[Ryan] As my eldest son gets older, I am reaching the end of my “kids board game wishlist,” with many of the final entries really walking a fine line between “kids game” and just a really good family-weight game. Chronicles of Avel is a perfect example of this, a cooperative fantasy game that clearly targets a young audience, but is engaging enough that you could treat it as a more casual cooperative experience with a group of adults and still have a great time. I’m really impressed by this one — just a really fun package with an exciting game arc that captures that “are we going to be able to pull it off?” sentiment that is so great in team games.

[Daniel] It had been a while since my last play of Foundations of Metropolis, and this session genuinely elevated my opinion of it. For the first time, I felt like I was starting to uncover some of the deeper strategy the game has to offer. On the surface, it's delightfully simple, easy to teach and quick to learn, but the overbuilding mechanic opens up a surprising number of clever moves that keep decisions feeling fresh every time. We had an absolute blast (or at least I did, as I ran away with the win)!

[Ryan] The flip-and-write genre is very saturated, but it is still a style of game I enjoy, and I keep an eye out for entries that rise above the crowd. Next Station London feels like one that earns its place among the best of lighter flip-and-write games that are quick and easy to teach. It is fun to expand your subway lines around the map, taking risks with how closely you entwine them. The game has just enough variability in objectives and the order of the card draw to remain engaging on repeated plays despite the static map.

[Daniel] Planet Unknown hit the table again recently, and it reminded me exactly why it's my favorite polyomino game. It brings together so many things I enjoy — simultaneous play that keeps everyone engaged, a satisfying tile-placement puzzle, and upgrade tracks that tick upward every single turn. The game feels like it flies by as you are engaged on every single turn. Throw in the asymmetric player mats and distinct upgrade paths, and you've got a game that feels endlessly replayable. A recent addition to my collection, and yet, already a firm favorite.

[Ryan] If you are a fan of quirky and unique experiences, then boy do I have the game for you! Dropolter has you holding an assortment of trinkets and then flipping a card that indicates which objects the players must race to drop without using their other hand. Once you drop the specified — and only the specified — objects, you win a point if you’re the first to grab the ghost token. However, points come in the form of bells that you must keep in your hand with the other trinkets, losing the points if they are ever dropped. The result is hilarious and unlike anything I’ve played… a funny game where you can still give your full competitive effort. A great new addition to my filler games, and one I look forward to introducing to more people.