Friday, July 4, 2025

The Veteran's Game Log

I've been into board games for a long time now, and at 52, it takes a lot to impress me these days. Luckily, I still experience instances where a few new games catch my eye straight away, but most of the time, I'm not bothered. Perhaps understandably, I tend to get the most enjoyment from older games that have, by now, lost their "new" appeal. Maybe that's just it. While I'm drawn to the latest releases out of sheer curiosity, it often feels like these new titles are trying too hard to reinvent the wheel. Last year, I was really keen on buying Flamecraft. The artwork is lovely, and it promised a worker placement style, which I normally enjoy. I never actually bought it, and it turns out, that was for the best. This year, I finally got to play Flamecraft, and to be honest, the mechanics felt like a chore. I wasn't playing, I was working, which is a red flag for me. I won't go into whether it's a good game or not – perhaps it was the atmosphere or just me – but when it finished, I was just glad the job was over.



Another game from last year that truly impressed me with its elegant simplicity is Art Society. I played it once at my board game club, loved it, bought a copy, played it with my mates, and loved it even more! It's that kind of game. The turn structure is easy to grasp, your decisions feel logical and significant, and it does not feel difficult to get through a turn. I also played a beautiful and enjoyable title from the design genius himself, Reiner Knizia. Yes, I might be a bit biased when it comes to him, but I do enjoy many of his creations. The game is called Rebirth. It looks fantastic on the table, and once again, you quickly understand how to play a turn. It is indeed intuitive and a real joy to play. Then, when the last tile falls neatly onto the game’s gorgeous board, the end state becomes this earth-toned spread of tokens and pieces spread across a map of Scotland (or Ireland, depending on which side you play), and you feel like you've achieved something. The rules are straightforward, and the strategies you employ are only as complex as you make them. If you're wondering if I got my own copy, well, I already have, and it's signed by Reiner Knizia, so I'm chuffed with that one!


On the flip side, I also got to play Azul. Having played it a while ago, I realised it's both simple and complex. I believe an explanation here is due. Personally, I picked up the rules straight away, but that's not the case for everyone. In fact, explaining the rules to casual players can be a bit tricky, and if you're playing against a really competitive opponent, things can get “interesting””, if you catch my drift. Still, at its heart, this game is a simple, elegant, and visually appealing little thing. The tiles are colourful, and the artwork is vibrant, though I still think a proper board or a Neoprene mat instead of the round factory tiles would have been better. By today’s standards, it is one of the older games now, having been first released in 2017, but it still ticks many of my boxes when it comes to board games.


Another such older game that hit my gaming table this year was Villainous, the original standard edition. Focusing solely on the game’s mechanisms, It can be a truly cringeworthy, nasty experience to play. Though, to be fair, it largely depends on how nasty the players get while playing. The game's artwork and design on the other hand are faultless; it's just the strong "take that" element that really comes out when hyper-competitive players join in. In my most recent game, I played as Captain Hook and was well on my way to winning. However, a particularly villainous opponent (pun intended) decided to focus on making me skip a turn, which cost me the game. I mean, what do you expect from a game called "Villainous", right? It does kind of invite villainy, after all. The irony, or perhaps it was a karmic return, was that the chap who did this to me couldn't stop another player from winning, and I felt a bit vindicated by that. Still, this is a game I don't see myself playing again; I just hate the nastiness it seems to encourage.



Recently, I also saw another big worker placement game called Galactic Cruise in action. Again, this was something else, and definitely a bit heavy. Experienced board gamers would call it "crunchy", I just call it "too much". Mind you, the production quality is incredibly good, and the artwork is fine, though there's way too much iconography for my liking. I noticed the icons kept getting in the way of turns, and some players ended up making a few mistakes because of them. There's also, for me at least, a complexity issue with this game. The idea is you're organising custom galactic cruises for wealthy customers. To do this, you need to get rocket ships ready with the right modules to meet your patrons' needs. This means taking actions to get the rockets and modules, handling advertising to attract more customers, and strategically opening up actions on the main board that fit your goals. Each time a player successfully launches a rocket, the game moves one step closer towards one of three AGM events (yes, Annual General Meetings!), which gives you points towards the final score. Like most worker placement games, this one offers scoring as you go, as well as a final tally. The decisions you can make each turn are numerous, meaning if you're prone to "analysis paralysis", you won't be popular with the other players at the table! However, I think that if you were to give it time, perhaps with the right group of understanding players, it could be a very entertaining experience. But if you do play it, plan for a whole afternoon, as it can take a while to play.


