Mark Julian
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Husband, Father, Tabletop Nerd, Lead Tabletop Editor at GamingTrend.com, mjulian@gamingtrend.com
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Articles by Mark Julian
Minis vs Standees: Cyberpunk Edgerunners
Cyberpunk Edgerunners from Monster Flight Club is a 2-player starter set for the popular Combat Zone game with Edgerunner-specific factions. The game comes with 24 full-color acrylic StandUpz ™, but MFC also sells packs of miniatures. The question then becomes: Minis or StandUpz? Imagine this scenario. You go to your local game store and see a sexy looking 2-player starter set for Combat Zone. The box cover pulls you in, and you can’t help but take it home.
Sand Art review
Who knew sand could be this dull? There is something attractive about the simple and clean box art. Published: October 07, 2026, 5:35 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 Sand Art from 25th Century Games grabbed my attention with a heavy dose of nostalgia.
Rush Hour Duel review
An addictive analog classic. A classic game in a classic box. Published: September 24, 2026, 3:46 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 Rush Hour Duel from ThinkFun is immediately familiar to anyone who has browsed the free games section of their favorite app store.
Zombie Princess review
Spades reimagined. Zombies don't stand a chance against these princesses. Published: July 29, 2026, 6:00 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 Zombie Princess is the second game in the Princess series from Bezier Games.
Spotlight review
Shining a light on Seek-and-Find. The box cover does a great job of pulling you in. Published: July 14, 2026, 6:18 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 Spotlight is a classic seek-and-find game with a twist.
Berries, Mischief, and Mayhem: Allplay teases three new games
Origins Game Fair 2026 is upon us and we got the opportunity to hang out with Allplay and check out three unreleased games that will be featured in their upcoming crowdfunding campaign. Imps Players try to take out and move cubes into their enemy's castle with the help of some monster friends. First up we have Imps. Imps is a head-to-head mancala game where the mancala pieces have special powers and giant monsters march down the board.
We are headed to Origins 2026!
In a little under a week from now, GamingTrend will be at Origins Game Fair 2026! Origins is one of the premier tabletop conventions in North America. Five days of gaming, tournaments, seminars, workshops, and interacting with our favorite publishers. Attending conventions and being completely immersed in the hobby is hard to beat. What gets us most excited, though, is seeing the new 2026 releases and sneak peeks at what is coming next year.
Pergola review
Flowers and chill. Pergola is a relaxing break from the real world.
Lorcana Collector’s Guide review
A premium book for old-school collectors. A nice hardcover book is hard to beat and these are no exception. Published: June 08, 2026, 6:18 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 official Lorcana Collector’s Guides are hardcover books that cover groups of 4 Lorcana sets. The books serve two purposes.
Harvest review
How to make a talking cow boring. Cozy farming looks wonderful right? Published: May 21, 2026, 9:00 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 Harvest has a lot of things going for it.
Company of Heroes: 2nd Edition review
A faithful tabletop port with extreme toy factor.
All Will Fall review-in-progress
All Will Fall is a unique survival city builder that takes the standard genre formula and says, "what if you had to build your city up instead of out?". Set in a post-apocalyptic water world, you will attempt to lead a group of survivors to build and thrive in a new kind of city, one that is built upon the remnants of ships and skyscrapers poking above the surface of the ocean. The Cyber Towe when you first start the scenario.
Lorcana deckbuilding guide: Ruby Steel Gargoyles
Theme over function Exported deck list from Dreamborn.ink Published: January 08, 2026, 9:23 am Last updated: January 08, 2026, 9:50 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 The thing I love most about Lorcana is playing the game with my favorite characters.
Villainous: Cold Tactics review
Villainous: Cold Tactics is a standalone expansion for the Star Wars Villainous line of the popular Villainous series of games. That’s a lot of Villainous. Cold Tactics introduces Grand Admiral Thrawn and Count Dooku to the game in what is sure to be a duel for the ages. Grand strategist vs master duelist. Sounds epic. In reality, not so much. To start, I should note that I am a big fan of the regular Villainous game and its many expansions.
Lorcana Collector Set review - A Costco exclusive just in time for the holidays
Just in time for the holiday rush, everyone's favorite warehouse has the perfect Lorcana gift set. The Costco exclusive Collector set features a Villain themed card portfolio, a glimmer foil promo of The Queen, and six 1st Chapter booster packs. Let’s dig in a little deeper. The card portfolio features six classic Disney villains: The Queen, Gaston, Maleficent, Hook, Ursula, and Scar.
