Charlie Theel
@charlietheel.bsky.social
Board game critic. Bylines: Polygon, IGN, Ars Technica, Tabletop Gaming Magazine, Dicebreaker, Geek & Sundry, PC Gamer, Wargamer. Co-hosted the Ding & Dent podcast.
[email protected]
Most of my writing appears at my site, http://playerelimination.com
[email protected]
Most of my writing appears at my site, http://playerelimination.com
Reposted by Charlie Theel
I don't know how to introduce this one. After three titles about opium peddling, I figured the rest of SDHistCon would be breezy by comparison. I was wrong. The next day, I experienced one of the toughest board games I've ever played. Perhaps *the* toughest. spacebiff.com/2025/11/24/u...
Unnameable
After the first day of SDHistCon, where I played three games about opium peddling, I figured the second would be easier on my stomach. I could not have been more wrong. It has no name. Its designer…
spacebiff.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:01 PM
I don't know how to introduce this one. After three titles about opium peddling, I figured the rest of SDHistCon would be breezy by comparison. I was wrong. The next day, I experienced one of the toughest board games I've ever played. Perhaps *the* toughest. spacebiff.com/2025/11/24/u...
I've written a follow-up article to my original Vantage review, this time at my own site. I wanted to explore some more ideas pertaining to this game's unique narrative structure. The companion piece: playerelimination.com/2025/11/24/t...
The Planet of the Elephant – A Vantage Companion Review
Vantage has been cooking in my mental oven for half the year. I first wrote about this open world sci-fi adventure game in July, with my review appearing at entertainment site IGN. If you havenR…
playerelimination.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:21 PM
I've written a follow-up article to my original Vantage review, this time at my own site. I wanted to explore some more ideas pertaining to this game's unique narrative structure. The companion piece: playerelimination.com/2025/11/24/t...
Looks like Mayday launched their new Crokinole Kickstarter and is embroiled in a new shitty controversy. I have to give a PSA on my mistake of backing their 2022 board in which I deservedly received a package with a box cutter rattling around inside.
November 19, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Looks like Mayday launched their new Crokinole Kickstarter and is embroiled in a new shitty controversy. I have to give a PSA on my mistake of backing their 2022 board in which I deservedly received a package with a box cutter rattling around inside.
Origin Story took me by surprise. It combines trick-taking and tableau building in a chaotic and empowering manner. Check out my review: playerelimination.com/2025/11/17/i...
I am Watercolor Man – An Origin Story Review
Origin stories are the worst. This is coming from a cretin who ingests superhero content via cinema as opposed to paper. I don’t want to see Thomas and Martha Wayne murdered by a low life, ag…
playerelimination.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Origin Story took me by surprise. It combines trick-taking and tableau building in a chaotic and empowering manner. Check out my review: playerelimination.com/2025/11/17/i...
Trying to avoid economic and social devastation in the Bronx.
November 16, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Trying to avoid economic and social devastation in the Bronx.
Getting Old King's Crown back to the table to explore the Wild Kingdom.
November 12, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Getting Old King's Crown back to the table to explore the Wild Kingdom.
Reposted by Charlie Theel
WHAT'S UP MASS EFFECT FANS
IT'S YA BOI
THE EXPANSION IS COMING
HAPPY FUCKING N7 DAYYYYYYYY
IT'S YA BOI
THE EXPANSION IS COMING
HAPPY FUCKING N7 DAYYYYYYYY
November 7, 2025 at 5:51 PM
WHAT'S UP MASS EFFECT FANS
IT'S YA BOI
THE EXPANSION IS COMING
HAPPY FUCKING N7 DAYYYYYYYY
IT'S YA BOI
THE EXPANSION IS COMING
HAPPY FUCKING N7 DAYYYYYYYY
I've been quiet on the writing front lately. This is because I've been working on the behemoth that is Kingdoms Forlorn, a boss battler campaign game with Dark Souls vibes and the followup to the exceptional Aeon Trespass: Odyssey. Read all my thoughts here: playerelimination.com/2025/11/07/a...
