Escape the Dark Castle

Welcome

Is there a greater marker of how far tabletop gaming

At a Glance

Roleplaying, miniatures and board game studios join the growing line-up for Tabletop Gaming Live

First Turn

Before trading seasonings and sneaking about, the Century: Spice Road and Specter Ops designer was snatching sweeties in 2012’s Tricks & Treats

10 of the Best

If plastic people and deep tactical gameplay is to your tastes, there’s a glut of miniatures games to gorge yourself on. Whether you’re just starting out or already a seasoned fan, our selection should have something for you

Role Call

Whether you’re used to waking up with no idea of how you got there or looking to return to a classic roleplaying land, this month’s releases are full of adventures waiting to be had

All the Jahres

Replaying the winners of the Spiel des Jahres so you don’t have to

My Favourite Game

The master of Gloomhaven falls head over heels for Terra Mystica’s magic

Have You Played?

The ultimate cyberpunk showdown is a tense duel of hacker against corporation, and continues to be one of the most exhilarating card games around more than two decades after it first jacked in. Let yourself be ensnared

Kickstarting from Scratch

To back, or not to back? Holly Gramazio wrestles with the make-or-break question facing Art Deck’s campaign

The Independent Shelf

Raise those devil horns and take a technicolour trip to the Würstreich in an adventure that’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen before

Through the Ages

Our new series tracing mechanics from their origins to modern-day spiritual successors kicks off with one of the most popular gameplay types on the table

Play it Smart

A game’s rulebook might tell you how to play, but there are plenty of unwritten rules worth learning that you won’t find inside the box

Unearthed Artefacts

++YEAR 3121++INCOMING TRANSMISSION++ found sector D8: pastime x17 – board game - “dungeonquest” Message intercepted by Robert Florence

Tabletop Time Machine

Mhing is mahjong but as a multiplayer card game. Making

Rising Sun

After the Norse fury of Blood Rage, Eric Lang’s next mythical extravaganza puts players in command of the samurai, gods and monsters of feudal Japan. He tell us why he finds sticking to history boring, his musical approach to drawing from classic games and where his childhood love of folklore might take him next

Pandemic Anniversary

It’s hard to imagine board gaming today without Pandemic, Matt Leacock’s radical infection-fighting smash hit. As the first game in the series turns ten, the designer and his collaborators reveal how they changed the world forever

How We Made

Marc André reveals how his childhood hatred of chess, discovery of roleplaying and love of maths led to the creation of a true gaming gem

Outpost

Leaving the frozen wastes of Outpost: Siberia behind, Jon Gilmour and Daryl Andrews are heading into the rainforest with the second chapter in their gruelling survival series of co-op card games. But will they make it out the other side?

Gaming Retreats

As more people than ever take up tabletop gaming, the way we play is evolving. How can we escape it all and get away with a jolly hobby holiday?

The Story of Civilization

In a rare interview, designer Francis Tresham reveals how one of the most revolutionary, influential and celebrated board games of all time came to be

Tristan Hall

After triumphing with last year’s epic fantasy Gloom of Kilforth, indie designer Tristan Hall returns to re-make history

Pro-bending Arena

The Legend of Korra’s exhilarating sport of pro-bending is coming to the tabletop as a fast and furious showdown of luck, skill and mastery of the elements. Designers Jessey Wright and Sen-Foong Lim enter the arena

Altiplano

If you ever wanted to pack a sack with alpacas, this is the sack alpaca-packing game for you

Transatlantic

All aboard for a ruthless high-seas economic adventure

Infinity: The RPG

Find your character in the Human Sphere

Dinosaur Island

Clever girl – or one big pile of shit?

Favelas

It’s a riot of colour, but does it do justice to its theme?

Vengeance

Before you embark on a journey of revenge, montage!

Dungeon Draft

Not to be confused with Dungeon Draught, which is all about underground ventilation

Kitchen Rush

Hell’s Kitchen is other people

Elite: Dangerous RPG

A galaxy of gaming awaits

Blank

Designer: Henri Kermarrec | Artist: Rob Dalton, Winnie

Cobra Paw

Having about as much to do with cats as Bananagrams

Goodwill

Feels like work, but pays off

Empires

Tussle for European supremacy in the age of feathery helmets and big moustac hes

Nusfjord

A worker placement game about the Norwegian fishing industry? Good cod

Time Barons

Strap in for a good time

Coaster Park

A good idea flies off the rails

Painting guide

Grab your sonic screwdriver and hop in the TARDIS as we take a trip through time to revisit some of the British sci-fi legend’s most popular regenerations

Dungeon Master’s Guide to Roleplaying

Rules are there to be broken, and massaging dice throws can weave a more satisfying story for your players. Do it too much, though, and you risk taking away the surprise and tension of a campaign. So when is it right to play by the rolls?

Event Report

Mark Cooke looks back on the explosive success of the convention that started as a get-together in his own home

Shop Spotlight

Charlie Francis tells us about growing the Somerset model shop during the board game boom, the thriving local gaming scene and what miniatures newcomers should be on the lookout for