Publisher: Write Stuff Games
Player Count: 1-4 Players
Game Length: 30-40 Minutes
Complexity 2.25/5

Saddle up your band of ruffians and explore the Wild West in one of my favorite flip and write games ever!

In Fliptown, players resolve their problems (and life choices) with a simple deck of cards. It’s the value and suit of the card drawn that’s going to open a gateway into a sandbox-style world where you’ll choose to seek your fortune mining gold, rustling up trouble in the badlands, seeking adventure on the trail or exploring all that the frontier towns have to offer. The sheriff’s hot on your trail, so be quick to earn your fortune while avoiding the law.

Breathing new life into the flip and write genre, Fliptown pushes boundaries with interesting turns and rich rewards. Designer, Steven Aramini had previously found success with micro games such as Sprawlopolis and Circle the Wagons – games full of tough choices and tight turns. It’s exciting to see him branch out with a Fliptown, a grand celebration of the art and spirit of Western America… all tied beautifully together in a box that will fit on any size shelf.

ON YOUR TURN

Everything Fliptown has to offer literally stems from a simple deck of cards (albeit, a thematic and beautifully illustrated one). On your turn, you’ll draw 3 cards, using the results to make your choices. The suit will determine the area of your player board you tackle while the numerical value determines the strength or area you pursue. The third card is placed toward your ongoing poker hand that resolves after a single round of 5 turns.

Each player has a reusable dry erase board presenting all the actions you have available. At first glance, it can be a bit overwhelming since it appears there is a lot going on. But I promise you, it all comes together logically and quickly without hardly any struggle.

Representing each of the 4 card suits, players can visit 1 of 4 areas per turn. Each of these areas are thematically highlighted by different mini-games to conquer. The value of the 2nd card chosen will determine what you can accomplish in the area. For example, mining gold presents a tech-tree puzzle where you’ll use your card value to mine further down earning bonuses along the way.

Yes, Fliptown is all about the combos and bonuses along the way. There are definitely ways to extend your turn, and give you that big gun feeling while earning you additional actions and resources.

One of the highlights of Fliptown is in its ability to tell a story throughout the game without diving into an unnecessary narrative. Seeking to rob a stagecoach in the badlands can lead to big rewards or huge legal trouble with the law. The actions come to life, and while the decision is resolved in a matter of moments, your choices begin to shape your adventure in unique and exciting ways.

Traveling to the town provides the opportunity to invest in a ridiculous number of Wild West activities. Visit the undertaker, the church, saloon, general store, land office, gunsmith, bail bonds and plenty more. Each sub location provides fun ways to modify your abilities, benefits and pursuits.

In the end, the player with the most points (or Wild West fame) is the winner. You can play it safe, seeking to avoid the law and go on your merry way… or you can push your luck with hopes of greater victory. Higher reward always comes with a cost and in Fliptown, it’s the sheriff you’ll want to avoid. Each round, players face increasing heat from the law. As you take actions, you’ll accumulate wanted icons that put you in conflict with the local sheriff. Of course there are ways to mitigate these dangers and in the Wild West, even sherifs aren’t above a bribe or two.

Players choose 1 of the game’s 14 personas giving you unique, asymmetrical actions to help you along your trail. Community goals give players additional pursuits to garner game changing points.

Riding Solo

Fliptown also features a simple yet engaging solo mode that creates new challenges as you face off against 4 different bots. Fliptown is a bit of a multi-player solitaire experience, so it isn’t much of a reach to transition to a solo game. I’d even recommend Fliptown just for the solo gamer.

ARTWORK & COMPONENTS

Fliptown is beautifully illustrated with decorative, turn-of-the-century stylings, a rusty, orange hue and mesas adorned with cactus set amongst endless vistas. I love the vibe of the artwork and it immediately draws me in each time I pull this one off the shelf.

This is a big game in a small box with somewhat minimal components. The deck of cards, goals, player personas and dry erase markers round out the package.

If I’m going to be critical, the type on the player board can be a challenge. The design team did a great job working within the boundaries of the board size and box, but it would have been nicer if some of the type wasn’t so small. It obviously hasn’t ruined my enjoyment of the game, but it is worth noting.

The rulebook does an amazing job navigating you comfortably through the game’s actions, areas and rule variants.

PROS & CONS

Exciting choices

Simple, yet deep actions

Activate areas full of personality

Beautifully thematic production

Easy setup and teardown

Tons of replay ability

Great solo and multiplayer

Quick play time

Some of the text is challenging to read on the boards

That’s really it – this is one of my favorites of the year!