I reckon the games I've played or seen this year have given me some good ideas for my next gaming adventures. I ordered three games back in late April, and they've all turned up now. First up is Clank!. It's a highly rated deck building game with a Dungeons & Dragons theme. I've had a few goes already, and it's quite interesting. You play as rogues sneaking into a dungeon to steal treasure from a dragon. Naturally, the dragon isn't too pleased about being robbed, and any noise you make will stir its anger. It's good fun, though, as you push your luck to grab the most valuable treasures and get back to the surface before your luck runs out. The second game to arrive was an expansion for Cascadia. I absolutely love playing this with my son, so getting the expansion was a no brainer. It adds some interesting twists to the original game, making the terrain types more important for the final scoring. Plus, the "Landmarks" expansion, as it's called, lets up to six players join in, which is another bonus. The last game, which arrived just over a week ago, is called Canvas. For me, this game is as easy to get into as Art Society. However, it introduces a neat drafting mechanic that lets you create composite artworks to score the most points. While there's a bit of competition and you can stop other players from getting better cards, it's still largely a solo task. Again, the gorgeous artwork certainly helps make this game an interesting addition to any collection.


Funnily enough, I have realised that I have also chosen to order games that have digital PC adaptations. Perhaps the main reason is that it will allow me to play against an AI opponent and hopefully help me crack the puzzles they both present. The digital version of Clank! is very well presented and has a great tutorial to help players get to grips with the game's interface and symbols. It also comes with some thematic animations that bring the game to life, like the dragon's attack spewing fire and "Clank!" cubes at the affected players. Similarly, Canvas also has a digital version, though in this case, it's still in pre-release. From what I've seen and experienced through the app, the digital version of the game is pretty well made. The designers and developers have done a good job of putting the rules into the game, making every decision and selection intuitive. But what really matters with these digital versions is that they let you experience the games in a really immersive way. When they manage that, they become great tools for learning how to play, while also improving the quality of your game.



I have also had the opportunity to try out two other titles at my club called “Verdant” and the classic Stefan Feld title “The Castles of Burgundy”. I had never played either but I must say I was pleasantly entertained by both. Verdant invites you into a world of houseplants and curated greenery whereas “Castles” hails back to the earlier Eurogames which offered what we now term “point salad” scoring. Again here, while Verdant is only a three-year-old, Castles of Burgundy was first published in 2011, making it a teenager in board-game years. 


Aside from the games I've already mentioned, discovering new titles that genuinely catch my interest remains challenging. There's one, a Santorini standalone expansion called "Santorini - Puzzle of the Sphinx", which promises a co-operative puzzle game as well as a solo option, both of which I quite enjoy. As my board game collection grows, I feel somewhat unsure whether this hobby has proper staying power for me. I still love board games with a passion, and I doubt that will ever change. Still, the chances to play what I have are limited. I'd thought joining a board game club would help me enjoy these games a bit more, but actually, time at the club has only made the tiniest dent in my total hours of play, at least so far. You could argue that there was a dent and I should be grateful, but that's just human nature I guess. Then there's the matter of my home games. Luckily, so far, it's been encouraging, and I'm hoping that bodes well for the coming months. If all goes to plan, we have anything between five to seven sessions to look forward to, and I'm hoping they'll be memorable and enjoyable.


This personal journey through board games, both the new and the old, has always been about more than just the games themselves for me. It  has been and is about shared moments, enjoyable challenges, and the liberating pleasure of play. As far as I am concerned, it's a passion that continues to evolve, and I still look forward to discovering the next gem amidst all the chaff. Until my next blog!



Further Reading / Links



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Thursday, June 5, 2025

The Flourishing Ecosystem of Nature-Themed Board Games


In recent times, the world of tabletop gaming has seen an interesting shift in its focus, with more and more modern board games embracing elaborate nature themes. This growing trend does not feel like just another fad but reflects, in my opinion, deeper changes in society. These in turn can be seen as being linked to a rising environmental awareness among players and a determined effort within the industry to promote sustainable production methods. The appeal of "unplugging" from digital screens and enjoying hands-on, face-to-face interactions has always been a key draw of board games, and this desire for a more grounded experience fits perfectly with themes rooted in nature.

The increasing popularity of nature-themed board games links directly to an increased global concern for environmental issues. As worries about climate change, loss of biodiversity, and habitat destruction become more prominent in public discussions, people are increasingly looking for ways to engage with these topics, even in their leisure time. Board games, with their ability to tell immersive stories, offer a unique way to explore complex ecological ideas in an accessible manner. They allow players to take on roles that encourage appreciation for ecosystems, wildlife, and the delicate connections that support life on Earth. This involvement can range from directly simulating conservation efforts to more subtly bringing natural processes to life, but in every instance, it helps develop a deeper understanding of our environment.

