Another year of gaming is over and we have stepped excitidly into 2026!
365 fantastic days now reside within the rearview mirror, displaying a year that has been such a highlight for me since getting so deep into the hobby.
As always, at this time of year, I’ve put together a little post that records the gems that have occured during 2025. As with the monthly blog posts, Kickstarter arrivals have now become just Arrivals as my rerliance on Crowdfunding dropped away considerably last year. I’ve also changed the format somewhat to briten things up.
So lets dive in.
JANUARY
BEST NEW ARRIVAL
This one was special because it’s probably the only Crowdfunding project I’ve kept from my wife.
We both love the game so much, and after missing the first campaign, I was determined for it’s arrival to be a nice surprise for her. And it was.
The game is a firm favourite and the Deluxe version of it takes the experience to another level.
BEST NEW GAME PLAYED
My first Chip Theory game was something that I could not wait to get stuck into. mere hours after the unboxing, it was ready to go, and we’ve played it several times since throughout the year.
It’s easily one of the gems in our collection now. Absolutely epic.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
A year ago the highlight for January was our wedding. So, 12 months later it’s got to be our first anniversary.
We spent a couple of days back at the hotel where our ceremony took place. But this time, it was just the two of us. And yes, we played many, many games.
FEBRUARY
BEST NEW ARRIVAL
I passed on the first crowdfunding campaign for FINAL GIRL, and only got into it as Series 2 was hitting retail.
The game accelerated my dive into Solo gaming, and I was ready, Day 1, for when Series 3 popped up on Kickstarter.
It was nice to finally have a Series box set, with all it’s bells and whistles.
BEST NEW GAME PLAYED
Most of the new games we played this month were not off our own Shelf and instead came from meeting up with friends at an event.
Moreover, most of the new games were small box card games, and TRIO came away as the one I had most fun with.
We’ve played it a couple more times in the last few months and it remains a highlight.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
It was definitely BB40Con. This was a meetup what was basically a MollyCon in all but name.
We got together for two birthday’s and enjoyed some great games at the table. It was so much fun that these were the only two photos I took!
MARCH
BEST NEW ARRIVAL
This arrival was celebrated, not because of the game itself, but because I genuinely didn’t think it would ever arrive.
Much delayed (though not as much as the following campaign from WWG!) it ended up being better than expected, but still with it’s own perculiar issues.
The resetable campaign swung wildly, with enough highlights to enjoy it, but the unlocks faded fast, and the ending was a damp squib.
BEST NEW GAME PLAYED
Another game that was mared with Crowdfunding delays, the issues behind it’s late arrival saw it shelfed and forgotten about.
But eventually we decided to see how bad it was, and . . . it ended up being an interesting and enjoyable Worker Placement game with it’s own unique twist. The production is also pretty impressive.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
It had been a couple of years since I’d last sat in the GM seat.
When our D&D campaign came to an end, I asked the group if I could sit behind the screen for a while. Oh, and how about we learn a new system.
LAND OF EEM is a fun hex crawl set in a twisted and amusing world. And it’s a lot of fun.
APRIL
BEST NEW ARRIVAL
We played this on a visit to friends and I was surprised by how simple and effective the game was. It wasn’t what I’d expect upon first casting eyes upon it.
It impressed me so much that it wasn’t long (the very next morning) that I popped online and ordered our own copy.
We’ve played mostly 2-player since. I enjoy the lower player count on the Ireland map, while 3 and 4 player, works better on Scotland.
BEST NEW GAME PLAYED
Another new game taught to us by the same friends as above, this was a ‘Hot’ game that I was eager to try.
And it’s a little bit epic with it’s table presence and amount of available actions. It was a lot for my brain, enough so that I probably wouldn’t own the game. But I’d definitely play again.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
As we headed into Q2 of 2025, we finally began work on giving ourselves a space just for gaming.
House extensions were too expensive. We’d almost given up hope until we realised we could just convert the garage.
The work itself was typical building works (delays, lack of communication, mistakes), but now that it’s done, it’s actually improved our gaming, with a lot more friends visiting us for games days.
MAY
BEST NEW ARRIVAL
This is a game that I always had in the back of my mind as something we would enjoy, but I couldn’t say why. It was a Pfister, similar to GREAT WESTERN TRAIL (one of our favourites), and the art style looked quiet interesting.
