Dale Yu: Review of Fliptoons (Season 2)

Posted on July 2, 2026 by Dale Yu

 

 

Fliptoons Season 2

  • Designers: Jordy Adan and Renato Simoes 
  • Publisher: Thunderworks
  • Players: 1-8
  • Age: 10+
  • Time: 20 minutes
  • Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/45HYoSt
  • Played with review copy provided by publisher

It’s time to cast the next great animated show! A top talent agent like you knows a star when you see one, and the director needs you to fill six roles for the big production. Search Flip Valley for the perfect toon characters, and make sure they’re ready to work together on the silver screen!  FlipToons is a quick deck-building game. You’ll begin with a deck of hopeful toon actors. Each round, flip six of these toons out from your deck into your screen grid to audition together. Each toon card in your 3-by-2 grid has different talent effects. Some are resolved as soon as they are flipped. Many will interact with one another and (hopefully) earn Fame for your studio. But they won’t all have that special on-screen chemistry you’re looking for. Some won’t work well together at all!

 

In this second edition of the game – which can be fully standalone as well as being combined with the original game for a larger experience, players again vie to have the best cast of Toons in their deck for the final showdown.

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Dale Yu: Preview of Rising Cultures

Posted on July 1, 2026 by Dale Yu

 

 

Rising Cultures

  • Designers: Aske Christiansen, Francesco Testini 
  • Publisher: Huch! 
  • Players: 2
  • Age: 12+
  • Time: 45 minutes
  • Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4oDfObO 

In Rising Cultures, you take control of one of four different civilizations — Egypt, Persia, Rome, or the Abbasid Caliphate — each with its own unique deck and abilities. Your goal is to lead your culture to fame and glory through conquered provinces or building cards. Each of the multi-use cards presents you with an important decision: Do you use them for resources, for your military, to build important buildings, or to play unique leaders? The decision is yours!

 

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Dale Yu: Review of Tiny Towns: Villagers

Posted on June 30, 2026 by Dale Yu

 

 

Tiny Towns: Villagers

  • Designers: Peter McPherson, Josh Wood
  • Publisher: AEG
  • Players: 1-6
  • Age: 12+
  • Time: 45-60 minutes
  • Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4ahS86Z
  • Played with review copy provided by publisher

In Tiny Towns: Villagers, word has spread far and wide of a thriving little civilization in the forest. Creatures with incredible talents – from engineers to merchants – have come to visit these towns and decide where they will make their new homes. They offer the most astute town mayors their skills, which can transform buildings, control the influx of resources, and perform impressive architectural feats. The world of Tiny Towns is getting a bit bigger! 

 

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Dale Yu: Review of Makoto

Posted on June 27, 2026 by Dale Yu

 

 

Makoto

  • Designer: Simon Weinberg 
  • Publisher: Mayfair Games / Huch!
  • Players: 2-6
  • Age: 8+
  • Time: 20 minutes
  • Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/43Iz4el
  • Played with review copy provided by publisher/designer

Makoto, which means “sincerity” in Japanese, is a climbing card game with hidden depths and beautiful illustrations that show the journey of a Ronin through the countryside of Japan. Makoto is all about cleverly improving your hand cards and weighing when to continue playing versus when to pass.

 

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Alison Brennan: Game Snapshots – 2026 (Part 15)

Posted on June 26, 2026 by Dale Yu

 

New-to-me games played recently include …

A GENTLE RAIN (2021): Rank 1014, Rating 7.6
A fairly straightforward, effectively solo co-op of drawing and placing a tile (Carcassonne style) to the common display to either complete a 2×2 square of matching coloured edges (which is a point) or placing it to maximise the chances of completing a square later on. Get 8 pts before the tiles run out; which should be under 15 minutes unless someone cares to deploy serious AP. There’s no hidden information; everyone should be making the same choices. It’s gentle enough for those looking for a zen experience but there’s not much there if you’re looking for decisions and game.
Rating: 6

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Dale Yu: Review of Pirate King

Posted on June 25, 2026 by Dale Yu

Pirate King

  • Designer: Frankie Bu
  • Publisher: Gigamic
  • Players:2-5
  • Age: 8+
  • Time: 20 minutes
  • Played with review copy provided by publisher

Prove your worth and become the Pirate King by facing challenges that will test your luck. In Pirate King!, every decision matters, and only those capable of mastering their ambition will claim the pirate throne. Across 7 rounds, you’ll compete against other captains to build the best deck of cards while avoiding the dreaded curses lurking in the seven seas.

 

Those who manage their luck well will gather valuable resources, such as gold and swords, to trade for powerful market cards or defeat terrifying monsters. These cards provide victory points and special abilities to help you get ahead of your rivals. However, greed is always lurking, and it could leave you empty-handed if you don’t play carefully.

 

After seven rounds, the player with the most victory points will be crowned the one and only Pirate King. Only one can claim this title—will it be you?

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