The field guide
Less wondering.
More playing.
Sixteen practical guides to choosing games, understanding their decisions and making the table a welcoming place.
Less wondering.
Find your next read
Getting started · 2 min read
Choose a game for the people at your table
Start with the evening you want, then choose the box that can deliver it.
Read the guide At the table · 2 min readPlan a first game night
A comfortable room, a short teach and a clear finish do more than a crowded stack of boxes.
Read the guide At the table · 2 min readTeach a game without losing the table
Build a useful mental picture before introducing exceptions.
Read the guide Getting started · 2 min readMatch the game to the group size
A supported player count and a satisfying experience are different questions.
Read the guide Getting started · 2 min readBuild a good two-player evening
Look for satisfying interaction, a comfortable pace and a reason to play again.
Read the guide Getting started · 2 min readEnjoy cooperative games together
A shared objective works best when everyone still gets to make decisions.
Read the guide At the table · 2 min readChoose a party game people can join
The right social game makes participation easy without putting anyone on the spot.
Read the guide Getting started · 2 min readStart playing board games solo
Choose a satisfying puzzle and learn how its opponent or scoring system works.
Read the guide Understand games · 2 min readA practical guide to game mechanisms
Mechanisms describe what you do. They are a vocabulary for choosing, not a ranking of games.
Read the guide Understand games · 2 min readRead a draft, one choice at a time
Choosing one option also changes what remains available to everyone else.
Read the guide Understand games · 2 min readUnderstand engine-building games
Build actions that support future actions, while remembering that the game eventually ends.
Read the guide Understand games · 2 min readLearn worker placement
Your pieces select actions, and timing determines which opportunities remain.
Read the guide Understand games · 2 min readSee the possibilities in tile placement
A small placement can shape several future turns.
Read the guide Understand games · 2 min readUnderstand your first trick-taking game
Follow the sequence of one trick before worrying about the entire hand.
Read the guide At the table · 2 min readFind a rules answer efficiently
Locate the exact uncertainty, use the right edition and return to the game.
Read the guide At the table · 2 min readMake the table easier to use
Small adjustments can remove friction without changing the decisions people enjoy.
Read the guideNo matches. Try another game, topic or creator.