Tag: board games

Geekly News: February 8, 2026; Obsidian Entertainment Cancels Plans for The Outer Worlds 3

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Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geekly News. This week saw plenty of new releases for board games and video games, but before we get into those, let’s get into this week’s headline. Obsidian Entertainment made a sizeable announcement this past week. The Fallout: New Vegas developer announced that they may need to go in a different direction with their games. Obsidian cancelled any plans for The Outer Worlds 3 and an Avowed sequel.

Obsidian Entertainment at a Crossroads

Honestly, I may be more in tune with Obsidian Entertainment because I just finished an Obsidian Entertainment Video Game History, slated for a May 2026 release. Thank you, Obsidian. I may need to alter the final two segments of that piece. But Obsidian Entertainment dropped a bombshell this past week. Obsidian President Urquhart announced that Obsidian Entertainment needs to reduce the development time of their games, which means titles like The Outer Worlds 2 and Avowed will not receive sequels.

Obsidian Entertainment has a penchant for developing brand-new game engines with each of its large titles. Despite The Outer Worlds 2 and Avowed releasing within months of each other, both games have different game engines. This increases the development time for games that will already have massive development times. The Outer Worlds 2 took six years to develop, while Avowed had a development time of seven years. Yikes! Less-than-expected sales for both titles has led Obsidian Entertainment to cancel plans for any future games in these series.

Several factors led to The Outer Worlds 2 and Avowed selling fewer copies than expected. The Outer Worlds 2 suffered backlash with a proposed $80 price tag. Obsidian/Microsoft reverted to a $70 price tag before launch, but the damage was done. Gamers lost faith in the series. And then there’s Avowed. Avowed is more of a straight fantasy open-world RPG, and that is a tough market to crack into with a new title. Yes. Avowed is set in the popular Pillars of Eternity universe, but it functions as a new game in a new series. It also doesn’t help that Obsidian wasted a couple of years trying to turn Avowed into what Urquhart dubbed “Skyrim meets Destiny 2.” Obsidian could never get the multiplayer gameplay (the Destiny 2 portion) to work and turned Avowed into a single-player RPG experience. But that led to Avowed’s seven-year development window.

Video games work a lot like films. Many modern films flop even when they earn well over $500 million at the box office because producing them costs so much. A video game, like Avowed, that has a seven-year development will need to bring in a lot more money than a video game that takes three to four years to develop, like Obsidian’s other 2025 release, Grounded 2, or even Obsidian’s 2022 indie-like Pentiment. Even though Pentiment had a niche market, it didn’t cost Obsidian much to make the game, and smaller games like Pentiment and Grounded 2 may become the developer’s new business model. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of large open-world RPGs from Obsidian, but the developer may reduce the number of those games it releases.

Bitewing Games Launch Gold Country and Totally Human on KickStarter

Bitewing Games delivers one heck of a one-two punch this week with Reiner Knizia’s Gold Country and Kasper Lapp’s Totally Human. Gold Country is a new California Gold Rush strategy game created by Reiner Knizia and gorgeously illustrated by Beth Sobel, the same Beth Sobel who provided Wingspan’s art. While the design is inspired by a cult-classic Knizia game called Spectaculum, it has undergone extensive redevelopment by Reiner Knizia (closely collaborating with Bitewing Games) to become the ultimate stock market manipulation game. It features a completely reworked core game, all-new maps, exciting tactical abilities, and the lush landscapes of California.

Gold Country looks great on the table. I’ve never played Spectaculum, but heard great things. And this is a Reiner Knizia game. Knizia has been on a roll. And then there’s Kasper Lapp’s Totally Human. Lapp had a hit with Magic Maze. In Totally Human, players are given hidden identities (human or alien) and must answer three multiple-choice questions as “human-like” as possible, but aliens don’t understand human culture completely and face restrictions on how they can respond.

Totally Human gives me strong Spy Fall and Ferret Out vibes. Players take on hidden roles and must try and figure out who’s an alien in disguise. When done well, this concept can be a ton of fun. I’ve had more fun with Ferret Out than Spy Fall because players (including the ferret) don’t know who’s the odd one out. Based on Totally Human’s description, I don’t know how exactly the game plays. But I’ll give it a try. You can back Gold Country or Totally Human separately, but backing them both gives gamers a discount. If you’re interested in Totally Human and/or Gold Country, check out their KickStarter page.

Logic & Lore Launches on KickStarter

In Logic & Lore, rivals race to be the first to align their hidden stars, numbered 1-9. Each player has dragons and mice working together to organize the cosmos: they send their dragons out to gather information and the mice stay back to take notes and make conclusions based on the knowledge brought back by their dragons. Players each start with their set of cards face-down and shuffled. The game ends when either one player aligns all of their cards correctly OR a player chooses to reveal all of their cards. If the cards are correct, they win; otherwise, their opponent wins.

I like Logic & Lore’s description of a competitive logic game that stays cozy. And I think Logic & Lore gains its cozy designation based on its theme. What could be cozier than aligning the night sky? I dig the theme and the game’s look. Logic & Lore has a great score on Boardgamegeek. If you’re interested in backing Logic & Lore’s second edition, check out its KickStarter page.

Astra Imperium Launches on GameFound

Covering the monthly Solo Game of the Month has become a tradition for Geekly. This month’s title, Astra Imperium, sounds incredible. Astra Imperium offers the complexity of a Euro game in a ten-minute playtime. That’s perfect for a solo game. Usually, I can’t justify long setups and plays of solo games. I don’t need to worry with Astra Imperium.

As usual, Solo Game of the Month offers great production value. Astra Imperium’s resource management has me intrigued, and as you can tell with the picture above, there’s minimal setup and tear down for what looks to be an engaging solo game. Perfect! If you’re interested in Astra Imperium, check out its GameFound page.

Jump Masters! Launches on GameFound

Publisher Chip Theory is known for their amazing production value. At the time of writing this post, we have few images of Chip Theory’s latest game, Jump Masters!, but the game sounds fun. Jump Masters! combines dice placement (where the dice are unique characters with abilities) with Chinese Checkers. I love this concept.

Taking advantage of their character abilities, players try to dominate the board. Take advantage of positioning and terrain to best your opponent in this light-hearted, cute-throat game. Not gonna lie, I favorited Jump Masters! while researching it. Again, we have few images, other than the ones above. But I trust Chip Theory to produce a fantastic-looking game. If you’re interested in Jump Masters!, check out its GameFound page.

The Void Unveiled: Echoes of Arkham is a story-driven Lovecraftian board game of investigation, madness, and cosmic horror, designed for 1–4 players. Fully cooperative, rich in narrative, and steeped in creeping insanity, it invites you to descend into a world where every choice matters—and madness is never far behind. Step into the role of investigators unraveling a series of eerie mysteries in 1930s Arkham, each told through branching narrative chapters filled with meaningful choices, unique events, and escalating dread. As you read the story, your decisions shape the course of the game, leading to different outcomes and consequences. Each creature you encounter is governed by its own distinct set of rules and behaviors—not a single generic AI system in sight. Every monster feels unique, each one changing how you fight, think, and survive.

