So Very Wrong About Games

Walker's approach to parenting eschews what he sees as the coddling endemic in other families. He believes in competition above all else, where newbs must be pwned and even babies must git gud. "L2P" is his family motto. Some appalled anthropologists tried making a documentary about the Walker household, but they were forced to tone it down and release it as Squid Game.01:21 AYURIS: Through the Desert (Reiner Knizia, KOSMOS, 1998)Games Played Last Week:02:56 -Pocket Paladin (Joe Klipfel, Mythfield Games, 2025)09:44 -7 Empires (Mac Gerdts, PD-Verlag, 2024)21:10 -A Gentle Rain (Kevin Wilson, Incredible Dream Studios, 2024)24:37 -Flip 7 (Eric Olsen, The Op Games, 2024)25:31 -NMBR 9 (Peter Wichmann, ABACUSSPIELE, 2017)27:44 -Earthborne Rangers (Andrew Fischer, Brooks Flugaur-Leavitt, Andrew Navaro, Adam Sadler, and Brady Sadler, Earthborne Games, 2023)31:23 -Everdell (James A. Wilson, Starling Games, 2018)35:12 -Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon (Fabio Lopiano & Nestore Mangone, Sorry We Are

"Because of the long-standing mutual enmity between Meany and Brown, Meany was named among the suspects in The Case Of Encyclopedia Brown’s Mangled Corpse. Meany denied the allegations.'It’s true that Detective Brown and I didn’t see eye to eye, but I would never do something so downright dirty rotten as murder him,' Meany said. 'Besides, it’s a matter of public record that, at the time the crime was committed, I was at the North Pole watching the penguins.'"-"Idaville Detective 'Encyclopedia' Brown Found Dead In Library Dumpster", The Onion01:42 AYURIS: Zoo Vadis (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2023)Games Played Last Week:4:12 -Sky Team (Luc Rémond, Le Scorpion Masqué, 2023)7:20 -Ofrenda (Orlando Sá & André Santos, Osprey Games, 2025)12:51 -Galactic Cruise (T.K. King, Dennis Northcott, and Koltin Thompson, Kinson Key Games, 2025)20:05 -Twins (Reiner Knizia, Oink Games, 1996)23:59 -Clinic Deluxe Edition (Alban Viard, AVStudioGames, 2019)28:23 -Stationfall (Matt Eklu

We generally frown on ad hominem here at SVWAG, ensconced as we are in our glass houses. In the case of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (known affectionately as "Ja-Jay" by no one), though, who wrote extensively about proper methods of childhood education, we shall report that he confessed to rather callously sandbagging his lover into abandoning their children (Rousseau claimed there were five of them, though records are tricky). Way to be a douchebag, Jay-Jay.01:47 AYURIS: City of the Great Machine (German Tikhomirov, CrowD Games, 2023)Games Played Last Week:03:36 -River Rats (Mathijs Jansen & Robin Stokkel, Four Suits Studio, 2025)08:08 -The Gang (John Cooper and Kory Heath, KOSMOS, 2024)09:47 -SCOUT (Kei Kajino, Oink Games, 2019)11:47 -Storm Raiders (Shem Phillips, Arkus Games, 2025)13:36 -Tigris & Euphrates (Reiner Knizia, Hans im Gluck, 1997)16:17 -Corps of Discovery: A Game Set in the World of Manifest Destiny (Jay Cormier & Sen-Foong Lim, Off the Page Games, 2025)21:58 -Dogs of War (Paolo Mo