Lorcana: Elsa Gift Box review - Giving is receiving
Disney Lorcana is a trading card game where players build decks of cards with their favorite Disney heroes and villains. If you want a deep dive into the game, hit the Lorcana tag at the bottom of the page to see everything we’ve ever written about the game. It’s a great game, and I am always looking for ways to get more people to play. What better way than with a Gift Box? The Elsa Gift Box is exactly what it sounds like, a Lorcana Gift Box that features everyone's favorite ice queen.
Toy Battle review - Clash of cardboard
Toy Battle is a small box head-to-head board game with a familiar premise to anyone who has played popular lane battle video games like Clash Royale. Its 3-page rulebook is easy to learn, and the game plays in 15 minutes or less. The question is, of course, does this type of game work as a board game? After just a few minutes of rules, you’ll immediately see that Toy Battle is much simpler than the video games it draws inspiration from. This isn’t Clash Royale, the board game.
Lorcana: Fabled review - Shiny new toys and familiar faces
Fabled is an interesting Chapter in Lorcana that arrived with some significant changes to the game. We have new rarities, sets being cycled out, and, of course, the usual array of new cards and accessories to enjoy. With Fabled, we have not one, but actually two new card rarities. Epic cards slot in between Legendary and Enchanted and feature frameless artwork, new types of foil treatment, and tinted text. They look amazing and provide players and collectors with a type of card to chase.
What do hot dogs, chicken, and Lorcana have in common?
I have the benefit of living within 10 minutes of a Costco. It's great for saving on bulk items, but it also gets me in trouble with all of the non-grocery-related treasures I find there. Lego sets are a particular weakness, but I always keep my eye peeled for something fun to pick up. Well, now I will be keeping eyes open for this new Lorcana Collector's set available exclusively at Costco.
GUNNAR Optiks Groot glasses review - I’m wearing Groot
Eye strain while gaming is likely something most of us have encountered, at least during long sessions or frequently for those more susceptible to dry eye or light sensitivity. GUNNAR Optiks offers a range of glasses to help with those problems, and they come in many styles. The Groot glasses I had the chance to check out are, in a word, stunning.
Fall is for Families at Revensburger
As the resident Family Games enthusiast at GamingTrend, I am always on the lookout for new games to try out with my kids. Ravensburger has announced three brand-new games aimed at younger kids that are available now. Sandcastles of Burgundy looks especially great. Read the official announcement below. Portsmouth, NH (August 26, 2025) – Autumn is in the air, and the teams at Ravensburger and ThinkFun are bringing the fall vibes with three new games.
Lorcana Chapter 8: Reign of Jafar review - the battle for Lorcana
The Reign of Jafar is the eighth chapter of Lorcana, and as with all sets, it is more than just cards. In this review, I am going to focus on the unique aspects of Chapter 8 and take a look at the various add-ons and things that support the game, as well as the Chapter 8 cards themselves. I won’t be covering how to play the game. If you want to learn about the game itself, jump over to read our full Lorcana review.
Disney Villainous: Unstoppable review - I’d like it to stop.
I’m a big fan of Villainous. The twist of playing as the Villains is just fun, and the gameplay, with its puzzle and race to victory, is an engaging experience. The problem with Villainous, though, is that it requires a lot of reading, and for some characters, a surprisingly nuanced strategy that makes it prohibitive to play with younger family members, which I happen to have several of. My kids. I’m talking about my kids. They can’t play Big Villainous. Enter Baby Villainous.
Lorcana Illumineer’s Quest: Palace Heist review - Lorcana perfected
I’ve been a fan of Lorcana since it launched at GenCon in 2023. Waiting in line in the pre-dawn hours to snag some cards was a blast, and the anticipation of the crowd was electric. Lorcana was a huge release and has continued to sell out everywhere in my area. Since then, I have played every chapter, and while I love the game, I’m somehow still terrible at it. Somewhere along the way, I just never learned the strategy behind being good at competitive card games.
Darrington Press has a brand new board game available now.
The folks at Darrington Press have a new board game called Solar Gardens that is available now. Like right now! Read the press release below and be sure to check out our review for a deeper dive into the game. July 31, 2025 — Solar Gardens, the light-hearted, tile-drafting board game set in a breathtakingly utopian future, is now available from Darrington Press.
Painkiller preview - Hell of a start.
We got to check out a preview build of Painkiller from developer Anshar Studios and publisher 3D Realms. Painkiller is a cooperative FPS set in a gothic hellscape where you and up to three friends will take on hordes of demons and giant monsters from the pits of hell. This isn’t the first Painkiller game, but it wouldn’t be right to call this a sequel or remaster of the original.
Lure review - a fishy gambling game
Lure is a fishing-themed gambling game in the small box line from Allplay. Players will bid and attempt to entice fish onto their lines via every fish's favorite food, dice. The game supports 2-5 players and wraps up in just 15 minutes. Rounds in Lure are lightning fast. Some new fish will be drawn from the deck, and players simultaneously bid how many dice they are going to use for that round, along with any special lures. The dice come in different flavors.
