J. Rey Lee
@jreylee.bsky.social
Boardgamer, writer, teacher, girl dad, recovering academic.
Unsettling Catan: lookingglance.com/unsettling-catan/
The Looking Glance: lookingglance.com
Unsettling Catan: lookingglance.com/unsettling-catan/
The Looking Glance: lookingglance.com
A return journey to a mysterious continent, seven years in the making . . .
Exploration, botany, history, and maybe an ancient curse . . .
Do you have what it takes to make it to the end . . . and beyond? 🤔
(tl;dr here's a post on The 7th Continent)
#boardgames
Exploration, botany, history, and maybe an ancient curse . . .
Do you have what it takes to make it to the end . . . and beyond? 🤔
(tl;dr here's a post on The 7th Continent)
#boardgames
I, Keelan (ft. The 7th Continent)
I like to think I’m not a quitter, but it turns out that everyone has their limit. I once rage-quit a corn maze by forcing my way through a temptingly thin segment of the wall (not my f…
lookingglance.com
January 29, 2026 at 10:15 PM
A return journey to a mysterious continent, seven years in the making . . .
Exploration, botany, history, and maybe an ancient curse . . .
Do you have what it takes to make it to the end . . . and beyond? 🤔
(tl;dr here's a post on The 7th Continent)
#boardgames
Exploration, botany, history, and maybe an ancient curse . . .
Do you have what it takes to make it to the end . . . and beyond? 🤔
(tl;dr here's a post on The 7th Continent)
#boardgames
Reposted by J. Rey Lee
I don't like being this vulnerable in public but I also felt like I had to say something. youtu.be/1qlEn8ob2ns
Thoughts from a Minnesota Gamer
YouTube video by Beyond Solitaire
youtu.be
January 27, 2026 at 4:09 PM
I don't like being this vulnerable in public but I also felt like I had to say something. youtu.be/1qlEn8ob2ns
This poem by an NBA chaplain eloquently conveys something I've been trying to say about why #boardgames can't always promote peaceful vibes:
Peace*keeping* is all about protecting a status quo; it keeps the peace by silencing dissent.
Peace*making* disturbs that peace to build a more loving world.
Peace*keeping* is all about protecting a status quo; it keeps the peace by silencing dissent.
Peace*making* disturbs that peace to build a more loving world.
Statement from the Minnesota Timberwolves team chaplain with alt text (ht @gregolear.bsky.social)
January 26, 2026 at 5:16 AM
This poem by an NBA chaplain eloquently conveys something I've been trying to say about why #boardgames can't always promote peaceful vibes:
Peace*keeping* is all about protecting a status quo; it keeps the peace by silencing dissent.
Peace*making* disturbs that peace to build a more loving world.
Peace*keeping* is all about protecting a status quo; it keeps the peace by silencing dissent.
Peace*making* disturbs that peace to build a more loving world.
Reposted by J. Rey Lee
Happy MLK Day!
“When machines and computers, profit motives, and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.” -Martin Luther King Jr., Riverside Speech 1967
inthesetimes.com/article/mart...
“When machines and computers, profit motives, and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.” -Martin Luther King Jr., Riverside Speech 1967
inthesetimes.com/article/mart...
The Forgotten Socialist History of Martin Luther King Jr.
King believed that a multiracial working-class movement was required to overcome the failings of capitalism.
inthesetimes.com
January 19, 2026 at 10:50 AM
Happy MLK Day!
“When machines and computers, profit motives, and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.” -Martin Luther King Jr., Riverside Speech 1967
inthesetimes.com/article/mart...
“When machines and computers, profit motives, and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.” -Martin Luther King Jr., Riverside Speech 1967
inthesetimes.com/article/mart...
Reposted by J. Rey Lee
We are calling for an immediate stop to all purchases from Upper Deck.
Their total lack of communication is distressing—so we call upon everyone to help us escalate.
No purchases from Upper Deck. No media coverage or posts of their games.
Upper Deck will only respond when it hurts their wallets.
