can harm a Marine is if he is positioned on top of a xenos entry point. (The rules never specify how they attack, but as they're coming up from the ground I'm going to take it as canon that they're biting the Marines on the bum.) Once you get to Level 3 then the Infestation Cards do have a decent variety of events (as does an included Advanced players deck), but otherwise it's all very slight, easy and, honestly, pretty dull.

It doesn't help that the Marines each have a special skill and access to a deck of 28 Special Cards that offer cool buffs, weapon, or tactics. These have the annoying effect of making the game simultaneously too easy and weirdly overcomplicated if you're a total newbie. It's an unnecessary level of additional detail that suggests a complexity to the game that just isn't there.

Should you buy Space Marine Adventures: Tyranid Attack?

I don't want to sound too harsh on Space Marine Adventures: Tyranid Attack! as it fulfils a very specific role in Games Workshop's ecosystem. This isn't a box for hardened or even casual gamers – it's a cheapie stocking filler designed to lure in brand new players and especially young kids into the hobby, and that's entirely fair enough.

It's also pretty good value, with excellent production; you get five great models (though, again, the choice to include a card but no model for Titus here is a weird missed opportunity), lovely thick play surfaces (the one included in the otherwise excellent recent Necromunda: Hive Secundus boxed game is put to shame by its quality), and durable cards – the accidental spillage of some noodles mid my second game looked like it was going to prove disastrous, but they wiped clean with no lasting damage. So, er, that's good. Noodle-proof!

As a game, though, Tyranid Attack! is unsatisfying. The Tyranids being largely static obstacles means that they never feel like a threat. The small size of the boards, meanwhile, makes everything feel cramped – and not in a cool, tense, claustrophobic way. Marines can walk past and shoot through each other so there's no good reason for tactical play in the way you deploy your troops. It's just a short, repetitive game that takes place in a small, uninteresting space.

Look, I appreciate that this is becoming a bit of a recurrent theme on this site, but Tyranid Attack! really does leave you wondering why Games Workshop don't just give us a new Space Hulk – or even just a reprint of the third edition from 2009. There's an obvious appetite for it both inside and outside the company, and as a title that was traditionally really successful at introducing new players to the incredible worlds of Warhammer 40,000, it's honestly baffling that they're keeping that in the wings and releasing weird, underwhelming sets like this.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested Space Marine Adventures: Tyranid Attack!

After constructing the featured miniatures and poring over the rules, our reviewer played Space Marine Adventures: Tyranid Attack! multiple times to get a better sense of the game's mechanics. They also compared it to previous versions of the game, and modern competitors as a whole.

For further details on our process, check in with this guide on how we test board games, or the general GamesRadar+ reviews policy page.

Want more adventures? Don't miss these essential board games for adults. If you'd like to stick with the Warhammer World, though, then check out our thoughts on why Kill Team: Hivestorm might be the best starter set Warhammer has made.

Secret Level ultimately suffers from the same problem that so frequently troubles all other anthology series regardless of whether they're animated and regardless of whether they're game adaptations. There are some truly stellar episodes, some real clunkers, and a fair amount of middling ones. Taken as a whole, it makes for an uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses more often than not.

Advancing the plot

Many shows have the benefit of building up narrative arcs over time, revealing certain truths about characters or situations by letting the audience linger with them through multiple episodes and scenarios. An anthology doesn't get the same luxury, and Secret Level attempts to introduce, begin, and conclude a story set in entirely different universes during each and every episode. Sometimes, as a treat, the show gets around 15 minutes to accomplish all of this – sometimes it's more like eight.

A good, well-paced TV episode can absolutely fit into those parameters, and animation specifically has frequently been able to turn 11-minute episodes into something special, but it's no easy task. Being succinct, compelling, and clear all while juggling the requirements of trying to introduce well-established settings to potentially unfamiliar viewers – I do not envy any of the creators involved; it sounds impossible.

And yet, somehow, the team does actually achieve the impossible in more episodes than I might have initially expected. The Armored Core episode, 'Asset Management,' is a well-executed entry from the jump, and not just because the voice and likeness of Keanu Reeves happens to grace the visage and vocal chords of the main character. The mech combat, movement, and general tone all really work together for a cohesive whole, and while I won't spoil the ending here, it's easily the conclusion that impressed me the most.

Adapt or die

The most successful entries actually do seem to have one thing in common if nothing else: a distinct lack of intention to skew particularly close to whatever they're adapting. The Pac-Man episode is absolutely wild, and as the teasers that have released ahead of the actual series indicate, the team really went in a completely unexpected direction that nevertheless has a number of the classic game's hallmarks. It's not a one-to-one adaptation, and neither does it play it safe, and it stands out in large part because of it.

But for every Armored Core or Pac-Man episode, there is an episode that falls into the aforementioned pitfalls. A major trap of adapting video games into any other medium is becoming enamored with the idea of somehow fictionalizing the mechanics into whatever story you're telling. It's far too easy to delve too greedily, too deep, and end up at a place that's more clever than interesting. (I'm looking at you, Spelunky episode.)

I won't speculate as to how, exactly, the various stakeholders influenced the creation of the episodes, but it's not hard to imagine that they, well, did. It would certainly go a long way toward explaining why a few of the adaptations feel more toothless than others. Certain episodes show a real desire to lean in and get weird and wild while others are more content to be a brand-specific TV version of the poorly received 2015 film Pixels.

One particularly frustrating episode feels like a series of cameo nods and reference winks that seem designed around the core mission statement of something like, "Isn't this cool? Don't you love this? How fun!" This is all juxtaposed against what I would personally consider to be a fictional hypercapitalist hellscape filled with exactly the kind of technology I dread coming into popularity in real life. I won't go so far as to say this wasn't intentional – the people making this thing absolutely put a lot of thought into it and stared at all its moving parts far longer than I – but the end result is puzzling to say the least.

Graphics modes

An area where Secret Level doesn't slouch at all is its animation. Barring a couple of wonky-looking faces here and there, I've no major complaints that aren't superficial at worst. Considered all together, it might have been nice for the various animation studios involved to push the envelope a bit more than they do. Outside of a few outliers, nearly all of the episodes skew closer towards some level of photorealism than not. It got to the point where the final result felt so similar across episodes that I was carefully scrubbing through the credits just to make sure Blur Studio, which has previously pulled double duty to produce and animate certain Love, Death & Robots episodes, hadn't done all of them. (The couple I checked had animation by Unit Image and Illusorium, so there's certainly some variety.)

