It’s not just about whether you have the money for the next building. The real question comes when you’re sitting at the San Juan table with a hand full of cards and a production line that looks promising but still feels uncertain. Is the next purchase going to be an accelerator or a speed bump … Read more

Take a look at those dozen cards spread before you… They impress from three feet back, but up-close they’re just a point-counting exercise in futility. That’s the core of the Race for the Galaxy problem: The board shouts power; the scoreboard whispers reality, and sometimes it’s a grim one. You’ve got four turns into an … Read more

It’s the last round in Mombasa. You’re looking at a company track with great potential payoff, but it also seems too crowded to risk. You know the balance: should I stay, or should I buy? This is where instinct often gets tripped up, as players gets caught focusing on what they see (the printed value) … Read more

When you have a pile of pricey cattle all of same breed in Great Western Trail, it’s easy to panic. You think, “Oh man, I’m going to get so many of these! I can’t wait to deliver them!” And then the central mechanic comes back to you: only unique breeds add to your score. But … Read more

It’s harvest season, and it’s time for the reds. What will you do with them? Sell them immediately as wine? Wait for an order, hoping for higher prices? Store them until they’re ready to age? In Viticulture, how you answer these questions defines you as not only a winemaker, but also as most successful one, … Read more

In Istanbul, you’re sitting on stack of goods cubes but your coin stash has thinned out. That’s a dangerous spot: there are plenty of shiny options on the board, and you can go for the short term gratification of tea house coins or the longer term promise of mosque tiles. It’s easy to get frozen … Read more

When most players come to Le Havre, it’s all about production. Build up an engine. Stockpile some goods. Wait for the perfect moment to turn it all into points. That’s fine until you get a player who grasp the concept of rent. In this game, it isn’t just about what you produce. It’s also about … Read more