Linked to this undercurrent we are seeing, the board game industry itself is undergoing a significant change towards more sustainable production and materials. Manufacturers are increasingly aware of their environmental impact and are actively seeking eco-friendly alternatives. This commitment manifests itself in various ways. On the one hand we see the widespread use of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood, paper, and cardboard which ensures that components come from responsibly managed forests. Many companies now use high-quality recycled materials for cardboard parts and non-toxic, vegetable-based inks for printing, cutting down on waste and harmful chemical exposure. New developments in plastics are also appearing, with some manufacturers exploring recycled plastics mixed with biodegradable materials, or even bio-based plastics made from renewable sources like cornstarch or sugarcane. Furthermore, traditional plastic shrink wrap is being replaced by plant-based options, significantly reducing plastic waste. This comprehensive approach to sustainability, from sourcing raw materials to packaging, demonstrates a collective industry effort to align its practices with the very themes its games celebrate, creating a more harmonious relationship between play and our planet.

The landscape of modern board gaming is now chock-full with titles that celebrate nature, offering diverse gameplay experiences while immersing players in vibrant natural settings. Beyond the well-known Wingspan, Meadow, and Earth, a thriving collection of games has emerged, each bringing its unique interpretation of natural themes to the tabletop.


Wingspan stands out as a huge success in this genre, truly paving the way for others. In this game, players build up their resources and abilities using cards, taking on the roles of bird enthusiasts, researchers, and ornithologists. Their aim is to discover and attract a wide variety of birds to their wildlife preserves. The main idea involves playing bird cards into three different habitats (forest, grassland, and wetland), each providing specific actions and often triggering powerful chain reactions. Food tokens are collected using special dice rolled from a birdfeeder dice tower, and eggs are represented by small colourful miniatures. The game's appeal lies in its clever mix of strategic depth, beautiful artwork, and strong connection to its theme, making players feel genuinely linked to the world of birds.

Meadow offers a more thoughtful and observational experience. This card drafting and set collection game invites players to explore a colourful natural landscape, gathering cards that show plants, animals, and geological features. Players build a display by playing cards that match symbols on cards they've already played, creating a growing system of connected elements. The goal is to collect sets and achieve various scoring aims, rewarding careful planning and an appreciation for nature's small details. Its gentle pace and stunning illustrations create a feeling of peaceful discovery.

Earth is a well-rounded game where players build up their resources and create a thriving ecosystem. Using a clever system where players choose actions at the same time, they add plant and terrain cards to their personal 4x4 grid. This triggers abilities that generate resources, help their "canopy" grow, and attract animals. The game focuses on organic growth and creating powerful combinations of cards, reflecting the complex connections found in real-world ecosystems. Its vast number of cards ensures high replayability and a constant feeling of new discoveries.

Beyond these three, many other titles contribute to this growing corpus of board games. Cascadia, for instance, is a tile-laying and token-drafting game where players create diverse habitats and fill them with wildlife in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Players pick a habitat tile and a matching animal token, placing them to form large connected areas and meet animal scoring conditions. It's a spatial puzzle that rewards careful placement and results in visually pleasing natural scenes. Photosynthesis is an abstract strategy game where players grow trees from seedlings to tall giants, competing for sunlight. The game features a rotating "sun" that casts shadows, forcing players to cleverly plant and grow their trees to get the most light while blocking opponents. It's a striking game that cleverly models a basic natural process.


For those interested in larger-scale natural themes, Ark Nova is a complex strategy game where players design and manage modern, scientifically-run zoos. Players build enclosures, house animals, and support conservation projects using a unique action selection system where an action's strength depends on its position on a personal board. It's a deep game that strongly links to themes of conservation, education, and research. Living Forest is a push-your-luck and tableau-building game where players embody nature spirits trying to save a sacred tree from a fiery threat. Players draw animal guardian cards, taking risks to gain powerful combinations of elements to perform actions like putting out fires, planting protective trees, or attracting sacred animals. It's a fast-paced game with a strong story about nature.

Smaller-scale ecological interactions are explored in games like Ecosystem, a straightforward card drafting game about biodiversity. Players choose and arrange various organism and environment cards (like bees, bears, streams, and meadows) to build their own ecological network. Points are given for placing animals in their preferred habitats and for maintaining a diverse ecosystem, while monocultures are penalised. It's a quick, educational, and easy-to-learn game about ecological balance. For a more direct approach to conservation, Endangered is a cooperative game where a team of wildlife conservationists works together to save animal populations from extinction. Players take on roles such as a zoologist or environmental lawyer, using their unique skills to increase animal numbers, reduce threats, and lobby for political support, all against the clock. It offers a direct and often tense simulation of real-world conservation challenges.