WHY WOULD YOU LIKE THIS GAME?

Fans of games like Hadrian’s Wall and Fleet: The Dice Game are going to find the most to enjoy here. This is a think-y, sandbox-style flip and write that rewards players looking to venture down multiple paths. While it certainly isn’t heavy, it will take a moment to familiarize yourself with the game’s choices, icons and functions. That’s all a necessary and worthwhile pursuit to grant passage into the richness, depth and enjoyment the game offers.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS GAME?

I’ve talked about the execution of the theme, the cool turn choices and the ingenious use of a playing deck… so I’ll give props to the combos. So many games fail to provide the right amount of combos. Too many and the game feels cheap… too few and there isn’t enough excitement. Fliptown brings a great level of bonus actions where you feel satisfied, but not overwhelmed. There’s really a nice balance to it.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Are you looking for a meaty, flip and write style game? Check out Fliptown. Maybe you’re looking for an engaging western-themed game? Fliptown works for that. Or perhaps you’re looking for a fun experience with satisfying choices? Yep… Fliptown.

Despite the complex player interface, this is a highly accessible game that’s quick to learn, easy to set up, plays smooth and fast and works for any of the 1-4 player counts.

The beautiful production immediately draws you in and from there it’s guns blazing. I love the huge variety of choices that provide a near infinite number of paths to pursue. Turns feel powerful without cheapening the game and Fliptown gives you the sensation of accomplishment despite the player’s skill level (or lack of).

Of course your enjoyment of the theme can certainly affect your overall experience. I love the romanticized vision we have of a nearly civilized western society coming to terms with an untamed world around them. Fliptown does a fine job of embracing this vision, but being “in to” western themed games isn’t necessary to enjoy this one.

Fliptown doesn’t quite dethrone Hadrian’s Wall as the flip and write boss for me, but it’s in the neighborhood. ‘X’ and write games have always leaned on the lighter side and quality, heavier games in this space are few and far between. Fans of games like Hadrian’s Wall are going to want to get in on this.

After nearly a dozen plays, Flip is easily on the shortlist for game of the year (2024) for me. After wading through dozens of lackluster games, it’s experiences like Fliptown that remind me why I love board games. I can’t recommend this one highly enough.

Publisher: Smirk & Laughter Games
Player Count: 2 Players
Game Length: 20 Minutes
Complexity 1.5/5

Kittens love to bounce on the bed and in boop., it becomes a battle for supremacy as they seek to rule the pillow top. In this fast-paced, tactical, 2-player game, you’ll clear space on the bed quilt by bouncing cats out of the way. Line up 3 cats in a row and win the game. Sounds simple doesn’t it? There might be more to this friendly feline fray than meets the eye. Check out our review below and see if boop. bounces you in the right direction.

ON YOUR TURN

On the surface, boop. is a simple game with simple mechanics tied together by a cute theme. It’s one of those games that are so simple you may end up thinking “I could have designed that.” The truth is, boop. combines a balance of accessibility, theme and strategic depth that is really well thought out and executed and will definitely resonate with a large variety of gamers.

In this tactical, area control game, players will be going head-to-head by strategically placing their kittens on the game board. Placing a kitten adjacent to another will cause you to “boop” that kitten to the next space over—as if you were jumping on trampoline or pillow. Kittens can even be booped right off the bed.

Divided into 2 abstract phases, players will initially seek to align 3 kittens adjacently. Once accomplished, your 3 kittens will be removed from the board and exchanged for full-sized cats. Play continues following similar rules until 1 player is able to align 3 cats.

There are some stipulations: Kittens can’t bounce cats (they’re much too small), booping a cat or kitten doesn’t create a chain reaction of boops and you can’t boop a cat or kitten when a boop would cause them to move into an occupied space on the board.

Games run roughly 10-20 minutes each and will likely require a 2nd or 3rd playthroughs to truly determine a true winner for the night.

Where boop. gains a foothold is in the cute theme and production. While cats can be divisive pets, the fun, wooden cat figures, bright colors and charming artwork is very engaging—it draws you right in. The game board isn’t a board, but a quilted, squishy piece of fabric that allows each cat to comfortably rest in its own space. It’s very unique and certainly elevates the aesthetics.

Being suckered in by a charming theme isn’t a crime, but where boop. will win you over is in the simple yet deep strategic gameplay. Playing your feline tokens quickly becomes a chess match where you’re considering how to successfully solve the puzzle for your own goals while simultaneously attempting to disrupt your opponent and even using their choices to your benefit. There is zero luck in boop. and the best strategist will win.

