Dale Yu: Review of Twisted Trumpets

 

 

Twisted Trumpets

  • Designer: Matthew Rodela
  • Publisher: Play to Z
  • Players: 2-4
  • Age: 8+
  • Time: 30-45 minutes
  • Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4uGuAAp
  • Played with review copy provided by publisher

Twisted Trumpets is a lively, competitive tile-laying game where you vie for the prestigious title of “Royal Bugler” by crafting the most whimsical trumpet in the kingdom!   The game ends when a player completely fills all but three squares on their player board. You’ll finish that round, then all players take one final turn. Everyone tallies their scores based on the length of completed pipes, sets of flags, notes surrounding birds, public objectives, and private goals. The player with the most points wins and becomes the new Royal Bugler!

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Dale Yu: Review of Let’s Go! To France

 

 

Let’s Go! To France

  • Designer: Josh Wood
  • Publisher: AEG
  • Players: 1-4
  • Age: 10+
  • Time: 45 minutes
  • Played with review copy provided by publisher

You are travelers planning and experiencing your own dream vacations to France. Explore Paris, soaking up art, history, and delicious food through its many tourist attractions and hidden gems. Using over 100 beautifully illustrated cards, you will discover activities and strategically place them to create your six day itinerary. While puzzling out your optimal activities, you will plan your trip to one of four marvelous regions of France. Will you bask in the sun along the French Riviera or explore the historic castles of the Loire valley?

 

Play competitively or solo, earning victory points by successfully balancing the two halves of your vacation, making the most out of your interests, and managing your time well. The most points wins, but everyone has the chance to create a memorable vacation. 

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Mark’s Top 100 Games: The 2026 Edition

Every couple of years (or so) I blog through my top 50 or top 100 games over on my personal blog, akapastorguy. In 2022 and 2024, I shared that list with our faithful readers here at the OG… and I’m back to do it again.

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Dale Yu: Review of  High Society (Allplay)

 

 

High Society (Allplay)

  • Designer: Reiner Knizia 
  • Publisher: Allplay
  • Players: 3-5
  • Age: 10+
  • Time: 15-30 minutes
  • Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4fiAgfr
  • Played with review copy provided by publisher

In Reiner Knizia’s High Society, players bid against each other to acquire the various trappings of wealth (positive-number and multiplier cards) while avoiding its pitfalls (negative number and divisor cards). While bidding, though, keep an eye on your remaining cash – at the end of the game, even though all those positive-number cards might add up to a win, the player with the least money isn’t even considered for victory. 

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Dale Yu: Review of Torchlit

 

 

Torchlit

  • Designer: David Spalinski
  • Publisher: Allplay
  • Players: 2-5
  • Age: 10+
  • Time: 40 minutes
  • Amazon link:  https://amzn.to/3RUf8CB 
  • Played with review copy provided by publisher

Every adventurer dreams of delving into a monster-packed dungeon and returning home to bask in fame and fortune. However, choosing the right dungeon can be tricky. Some have barely any monsters, while others are teeming with adventurers eager to split the spoils. And lurking behind it all is the fickle Dungeon Warden, forever tugging at the strings of fate. It’s no wonder adventurers carry a torch to light the way. In this trick-taking game, you must decide when to win tricks and when to increase the value of the number of tricks you think you might take. However, points are limited, so if any players end up taking the same amount of tricks, they must divide the points among themselves. After 3 rounds of play, the player with the most points wins!



 

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Dale Yu: Review of Hummingbirds

 

 

Hummingbirds

  • Designer: Jason Tremblay
  • Publisher: the op
  • Players: 2-4
  • Age: 8+
  • Time: 15 minutes
  • Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/43bESwB 
  • Played with review copy provided by publisher

In Hummingbirds, you’ll guide your birds to claim flowers that hide sand timers, then reveal those timers to check for nectar. If the sand timer has run out, collect a nectar token of the same color. The longer you wait, the sweeter the reward! But be careful: if the sand timer is still ticking when you check, you’ll lose one of your lowest-value nectar tokens. 

 

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