The above description comes from The Void Unveiled: Echoes of Arkham’s publisher. It is tough to stand out in the Cthulhu board game space. The phrase “not a single generic AI system in sight” must be a knock against Mansions of Madness. Honestly, The Void Unveiled: Echoes of Arkham reminds me a lot of a streamlined Mansions of Madness. But while Mansions Second Edition features an app that helps build the world, The Void Unveiled: Echoes of Arkham goes old school with an included storybook. From what I’ve seen of The Void Unveiled, it strikes me as a mixture of Mansions of Madness and Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective. If that’s the case, I’m interested. Since The Void Unveiled is another GameFound campaign, we have little information during its prerelease. But if you’re interested in The Void Unveiled: Echoes of Arkham, check out its GameFound page.

The Stone of Madness Dicefall Launches on GameFound

The Stone of Madness Dicefall is a cooperative tactical stealth board game for one to five players. Players jointly control five prisoners confined within an isolated monastery ruled by the Inquisition. Each prisoner has distinct abilities, restrictions, and mental conditions. The game is played in structured rounds where players assign actions to the prisoners, move them through the monastery, and interact with rooms, objects, and objectives. Actions are resolved using dice. Dice represent uncertainty under pressure and are tightly linked to the character performing the action and the current situation.

Stealth is the core of the experience. Many actions create noise, which increases tension and causes Inquisition patrols to react and reposition. Patrol movement and behavior respond to player decisions and accumulated alerts, turning the monastery into an active threat rather than a static board. Avoiding detection requires coordination, timing, and restraint.

I love it when a publisher includes a good description for their game (like the one we included above). The Stone of Madness Dicefall is a cooperative stealth board game? Count me in. That’s an amazing premise. There aren’t enough stealth board games, and most of the ones that exist are hidden movement games, where players take opposing sides. I have no idea how The Stone of Madness Dicefall intends to make stealth cooperative. Color me intrigued. If you’re interested in The Stone of Madness Dicefall, check out its GameFound page.

Ancient Empires Launches on GameFound

Ancient Empires is an action-programming, area-control, civilization game of expansion, conquest, and cunning decisions. In just a small box, it packs the feel of an epic empire-building experience. Players take the role of rising civilizations, competing for dominance across a modular map divided into regions rich with resources, settlements, and natural wonders. Through clever programming of action tokens, players expand their armies, establish cities, harvest resources, and challenge rivals for control of key territories. The game is divided into three Ages. During the Stone Age, the players will play as roaming tribes, establishing villages and expanding their reach. In the Bronze Age, the players will choose one of the available Civilizations to play with, gaining unique abilities. Finally, in the Iron Age, the players will be able to construct their Wonders.

We are three for the last three with great publisher descriptions of their games. Seriously, it makes covering games a lot easier. I love the tightness of Ancient Empires’ board. The three ages intrigue me. Transitioning from one age to the next could get intense. I’m unsure if players draft which empires they may choose, or if they gain an empire during the Bronze Age if they achieve certain benchmarks during the Stone Age. Either way could be fun. Ancient Empires looks to pack a lot of game into a small box. Most 4X (Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate) games take up a much larger footprint. And 4X games tend to take copious amounts of time. Ancient Empires suggests it plays in 1-2 hours. That’s lightning fast for a game with three distinct ages. If you’re interested in Ancient Empires, check out its GameFound page.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined Releases

Dragon Quest VII doesn’t get a remake. It receives a reimagining. This is an important distinction. The original Dragon Quest VII was unruly. It didn’t hold players’ hands and show them where to go next. In short, it was easy to get lost in the original Dragon Quest VII. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined makes the classic JRPG approachable.

The graphics look stunning in Dragon Quest VII Reimagined. And this title may be a great place to start for gamers who never played the original, but fans of the original may be a little disappointed. SquareEnix streamlined the heck out of Dragon Quest VII Reimagined. It truly earns the title Reimagined. Similar to games like Ni No Kuni, you won’t even need to battle overworld enemies if your level far exceeds theirs. That’s amazing. If you’ve played JRPGs, you know how much of a time sink grinding can be. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined fixes that issue.

Despite cutting out islands from the original, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined improved on the game’s formula. I just wished another version of the game was available with the Reimagined version. Players could begin with Reimagined, the most approachable variant of the game, and progress to one of the other versions. But that’s a nitpick. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a must-play if you’ve never played the original. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is available on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Nioh 3 Releases on PC and PlayStation 5

While Nioh 2 functions as a prequel to the original game, Nioh 3 takes place after the events of the other two games. A true sequel at last. Yay! Unlike previous installments, gamers will have large spaces to explore. And players will have the option of playing as a samurai or ninja. The samurai playstyle resembles gameplay from previous Nioh installments. It has a focus on parrying. But the ninja playstyle is faster and features evasion and aerial attacks. This should increase Nioh 3’s replay value.

Nioh 3’s graphics look incredible. The game has received stellar reviews. I can’t wait to get my hands on this title. I’ll most likely play the ninja playstyle first and then play a second round as a samurai. How about you?

That’s all the Geek News we have for this week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Whatcha Playing, Geekly: February 2026

Published on by KyraLeave a comment

Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. In today’s post, our writers will share the games (board games and video games) they’ve been playing over the past month. Let us know which games you’ve been playing in the comments, because we’re all part of the Geekly Gang. I’ll get things started with the games I’ve been playing over the past month.

Kyra’s Board Games

JK Geekly attended Scroogecon (in Lincoln, Nebraska) last month, so many of my board games will be ones I played during that event. Tokkuri Taking was the first game I tried. Dinos drinking sake, what’s not to love? I love this theme. And Tokkuri Taking was fun for a single round. Players score points for each empty tokkuri (the vases used to hold sake). I like plenty of the mechanisms here. I’ve never seen wooden sticks depicting how much sake is in a tokkuri. A round ofTokkuri Taking runs less than 15 minutes, which is what the box says. Unfortunately, Tokkuri Taking ends after numerous rounds. Players begin with ten chips. As soon as one player runs out of chips, the game ends. With players exchanging chips each round, Tokkuri Taking could last anywhere from an hour to two hours. Yikes! I wouldn’t want a two-hour session of Tokkuri Taking. I’ll stick to one or two rounds.

While I enjoyed my single play of The Loop, I don’t know if it’ll make my board game collection anytime soon. The theme and mechanisms are amazing, but I worry about The Loop’s scalability. We played with a full complement of four players. I never felt like we were going to lose this cooperative game. According to boardgamegeek.com, The Loop plays best at 2 players. I believe that. The person who shared The Loop with us said solo games skewed toward being too difficult. I felt four was too easy. Three may not be much better than four. But who knows? The Loop features a lot of variability. We could’ve gotten lucky during this game. I would play The Loop again. It was fun.

River Valley Glassworks is a game I’d gladly add to my collection. All Play Games has a knack for quick, accessible games with quirky mechanisms and themes. River Valley Glassworks meets these criteria. Heck! We played two games. And I got skunked both times. Gamers play as pioneers, drafting glass (acrylic pieces) from the market of river tiles. To claim glass, you must play a piece from your inventory into the river. But beware, each river tile can take one specific shape, and you must play into a space adjacent to where you want to draft. After you pick up your glass and place it on your player board, the river shifts forward, revealing new pieces. Perfection! The mechanisms enhance the theme. And the theme enhances what you do each turn. By the time you’re reading this, I may have already bought a copy of River Valley Glassworks. It looks gorgeous.