Their total lack of communication is distressing—so we call upon everyone to help us escalate.
No purchases from Upper Deck. No media coverage or posts of their games.
Upper Deck will only respond when it hurts their wallets.
YIKES.
Upper Deck (Marvel Legendary) just announced a CCG using the Harry Potter license.
Fans of UD are rallying against this decision. Like the CGE situation last year, I’m asking for your help.
Join us. Share your disgust and frustration, and help us push UD to retract their awful decision. 🎲✂️
Upper Deck (Marvel Legendary) just announced a CCG using the Harry Potter license.
Fans of UD are rallying against this decision. Like the CGE situation last year, I’m asking for your help.
Join us. Share your disgust and frustration, and help us push UD to retract their awful decision. 🎲✂️
UPPER DECK ANNOUNCES COVETED HARRY POTTER LICENSE, UPCOMING PRODUCT COLLECTION - Upper Deck
Carlsbad, CA (Jan. 7, 2026) – Upper Deck, the global leader in sports and entertainment collectibles, is adding another iconic license to its extensive portfolio – announcing a deal to create collecti...
upperdeck.com
January 17, 2026 at 3:14 PM
We are calling for an immediate stop to all purchases from Upper Deck.
Their total lack of communication is distressing—so we call upon everyone to help us escalate.
No purchases from Upper Deck. No media coverage or posts of their games.
Upper Deck will only respond when it hurts their wallets.
Their total lack of communication is distressing—so we call upon everyone to help us escalate.
No purchases from Upper Deck. No media coverage or posts of their games.
Upper Deck will only respond when it hurts their wallets.
I had a wonderful time chatting with @ruelgaviola.com this weekend at @orcacon.bsky.social!
If I said anything smart, I owe Ruel for his thoughtful questions.🤔
If I said anything inane, I blame Ruel for being so easy to talk to that I let my guard down.🙃
If I said anything smart, I owe Ruel for his thoughtful questions.🤔
If I said anything inane, I blame Ruel for being so easy to talk to that I let my guard down.🙃
I'm going to be doing a book talk for Unsettling Catan with @ruelgaviola.com next Saturday at OrcaCon!
If you're attending, drop by for a fun chat!
tabletop.events/conventions/...
@orcacon.bsky.social
If you're attending, drop by for a fun chat!
tabletop.events/conventions/...
@orcacon.bsky.social
January 12, 2026 at 5:46 AM
I had a wonderful time chatting with @ruelgaviola.com this weekend at @orcacon.bsky.social!
If I said anything smart, I owe Ruel for his thoughtful questions.🤔
If I said anything inane, I blame Ruel for being so easy to talk to that I let my guard down.🙃
If I said anything smart, I owe Ruel for his thoughtful questions.🤔
If I said anything inane, I blame Ruel for being so easy to talk to that I let my guard down.🙃
Fantastic discussion of a variant on detached design that I hadn't thought to discuss: when a game takes on rather than avoids an issue, but does so in an abstracting and trivializing way.
Lots of good points here, so read the whole thread.
Lots of good points here, so read the whole thread.
I read a comment by a publisher defending the theme of manifest destiny as this board game is a great tool for discussion. Here are my issues with that... (thread👇)
January 12, 2026 at 5:39 AM
Fantastic discussion of a variant on detached design that I hadn't thought to discuss: when a game takes on rather than avoids an issue, but does so in an abstracting and trivializing way.
Lots of good points here, so read the whole thread.
Lots of good points here, so read the whole thread.
In 2025, I reflected on how the boardgame Maracaibo cloaks colonialism in peaceful feelings by making it feel like bloodless economic advancement.
If this doesn't seem relevant in 2026, I'll just leave this here.
👀
#boardgames
If this doesn't seem relevant in 2026, I'll just leave this here.
👀
#boardgames
January 7, 2026 at 5:40 AM
In 2025, I reflected on how the boardgame Maracaibo cloaks colonialism in peaceful feelings by making it feel like bloodless economic advancement.
