The shortest month of the year also seems to equal less games played.
We did partake in a visit to our friends at Get Into Games HQ which boosted our numbers and meant a good amount of new games were played. Some were games I’ve been desperate to try for months, while others were a nice surprise. So there was a decent mix. And I also got to teach the latest from Dranda Games too.
So, let’s get stuck into what was new to the table this month, both from our own collection and from others.
ASSYRIA (Second Edition)
It’s safe to say that we are big fans of the games coming from Shem Phillips and Co. And considering I promised myself that I’d stick with the Medieval Trilogies and not dip my toes into the Ancient Anthology, it seems that the pull was too strong. Assyria is the fourth game I’ve grabbed from that series now (after LEGACY OF YU, EZRA & NEHIMIAH, and SKARA BRAE).
ASSYRIA is a remake of a game originally released in 2009. Shem and Sam have worked their magic to tweak some things and bring the mechanics up to date.
I really enjoyed our first play. I was worried how it would be at just 2-player (the only real change is shrinking the board down) but it was absolutely fine. We both also had different strategies and the game ended pretty close. Obvioulsy I’m eager to try it with more players, but it works just fine at two and will definitely get more plays over the coming months.
FORGE
Late last year we enjoyed an evening at our FLGS celebrating their birthday bash. Free games were handed out, and one that my wife had her eyes on was this unheard of Worker Placement that hit Kickstarter in 2023.
You are all medieval Blacksmiths trying to be the best in order to win. Across the early rounds you will all gain extra Assistants, so your worker pool grows from 3 to 5 across the first three rounds. Your Blacksmith is one of these workers and they get to do a few things more powerfully, or go to Blacksmith specific spaces.
When opening the box, I was a little worried we’d have a dud on our hands. The components look okay, though a little basic, and the backs of the boards were all white, giving them a cheap looking feel.
But it’s gameplay and mechanics that make a game and this one is pretty good. While it’s not climbing to the top of my all time favourite Worker Placement games (my favourite genre in the hobby), it works well enough to stay in the collection and be played pretty regularly.
MUTAGEN
Our Dranda Games collection had two additions at the end of 2025. LOST LUMINA was one (which we played last month) and the second was this clever but not over taxing Worker Placement game.
MUTAGEN brings a cool twist to the Worker Placement genre. Each player has four different workers. When going to an action space on the board the space gives you one action. The type of Worker you placed allows for a different action. And your Workers can end up with Mutations, allowing for even more actions.
This means that clever placement choices need to be made to maximise what you can do on a turn. I applied a Mutation to my Thug worker that allowed him to pick up an Element. But that’s also his action ability. So when I placed him on a location that allows me to gain an Element, it allowed him to pick up three on a single turn. Very powerful.
Something else I liked is that my wife and I played two very different strategies during our first game and it ended with just a 2 point difference.
20 STRONG: TANGLEWOODS RED
I’ve been looking for some more solo games for 2026, and the 20 Strong series from Chip Theory Games looked like something I’d enjoy.
While a decent number of 20 Strong games come based on other Chip Theory IP, they aren’t games that I’ve played before, so I wasn’t really pulled to them. But the fairy tale themed Tanglewood series (sub series?) appeared more my thing.
Obviously it was easy to jump in with Red because it comes with the base game. But I also liked the sound of the Slay The Spire inspired mechanics over what Gold and White have to offer.
The game is tough. I did not even make it to Grandma’s cottage on my first play. But I also hindered myself a little by forgetting things on occasion. Like my character’s power (I played Pied Piper). And the equipment I’d bought along the way constantly drifted from my mind, normally at a the moment it might have helped. But heh, it’s a first play. I’ll get better.
EMBERS
The last of the ButtonShy games that I backed last year arrived early on in January.
It’s another solo game, one that sees you fending off monsters while keeping your camp fire bruning until sunrise. The monsters will attack you and your fire, so gathering wood to fuel it is key. You control a group of adventurers, each with their own movement mechanic that sees them running and leaping around an inner circle while the monsters move and fight from the outer circle.
