rid
@manaworm.com
he/him.
writing about tabletop games @ manaworm.com
writing about tabletop games @ manaworm.com
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rid
@manaworm.com
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My Most Played Games of 2025
Extra! Extra! Manaworm is entering its Buzzfeed era and I’m making a list of games I’ve played a lot in 2025.
manaworm.com
i played a lot of board games in 2025. i played so much that i blogged a list about it.
read here: manaworm.com/2026/01/13/2...
#boardgames #bgstats
read here: manaworm.com/2026/01/13/2...
#boardgames #bgstats
played a lot of party and word games this january. outfox the fox by @jeffgrisenthwaite.bsky.social was a huge standout.
not pictured: seven different unlock!: short adventures i played through
#boardgames #bgstats
not pictured: seven different unlock!: short adventures i played through
#boardgames #bgstats
February 1, 2026 at 2:39 PM
played a lot of party and word games this january. outfox the fox by @jeffgrisenthwaite.bsky.social was a huge standout.
not pictured: seven different unlock!: short adventures i played through
#boardgames #bgstats
not pictured: seven different unlock!: short adventures i played through
#boardgames #bgstats
opening the bgg forums and seeing dice tower bootlicking and a guy asking if he should log a play he had in a dream
January 29, 2026 at 8:01 PM
opening the bgg forums and seeing dice tower bootlicking and a guy asking if he should log a play he had in a dream
contemplating getting an ayn thor to replace my steam deck. i mainly use the deck for emulation and streaming nowadays; seems like id be better off with something a little smaller
January 28, 2026 at 3:44 AM
contemplating getting an ayn thor to replace my steam deck. i mainly use the deck for emulation and streaming nowadays; seems like id be better off with something a little smaller
really impressed by the new version of sagrada, between the art and the colorblind friendliness and the little balance changes. especially like the sound of the private objective change
also check out @wericmartin.bsky.social's new website!
www.wericmartin.com/sagrada-boar...
also check out @wericmartin.bsky.social's new website!
www.wericmartin.com/sagrada-boar...
Rebuilding Sagrada for a New Era
Let the light shine through your dicey windows
www.wericmartin.com
January 27, 2026 at 8:57 PM
really impressed by the new version of sagrada, between the art and the colorblind friendliness and the little balance changes. especially like the sound of the private objective change
also check out @wericmartin.bsky.social's new website!
www.wericmartin.com/sagrada-boar...
also check out @wericmartin.bsky.social's new website!
www.wericmartin.com/sagrada-boar...
Reposted by rid
Board Game Beat is officially launched & loaded with content...with more to come as I report on Spielwarenmesse!
If you're into independent board game journalism—articles, videos, interviews, news, reviews & more—please check it out and share.
www.wericmartin.com
#boardgame #spielwarenmesse
If you're into independent board game journalism—articles, videos, interviews, news, reviews & more—please check it out and share.
www.wericmartin.com
#boardgame #spielwarenmesse
Board Game Beat LLC | W. Eric Martin
Tabletop and board game journalism with deep-dive news, reviews, interviews, videos, and essays, plus rulebook writing and editing services.
www.wericmartin.com
January 26, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Board Game Beat is officially launched & loaded with content...with more to come as I report on Spielwarenmesse!
If you're into independent board game journalism—articles, videos, interviews, news, reviews & more—please check it out and share.
www.wericmartin.com
#boardgame #spielwarenmesse
If you're into independent board game journalism—articles, videos, interviews, news, reviews & more—please check it out and share.
www.wericmartin.com
#boardgame #spielwarenmesse
here's my review of a game about putting numbers in order, take time. it's hard, but i've enjoyed spending time with my family working through it.
manaworm.com/2026/01/25/t...
#boardgames
manaworm.com/2026/01/25/t...
#boardgames
Take Time Review: Some Things Last a Long Time
★★★★☆ — Designers Alexi Piovesan and Julien Prothière let you encounter each challenge on your own terms: problem solving, coming up with your own heuristics, building up a whole suite of ski…
manaworm.com
January 25, 2026 at 5:11 PM
here's my review of a game about putting numbers in order, take time. it's hard, but i've enjoyed spending time with my family working through it.
manaworm.com/2026/01/25/t...
