Author Archives: Dan Blum

Dan Blum: Review of Die Tavernen im Tiefen Thal

Posted on August 20, 2019

Designer: Wolfgang Warsch Publisher: Schmidt Spiele (English version coming from North Star later this year) Players: 2-4 Age: 12+ Time: 60-90 minutes Times played: 8 Although Wolfgang Warsch had a few earlier publications he really arrived on most gamers’ radar … Continue reading →

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Dan Blum: Review of Stumblewood

Posted on June 14, 2018

Stumblewood Designers: Charles Bossart and Sébastien Darras Publisher: Gigamic Players: 2-6 Age: 10+ Time: 20 minutes Times played: 2, with review copy provided by Gigamic   We can roughly divide games into “decision-making games” and “skill games,” with the latter … Continue reading →

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Dan Blum: Review of Watson & Holmes

Posted on January 6, 2016

Watson & Holmes Designer: Jesús Torres Castro Publisher: Ludonova Ages: 12+ Players: 2-7 Time: 45-75 minutes Times played: 3, went through the other 10 cases solitaire It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. It’s usually not … Continue reading →

Posted in Essen 2015, Reviews | Leave a comment

Dan Blum: Sneak Preview of Food Chain Magnate

Posted on September 14, 2015

Food Chain Magnate Designers: Jeroen Doumen and Joris Wiersinga Publisher: Splotter Spellen Players: 2-5 Ages: 14+ Time: 120-240 min Food Chain Magnate is is the eagerly-awaited new release from Splotter, and as is traditional for Splotter games it’s complicated, on … Continue reading →

Posted in Essen 2015, First Impressions | 1 Comment

Dan Blum: Review of Rolling Japan

Posted on December 18, 2014

Rolling Japan Designer: Hisashi Hayashi Publisher: Japon Brand / OZAKU Brand Ages: 8+ Players: 1-8 (or more if provide your own pens) Time: 15 minutes Times played: 8 of the original (all on purchased copies), 2 of Rolling Tokyo Dice … Continue reading →

Posted in Essen 2014, Reviews | 4 Comments

Dan Blum: Review of Orléans

Posted on December 10, 2014

Orléans Designer: Reiner Stockhausen Publisher: dlp Games Ages: 12+ Players: 2-4 Time: 90 minutes Times played: 2 (on a purchased copy, though not mine) Background In the beginning was Dominion. There might have been games that used “pool building” as … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | 7 Comments