Due to my current retail partner closing, I saw an opportunity to make a change. I love having a partner to work with to make sure I always have games to review, and somewhere to send people when they want games. I'm delighted to say that I'm teaming up with Roll The Dice. rollthedicecornwall.com

I've been rubbish at engaging with the people who read my reviews, so this year I'm putting some more effort into it. I've been posting to various social media channels regularly, and will be using my newsletter more too. It's so hard finding the right outlet punchboard.beehiiv.com/p/new-year-f...

It's awesome to have the new season of Overwatch and the new heroes, but if this evening is anything to go by, it's going to be weeks of people learning the new characters in competitive instead of quickplay, where they should do it :(

Very fond of this Mr Hyde by Grickle, look at that lovely Mr Hyde face

Played some Knitting Circle from @alderaceg.bsky.social & @flatoutgames.bsky.social tonight. It's a game in the same range as Calico, set collection, contract fulfilment with a rondel! Oh, how I love a rondel.

It's time again to share the Gaming Rules! plans for the week. Once again Paul has a bumper week planned for us over on the Gaming Rules! YouTube channel. Which of these are you most looking forward to? Watch live or later: www.youtube.com/@GamingRules... -Krissie

I've made some changes to the site and post structure lately, and decided to add a 'pros & cons' block to reviews. I don't want to ever assign scores to reviews, there's no point, but this has been good. It forces me to identify criticisms in games I might let slip. It keeps me honest and I like it.

First steps with the new Fighting Fantasy Quest: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain. Dungeon crawling in the FF world is a treat, and it's easy enough that anyone can learn. This is going to be a hit with anyone who grew up with these books, even if they're new to board games.

Prototypes arrived!!!

We have an early backer discount for our Kickstarter for "Briscola Chiamata"! (until early Saturday morning Japanese time). #kickstarter #amuristudio #earlybacker #crowdfunding #briscola #briscolachiamata #tokyo #japan #cardgames #crowdfundinggames #boardgames

Japanese learning continues apace! I have doubts that my tutor actually said 'woot woot' after today's lesson, but I'm taking the win either way.

I just backed Briscola Chiamata on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/adr...

You remember that game with the massive building on the table? That slasher film in game form? Terrorscape? Yeah, well, it's back and just finished another massive campaign. I've been playing it thanks to Ice Makes, and you can read all about it here - punchboard.co.uk/terrorscape-...

I grew up with the Fighting Fantasy series of books, and have especially fond memories of The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, so I can't wait to see how this plays.

I just backed JISOGI: ANIME STUDIO TYCOON Reprint on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/esp...

I had another online Japanese lesson today, and I'm in love with learning something new again. I've been learning by myself for a while, but practising conversation and learning grammar with an honest-to-goodness Japanese person (and tutor!) is amazing. It's humbling, mentally exhausting, and great.

While it's all fresh in my head, here are my thoughts from the weekend's Full Board Gaming. Shout outs to my creator friends from this neck of the woods, including @gamingrules.bsky.social and others like @amethystisis08.bsky.social who made the weekend what it was. punchboard.co.uk/full-board-g...

Final day of the convention today, but I still got a game of Railway Boom in, and Terminus too. Good times. Play conventions are soul nourishing.

The criminally overlooked Doggerland. Stone Age, but all grown up and a LOT more happening

Starting the day right. Sunshine and Eternal Decks

A great first day of Full Board Gaming at Torquay. As well as catching up with friends I played: Schadenfreude, 1.A.M. Jailbreak, Railway Boom, Decko, Idle Hands, 私だけの晴天, Lunar Trick, Wiggle Roulette. Good times, and more to come tomorrow.

I'm off to a local three-day convention tomorrow, so obviously I've massively overpacked. A nice, eclectic mix, which will probably still change before the morning. First convention of the year, I'm very excited!

Continuing with my attempt to learn Japanese 'properly' this year. I'm four lessons in using Preply and have another eight booked for the coming few weeks. I'm determined to be able to hold a conversation when I go there next year 😅

Point Salad and Point City were both great tableau-building games from @flatoutgames.bsky.social & @alderaceg.bsky.social . Point Galaxy is here now, and it carries to torch on, and into outer space! Read my review, right now. Go on. punchboard.co.uk/point-galaxy... #Boardgames #BoardGameSky

I already loved what Zilla Blitz does on his channel, but this just cements it. Well said, on all aspects.

Why is the word 'different' so hard for me? How do you follow it? 'different to', 'different from', 'different than'. For me, 'different from' is the natural option, but even then it usually doesn't feel right.