The next game I played was playtesting my prototype, Dungeon Chef. It was a smash. And that’s not just me saying that. One of the playtesters asked if Dungeon Chef was print-and-play. They wanted to spend $15 or so and print off a copy of their own. That’s a great sign.

I’ve always wanted to try Clank! or Clank! Catacombs, and finally got my chance during Scroogecon. It was good. But it wasn’t as good as I wanted. Similar to The Loop, another game I’ve wanted to try for some time, Clank! Catacombs may have suffered because we played with a full complement of players: four. Unlike The Loop, Clank! Catacombs played well (balance-wise) at four, but ran long. Honestly, several of us at the table had been playing games all day and had little interest in turns that weren’t our own, and we got distracted. Scroogecon had been quiet most of the day. It got loud when we started Clank! Catacombs. I liked how Clank! Catacombs melded disparate mechanisms into a cohesive whole. I even won the game–by a lot. Beginner’s luck. But it didn’t quite land. Clank! Catacombs is another game I’d give another chance.

Panda Royale is a cute dice-chucking and drafting game. It plays super fast, and that worked for the limited time we had remaining at the convention. We had fifteen minutes or so before Scroogecon’s raffle drawing. Panda Royale fit nicely into that window. The game has a cute theme, but the mechanisms don’t match the theme. Panda Royale could’ve been titled Yahtzee Royale, but this theme is more appealing. And the title Yahtzee is most likely copyrighted. Panda Royale can get swingy, and the game doesn’t do enough to address a potential runaway winner. Skye cobbled together a handful of consecutive 100-point rounds, and I knew she was going to win halfway through the game. Still, Panda Royale is quick enough to exact revenge. If we had more than fifteen minutes, I would’ve been challenging her to a rematch.

One last note on Panda Royale: I hated the dry erasers. You may need to bring tissues and cleaner whenever you play.

That’s all I have for this past month. Let’s check in with Season.

Season’s Board Game

I played Kavango for the first time last year at Nuke Con. Guess what I got for Christmas, Geekly Gang? Kavango has players build their own wildlife reserves in Africa through conservation. Whoever has the most thriving reserve wins. I’ll say this: Kavango isn’t a game you’ll win on your first try unless you’re a board game genius. It looks more intimidating than it is since there are many moving pieces, but it’s got a good flow. Kavango has three rounds with ten turns apiece, but each turn is played simultaneously between players.

The creators of Kavango did research on real-life conservation and included player roles based on their real-life counterparts. The Kickstarter edition (my copy) has a map of wildlife conservation parks across Africa. I’m totally using it for an African wildlife safari that I’m planning for in the distant future.

Seasons Video Game

I played the first Patapon on PSP eighteen years ago. I never completed it because it was too difficult for me. Patapon is a rhythm-based side-scrolling game that relies on the player to match their drums (buttons on the controller) to the movements of their Patapon tribe. Maintaining the rhythm allows the player to go into Fever mode. Some of the Patapon tribespeople do more damage and have special abilities when in Fever mode. If the player loses their rhythm, the Patapons glare at the screen and shout, “Huh?” Some of them even fall over. Maintaining Fever mode is difficult when levels throw many enemies and environmental effects at players.

That’s all from me. What are you playing, Skye?

Skye’s Board Games

Rustbucket Riots is a game I’ve been meaning to mention for a while, and I’m glad to finally offer my take on it. For those who’re unfamiliar, Rustbucket Riots is a cooperative dice-placement game created by our very own Kyra Kyle about taking down renegade robots in a not-so-distant dystopian future. While not yet published, I had the pleasure of playing a newly updated version of the game last month, and it’s amazing to see how much progress it’s made over time. The board has become much easier to read, and the flow of the game has been perfected. It goes without saying, but I certainly can’t wait until Rustbucket Riots hits the shelves because I’ll be one of the first to pick up a copy.

Another Kyra Kyle original, Spill the Beans (working title) is a much simpler party game. With the objective of spilling Jellybeans (not too many) out of the jar and placing/eating them in a way that leaves you with the most points. Spill the Beans is fast-paced. It also puts a spin on the idea with the addition of jar-specific abilities depending on where you decide to place your Jellybeans. Spill the Beans is a great pick for some lighthearted party game fun.

Skye’s Video Game

I don’t have a problem. Well, ever since beating Resident Evil 2 and Silent Hill 2 last month, I became transfixed by the world of Resident Evil. I’ll admit there isn’t much that sets Resident Evil: Survival Unit apart from other survival strategy mobile games with the sole exception of it being Resident Evil themed. For that reason, it’s been hard for me to pull myself away from it. Every day I have my construction and research progress in the back of my mind and the urge to participate in alliance raids is too much for me to resist. That and it’s great to see some of my favorite characters still alive in this non-canonical story. I never fully recovered after Marvin; just let me have this.

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here again. Those are the games our writers have played this past week. Let us know what you’ve been playing. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: February 1, 2026; Martian Manhunter in the DCU

Published on by KyraLeave a comment

Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. We have plenty of new board games and some video game releases to discuss, but first, we need to discuss the DCU. Over the past week, James Gunn has been dropping bread crumbs as to who may soon join the cinematic universe. And I’m hyped.

Head of DCU James Gunn Posts Pictures of Chocos

What can pictures of a snack prove? It depends on the snack. Known for having fun with fans on social media, head of DCU James Gunn posted multiple pictures of Chocos, which most DC Comics fans will know is the favorite snack of Martian Manhunter. Gunn refuses to say anything definitive about Martian Manhunter’s future in the DCU, but Chocos showing up so often on social media can only mean that fans won’t need to wait long to see a proper cinematic version of everyone’s favorite green-skinned member of the Justice League.

Supergirl is the DCU’s next film, but it’s unlikely Martian Manhunter will appear. I’m not ruling out a Martian Manhunter appearance. I’m excited to see him in the DCU. But Martian Manhunter may be better served in the Man of Tomorrow, 2027’s follow-up to last year’s Superman. Regardless of when we’ll see him, I can’t wait for J’onn J’onzz to make his big-screen debut.

Lodge Launches on KickStarter

Players compete with each other to build the coziest lodge. Draft room tiles from a sliding display and place them on matching floors to attract guests to your lodge. Gain bonus points for placing those guests on their preferred floors and by constructing amenities to keep them happy. Lodge’s spatial puzzle gives the game a unique feel. I love the look of the sliding display tray. Great touch!

Lodge builds on ideas started with Cascadia and Tiny Towns, so if either of those games scratched an itch, you may like Lodge. Even if you haven’t played those games, Lodge settles into this casual weight game with plenty of strategic choices. It’s easy to teach to non-gamers, but can keep “true gamers” engaged. And the look is incredible. Lodge offers a couple of pledge levels: $39 and $69. But you can get a super special version at $119. If you’re interested in Lodge, check out its KickStarter page.