Closer to home, Planted is a charming game about looking after houseplants, involving set collection and managing resources. Players collect different plant cards, each needing specific amounts of light, water, and plant food, and acquire tools and decorations to help them grow. It's a lighter, accessible game that taps into the popular hobby of indoor gardening. Arboretum is a strategic card game where players compete to create the most beautiful and valuable arboretum. Players play tree cards to form paths, but only the player with the highest value of a specific tree type in hand at the end can score points for paths containing that tree. It's a surprisingly simple game with deep strategic layers and a strong connection to trees. Even Root, often seen as an asymmetric war game, deserves a mention for its unique take on a woodland setting. Players control different groups of animal characters, each with distinct aims and ways of playing, fighting for control of a shared forest. The game beautifully shows how different groups "see" and interact with the same environment, from the industrial Marquise de Cat exploiting resources to the Eyrie Dynasties trying to restore their old rule. It offers a powerful, if abstract, comment on ecological power structures and competing interests within a natural landscape.

The focus on nature in board games has truly grown over the past few years, moving beyond just nice artwork or minor features to become a key part of game design. Historically, board games often stuck to themes of fantasy, science fiction, historical battles, or abstract puzzles. While these genres remain popular, there's been a clear move towards themes that are more down-to-earth, thoughtful, and often, educational.

This growth can be put down to several reasons. Firstly, I think that there is a widespread longing for the outdoors and a desire to "switch off" from the ever-present digital world. Ideas like "shinrin-yoku" or "forest bathing," which highlight immersing oneself in nature for well-being, resonate with a public increasingly aware of screen fatigue. Nature-themed board games offer a tangible, screen-free alternative that allows players to engage with the natural world, even from their own homes. The physical components, the wooden pieces, the beautifully illustrated cards, the tactile boards, all provide a sensory experience that digital interfaces find difficult to match.

Secondly, as mentioned earlier, the ever present global environmental dilemma has led to a deeper ecological understanding. Players aren't just looking for entertainment; they're also drawn to games that reflect their values and allow them to explore complex environmental stories. These games can act as great learning tools, introducing players to ideas like biodiversity, ecosystem balance, conservation challenges, and the life cycles of various species. 


The market itself has responded to this demand. Reports on the "Tabletop Games Market" show a growing shift towards sustainable and eco-friendly practices, driven by what consumers want. This isn't just about themes but about the entire product's life cycle. Companies are actively promoting their use of sustainable materials and ethical sourcing, building trust with environmentally aware consumers. Crowdfunding platforms have also seen a rise in eco-friendly board game projects, further showing a grassroots demand for games that align with environmental values. This strong link between thematic interest and sustainable production has created fertile ground for the genre to thrive, attracting a wider range of players who appreciate both engaging gameplay and responsible manufacturing.

For me, my journey into nature-themed board games began quite clearly with Wingspan. Before it came along, my collection, though varied, mostly consisted of games with more traditional fantasy, sci-fi or historical settings. However, the moment I got down to playing Wingspan I was immediately hooked. It wasn't just another game; it felt like a gateway to a world I deeply admired but rarely saw represented with such detail and respect in tabletop form. My decision to get Wingspan, and later Meadow and Earth, was mainly driven by their themes, which was a change from my usual habit of focusing on game mechanics first. I was drawn to the promise of a gaming experience that was not only mentally stimulating but also beautiful to look at and strongly connected to my own appreciation for the natural world.

What Wingspan and Meadow particularly brought to the table was a very distinct atmosphere whenever we played them. Wingspan, with its elegant engine-building and the sheer variety of its bird cards, often leads to moments of delightful discovery. Players would tend to pause, not just to read the bird facts on the cards, but to admire the illustrations. It is competitive, yes, but often feels more like a shared appreciation for the avian world than a fierce race for points. On a personal level, the game creates a calming, meditative mood, a sharp contrast to the high-tension, competitive games we normally bring to the gaming table.

Meadow enhanced this feeling of eco-immersion. Its focus on observation and the interconnectedness of nature makes for a pleasant gaming experience. The game encourages players to slow down, to appreciate the small details, and to build something satisfying and harmonious. The "vibe" here is one of exploration, a perfect remedy to the ups and downs of daily life. Earth, while more complex in its mechanics, continues this tradition of fostering a connection to natural systems, offering the satisfaction of building a thriving, self-sustaining ecosystem from scratch.