In for a penny, in for a pound... After not booting into Windows 11 for more than a month, I bit the bullet and broke free of the MS service - sorry 'operating system' - and am all in on Linux it seems. I've tinkered over the years, but it's finally at the stage I can do everything I want to. #linux

It might still be winter, but spring is on the way, and if you want some more colour when May rolls around, you could do a lot worse than checking out Roller Disco from @huffnomore.bsky.social when the campaign launches. I've written a full preview here - punchboard.co.uk/roller-disco... #boardgames

Some bleddy light show over Cornwall

I've had a couple of 1:1 Japanese lessons this new year. I feel simultaneously excited, encouraged, and stupid. My brain's plasticity is as turgid as it's ever been and I find it mentally exhausting, but I really, really enjoy it. Yet another interest to fund 😅

Abolish ICE. A little journal comic from South Minneapolis. #iceoutmpls #iceoutcomics #iceoutofmpls

One of the big surprises for me last year was the announcement of the Ark Nova spinoff, Sanctuary from @feuerlandspiele.bsky.social & @capstone-games.com . While it borrows heavily from its parent, it's distinct enough to earn a place in your collection punchboard.co.uk/sanctuary-re...

One of the last big releases of last year from Board & Dice was Tianxia, the game set in warring China defending the warring Seven Kingdoms from nomads. There's a lot going on, and I've taken my time to write a review now I understand it - punchboard.co.uk/tianxia-revi...

My son, who doesn't really like board games, has stunned me. Not only did he choose a game from my shelves, but we played it. Well, we played half, and will finish it tomorrow. And fair play to him, he didn't just jump in with Ticket To Ride or something, we played Tekhenu 😍

I spent the Christmas break shouting at imaginary horses. Ready Set Bet from @alderaceg.bsky.social is a few years old now, but if you've not had a chance to play it, you owe it to yourself to give it a go. Betting madness of the best kind - punchboard.co.uk/ready-set-be...

We're only 4 days into the year and it's already one of the highlights. AGDQ 2026 is live!!! 24/7 speed running for a week for charity. Do yourself a favour and check it out. Inclusive, wholesome and wonderful ♥️

Happy new year, and now we can move on to two of my highlights for the year. The new year's day concert from Vienna in the morning, and in a week or so AGDQ 2026!

Did some bee things in @alderaceg.bsky.social and @flatoutgames.bsky.social newest, Propolis. Has the familiar Molly, Robert and Shawn DNA but with some worker placement and adorable beeples.

My first Uketsu book and I read it in a day. Captures the feel of a Honkaku novel. I love the way things like floor plans and fourth wall breaking are given so much attention in these books, it really sets them apart from Western whodunits.

I saw Jimmy Page and Robert Plant at the Spar shop in Helston, Cornwall in the 90s.

I love these days of doing nothing in particular after Christmas. I have no plans, so I took a few minutes to write up a few thoughts from the year. If you're sick of doomscrolling and want something to read for a few minutes, head on over and have a look - punchboard.co.uk/a-year-of-pl...

I had an evening of games at a friend's place last night. Lots of games played but one of the highlights was Roller Disco from @huffnomore.bsky.social . A shedding game with a really neat twist. We immediately played two more games straight after. Keep an eye on this one.

My favourite book genre is a locked room mystery. I was fanboying hard when they referenced John Dickson Carr in the new Knives Out film. So I picked this book up as a festive treat to me. The Murder at World's End by @mossmontmomery.bsky.social . Halfway through and loving it, locked rooms rule.

Inspired by @gameminimalist.bsky.social mentioning what drew him into hobby games, I'd love to hear your stories of what drew you into the hobby. What was your turning point? Do you remember the thing that tipped you over the edge and down, down, down into the rabbit hole? Tell me about it.

Merry Christmas to me!

Opinion time! In before the rest of the world is sick of end-of-year top lists, here are my top few games for 2025. Read it, or don't, you're a grown-up now and can make your own decisions. punchboard.co.uk/game-of-the-...

Catching up on some games from the last year or so, and today was turn of Stamp Swap from @stonemaiergames.com .'I cut, you choose' mixed with set collection and tile placement. All kinds of friendly interaction punchboard.co.uk/stamp-swap-r...

My Christmas bottle of whisky from last year has just poured its last. Good job I'm heading down to the shop again on wednesday for this year's! This was delicious by the way.

I was lucky enough to get a copy of Railway Boom for me from Essen. I love it, and introduce it to anyone and everyone I can. I wrote a few words about what makes it so special for me, which you can read here - punchboard.co.uk/railway-boom... @okazubrand.bsky.social @ianotoole.bsky.social

There was a post on the Board Game Reviewers & Media Facebook group about a big channel taking a stance on not covering games with generative AI art. Most replying said 'Hey, good on them, that's a great stance to have", and I have the same stance. Some of the replies though... 🧵