Stamp Showdown Launches on KickStarter

In Stamp Showdown, you’re battling for the win of a high-profile stamp competition. Each round, all players secretly choose a stamp to trade with the market, then reveal together. In ranking order, each trade reshapes the market by pulling in all matching suits and ranks before joining it. Will you strengthen your own collection, or block your opponents at the perfect moment? After seven tense rounds, the final showdown begins, and only the most dazzling poker-style stamp collection will win!

I love the recent trend in card games, where the game can function as a classic deck of cards. This diminishes the risk for investing in the game. Even if you don’t care for Stamp Showdown, you’re still left with a stunning deck of cards. The classic card suits also aid with identifying cards and their potential abilities. One of my biggest gripes with Stamp Swap was that I didn’t know which sets stamps belonged. You won’t have that problem with Stamp Showdown. Stamp Showdown offers a couple of pledge levels at $18 and $35. If you’re interested in Stamp Showdown, check out its KickStarter page.

Red Leaf University Launches on KickStarter

Red Leaf University is a 1–4 player worker placement game where you’ll recruit a team of bright young students and send them to specialized campuses to expand their knowledge, earn academic credits, and chase the ultimate honor: becoming Valedictorian! Red Leaf University delivers a streamlined euro-style experience: with your students, you’ll explore a university divided into six specialized campuses (Art, Business, Science, Architecture, etc.). Each campus allows players to recruit or upgrade a student of its discipline or engage in a unique minigame tied to its specialty.

Love the art. Love the theme. Love the worker placement mechanism–always. And it appears Red Leaf University takes worker placement in exciting new places. With a pledge level of $38, Red Leaf University offers a lot of game. I’ve loved Grail Games since Doughnut Drive-Thru and the reprint of Reiner Knizia’s Circus Flohctai (Flea Circus). They are known for high-quality games in small packages. Red Leaf University looks to continue that trend. If you’re interested in Red Leaf University, check out its KickStarter page.

DeckHand: Race for Infamy Launches on GameFound

Ahoy! DeckHand: Race for Infamy features pirate mayhem in a condensed card game. Over five quick rounds, you’ll trade rum, gather weapons, and tame wild creatures in your quest for infamy! Each round has two key phases: drafting cards to plan your strategy, then building to expand your fleet and compete for Infamy cards. Every card you build strengthens your fleet, unlocking new opportunities and expanding your reach. Simultaneous play keeps games fast and lively, even with up to five players. DeckHand: Race for Infamy promises little waiting around for other players. It doesn’t take long to learn, but offers plenty of strategy.

Closed drafting, multi-use cards, and tech-trees? Sign me up. DeckHand: Race for Infamy sports a few twists on familiar game mechanisms. It looks to combine these game mechanisms in fun and inventive ways. And I’m down for that. With pledges costing $28, DeckHand: Race for Infamy may be worth a look. If you’re interested in DeckHand: Race for Infamy, check out its GameFound page.

Queen Games to Launch New Stefan Feld City Collection on GameFound

Every so often, Queen Games offers Stefan Feld’s City Collection. Feld is one of the most respected board game designers, and his City Collection is a treasure. Yes. Feld is one of those designers who adheres to point salad–earning points through multiple ways–but none of the cities in this series feel the same, and Queen Games does an amazing job with their production. Feld’s City Collection looks great on the shelf. These ten games–yes, 10 whole games–look like prestige books on a shelf. As of the writing of this post, we know little about the project besides Marrakesh getting a new expansion or three. And the games use a new “Folded Space” storage system. I can’t wait to see that. If you’re interested in the Stefan Feld City Collection, check out its page on GameFound.

Highguard Releases

Highguard is a PvP raid shooter where players will ride, fight, and raid as Wardens, arcane gunslingers sent to fight for control of a mythical continent. Team up, secure your base, then ride out across vast uncharted lands to loot, harvest resources, and upgrade your arsenal as you face off against a rival Warden crew looking to claim your territory as their own. Battle for possession of the legendary Shieldbreaker in the open field; fight to carry it to the enemy base to bring down their shields—then raid to destroy their base before they can destroy yours.

Highguard plans to right the wrongs made in Apex Legends. What? That’s right. While Highguard is Wildlight Entertainment’s debut title, most of the dev team got their start at Respawn with Apex Legends. They always felt Apex Legends floundered because it didn’t know where it wanted to go. They insist Highguard will fix that. Check out their road map.

Everything above should be up for change–you never know what the future may hold–but I like that Wildlight Entertainment has a clear vision. I have yet to play Highguard, but the graphics look amazing. It is free-to-play, so I have downloaded it. Who knows? You may find me in Highguard. Or at least you may see an upcoming Highguard F2P review in the future. Highguard is available on PC, Xbox Series S/X, and PlayStation 5.

Dark Auction Releases

Noah lives with his eccentric father, who’s obsessed with Dictator X. When he joins a strange auction at a castle, he must work to solve mysteries hidden in the exhibits and uncover his father’s secrets. Risk everything to win—but what truth awaits?

Typically, we don’t cover visual novel games, but we’ll make an exception for Dark Auction. I love the vibe and the mystery the game presents. We may need Season–who plays the most visual novels–to check out this title for a review. Let us know in the comments if you’d be interested in a Dark Auction review. Dark Auction is available on PC, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5.

I Hate This Place Releases

I Hate This Place is a craft-based, isometric survival horror game with twisted monsters and warped reality. Scavenge and build to survive terrifying days and nights while using stealth and noise to fight enemies that stalk by sound. All styled with bold comic art and an ’80s horror vibe. Honestly, my first thought was that I Hate This Place reminded me of a solo-player experience of Eternal Return. The one thing I loved about Eternal Return was wandering around, scavenging items, and building gear. I Hate This Place looks to scratch that itch. And its graphics are amazing.

Early reviews for I Hate This Place are mixed. The most recurring complaint for I Hate This Place was it’s doesn’t maintain a consistent framerate and there a bugs. Like a Bethesda’s worth of bugs. I put I Hate This Place on my wishlist. Maybe, after a few patches, it could fix a handful of things. Love the idea. If you want to give I Hate This Place a try, it’s available on PC, Xbox Series S/X, and PlayStation 5.

The 9th Charnel Releases

A first-person psychological survival horror game, The 9th Charnel is filled with a rich and frightening atmosphere. While exploring the many mysteries of this world, you must survive, whether by stealth or by using weapons. I always like the option of using stealth or combat. The 9th Charnel has yet to receive too many reviews. But I may have found one of my favorite reviews in a while by User MájkĂĽl. “I like this place. I would love to live here.” What? That’s like saying you’d love to live in Raccoon City or Silent Hill. Love it.

Fear not for The 9th Charnel’s lack of reviews. It offers a free demo. If The 9th Charnel sounds like something you’d like to try, it’s available on PC, Xbox Series S/X, and PlayStation 5.

Catherine O’Hara Passes Away at Age 71

News of Catherine O’Hara’s passing came as a shock. The beloved comic actor died in her home after a “brief illness” on January 30, 2026. Our writers have been rewatching some of our favorite O’Hara performances. Schitt’s Creek, Home Alone, Beetlejuice, and The Nightmare Before Christmas have dominated our screens these past few days. Our thoughts go out to O’Hara’s family and friends. Thank you for the memories.