ARTWORK & COMPONENTS

There isn’t a ton of artwork in the game, but the whimsical, charming components immediately invite you to play. I love the wooden cat tokens and the surprisingly functional, quilted game board. The game even utilizes the box to prop up the board creating a true bed for the cats to play.

The rulebook is short, sweet and easy to understand. Picking up the game should be a breeze.

PROS & CONS

 Cute and appealing theme and components

 Fun and Simple mechanics that are easy to learn

 Light game with relatively deep strategy

 Game plays quickly allowing multiple plays at one sitting

I really have no cons here. If I’m digging deep, It’s possible the game COULD feel like a bate-and-switch… The deeper strategy might put-off some players who see the cute theme and are expecting a kids game. Fans of deeper, tactical games might be disappointed in the simple mechanics.

WHY WOULD YOU LIKE THIS GAME?

If you’re looking for a tactical, 2-player, chess-lite strategy game that’s easy to learn, completely void of luck, fun to play and easy to get to the table, boop. might be for you. This is something that works for players of all ages, but can still be satisfying for more seasoned players. The difficulty certainly adjusts for the age and ability of the players.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS GAME?

The best thing about boop. is the nice mechanics to strategy balance. The smooth and simple mechanics quickly take a backseat to the more pressing strategic choices. You’re playing the game versus the game playing you.

FINAL THOUGHTS

A lot of games bog you down with multiple mechanics and bizarre goals all in the name of strategic depth. Some are better than others, but there is something about a game that knows exactly who they are and doesn’t try to be anything else. boop. knows exactly who it is: A 2-player game that effectively transforms a simple mechanic into a near limitless series of strategic choices. There is zero luck to boop. allowing players to become the gaming gladiators they were truly meant to be… Gladiators moving miniature wooden kitten tokens across a fluffy, quilted game board.

I’m definitely a fan of simple, streamlined, 2-player tactical games. Games like Hive, Qawale and of course Chess quickly come to mind. While each of these succeed in different ways, boop. stands out by masking what could have been a very cold, abstract experience with a warm, silly and appealing theme.

I’m 12 plays in and my main opponent has been my bright, 11-year-old daughter. She absolutely loves the game despite consistently facing defeat. I’ve noticed that my game continues to evolve more efficiently with each play. I can see her thinking through her turns and not making the same mistakes or falling into the same traps. She has a ways to go, but I can see repeat plays between the same opponents really pushing them to try new approaches and outwit the other.

The question remains: Is boop. right for you? Cute and cuddly theme aside, boop. isn’t very cute and cuddly. I can see the lack of luck in the game feeling dry for some players. If you have a distaste for tactical games like chess, you might not like boop. Now boop. isn’t nearly as complex as chess. In fact, the game’s simplicity should help it cross boundaries and engage players who might otherwise shun a 2-player, tactical battle. The theme does soften the blow and the simple mechanics have a certain charm to them that continues to draw you in. boop. could feel more weigh-y if it wasn’t for how fast games zip by. It’s not the best 2-player tactical game out there, but it does check a lot of boxes. For me, I don’t see boop. slowing down. Its accessibility, simple mechanics and challenging choices make it a perfect game to break out any time you have a few minutes. For the right crowd, boop. is a real winner.

Maztermind Premium Chess Set
Maztermind.com

MAZTERMIND – THE COMPANY

Founded in Vietnam, Maztermind is made up of a group of designers and artisans with a passion for creating handmade, high-end traditional board games. Reaching Internationally, Maztermind has built a catalog of timeless games with an emphasis on component quality and craftsmanship. You’ll find unique, custom made games, each with their own story and made from premium material available for order from their website and all with their own unique flair.

I recently had the opportunity to review their Premium Chess set. My daughter has caught the chess bug and it was appealing since I knew playing on a high-end board would only encourage her interest.

PREMIUM LOOK & FEEL

My initial impression of the Premium Chess Set was of a black case with the “Maztermind” etched on the cover. It’s wasn’t totally over the top, but it still had a high-end feel and it did give a bold first impression.

Opening the case, I was immediately blown away with the quality like a breath of fresh air blown into the pieces while still retaining their classic nuances. The board itself is made of a beautiful walnut wood. It’s heavy, soft and smooth to the touch. The board is 280mm x 280mm x 54mm and is checkered with black and white PU leather. Contouring the play area is a copper strip creating a rich, elegant border.

