Kareem the board game minimalist
@gameminimalist.bsky.social
British 🇬🇧 Libyan 🇱🇾 board gamer attempting and miserably failing to buy fewer board games.
Pinned
My board game wishes for 2026?
1. Stop the anthropomorphic animal and dystopia themes, please 🙏 that’s honestly enough now.
2. Make more ‘new’ old school style games instead of just rebooting old school games.
1. Stop the anthropomorphic animal and dystopia themes, please 🙏 that’s honestly enough now.
2. Make more ‘new’ old school style games instead of just rebooting old school games.
If the shitstain files scandal had happened in france/Italy/many asian nations - there would have been a revolution. The french kind.
February 17, 2026 at 9:31 AM
If the shitstain files scandal had happened in france/Italy/many asian nations - there would have been a revolution. The french kind.
For a second I thought this was a covid conspiracy article 😂
Pandemic creator Matt Leacock on fighting for designers’ rights, working with developers effectively and his publisher ‘pet peeves’:
boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...
@mattleacock.bsky.social
boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...
@mattleacock.bsky.social
February 17, 2026 at 9:25 AM
For a second I thought this was a covid conspiracy article 😂
Hate this
This is my biggest pet peeve I commit. I really need to shut my mouth when I'm having a bad game because often I still manage to win the boardgame.
February 15, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Hate this
So is 2026 the year cinema/tv reverts to buff white dudes as the main hero of simple morality tales?
February 12, 2026 at 11:16 AM
So is 2026 the year cinema/tv reverts to buff white dudes as the main hero of simple morality tales?
This one has gone down well with the family but calling it a board game is very generous!
February 8, 2026 at 6:25 PM
This one has gone down well with the family but calling it a board game is very generous!
Reposted by Kareem the board game minimalist
First playtest with my daughter SUCCESSFUL!
I already did edits on *two* cards! Playtesting is the holy grail of the board game designer!
🎲📐🖌️❤️
#boardgames #tabletopgames #lilninja #expansion
I already did edits on *two* cards! Playtesting is the holy grail of the board game designer!
🎲📐🖌️❤️
#boardgames #tabletopgames #lilninja #expansion
February 5, 2026 at 3:08 PM
First playtest with my daughter SUCCESSFUL!
I already did edits on *two* cards! Playtesting is the holy grail of the board game designer!
🎲📐🖌️❤️
#boardgames #tabletopgames #lilninja #expansion
I already did edits on *two* cards! Playtesting is the holy grail of the board game designer!
🎲📐🖌️❤️
#boardgames #tabletopgames #lilninja #expansion
Circumstances have led me to attend a few gateway / non gamer game nights and I have honestly found it quite refreshing - being able to enjoy sub 7.5 bgg rated games without my jaded, hobbiest glasses on!
February 1, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Circumstances have led me to attend a few gateway / non gamer game nights and I have honestly found it quite refreshing - being able to enjoy sub 7.5 bgg rated games without my jaded, hobbiest glasses on!
This looks fantastic
Our official Cardboard Edison entry. 🎲✂️
Under One Sky - Cardboard Edison (2026)
YouTube video by The Misplay
youtu.be
February 1, 2026 at 8:33 AM
This looks fantastic
Reposted by Kareem the board game minimalist
Reading Sarah Shipp's "Thematic Integration in Board Game Design" has had a profound impact on how I think about games. In particular, her three layers of theme model has really stuck with me.
I wrote about it at Skeleton Code Machine in May 2024: www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/layers-of-...
I wrote about it at Skeleton Code Machine in May 2024: www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/layers-of-...
January 26, 2026 at 11:44 PM
Reading Sarah Shipp's "Thematic Integration in Board Game Design" has had a profound impact on how I think about games. In particular, her three layers of theme model has really stuck with me.
I wrote about it at Skeleton Code Machine in May 2024: www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/layers-of-...
I wrote about it at Skeleton Code Machine in May 2024: www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/layers-of-...
Reposted by Kareem the board game minimalist
In cheerful news, my advanced copies of Shadow Moon Syndicates arrived and that means backers should be getting notifications in the near future.
Filmed an unboxing video last night, so exciting that my game is real!
Filmed an unboxing video last night, so exciting that my game is real!
January 28, 2026 at 7:06 PM
In cheerful news, my advanced copies of Shadow Moon Syndicates arrived and that means backers should be getting notifications in the near future.
