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Articles by Andy Giovanni
Severton review
Unsupervised kids run around a city to thwart the nefarious older unsupervised kids Published: October 13, 2026, 8:00 am Last updated: October 13, 2026, 7:59 am | {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to X {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to Bluesky {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to Facebook {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to LinkedIn {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share by email I never read the works of Jaroslav Foglar, but I grew up reading adventure novels of a similar style, so the...
Aquaria review
Better make sure you can pronounce “anemone” Published: October 12, 2026, 10:05 am | {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to X {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to Bluesky {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to Facebook {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to LinkedIn {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share by email I used to maintain several freshwater fish tanks, so I’m generally interested in any game about fishkeeping.
Misborn: The Deckbuilding Game review
I’ve played a fair number of media tie-in board games before. Some are good. A lot are bad. But generally, you don’t need to actually know the book/show/movie connected to the game. In fact, I’ve taught the Firefly board game to quite a few people who barely even knew about the show, and folks still have a lot of fun (and some become fans of the show afterwards). But I’d yet to find a game whose tie-in really did much for fans aside from helping form a stronger connection with the theme.
Celebrate Persona’s 30th anniversary with actual tarot cards
I’m honestly surprised that these didn’t exist sooner By Andy Giovanni and David Flynn Published: September 08, 2026, 8:06 am | {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to X {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to Bluesky {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to Facebook {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to LinkedIn {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share by email This year at Gen Con, Level 99 Games gave us a sneak peek at something a little outside their normal offering of my favorite board games: a...
Yin Yang gets a new release and some touch-ups
Yin Yang debuted in 2019 under BGNation and a few other publishers, but this year it will receive both a revised version and a broader release under Capstone Games. While I hadn’t played the original myself, I was lucky enough at Gen Con to preview this latest edition along with another player who had, so I can offer some insight into what’s different based on what they’d said while we played.
Small, fast, and light: Pocket Nautilus is a slick solo game
While I’m familiar with designer Scott Allen Czysz’s small games Count of Nine and Forest Sky, he’s mostly known for the quick and simple solo dice game Pocket Landship. His latest design, Pocket Nautilus, expands on Landship with new mechanics while also exploring a theme that I’m personally even more interested in: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.
War for Roshar scales up the epicness at four players
This isn't just "pick a buddy and share" like War of the Ring or Rebellion By Mark Streed and Andy Giovanni Published: August 14, 2026, 6:14 pm | {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to X {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to Bluesky {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to Facebook {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to LinkedIn {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share by email The GamingTrend team was able to get a sneak peek at the latest Cosmere announcement from Brotherwise Games, Stormlight: War...
Ten new monsters coming to Bride of Spooktacular
In case you haven’t read my review, I absolutely love Spooktacular. When my copy finally arrived, I played it about twice a week or more with my group for several months, and even now I usually end up getting it on the table whenever my gaming group meets up. It’s easily one of my favorite games.
Mercenaries Wanted preview
This year at Gen Con, Cephalofair let a few people try out their latest game in the Gloomhaven universe (Gloomiverse?), and I was lucky enough to be one of them. Unlike Founders of Gloomhaven, which is an odd network-building game, Mercenaries Wanted is a bit closer to the theme of the massive campaign game. Here, you’ll be assembling a team of mercenaries to compete in three major challenges, completing small quests along the way.
Nature: Climate preview
When Nature first released, I had a hard time deciding whether to keep my copy of Evolution: Climate. I loved how much Nature streamlined the game while offering a ton of customization with the different modules, but I missed how much Climate would force species to adapt on the fly to their changing environment. Tundra introduced similar hardships, but it was just cold rather than chaotic.
Super Dice Battle review
A light battle game that unfortunately feels like a slugfest Published: June 26, 2026, 12:49 pm | {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to X {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to Bluesky {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to Facebook {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to LinkedIn {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share by email I really like fighting games, but I am absolutely terrible at them (except for Soul Calibur II, my beloved).
We’re Sinking! review
Sink or swim, as long as *you* get the best loot Published: June 08, 2026, 8:24 pm | {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to X {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to Bluesky {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to Facebook {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to LinkedIn {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share by email We’re Sinking! is a visually striking and mechanically simple game built upon the players’ decisions.
First Giants review
I was able to play through part of a demo of First Giants at Pax Unplugged (which you can watch here) along with our Editor in Chief, Mike Dunn. I really enjoyed it then and was annoyed that I’d have to wait several months before I could get my hands on it again. But it’s finally here! First Giants has very light rules that still allow players to make meaningful decisions as they collect cards for their abilities before turning them into sets for scoring, and it’s just as good as I remember.