That’s all we have for this week’s Geek News. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News CMON Games

Geekly News: January 25, 2026, CMON Games Breaks Silence

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Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! We have another week of Geek News to discuss. Rejoice! CMON (Cool Mini Or Not) Games broke its months-long (almost a year) silence and gave gamers a roadmap to when they intend to ship most–if not all–the board games they have yet to ship on Gamefound. We’ll have this and new video game and board game release on this week’s Geekly News.

CMON shares 2026 plans to deliver outstanding Kickstarters “no matter what.”

CMON suffered $7 million in 2025. The struggling board game company had at least a dozen outstanding crowdfunding projects prior to 2025. They’ve sold off properties like Cthulhu: Death May Die and Zombiecide, which also had crowdfunding projects that have yet to be fulfilled. Layoffs took place, and CMON froze production on newer board games while it focused on delivering on its promises.

Things weren’t looking good for a once-powerful board game company. For better or worse, CMON was the one who pioneered crowdfunding. This week, CMON provided updates on several, though not all, of its outstanding projects. Dune: Desert War will be packed and ready for pickup in the first quarter. By the third quarter, production will have begun on Masters of the Universe (hopefully we’ll see this project ship shortly after the movie releases). The fourth quarter features mold making and core box production for DCeased, DC Super Heroes United, and God of War: The Board Game. Other projects, like Massive Darkness, A Song of Ice and Fire Tactics, Super Fantasy Brawl Reborn, and The Dead Keep, have been pushed back to 2027.

CMON continues exploring further IP sales (like the ones for Cthulhu: Death May Die and Zombiecide) or licensing opportunities. It also plans to deliver in batches, so retail sales “help fund the manufacturing of remaining products in the line.” If you’re like me and you backed one or more of CMON’s outstanding crowdfunding projects, you’ll be happy to hear that CMON will not be asking existing backers for additional money. That’s music to my ears. I was worried about those pesky tariffs.

CMON asks fans for “patience as we work through fulfillment in a way that ensures completion rather than risking further setbacks. We will continue to share updates as milestones are reached and as plans become firm enough to communicate responsibly.” I’m good with better communication. I heard few DC Super Heroes United updates in almost nine months. Yikes! Communication like this week’s announcement is welcome.

Knave! Launches on KickStarter

Knave! combines elements Slap Jack with Rock-Paper-Scissors. Take up your guards in hand and set a rhythm with your opponent. Each guard beats only one type of guard, so keep an eye out for when you might be able to strike. Or if you’re fast enough, throw up a block before your opponent strikes. Knave! attempts to simulate the frantic and sudden nature of swordfighting.

Knave! marks publisher, Foggity Whims Press’s–great name by the way–first game. The artwork matches the theme, and at $11, Knave! may be worth a shot as a quick, small card game. If you’re interested in Knave!, check out its KickStarter page.

Beetle Battle Launches on Gamefound

Something must be in the air because Beetle Battle is our second Slap Jack-inspired card game. Only this time, Slap Jack combines with combos. What? Players chain beetle abilities, trying to connect colorful beetles, and unleash mischievous chain reactions. But beware of the Cockroach. If you see a Cockroach, you must squish.

While I like the streamlined nature of Knave!, Beetle Battle includes numerous game modes and could offer plenty of replayability. We don’t have information for Beetle Battle’s pledge levels, but that shouldn’t stop you from following Beetle Battle. If this game sounds interesting, check out Beetle Battle’s GameFound page.

Dicequest Launches on GameFound

Dicequest is a dice pool builder. You have my attention. I’ve loved the concept of a dice pool builder ever since Quarriors and its spiritual successor, Dice Masters. We know little about Dicequest’s gameplay. Fingers crossed for a playthrough soon. But the game’s page reads as follows, Gather Your Party, Level Up, and Choose Your Path. Dicequest states that one can play it solo, cooperatively, and competitively. It sounds like the game will have plenty of game modes.

I like the trend of neoprene playmats, and Dicequest features one. Yay! Again, I have my fingers crossed for a playthrough. Dicequest sounds like a game that’s in my wheelhouse. With each game session taking about 45 minutes, it doesn’t appear to outstay its welcome. Since Dicequest has yet to launch (as of writing this post), we have no details on its pledge levels. But if you’re like me and you’re interested in Dicequest, check out its GameFound page.

2XKO Releases

Alright, video game new releases heat up this week. We have a few interesting games. Our first is the free-to-play 2XKO from Riot Games. Yes. 2XKO is set within the League of Legends’ universe, but it takes the franchise in a new direction: a 2v2 tag-team fighting game.

As of writing this post, I have yet to play 2XKO, so my comments will be conjecture. But I’m getting strong Street Fighter meets Brawlhalla vibes with 2XKO. Brawlhalla (a Super Smash Bros clone of sorts) has a 2v2 fight mode. I always wondered what could happen if someone applied Street Fighter mechanisms and graphics to a game like Brawlhalla (or the maligned Multiversus). I may have to give 2XKO a chance. 2XKO is available on PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.

Mio: Memories in Orbit puts gamers in the role of an agile robot named MIO that explores a forgotten ark spaceship named The Vessel. The Vessel’s AI caretakers, known as Pearls, have stopped working, and you must explore the vegetation and survive the machinery to revive The Vessel’s memories, preventing a shutdown.

Mio: Memories in Orbit features stunning art. Since it’s a Metroidvania-style video game, its gameplay reminds me of Hollow Knight. And developer Douze Dixièmes has indie game street cred. Mio: Memories in Orbit has my attention if only for its graphics. Those are some pretty pixels. It’s received generally favorable reviews and is available on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.

Escape from Ever After Releases

Our first two video games had stunning graphics, but Escape from Ever After looks adorable. Be prepared to dive into storybook worlds packed to the brim with colorful characters and locales. But beware of electrifying secrets. Escape from Ever After borrows from Lovecraftian horror and that piques my interest.

Escape from Ever After’s graphics remind me of Paper Mario and Cat Quest in the best possible way. Players can build and customize their party; every character has unique skills that can be equipped and upgraded. You even get to decorate your office as you climb the corporate ladder. But my favorite feature may just be Escape from Ever After’s big-band soundtrack. Not enough video games use big band music. Escape from Ever After is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Nested Lands Enters Early Access

We conclude this week’s new video game releases with yet another intriguing entry: Nested Lands. Holy cow! Nested Lands is an RPG, survival, village-building, and social management game in a medieval setting. I don’t know if Nested Lands leans more toward Ark Survival, The Elder Scrolls, a combination of several games in various genres, or does something different.

Gather (plague) survivors, build a settlement, craft, master your skills, survive, and endure alone or in online co-op. Yes! Nested Lands sounds like it may scratch several itches. And yes, I wishlisted it on Steam, and if I have time, I may play the demo. Nested Lands is available on PC (with GOG, Steam, and Epic Games).

That’s all the geek news we have for this week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: January 18, 2026, Spider-Man License Update

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Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. We have more video game and board game releases to discuss, but first, let’s discuss another angle of the MCU’s future. The Spider-Man license between Sony and Marvel/Disney may soon change.