I've read several different accounts of the battle of Sekigahara, and I swear there's no mention of Kevin Bacon or anyone bleaching their hair. How am I to know if Pony Boy stayed golden? Games Played Last Week:01:42 -MicroMacro: Kids--Crazy City Park (Johannes Sich, Edition Spielwiese, 2025)04:20 -Good Puppers (Chris Cieslik, Asmadi Games, 2021)07:38 -23 Knives (Tyler J. Brown, Play to Z, 2025)15:13 -TEAM3 GREEN (Alex Cutler & Matt Fantastic, Brain Games, 2019)20:04 -Marabunta (Reiner Knizia, Space Cowboys, 2023)21:28 -Ra (Reiner Knizia, alea, 1999)23:13 -Ra: The Dice Game (Reiner Knizia, Rio Grande Games, 2009)26:16 -Moving Company (Guo Jiahui & Wu Ying, Whales Entertainment, 2025)31:42 -Santorini: Riddle of the Sphinx (James Van Niekerk & Paul Saxberg, Roxley, 2025)37:30 -The Crew: Family Adventure (Thomas Sing, KOSMOS, 2024)42:07 -Hot Streak (Jon Perry, CMYK, 2025)43:42 -Flip 7 (Eric Olsen, The Op Games, 2024)News (and why it doesn't matter):45:09 Open registration for SVWAG Con (J

Walker and Mark almost come to blows over Flip 7 this week. Their disagreements over the merits of the product (Game? Experience? Way of Life? Sub "Roll a 6, Win a Cookie" distraction?) have long simmered, but the fundamental schism can no longer be ignored or papered over. They finally have it out. 02:27 AYURIS: Knarr (Thomas Dupont, Bombyx, 2023)Games Played Last Week:03:36 -Autobahn (Fabio Lopiano and Nestore Mangone, Alley Cat Games, 2022)06:39 -Scythe (Jamey Stegmaier, Stonemaier Games, 2016)09:47 -Fairy Tale (Satoshi Nakamura, What's Your Game?, 2008) 15:00 -Moon (Haakon Gaarder, Sinister Fish Games, 2023)18:17 -Spots (Alex Hague, Jon Perry, and Justin Vickers, CMYK, 2022)21:13 -ito (326, Arclight Games, 2019)28:06 -Deep Rock Galactic (Ole Steiness, MOOD Publishing, 2022)31:45 -Flip 7 (Eric Olsen, The Op Games, 2024)News (and why it doesn't matter):35:50 Recall from Alion by Dr. Ø; pseudo-sequel to Revive?38:07 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July 27th) on Eventbrite! https://

"Observers brought attention to [Gritty's] appearance, which could be construed as frightening, while The Guardian described him as an "acid trip of a mascot." Response to Gritty's introduction was immediate and sharply mixed, with many fans on social media expressing bewilderment and some fright at his appearance. Public perception of Gritty became increasingly positive as Gritty's antics, which subverted the cuddly, family-friendly appearance and demeanor of other NHL mascots, gained more attention on social media."-WikipediaGames Played Last Week:00:56 -Can't Stop (Sid Sackson, Playte Games, 2023)04:01 -Tigris & Euphrates (Reiner Knizia, Hans im Gluck, 1997)13:09 -Hansa Teutonica: East Expansion (Andreas Steding, Argentum Verlag, 2010)19:06 -Pandemic: Fall of Rome (Matt Leacock & Paolo Mori, Z-Man, 2018)22:03 -SpellBook (Phil Walker-Harding, Space Cowboys, 2023)24:40 -Skara Brae (Shem Phillips, Garphill Games, 2025)29:52 -Sausage Sizzle (Inka and Marcus Brand, 25th C

"gibber--intransitive verb:to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and often foolishly"-Merriam-Webster"gibberer--noun:the hosts of SVWAG"Games Played Last Week:01:17 -Sausage Sizzle (Inka and Marcus Brand, 25th Century Games, 2012)05:22 -Landmarks (Rodrigo Rego & Danilo Valente, Floodgate Games, 2024)09:11 -Skara Brae (Shem Phillips, Garphill Games, 2025)14:20 -Moving Company (Guo Jiahui & Wu Ying, Whales Entertainment, 2025)16:49 -First Rat (Gabriele Ausiello & Virginio Gigli, Pegasus Spiele, 2022)20:47 -Barbecubes (Brett J. Gilbert & Rob Sparks, Alley Cat Games, 2025)24:35 -Unstoppable (John D. Clair, Renegade Game Studios, 2025)29:48 -Battle of Mekaverse (Reiner Knizia, Kids Logic, 2024)34:25 -Dorfromantik: The Board Game (Michael Palm and Lukas Zach, Pegasus Spiele, 2022)37:41 -Toy Battle (Paolo Mori & Alessandro Zucchini, Repos Production, 2025)40:04 -Dungeon Twister: The Card Game (Christophe Boelinger, Asmodee, 2013)46:34 -Rumble Nation (Yogi Shinichi, Hobby Japan, 2017)N