The game pieces rest inside the case sealed with a magnetic closure. The game pieces are made from a resin-concrete with a copper base. The sculpts are clean and traditional and feel amazing. They’re heavy and gently cling to the leather play area. The resin-concrete texture is completely different from any marble or glass chess pieces—providing a unique chess playing experience. Specific pieces (the king, queen and bishops) have an additional touch of gold paint tying it into the polished copper base. Each piece has its place, cut custom in the interior of the board—made from a quality, black foam—ensuring the pieces are protected and don’t rattle around.

PERSONAL THOUGHTS

As I mentioned previously, we had recently begun playing more chess at my house because my daughter has really gotten into it. I do think chess is an underrated game and was thrilled to see its revival thanks in part to the Queen’s Gambit mini-series on Netflix a year or so ago. That being said, you can only get so excited about playing with cheap plastic pieces on a folded cardboard play area. This new board has completely removed that ceiling making each game a real pleasure to enjoy,

The craftsmanship here is incredibly solid. The board and pieces feel great to the touch. I love their weight and textures all around. The copper bases of each chess piece provides a nice contrast to the resin-concrete feel of the individual molds and provides a deeper connection with each move. I really appreciate how the board is both heavy and sturdy, but feels soft to the touch. There is definitely an underlying satisfaction knowing everything is hand-crafted. The best gifts are those handcrafted and handpicked by you and the Mastermind Chess Set will certainly elevate your home decor.

Maztermind also provided a domino set that could easily have its own write up. Each domino is made of walnut wood, wrapped in heat-stamped, waxed leather and foil stamped with the domino values. If you’re into dominos, this is certainly the way to live it up. Did I mention it comes in a walnut case with an embossed, leather cover?

Overall, playing on the Maztermind’s Premium Chess Set is a luxurious experience that really elevates each game. Having a chess set of this quality available has definitely encouraged us to play more of this classic game.

ORDER YOURS

I would highly encourage you to visit maztermind.com and browse their selection. They have some amazing videos showing their handmade process and they carry a decent variety of products, including some that you may not be familiar with. Their shipping process was quick and everything was really well packaged for protection. Obviously these are great for you and your family, but they will make a great gift for the gamer in your life. Order now and get the following:

• Free international shipping

• 3-5 business days shipping time

• 15% off for the first order

Designed by Andrew Lowen  |  Published by Lowen Games
1-4 Players  |  60-120 Minutes

In the invisible realm, supernatural forces wage a battle for the human saints. Across countless countries and throughout time, the engagement will continue until that fateful and glorious day when Jesus returns to put the struggle to rest. For now, the struggle is real and tonight it takes place in the sleepy town of Fallbrook. Taking on the role of angels sent to stand guard, you’ll work together in this cooperative game to fend off Satan’s demons hellbent on deception and destruction. It won’t be easy as you’ll face hordes of unrelenting dark spirits, but there is still plenty of hope. Equip your angel with powerful resources and take advantage of unique skill sets. Build your defense both strategically and tactfully, working together to find the demon’s weaknesses and destroy them in  the name of truth. The odds are stacked against you and the night will get much darker before the dawn… do you have what it takes to defend the saints and overcome evil in the game of Deliverance?

Deliverance is a cooperative, faith-based dungeon crawler pitting a team of God’s angels against the worst Satan has to offer. You’ll level up your angel with tools and special abilities as you work to fend off the demons. Your ability to protect the earthly saints will play a pivotal role in your success and failure. It won’t be easy as the demon force will grow and become more challenging as the game continues. Combine sound strategy, a tactful approach and a bit of luck to defeat the demons and save the town.

Designed by Dwight Cenac  |  Published by White Label Game System
2-4 Players  |  60-120 Minutes

It’s been a long time coming and the posse’s have gathered for a final showdown in the town of Sweetwater Gulch. The meeting is to prove their mettle, establish dominance and settle scores. When the dust finally settles and bullets stop flying, one group will be left standing… and it all starts at High Noon.

In the game High Noon, you’ll take on the roll of one of a number of posses converging on the town of Saratoga. Each posse possesses a different number of members, each with their own strengths. High Noon implores deck building, resource management and tactical movement. You’ll move your troops around the board, gaining the advantage on your opponents by gathering resources, using obstacles for your protection and determining angles to take the best shot. The player who’s gained the most gold by inflicting damage in victory after 12 rounds or remains as the last posse standing is declared the winner.