The Ornate Wheel – A Kingdoms Forlorn: Dragons, Devils and Kings Review
There are two ways to look at Kingdoms Forlorn: Dragons, Devils and Kings. You can either view this unbelievably massive box as a vast world waiting to be explored and conquered, one of untold trea…
playerelimination.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:05 PM
I've been quiet on the writing front lately. This is because I've been working on the behemoth that is Kingdoms Forlorn, a boss battler campaign game with Dark Souls vibes and the followup to the exceptional Aeon Trespass: Odyssey. Read all my thoughts here: playerelimination.com/2025/11/07/a...
This is a true story. It happened right here, one hour ago. At exactly 2PM, 17 adults walked into a conference room, sat in their chairs, and listened to how much their health insurance premiums would increase.
October 24, 2025 at 8:37 PM
This is a true story. It happened right here, one hour ago. At exactly 2PM, 17 adults walked into a conference room, sat in their chairs, and listened to how much their health insurance premiums would increase.
Neuroshima Hex: Battle is a new two-player starter set intended to ease players into the system. It also happens to be my reintroduction to the game after nearly 10 years of separation.
My review: playerelimination.com/2025/10/22/t...
My review: playerelimination.com/2025/10/22/t...
Tea for Two – A Neuroshima Hex: Battle Review
In another life, I was infatuated with Neuroshima Hex. Almost exactly 10 years ago, I wrote this soliloquy at Fortress Ameritrash extolling the virtues of Michal Oracz’s design. The game was …
playerelimination.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Neuroshima Hex: Battle is a new two-player starter set intended to ease players into the system. It also happens to be my reintroduction to the game after nearly 10 years of separation.
My review: playerelimination.com/2025/10/22/t...
My review: playerelimination.com/2025/10/22/t...
Reposted by Charlie Theel
We are now live! If you want to grab a copy of the new printings, now's your best chance.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/col...
This is also a bit of a strange campaign for us. To be honest, I don't even think I've ever been as nervous about a launch. I suppose that needs some explaining 🧵
www.kickstarter.com/projects/col...
This is also a bit of a strange campaign for us. To be honest, I don't even think I've ever been as nervous about a launch. I suppose that needs some explaining 🧵
John Company & Molly House Reprint
Two of the most evocative historical board games are back for a new print run.
www.kickstarter.com
October 21, 2025 at 2:39 PM
We are now live! If you want to grab a copy of the new printings, now's your best chance.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/col...
This is also a bit of a strange campaign for us. To be honest, I don't even think I've ever been as nervous about a launch. I suppose that needs some explaining 🧵
www.kickstarter.com/projects/col...
This is also a bit of a strange campaign for us. To be honest, I don't even think I've ever been as nervous about a launch. I suppose that needs some explaining 🧵
Tag Team is a two-player auto battler card dueler with some jam. I dig into the game, its peers, and a personal issue with this genre. Review here: playerelimination.com/2025/10/16/o...
One Card After Another – A Tag Team Review
I’m a child of the 90s, so when I hear the words tag team, I think of the Bushwhackers, Harlem Heat, and the Outsiders. Gricha German and Corentin Labrat’s Tag Team isn’t that. We…
playerelimination.com
October 16, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Tag Team is a two-player auto battler card dueler with some jam. I dig into the game, its peers, and a personal issue with this genre. Review here: playerelimination.com/2025/10/16/o...
My series Philosophy and Board Games is back, this time discussing Mara van der Lugt's 2025 book Hopeful Pessimism. I relate its concepts to cooperative board gaming, framing the discussion around the merits of difficulty and challenge.
playerelimination.com/2025/10/06/p...
playerelimination.com/2025/10/06/p...
Philosophy and Board Games: Hopeful Pessimism
Philosopher Mara van der Lugt’s 2025 book Hopeful Pessimism challenges ideas of motivation and the role of despondency. It’s a revelation of sorts, especially for those plagued with ete…
playerelimination.com
October 6, 2025 at 1:41 PM
My series Philosophy and Board Games is back, this time discussing Mara van der Lugt's 2025 book Hopeful Pessimism. I relate its concepts to cooperative board gaming, framing the discussion around the merits of difficulty and challenge.
playerelimination.com/2025/10/06/p...
playerelimination.com/2025/10/06/p...