Chaka Khan, let me rock youLet me rock you, Chaka KhanLet me rock you, that's all I wanna doChaka Khan, let me rock youLet me rock you, Chaka KhanLet me rock you, 'cause I feel for you-Chaka Khan, "I Feel for You"01:26 AYURIS: Barcelona (Dani Garcia, Board&Dice, 2023)Games Played Last Week:03:10 -Snap Ships Tactics: Swarm Box (Josh Derksen, Snap Ships, 2025) 10:13 -Battle of Mekaverse (Reiner Knizia, Kids Logic, 2024)15:34 -Everdell Farshore (James A. Wilson & Clarissa A. Wilson, Starling Games, 2023)20:19 -Trading Titans (Reiner Knizia, Kids Logic, 2024)25:03 -TAH WARS: Dice Tower Game (Luca Vince Caltabiano, BOARD TO DEATH, 2025)31:06 -Things in Rings (Peter C. Hayward, Allplay, 2024)News (and why it doesn't matter):35:06 Lifeboat by Jeff Siadek reprint on Kickstarter37:15 Underwater Cities: Data Era expansion38:18 Open registration for SVWAG Con (July 25th-July27th) on Eventbrite! https://tinyurl.com/25s6p5jd39:55 Topic: Tricky Edge CasesAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.

While we pride ourselves in playing more games in a week than many play in a month, when we take a week away from the SVWAG studio we often face a truly herculean backlog of games to discuss. This two-week period is no exception. Rest assured, we would never leave our dear listeners in the lurch, so we will keep you updated so you need not miss a thing.01:00 AYURIS: Race to the Raft (Frank West, The City of Games, 2023)Games Played Last Week:03:40 -Knarr (Thomas Dupont, Bombyx, 2023)06:42 -Quin (Brian Rooney and Taeleen Woodard, Arch & Gravity Publishing, 2024)11:41 -Slay the Spire: The Board Game (Gary Dworetsky, Anthony Giovannetti, and Casey Yano, Contention Games, 2024) 14:47 -Gùgōng: Pànjūn (Andreas Steding, Game Brewer, 2020)22:00 -Skull (Hervé Marly, Asmodee, 2011)24:09 -Space Gits (Mike Hutchinson, Planet Smasher Games, 2025)30:06 -Bad Company (Kenneth Minde, Kristian Amundsen Østby, and Eilif Svensson, Aporta Games, 2021)34:44 -Rebirth (Reiner Knizia, Mighty Boards, 2024)36:48 -Tír na nÓg (Isaac

Tiebreakers are arguably a kind of endgame scoring. I respect the fact that they are invariably necessary (I mean, if for no other reason than if they're omitted some smartass like me will complain). That said, clearly if the scoreboard goes to 200+ I don't imagine we'll be hauling out the second tiebreaker condition all that much. Frequently the endgame conversion of resources to points already serves as a tiebreaker anyway. 01:48 AYURIS: Nidavellir (Serge Laget, GRRRE Games, 2020)Games Played Last Week:04:57 -FlickFleet (Jackson Pope & Paul Willcox, Eurydice Games, 2018)11:55 -Slay the Spire: The Board Game (Gary Dworetsky, Anthony Giovannetti, and Casey Yano, Contention Games, 2024) 14:21 -Altay: Dawn of Civilization (Paolo Mori & Ole Steiness, Ares Games, 2024)17:19 -Wizards of the Grimoire: Shifting Sands (Cole Banning & Joe Banning, Grimoire Games, 2025)21:23 -Risk 2210 A.D.: Frontline (Mike Gills, Renegade Game Studios, 2025)32:57 -Calimala (Fabio Lopiano, Alley Cat Games, 2024)

