Here’s my Coalitions Quick Play, so you can see what this game feels like to play :)
Check it out here -> youtu.be/nEKyv_rrwg4
05.03.2026 22:45
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Here’s my Coalitions Quick Play, so you can see what this game feels like to play :)
Check it out here -> youtu.be/nEKyv_rrwg4
A game of the westward United States with a bunch of colorful cubes as railroad tracks.
In a rare treat, I had a chance to play a game of Westward Rails with some friends today. I haven’t played this one since 2021, and it was delightful. Lots of “but that’ll just help them!” moments.
Thanks again @amabel.bsky.social @hollandspiele.bsky.social & @domhnallh.bsky.social
#CCMF
Here’s my Dr. Science Quick Play, so you can see what this game feels like to play :)
Check it out here -> youtu.be/WFvgO1QWqoo
Primary name: Rayroads Description: Your world is dying. Soon, the last of its resources will be extracted from its husk, and it will no longer be able to support life. Now you turn your attention toward the stars. You’ll drain the life from your sun to propel your trains through the void, crack open the other planets in your system to exploit their precious minerals, and increase your company’s value to shareholders as all of you go extinct. The first new train game from Amabel Holland in six years, Rayroads is an unusual approach to the genre that extends the logic of capitalism to its nihilistic conclusion. Each round of Rayroads will see players take resources from their dying planet - making it less inhabitable - in order to take an action. You might plan a route for your space train - taking into account the orbits of planets - powered by the sun you're intentionally collapsing. You might build a moonbase to begin cracking open other planets - they're probably uninhabited, but you haven't really bothered to check. Or you'll tear open the fabric of space itself to make your travels more efficient - pity about what it does to the orbits of nearby planets. The game ends when you've collapsed your sun, destroyed your home planet, or been destroyed by your capitalist-fascist eugenics doomsday cult. Players tally their profits, subtract their debits, and apply some multipliers to arrive at their final scores. The highest score wins, but as everyone is now dead, what does it matter? Short Description: Destroy all life in the pursuit of profits
I tend to struggle with the short description but I think I nailed it this time
Here's a new First Play Review for an older game (10 years!). The Architects of the Colosseum is a fascinating one.
youtu.be/W3FIkTQSDRY
It's the final 2 days of Stellar Ventures on Kickstarter! Campaign ends tomorrow (2/17) at 10pm EST. Back now for the Kickstarter exclusive price. www.kickstarter.com/projects/tab...
Here’s my Sugarworks Quick Play, so you can see what this game feels like to play :)
Check it out here -> youtu.be/iQazMM1t3kU
I highly recommend it. The learning curve to create usable games/prototypes is pretty low, and then you can dive deep into automation if you want to. It's completely free and sign-in-less, which really lowers the barrier to entry for playtesting with others online.
I can only imagine what the past months have been like for you, and it seems terrible. Good on you for doing what you have done.
Despite a poisonous environment for board game publishers, 2025 was a fantastic year for board game releases. youtu.be/TnvI0rZGJFw
Board Game Beat is officially launched & loaded with content...with more to come as I report on Spielwarenmesse!
If you're into independent board game journalism—articles, videos, interviews, news, reviews & more—please check it out and share.
www.wericmartin.com
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A group of my friends has just launched Stellar Ventures on Kickstarter, and it's well worth checking out. I don't usually weigh in like this, but it really is great. If you like cube rails, this is definitely worth checking out :)
www.kickstarter.com/projects/tab...
@tabletapasgames.bsky.social
Here’s my Canals of Windcrest Quick Play, so you can see what this game feels like to play :)
Check it out here -> youtu.be/-t77nW7pmsk
Invest in and develop corporations to increase value in this space economic game. Join Kevin as he reviews Stellar Ventures from TableTapas Games!
www.meeplemountain.com/reviews/stel...
#BoardGames
4/5 ★
We're working hard on Board Game Beat and are grateful that even before launch, we have lots of support from advertisers and members (both free and paid).
Want a sneak peek?
It's www.wericmartin.com, passcode 9763. (The text is placeholder and the RSS isn't live, but everything else is there.)
I really enjoyed my first play of ORBIT, you can learn all about it here :)
youtu.be/WnUbZwDgdS0
I loved the original, was great to see how the 2nd edition of An Infamous Traffic is coming along.
Here’s my Bretwalda Quick Play, so you can see what this game feels like to play :)
Check it out here -> youtu.be/fYuvURtqgtw
Here’s my Galileo's Truth Quick Play, so you can see what this game feels like to play :)
Check it out here -> youtu.be/XX-lzv4YlLM
one of the first games in this video is just straight up a cutthroat competitive board game about shoveling poo. it only gets better from there
I've made some changes, and you can learn about them in today's Updates Vlog. Specifically, tutorials are going away, quick plays are here, and reviews are coming back! (sort of)
youtu.be/JvGDdwImR7I
I'd love to show you what Movers & Shakers is like to play :)
Check it out here -> youtu.be/HCjAfh0TMsM
I recently fell for an oddly brilliant dice auction game. It's called Mot Coin, and you can learn about my first experience with it here!
youtu.be/B37h2_PJuNo
I designed a card game! This is Haunted Mouse and you can join me in this tutorial to see how it plays :)
youtu.be/jeYycf5aqZc
It's time to learn Edge of the Realms while actually playing it!
Check it out here -> youtu.be/8BnYJ-GtEfA
I will miss Adam, @akramer16.bsky.social, who passed away last weekend. I don't know if I have much more to say than that, as his death is hitting me hard right now.
It's time to learn Mon Repos while actually playing it!
Check it out here -> youtu.be/JZUM0E6nBSE
Top: ghost-and-elevator games 👻
Bottom: cheese-and-mice games 🧀
I did the artwork for them!
It’s actually quite common for games with similar themes to be published around the same time.
That’s why I like to propose different illustration styles for each.
It's time to learn Garage Rock while actually playing it!
Check it out here -> youtu.be/Vx1uh18_SCk
Curious about Paragliders? Here's my Quick Play where you can learn all about it in 10 minutes :)
Check it out here -> youtu.be/wWwgN2gw1bg