#boardgames
manaworm.com/2026/01/25/t...
#boardgames
happy for the sportsposting but i hope bluesky is as alive for the nba playoffs as it has been for the nfl
January 19, 2026 at 5:00 AM
happy for the sportsposting but i hope bluesky is as alive for the nba playoffs as it has been for the nfl
My latest is a review of Dungeon Fighter: Second Edition, a dice flicking game about casting spells and being defeated when you have to roll a di off your nose.
read here: manaworm.com/2026/01/18/d...
#boardgames
read here: manaworm.com/2026/01/18/d...
#boardgames
Dungeon Fighter Review: Spell Slinger
★★★☆☆ — Dungeon Fighter is less a dexterity game about getting good at accurately placing cubes and more a gauntlet of dice-themed humiliations from which you may, if you get on a hot streak,…
manaworm.com
January 18, 2026 at 5:19 PM
My latest is a review of Dungeon Fighter: Second Edition, a dice flicking game about casting spells and being defeated when you have to roll a di off your nose.
read here: manaworm.com/2026/01/18/d...
#boardgames
read here: manaworm.com/2026/01/18/d...
#boardgames
i played a lot of board games in 2025. i played so much that i blogged a list about it.
read here: manaworm.com/2026/01/13/2...
#boardgames #bgstats
read here: manaworm.com/2026/01/13/2...
#boardgames #bgstats
My Most Played Games of 2025
Extra! Extra! Manaworm is entering its Buzzfeed era and I’m making a list of games I’ve played a lot in 2025.
manaworm.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:15 AM
i played a lot of board games in 2025. i played so much that i blogged a list about it.
read here: manaworm.com/2026/01/13/2...
#boardgames #bgstats
read here: manaworm.com/2026/01/13/2...
#boardgames #bgstats
Reposted by rid
Hey, guess what: buriedgiantstudios.com
January 13, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Hey, guess what: buriedgiantstudios.com
Reposted by rid
HI WORLD! Buried Giant Studios is a new company formed by Cole Wehrle and Kyle Ferrin 🏠 Learn more here: buriedgiant.com
January 13, 2026 at 9:08 PM
HI WORLD! Buried Giant Studios is a new company formed by Cole Wehrle and Kyle Ferrin 🏠 Learn more here: buriedgiant.com
Back from the holidays with a review of Pyrotechnics from @thinkdeepplaylight.bsky.social. A subtle and strategic fireworks-y game about efficiently trading in colors for more colors before your opponent can do the same.
my review: manaworm.com/2026/01/08/p...
#boardgames
my review: manaworm.com/2026/01/08/p...
#boardgames
Pyrotechnics Review: Pocketful of Sparks
★★★☆☆ — For every limitation imposed by size, there is someone out there creative enough to accept the challenge and bound over them. Pyrotechnics by Michael Sprague does exactly that, albeit…
manaworm.com
January 8, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Back from the holidays with a review of Pyrotechnics from @thinkdeepplaylight.bsky.social. A subtle and strategic fireworks-y game about efficiently trading in colors for more colors before your opponent can do the same.
my review: manaworm.com/2026/01/08/p...
#boardgames
my review: manaworm.com/2026/01/08/p...
#boardgames
didn't play or write as much as i wanted (or hoped) to in december, but excited to keep it moving and get more stuff to the table in the new year
#boardgames #bgstats
#boardgames #bgstats
January 1, 2026 at 9:46 PM
didn't play or write as much as i wanted (or hoped) to in december, but excited to keep it moving and get more stuff to the table in the new year
#boardgames #bgstats
#boardgames #bgstats
got mildly hooked on warioware and mastered my first game on retroachievements
December 21, 2025 at 8:23 PM
got mildly hooked on warioware and mastered my first game on retroachievements
using AI for ideation, inspiration, concept art, or "filler text" in your game is genuinely embarrassing. have some respect for your artists and yourself.
shoutout @jasonschreier.bsky.social for his always great reporting.
shoutout @jasonschreier.bsky.social for his always great reporting.
sigh
December 16, 2025 at 8:35 PM
using AI for ideation, inspiration, concept art, or "filler text" in your game is genuinely embarrassing. have some respect for your artists and yourself.
shoutout @jasonschreier.bsky.social for his always great reporting.
shoutout @jasonschreier.bsky.social for his always great reporting.
been playing a lot of tetris ds
good game. i'm terrible at tetris though.
good game. i'm terrible at tetris though.