Empire Builder: Europe review
Starting in the ‘80s, the Empire Builder series of pickup-and-deliver “crayon rail” games has withstood the test of time—various iterations still see regular play with my family, at least. Every few decades, the games get a fresh coat of polish for modern audiences to enjoy, while the gameplay itself remains largely unchanged (see my review of Nippon Rails for an example of what the game looked like in 2011).
Dead by Daylight: Malicious Expansion review
Great additions to the game’s roster across the board Published: April 15, 2026, 2:52 pm | {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to X {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to Bluesky {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to Facebook {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to LinkedIn {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share by email Whatever you wanted more of in your Dead by Daylight: The Board Game collection, the Malicious Expansion has great offerings for you. Want some new maps to keep the board fresh?
Squirrel Away review
Forget storing nuts for the winter, nab some gems and be the winner Published: February 27, 2026, 11:27 am | {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to X {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to Bluesky {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to Facebook {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to LinkedIn {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share by email Most of the time, when people talk about dexterity games, they mean flicking games. Usually it's flicking discs and sometimes dice.
12 Rivers review
Not more than its gimmick Published: February 25, 2026, 1:00 pm | {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to X {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to Bluesky {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to Facebook {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share to LinkedIn {shareOpen = false}, 2000)"> Share by email I have a soft spot for games with physical gimmicks, like Carcassonne’s Catapult expansion, but only when the gimmick is done well and meaningfully adds to the gameplay.
Dead by Daylight: The Board Game review
Nearly a decade old at the time of writing, Dead by Daylight has remained a popular video game and the most successful one-vs-many experience. Players love the thrill of both sneaking about as Survivors and chasing those Survivors down as Killers. Level 99 Games has attempted to adapt this experience to one that can be played on your tabletop.
The Daily Weather preview
I have been a longtime fan of Button Shy, ever since someone sold me copies of Turbo Drift and Find Your Seats to make up for losing the Love Letter I’d intended to buy off them (which ended up being a much better deal for me, honestly). I especially enjoy their broad selection of solo games since each is equal parts portable and replayable.
Sanibel review
You walk across the beach, sand warm beneath your toes. Something catches your eye, and you pull a snail shell from the coast. It’s a lightning whelk, which you haven’t seen yet today. You add it to your sack, smiling as your friend excitedly waves yet another shark tooth in the air before adding it to their own growing collection. The red lighthouse shines in the distance, marking both the shoreline and the end of the beach.
Brink review
In my experience, trading/negotiation games past a certain complexity (i.e., not Pit and debatably Bohnanza) typically fall into one of two categories: Games with mechanics that exist purely to support the negotiations (Quo or Zoo Vadis, Mistborn: House War) or games where negotiation is simply one of many tools a player can utilize to give themselves an edge (Twilight Imperium, Dune).
Glimmerdeep Preview - Stress-free tile placement and engine building
Years before I joined GamingTrend, at the first WashingCon (a D.C. board game convention) since the pandemic hit, I met Winsmith Games and got to play their first (and at the time, only) game, 10 Gallon Tank. The simple I-Cut-You-Choose set collection game was a hit with my friends, and I still occasionally bring the copy I got signed with me to my Saturday game group.
PAX Unplugged’s 2025 Indie Games Night Market
After hours of browsing the hottest new games, ogling displays of trinkets and dice, demoing upcoming releases, or even just playing with friends both new and old, many convention-goers are eager to either get some sleep or search for dinner. But for those willing to stay just a bit after the Expo Hall closes, PAX Unplugged offers something you really can’t find anywhere else.
DOOM: Arena Board Game preview - Let the blood flow
Modiphius Entertainment is currently crowdfunding the latest tabletop adaptation of DOOM, this time as a fast-paced skirmish game. In DOOM: Arena Board Game, two players take on the roles of the Doom Guy and the Demonic Horde as they face off against each other in up to three rounds of fighting. These rounds function as a best-of-three victory condition, with each round producing more carnage than the last as the players upgrade themselves between rounds.
Reviews - GamingTrend
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Spooktacular review - A host of horrors and fun
Level 99 Games’ Spooktacular, designed by D. Brad Talton Jr. and developed by Marco De Santos, is a 1-5 player game where players take on the roles of fictional movie monsters that have emerged from the screens of a theater to terrorize the unfortunately tasty guests. There are 20 different monsters to choose from that each plays the game quite differently and with varying degrees of complexity.