Perhaps this is just me having been spoiled by other animated anthologies. Star Wars: Visions on Disney Plus, just to name one example, has individual episodes that are handled by different studios across its various volumes that look, feel, and even move differently. There are similarities, and the source material each episode is riffing on is drawn from the same well, but they are distinct in a way that Secret Level never really achieves. It can be hard to shake the feeling during any part of Secret Level, even the best parts, that you're not just watching a very impressive CG cutscene compilation.

Whether Secret Level works for an individual viewer is likely to largely be determined by preconceptions, honestly. You don't technically need to know anything about any of the games that it adapts, but it won't hurt. In fact, in some cases, it'll probably add a good amount of depth and nuance to have some idea of the franchises – like, say, Unreal Tournament. If the whole thing is a marketing endeavor designed to engage new folks, it's hard to imagine Secret Level changing hearts and minds even if it did make me briefly think positively about the MMO New World. Taken as a package, it's hard to recommend, though I will happily rewatch certain episodes over and over again. A success, albeit not a great one.

Secret Level releases a batch of episodes on December 10 and then again on December 17, and is available on Amazon's Prime Video.

For more, check out our guide to the best shows on Amazon Prime Video to stream right now.

It certainly seems ambitious, and no effort has been spared in the spectacle, from the set-design to the interactivity to the incorporation of Wizards of the Coast licensed materials (this is an official D&D show). With that in mind, I enlisted Felicia Day ahead of her run on Twenty-Sided Tavern as a guest performer earlier this year to talk through what makes it such an alluring project to be a part of.

"It’s D&D and improv, in New York, off Broadway. How [could] I say no to that?" There is an infectiousness to Felicia’s excitement, and despite taking on a role in which the script is minimal, the rehearsals unable to reflect the actuality of the performance, she seems in her element. "Going with the flow is the name of the game, and, in a sense, it’s actually freeing, because you can’t mess up on stage."

"The fourth wall is non-existent with this production"

Whilst praising the creativity and liveliness, one of the criticisms levelled at Twenty-Sided Tavern by those who have participated in the audience focussed on the lack of a meaningful, emotional storyline, often found in good D&D, the best tabletop RPGs, and good theatre performances. From the outside, it seems like a fair critique. After all, how can a performer be expected to carry a satisfying narrative arc when the audience is deciding many of their actions?

"It’s really due to the masterful crafting of the show. You have a [Dungeon Master] on stage, and a tavern keeper (another on-stage non-player presence), and so you have two anchors holding the ship. It’s really fun, the way everything keeps moving, but at the same time incorporates everything we love about RPGs and improvisation. [...] You're not watching a scripted play where people zone out, or they're watching something passively. You're constantly with the audience, and the rapport between the actors gets you on stage because there's in jokes, there's winks to the audience, there's involving the audience. The fourth wall is non-existent with this production. I know they developed it for years, and I can see why, because this is not something you come up with overnight, to make this heightened theatrical experience feel as intimate as it is."

Bringing in guest-stars such as Felicia, Aabria Iyengar, and Erika Ishii gives the sense the production is leaning on the RPG side as much as they are on Twenty-Sided Tavern’s improvisational performance side, given their relative fame within the RPG sphere of the internet. As such, it’s easy to imagine the skills any of us pick up slaying princesses and saving dragons at the table might translate to the stage, and certainly it seemed they were applicable for Felicia’s experience.

"I have learned a lot in doing RPGs to make big, bold choices, and don't be afraid to mess up," she says. "And, you know, leading with your emotion, that's what I always do in improvisation. You want to come in with a motivation and an emotion, and that will get you into a more interesting place than coming in in a neutral way. That's for all writing too. [...] I think what I've learned is that when you're playing off somebody else, supporting them, heightening what they're offering is always fun because you're in it together and not antagonistic. It's more fun to play collaboratively, supporting each other as a party than it is to butt heads most of the time."

"You just have to be present and have a point of view"

Within that, there’s good advice for anyone feeling unsure of themselves during an RPG session too, on bringing that emotion to your games, and how to ‘activate yourself’ as Felicia eloquently describes it.

"Basing it on something you know, whether it's a character from a TV show that you know. Natniss, a ranger. If that activates you, that's great. If you're playing your mom, that activates you, or you're gonna just play yourself with one really strong adjective. The thing I've learned about creativity is that you just have to learn how to activate yourself where you're having fun and overcoming your inhibition. And so what's going to make you excited to share something about yourself is always the way to go. You just have to be present and have a point of view. And that's half of life, but it's also a big part of being a role player."

As our conversation winds down, we touch on some work from Felicia’s past, specifically the inclusion of her costume from The Guild’s Do You Wanna Date My Avatar music video into the Smithsonian museum. In a microcosm, that’s an evocative image of what this veteran creator, musician, performer, and producer has achieved: a pushing of the boundaries, in web series, in live plays, and now in improvisational RPG theatre shows. It’s not hard to imagine Felicia Day being sculpted onto the Mount Rushmore of Geekdom.

But boundaries never stop being explored, and as our world, and its online counterpart, constantly changes, I couldn’t help but ask Felicia where she thinks the next great innovators in our nerdy hobbies will come from.

"For me, creativity comes from technology evolving, right? Technology pushes the envelope, and then all the creators jump in because they're excited to work with new toys. [...] It's all about a platform giving a new voice and new interest to people. And so I don't necessarily know what that thing is, but I'm always trying something new. I'm excited, because the times in history when the big corporations don't own everything, that's [what] I really liked, I like the undermining of that. Web video kind of went away because streaming came in and it professionalised all of it, and so that long form, especially scripted content, it doesn't really exist in the same way. But who knows? I just want to make things, and with fewer gatekeepers, cool things get made."

Want to get adventuring yourself? Don't miss the best D&D books, or the best board games.

This Cyber Monday deal is just $14.94 over on Amazon at the moment. Given that the set of four books typically retails for $34.99, that's a saving of about $20. This is the lowest price I've ever seen on the collection, with previous offers all handing around the $23 mark over the last few months. When it comes to the best Cyber Monday gaming deals, it's hard to beat the bang for the buck as presented here.

Should you buy the The Young Adventurer's Collection Box Set 1?

When people think of D&D, they probably often think of running a campaign or the big imposing rulebooks that are hard for people to engage with initially. It's a classic conundrum: how do you best introduce someone to D&D if they have no familiarity with it whatsoever?