Filmed an unboxing video last night, so exciting that my game is real!
Filmed an unboxing video last night, so exciting that my game is real!
I just subscribed to this.
One of my favourite board game commentators!
One of my favourite board game commentators!
Starting Feb. 26, this feed will cover in-depth boardgame news, reviews, essays, interviews & more.
I'll also be writing/editing rulebooks and taking consulting projects for publishers & designers.
New site coming soon. Join me on Mastodon or Lemmy (see bio).
Contact: wericmartin at proton dot me
I'll also be writing/editing rulebooks and taking consulting projects for publishers & designers.
New site coming soon. Join me on Mastodon or Lemmy (see bio).
Contact: wericmartin at proton dot me
W. Eric Martin (@wericmartin@mastodon.social)
3 Posts, 29 Following, 37 Followers · 15 years at Board Game Geek. New website launching February 2026: board game news, reviews, essays, interviews, and more.
Also: board game rulebook editing, writ...
mastodon.social
January 26, 2026 at 5:00 PM
I just subscribed to this.
One of my favourite board game commentators!
One of my favourite board game commentators!
Europe - blowing up and invading brown countries > ‘fo shure’
Also Europe - Please respect intl law in greenland, America!
Also Europe - Please respect intl law in greenland, America!
January 24, 2026 at 3:18 PM
Europe - blowing up and invading brown countries > ‘fo shure’
Also Europe - Please respect intl law in greenland, America!
Also Europe - Please respect intl law in greenland, America!
Europe whining to USA that they were infact equally at the forefront of destructive wars against brown people, that totally violated intl law and caused a generation of misery.
January 24, 2026 at 3:17 PM
Europe whining to USA that they were infact equally at the forefront of destructive wars against brown people, that totally violated intl law and caused a generation of misery.
Been really enjoying this app assisted island exploration game with my 6 year old. Great fun!
January 24, 2026 at 10:58 AM
Been really enjoying this app assisted island exploration game with my 6 year old. Great fun!
Some weekend reading! Thanks for inspiration @matthewdunstan.bsky.social
January 23, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Some weekend reading! Thanks for inspiration @matthewdunstan.bsky.social
Love the art!
Among my most anticipated historical board game releases of 2026: Night Witches. Confront the Nazi war machine as the all-women 588th Night Bomber Regiment… and make it back safely! (@beyondsolitaire.bsky.social @djackthompson.bsky.social)
Read more:
cliosboardgames.wordpress.com/2026/01/11/m...
Read more:
cliosboardgames.wordpress.com/2026/01/11/m...
January 22, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Love the art!
Reposted by Kareem the board game minimalist
Gone Cardboard: Are SPIEL Essen 25 previews starting already?!
Get an overview of Abroad, a game from Rodrigo Rego, Danilo Valente, and 1 More Time Games that challenges you to have the best time possible in Europe and earn the points to prove it: boardgamegeek.com/blog/1/blogp... —WEM
Get an overview of Abroad, a game from Rodrigo Rego, Danilo Valente, and 1 More Time Games that challenges you to have the best time possible in Europe and earn the points to prove it: boardgamegeek.com/blog/1/blogp... —WEM
January 16, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Gone Cardboard: Are SPIEL Essen 25 previews starting already?!
Get an overview of Abroad, a game from Rodrigo Rego, Danilo Valente, and 1 More Time Games that challenges you to have the best time possible in Europe and earn the points to prove it: boardgamegeek.com/blog/1/blogp... —WEM
Get an overview of Abroad, a game from Rodrigo Rego, Danilo Valente, and 1 More Time Games that challenges you to have the best time possible in Europe and earn the points to prove it: boardgamegeek.com/blog/1/blogp... —WEM
My read as a non publisher/non designer:
The board game industry has become terrified of causing any offence whatsoever. Also, I am not sure mainstream euros were ever especially political/critical.
That leaves historic games that seem to focus on ww2 and prior events for the most part.
The board game industry has become terrified of causing any offence whatsoever. Also, I am not sure mainstream euros were ever especially political/critical.
That leaves historic games that seem to focus on ww2 and prior events for the most part.
Given what is currently happening and has happened in recent years in world politics, I am surprised that board games as a medium/art form are not able to tackle/address the parallels to the cruelties and danger that comes from unchecked power.
