Adam @ Punchboard
@punchboard.co.uk
✍ Written board game reviews and editorial. Lover of worker-placement, rondels, and well-written rule books. Be kind to one another. He/him
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...
A Year Of Play - My 2025 in Board Games
2025 is winding down, and like many others, I start to get a bit reflective at this time of year. I've been running Punchboard for over five years now, and 2025 was probably the best of the lot.
punchboard.co.uk
December 26, 2025 at 5:50 PM
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.
December 21, 2025 at 1:03 PM
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.
December 16, 2025 at 10:03 PM
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.
December 11, 2025 at 1:34 PM
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!
December 10, 2025 at 5:31 PM
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-...
Game of the Year 2025
You didn't ask for it... I didn't have to write it... It holds no sway in the hobby... That's right! It's my games of the year for 2025!
punchboard.co.uk
December 10, 2025 at 2:38 PM
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...
Stamp Swap Review - One for the collectors' collections?
Is it worth taking those single blue stamps and forgoing everything else on offer? Are the cherries on those pieces of cake big and juicy enough?
punchboard.co.uk
December 8, 2025 at 9:36 PM
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.
December 6, 2025 at 8:36 PM
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
Railway Boom Review - Choo choose a great new game
Railway Boom's hook, its something special, its little bit of ooh-la-la, is the bidding mechanism that underpins nearly everything that happens.
punchboard.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 4:49 PM
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... 🧵
December 3, 2025 at 4:30 PM
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... 🧵
I have appeased the owl. I will be spared this year. Hallowed be the Green One.
December 2, 2025 at 11:13 PM
I have appeased the owl. I will be spared this year. Hallowed be the Green One.
Lidl pyjamas. Fashion has peaked.
November 29, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Lidl pyjamas. Fashion has peaked.
I've been playing lots of Ayar from @ospreygames.bsky.social @flopiano.bsky.social @mandelafg.bsky.social & @ianotoole.bsky.social . I've really enjoyed it, and written a full review which you can read right now. Head over and see what makes it tick - punchboard.co.uk/ayar-childre...
Ayar: Children of the Sun Review - I have an Inca-ling it's going to be good
Ayar does things differently from its predecessors, but still retains the feel and atmosphere of them while offering something wholly different. I think it might be the best of the bunch.
punchboard.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 11:20 PM
I've been playing lots of Ayar from @ospreygames.bsky.social @flopiano.bsky.social @mandelafg.bsky.social & @ianotoole.bsky.social . I've really enjoyed it, and written a full review which you can read right now. Head over and see what makes it tick - punchboard.co.uk/ayar-childre...
I learned the second of my railway game purchases from Gridcon - Lightning Train. I'm surprised it's not getting talked about much. Bag building, trains, and Paul Dennen (Dune Imperium, Clank!) - what's not to like? I really enjoyed the first play, looking forward to a 4-player game now.
November 26, 2025 at 10:49 PM
I learned the second of my railway game purchases from Gridcon - Lightning Train. I'm surprised it's not getting talked about much. Bag building, trains, and Paul Dennen (Dune Imperium, Clank!) - what's not to like? I really enjoyed the first play, looking forward to a 4-player game now.
I spent my weekend at GridCon, a convention organised by Paul from @gamingrules.bsky.social . You can read about what I played and what I thought of the event, along with my moaning about being poorly, right here - punchboard.co.uk/gridcon-6-20...
GridCon 6 (2025) Report
November is a special time of the year for me. The beginning of the year unwinding, the countdown to the Christmas break begins, and best of all - it's Gridcon!
punchboard.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 2:40 PM
I spent my weekend at GridCon, a convention organised by Paul from @gamingrules.bsky.social . You can read about what I played and what I thought of the event, along with my moaning about being poorly, right here - punchboard.co.uk/gridcon-6-20...
Day two of Gridcon in the bag, another fantastic day. Today I played Suburbia, Let's Make a Bus Route the Dice Game, Lepidoptery, Railway Boom, Bean to Bar, Tag Team, The Gang, and most excitingly of all, the top secret new game from @theoldkingscrown.bsky.social . Thoughts in thread 🧵
November 22, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Day two of Gridcon in the bag, another fantastic day. Today I played Suburbia, Let's Make a Bus Route the Dice Game, Lepidoptery, Railway Boom, Bean to Bar, Tag Team, The Gang, and most excitingly of all, the top secret new game from @theoldkingscrown.bsky.social . Thoughts in thread 🧵
Day 2 of Gridcon! Woke up feeling like death, but it didn't stop me. I didn't take enough photos but played Molly House, Ayar, Origin Story, Panda Spin, Lepidoptery, Yokai Septet and probably something else. Good times!