The flourishing of nature-themed board games does appear to be a thriving trend at the moment, with exciting new titles continuing to explore the vastness of the natural world and gaining significant recognition in prestigious international board game awards. This points not only to sustained interest from designers and publishers but also a growing appreciation from critics and the wider gaming community for the depth and educational value these themes offer.

Looking ahead, several promising nature-themed games are on the horizon. Nature, from North Star Games (the creators of the popular Evolution series), is due to arrive in shops in August 2025. This game promises a dynamic ecosystem where players must adapt their species to changing environments, facing challenges like food shortages and predators. It aims to be a modular game system, allowing for the creation and exploration of unique ecosystems each time it's played, offering a fresh take on species adaptation and survival. Another highly anticipated title is Finspan, described as a "fishy successor" to Wingspan and Wyrmspan. While it has been available for retail since March 2025, I have yet to explore its mechanics and how these compare to the original Wingspan. Its background suggests a similar blend of beautiful artwork and engaging engine-building mechanics, but this time diving into aquatic ecosystems. Similarly, Undergrove, published in 2024 and from the same award-winning designers as Wingspan, explores the hidden world of fungal networks and the complex communication between trees and mushrooms. This game offers an educational yet engaging experience, focusing on the tiny details of woodland life. Sanibel, a "Cosy Coastal Board Game" launching in early 2026, will immerse players in coastal and beach themes, highlighting a growing consumer interest in relaxing and picturesque gaming environments. These upcoming releases show a continued broadening within the nature theme, moving beyond birds and general ecosystems to specific natural areas and microscopic wonders.


The critical acclaim for nature-themed board games is perhaps best shown by their consistent presence and wins in major international awards, most notably the Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) and Kennerspiel des Jahres (Expert Game of the Year) in Germany, which are often seen as the most prestigious awards in the industry. Wingspan itself was a Kennerspiel des Jahres winner in 2019, firmly establishing it as a significant game and confirming the appeal of its theme and mechanics on a global scale. Cascadia followed suit, winning the highly sought-after Spiel des Jahres in 2022. Its elegant tile-laying and animal-placement mechanics, combined with its peaceful Pacific Northwest theme, strongly resonated with juries and players alike, proving that a nature-focused game could achieve widespread success. Living Forest also received significant recognition, winning the Kennerspiel des Jahres in 2022, further highlighting the genre's strength in the expert game category. More recently, Daybreak, a cooperative game about tackling climate change, won the Kennerspiel des Jahres in 2024, demonstrating the industry's willingness to address even more direct and urgent environmental issues through engaging gameplay. Looking at the 2025 nominations, Endeavor: Deep Sea, which involves exploring ocean depths and publishing findings, was nominated for the Kennerspiel des Jahres, indicating a continuing trend of nature-themed games reaching the highest levels of critical praise. Even in the Kinderspiel des Jahres (Children's Game of the Year) category, Cascadia Junior received a nomination, showing how these themes are being adapted for younger audiences, encouraging an appreciation for the environment from an early age.

This consistent presence as finalists and winners in such esteemed awards underlines the fact that nature-themed board games are not just niche products. They are recognised for their innovative mechanics, high production quality, and the profound impact of their themes, solidifying their position as a significant and lasting force in the modern board gaming landscape. The seeds planted by early successes like Wingspan have truly grown into a vibrant and critically acclaimed collection of games.



Further Reading and Links


For those seeking further exploration, here is some additional reading. This subject is particularly intriguing and may have only truly flourished with the emergence of modern board gaming and the thriving market it continues to sustain in 2025.


  1. Tabletop Eco-Weird: Gameplay Experience and Ecological Ethics. (PDF) Available via ResearchGate.

    • URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/389437655_Tabletop_Eco-Weird_Gameplay_Experience_and_Ecological_Ethics

  2. Sustainable Board Game Pieces. Hero Time.

    • URL: https://herotime1.com/pieces/sustainable-game-pieces-eco-friendly-alternatives-for-board-game-manufacturers/

  3. Tabletop Games Market Focused Insights Report 2024-2029. GlobeNewswire.

    • URL: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/11/06/2975733/28124/en/Tabletop-Games-Market-Focused-Insights-Report-2024-2029-Featuring-Key-Vendors-Asmodee-Hasbro-Mattel-and-Ravensburger.html

  4. The Green Imagination in Board Game Landscapes. Edge Effects.

    • URL: https://edgeeffects.net/board-game-landscapes/

  5. Spiel Des Jahres Games. F.G. Bradley's.

    • URL: https://fgbradleys.com/spiel-des-jahres-games/

  6. Skulls and Board Games - The Games Letter (2025 Spiel des Jahres Finalists).

    • URL: https://thegamesletter.com/2025-spiel-des-jahres-finalists-warhammer-skulls/

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