I’d not pulled the trigger for a while, but then I saw it pop up on a couple of different IG feeds in a short amount of time and it grabbed my attention once more.
A bad week saw me seek a pick me up, and before I could blink, it was in a digital basket, paid for, and on it’s way.
BEST NEW GAME PLAYED
And my god, did it turn out to be a fantastic purchase.
We can be impressed by many games, but only a few grab us so vigerously that we play them repeatadly in a short amount of time after they arrive.
Three plays in four days. And, months later, it doesn’t feel stale. One of our new favourites.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
What else could it be at this time of the year.
We’d not been able to make it for a few years, only able to look on via other IG profiles with jealous eyes.
But we decided we were missing it enough that we had to jump back in. And it was amazing. Our favourite visit yet. Each day was perfect. We were welcomed by old friends and new. And I managed to grab a few pics with some content creaters that I admire.
Oh, and I brought the odd one or two games too.
JUNE
BEST NEW ARRIVAL
It’s always a good month when a new release from Garphill Games turns up.
I remember, once, promising myself that I’d only purchase the North Sea games. Then I expanded that to just the Medieval Trilogies.
But, after I grabbed LEGACY OF YU, I somehow dritfed into the Ancient Civilisatrion series and haven’t looked back.
This one is resource management on a massive scale. Clever and fun to play.
BEST NEW GAME PLAYED
We were lucky enough to squeeze in a demo slot at UKGE 2025 that ended with us picking up a fresh copy there and then.
Away from the crowds and cramped playing table of our first experience, we got stuck into our own copy and it was even more fun than that first play
A KINGDOMINO style draft coupled with your street cards reaching out far and wide to the left and right, this is easy to teach and adorable to look at.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
Delays meant that the garage conversion took a little (lot) longer than “three weeks” and so it wasn’t until the end of June that I began moving our entire collection from the upstairs spare room down to the new games room.
You don’t realise how big your collection is until you have to single handedly move it downstairs and up towards the far end of the garden.
JULY
BEST NEW ARRIVAL
I was drawn to this one based solely on how quirky and unique it sounded.
Jamie Stegmaier had put a lot of work into VANTAGE and, with each teasing diary post he posted in the lead up to release, I was more and more eager to dive in and explore.
Every session we’ve had has been super enjoyable and we’ve barely scratched the surface.
BEST NEW GAME PLAYED
The box proudly displays “the greatest card game of all time!” which isn’t far off.
This small box card game is so easy to teach. Players grasp it’s concept very fast and it brings the laughs as soon as someone goes bust.
We’ve played it with almost every group of friends who have visited. Perfect palette clenser.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
I started my IG reviews a year after my first IG post. I’ve managed to reach 200 reviews in that time, posting once a week (usually on the same day).
I decided to use the milestone as an excuse to change things up, as I began to find myself restricted by the IG word count limit. From review 201 onwards, all reviews moved to my website so that I could write a lot more about the games I enjoy.
AUGUST
BEST NEW ARRIVAL
Another games day with friends, another purchase made the next morning.
This one looked like it would make me freeze in terror with the amount of action spaces, mechanics, and components.
But the teach was smooth, the gameplay impressive, and I was thinking about it the next day, eager to play again.
BEST NEW GAME PLAYED
Okay, there appears to be a theme here now. We visit friends, play a new game, and then end up buying it.
The following morning and a copy of GALILEO GALILEI was on it’s way. Simpler to set up than MEN-NEFER, this astrology themed games has managed more table time than it’s Egyptian cousin and also comes with a curse.
We’ve since taught it to someone who also ordered a copy the next day. The curse has been passed on.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
Expanding the website to include reviews was fun, but I’d been eager for years now to get back to my YouTube channel.
Gone were the plain and boring unboxing videos. Now I’ve gained just enough confidence to appear on camera and talk about all things board games.
From monthly look backs and an ongoing personal history series to highlights of gaming events. I’m finally where I wanted to be four years ago.
SEPTEMBER
BEST NEW ARRIVAL
A visit to a Waterstones saw us strike up a conversation with a random person who suggested ART SOCIETY.
We couldn’t settle on any other games and so decied to take the plunge. And it turned out to be a fabulous game. Simple drafting and tile placement.
