Scythe strides onto the tabletop scene draped in immersive artwork, atmospheric lore, and intimidating mechs. It’s a board game set in an alternate-history 1920s - a time of innovation and war, harvest and havoc. Each player represents a character competing over the same swathe of land - attempting to make their faction the richest, most powerful faction in Eastern Europe. Scythe incorporates engine-building at every turn. Players fine-tune their actions for peak efficiency, build structures to improve their position, enlist new recruits to amplify their power, mobilize mechs to keep rivals at bay, and expand their borders to reap more resources. Pros - Visuals: Its stunning art evokes a cinematic world - Strategy: Scythe gives players almost complete control over their fate Cons - Conflict: Despite towering mechs, combat is minimal and easily avoided - Asymmetry: Factions offer quirks, but some are overpowered Overall: Scythe is a triumph of presentation, but a letdown in pulse. If you’re looking for a high-stakes wargame, Scythe might leave you cold. It promises chaos and intrigue - and instead delivers quiet efficiency. For players who love spreadsheets disguised as epic showdowns, it may still appeal. For the rest of us, Scythe is a beautiful box of missed opportunities. Still, Scythe remains a beloved title for many - and for good reason.

Gizmos is a dynamic race to be the Science Fair’s top inventor. In the end, only one will walk away with the blue ribbon for their machine. You start with modest parts, but each turn lets you perform one of four actions: - File: Reserve a card for future construction. - Pick: Grab an energy marble from the 3D dispenser. - Build: Use energy marbles to construct a Gizmo from your archive or the display. - Research: Draw cards and choose one to File or Build. Soon, your lab hums with synergy: one Gizmo activates another, kicking off a chain reaction that surprises even you. In that way, Gizmos is an engine-builder: the more you build, the more you trigger; the more you trigger, the smarter you feel. The game ends when a player builds 16 Gizmos or 4 Level III Gizmos. Victory points are tallied, and the most brilliant inventor wins. Even though first-time players may find themselves slightly overwhelmed by the array of symbols, by the second game, they tend to grasp the rhythm. That said, there’s somewhat of a ceiling: once you’ve got the core mechanics down, gameplay can feel formulaic across sessions. So is Gizmos perfect? No. But it’s very close to something special.

Journey’s stunning visuals are like poetry in motion. Scenes are accompanied by a beautiful score, swelling and fading in step with your adventure. Whether you choose to go it alone or venture with fellow wanderers, the gameplay is a pretty magical, meditative experience. It’s all a beautiful reminder that sometimes, the journey itself is the destination.

A true masterpiece. The choices you make have rippling effects, shaping the world around you in unexpected ways. Whether you're forging alliances, making enemies, or uncovering hidden paths, your journey always feels uniquely your own. No two playthroughs are ever the same.