Villainous: Treacherous Tides review - Ooo Shiny
Villainous has returned with another two-character expandalone (Ravensburger’s term for a standalone expansion) set. Treacherous Tides features a live-action Disney character for the first time, Davy Jones, as well as everyone’s favorite shiny crab, Tomatoa. There are now plenty of options to choose from as a starting point, and whether you are new to the game or a collector, is Treacherous Tides for you? If you’ve never played Villainous before, here is a quick overview.
Warhammer 40K Space Marine Master Crafted Edition review - Hold, brothers.
Releasing remastered versions of well loved games is all the rage recently. I seem to be at just the right age for all the games I loved as a kid to be coming back around again. The Master Crafted Edition of Space Marine has arrived fresh off the coat tails of the success of Space Marine 2, and if you are a fan of the series, you may be wondering if it’s worth dawning your armor one more time to slaughter Orks and Chaos for the glory of the Imperium.
Wreckfest 2 - Early Access impressions
We checked out the Early Access build of the demolition derby racing game, Wreckfest 2. At the time of writing, it’s in month 3 of a planned 12-month EA period with 1 major content update so far. The current game build features a small handful of tracks and a few cars that look different but otherwise behave the same. Wreckfest is a demolition derby game, so the cars are appropriately beat up. The physics feels nice and realistic, with the cars having a sense of real weight.
Rebel Princess review - These hearts look like frogs
I’ve been in the tabletop hobby for a while now, and with thousands of games coming out each year, there is always something to be excited about. However, when my family gets together, we always return to the classic card games. Hearts has been a family favorite for decades, and we still play every holiday get-together. Imagine my delight when I saw Rebel Princess from Bezier Games. It’s Hearts, but with a few twists to bridge the gap between the classic game and newer hobby tabletop games.
Shatterpoint: Twice the Pride Squad Pack review - the duelists
Shatterpoint is a game that requires players to focus on the objective rather than just going for kills, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make wounding and eliminating enemies a key part of your strategy. If that sounds like your jam, Count Dooku and friends are here for you. Not sure what Shatterpoint is all about? Jump over to our review of the core game here! Count Dooku himself is a Primary Unit with 7 squad points.
Shatterpoint: Plans and Preparations Squad Pack review - always be prepared
The Plans and Preparations Squad Pack introduces Jedi Master Luminara Unduli as a new Primary Character. Luminara is joined by her Padawan, Barris Offee, as well as a unit of Republic Clone Commandos for support.
Star Wars: Shatterpoint review - What dreams are made of.
Star Wars: Shatterpoint is a tabletop skirmish game from Atomic Mass Games that gives players the opportunity to create the Star Wars battles they’ve always dreamed of. How would Anakin fare against Maul? What if Captain Rex commanded a unit of B1s? Can Darth Vader defeat his younger self? Shatterpoint is a skirmish game, but every game tells the story you create. It’s also a hobby game that will require some work to get into. Let’s find out if it’s worth it.
The Mandalorian: Adventures review - Risk mitigation for gunslingers
The Mandalorian: Adventures from Unexpected Games and designed by Corey Konieczka is a lightweight cooperative adventure game set during the events of the first season of the hit Disney show, The Mandalorian. It’s easy to learn, has a great theme, and plays relatively fast. But is it fun? You’ll have to keep reading… or ya know, skip to the end.
Age of Mythology Retold: Immortal Pillars DLC review - Age of dragons
Immortal Pillars is the first DLC for Age of Mythology: Retold and reintroduces the Chinese pantheon to the game. The three Chinese gods blend new defensive options with powerful myth units and blessings. I gave all three of the returning gods a try and they all feel quite powerful. If you played the original game, you’ll notice that the Chinese gods have been completely reworked.
Diplomacy is Not an Option review - of physics and food
Diplomacy is Not an Option, by Door 407, is an old-school RTS that will challenge seasoned players and frustrate anyone new to the genre. I mostly loved it and sometimes hated it. It kept me on the hook for over 50 hours so the good outweighs the bad. Let’s get into it. The game features multiple modes. There is a lengthy and branching campaign, challenge missions, and custom games. I spent most of my time in the campaign and still didn’t manage to discover everything.
Lorcana: Archazia’s Island review - Something new
Starter Decks Archazia’s Island is out and brings some new ideas to shake things up. As always, the Starter Decks are a great way to get a first impression of the chapter or jump into the game for the first time. This set introduces dual-ink cards for the first time as well as some brand new keywords and characters. Dual-ink cards are exactly what they sound like. They have two ink colors and can only be used in decks that feature those two colors.
