solo Archives - The Board Game Family

Finspan board game review

In 2019, Wingspan took the world by storm.

Rookie game designer, Elizabeth Hargrave, hit a home run on her debut board game with a Kennerspiel des Jahres win. Board game lovers and bird lovers alike all flocked to it. It’s a card-driven, engine-building board game featuring 180 unique birds. Since its initial publication, Stonemaier Games has sold over 2 million copies of Wingspan!

Inspired by that success, Stonemaier Games published Wyrmspan in 2024. It’s a dragon-themed board game with similarities to Wingspan but with plenty of unique elements and an added level of complexity.

Which leads us to the release earlier this year of Finspan.

With 125 unique fish cards, Finspan has players diving into the oceans for aquatic life. They’ll grow their collection of fish, discover fresh eggs, hatch them into young, and nurture them into schools to gain the most points.

So the big question is, “Is Finspan just a quick spinoff without substance, or is it a good game of its own accord?”

June 3, 2025 Davin Perkins 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, card, luck, solo, Stonemaier Games, strategy, theme

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

The Search for Planet X deduction game review

I love logic puzzles.

In fact, a number of years ago, I bought a stack of back issues of Penny Dell Logic Puzzles so I could rattle through logic puzzles during flights on business trips.

As such, I also love good deduction board games.

I enjoy thinking through various logic conditions to figure out the solution in a deduction game before the other players. And modern deduction board games have come a long way from classic Clue.

So when I heard about The Search for Planet X, by Renegade Game Studios, it caught my attention.

I got a copy of the game at SaltCon Spring 2024, and was immediately hooked from my very first play. Since then, I’ve played it with family and friends – many of who have bought a copy of their own. Yep, it’s a good one.

May 20, 2025 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, deduction, logic, puzzle, Renegade Game Studios, solo, space, strategy

Dice Games Family Games Game Reviews

Twice As Clever dice game review

Five years ago we reviewed a fun dice game that has stayed a family favorite game ever since. The game is That’s Pretty Clever by Schmidt Spiele and Stronghold Games.

We rattled through the score pads so quickly that we laminated the last of them so we can use dry erase markers to track our games. And we still pull it out regularly to play around dinner time for some light family fun.

Since the original was published in 2018, Schmidt Spiele has published 3 more iterations of this dice game: Twice As Clever, Clever Cubed, Clever 4-Ever.

Today we’re reviewing the second in the set, Twice As Clever.

We’ll answer what’s added, what’s different, and if it’s just as fun.

May 2, 2025 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, dice, luck, solo, Stronghold Games

Dice Games Family Games Game Reviews

Splitter dice game review

Sometimes you just want a quick and light dice-rolling game for a bit of fun.

No heavy strategy.

No belabored turns.

Just some quick choices as you roll away.

In Splitter, by Pandasaurus Games you really don’t have to wait for typical turns anyway because everyone is active with every roll of the dice.

We included Splitter in our 2024 Board Game Gift Guide in the dice game category because it’s such a simple game that anyone can join in the fun.

January 28, 2025 Trent 0 Comments 10-player, 2 players, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, 6-player, 7-player, 8-player, 9-player, luck, Pandasaurus Games, solo

Trekking the World 2nd Edition family board game

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

Trekking the World 2nd Edition game review and comparison

Four years ago, just as people were starting to travel again after being cooped up for months for COVID, we reviewed a fun family board game by Underdog Games called Trekking the World.

So when we heard Underdog Games was publishing a new version of the game, we were more than eager to try it out. And now that it’s hitting store shelves, we’re happy to share the details with you.

While the premise remains the same as the original, Trekking the World 2nd Edition is much more streamlined and simplified to play. Not that the 1st edition is complicated. But this new version is even better for general family play.

We really like the changes made to the game.

We’ll give a quick overview of how to play Trekking the World 2nd Edition, then go into details on the many elements that have changed to make this fun family board game even better.

November 20, 2024December 12, 2024 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, family, luck, solo, strategy, theme, Underdog Games

Articles Board Games Card Games Cooperative Games Dice Games Family Games Game Reviews Kid Games Party Games Top 10 Lists

Board Game Gift Guide 2024!

Our 14th year of Board Game Gift Guides is here!

For each of the past 13 years, we’ve recommended around 40 games to get your friends and family as gifts.

We know that’s a lot to look through, so we’ve dialed it back a bit this year to 25 great games!

Below, you’ll find a few games in each of the following categories to get your juices flowing about what game gifts you can give this year.

November 11, 2024November 11, 2024 Trent 0 Comments Best Board Games, board game, card game, children, cooperative, dice game, friends, game gift guide, gift guide, gifts, party, solo

Board Games Game Reviews Party Games

Codenames digital app review

We first played the party game Codenames in 2015 and were hooked like so many people around the world.

We reviewed the original party game in January, 2016 and reviews for many of the follow-up games since.

Today, we’re happy to share our thoughts on the app version of this super-popular party game.

For starters, now that Codenames is in my digital pocket, it’s not reserved for just being a party game. I can play it on the fly whenever I want since I can match up with people worldwide in asynchronous play.

October 2, 2024October 2, 2024 Trent 0 Comments app, Czech Games Edition, party, solo

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

World Wonders: Mundo Wonders Pack expansion review

In our recent review of World Wonders we mentioned how it’s more than just a tile-laying game and that there’s plenty to think about during the game.

In addition to the spatial layout of your city, you need to consider the money you have to spend, how your resources are growing, where you want to be in turn order, how to keep expanding with roads, and when you’ll meet the requirements for adding a monument to your city.

Well, if that’s not enough for you, Arcane Wonders has already published an expansion for the game!

It’s time to take a look at World Wonders: Mundo Wonders Pack.

August 8, 2024 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, Arcane Wonders, expansion, solo, theme

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

World Wonders board game review

Earlier this year, I had my first chance to play World Wonders – a fun new tile-laying board game published by Arcane Wonders in 2023.

I played it at one of the Hot Games tables at SaltCon Spring 2024 and immediately wanted to play it again.

I couldn’t get it out of my mind and was still thinking about it a month later.

That’s when you know you’ve found another great family board game.

Even though I’d categorize World Wonders as a tile-laying game, it’s packed with much more than that. The game also includes economic, turn-order, and resource elements that keep players considering many choices throughout the whole game.