At a Glance

Welcome

Tabletop Gaming January 2020

First Turn

The designer of Bargain Quest and Power Rangers: Heroes of the Grid made a bigger debut than he ever could have expected with 2014’s Star Wars: Imperial Assault.

Ten of the Best

As we time travel forward, one second at a time, towards 2020, it feels like the moment to take a look at some of the games that have tried to make it work. So, strap yourself in as we attempt to reach 88mph as the clock strikes twelve

Role Call

It’s a quiet time for new systems out there, but we can expect a wonderful harvest of supplements and expansions in the first few months of 2020.

Have you Played?

The depths hold many fearsome dangers. And politicians. See how far you’ll sink into the deep to claim your victory.

All the Jahres

James Wallis replays the winners of the Spiel des Jahres so you don’t have to

My Favourite Game

Creator of the tactile dexterity real-estate game, Megacities: Oceania, tells us a little about hostile takeovers in Aquire

The Independent Shelf

Hot as hell! Break out from Hades in this two-part space princess smash and grab game

Through the Ages

The games that step up to the plate

Cardboard Manifesto

We try and unknot the difference between what a game looks like, and what it is

Microgame of the Month

A FREE GAME FOR YOU TO PLAY INSIDE EVERY ISSUE OF TABLETOP GAMING!

Around the World in 80 Plays

One of the early stops made during our tabletop tour

Unearthed Artefacts

++YEAR 3152++INCOMING TRANSMISSION++ Found Sector A9: Pastime x17 – Board Game - “High Frontier”

Tabletop Time Machine

Iwrite this exactly one calendar month before the next

How I saved the world from aliens in Watch the Skies

We dive into the world of Mega Games – the trend for huge, collaborative gaming events – with a report from the front lines of an alien invasion

Location, Location, Location

We talk to James Naylor about the art of greed in his new hubris simulator, Magnate: The First City

Mother Knows Best

In space, only the GM can hear you scream

How we made Jaipur

We talk to Sébastien Pauchon about his competitive camel and spice trading game, Jaipur.

Thin Blue Lines

Wargaming is a realm of endless possibilities. Osprey Games’ Blue Book series is mapping these uncharted waters for players to bring battles to every genre and period.

Safety First

Making your gaming table a safe space

Bits a living!

Think running a miniatures business sounds like hard work? Try running a business making bits for miniatures! We talk to Joel Pitt about how Anvil Industry did just that.

Nemesis

You are rudely awoken from hypersleep. There’s a body

Alien: The Roleplaying Game

There are plenty of horror games on the market, but

Paupers’ Ladder

It doesn’t get much more indie than calling your game

Ganymede

This sci-fi standout is Splendor in space, on steroids

Ninja Academy

Open Ninja Academy’s box and you might wonder whether

Tussie mussie

Following Wingspan with Tussie Mussie feels like the

Horrified

Ravensburger have really been knocking it out of the

Shardhunters

If nothing else, Shardhunters provides a great test

Dreams of Tomorrow

From the description I hoped Dreams of Tomorrow was

Trogdor!! The Board Game

No fantasy story is truly complete without the presence

Toy Story: Obstacles and Adventures

It’s not exactly flying, but it is falling with style

Eberron: Rising from the Last War

It’s been said that the art of originality lies in

Dale of Merchants

In the kingdom of deck-building games, Dominion rules

Adventure Games: Monochrome Inc.

An engaging mystery whose puzzles are stronger than its plot

Unlock! Timeless Adventures

Unlock! Is a long running series of escape room style

Last Bastion

Last Bastion is a re-work and a re-theme of Ghost Stories

Volcanic Isle

The history of Easter Island is one of desolation.

Decrypto: Laserdrive

The 2018 party game Decrypto put players in the shoes

Ecos

We’re going to create a world. It’ll take a few days.

Marvel Crisis Protocol

Crash! Zoom! Thock! Pow! As comic book adaptations

Kung Fu Panda: The Board Game

Kung Fu Panda: The Board Game is one of frantically

Yggdrasil Chronicles

The time for Ragnorok is nigh. Fenrir is set to bound

Necromunda: Dark uprising

Amidst the clanking machinery of the manufactorums

Painting Guide

We cover more than the bear necessities with Critical Role’s first season miniatures outing: Vox Machina

Dungeon Master’s Guide to Roleplaying

Snorri Cheerisdottir was an oddity, even among her own adventuring party. Where her friends were quiet, cautious and tight-lipped, she was loud and confident to a fault.

Event Report

We don our fedora and whip and set forth with organiser Paul Roberts

Shop Spotlight

Owners Chris Heinhold and Emer Kelly talk about coffee and Keyforge in fair Éire