BEST NEW GAME PLAYED
A friend of ours messaged with two requests. Could she see the new games room. And would I learn GALACTIC CRUISE and teach her the copy she’d just purchased.
The evening ended up being quite epic. Not just because of the game, but how long it took to teach and play. By 11pm I wondered how it would end, and at 1am, I was blown away by the game that everyone was rightly talking about.
Colour me very impressed (and tired).
HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
To celebrate our week off for gaming this month (an annual tradition) we decided to host a mini ‘Con’ when our friends came over on the Saturday.
I took things further by designing visitor bagdges and placed signage all over the house (including a toilets sign).
OCTOBER
BEST NEW ARRIVAL
I’ve been consitant with ButtonShy crowdfunding this year, with Shallow Regrets being my fourth arrival.
A smaller version of DEEP REGRETS, it comes with the same great artwork, and the same theme.
Pick a pile of cards, and decide if you want to keep the top fish. Cards have powers. Most points wins.
BEST NEW GAME PLAYED
Five and a half years after it’s arrival, I finally managed to get some friends together to learn and play this behmoth of a game.
I’d been wanting to play this one since I got into the hobby in 2018. It’s been a long (and expensive) journey, but the first experience was completely worth it.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
To celebrate the spooky month, I decided to work though all 16 FINAL GIRL features I currently own, playing one every other day throughout the month, with the final play being on Halloween.
My win rate was poor, but I enjoyed every agonising death.
NOVEMBER
BEST NEW ARRIVAL
Upon first catching a glimpse of this Devir release I was hooked. I watched as gamers flocked to Essen where it was released.
And then I sat back and waited for my PreOrder to arrive. It was a long wait, but once we got our first few plays done, it was absolutely worth the wait.
BEST NEW GAME PLAYED
On a games day visit we were introduced to this gem of a Trick Taking game. I messaged the designer and was lucky enough to be sent a prerelease copy so that I could play it more as I (im)patiently wait for it’s proper release next year.
It’s basic Trick Taking but with a dexterity twist as your cards must be thrown onto the pile instead of placed, meaning that some rounds will see you cards not count towards the Trick if your aim was off.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
With friends in tow, we jumped in once again to head along to our FLGS for their birthday evening celebration.
High player count games, food, and some gifted games all combined to give us a fun evening at Dice Portsmouth.
DECEMBER
BEST NEW ARRIVAL
I’ve been on the fence with EARTHBORNE RANGERS for some time now. It looks like something I’d really like to get stuck into, but we’re making our way through a lot of ARKHAM HORROR LCG content at the moment, so I wasn’t sure I could justify adding something so similar in mechanics to the collection.
But, like a lot of board gamers in the hobby, most days I’m just one downer away from adding a new game in a whim. And so it was that EARTHBORNE RANGERS finally arrived on my doorstep.
BEST NEW GAME PLAYED
One of my self imposed challenges is scratching off all the games on my BGG Top 100 poster (2021 edition).
Some games I still need to do are expensive. So when ULTIMATE RAILROADS showed up in a Black Friday sale at more than 50% off, I knew I would be able to get another one done.
A very different Worker Placement than we’re used to, full of tough choices, and very little in the way of being an actual ‘train game’, it was an interesting puzzle that I really want to dive back into.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
I’ve spent the last six months building up my confidence and my library of videos over on YouTube.
I started with monthly recaps and a ‘History of my plays’ series to find my feet, but in December, as well as posting my Top 50 list via the medium of video, I took the plunge and covered an actual game.
That game was FLIP 7, and the highlight was getting a comment from the games designer. Very happy indeed.
And that’s it. My gaming highlights from 2025. It’s been another spectacular year in the hobby and I’m already excited for all that is coming next.
But before I go, I can’t help but feel like we need some end of year stats here. So lets see how 2025 looks with some special numbers.
2025 IN STATS
- Total number of plays – 830 (across 310 different games)
- H-Index – 11
- Total Time played – 579 hours
- Most Played Game – ARKHAM HORROR LCG (36 plays)
- Number of Wins – 335
- Month with most plays – September (115 plays across 68 different games)
- Number of new games to me –113
- Number of different people played with – 62 people
Always Play Blue 