Enter the Young Adventurer's Guides! The four books in this box set – Monsters & Creatures, Warriors & Weapons, Dungeons & Tombs, and Wizards & Spells – are explicitly designed to bring young fans into the fold by introducing various concepts in a straightforward, easy-to-understand way. It's not going to directly teach anyone how to play D&D, but it will introduce them to important aspects of the game that will make learning that much easier. And the good news is: there's a second set if this one lands particularly well!

If this loot doesn't interest you, be sure to check out our guide to Cyber Monday board game deals and Cyber Monday deals for gamers.

"We've been talking about creating a video game since we first started playing together," voice actress Laura Bailey told Rolling Stone. 

Critical Role's main cast members are all voice actors with notable video game experience. Bailey, for example, voiced Abby in The Last of Us Part 2, while legendary Dungeon Master Matthew Mercer has appeared in a huge array of franchises, including Pokemon, Mortal Kombat, and Resident Evil. Funneling that serious experience into Critical Role's very own video game shouldn't be too much of an ordeal. Right? 

After spending so long just discussing game development, Critical Role has seemingly recently decided to make it "an active pursuit on our end," according to Travis Willingham, World of Warcraft voice actor and Critical Role member, in the same interview. 

"The last few years, we have been having necessary conversations to figure out how to do [development] smartly," he continues. "It's an entire enterprise that's separate from what we do on [membership service] Beacon, Twitch, or YouTube; it's separate from the animated series."

"Hopefully, we'll have something really exciting to share, maybe around the end of the year," he says, "maybe at the beginning of 2025, just in time for our 10-year anniversary." 

For now, some fans are hoping that Critical Role might get a little development help from Baldur's Gate 3 developer Larian, which – if you didn't already know – is pretty talented at adapting D&D into a video game. That said, there's no guarantee a Critical Role video game would even have anything to do with D&D.

"If Larian Studios does literally anything [that] involves the Critical Role property, I will die," one enthusiastic fan says on Twitter. Until we learn more, don't hold your breath. 

Critical Role really wants you to break their upcoming TTRPG, Daggerheart.

Designed to tie in with The War of the Rohirrim animated movie coming out later this month, Battle of Edoras is currently available to pre-order for $187 at Miniature Market rather than the usual $220. As for UK fans, it's £111.99 at Magic Madhouse instead of £140. I've had a good look around like a warg scout on patrol, but have yet to find the Lord of the Rings wargame for less. Based on previous Games Workshop/Warhammer releases, I also doubt it'll dip in price any further before launch on December 14^th.

As someone that grew up when The Lord of the Rings trilogy was hitting cinemas, I would ask for the wargaming boxset that accompanied each movie every Christmas. I adored these starter sets, so it makes me all kinds of nostalgic that we've finally got another one for the Holiday season. You can be sure I'll be running through Battle of Edoras' scenarios over the festive season like I'm 11 again.

Naturally, this is just one of many Cyber Monday board game deals currently doing the rounds. For more, be sure to check out our hub.

Should you buy Battle of Edoras?

Battle of Edoras is a return to the movie-themed boxsets of old we used to get ages ago; rather than the sprawling packs based on specific conflicts (like the excellent Battle of Osgiliath set from 2022), this is based on The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim anime that tells the story of Helm Hammerhand's family. Y'know, the guy who was important enough to have the fortress of Helm's Deep named after him.

Freshly updated with this new setting centered around the warriors of Rohan vs. wildmen of Dunland, this box features two full armies, the core rulebook, a scenario pack, board, terrain, and dice. In other words, it's got everything you need to get going with the game. Add a sprinkling of new rules (albeit very few big changes, because the game wasn't in need of an overhaul) and you've got a solid intro for one of Games Workshop's longer-running systems.

I've not managed to dig in properly yet because I've been tied up with Black Friday and Cyber Monday coverage, but so far it's the sort of thematic, narrative wargaming that made me fall in love with this system in the first place. Although we don't have full context for what's going on here due to its missions being based on a film that isn't out yet, it does a decent job of selling the stakes whilst weaving in a drip-feed of rules. This is the kind of boxset where every scenario revolves around teaching you a specific mechanic or skill, but that doesn't come at the cost of drama.

My one gripe? The models are much fiddlier than I'd like. Don't get me wrong, they look magnificent when finished. But do the Dunlendings need separate, tiny face pieces, for example? I suspect this has something to do with practicalities, mold-space, customization, and fitting as much as possible onto one sprue, but I'm not sure it's as beginner friendly as I'd like.

Still, that's the only downside I've seen so far with what is shaping up to be a great boxset. If you've got a hankering to get back into Lord of the Rings wargaming, I'd recommend it.

My review should be up shortly, so keep an eye out if you're on the fence.

For more savings, don't miss the latest Cyber Monday gaming deals or these Cyber Monday Lego deals.

No, really. I'm not sure how long this offer is going to last, so speed may be of the essence. You can pick The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth up for $27.99 at Miniature Market rather than the full $34.99, and I've never seen this board game (which is modeled on strategy classic 7 Wonders) for less.

Seeing as this was one of the new releases I was hoping would get a discount in this year's Cyber Monday board game deals, I'm pretty chuffed. However, I've seen good discounts on new releases like this one vanish and not be replaced for ages once stock is gone, so I probably wouldn't hang about if you were curious.

Today's board game deals at a glance

• Duel for Middle-earth: $7 off at Miniature Market
• Amazon deals: Save up to $30
• Miniature Market deals: Up to $20 off

UK

• Amazon deals: Save up to £20
• Magic Madhouse deals: Up to £75 off
• Zatu deals: Get up to £18 off
• Wayland Games deals: Up to 80% off

Should you buy Duel for Middle-earth?

Wondering whether you should grab Duel for Middle-earth? If you're a fan of Lord of the Rings and enjoy strategic two-player games, it's a no-brainer.

To start with, its mechanics are based on the family-favorite 7 Wonders. Because the latter is arguably amongst the best board games due to the interplay between rival players and its many ways to win, that's a tick in Duel for Middle-earth's favor right off the bat. Although it does remove certain aspects from its inspiration that wouldn't work with the game's setting (trade is out because you're unlikely to find the Dark Lord Sauron sharing resources with Gandalf, for example), it recreates and builds on others. Namely, you still have plenty of ways to achieve victory; you can dominate the kingdom through force of arms by conquering each location on the map, you can form alliances with each of Middle-earth's races and free peoples, or you can partake in the Quest of the One Ring by destroying or finding it.