If this doesn't seem relevant in 2026, I'll just leave this here.
👀
#boardgames
If this doesn't seem relevant in 2026, I'll just leave this here.
👀
#boardgames
I'm going to be doing a book talk for Unsettling Catan with @ruelgaviola.com next Saturday at OrcaCon!
If you're attending, drop by for a fun chat!
tabletop.events/conventions/...
@orcacon.bsky.social
If you're attending, drop by for a fun chat!
tabletop.events/conventions/...
@orcacon.bsky.social
January 2, 2026 at 10:56 PM
I'm going to be doing a book talk for Unsettling Catan with @ruelgaviola.com next Saturday at OrcaCon!
If you're attending, drop by for a fun chat!
tabletop.events/conventions/...
@orcacon.bsky.social
If you're attending, drop by for a fun chat!
tabletop.events/conventions/...
@orcacon.bsky.social
While I don’t condone bullying, research suggests the “other reindeer” have a reasonable case for not wanting to expand their "reindeer games."
Data pulled from the boardgamegeek.com database using bgbester.netlify.app
#boardgames #xmas
Data pulled from the boardgamegeek.com database using bgbester.netlify.app
#boardgames #xmas
December 22, 2025 at 7:57 PM
While I don’t condone bullying, research suggests the “other reindeer” have a reasonable case for not wanting to expand their "reindeer games."
Data pulled from the boardgamegeek.com database using bgbester.netlify.app
#boardgames #xmas
Data pulled from the boardgamegeek.com database using bgbester.netlify.app
#boardgames #xmas
It's not as sexy as a fiery screed against #AI use in #boardgames, but my latest post does critique how calling digital adaptations “implementations” plays into the sloppy thinking that makes AI seem inevitable.
#digitalimplementations (ft. Tsuro)
Here’s how I know I’m getting old: I can’t stop ranting about newfangled technologies and the whippersnappers who use them. But you won’t find me yelling to get apps out of my boardgames. As…
lookingglance.com
December 19, 2025 at 9:54 PM
It's not as sexy as a fiery screed against #AI use in #boardgames, but my latest post does critique how calling digital adaptations “implementations” plays into the sloppy thinking that makes AI seem inevitable.
Reposted by J. Rey Lee
Fantastic video by Pam Walls on the increasing use of AI in board games, and the need (more than ever) to support artists, illustrators and graphic designers in the industry.
youtu.be/Ci5pOjyJknI?...
youtu.be/Ci5pOjyJknI?...
We need to talk about AI slop in board games
YouTube video by Pam Walls Game Design
youtu.be
December 15, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Fantastic video by Pam Walls on the increasing use of AI in board games, and the need (more than ever) to support artists, illustrators and graphic designers in the industry.
youtu.be/Ci5pOjyJknI?...
youtu.be/Ci5pOjyJknI?...
Reposted by J. Rey Lee
This is an excellent piece about the perils of AI art broadly, and within our hobby more specifically. If we reach the point where AI art is found in every board game, I will stop playing and writing about board games. Simple as that.
Over the last month, I've been working on this essay about the use of AI art in board games, "Is This Really What We Want?" Though it is contextually specific, it is also a reflection of my wider thoughts on the use of AI art and writing in creative contexts.
www.meeplemountain.com/articles/is-...
www.meeplemountain.com/articles/is-...
Is This Really What We Want? – AI Art in Board Games – Meeple...
AI generated imagery and text are a threat to what makes board games worthwhile. In this piece, Andrew explains Meeple Mountain’s policy.
www.meeplemountain.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:08 PM
This is an excellent piece about the perils of AI art broadly, and within our hobby more specifically. If we reach the point where AI art is found in every board game, I will stop playing and writing about board games. Simple as that.
Reposted by J. Rey Lee
The Hidden History of Women Game Designers daily.jstor.org/the-hidden-h...
