No Pun Included's Game of the Year 2022
It’s our Game of the Year, and for more you’ll have to watch the video!
How Frosthaven Lets You Build Its World
Hello dear punsters,
After a slightly longer gap this time there is finally a new video. We've been hunkered down getting to grips with Frosthaven and now we can deliver to you our non verdict. That's right, NON verdict. Since we designed a scenario for Frosthaven, we have recused ourselves from reviewing it, but we still wanted to give you something Frosthaven, and without much further ado - here it is.
Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood Review
Oathsworn is easily the most amibitious board game we’ve ever played. And our past experience has taught us that Kickstarter projects with a lot of amibtions rarely deliver on their promise. Imagine our surprise when we discovered that Oathsworn is one of the very few that breaks this rule.
Undaunted: Stalingrad Review - Emotional Gauntlet
Undaunted joins the long list of games to get a campaign mode, but instead of weighning it down the campaign mode lifts the system into one of the most memorable experiences we ever encountered in cardboard. Find out more in the video.
Stars of Akarios Review - Hyperflop
Hello everyone it's me Efka with one of the biggest disasters of the year. That's right, Stars of Akarios is a $170 rubbish, so grab some of that corn that you pop, but don't worry about the pan - I've got that covered.
Return to Dark Tower Review
Hello, it’s me Efka, the adversary of nostalgia, here to review a board game that has been ressurected from the annals of the cardboard eighties. It also features the most ridiculous board game component ever made. Which leads us all to ask - is this just a gimmick? Yes. But also, in a very big way, no. It’s complicated. I made a video about it. That’s what we’re all here for, so go ahead. Press the play button, if you dare 💀
Ankh: Gods of Egypt Review
I guess that thumbnail is doing a lot of work for me. A big CMON Kickstarter project that I somehow ended up loving - that doesn’t happen every day.
Okay, so what is Ankh: Gods of Egypt? It’s a toys on a map game from Eric Lang, designer of Blood Rage and Rising Sun amongst others where 2-5 players have big minis, big fights and generally a big time. Why is it good? Well, that’s what this video is about. Bonus: tune in for some cultural commentary from someone who was very curious to find out how CMON’s treatment of Ancient Egypt stacks up. Spoilers: It’s complicated.
Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest Review
What’s a pirate’s favourite letter? That’s right, it’s the royal pardon. And whilst I can’t promise more quality jokes in our review of Libertalia, I can promise a curious look at a game meant for high player counts that works surprisingly well at two. How? Well, click the thing. Arrr.
Long Shot: The Dice Game vs Winner's Circle
Giddyup cowpeople! Or horsepeople? I’m already confused. Let’s make it a little less beefuddling by clearly and concisely pitting two games against each other and seeing which horcing game is the winner (pun included) and which one’s gonna retire to the pastures.
Ark Nova Review
Going to the zoo. How about you? Oh, you’re coming? Errr… not so fast? Look, zoos are great. In fact, I can confidently say I like them. But they’re also very big and have way too many animals. Sometimes those animals get loose and wreak havoc with your engine and deny you conservation points. Are we still talking about zoos? By this point, who knows.
Ark Nova is the latest smash hit from publishers Capstone Games and Feuerland Spiel, who bring you this decade’s big “game with lots of cards” extravaganza. It looks like for the next couple of years we’ll be figuring out how to build zoos efficiently, and I am here for it. Or am I? I am. But maybe I have one or two qualms? I do. I love qualms. Lets qualm together as we watch the video.
A review of Caesar!: Seize Rome in Twenty Minutes in twenty minutes
What’s green, white and has croutons? That’s right, it’s Caesar, once again invading your pallette with questionable art and incredible gameplay. Today Efka tells you all about Caesar!: Seize Rome in Twenty Minutes in exactly twenty minutes.
Caesar!: Seize Rome in Twenty Minutes is a two-player only area control game by famed designer Paolo Mori, and we think you owe it to yourself to check this wonderful gem out. It’s quick, it’s smart and it’s really good.
No Pun Included's Board Game of the Year 2021
Welcome to the BGotYs! Ugh, acronyms - they are the worst. You know what’s not the worst? That’s right - it’s the best. And last year’s best is here this year, on your screens - right now!
Once again, we follow on in proud annual tradition at No Pun Included to pick out one game that we think is worth of your attention. What is that game? Well, not so fast. Before we reveal it we’ll have to charge you the fine fee of exactly one digital eyeball. Please submit it via the receptacle of pressing the play button above.
It's Time to Say Goodbye to Air Hockey
Ooph. Air Hockey. It’s great, isn’t it? Or… is it? Well, today you get to find out and you also get the scoop on one or two things that might not only be better, but practical an affordable too. Join us for this mini compenium of Air Hockey alternatives.
Furnace Review
Hey capitalism fans, you might be searching for the next great lightweight game to imagine you’d be playing with your extended family over the holidays whom you would be seeing if we all weren’t staying home again. Well, imagine no more for we have the brown and white box of your dreams.
Furnace is a 30 minute Ebeneezer Scrooge simulator and if you’re wondering whether it’s a feast or a cold turkey - we have the scoop for you.
Brian Boru Review
Brian Boru: The High King of Ireland is the latest game from designer Peer Sylvester, also responsible for our 2020 Game of the Year - The King is Dead. This however, is a bigger grander feeling strategy game, full of clever twists and unexpected spins on familiar mechanisms.
A Review of Everything Too Many Bones
Howdy bone fans. What a video today - a comprehensive review of everything ever published for Too Many Bones so far. In this monstrous video you’ll learn about the popular dungeon crawler, why you’d want to buy it, why you wouldn’t want to buy it and what to buy or not buy. Is it a buyer’s guide? Yes. Is it a critical analysis? Yes. Is it too long and overambitious? Yes. The game, or the video? Yes.
Enjoy!
Cascadia Review
What do you get when you put a bear together with Carcassonne? Ironically, something with less bite than Carcassonne. Which absolutely shouldn’t deter you from giving Cascadia a spin because sometimes gentler does not mean worse. In today’s video Efka gives you the rundown on the latest tile-laying game from Flatout Games, taking you to the Pacific North West on a journey through nature and a crunchy good time.
Hallertau Review - One Year Later
Long time podcast listeners will remember that initially Uwe Rosenber’s latest entry into his farming universe canon did not exactly wow us, yet here Efka is, almost one year later reviewing Hallertau. What is Hallertau then, and what changed?
Well, you’ll have to watch the video to find out, but if nothing else, Hallertau is an interesting entry not just in Rosenberg’s long list of designs, but euro games in general.
Railroad Ink Challenge - A Love Letter
What’s green and yellow and dicey all over? That’s right, it’s a sweetcorn salad, but also Railroad Ink Challenge. In this voluptuous follow-up to the roll-and-write genre’s darling superhit, publishing house Horrible Guild crams every idea under the sun. How in the world can it still be great? Well, it is, and I’m here to tell you why Railroad Ink Challenge is the followup that the original more than deserved.
Rather than an exhaustive review of all the little variants and expansions crammed into Railroad Ink Challenge, we decided instead to strip it down and expose the things that really do make it shine. If you’re hoping for grandiose comparison between Lush Green and Shining Yellow, then sadly, we don’t deliver. If you want to know just what makes Railroad Ink Challenge so nifty, you’ve come to the right place.