No matter what route you take, this all feels very thematic and in-keeping with Tolkien's story. That alone should make it an easy gift for any Lord of the Rings fans in your life, or a great present for yourself if you adore the world of hobbits and apocalyptic jewelry.

For more discounts, check out the latest Cyber Monday gaming deals. It's also worth checking in with our guide to Cyber Monday Pokemon card deals if you want a different kind of tabletop game.

Cramming 10 booster packs into a box alongside three foil cards and a statue of the fire-breathing pocket monster himself, this set is available for $56.99 at Amazon rather than $79.99. Called the 'Charizard ex Super Premium Collection,' it straddles the line between being a cool addition to any collection and the perfect gift for fans both new and old. It's the sort of thing that will make even hardened veterans who have been battling for decades go "oh, cool," and that helps it get noticed amongst all the other Black Friday Pokemon deals.

Actually, it's probably my favorite discount on the TCG this week. Which is saying something - there have been plenty of good Black Friday Pokemon card deals this year.

Should you buy the Charizard ex Super Premium Collection?

Whether you should buy this pack or not will hinge on a couple of things. Firstly: Do you love Charmander, Charmeleon, and Charizard? If the answer is a firm "yes," you're golden. The Charizard ex Super Premium Collection features a shiny foil card for each of them, either to add to a deck or for you to keep on display. Perhaps alongside that cool Charizard statue...

It also depends on whether you're buying it as a gift. If you aren't massively fussed about the starter Pokemon for the original 151, there are more efficient ways to get boosters. But if this is a present for a fan or a beginner, on the other hand? Well, then it should go down very well. It's clearly designed to be shown off thanks to the fancy box and cutout showing that lavish model, so it's likely to be more well-received than a simple box of boosters (great though that is). The same is true of the Paldea Adventure Chest, available for $30.38 at Amazon rather than the usual $50, because it does something similar for some of the cuter Pokemon in the lineup.

There are plenty more savings out there, of course, so be sure to keep an eye on the latest Black Friday gaming deals to stay up to date.

For more tabletop reductions, don't miss these Black Friday Magic: The Gathering deals or the latest Black Friday DnD deals. Black Friday board game deals are also worth investigating, if you get a moment.

This nifty design by The Army Painter (which is arguably Games Workshop's biggest rival in the painting department, at least on the more budget end of the scale) allows you to slash the time it takes to paint Warhammer dramatically, and the Mega Set containing 50 paints is currently $146.64 at Amazon rather than $200. I've only got the basic starter pack rather than this new, improved formula, so am eyeing up the offer with great interest. That's because Speedpaints are designed to act like pliable inks - they basically 'stain' a model undercoated with white to create shadows in the recesses and highlights on the raised areas. It differs from washes by being far more pigmented and vibrant.

Anyway, this is just scratching the surface when it comes to Black Friday Warhammer deals. If you want more, be sure to check out our hub that's rounding up the latest discounts.

Should you buy Speedpaint?

If you're new to painting miniatures, find yourself pushed for time, or simply want to streamline your process, I'd highly recommend giving Speed Paints (or their Citadel rivals, Contrast) a go.

If you're a newcomer, they'll give you very respectable results with a much, much faster turnaround than anything else could. They're very easy to use, too; they have great coverage and are simple to manipulate because they're already so thinned down.

For more established painters, on the other hand, it's a way of simplifying things if you use these first before apply traditional acrylic layers. This is how I operate, personally. I've been painting Warhammer using all sorts of paints for 28 years, and this new option really does keep things rolling along for me now that I'm more pushed for time. Essentially, it works as my basecoat, shade, and layer in one. I then apply drybrushing or highlights as appropriate to add some pizazz. (This is exactly what the excellent Warhipster does, and I'd highly recommend giving them a sub if you want tips - I follow their advice regularly.) In this way, you're getting the best of both worlds.

Just make sure you're getting the 2.0 formula. I got the basic starter set when they first came out, and things have improved significantly since then with this 2.0 blend.

Want more tabletop offerings? We're tracking the latest Black Friday board game deals, Black Friday Magic: The Gathering deals, and Black Friday Pokemon card deals.

A whole raft of them have been reduced as part of this year's Black Friday sale, and you can get everything from the esteemed Rebellion to Imperial Assault for their lowest price in roughly a year. Seeing as these are some of the most high-profile Star Wars board games, they're amongst the better Black Friday board game deals I've seen so far.

My favorite of the offers would be Star Wars Rebellion for $79.99 at Amazon rather than the usual $109.99. That strategy game is particularly well thought of in the tabletop community and has rarely gone much below $100 in the past year, so it's an eye-catching discount to say the least.

Anyway, here's what's on offer right now.

Which Star Wars board games should you buy?

Besides being some of the best Star Wars board games, there are a couple of these options that could challenge a few of the best board games overall for their science fantasy spin on strategy, dungeon-crawling, and wargaming.

Let's start with Rebellion. Of all the options listed here, this is the one that gets the most positive reception. Its grand, cinematic scope combined with mechanics that capture the feel of the movies perfectly make for a very engaging cocktail, and I've never heard a bad word about it. If you enjoy the likes of Twilight Imperium but always wished it was set in a galaxy far, far away, Rebellion scratches that itch.

Meanwhile, Shatterpoint is a fantastic take on the skirmish wargame popularized by everything from Warhammer: Kill Team to Frostgrave. As our Star Wars: Shatterpoint review mentions, "It's a smart and intuitive system that really feels like the action is dynamic and fast-moving."

Imperial Assault is another excellent option, this time for those who enjoy dungeon-crawling RPGs in the mold of Gloomhaven. Thanks to compelling combat and an original story set between the prequel and original trilogies, it's the sort of experience you can really sink your teeth into.

There is one option I'd recommend a little caution with, though. Legion is the Star Wars version of large-scale wargames such as Warhammer 40K, and the core pack is a great place to start due to it including everything you need to play. However, the rules have just been updated for a new edition. While these are available online for free, and the developers have already said that all the old models will still be completely valid for this revised version of Legion, I'd be very surprised if we didn't get a new beginner box at some point that packages all the up-to-date info in one place with new or returning models. After all, these older versions have now been superseded. With that in mind, it'd be fair if you wanted to hold fire until a potential new starter set - a 'new hope,' if you will - appeared.