Rumors of a New Spider-Man License Deal

Almost three decades have passed since Marvel Comics sold the movie rights to Spider-Man and other characters within Spider-Man’s universe (Venom, Carnage, Kraven, and others). Since the deal, Sony has done what it can to hold onto every character it can. The last couple of years we’ve seen Madame Web, Kraven, Morbius, and Venom: The Last Dance release to less than stellar responses. Let’s be real. Most of those movies stunk. I don’t blame any actor, director, or anyone else involved in those movies for their quality or for being involved in those movies. Some of them— like the Venom movies — made money, but audiences and critics didn’t rate them highly. But change could be in the air. According to trusted industry insider DanielRPK, Sony’s Spider-Man embargo may soon come to an end.

Why is Sony open to a new deal? We don’t know for certain. The aforementioned Venom: The Last Dance concluded the Spider-Man Villain movie franchise. Even if Sony chose to relaunch, reboot, or rework the franchise, Venom actor Tom Hardy has retired from the role, and Venom was the franchise’s biggest box office draw. Then, there’s the news that the Black Cat solo film has been cancelled, and the fact that Sony has begun cancelling films within the Spider-Man Villain movie franchise raises red flags.

According to Nerd Tower (via Twitter/X), Black Cat has been in production since at least 2021. Here’s what Nerd Tower recently shared: “There was a Black Cat movie in production, I saw storyboards and in a specific sequence, she was dressed as a goth at a costume party, cries in the bathroom, smears her makeup and makes the ‘mask,’ BAMMMM Black Cat ready for action. It was awful.”

True. That origin for Felicia Hardy/Black Cat sounds awful. But it’s not the worst storyline Sony’s Spider-Man Villain movie franchise has released. The less said about Madame Web, the better. Change must be on the horizon if Sony heard a movie pitch they didn’t like for Spider-Man or his villains. We don’t yet know what this means for the MCU’s Spider-Man or if a deal will happen with enough time for it to affect Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Negotiations between Sony and Marvel/Disney are ongoing and predate Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s development. There’s a chance we could see Venom, Carnage, Kraven, or the Sinister Six in the MCU.

But I wouldn’t hold my breath. Unless a deal occurred under the table, the best Spider-Man: Brand New Day could do is hint at the Spider-Man Villain movie franchise characters joining the MCU. But the next Spider-Man film could feature any number of these characters. I’d love to see a Sinister Six movie.

Mountain Goats: Legacy Launches on KickStarter

In Mountain Goats: Legacy, players battle each other for top spot on the mountain. Each turn, roll and combine dice to race up the mountain. Get to the top to score, but don’t get knocked off! If you roll the goat symbol, activate new abilities—powers that rotate every mission. As your story progresses, you’ll unlock even more powerful abilities and face tougher challenges. The mountain itself might even transform beneath your feet.

I’ve never played the original Mountain Goats, but I’ve heard great things. I’m unsure how Mountain Goats lends itself to a Legacy game, a game that can be played over multiple gaming sessions, and the game changes after each session, but I’m here for it. I saw the original Mountain Goats when it was first released at Origins and have been kicking myself for not trying it out during the convention. But I didn’t get much of a chance. Gamers flooded the tables where Mountain Goats was on display. Mountain Goats: Legacy is among the highly anticipated games for 2026 on most other board review sites. You can back Mountain Goats: Legacy for $39-88. There’s even an Enchanted Ivy, a dedicated solo variant of Mountain Goats for $19. If you’re interested in Mountain Goats: Legacy, check out its KickStarter page.

Small-Time Heroes Returns to GameFound

Small-Time Heroes is another title I haven’t had the chance to play yet. It’s received high marks on BoardGameGeek. In this cooperative deck builder, you’ll take on the role of one of the Small-Time Heroes and work together to defend the town. With each battle, you’ll build up your deck of cards, choosing from a variety of cards that represent your hero’s unique abilities. As your power builds, you will defeat waves of minions and end with a final boss battle. Defeat the boss before they defeat you!

I love publisher Solo Game of the Month’s mission. Produce high-quality and accessible solo board games each month. Small-Time Heroes continues this trend. The original Small-Time Heroes is available for $39, and so is its first major expansion. Small-Time Heroes’ GameFound page offers several other add-ons, too. If you’re interested in Small-Time Heroes, check out its GameFound page.

Boktor Launches on GameFound

Boktor is a cooperative adventure game for 1 to 6 players, blending dungeon-crawling, tactical combat, and character progression in a world where elemental chaos threatens to consume everything. Each game is a self-contained mission in which players take on the role of legendary heroes sent to explore a dynamically generated dungeon. Their goal: survive waves of enemies, gather powerful abilities, and confront the final Tyrant before the Vortex obliterates the land. I like Boktor’s idea of quick level-ups for your heroes. Too often, dungeon-crawlers like these take too long for the leveling to happen.

I’m getting Betrayal at House on the Hill vibes from Boktor’s map, and that’s a good thing. I always liked Betrayal’s exploration, and Boktor looks to include exploration. And the biggest issue with dungeon-crawling board games is the time it takes to learn and play them. Boktor boasts a 5-minute teaching of the rules and 60-minute game sessions. If that’s true, sign me up. We don’t know Boktor’s price point as of this write-up (it will release early next week), but if you’re interested in Boktor, check out its GameFound page.

What you can’t see… doesn’t exist. Cassette Boy is a puzzle action RPG where you control the game’s perspective to change the world you see. Rotate a 2D pixel-styled 3D world, using disappearing obstacles and newly appearing paths to uncover the mystery of the vanished moon. Honestly, I knew little about Cassette Boy before researching for this post, but the premise has me hooked.

Cassette Boy’s aesthetic channel slightly beefed up GameBoy graphics, but no one’s planning on playing this indie game for its graphics. Cassette Boy’s gameplay may be one of the better puzzle action RPG conceits since Katamari Damacy. It builds its story through gameplay, and that has me stoked. And for its listed price of less than $15 dollars, Cassette Boy may be worth a look. Cassette Boy is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon Releases

I sense a trend with the games (board games and video games) on this list. I’ve never played a game in the Trails series and have been meaning to for some time. If anyone knows where best to begin the series, let me know in the comments. The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon is not only a continuation of the Trails series of video games, but it’s the direct sequel to 2022’s The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II. Okay. I may not begin Trails with this title, but look how pretty.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon looks like a game I’d enjoy. It features an updated combat system–from the rest of the Trails series. Mechs play a large role. Yes, please. And the previous games from this series within the larger Trails series have received favorable reviews. The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.

That’s all the geek news we have for you this week. If you’ve made it this far, you’re fantabulastical. We all know it. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly News: January 11, 2026, MCU X-Men Reboot Updates

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Happy Sunday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with the first Geekly News of the year. The year is still ramping up, so we only have a few new releases. We’ll get to the new board games and video games, but first, let’s check in with the MCU and the upcoming Mutant Saga. There’s a lot to discuss.

MCU Reveals Its Blueprint for The X-Men

We’ve been radio silent about the MCU for a while, not because the MCU had few updates, but because those updates didn’t feel large enough. Black Panther had a recasting rumor. We still don’t know for sure if Shuri (Letitia Wright) will remain as the Black Panther beyond Avengers: Doomsday. Heck, a new Black Panther could reveal themselves during the next Avengers film. Ryan Reynolds is working on a new Deadpool or Deadpool and Wolverine movie. Hugh Jackman will return as Wolverine for at least the next Deadpool film and potentially a new Wolverine solo film. But the biggest MCU news may be Marvel’s direction for the X-Men.

