I’ve spent most of this month back in the U.S. with my family, and it’s been so lovely! No vacation is ever truly perfect, but being home with family and reconnecting with old childhood friends always feels like a reset. Naturally, a lot of board games hit the table too, and I’m excited to share everything I played over the past few weeks.
Here’s a quick overview of the stats:
The 5 games that were new to me:
This was a gift I received last month, and I don’t like letting new
games sit unplayed—so I made sure it hit the table quickly. Since I
already own the other Dorfromantik games, there was nothing new to
learn rules-wise. I actually find the color palette of the Sakura
version more aesthetically pleasing and think this might be the one I
reach for first from now on. Have you played both versions? Which do you prefer?
Keeping with the theme, this one’s actually not in my own collection—my
brother owns it. My mom backed it on Kickstarter in 2023 as a birthday
gift for him, and they even traveled to Japan last year (yes, I’m still
jealous!). I really enjoyed playing it and would absolutely reach for it
again, but since he already has a copy, I don’t feel like I need my
own. That said, the deluxe edition is stunning, and I love all the upgraded components.
Penny Black
has been on my wishlist for quite a while. I had a feeling I’d only be
able to find it in the U.S., so when I spotted it at Barnes & Noble,
I grabbed it immediately. I love the feel of the plastic/acrylic
tiles—so much more satisfying than standard cardboard. The gameplay is
simple but thinky enough to keep my family engaged. As soon
as we finished a round, they asked to play again.
While visiting my parents, I discovered a local game store and couldn’t
resist stopping in. Most of the games were ones I already own or
couldn’t fit in my suitcase, but I spotted this just as we were heading
out. It was on my wishlist last year and had already sold out in Essen,
so I didn’t hesitate. We brought it along on our road trip, and my mom
and I played it together in the evenings—it was the perfect travel game.
This was a total spur-of-the-moment buy. I love checking out local game
shops whenever I visit a new city, and while in New Orleans, my mom and I
stumbled into one and saw French Quarter on the shelf. It felt too perfect to pass up—buying French Quarter
in the French Quarter? Yes, please. That same night we opened it up,
and my mom really enjoyed how the theme came through in the gameplay.
Here is an overview of all the games I played in March:
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