For more tabletop discounts, don't miss the latest Black Friday DnD deals. You can also check in with the most recent Black Friday Pokemon card deals and Black Friday Warhammer deals via our hubs.

Mansions of Madness has had a chunky 36% saving as part of this year's Black Friday sale, and it's currently $70.49 at Amazon rather than the full $109.99. I've not seen it cheaper in roughly a year - the last time it hit that kind of low was last November, and it's rarely came within even $10 of this price in all that time. So, if you've had the horror board game in your sights, now's your time to strike.

This is just one of the Black Friday board game deals floating around at the moment, of course, but it's amongst the best considering how rarely Mansions of Madness gets a discount. I've watched this like a hawk myself for quite a while, and it stubbornly hovers at the $80 - $90 range most of the time.

Should you buy Mansions of Madness?

If you're a fan of horror board games, you're gonna enjoy Mansions of Madness. Set in the Lovecraftian Arkham Horror universe (which you may have seen across other games, including the fantastic Unfathomable - one of the best board games for co-op, in my opinion), it sees you exploring a house where nothing bad has ever happened. Nope. No, sir. That's some prime real estate and not a hotbed of demonic terror.

In other words, it's a step up from Betrayal at House on the Hill. Seeing as the latter is one of my all-time favorites, that's more than enough to pique my interest. However, it's a lot deeper. Although it shares similar gameplay, this is more like a dungeon-crawling RPG with its own companion app.

Still, I appreciate that the price may still keep this out of reach for some. With that in mind, I'd highly recommend trying the aforementioned Betrayal - it's currently $29.99 at Amazon instead of $55.99.

For more tabletop savings, don't miss the latest Black Friday DnD deals or these Black Friday Pokemon card deals.

To be precise, you can get The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game's revised core set for $39.99 at Amazon instead of $59.99. That's its lowest ever price by a few dollars, and the kind of discount we rarely see outside of Black Friday sales. That's why it immediately jumped out at me when I was minding my own business, browsing this week's Black Friday board game deals.

This new edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game is a well-regarded, co-op take on Tolkien's world that updates a long-running hobby with numerous quality-of-life improvements. It's

Should you buy The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game?

If you're a fan of games you can really sink your teeth into (the kind with interweaving mechanics that bounce off one another, multiple ways to win, customization options, and expansions aplenty), this is gonna be your jam. There are layers to the LotR card game besides those heroes and monsters you'd expect from something set in Middle-earth; much like the world itself, there's a lot going on under the surface.

For starters, this isn't just an excuse to slap Aragorn or Bilbo on your usual scuffle for points. It folds the central themes of Lord of the Rings (fellowship and grand adventures) into gameplay instead. As well as mustering heroes each turn and arming them with the gear they'll need to survive the journey, you're embarking on story-light quests during each game. You might enter Mirkwood on a mission to reveal and defeat one of Ungoliant's giant spider spawn, for example.

These victories or failures can be tallied into an ongoing, trackable campaign if you so wish. With this game type, fallen heroes stay out of the picture.

Of course, this means it won't suit anyone who's hoping for a light and accessible romp through Middle-earth. It also encourages regular repeat play, which I know won't appeal to everyone. If you'd rather opt for something more pick-up-and-play, I'd suggest trying one of the best card games - Magic: The Gathering. Although the core MTG experience is complex in itself, the Lord of the Rings beginner set is well-explained and much easier to get your head around. There are numerous Commander decks on offer as well which you can use in ad-hoc multiplayer games.

Want more discounts? Be sure to check out the latest Black Friday Magic: The Gathering deals or these Black Friday Pokemon card deals.

The Paldea Adventure Chest is both a rock-solid start to a Pokemon card collection or a cool gift for anyone that already plays thanks to including a set of shiny foil cards featuring some of the franchise's most adorable pocket monsters, a folio to display them, multiple booster packs, a storage space to keep all your pulls, and a squishy Pikachu stress toy as an added bonus (presumably for if you are not, in fact, the best there ever was). You can currently grab the lot for $22.49 at Amazon rather than almost $50. That's a record low price so far as I've been able to tell, and it's one of the better Black Friday Pokemon card deals as a result.

Should you buy the Paldea Adventure Chest?

If you're new to the game or are returning to it for the first time in years (perhaps after a certain Pokemon TCG Pocket came into your life), this is a great choice. Besides starting you off with a handful of booster packs to kick-start your collection, you're also getting some shiny foil cards that'll take pride of place in it. There are seven in total; Pikachu, Sprigatito ex, Pawmi, Pawmo, Pawmot ex, Tandemaus, and Maushold ex. They're all hella cute.

It's also ideal as a gift, because there's a lot of novelty crammed into this one box. Alongside the squishy Pikachu (and stickers that are gonna be a hit with younger players), there's a mini portfolio to show off those foil cards. The box is a good way to store other cards too, so it's got longevity.

Not a beginner, and not looking for a present? I'd say there are better options. If you have no idea what the rules are and find yourself lost whenever someone mentions evolutions or ex Pokemon, the Battle Academy 2024 box set may be a better bet. This lays out how to play the Pokemon TCG step by step, and it's $22.99 at Amazon right now.

Meanwhile, more experienced players who are just in it for the boosters should check out the Elite Trainer boxes. These contain lots of packs to go with card sleeves and Energy to help you build out a deck. You can grab the Stellar Crown one for $36.99 at Amazon right now rather than $50.

For more tabletop discounts, why not check out these Black Friday board game deals? As for the competition, here are the best Black Friday Magic: The Gathering deals so far.

The website is called The Art of Pokemon, and it's been created by Twitter user @pkm_jp. It's clearly been a massive undertaking, but they're obviously very devoted to their passion project, as even though they've already preserved thousands of pieces of artwork, the archivist says their work isn't done yet. 

"Years ago I wanted a place to scroll through all Japanese Pokemon cards, see a card's artist and learn what other artwork they've made. I wanted it so badly that I've spent hundreds of hours learning development making it happen slowly on weeknights and weekends," the archivist says on Twitter. 

During this process, they've rebuilt the site "many times over," but now, it houses the artwork for over 23,000 cards, as well as over 2,000 other illustrations (including pieces like promotional art and wallpapers), compiling the work of over 500 artists. You can browse by Pokemon TCG expansions, which are handily organized into various eras so you can flip straight back to Diamond and Pearl, Black and White, or keep up with the more recent Scarlet and Violet releases.