Star Realms: Rise of Empire review - The sticker effect
Star Realms is one of the all time classic deck builders. I admire Wise Wizards commitment to the brand and ability to continue to create new content and innovate on the design for long time fans and newcomers alike. They’ve been at it since 2014 and we’ve seen commanders, huge ships, events, gambits, cooperative play, and more added to the game. Now with Rise of Empire we get 2019’s favorite board game buzzwords… Legacy Game.
Arizona: Great Buy! 99 The Game review - Good for a few sips
“Arizona: Great Buy! 99 The Game” is admittedly an insane title for a board game. That didn’t stop Spin Master from publishing it but you’d be forgiven for seeing that and being a bit confused. You may be equally confused why there is a random can of Arizona Tea sitting on the shelf in the board game aisle. Look a bit closer. For the purposes of not driving myself insane, let’s call this the Arizona Tea game.
Mark Julian - GamingTrend
Family man. Growing my own game group one kid at a time. Number of Articles 112
Flint: Treasure of Oblivion review - Barrels of mass destruction
Flint: Treasure of Oblivion is a turn-based tactical adventure game from developer Savage Level and published by Microids. The Steam description says “Experience the golden age of piracy through a strong and original narrative, real-time exploration and turn-based tactical combat in Flint – Treasure of Oblivion.” After playing through the game, I’m not sure those are the words I would use to describe it. Let’s talk about the story first. It’s about… something. There’s a magic ruby.
Creality Space Pi Plus Filament Dryer review - Just shy of perfect
Is your filament dry? Any amount of time spent on a 3D printing forum and you’ll have seen that question thrown around as the solution to any and all printing problems. It’s usually not that simple but… sometimes it is. Let’s look at the Creality Space Pi Plus Filament Dryer and see how it performs and if it’s a tool you should add to your printing setup. Honestly, I’ve always been skeptical of these things. How much moisture can a roll of plastic really absorb?
Best in tabletop of 2024
The number of tabletop games that come out in a single year these days is nothing short of incredible, and to say that this list of what the tabletop team here at GamingTrend put forth is definitive and exhaustive would do a disservice to the hundreds of games that we still haven’t gotten to the table yet.
What's next for Disney Lorcana? An all new original character and the next big bad.
A life long video gamer, Mark caught the Tabletop itch in college and has been hooked ever since. Epic two player strategy games are his favorites but he enjoys pretty much everything on the tabletop, just no Werewolf please. When he gets a break from changing diapers and reading bedtime stories he can usually be found researching new games or day dreaming about maybe one day having time for a ttrpg. Some of Mark's favorite games are Star Wars: Rebellion, A Feast for Odin, and Nemesis.
3D Printing - GamingTrend
The popularity of resin 3D printing is still pretty new, and there are still many unknowns about its byproducts. There are dozens of varieties of resins, all with different characteristics that can affect the quality of the print Every color under the rainbow, ABS-like resin, water-washable, rapid, plant-based, and more by Ron Burke
24 Hours of gaming with the Colorado Springs Board Game Club-Tabletop Throwdown S1E17 SEASON FINALE
In the season finale of Tabletop Throwdown, Mike Dunn and his co-hosts discuss the Colorado Springs Board Game Club, its history, community impact, and fundraising efforts for Extra Life. They share personal experiences, the importance of community in gaming, and provide advice for starting a board game club. The episode concludes with reflections on the past season and plans for the future.
Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game - Clone Wars Edition review - Hello there!
In 2023 Fantasy Flight Games surprised everyone with the first Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game. Built on the massively popular Star Realms formula, the game offered a fast and simple way to have a Star Wars battle on the tabletop. This new edition is the same game but set in the Clone Wars era pitting the Republic against the Separatists. The gameplay hasn’t changed, but the new factions have their own unique playstyles that offer new challenges and strategies to fans.
Little Alchemists review -- boxing up magic
As a father, I want nothing more for my kids than for them to grow up and be into board games and to play with me forever. Maybe a few other things, but that’s definitely up there. The problem is all the waiting for them to be old enough to grasp the games in my collection. Beating my 3-year-old son at Star Wars: Rebellion is just too easy and my 6-year-old daughter is just starting to read and offers no competition at all at Dune Imperium or Root. What am I supposed to do?
Crossbows & Catapults review - A box of memories
Why do we play games? To spend time together? To win? To distract? There could be any number of reasons, but I can still remember being a kid and playing just to play. The rules were usually made up, they changed frequently, and there wasn’t always a point. Just fun. Crossbows & Catapults takes me back to that place and time when I had no worries and did things just for fun. It might do that for you too.
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