Tabletop Gaming

Hello gamers! Be honest, did thosewell-wrapped packages under the tree contain everything you wanted? We can only hope there’s a few new items on your gaming shelves now the sleigh bells are a faint tinkle in the distance, even if that means you’ll probably need to free up some space to make room for them. I tempered my own FOMO by cheekily splashing out for Blood Bowl Third Season and wrapping it in an act of self-care. Speaking of FOMO, the team has been out and about at some fantastic events of late and we share our experiences in case you couldn’t make it. We saw the best new releases Essen Spiele had to offer (see page 12), hung out with gaming legends in Italy (Lucca Comics & Games, page…

THE HOBBIT: THERE AND BACK AGAIN Designer: Reiner Knizia Publisher: Office Dog Artist: Lorenzo Colangeli This is a roll-and-write game created by probably the most prolific designer in gaming, set in Tolkien’s fantasy world, starring Hobbits (and all sorts of other creatures as you progress). It’s a lovely book of missions that starts simple and takes you through this epic journey, adding new things each time. The artwork is also great. There’s a touch of nostalgia to it, which makes it feel familiar right away. The dice rolling is fun and deciding how to use the dice to best achieve victory is excellent, as you’ve always got options and different ways to progress. It feels like a proper adventure book, as you open each page and the day’s mission is…

The world of indie roleplaying games (RPGs) is ever expanding. When I first started this column, it looked forward to upcoming RPGs with an occasional reference to the past. As with all things, change is inevitable. The column became more themed, referencing games past, present and future. Now we come full circle, as this newly expanded column highlights exciting upcoming projects. These may be crowdfunding hits launching or ending after this column comes out, or simply games that caught my eye and will be available soon. A lot of the RPGs will come from small creators, who would hugely appreciate your support. Diverse voices make the hobby sing, and I’d like to hear that choir for as long as possible. BLIGHTFALL The world of RPG crowdfunding is full of collaborations…

Despite having attended Essen Spiel annually since 2012, the con never fails to surprise, wow and generally entertain. This year was no different, with a record number of new games (more than 1,700), a record number of attendees on each of its four sold-out days (220,000 total), and its largest ever square footage (covering 77,500 m2). Nothing comes close to comparing to it in terms of scale, as well as exciting new releases. I’ll begin with a caveat. While I’m calling this a hotness list of sorts, please consider that with 50 countries represented among 948 exhibitors, many games only available in German, and more than 1,000 games to choose from, ‘subjective’ doesn’t begin to describe it. What I can promise you is that I have spoken to many gamers…

A brisk Welsh wind whipped around the rustic charm of the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells as I was welcomed out of the rain by our hosts for the weekend. Ben and Hannah, founders of the Silly Goose Board Game Club, usually run a diary of pop-up game nights across the Bristol area, but this was their first full weekend event, booking out rooms in a hotel for three days of games, food, spa and socialising with fellow tabletop enthusiasts. TICKET TO DRIVE I saw an advert for the event on social media and decided it might be worth the four-hour drive to check it out. I am so glad I did. We kicked off Friday evening with a welcome drink and icebreaker chat, getting to know the attendees who…

New experiences. We’re always looking for them, whether that’s at the gaming table or out there in the wider world. And the one that stood out like a queen in a row of pawns in 2025 was Lucca Comics & Games. Beautiful Italian walled city as a con location? Check. As-yet-unreleased games to demo? Hello Riftbound – big check. Chats with bona fide legends of the gaming world? As you’ll see from the following pages, gigantic check. If you’re wondering whether we’re already planning a return for 2026, you only need to scroll through our diary and see October 28 to November 1 locked off. Hope to see you there.…