Alternatively, you can browse by Pokemon or character if you really want to see all the artwork possible for Slowpoke, for example (and why wouldn't you?), or you can admire the work of specific artists by looking through collections of their pieces. The effort gone into compiling information about the artists might be my favorite thing about the project – where possible, PKMJP has included biographies for the illustrators, as well as links to their social media pages. It's a genuinely really lovely way to show some extra recognition and support for the people behind the art.

Even after all that, though, PKMJP says "I still have tons of items to scan, edit, upload, and annotate," and adds: "Lots of improvements to speed things up, lots of artwork still to be added and labeled, more cards to be added, better ways to browse images… Features like custom lists, voting, and a proper blog are all on my wishlist for the future!"

It's obvious how much effort has been put into this, and it's an absolute delight to browse through the pages looking for old favorite artworks and discovering new ones. Alongside the recent launch of Pokemon TCG Pocket, it feels like a better time than ever to show some appreciation for the artists behind the long-running trading card game. 

While you're here, be sure to check out our guide Pokemon TCG Pocket's best decks, the new PTCGP Fire Mass Outbreak Event, and our roundup of Pokemon TCG Pocket's rare cards and how to get them.

Simply put, Warhammer Underworlds offers a vertical slice of what a faction is all about. Take those pox-ridden Grandfather's Gardeners, for example. Despite the rather homely name, these demons of the plague-god Nurgle are utterly, inescapably disgusting… which is the army's whole shtick. You've got shambling zombies with rough, obsidian blades and various internal organs falling out as if their stomach is an overstuffed handbag. There's a gnarly wizard mixing poisons in a cauldron held up by what I can only describe as 'weird little guys.' (Followers of Nurgle love those.) Oh, and there are ticks and flies aplenty, including my favorite of the bunch – the brilliantly-named Squort. In this one pack, you're getting a crash-course on everything Plague Bearers are about.

The Jaws of Itzl do the same thing for the lizard-like Seraphon. This small, hardened band epitomizes what the army at large does best: Mesoamerican-inspired wargear, massive jaws that could give an alligator a run for its money, a penchant for hitting like a ton of (scaly) bricks, and all things dinosaur. If the warband included one of the smaller Skinks, it'd be the perfect encapsulation of the faction's most iconic elements.

Painting up both these groups has allowed me to mess about with armies that I wouldn't normally go near. Crucially, I can use the two warbands in games – something I couldn't do if I was to buy random models for Age of Sigmar. This is what appeals to me about Underworlds at large; its various groups act almost like a cliff-notes version of that setting, even though they take place in the same world. It lets me dabble in factions I'd normally avoid, and grow as a painter as a result. Those Seraphon? They were a good excuse to muck about with green-tinged metallics I've wanted to try for a while, not to mention improving my drybrushing technique. The Plague Bearers, on the other hand? I was able to experiment with more gross effects that come with being a walking sack of disease. It was a lot of fun.

This is also why I'm so keen on Kill Team, Warhammer 40K's skirmishing cousin. Its small groups are a good way to test the water of an army, and they're a lot less intimidating to finish than a full horde. However, Underworlds is even better in that regard by virtue of its warbands being so small.

Essentially, I'll be keeping an eye out for more of these this Black Friday – particularly with new multipacks on the way that combine old groups.

Want to get started with Underworlds yourself? Embergard, the new core set, is currently available for a good chunk less than normal.

Looking to save a little on your hobbies this November? Don't miss the upcoming Black Friday board game deals, or these Black Friday DnD deals.

• Amazon: Check reMarkable Paper Pro bundles

I have had a chance to spend a few weeks with one, and I've fallen in love with its minimalist approach that promotes focus and efficiency (no apps or things for me to get distracted with). For me though, from the moment I saw the first trailer for the device, all I could think about is how awesome of a tool the device could be for nerdy things – like the best tabletop RPGs. Want an example? Here are the various ways that the reMarkable Paper Pro can be a neat tool for tabletop hobbyists.

Repository for your rule books

As someone who enjoys the best board games, I am no stranger to large rulebooks and player aids. More often than not, I find myself wishing that I had additional copies of a rule book or other player aids available that I can look through or refer back to while I play. With the Paper Pro’s ability to open and interact with PDF files, loading the device up with the rulebooks of your favorite games is a great way to give your group the added resource to share, but also, I like using it to add notes or other clarifications in the PDF’s margins to remember going forward.

Why stop at board game rulebooks? Do you play Warhammer 40K? Then keep your army’s book here instead alongside your preferred army list or strategy notes. RPG players, keep your Player’s Handbook on your tablet with bookmarks in the PDF that will take you to your spells or class details. And for all of my video game friends out there, it’s a great place to store those scans you made of your favorite strategy guides from back in the day.

Thanks to the larger size of the Paper Pro, being more closely the size of a standard piece of paper, it’s also easier to read than on your phone, and with the new color E-INK, the rulebooks will look even better!

Keep those campaign trackers clean

I enjoy a good game that keeps track of mine and my friends' decisions and reflects them later on down the line by changing what happens, with some of my favorites being the Arkham Horror card game, Pandemic Legacy, or Steamforged’s Resident Evil board game series. On the flip side, I really cringe at the thought of actually marking up a page to keep track of that info (Pandemic Legacy being a bit of a different beast, seeing as it’s designed to be a one-off experience with various components and things you open up and alter as a part of the mechanics). The Paper Pro helps avoid that and helps avoid endless piles of physical notebooks.

Character sheets aplenty

Call me old fashioned, but I feel more connected and invested in my characters when I fill in my TTRPG character sheets by hand and have a physical piece of paper in front of me. Every crinked edge or food stain is a little story all its own from a game night. While the Paper Pro may not replicate that piece of paper feel, it does do a great job making it seem like you are writing on a paper character sheet. And seeing that the Paper Pro features layer functionality, you could have as many of your characters as you want in a single file, with each one simply living on their own layer that you can switch between.

If you do ever want to print it off, simply have your tablet synced up to your computer, hit print, and you have your physical copy too.