The art is what drew me in. The character design, the art style, and the colours all combine to draw the eye. The game play is . . . okay. I haven’t really sussed out the movement puzzle yet. This is key to success. I constantly found my heroes stuck in places, unable to move.
We’ll see if this one grows on me.
TACTA
I wasn’t too sure what to think of this the first time I laid eyes on it. A game whose table presence grows and grows, consuming all space in it’s path. Players place cards over other cards, matching shapes on a card with the ones they are covering. It looks messy, prone to knocking cards, while being a pain to score.
But I plaid for the first time on BGA, and being an app really takes care of every issue I have. The scoring is tracked. Cards are locked in place. It’s a lot easier to get to grips with.
It’s also a drawn out affair if you’re not playing in real time. I’m not sure I’d choose it often, but I wouldn’t say no if someone else suggested it.
BELLA VISTA
This was our first game during our Saturday ‘Get Into Games’ visit. It’s got some beautiful production, not just with the cardboard buildings, but the storage solution too.
You’re placing buildings of different heights, aiming for end game scoring cards, as well as individual scoring cards available on a first come, first serve basis.
But there are a few extra wrinklings up the games sleeves. First, every turn has a specific placement restriction enforced. Maybe you can only go on pink. Maybe you can only build on the lighter squares. This keeps everyone stepping on everyone elses toes.
But there is a nice little ‘Kingdomino-esque’ drafting mechanic too that sees you spend money (aka victory points) to go earlier.
I really enjoyed our play. There is a lot more going on than the pastel colours and short playtime suggest. And I’m not sure I’d play it at less than four. But it’s fun.
THE OLD KING’S CROWN
On our visit to the abode of Get Into Games, this was our main event of the day. We’d all watched videos and learnt the game. I’d been eager to try it since first laying eyes upon it’s beauty at UKGE 2025.
And what a game it was . . . for me. Yes, I won, but that’s not what mattered. I found a game that blew my mind away. I clicked with it immediately. I enjoyed the mechanisms, the abilities, the card reveals. I loved the skullduggery. The art, the components, the gameplay. It was amazing.
Now, I’m aware that this game is marmite. Like OATH, ARCS, and VANTAGE before it, people that like it don’t understand the haters, and the haters think the fans are crazy.
I’m obviously a fan (though it’s only been one quite chaotic, 4-player game). But I see that it’s not for everyone. I wouldn’t try to force it upon anyone that didn’t click with it. I know it’s not for everyone, and it requires quite the investment (money and time). But It’s not a game to try once and walk away from. To enjoy it, you need to dive deep.
I hope I get to play it again. There’s so much more I want to explore.
TALLY UP
The follow up to FLIP 7, this is even more push your luck, but with dice instead of cards.
The active player rolls dice, everyone scores or loses points based on the results, and then everyone decides if they want to stay in. If you tap out, you keep what you got. If you brave it, then the same dice are rolled again. Repeat this until two stars are rolled and it’s a bust. Those still in lose everything earned that round.
Obviously there is more to it. There are six dice to choose three from each round. Some have more stars (higher change of going bust) but wouldn’t you know it, they gift more points. Are you could pick some lower ones to stay in longer, but creep slowly towards the finish line.
There is also another dice that comes in on occasion that has big, big points.
It was a lot of fun, a real game of chicken. I think I’d definitely like to own it, though I’d say it’s not as smooth to get to the table as it’s card based predesessor. Flip 7 it still the better game. But TALLY UP! is more travel friendly and has almost zero footprint.
THE TEA GARDEN
Get Into Games has now taught us all three of Thomas Holek’s opening salvo of games. SETI was good, but a little much for me. GALILEO GALILEI went straight into my Top 50 for last year.
So what of this more relaxing Tea themed game? Well, I’ll get it over with now and say it’s another favourite.
I really like the whole card strength mechanic. Chosing how many cards to play to make your action stronger, while making sure you have enough cards to take all three (or possibly four) actions for the round.
