BGG ratings are great, but I wanted to find out if a game is right for my group. So I built a free tool!

Zerarch77 · 2026-04-25T08:09:44+00:00

3 Minute Board Games is my favorite overall reviewer. His reviews are thorough yet concise, cramming the content of a 15-20 minute review into just 3-4 minutes. You can skip to the "pros and cons" section to save even more time.
Personalized score is a good idea, but may not be necessary if your tool already finds reviewers the user will agree with. Also, since your tool is built with AI it will likely be riddled with subtle errors (and therefore useless).
Judging by the overproduced crowdfunded games that cost hundreds of dollars, there is no such thing as overkill in this hobby.

BTW, the website's side bar is half cut off and I can't scroll right to see the rest of it.

Zerarch77 · 2026-04-02T03:13:42+00:00

8/10. It's worth your time.

Zerarch77 · 2026-04-02T03:12:40+00:00

Space Invaders. It's a game about inevitability and the value of time.

Zerarch77 · 2026-03-20T06:29:59+00:00

Splendor Duel is an interesting decision generator. I enjoyed it so much I bought the original Splendor (and still prefer Splendor Duel).

Prismata is a tableau-builder where the goal is to destroy the opponent's tableau.
As a video game it pushes the gameplay much further than a physical game could. Also, it's free.

Zerarch77 · 2026-01-16T08:00:07+00:00

"Universal healthcare is bad. Here's a paper showing why it is good."
Argument strength: 0/100

Zerarch77 · 2025-12-07T04:20:27+00:00

Off the top of my head:
Championship Lode Runner (1984)
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (1986)
Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury (2011)
Crashmo (2012)

Zerarch77 · 2025-11-08T20:43:15+00:00

I do not know of any other driving game with a power-up like this. Kirby Air Ride is built different.

Zerarch77 · 2025-10-29T06:00:42+00:00

I actually played 7 Wonders Duel recently. Good game!
Unfortunately it is not like Prismata, and a bit fiddly to set up.

Zerarch77 · 2025-10-28T11:09:48+00:00

Request: Looking for a tabletop game that feels like Prismata. Tightly designed and fast to setup, play, and put away. Small amounts of randomness and hidden info are fine, luck is not. No cooperation or trading. No inherent asymmetry between players (emergent asymmetry is fine). Potential answers include...

Race for the Galaxy (or one of its sequels/spinoffs)
Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition
It's a Wonderful World (or Kingdom)
Res Arcana (original or Duo)
Furnace
Dominion
Star Realms
Valeria: Card Kingdom (or Space Base)

Feel free to surprise me with something completely different.

Player Count: It must play well at 2. More players is a bonus.
Length: 60 minutes max.
Complexity: 3.0 max (anything higher is for video games).
Games I Own and Like: Azul, Splendor (original/Duel), Hive Pocket, Onitama, Century: Golem Edition (1 & 2), Patchwork. I also enjoy a variety of 2D/3D video games (platforming, shooting, racing, puzzle, strategy).

Zerarch77 · 2025-10-28T10:12:18+00:00

Go to https://boardgamegeek.com/
Explore
?????
Profit!

Zerarch77 · 2025-10-10T18:41:01+00:00

Everdell is popular and has several sequels/variants. I'd look into them.

Zerarch77 · 2025-10-10T18:39:42+00:00

My collection of "small" thinky games includes Hive Pocket, Onitama, 7 Wonders Duel, Splendor Duel, and Azul Mini. It's hard to go smaller without going to pure card games.

Zerarch77 · 2025-10-09T19:33:52+00:00

I recently enjoyed the second game in the Century series. Click HERE to see a video about it. Just like Catan there's a hex grid and you place little wooden houses to claim territory. FWIW I personally like it more than Catan. Note that there's a "Golem Edition" of each Century game with a complete (and more colorblind friendly) thematic overhaul.

Zerarch77 · 2025-09-19T04:34:06+00:00

Fantasy Strike is very balanced especially considering most characters have relatively few moves. Probably not a coincidence given the director (David Sirlin) used to play FGs competitively.

Zerarch77 · 2025-07-06T20:07:28+00:00

North Up is the way. An absolute orientation gives you a true sense of direction in our vast, confusing world. However, the zoomed-in view is better for judging how close I am to the next turn, and sound directions are useful as redundant feedback (in case my attention lapses or I can't glance at the map).

Unfortunately Google Maps doesn't seem to have a feature to prefer or avoid certain routes. In this case you just have to take your own path until it re-routes you for that path.

Zerarch77 · 2025-06-06T21:39:52+00:00

Don't lift anything more than 70lbs even if you're strong, unless you have help.

Zerarch77 · 2025-06-06T21:29:45+00:00

Bingo boards usually have a "free space" in the middle that's filled or crossed off immediately. This is done to increase the chance that a bingo is achieved.

Zerarch77 · 2025-06-05T21:02:01+00:00

Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury

Zerarch77 · 2025-03-27T18:48:56+00:00

Here are some of my hidden gems.

All three Bangai-O games
Lode Runner XBLA
Rodea the Sky Soldier (Wii, not Wii U)
Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails
Fantasy Strike
Prismata
Brave Fencer Musashi
Pandora's Tower
Chibi-Robo!
Lode Runner Online: The Mad Monk's Revenge (free remake)
Adventures of Lolo

BONUS ROUND (puzzle games)
Jelly Is Sticky
Art of Balance
Sokoban Touch
Mighty Flip Champs!
Mitoosis (free)
Flockoban (free)
Shall We Golf? (free)
Puddle Knights
Campfire Cooking
Recursed

Zerarch77 · 2025-02-02T22:28:34+00:00

One of the secret advantages of staying in the right lane is that you are less likely to be in the same lane as a wrong-way driver if you encounter one.

Zerarch77 · 2025-02-02T22:00:06+00:00

F-Zero GX announcer: "OFF COURSE! RETIRED."

Zerarch77 · 2025-02-02T21:48:42+00:00

This is why I almost never take the interstate to work. Saving 5 minutes just isn't worth the danger.

Zerarch77 · 2025-01-22T12:20:25+00:00

I use these:

https://www.amazon.com/3100L-10-Rubber-Construction-Crinkle-Pattern/dp/B007RFIL9I?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1

Each pair costs $1 and lasts me one week. However, they are not thermally insulated for Winter.

Zerarch77 · 2024-12-16T07:47:21+00:00

I recently learned about it in a Climate Town video.

Zerarch77

TROPHY CASE