According to trusted industry insider Daniel RPK, Marvel will release solo projects for the core X-Men members, leading up to an X-Men team movie. Marvel wants to avoid the errors they made during the Multiverse Saga. Going back to what made people care about the Avengers during the MCU Phase One is a step in the right direction. Unlike Avengers actors (who were in their forties and fifties), Marvel intends to cast younger actors in X-Men roles, even a younger Wolverine. Speaking of Wolverine, rumors suggest he won’t be included in the first X-Men film. That may be for the best.

We still don’t know how Marvel plans to introduce the upcoming X-Men characters. My guess is that we may see more Marvel Studios Special Presentations. Disney/Marvel will want to cash in on The X-Men as soon as they can, and some sources suggest the first MCU X-Men film will release a year or two after Avengers: Secret Wars. That doesn’t leave the studio too much time to introduce these characters. Several 1-hour specials could help.

And speaking of Marvel Studios Special Presentations, the Punisher Special will build off of the second season of Daredevil: Born Again and should also tie into Spider-Man: Brand New Day. This news, added with the rumors of upcoming X-Men character solo projects, makes it appear that the MCU may require viewers to–once again–do some small homework in preparation for upcoming movies and shows. I’m torn. I’ve liked the MCU’s recent trend of not requiring a lot of homework ahead of watching a movie or show. On the other hand, I’d love to see more Special Presentations. And there was a time when Marvel fans didn’t mind doing a little homework. Hopefully, the X-Men will find a good balance.

Yokai Forest Duel Launches on Gamefound

Bring on the games. Two to eight players face off in fast-paced tournaments or league-style matchups. Outsmart your rivals through clever strategy, deduction & bluffing with mind games as you fight for victory in intense best-of-three duels. Be careful though: investing too much time in your current match and your opponent might crush you before you even reach the finals.

Yokai Forest Duel’s concept reminds me of a character-driven version of Challengers!, and if that’s the case, Yokai Forest Duel will be loads of fun. Godot Games claims Yokai Forest Duel can be learned in under three minutes but offers plenty of strategic choices. Again, this reminds me of Challengers!. Yay! The artwork and game graphics differ, and so does the fact that players assume the role of a specific character. I don’t know how any of the characters work, but Yokai Forest Duel features eight different 80-card decks. Yokai Forest Duel’s pledges range from $27 to $74. If you’re interested in Yokai Forest Duel, check out its Gamefound page.

The Last in the Woods Launches on GameFound

Forget comfort. The Last in the Woods is about survival. You’ll have no safety net. As the game’s name suggests, you’re handed a few tools, and you compete against the other players to be the last in the woods. I’m unsure if The Last in the Woods includes direct player versus player combat. Typically, I don’t care for direct combat between players. But I love the idea of a competitive survival game, and if that involves a little PVP combat, I’m all for it.

Variable player powers (like the one for George, who only needs one stone to craft a knife, pictured above) should give The Last in the Woods a little spice. But this isn’t the only element The Last in the Woods uses to shake up the gameplay of each game. Random events and equipment allow for diverse strategies during each playthrough. As of writing this post, The Last in the Woods hasn’t listed their pledge rates. I can’t imagine the game costing more than $40. It could cost as little as $20. We’ll see. If you’re interested in The Last in the Woods, check out its GameFound page.

Code Violet Releases on PlayStation 5

During Code Violet, players uncover the secrets of the Aion colony, who use time travel technology to kidnap women in the past. These women are then used as surrogate mothers in an attempt to save humanity from destruction. I love this hook. Code Violet combines story elements of Children of Men and The Handmaid’s Tale with a time-travel twist. Excellent! Add in the fact that Code Violet is a third-person action-horror game and the spiritual successor to Dino Crisis, and Code Violet may be a PlayStation 5 title to place on your radar.

And that’s a great thing because Code Violet is our only new video game release for this week. I wasn’t kidding when I mentioned 2026 hasn’t yet fully launched. Plenty of great board games and video games are on the horizon. We just may need to wait another week or two. Or even a month or two.

That’s all the geek news we have for you this week. Which MCU project are you the most excited for? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Whatcha Playing, Geekly: January 2026

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Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. Today, our writers share what they’ve been playing over the past month. We should have plenty of games to share because our Christmas haul of games was immense. I’ll start things off, but don’t be shy with sharing what you’ve been playing over the past month. We’re all part of the Geekly Gang.

Kyra’s Board Games

I heard of Abomination: The Heir of Frankenstein, but never got around to playing it, and honestly, I forgot it existed. I love the theme. Abomination occurs twenty years after the events of Frankenstein. Players assume the role of scientists tasked by the creature to build them a partner. The game pulls few punches. It leans into its subject matter, seldom shying away from gore. Abomination: The Heir of Frankenstein’s choice of Paris as its setting is perfect. I like how execution via the guillotine factors into the gameplay. Yes. Abomination is on the longer side (and some turns can feel repetitive after a handful of rounds), but I can see myself breaking out this game every four to six weeks.

Canvas is another game I knew about and was interested in, but never played, and forgot about it. Despite picking up a 3D printer this year (I may have to share pictures of some of my 3D prints), my Christmas haul of board games rocked. In short, Canvas is gorgeous. Just look at that cover. We may need to do a battle of beautiful board game covers this upcoming March for March Madness. Anyway. Canvas’s core mechanism revolves around adding transparent cards (with painting elements to them) to set backgrounds inside card sleeves. The game’s scoring feels familiar. And while the game’s core mechanism leans toward simplicity, Canvas stays engaging. This is one competitive game I don’t mind losing. I care more about making an awesome painting. And it doesn’t hurt that each completed piece earns a name. I’ll take “Whimsical Nightmare” for zero points, because it’s Whimsical Freaking Nightmare. Metal!

I didn’t know what to expect with Challengers!. Yet another game on my to-be-tried list that made it under the tree. Challengers! accommodates up to eight players. I don’t have a lot of games that do that–outside of party games–and I suppose Challengers! can be considered party game adjacent. Turns and rounds are quick. The game plays out like the classic card game War with plenty of fun twists. Players attempt to capture the flag from their opponents. The last player with the flag–or the last player standing in one of up to four arenas–earns a trophy for the round. The player with the most points after seven rounds wins. The name of Challengers!’s developer, 1 More Time Games, fits. I seldom play just one game of Challengers!. And I can see why Challengers! was a Spiel des Jahres finalist.

I knew little about Hex Effects. It’s a small card game one can find at Barnes & Noble, but Hex Effects surprised me. I love the tarot cards. Not enough games use this card size. They feel great in your hands. And I love the theme. In Hex Effects, players have accidentally hexed themselves and must cure themselves before any other player can do the same. I’ve only played Hex Effects with two or three players. I can only imagine how zany turns can get with more players. Hex Effects plays up to eight players. Another new eight-player game. But I can see Hex Effects dragging with more players. If someone gets close to curing their final Hex, I can see the remaining players ganging up on them. At two and three players (maybe even four) Hex Effects works. This is another game I’ve never only played once during a sitting.