There’s deckbuilding as you gain stronger cards. There’s area control (ish) as you build out your tea gardens. There’s orders to fullfil and a boat to sail.
It’s good, at both 4 and 2, and I’m looking forward to a lot more plays.
MOZAIK
Our final new game of the Get Into Games visit, this one has the feel of FARAWAY, CASTLE COMBO, and DIXIT all rolled into one.
The abstract picture card you play also decides turn order. You’re placing you’re pictures in a 3×3 grid, but you’re drafting word cards that are scoring based on if they are represented in the row or coloumn you place them next to.
It’s one of those games that sees your decision space shrink the closer you get to the end.
I thought it was okay, but not one I’d jump to play again.
KINFIRE DELVE
Another solo addition to the collection. I’ve seen a lot of posts and videos regarding the Kinfire universe and wasn’t sure where to jump in at first.
Chronicles look like a good campaign game, but we’ve got FROSTHAVEN and AGEMONIA to finish, so I couldn’t justify the box space being taken up on a shelf. Council appeared more up my street (Worker Placement) but I’d read about some issues with the cult stuff.
So that left the solo Delve games. I figured I’d get one, Vainglory’s Grotto, to test the waters.
And so far I’m impressed. First off, the production is outstanding. The art, the cards, they are very high quality.
The game itself sees you playing cards to reach a certain number on the four challenge cards. Hit that number and gain a reward. But if you don’t quite reach it, while your progress towards it remains, you’ll get a punishment instead.
The idea is to get through all of the Challenges (the titular ‘delve’) and face off against the boss.
I . . . did not make it all the way down. As with my first 20 STRONG play, I missed a few things on cards that might have helped me out,. But again, it’s learning. I’ll figure out how things work together.
And once I’ve beaten it, there are two more Delves to get stuck into.
ONE DECK DUNGEON: FOREST OF SHADOWS
I used to really enjoy ONE DECK DUNGEON. It was an early dive into solo gaming when I first got into the hobby. I worked through several plays during the Covid lockdown.
It was tough. I knew that going in, and the game did not hold back. But eventually I began to tire of the sometimes devestating luck, especially in the early game. And when I discovered MINI ROGUE, a similar game, well, ONE DECK DUNGEON struggled to fight for my attention.
I’d picked up the follow up game, Forest Of Shadows, a few years ago, but my growing distain for the original meant it ended up gathering dust.
In trying to clear the Shelf Of Shame, I decided to give it a go. Would the follow up, which came with a few extra mechanics bring the game back to my good books?
In short, no. Not even close. It’s just as tough and just as luck based. I’m not saying difficulty is a flaw. But when a game is over after the second turn because I rolled nothing higher than a 3, and the monsters and dungeon have 11 hit boxes combined (to my 7 starting dice) and I get poisoned right away . . . well, colour me uninterested.
So, after a single three minute play, ONE DECK DUNGEON: FOREST OF SHADOWS has earn it’s play on the cull pile, alongside it’s older brother.
Not much happening this last month. I did have a good weekend getting stuck into some inserts. I’d grabbed two more ARKHAM HORROR LCG ones from Tesseract Games. I really like their easy to build wooden inserts and I am slowly working through getting one for each of my Arkham campaign boxes.
I also put in an order with Folded Space. I grabbed their UNDERWATER cities insert. I also got the recently released COVENANT insert which really aids in storage and set up of that game. I’d say it’s a must have. And I got ORLOJ too, despite not yet owning the game (it’s on preorder).
And, as always, putting together inserts is something I find relaxing, so it was a good weekend with some quite mornings, just me, the inserts, and some pva glue. Fun, I know.
The YouTube channel continues to grow. I crossed 100 subscribers, which is cool. I’ve also gotten reviews up for TRICKY LANDING, my new favourite Trick Tacking game, and MOON COLONY BLOODBATH which is some real silly nonesense.
Always Play Blue 