January 20, 2026 at 9:38 AM
My read as a non publisher/non designer:
The board game industry has become terrified of causing any offence whatsoever. Also, I am not sure mainstream euros were ever especially political/critical.
That leaves historic games that seem to focus on ww2 and prior events for the most part.
The board game industry has become terrified of causing any offence whatsoever. Also, I am not sure mainstream euros were ever especially political/critical.
That leaves historic games that seem to focus on ww2 and prior events for the most part.
Reposted by Kareem the board game minimalist
Our next game! #abroad
Gone Cardboard: Are SPIEL Essen 25 previews starting already?!
Get an overview of Abroad, a game from Rodrigo Rego, Danilo Valente, and 1 More Time Games that challenges you to have the best time possible in Europe and earn the points to prove it: boardgamegeek.com/blog/1/blogp... —WEM
Get an overview of Abroad, a game from Rodrigo Rego, Danilo Valente, and 1 More Time Games that challenges you to have the best time possible in Europe and earn the points to prove it: boardgamegeek.com/blog/1/blogp... —WEM
January 16, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Our next game! #abroad
Reposted by Kareem the board game minimalist
Reis, Reis, Baby: In der Kritikenrundschau zu "Abroad" (Rodrigo Rego und Danilo Valente bei @1moretimegames.bsky.social) werden Spielejournalist:innen zu Reisejournalist:innen.
www.spiel-des-jahres.de/kritikenrund...
www.spiel-des-jahres.de/kritikenrund...
Kritikenrundschau: Abroad – Heute hier, morgen dort
Dass die Jurymitglieder der Jury Spiel des Jahres exzellente Spielejournalist:innen sind, ist klar. Aber wie schlagen sie sich als Reisejournalist:innen? Mit „Abroad“ (Rodrigo Rego und Danilo Valente ...
www.spiel-des-jahres.de
January 20, 2026 at 9:22 AM
Reis, Reis, Baby: In der Kritikenrundschau zu "Abroad" (Rodrigo Rego und Danilo Valente bei @1moretimegames.bsky.social) werden Spielejournalist:innen zu Reisejournalist:innen.
www.spiel-des-jahres.de/kritikenrund...
www.spiel-des-jahres.de/kritikenrund...
Recently discovered a board game club that meets in a nearby pub, attended for the first time last night and was fascinated to discover it was essentially a non hobbyist board game group, all casual / gatewayish games.
January 16, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Recently discovered a board game club that meets in a nearby pub, attended for the first time last night and was fascinated to discover it was essentially a non hobbyist board game group, all casual / gatewayish games.
Reposted by Kareem the board game minimalist
Check out my latest accessibility review, this time for Great Western Trail: Second Edition!
"...the game provides mostly accessible components for colorblind and low-vision players, with some exceptions."
"...the game provides mostly accessible components for colorblind and low-vision players, with some exceptions."
Visual Accessibility | Great Western Trail 2nd Edition
Great Western Trail: Second Edition is designed by Alexander Pfister, with art by Chris Quilliams and published by eggertspiele, among others. Players take on the role of ranchers herding cattle fr…
colorblindgames.com
February 5, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Check out my latest accessibility review, this time for Great Western Trail: Second Edition!
"...the game provides mostly accessible components for colorblind and low-vision players, with some exceptions."
"...the game provides mostly accessible components for colorblind and low-vision players, with some exceptions."
Disappointed this is just an expansion rather than a spin off/ standalone game.
Viticulture: Bordeaux Expansion by @stonemaiergames.com
📐: Jamey Stegmaier
🎨: Sylvain Leroy
🧍: 1-6 players
⏱️: 90-120 min
boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexp...
#boardgames #geek #meeple #brettspiele #game #graplanszowa #jeuxdesociete #ボードゲーム #보드게임 #juegodemesa
📐: Jamey Stegmaier
🎨: Sylvain Leroy
🧍: 1-6 players
⏱️: 90-120 min
boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexp...
#boardgames #geek #meeple #brettspiele #game #graplanszowa #jeuxdesociete #ボードゲーム #보드게임 #juegodemesa
January 14, 2026 at 7:58 AM
Disappointed this is just an expansion rather than a spin off/ standalone game.
Quite surprised by this, best of luck to all involved!
January 13, 2026 at 11:32 PM
Quite surprised by this, best of luck to all involved!