The Hidden History of Women Game Designers - JSTOR Daily
Nineteenth-century women turned music lessons into interactive entertainment, complete with spinning wheels and ivory counters.
daily.jstor.org
November 26, 2025 at 6:42 PM
The Hidden History of Women Game Designers daily.jstor.org/the-hidden-h...
Reposted by J. Rey Lee
Unsettling Catan by J. Rey Lee isn't a book just about Catan, but about eurogames and their characteristic features.
This is me trying to talk about its most pertinent arguments.
#boardgames
This is me trying to talk about its most pertinent arguments.
#boardgames
“Unsettling Catan: Detached Design in Eurogames” by J. Rey Lee
There are more than a few books about Catan out there. You can even find a couple of novels in the endless catalogue of ISBN lists. But in “Unsettling Catan” author J. Rey Lee doesn’t simply retrace his personal journey into the many-coloured world of modern board games. He also doesn’t give us a history of Catan’s development and success story, which – as some would argue – was the launch of the eurogame genre.
lestmyopinions.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Unsettling Catan by J. Rey Lee isn't a book just about Catan, but about eurogames and their characteristic features.
This is me trying to talk about its most pertinent arguments.
#boardgames
This is me trying to talk about its most pertinent arguments.
#boardgames
Reposted by J. Rey Lee
I've only just started reading Unsettling Catan by @jreylee.bsky.social but the introduction already includes bangers like this one.
While also bringing up player *complicity*. I can't wait to get through more of its pages.
While also bringing up player *complicity*. I can't wait to get through more of its pages.
November 15, 2025 at 12:14 PM
I've only just started reading Unsettling Catan by @jreylee.bsky.social but the introduction already includes bangers like this one.
While also bringing up player *complicity*. I can't wait to get through more of its pages.
While also bringing up player *complicity*. I can't wait to get through more of its pages.
I just launched an AMA for Unsettling Catan over on boardgamegeek. Please drop by and ask me anything!
Link: boardgamegeek.com/thread/36112...
#boardgames #bgg
Link: boardgamegeek.com/thread/36112...
#boardgames #bgg
November 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
I just launched an AMA for Unsettling Catan over on boardgamegeek. Please drop by and ask me anything!
Link: boardgamegeek.com/thread/36112...
#boardgames #bgg
Link: boardgamegeek.com/thread/36112...
#boardgames #bgg
NPI does fantastic work! They were a major influence on Unsettling Catan, as I talk about in my latest design diary.
#boardgames
#boardgames
November 5, 2025 at 3:56 PM
NPI does fantastic work! They were a major influence on Unsettling Catan, as I talk about in my latest design diary.
#boardgames
#boardgames
Reposted by J. Rey Lee
The first book in the Tabletop Games series is now available! Start reading "Unsettling Catan" by J. Rey Lee at doi.org/10.3998/mpub...
November 3, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The first book in the Tabletop Games series is now available! Start reading "Unsettling Catan" by J. Rey Lee at doi.org/10.3998/mpub...
Hey all, you can read Unsettling Catan: Detached Design in Eurogames free online right now!
Stay tuned because instead of my typical monthly blog post, I'll be doing an AMA on BGG in a week or two.
#boardgames #NewBook @pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social
Stay tuned because instead of my typical monthly blog post, I'll be doing an AMA on BGG in a week or two.
#boardgames #NewBook @pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social
Unsettling Catan
Read Online Buy Paperback* Buy Audiobook Description Coverage *30% off with code UMWEB30 Audiobook Preview Description Most revolutions don’t start with nineteen cardboard hexagons, but Klaus Teube…
lookingglance.com
November 2, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Hey all, you can read Unsettling Catan: Detached Design in Eurogames free online right now!
Stay tuned because instead of my typical monthly blog post, I'll be doing an AMA on BGG in a week or two.
#boardgames #NewBook @pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social
Stay tuned because instead of my typical monthly blog post, I'll be doing an AMA on BGG in a week or two.