When is a thing like another thing? Is Albedo like Core Worlds? Is Cat Blues like Rummy? Is Through the Desert like Go? Is a nudge as good as a wink to blind bat? Are all Roll & Writes inferior to Roll a 6, Win a Cookie? Is Christophe Boelinger France's Vlaada Chvátil? Probably, because it's all just like Mage Knight in the end. Games Played Last Week:04:46 -Street Masters: Tide of the Dragon (Scott McFall, Adam Sadler, Brady Sadler, and Mitch Schroeder, Blacklist Games, 2022)09:45 -Castles of Mad King Ludwig: Collector's Edition (Ted Alspach, Bézier Games, 2022)13:55 -Cat Blues: The Big Gig (Reiner Knizia, Bitewing Games, 2024)22:14 -Moon Colony Bloodbath (Donald X. Vaccarino, Rio Grande Games, 2025)28:03 -Albedo: Space Pirates! (Kai Herbertz, Herbertz Entertainment UG, 2018)35:43 -Malediction (Leo Cunha, Nicole Lobo, and Daniel Pettersen de Lucena, Loot Studios, 2025)39:46 -Hey, That's My Fish! (Günter Cornett & Alvydas Jakeliunas, Bambus Spieleverlag, 2003)40:55 -Parks: Roll & H

People have favourably described our physical appearances as "borderline tolerable" and "just short of hideous", and that was just our mothers. In light of this, we put ourselves forward as candidates for all manner of game show. Mark is quite fond of Rice-a-Roni and thus would be more than happy to just have a consolation prize, and Walker just wants to spin something as hard as he can. Better reinforce your props.01:43 AYURIS: Archeos Society (Paolo Mori, Space Cowboys, 2023)Games Played Last Week:03:16 -Ethnos (Paolo Mori, CMON, 2017)08:20 -Wizards of the Grimoire: Shifting Sands (Cole Banning & Joe Banning, Grimoire Games, 2025)12:14 -Jenga Maker (Uncredited, Hasbro, 2022)16:20 -Click A Tree (Uwe Rosenberg, Skellig Games, 2025)18:15 -Street Masters: Tide of the Dragon (Scott McFall, Adam Sadler, Brady Sadler, and Mitch Schroeder, Blacklist Games, 2022)22:15 -Crafting the Cosmos (David Gordon & TAM, Office Dog, 2025)23:48 -Scape Goat (Jon Perry, Indie Boards & Cards, 2020)28:41

In logic, conditionals are always true if the antecedent is false. You can't falsify the conditional if the conditions aren't met. For example, if Mark can bench 500 pounds, then vinegar tastes like cotton candy. Rest assured that I ain't benching that much, so don't worry about it; the conditional is true. Similarly, I can invite pretty much whoever I want to SVWAGCon. Fareed Zakaria, Olivia Rodrigo, and Jordan Mechner? Sure, they're all invited. They don't know about us, but it's all good.Games Played Last Week:04:00 -Finspan (David Gordon & Michael O'Connell, Stonemaier Games, 2025)07:51 -Slay the Spire: The Board Game (Gary Dworetsky, Anthony Giovannetti, and Casey Yano, Contention Games, 2024) 11:16 -Marvel Dice Throne Missions (Gavan Brown & Nate Chatellier, Roxley, 2025)13:28 -Star Trek: Into the Unknown (Max Brooke & Michael Gernes, WizKids, 2025)21:51 -Lunar (Masato Uesagi, Allplay, 2024)23:25 -Lone Wolves (Yasuyuki Nakamura, Wonderful World Board Games, 20