Rolling Realms is the only board game I’m including on this list that I didn’t get at Christmas. But it is yet another game I forgot–only this time, I forgot I owned a copy. Not only is Rolling Realms a great series of roll-and-write mini games (think Yahtzee meets WarioWare), it’s a great marketing tool. Jamey Stegmaier seldom makes a bad board game, and each Rolling Realms mini game is a fun and simplistic roll-and-write variant of a previously published Stonemaier Game. Each turn, one player rolls two standard six-sided dice. Then, players simultaneously plug the numbers on the dice into two of the three mini games. Some game combinations are better (or easier to score) than others, but I love the challenge of getting the highest possible score. And Rolling Realms is a lightning-fast game. Any game with simultaneous play skews toward shorter run time.

I could go on about other board games, but I’ll let Season share which games she got for Christmas. Before I pass this post to Season, I’ll share the one notable video game I began playing again this past month.

Kyra’s Video Game

It has been almost two years since I last played Apex Legends. It’s official. I stink at the game. Despite some gripes with the updated battle pass system and a new in-game currency (both of these are money-grubbing tactics🙄), I enjoy Apex Legends’s core gameplay. Sure. I’ve experienced plenty of lag. Matchmaking is atrocious at times. And the Apex Legends community may have gotten more toxic in the past two years. I encountered plenty of people who were salty that not enough people play the game. Maybe, don’t be jerks.

Then, there’s Respawn itself. They punish people for leaving meaningless games (we’re not talking ranked games with the casual play of mix tape), even when other players cheat, and plenty of players cheat. I’m tempted to report people who pickoff others at respawn points (if you play long enough, you’ll know where people respawn). I don’t know how many times I die before I reload into a game because I have just enough latency for someone else to take advantage. This reminds me of a famous video game design quote: When given the chance, players will optimize the fun out of a game. This quote sums up Apex Legends.

But don’t report anyone who cheats. The devs are so brain dead that they’ll ban the person who reported a player, rather than the actual player who cheated. And still, Apex Legends’s mechanisms hold up years after its initial release. Oddly enough, few legends were new to me despite my nearly two-year hiatus. I have no idea what the meta is, but I’m having fun–whenever everything works correctly, and no, being the beneficiary of cheaters on my team isn’t fun either. I hop into a handful of mixed tape matches most days. I don’t know if I’m back for good. An Apex Legends lobby can be hell on Earth.

Oh. And delete Control from mixed tape. The other two game modes within mixed tape’s rotation (Team Deathmatch and Gun Run) have ten-minute time limits. Control has a thirty-minute time limit. Cue Sesame Street. One of these things is not like the other.

Now, I’m ready to hand over the post to Skye. Let’s see what games she’s been playing over the past month.

Skye’s Video Games

I hope y’all had a good Holiday Season. Mine resulted in quite a few new games for me to play, with Resident Evil 2 being among them. I’ve had a blast (literally and figuratively) running and gunning my way through the virus-riddled streets of Racoon City. Despite my masochistic tendencies to start all my games on the hardest difficulty setting, I somehow managed to make my way through Resident Evil 2. It was a hard-fought but satisfying battle. While Resident Evil 2 is supposed to be played multiple times from both protagonists’ perspectives, I decided to hold off for the time being. I have plenty of other games to get through anyway, such as the next game on my list.

Huh, I suppose it was a very game-sequel Christmas for me. Either way, both Resident Evil and Silent Hill are game franchises I’ve been meaning to play for a while. With Resident Evil, I decided that it’d be fine to skip the first one since it’s not very story-driven and more of a proof-of-concept for the series. In Silent Hill’s case, I wanted to start with the first one. I just couldn’t find a copy of it that was compatible with any of my consoles. Bummer. But Silent Hill 2 is just as good, if not even better than the original. I’ve been on edge every moment. Resident Evil 2 could be tense and thrilling, but Silent Hill 2 is legitimately creepy. There’s fog everywhere, no explanation for anything that’s going on, enemies on the prowl, and all you have is a stick for protection. Hold me.

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here again. That’s all our writers have for the video games and board games we’ve played this past month. Let us know what you’ve been playing in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Fifth Wednesday: New Year’s Resolutions

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Happy New Year’s…Eve, Geekly Gang! The holiday happens to fall on the fifth Wednesday of December, and whenever a month has five Wednesdays, our writers share personal updates. So, today sounds like a great day for New Year’s Resolutions. Feel free to share your New Year’s Resolutions in the comments. I’ll get us started.

Kyra’s Resolutions

I may have spoiled some of my resolutions with a previous writing brain dump, so you may find some repeats here. I’ll try to keep this short.

1) Write something every week. First, this needs to be something outside Geekly. Yes. I write something every week–or at least most weeks–for the site, so this is personal writing like a short story or chapter in a novel. But this could be as little as a single word. I’m not putting a word count on this resolution. My idea is that one word usually leads to a sentence, which will lead to much more.

2) Work on a game every week. This could be playtesting, developing an existing design, or even designing a new game. Again, the simple act of working on a game every week should lead to more than a single design or development session.

3) The above images remind me that I need to be more consistent with posting brain dumps–at least one of each per month.

4) Read one book a month in a genre that I write or a genre I’m interested in writing. It’s always a good idea to stay current with what sells. And reading helps with one’s writing. Don’t worry about reading another person’s writing impacting your writing. You have your own unique perspective.

5) Read one writing craft book or publishing business book next year. 2025’s book was Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style, and I barely got that one under the wire. Reading about the act of writing is crucial if one wants to write. And I could stand to learn more about the writing/publishing business.

6) Read at least one book next year in a genre I don’t intend to write. This past year, I read I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Rom-Com. I don’t know if I’ll ever write a romantacy novel, but I’m glad I read this title. Kimberly Lemming did a great job balancing comedy, steamy romance, and social commentary. Kudos! And romantacy sells. I needed to read at least one book from the genre. I may read another one or two in 2026. Romance and fantasy are two of the best-selling genres. Put them together, and you get a powerful combination.

7) Play at least six board games with themes or mechanisms I don’t usually gravitate toward. This is the board game design equivalent of the previous resolution. Nuff said.

8) Get something published. This resolution is largely out of my control, but I’m not so sure. If I don’t share a publication in a literary journal or board game through a publisher in the next twelve months, I may post a short story or poem on JK Geekly by the end of 2026. Let me know if you’d be interested in this style of content. I’ll even offer this invitation to our other Geekly writers. I can’t wait to see what they have in store.

9) I have plenty of other personal goals, like staying active and volunteering more with Extra Life, but I’ll still primarily focus on writing and board game design with these resolutions. Case in point, I’ll be at ScroogeCon in Lincoln, NE, January 10, 2026, with Extra Life. If you’re in the area, stop by and say hi. I helped raise thousands of dollars for the Children’s Hospital in 2025 and hope to raise even more this upcoming year.

Looks like I’m flying solo this week. Season and Skye aren’t sharing any New Year’s Resolutions in this post. I guess that means they won’t fail at any resolutions by next Friday. They don’t have to sweat Quitter’s Day (January 9, 2026). Smart.

What are your New Year’s Resolutions, Geekly Gang? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading this past year, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a fantabulastical New Year’s Celebration.