Really enjoyed One Battle After Another. Been a weak year for film, grateful for this and Anemone to land in succession. Anyway, my PTA ranking.
1. TWBB
2. Magnolia
3. One Battle After Another
4. Hard Eight
5. Phantom Thread
6. Boogie Nights
7. The Master
8. Punch Drunk Love
9. Licorice Pizza
1. TWBB
2. Magnolia
3. One Battle After Another
4. Hard Eight
5. Phantom Thread
6. Boogie Nights
7. The Master
8. Punch Drunk Love
9. Licorice Pizza
October 1, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Really enjoyed One Battle After Another. Been a weak year for film, grateful for this and Anemone to land in succession. Anyway, my PTA ranking.
1. TWBB
2. Magnolia
3. One Battle After Another
4. Hard Eight
5. Phantom Thread
6. Boogie Nights
7. The Master
8. Punch Drunk Love
9. Licorice Pizza
1. TWBB
2. Magnolia
3. One Battle After Another
4. Hard Eight
5. Phantom Thread
6. Boogie Nights
7. The Master
8. Punch Drunk Love
9. Licorice Pizza
Age of Galaxy is a potent tableau builder that broadly hits all the notes of the 4X genre. Its achievement is focused around the fascinating asymmetric faction building and how it shapes the entirety of play. My review:
playerelimination.com/2025/09/25/a...
playerelimination.com/2025/09/25/a...
Three Cards, Four Xs – An Age of Galaxy Review
Jeffrey CCH, founder of Hong Kong publisher ICE Makes, has produced some wonky designs. Eila and Something Shiny is a narrative-driven card game that is emotionally poignant, Inheritors remains one…
playerelimination.com
September 25, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Age of Galaxy is a potent tableau builder that broadly hits all the notes of the 4X genre. Its achievement is focused around the fascinating asymmetric faction building and how it shapes the entirety of play. My review:
playerelimination.com/2025/09/25/a...
playerelimination.com/2025/09/25/a...
Reposted by Charlie Theel
Friends, I finally am in the market for freelance work! It's a big year for things like Magic and D&D, so if you've got a hankering for some expert content get in my DMs. I'm also eager to discuss contract marketing and communications opportunities.
September 24, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Friends, I finally am in the market for freelance work! It's a big year for things like Magic and D&D, so if you've got a hankering for some expert content get in my DMs. I'm also eager to discuss contract marketing and communications opportunities.
Battle of Hoth is Star Wars Memoir 44. But it has a few tricks, such as a compressed board, heroic leaders, and two campaigns. Most importantly, it's a fun way to kill a half hour and sample the genre of wargaming.
Review at IGN: www.ign.com/articles/sta...
Review at IGN: www.ign.com/articles/sta...
Star Wars: Battle of Hoth Board Game Review - IGN
Star Wars: Battle of Hoth lets you fight out the iconic conflict with cardboard and plastic. Containing lots of drama and little rules overhead, this is the type of game that hits the table and doesn’...
www.ign.com
September 23, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Battle of Hoth is Star Wars Memoir 44. But it has a few tricks, such as a compressed board, heroic leaders, and two campaigns. Most importantly, it's a fun way to kill a half hour and sample the genre of wargaming.
Review at IGN: www.ign.com/articles/sta...
Review at IGN: www.ign.com/articles/sta...
This is a fascinating piece of media. Highly recommended if you're interested in Cross Bronx Expressway.
September 17, 2025 at 6:20 PM
This is a fascinating piece of media. Highly recommended if you're interested in Cross Bronx Expressway.
Magical Athlete is back after 22 years. This is board gaming reduced to its base elements, and the result is electric. The new edition from CMYK is perfect, maybe the best update of a game I've ever seen. My review: playerelimination.com/2025/09/16/g...