I was donating blood while wearing my Transformers Converse shoes, and two different phlebotomists commented positively about them. "We have won the cultural argument," I said, deliberately burying the lede that demographic destiny is probably the chief cause. I suspect that the same forces explain increased societal acceptance of toys, and board games are not immune. Thank goodness!Games Played Last Week:01:22 -Guards of Atlantis II Arcane Hero Pack (Artyom Nichipurov, Wolff Designa, 2024)07:56 -Creature Caravan (Ryan Laukat, Red Raven Games, 2024) 10:46 -Marvel Dice Throne Missions (Gavan Brown & Nate Chatellier, Roxley, 2025)15:55 -The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era (Josh J. Carlson, Michael Gernes, Logan Giannini, Ryan Howard, Salem Scott, and Josh Wielgus, Chip Theory Games, 2025)26:21 -Dungeon Kart (Michael Xuereb, Brotherwise Games, 2024)30:50 -Star Trek: Captain's Chair (Nigel Buckle & Dávid Turczi, WizKids, 2025)34:47 -Keyflower: The Merchants (Sebastian Bleasdale &

As is readily apparent from the show's subject matter and our general presentation, we here at SVWAG are stone-cold jocks who excel at the sports and are thoroughly ripped. We trust the launcher and never ever skip leg day.00:57 AYURIS: Expeditions (Jamey Stegmaier, Stonemaier Games, 2023)Games Played Last Week:03:04 -Coloretto (Michael Schacht, ABACUSSPIELE, 2003)07:16 -Metal Gear Solid: The Board Game (Emerson Matsuuchi, CMON, 2025)14:20 -Mega Civilization (Flo de Haan, John Rodriguez, and Francis Tresham, 999 Games, 2015) 30:11 -Star Trek: Captain's Chair (Nigel Buckle & Dávid Turczi, WizKids, 2025)37:38 -Keep the Heroes Out!: Boss Battles (Luís Brueh, Brueh Games, 2024)40:46 -Until Proven Guilty: The Starry Sky Necklace (Enrico Procacci, DV Games, 2024)46:46 -Crafting the Cosmos (David Gordon & TAM, Office Dog, 2025)News (and why it doesn't matter):48:24 Granddaughter success with Heap-O-Sheep48:48 Registration for SVWAGCon open for patrons! www.patreon.com/svwag50:18 Note-taking in Sp

Despite the welcome relative absence of anthropomorphic animals this week--aside from some sundry ducks in Lorcana--we see a lot of animals and various critters this week. We eschew sacrifices to a dodgy snake in Imperium, we fling sheep with abandon, we throw down with some wrestling bugs, and that's on top of comparatively mundane animal husbandry in Keyflower. Mark offered some unflattering comparisons between Walker and various animals during Crokinole, but that doesn't quite count.Games Played Last Week:02:22 -Space Alert (Vlaada Chvátil, Czech Games Edition, 2008)04:58 -Imperium: Horizons (Nigel Buckle and Dávid Turczi, Osprey Games, 2024)09:17 CMYK's Magenta Series: Duos (Johannes Schmidauer-König, CMYK, 2025), Figment (Wolfgang Warsch, CMYK, 2025), Fives (Taiki Shinzawa, CMYK, 2025), Fruit Fight (Reiner Knizia, CMYK, 2025) 12:21 -Heap-O-Sheep: The High Flying Game of Flingin' Sheep! (Dominic Yard, Fat Brain Toy Company, Unknown)16:48 -Crokinole (Uncredited, Mayday, 2025)19:36 -Kabuto S

While we hate to confirm your most reductive of preconceived notions, snow removal in Canadian cities is no joke. The fleet of vehicles required to allow for daily life in even a small Canadian city after major snowfall is impressive. The balletic dance of some of their formations while in operation calls to mind the precise of mid-air refuelling.  01:03 AYURIS: Ra (Reiner Knizia, alea, 1999)Games Played Last Week:04:07 -Mistborn (John D. Clair, Brotherwise Games, 2024)09:17 -Cerebria: The Inside World (Richard Amann, Viktor Peter, István Pócsi, Frigyes Schőberl, Nick Shaw, & Dávid Turczi, Mindclash Games, 2018)13:40 -1793: Patriots & Traitors (Jason St.Just, Sound of Drums, 2024) 20:35 -Navegador (Mac Gerdts, PD-Verlag, 2010)26:43 -Galactic Renaissance (Christian Martinez, Matagot, 2024)29:25 -Cyclades: Legendary Edition (Bruno Cathala & Ludovic Maublanc, Open Sesame Games, 2024)39:24 -Whale Riders (Reiner Knizia, Grail Games, 2021)41:06 -Figment (Wolfgang Warsch, CMYK, 2025)46:01 -Kabuto Sumo: S

