Dale Yu: Review of dnup

Posted on June 9, 2026 by Dale Yu

dnup

  • Designer: Kei Kajino 
  • Publisher: asmodee
  • Players: 2-5
  • Age: 8+
  • Time: 15-20 minutes
  • Played with review copy provided by publisher

Your goal in DNUP is to empty your hand of cards.

Each player starts with eight or ten cards in hand, with each card having different numbers (from 1-10) at top and bottom, e.g. 1 and 7. Pick up all your cards at once; you can rearrange cards from left to right at any time, but you can’t revolve them. (Don’t worry, the indexing of the cards lets you know what number would show up if you were to revolve the card!) 

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Alison Brennan: Game Snapshots – 2026 (Part 14)

Posted on June 8, 2026 by Dale Yu

 

 

New-to-me games played recently include …

CAPER: EUROPE (2022): Rank 514, Rating 7.6

A nice little 2 player with multiple ways to score points, the tug-of-war at each of three locations being just one means. Each turn you play a card to one of the locations and then you swap hands (ie if there’s nothing ideal, play the card you don’t want your opponent to play). The card effects have more score conditions, or move the tug-of-war, or take a stolen good (for set-based points) and so on. Six rounds. Form a strategy based on the cards you see. It’s all over in 20 minutes, easy to teach, easy to play.

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Dale Yu: Review of Twisted Trumpets

Posted on June 5, 2026 by Dale Yu

 

 

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

Posted on June 4, 2026 by Dale Yu

 

 

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

Posted on June 3, 2026 by Mark Jackson

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)

Posted on June 3, 2026 by Dale Yu

 

 

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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