December 14, 2025 at 5:44 AM
been playing a lot of tetris ds
good game. i'm terrible at tetris though.
good game. i'm terrible at tetris though.
i know there's probably no easy solution, but i hope the nba can get rid of the fouling up 3 next year. it's not a fun watch.
December 14, 2025 at 5:25 AM
i know there's probably no easy solution, but i hope the nba can get rid of the fouling up 3 next year. it's not a fun watch.
i fell asleep to northernlion binding of Isaac videos for like two years straight (a couple years ago) and i still haven't found a suitable replacement since
December 11, 2025 at 4:34 AM
i fell asleep to northernlion binding of Isaac videos for like two years straight (a couple years ago) and i still haven't found a suitable replacement since
I wrote a short lil review of my second @kevinwilson42.bsky.social game, a Gentle Rain. It got me thinking about the things I enjoy in tabletop games (and ambient music.)
Read here: manaworm.com/2025/12/09/a...
#boardgames
Read here: manaworm.com/2025/12/09/a...
#boardgames
A Gentle Rain Review: Water Memory
★★★★☆ — Kevin Wilson’s A Gentle Rain is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle with an infinite number of subjective solutions. When I play, I imagine each blossom is an interlocking mec…
manaworm.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:55 PM
I wrote a short lil review of my second @kevinwilson42.bsky.social game, a Gentle Rain. It got me thinking about the things I enjoy in tabletop games (and ambient music.)
Read here: manaworm.com/2025/12/09/a...
#boardgames
Read here: manaworm.com/2025/12/09/a...
#boardgames
this video got me to back 52 duels. i love matthew dunstan's work, and "dice throne but poker" as a pitch sold me
Today's video is all about the design of 52 Duels, the latest release from @postmarkgames.bsky.social (on KS until the end of this week!). In it, I explore how important good ideas are for game design, and surprising emergent gameplay that can come from simple rules.
🎲✂️
youtu.be/eOZKyLxdRBA
🎲✂️
youtu.be/eOZKyLxdRBA
The importance of a good idea: the design of 52 Duels
YouTube video by Matthew Dunstan
youtu.be
December 8, 2025 at 9:13 PM
this video got me to back 52 duels. i love matthew dunstan's work, and "dice throne but poker" as a pitch sold me
some good stuff hit the table in november
December 4, 2025 at 12:34 AM
some good stuff hit the table in november
Over the holiday, I replayed one of my all-time favorites, Bullet♥︎ . I figured it'd be fun to self-indulgently write a sweet little review. Bullet♥︎is so confident and sure of itself, it's hard not to love.
Read here: manaworm.com/2025/12/03/b...
#boardgames
Read here: manaworm.com/2025/12/03/b...
#boardgames
Bullet Heart Review: Extradimensional Lead Storms
★★★★ — Level 99 Games beamed Bullet♥︎ into this universe from an alternate one where its diverse cast was already beloved in profile pictures and fan forums. In our world, Bullet♥︎ is not emu…
manaworm.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Over the holiday, I replayed one of my all-time favorites, Bullet♥︎ . I figured it'd be fun to self-indulgently write a sweet little review. Bullet♥︎is so confident and sure of itself, it's hard not to love.
Read here: manaworm.com/2025/12/03/b...
#boardgames
Read here: manaworm.com/2025/12/03/b...
#boardgames
played some mtg, bomb busters, and cascadia (pictured) tonight. coupla good games #boardgames
December 1, 2025 at 2:35 AM
played some mtg, bomb busters, and cascadia (pictured) tonight. coupla good games #boardgames