Colour nouns are essentially arbitrary; how one decides to chop up the visible spectrum of light is a matter of contingent taxonomy. Some languages have one noun for both blue and green, for example. English has a word for light red (pink) where other languages don't. Russian similarly has a word for light blue. And then there's magenta, which we can all agree is a scene and a half. Games Played Last Week:02:35 -Fruit Fight (Reiner Knizia, CMYK, 2025) 06:55 -Fives (Taiki Shinzawa, CMYK, 2025) 09:49 -Figment (Wolfgang Warsch, CMYK, 2025)12:49 -Duos (Johannes Schmidauer-König, CMYK, 2025) 16:17 -Sidereal Confluence (TauCeti Deichmann, Wizkids, 2017)19:24 -Fishing (Friedemann Friese, 2F-Spiele, 2024)24:36 -The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era (Josh J. Carlson, Michael Gernes, Logan Giannini, Ryan Howard, Salem Scott, and Josh Wielgus, Chip Theory Games, 2025)32:24 -Storm Raiders (Shem Phillips, Arkus Games, 2025)News (and why it doesn't matter):38:55 Mythic Games in trouble (again), crowdfun

Our upcoming convention, July 25th-27th 2025, is in its planning stages! We have a venue but nothing much else yet. Not even a name! Suggestions welcome. Mark quite likes So Very Wrong About Games Fun Times Good Vibes Only Trans Rights Are Human Rights Boardgame Jamboree, but he worries that it might be too pithy. Few things are off the table! Special guests? Maybe! Fabulous prizes? Well, prizes, definitely. More like obligatory prizes.03:08 AYURIS: Undaunted: Battle of Britain (Trevor Benjamin and David Thompson, Osprey Games, 2023)Games Played Last Week:04:49 -Malediction (Leo Cunha, Nicole Lobo, and Daniel Pettersen de Lucena, Loot Studios, 2025)12:09 -Slay the Spire: The Board Game (Gary Dworetsky, Anthony Giovannetti, and Casey Yano, Contention Games, 2024)13:43 -Lone Wolves (Yasuyuki Nakamura, Wonderful World Board Games, 2024)18:51 -Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape (Alex Olteanu & Marco Portugal, CMON, 2022)24:01 -Critter Kitchen (Alex Cutler & Peter C. Hayward, Carboard Alchemy, 2025) 27:59 -Colo

If you can choose to be the regular version or the spicy version, you obviously choose the spicy version. I mean, sure, the capsaicin may sting, but one assumes that the canonical version is caliente. Put another way, would you prefer "SVWAG" or "SVWAG en fuego?" The choice is clear. It is a corollary of sorts to Winston Zeddemore axiom that when someone asks you if you are a god, you say yes.Games Played Last Week:01:33 -Under Our Sun (Maximilian Lichtner and David Poluda, tabletopper games, 2024)06:05 -Cosmic Frog (Jenna Felli, Devious Weasel Games, 2020)09:34 -Ankh: Gods of Egypt (Eric M. Lang, CMON, 2021)14:20 -Trio (Kaya Miyano, Cocktail Games, 2021)17:17 -Don't L.L.A.M.A. Dice (Reiner Knizia, AMIGO, 2021)18:58 -Slay the Spire: The Board Game (Gary Dworetsky, Anthony Giovannetti, and Casey Yano, Contention Games, 2024)21:02 -The Vale of Eternity: Artifacts (Eric Hong and Mathieu Rivero, Mandoo Games, 2024)News (and why it doesn't matter):25:06 If you know of games lost in the L.A.