On-the-fly maps

As a Game Master, there are times (a lot of times, really) where you will find that your dear group of players have strayed off the expected path and went somewhere you weren’t planning for. And wouldn’t you know it, you didn’t have a chance to make the map of that random abandoned bakery you mentioned offhandedly last session. With the Paper Pro, you have at your disposal a tool that can let you quickly draw up a map, choosing from grids of various sizes to make it easy to track ranges and keeping things tidy. When paired with the reMarkable Connect app on your PC, you gain access to some pretty nifty features such as being able to share the screen of your Paper Pro onto a monitor. With the inclusion of the different colors for pen and marker tools, you can get a pretty nice hand-drawn map on the spot for all your players to check out. It can also make for a great tool for puzzles you come up with for players to solve, since you can select and rotate things you draw!

The reMarkable Paper Pro isn’t cheap, coming in at $580 without any sort of case, and won’t be a piece of tech for everyone. That said, I have loved my time with the device and it has improved my productivity by limiting distractions. These nerdy implementations of the product can be thought of more as added bonuses to owning a Paper Pro and less definitive reasons to get one. As someone who uses their Paper Pro for each of these purposes though, I can attest to these all being pretty nice bonuses.

You can snag your own reMarkable Paper Pro from the usual suspects like Amazon, or via reMarkable’s website.

With any luck, the Paper Pro will get a discount for sales season. Until then, be sure to keep an eye on these Black Friday board game deals or the latest Black Friday DnD deals.

Typically, digital card games treat pack opening and card collecting as a means to an end for deck building and battling – but Pokemon TCG Pocket celebrates the act. It acknowledges that obtaining cards can be just as enjoyable and satisfying as the battles themselves, and in doing so, it's able to carve out its own successful niche.

Gotta collect 'em all

Generally speaking, it still operates similarly to other popular digital trading card games, with daily challenges and longer-term goals giving you resources to open more packs. The presentation, however, is where it differentiates itself.

The aim of the game isn't just to get the cards you want for a specific deck, with every other card acting as material fodder to be traded in for more packs. Instead, in true Pokemon spirit, it's about obtaining every single card in a set and completing the collection, with each new card feeling like a minor victory, even if it isn't necessarily one that a player needs to improve one of their decks. While mainline Pokemon games dangle the completion of the Pokedex in front of players as a long-term optional objective, Pokemon TCG Pocket makes acquiring a full collection the main focus.

So far only one set has been released with 294 cards to collect when including variants, and each time a new card is collected a spot on the total card list for a set is filled out. The decision to split the total card pool into sets makes the task of collecting each of the cards more palatable and achievable – after all, 294 cards is a much more reasonable number than the 1000+ total Pokemon that have been created to date. With that feasible end goal in mind, logging in daily, opening a couple of packs, and gradually inching towards a completed set with each new card obtained becomes a rousing habitual activity.

As an example of how gripping card collecting in this game can be, I'm currently in the process of tracking down an immersive rare Charizard EX. Without trying to sound like I'm flexing (although I'm quite smug about getting one), I've already obtained a crown rarity Charizard EX, which is the absolute rarest version of the card in the game right now. With that in mind, I should be completely satisfied with my current Charizard, but I'm not. Instead, I'm cracking open each Charizard-themed pack with gleeful anticipation simply to satisfy my goal of getting every single variant of this same card, so I can build a custom in-game binder of the rarest fire-type Pokémon to show off to other players.

One other major incentive is that the artwork for these rarer variant cards is exceptional, with artists from the TCG coming up with brand-new illustrations that make them feel all the more exciting. Have you ever seen a detailed drawing of what a Diglett tunnel network looks like? Neither had I before playing this game, but it's a truly inspired depiction of that Pokemon, and after seeing the card I really want my own copy of it.

It also helps that each pack opening is turned into its own sort of event. Typically, in digital trading card games, you can skip past all of the fanfare of opening packs and go straight to the end result, but Pokemon TCG Pocket forces you to manually swipe across the top of each pack to open it and scroll through every single card one-by-one. It's a minor flourish, but it adds physicality to the proceedings, leading to more memorable and fulfilling moments of authentic excitement when you finally stumble across a rare card you've been searching for.

Like with any free-to-play title, the longevity of Pokemon TCG Pocket's appeal is going to largely depend on the frequency and contents of future updates, but Creatures Inc. has undoubtedly managed to create an inimitable game concept that leverages the power of the brand in a way that's downright genius. Other digital TCGs may try and riff on the same concept, but the idea of collecting every single type of monster is so deeply ingrained into the DNA of Pokemon that it's hard to imagine imitators feeling as rewarding to play. 

A more cynical interpretation of the game is that it's preying on our collective nostalgia for the IP, exploiting our dopamine receptors by simply making numbers go up. But I feel like it's a refreshing change of pace from the typical digital TCG landscape, with other titles being focused on highly competitive play, and arms races to compile the most optimal decks. Pokemon TCG Pocket hasn't been immune to a hyper fixation on meta playstyles from the hardcore fringes of the player base (I'm looking at you, Mewtwo EX), but for once it feels like there's a card game where it's easily ignorable, and players can just relax and have fun building their collections of personal favorites.

If you're more into physical games, you can always check out what we consider to be the best card games instead.

You can currently grab Spirit Island for $44.99 at Amazon instead of almost $90, and that's just a single dollar away from its lowest ever price. That's also a 50% reduction on the board game overall. Considering how it's widely regarded as one of the best board games to play as a team, this feels like a bargain.

Seeing as it lands a couple of weeks before 2024's Black Friday board game deals, it's also a surprise. Savings of this caliber are normally saved for the event itself, so it gives me hope we're in for some good offers if this is what we're getting already.

Should you buy Spirit Island?

Much like Scythe or Mysterium, Spirit Island is a board game with a lot of prestige. Actually, it's the sort of game many will point to if they know you're on the hunt for the best cooperative board games. Why? Simple, really; it's bloody excellent.

As with so many modern games, it offers numerous ways to win and doesn't shoehorn you into one particular approach. It also boasts numerous spirits to play as with their own unique gameplay, so replayability is pretty high here as well.

Its theme is anything but predictable, though. Unlike so many area control games, you're actually trying to remove settlers on your board. It's sorta the anti-Catan.

If you still think this is a little pricey, don't stress. The more focused and much cheaper spin-off, Horizons of Spirit Island, is $15.99 at Amazon rather than almost $30. That's a great choice if you aren't sure whether you want to commit, as it distils much of what makes Spirit Island great into a more bitesize package.

Looking for more reductions? Don't miss these Black Friday Pokemon card deals, or the upcoming Black Friday DnD deals.