Squadron Strike: Newton’s Cradle preview - A fully 3D flight/combat sim for your tabletop
Newton’s Cradle is the newest setting in Ad Astra Games’ Squadron Strike line of sci-fi space combat games. For those unfamiliar, designer Ken Burnside has been using this combat system as the basis for multiple settings for decades, all featuring the incredibly unique AVID (Attitude Vector Information Display) system to manage the orientation and movement of ships in a 3D space. And this game is fully three-dimensional, not handwaved or abstracted in any way.
The Dealer’s Tarot preview - A whole spread of games
Level 99 Games’ latest offering on Kickstarter is a little different from their usual fare, which is pretty impressive considering their already broad catalogue. This time, designer and company president D. Brad Talton Jr. is releasing a book of 22 different games, similar to the classic Hoyle’s Rules of Games or Dr. Knizia’s New Tactical Games with Dice and Cards, except these all utilize the traditional tarot deck rather than poker cards.
Nippon Rails review - Chugging across Japan
The Empire Builder series of "crayon rail" games started in 1982, and the first edition of the Japanese map Nippon Rails was released in 1992, back when they sold games in tubes. This review is for the boxed second edition of Nippon Rails, released in 2011, and features several component upgrades from the original and a complete update on the card deck. I grew up playing the Empire Builder games with my family, so I have a lot of nostalgia for the series as a whole.
Elden Ring: Stormveil Castle review - Great minis, lacking gameplay
The Elden Ring board game from Steamforged Games seeks to bring the Lands Between to the tabletop, allowing players to explore the familiar setting and fight massive bosses with up to three friends. Along the way, players are able to upgrade their Tarnished, improving both their stats and gear to ensure their survival in the infamously difficult combat of the video game’s genre.
Elden Ring: Rot & Sorcery preview - Improvements and additions
Steamforged Games is set to begin crowdfunding for the latest campaign in their Elden Ring tabletop adaptation in just a couple days. Rot & Sorcery will feature two core boxes that can be played completely standalone, paired with each other, or even combined with the previous campaign to send your Tarnished on an incredible journey. While fully compatible with the Realm of the Grafted King, Rot & Sorcery does expand and improve upon that framework to ensure a unique experience.
Gen Con - GamingTrend
Gen Con - Be your worst self at Gen Con 2025. by Nick Dubs Your link has expired. Please request a new one. Your link has expired. Please request a new one. Your link has expired. Please request a new one. Great! You've successfully signed up. Great! You've successfully signed up.
Empire review - Profit above all
Empire is the third game in AVStudiogames’ Nano9games series, which consists of small box games that use exactly nine cards, nine dice, and nine cubes as their components. These games have so far been released in 2 “waves” of three games each, with the first wave capable of being combined to form one larger 2-player game that I’ll be reviewing later. This particular game is solo only.
Sanibel preview - Collecting seashells by the seashore
Collecting seashells is certainly one of the most relaxing pastimes; calmly walking across a beach, the sound of waves rolling up the shoreline, and the joy of finding a particularly pretty Venus Clam. Elizabeth Hargrave’s newest game, Sanibel, perfectly captures the entire calming experience, and I was lucky enough to preview the game with the designer herself while at GenCon.
City Planner review - Rolling into mediocrity
City Planner is the second in AVStudiogames’ Nano9games series, which consists of small box games that use exactly nine cards, nine dice, and nine cubes as their components. These games have so far been released in 2 “waves” of three games each, with the first wave capable of being combined to form one larger 2-player game that I’ll be reviewing later.
City Planner review - Rolling into mediocrity
City Planner is the second in AVStudiogames’ Nano9games series, which consists of small box games that use exactly nine cards, nine dice, and nine cubes as their components. These games have so far been released in 2 “waves” of three games each, with the first wave capable of being combined to form one larger 2-player game that I’ll be reviewing later.
Railways review - For sale, rail track, hardly used
Railways is the first in AVStudioGames’ Nano9games series, which consists of small box games that use exactly nine cards, nine dice, and nine cubes as their components. These games have so far been released in 2 “waves” of three games each, with the first wave capable of being combined to form one larger 2-player game that I’ll be reviewing later. This particular game is for a solo player only, and is like a smaller version of designer Alban Viard’s other game, Tramways.
Siege Command & The Conclave Wars reviews - Besiege or be sieged
Lane battlers have long been a popular subset of two-player games, forcing players to split attention and resources between multiple conflicts. Siege Command is designer Ryan Collins' entry, and it feels as though it took some inspiration from video game auto-battlers. In Siege Command, units deployed by the players will automatically march towards the opposing end of the lane unless they have access to special actions.
