Matthew Smail 336 posts 39 comments

As I write this, humanity is entering uncharted territory. I say this not just because we stand on the precipice of an unprecedented global health crisis as the direct result of the Coronavirus, but also because the knock-on effects it will…

In the current board game market, it’s tough to be either original or minimalist, since the penchant of the moment seems to be multi-million dollar Kickstarter games crammed with detailed, unnecessary miniatures and basic combat systems.…

Regular readers of BigBossBattle may recall that I waxed lyrical about my love for the original Pillars of Eternity when it appeared on console, and it’s certainly true that I’ve been waiting for Pillars of Eternity II: Complete Edition…

Yellow & Yangtze is the semi-sequel to Tigris and Euphrates, with both games featuring a similar design from the now legendary Dr. Reiner Knizia. This later version moves the theme from Mesopotamia to China and publisher Grail Games…

Even though it’s a genre that I enjoy, there’s no denying that the post-apocalypse concept is becoming a bit tired across both board and videogames alike. Zombies, mutants, aliens — whatever the threat is, we’ve seen it all before. But…

With rumours about that Left4Dead 3 will soon be officially announced, players who have clung to their eleven-year-old copy of the second game in that series may soon have something to cheer about. For those of us that have moved on,…

If you look back at our Kanagawa review, you’ll see that I fell in love with its soothing, beautiful artwork and the undemanding nature of the gameplay. In Yokai, the first and only expansion for Kanagawa to date, players balance risk and…

With hundreds of beautifully illustrated cards and a thought-provoking theme, Museum is a recently fulfilled Kickstarter that focuses — as the name might suggest — on complex set collection. In Museum, two to four players operate as the…

The expectations placed on some board game designers are, simply put, too high. One designer who finds himself in the (both enviable and dubious) position of being considered among the very best of all time is Jamey Stegmaier, the…

Reavers of Midgard is the sequel to Champions of Midgard, a surprise hit from 2015 that is fun in its own right, but which really requires both of its add-on packs to really shine. Reavers aims to provide a heavier, more complete…