That's because Humble is at it again with another ridiculous saving. To be precise, you can get 72 Pathfinder RPG rulebooks, adventures, and maps for just $30 at Humble (or £23.16 in the UK). The combined value of all these products approaches quadruple digits, but that's not the best bit. No - that honor goes to the fact that it includes the new, up-to-date rules remasters that came out in 2023. As such, you're not buying something that's going to quickly become redundant.

Combine that with the sheer amount of stuff you're getting for the best deal I've seen on Pathfinder… like, ever. I've reported on a few of these discounts in my years covering the tabletop industry, and they're left in the shadow of this one – mostly thanks to it including those remastered rulebooks.

You have until November 25 to take advantage of this bundle, so even though it's not part of this year's Black Friday board game deals, it's still a good start to the sales season.

Should you buy Pathfinder?

There's been a lot of buzz surrounding Pathfinder ever since it launched in 2009 thanks to it being a throwback to an old, much-loved edition of Dungeons & Dragons that'd been left in the past. However, it's only grown in prominence since then – particularly thanks to the DnD OGL crisis a couple of years ago. It's now cemented its position as DnD's biggest rival and is often seen as one of the best tabletop RPGs around.

In a rare twist, it lives up to the hype. This is a crunchier system than DnD that allows for more options in practically every aspect of the game. Combat is a more numbers-based affair but this affords greater agency, and characters can be personalized with upgrades to the nth degree. There's a difference in how enemies scale to meet your level as well, and heroes generally become superpowered demi-gods as they approach level 20.

There's a greater variety of settings, too. Rather than sticking with classic fantasy inspired by medieval Europe, Pathfinder has released a wealth of books drawing from cultures across the globe in a respectful way.

In other words, Pathfinder is a solid choice if you've played DnD but find it a little lacking in some regards.

I've yet to properly dig into Pathfinder, but because I've heard such amazing things from friends and colleagues, not properly dived into Pathfinder yet, so you can bet I'll be grabbing this Humble bundle; it's perfect for swatting up on the remastered rules over the Holiday break.

Still happy to stick with Dungeons & Dragons? Don't miss the best DnD books, or the upcoming Black Friday DnD deals.

Your mission, if you choose to accept it — which you will, because it's awesome — is to unravel the clues given by your spymaster (the Diana Burnwood to your Agent 47). You and your team will need to identify all of your agents by their Codenames before the opposing team finds theirs. Oh, and watch out for the Assassin lurking on the board, because if you accidentally reveal them, then it's game over.

If you've been to any sort of nerdy party or gathering, you've almost certainly already played a round or two of Codenames — it's THE party game of choice and one of the best board games out there for large groups. That's partially down to the simple word-association concept that anyone can pick up, but mostly because it acts as a fantastic social lubricant. It gets people talking and, more importantly, the clues they give and guesses they make reveal a little something about how their brains work.

Features & design

• Find agents using word associations
• Avoid the Assassin
• Take it in turns to guess

At its core, Codenames has very few components. Inside the box, you'll find 25 colored agent cards, 40 key cards, 200 double-sided codename cards, a card stand, a sand timer (optional in-game), and the rulebook. There’s even a QR code that’ll take you to a rules overview video.

The premise is equally simple. Assemble a group of two to eight players and split into two teams (red and blue). Each team then chooses a spymaster, who will be responsible for giving out clues to the rest of the operatives on their team.

You then build the game board, which consists of 25 codename cards arranged into a 5 x 5 grid. The spymasters then draw a key card — effectively a map that tells them where their agents are hiding on the grid, interspersed with neutral bystanders (the beige cards) and a deadly assassin (the black card).

The spymasters' aim is to give their operatives clues that lead them to words on the board that match their team's color on the key card. They do this by giving out a single word clue every turn, along with a number which lets the agents know how many cards this clue links. For example, the spymaster might say "Superhero: Two" and your team will have to work together and scan the board for words that match that description.

Players aren't forced to guess that number of cards, so if they're unsure they can pass after a single guess, or they can even go rogue and guess more than the spymaster has said… a maneuver that usually ends in disaster.

When your team is done guessing, you pass to your opponents and keep going until one team finds all of their agents… or runs into the assassin. A single card on the key will be marked in black, and if either spymaster accidentally steers their team towards guessing that card, their team instantly loses the game.

Gameplay

• A tricky, compelling balancing act
• Surprising depth for such a simple premise
• Better with more players

Despite the simple mechanics, Codenames offers a ton of depth in terms of how you choose to play. As the spymaster, do you play it safe by giving an obvious clue to a single agent? Or do you offer up an obscure connection to four agents at once and expect your team to latch onto the bizarre train of logic that you're riding?

Let's say you're the blue spymaster, and the words "desk" and "chair" are on the board in your color; "office" would be a great clue, but oh no, the assassin is sitting on the word "computer." You'd be taking a huge risk giving that clue, so you'll need to think outside the box. Maybe "furniture" would be the better clue? Now make that scenario way more complicated, because there are 25 words on the board that might interact with each other and you begin to see how chaotic and mind-melting this game can be.

The rules to Codenames are terrifically well-balanced. The team going first has to hit an extra clue to make up for the advantage, and beyond that, both teams have the exact same moves at their disposal. There is no luck beyond getting stuck with teammates who don't get your obscure references. People who know each other well can have an advantage over strangers, which is why it's recommended that you shake up the teams between rounds, while also changing who takes on the role of spymaster to keep things fresh.

Another cool thing about the rules is that you can be as firm or flexible with them as you like. As long as everyone playing agrees, you can allow rhyming words as a clue (although you're not allowed to indicate that it's a rhyme, players will have to work that out by themselves), acronyms like CIA (technically it's not one word), or even proper names such as New York or Lara Croft.

Should you buy Codenames?

If you're looking for a fun, casual party game that just about anyone can enjoy then Codenames should be top of your list. It's super friendly to new players, while the randomized layouts and teams mean that it offers a ton of replayability too.

There are tons of variants of Codenames to choose from, including Disney, Marvel, and even a more adult “Deep Undercover” version if you want to tailor the clues to your interests.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested Codenames

This is a game that has been in my collection for a long time now. I’ve played with large groups, small groups, close friends, friends of friends, and even strangers at board game gatherings. I’m basically Agent Cody Banks at this point!

For a more thorough look at our process, see this guide to how we test board games, or the wider GamesRadar+ reviews policy.

Want recommendations of what to play next? Don't miss the best 2-player board games, or these must-have board games for adults.