That's very kind of you to say, thank you!
07.03.2026 00:05
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That's very kind of you to say, thank you!
Yeah, I get it. In theory, I'd be happy to write two pieces for certain games, a pre-purchase buyer's guide and after-purchase discussion piece. The reality is that I don't have the time. Probably what happens, then, is that I write some mish-mash that serves neither purpose well.
If you didn't know that my reviews have near-universal alt-texts, you'd be missing out on self-deprecating tidbits like this one.
That's where I can hide the weird stuff!
Right. I sometimes get dinged for not describing the game in enough depth. I've realized it's because I'm not strictly speaking to describe the game to those who haven't played it, but to (attempt) a connection between what the game does on the table and what it does above it.
That's the *goal*, mind you. I have no idea whether it succeeds or fails on any given day.
Honestly, I'm pretty anti-bucket these days. There's some distinction between review and critique, but it's often overblown. I'm just trying to write the sort of thing I like to read, which can be useful as a commercial guide, but has value as a cultural examination as well.
I tend to have more use of reviews after the fact, but that's also the sort of thing I try to write, so maybe that isn't surprising. Consumer guidance? I couldn't care less. Deeper appreciation? That's my jam!
Me too! I rated The Gods Will Have Blood 10/10 on BGG, which threw some people off. Clearly I don't think very hard about my scores, but 10/10 mostly means it did what it wanted to do, did it perfectly, and it worked for me.
Thanks for reading, Shreesh!
Penitent by @danbullock.bsky.social is full of difficult questions and few answers, tackling the prison reforms of the early 19th century and their consequences. In many ways it's a troublesome game, but those same details make it a worthwhile dissection. My review: spacebiff.com/2026/03/05/p...
The Vibe is a party game about the strange way we interpret and categorize images. You know, like Dixit or Mysterium. Only this time, the images are public-domain paintings from centuries past. My review: spacebiff.com/2026/03/04/t...
Might go in for Annulet anyway. @danthurot.bsky.social approves and there's still plenty of art to enjoy plus real stones and an option for metal coins :) spacebiff.com/2026/03/03/a...
Everybody's talking about the second printing of The Old King's Crown, and rightly so. But I'm more interested in Annulet, the in-universe card game accompanying the campaign. How is it? Does it evoke actual tavern and camp games? Come find out! spacebiff.com/2026/03/03/a...
As someone who plays lots of prototypes, both beautiful and ugly, I agree that there's a lot to be said for both approaches! But I'm under no illusions that it's more effective marketing — and, let's be honest, better entrapment for my 12yo — to send a gorgeous prototype.
LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOO
Super lovely review from Dan. Thank you so much for the kind words, and I can not wait to deliver an even more incredible final product! ❤️💛💙
me too
Hey hey, eyes on the road!
Re;MATCH is a forthcoming marble-matching fighting game by @brotherminggames.bsky.social, elevated by sharp fighter design and some really great match-making. My preview: spacebiff.com/2026/03/02/r...
Yeah, that's one reason I've been resistant to the whole discussion to begin with. I dunno. Just trying a solution. We'll see if it works.
Those stickers are such an outstanding ethical quagmire... because in at least some instances you *pay the reviewer or prize board for them*. Talk about wonky incentives.
But that's a tomorrow problem, I guess. For now, trying to be up-front that some of these aren't "proper reviews" because you can't go out and buy the game is as good as I can figure to do.
Every so often, some reader will angrily proclaim that I'm now untrustworthy because I do paid previews. Only... I don't. I don't accept money for any service on Space-Biff. For me, a preview is a review of a game that isn't widely available yet.
The problem, as I see it, is that I don't really distinguish between a review and a preview, editorially speaking. They're both subject to critique.
the board game Lodge with Wee Aquinas shouting "preview!"
the board game Stellar Ventures with Wee Aquinas shouting "preview!"
the board game Gold Country with Wee Aquinas shouting "preview!"
the board game Almighty with Wee Aquinas shouting "preview!"
I enjoy helping projects become reality, so I've always written previews. But as prototypes become prettier, it's become harder to discern between finished titles and those still in development. Today I finally decided to just slap a big PREVIEW sticker on the appropriate articles.
Annulet is interesting; I don't really buy it as an in-universe game; the scoring is persnickety, sometimes to the game's detriment. But maybe everybody in TOKC is a hobbyist gamer!
It's the original with some changes! Most are minor, many are thematic, and a few are pretty significant. I'll have a lot to say at some point.
It's cool, but maybe a little flowcharty. Seems like certain sequences will always dominate.
More or less. The dissidents are an interesting addition that might even be an improvement, although the scoring distinctions are a little obnoxious. I wouldn't have minded them adding two cards to allow for the original team rules.
I like it on the whole. 1e is one of my favorite games ever designed; the places where Dark Providence evokes that, I'm happy. And that's most places! But the generic Lovecraft setting versus the anti-monarchical 1e is a bit of a letdown.