#boardgames #NewBook @pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social @uofmpress.bsky.social
Unsettling Catan releases on Monday, so I sat down with Danielle from @uofmpress.bsky.social to do a Q&A on the book.
(the interview was written, but I was sitting down at the time)
#boardgames #catan
@pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social
(the interview was written, but I was sitting down at the time)
#boardgames #catan
@pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social
Q&A with Author J. Rey Lee
press.umich.edu
October 31, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Unsettling Catan releases on Monday, so I sat down with Danielle from @uofmpress.bsky.social to do a Q&A on the book.
(the interview was written, but I was sitting down at the time)
#boardgames #catan
@pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social
(the interview was written, but I was sitting down at the time)
#boardgames #catan
@pbooth81.bsky.social @aarontram.bsky.social
Happy Essen Spiel to those who celebrate! 🎉
I won't be there but I love seeing all the posts.
I won't be there but I love seeing all the posts.
October 22, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Happy Essen Spiel to those who celebrate! 🎉
I won't be there but I love seeing all the posts.
I won't be there but I love seeing all the posts.
Disappointed but not surprised academia.edu wants to peddle AI slop reviews of my book.
Disappointed and very surprised they generated an AI review of a book that’s not out anywhere. The publishers and I have no idea what they based it on.
#AcademicSky #AI #writingcommunity
(1/5)
Disappointed and very surprised they generated an AI review of a book that’s not out anywhere. The publishers and I have no idea what they based it on.
#AcademicSky #AI #writingcommunity
(1/5)
October 21, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Disappointed but not surprised academia.edu wants to peddle AI slop reviews of my book.
Disappointed and very surprised they generated an AI review of a book that’s not out anywhere. The publishers and I have no idea what they based it on.
#AcademicSky #AI #writingcommunity
(1/5)
Disappointed and very surprised they generated an AI review of a book that’s not out anywhere. The publishers and I have no idea what they based it on.
#AcademicSky #AI #writingcommunity
(1/5)
So proud of @uofmichigan.bsky.social for investing in Open Access publishing!
In a world where "you get what you pay for," we're used to free meaning cheap. But UMP lays out over $27,000* to make a book available to the public. That's putting ideas over profit.
You can support their work here:
In a world where "you get what you pay for," we're used to free meaning cheap. But UMP lays out over $27,000* to make a book available to the public. That's putting ideas over profit.
You can support their work here:
Support OA
Support OA
press.umich.edu
October 21, 2025 at 6:36 AM
So proud of @uofmichigan.bsky.social for investing in Open Access publishing!
In a world where "you get what you pay for," we're used to free meaning cheap. But UMP lays out over $27,000* to make a book available to the public. That's putting ideas over profit.
You can support their work here:
In a world where "you get what you pay for," we're used to free meaning cheap. But UMP lays out over $27,000* to make a book available to the public. That's putting ideas over profit.
You can support their work here:
This is why Dan is good at what he does: when he says "Writing is thinking for me," he means it. Instead of churning out content to fit a formula, he just engages with games and sees where it goes.
I tell my students this over and over, so I'm always happy to see someone say it so clearly.
I tell my students this over and over, so I'm always happy to see someone say it so clearly.
I had an utterly lovely time chatting with Alex of Talking Shelf Space about... well, a bunch of stuff. My origins in the hobby, how I started writing my site, how I got to be such a nerd. Give it a look! talkingshelfspace.com/origin-story...
Origin Story: Space Biff – An Interview With Board Game Critic Dan Thurot - Talking Shelf Space
When I started writing about board games, it was in part because of my dissatisfaction of the review landscape at the time. There were on one side a whole lot of YouTubers hyping up crowd-funding proj...
talkingshelfspace.com
October 13, 2025 at 7:28 AM
This is why Dan is good at what he does: when he says "Writing is thinking for me," he means it. Instead of churning out content to fit a formula, he just engages with games and sees where it goes.
I tell my students this over and over, so I'm always happy to see someone say it so clearly.
I tell my students this over and over, so I'm always happy to see someone say it so clearly.