Going the Distance – A Magical Athlete Review
Takashi Ishida’s Magical Athlete is a quirky game about a cast of misfits in a foot race. First released in 2003 by Z-Man Games, its oddball nature and prototype-level production resulted in …
playerelimination.com
September 16, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Magical Athlete is back after 22 years. This is board gaming reduced to its base elements, and the result is electric. The new edition from CMYK is perfect, maybe the best update of a game I've ever seen. My review: playerelimination.com/2025/09/16/g...
Ford vs. Ferrari, Empire of the Sun, The Prestige, and I'm Not There. Could go even farther with 3:10 to Yuma and The Machinist.
September 15, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Ford vs. Ferrari, Empire of the Sun, The Prestige, and I'm Not There. Could go even farther with 3:10 to Yuma and The Machinist.
Nature is the latest iteration of North Star Games' acclaimed Evolution. This is as much a system as a standalone entity, serving as a chassis for additional content. It seeks to capture the broad reach of Evolution's wider family of games. My review: www.ign.com/articles/nat...
Nature Board Game Review - IGN
Nature is a board game about creating and adapting species to survive in an ever-changing environment. It’s both accessible and rich, offering a large amount of additional content to liven up the expe...
www.ign.com
September 11, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Nature is the latest iteration of North Star Games' acclaimed Evolution. This is as much a system as a standalone entity, serving as a chassis for additional content. It seeks to capture the broad reach of Evolution's wider family of games. My review: www.ign.com/articles/nat...
This is a huge honor. My philosophy articles have not received many views and I had decided to steer away from think-pieces. Totally rad for one to be nominated. Thank you to the board and to whoever submitted my work for consideration.
We're proud to announce the 2025 Bobby Nunes Memorial Award finalists, recognizing exceptional pieces of gaming media from 2024 by @amabel.bsky.social, @fredserval.bsky.social, @charlietheel.bsky.social, and @danthurot.bsky.social. More on their nominated works here: sdhist.com/2025-bobby-n...
September 9, 2025 at 7:45 PM
This is a huge honor. My philosophy articles have not received many views and I had decided to steer away from think-pieces. Totally rad for one to be nominated. Thank you to the board and to whoever submitted my work for consideration.
Ruin a movie by making it Bout Gary.
Glengarry Glen Gary.
Glengarry Glen Gary.
Ruin a movie by making it about Gary.
2001: A Gary Odyssey
2001: A Gary Odyssey
Ruin a movie by making it about Gary.
The Last Garycorn
The Last Garycorn
September 1, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Ruin a movie by making it Bout Gary.
Glengarry Glen Gary.
Glengarry Glen Gary.
At the beginning of August I attended Gen Con, as I usually do. This year was different. This year, I participated in an adapted megagame of John Company: Second Edition alongside 50 other people. It was insane. It was brilliant. My thoughts on the event:
playerelimination.com/2025/08/25/a...
playerelimination.com/2025/08/25/a...
An Archivist’s Dream – A Recounting of John Company, the Megagame
It’s 1710 and the world is in turmoil. Maybe. I’m not sure. as the Company and the state of its affairs are sprawled out on a massive table on one end of the room, and I’m at the …
playerelimination.com
August 25, 2025 at 1:12 PM
At the beginning of August I attended Gen Con, as I usually do. This year was different. This year, I participated in an adapted megagame of John Company: Second Edition alongside 50 other people. It was insane. It was brilliant. My thoughts on the event:
playerelimination.com/2025/08/25/a...
playerelimination.com/2025/08/25/a...
Reposted by Charlie Theel
Friends, if you've been following me for a while now you know that I'm on the hunt for my next job. I'm hoping to expand my reach -- especially on LinkedIn. If you post there, I'd really love any help you can provide in getting my call to action out there via reposts and other shares!
Hello friends! | Charlie Hall
Hello friends! This summer, my role as Senior Editor was impacted by a significant reorganization at Vox Media. I am now looking for full-time and contract/freelance opportunities and would appreciate...
www.linkedin.com
August 19, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Friends, if you've been following me for a while now you know that I'm on the hunt for my next job. I'm hoping to expand my reach -- especially on LinkedIn. If you post there, I'd really love any help you can provide in getting my call to action out there via reposts and other shares!