November 21, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Day 2 of Gridcon! Woke up feeling like death, but it didn't stop me. I didn't take enough photos but played Molly House, Ayar, Origin Story, Panda Spin, Lepidoptery, Yokai Septet and probably something else. Good times!
A busy and thoroughly enjoyable day 0 of Gridcon 6. Magical Athlete, Idle Hands, No Thanks, Yubibo, Ayar, Start-ups - and the convention hasn't actually started yet.
November 20, 2025 at 10:15 PM
A busy and thoroughly enjoyable day 0 of Gridcon 6. Magical Athlete, Idle Hands, No Thanks, Yubibo, Ayar, Start-ups - and the convention hasn't actually started yet.
Off to the last convention of the year for me tomorrow, Gridcon, in darkest Somerset. Haven't packed any clothing or toiletries yet, but I think I'm sorted for games. Trying to cover all bases and all occasions.
November 19, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Off to the last convention of the year for me tomorrow, Gridcon, in darkest Somerset. Haven't packed any clothing or toiletries yet, but I think I'm sorted for games. Trying to cover all bases and all occasions.
If you see this, post your getaway vehicle
November 19, 2025 at 2:34 PM
If you see this, post your getaway vehicle
Some people are just a bit too talented for their own good...
First art-complete prototype of Personal Demons just finished! All the demon cards looks so cool together and I couldn’t even fit them all on a double table! Very excited to go into heavy balance playtesting with this!
November 19, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Some people are just a bit too talented for their own good...
Reviews haven't come easily recently, thanks to real life kicking me in the balls repeatedly, but I'm back with another today. This is Leptioptery from @dnlnwmn.bsky.social , and it's a lot of fun. Find out why in my review, here - punchboard.co.uk/lepidoptery-... #BoardGameSky
Lepidoptery Review - Is a review better than word of moth?
For a game to succeed in a crowded market, it needs to stand on its own two feet. Butterflies have six feet, which is surely cheating, but it works.
punchboard.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Reviews haven't come easily recently, thanks to real life kicking me in the balls repeatedly, but I'm back with another today. This is Leptioptery from @dnlnwmn.bsky.social , and it's a lot of fun. Find out why in my review, here - punchboard.co.uk/lepidoptery-... #BoardGameSky
Reposted by Adam @ Punchboard
Over the years, I have demoed quite a lot of games at a few different locations. So in this article, I want to share my demoing method, which can also be applied to teaching games in many ways.
tabletopgamesblog.com/2025/11/11/d...
#boardgames #thoughts #demoing #demonstrating #teaching
tabletopgamesblog.com/2025/11/11/d...
#boardgames #thoughts #demoing #demonstrating #teaching
Demonstrative Board Gaming - my approach to demoing games (Topic Discussion) | Tabletop Games Blog
Over the years, I have demoed quite a lot of games at a few different locations. It all started back in 2019 at Essen Spiel, where I demoed Fog of Love to the German audience. More recently, I have be...
tabletopgamesblog.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Over the years, I have demoed quite a lot of games at a few different locations. So in this article, I want to share my demoing method, which can also be applied to teaching games in many ways.
tabletopgamesblog.com/2025/11/11/d...
#boardgames #thoughts #demoing #demonstrating #teaching
tabletopgamesblog.com/2025/11/11/d...
#boardgames #thoughts #demoing #demonstrating #teaching
A two-handed learning game of Ayar from @ospreygames.bsky.social @flopiano.bsky.social @mandelafg.bsky.social & @ianotoole.bsky.social in the books. First impressions are great, I want to play again right away and do better sun scoring! Touches of Merv, Sankoré and others all over it.
November 9, 2025 at 10:20 AM
A two-handed learning game of Ayar from @ospreygames.bsky.social @flopiano.bsky.social @mandelafg.bsky.social & @ianotoole.bsky.social in the books. First impressions are great, I want to play again right away and do better sun scoring! Touches of Merv, Sankoré and others all over it.
I'm a big Stefan Feld fan, so I was very happy when The Druids of Edora landed on my doorstep. I like it a lot, despite the terrible translation job and missing things from the rulebook, but luckily there's an FAQ (linked to in the review) punchboard.co.uk/the-druids-o... #boardgames #boardgamesky
The Druids Of Edora Review - Fun forest frolics from Feld
A new Stefan Feld game arriving is always exciting to me. You never quite know what you're going to get.
punchboard.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 11:53 AM
I'm a big Stefan Feld fan, so I was very happy when The Druids of Edora landed on my doorstep. I like it a lot, despite the terrible translation job and missing things from the rulebook, but luckily there's an FAQ (linked to in the review) punchboard.co.uk/the-druids-o... #boardgames #boardgamesky