Enhance LED Dice Tower and Dice Set review - RGB for your RPG
Enhance's light-up acrylic dice tower is easy to assemble and rolls dice perfectly well. Though it lacks a few features that would make it stand out even more against other towers, there's nothing so wrong with it that would keep you from enjoying the sight and sound of your dice tumbling down. Out of the box, the acrylic sheets are protectively wrapped and have the acrylic standard protective stickers, so no components were scuffed before unboxing.
FRIK review - Where everyone's a failure
My Pharmacist hunkered down next to the nuclear reactor console, hiding from the traitors' ZapL fire and desperately trying to avoid a complete meltdown. I send my Courier to charge their line on his hoverboard, only to watch in horror as he instead flips over and eats dirt. The traitors' Courier moves in to finish mine off, but my luck changes when the Courier's Kitahner slips out of his hands mid-swing and is caught by one of my Rookies.
Sniper Elite: The Board Game review - Tactical stealth action brought to tabletop
Hidden movement games are some of the most deliciously tense experiences in board gaming. This is something I've known ever since I played Scotland Yard against my father when I was a kid. The thrill of watching your opponent close a net around you only to make the slightest misjudgment, letting you slip away without ever realizing it, can't be beat.
Sniper Elite: Operation Kraken expansion preview-Infiltration by land or by sea
Coming to Gamefound May 13th, 2025, Operation Kraken is an expansion to the highly rated Sniper Elite board game. This expansion will add two new maps, each with its own unique mechanics.
Shovel Knight: Dungeon Duels review-Shovel Drop onto both friend and foe!
I play a lot of games. Some are great, most are good, a few are terrible, and there's plenty that are just "alright". But the rarest ones are just good, or even alright, yet have mechanics compelling enough that they draw me in despite their shortcomings. Games that I enjoy playing, but I'm not itching to go again once I finish—yet it provides a wholly unique experience.
MonToons: Guardians of the Coral Isles preview
The printable roll-and-write arena-battle game MonToons is getting its first expansion, now on Kickstarter! Guardians of the Coral Isles adds three new maps and modular Guardians into the mix, which attach to your existing character sheets and will add various additional options once they've been Awakened. There are three different types of Guardians and players are free to start slow with just one per player, or throw in the kitchen sink and give every player three Guardians.
Worms: The Board Game review - Explosive invertebrate mayhem
Admittedly, I never played Worms very much when I was younger. But growing up, I did play a whole gamut of flash game knock-offs both alone and with my younger siblings. Back when “stick figures” were the craze, my brothers and I sunk hours into blowing each other up in a Worms-like called Territory Wars. Even though my memories lack a bit of worminess, this release gave me some hope that I might be able to enjoy some nostalgia in a new form.
SETI review - Aliens are out there, and you'll find them
Have you ever looked up into the night sky and wondered if there was life out there? Maybe not within our solar system, but surely there must be something else in the infinite expanse of space, right? Shortly after the radio was invented, humanity began scanning and searching for signals from alien intelligence yet humanity still has not found evidence of extra-terrestrial intelligence (at least, nothing revealed to the public, if you want to put on your tinfoil hat).
Andy Giovanni - GamingTrend
Andy has been playing board games since his grandfather, an avid gamer, introduced him to Space Beans. Now Andy continues to share this passion for games and occasionally writes his thoughts on them. Number of Articles 4
Aqua review - Surprising depth in this art!
Aqua is a mechanically simple 2-player card placement game, where your goal is to create sets of matching icons and numbers within either the rows or columns of the shared grid. On your turn, all you have to do is place one of the three cards in hand, then draw back up. Repeat until every card has been placed. Cards are played face-up if next to a face-down card and vice-versa. Face-down cards are only flipped after they’ve been surrounded.
Sorcerer: Endbringer review - Create your demigod, then kill them
I really love Sorcerer. As someone that enjoys playing TCGs but hasn’t got a knack for deck construction, I’m frequently on the lookout for games that scratch the same itch without forcing me to invest both time and money on anything besides playing the game itself. Sorcerer is easily my favorite of the ones I’ve tried, so I was intrigued when they announced that Sorcerer: Endbringer would be a co-op experience against an AI.
Stalk Exchange review - Bloom or Bust
Stalk Exchange is the latest in the surprisingly long list of flower themed speculative stock games, but is this one worth investing in? I think it is. The game is simple; on your turn you take two actions, either planting buds in the garden board or swapping your randomly dealt flowers with those in the market. If you want to spend your “seedy business” tokens you can take extra actions or flush the market, but there’s no way to get them back.
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