World's Most Complicated Board Game (is okay) | Aeon Trespass: Odyssey Review

If you’ve been asking yourself what the world’s most complicated board game actually looks like? Ask no more. Cones of Dunshire? Pffft. It can get the cone out. Aeon Trespass: Odyssey took every reviewer cog we had (and then some) to figure out and wrangle, and here’s our verdict: it’s fine? That’s right, it’s fine. Just fine.

But I suspect that won’t quite do it for you. You want to see it for yourself. And so here’s an in-depth hour long review.

These Space Games Are Only For You

Hello Spacetrepeneurs. To round out our coverage of solo games both on the podcast and on this very YouTube channel we decided to group together some special mentions and make them into a special. It just so happened that they’re all space themed so it would only makes sense for the special to be space themed. It’s nice when everything just sort of falls into place.

I’m also pretty stoked to talk about these because they’re all very neat in their own little way and each offers a different experience. And this happens to be the first time NPI is covering a solo role-playing game and I don’t think I could have picked a better one.

After this video, we’re diving headlong into some very meaty games so if you’ve been hankering for the BIG NPI videos, they’re right around the corner.

Hoplomachus: Victorum Made Me Very Tired

Board games can be a lot to handle. Sometimes that doesn’t stop us. The mythical experience, the promise of something great at the other end of the rules is enough to keep us persevering, learning, untangling. But sometimes you pick apart a rubber band ball to find that all you have left is a bunch of rubber bands. Hoplomachus: Victorum is perhaps the best example of this phenomenon, a rich, indulgent, complex game that hides very little behind it’s bombastic veneer.

I’ve spent many hours engaging in false starts, gripping rulebooks, FAQs, youtube tutorials and playthroughs to understand this system at a level where I felt tactically capable of navigating it only to find that once I got there, there wasn’t much left.

Which is a darn shame. Hoplomachus: Victorum is a one player only game, and I was quite excited to explore a system with so much space exclusively designed as a solo experience. I wanted richness and depth, yet sometimes richness and depth isn’t enough. You also need pacing, structure, a rewarding experience, all things plenty present in other designs.

For more on Hoplomachus: Victorum, watch our video review.

Paperback Adventures is Slay the Spire with Words

Paperback Adventures is a rogue-lite deck-building solo word game. If that sounded like word salad - don’t toss it away just yet because you might be missing out on just about the most fun you can have with words and cards.

Flamecraft Review - Cup of Tea and a Biscuit

No Pun Included's Game of the Year 2022

It’s our Game of the Year, and for more you’ll have to watch the video!

How Frosthaven Lets You Build Its World

Hello dear punsters,

After a slightly longer gap this time there is finally a new video. We've been hunkered down getting to grips with Frosthaven and now we can deliver to you our non verdict. That's right, NON verdict. Since we designed a scenario for Frosthaven, we have recused ourselves from reviewing it, but we still wanted to give you something Frosthaven, and without much further ado - here it is.

Oathsworn: Into the Deepwood Review

Oathsworn is easily the most amibitious board game we’ve ever played. And our past experience has taught us that Kickstarter projects with a lot of amibtions rarely deliver on their promise. Imagine our surprise when we discovered that Oathsworn is one of the very few that breaks this rule.

Undaunted: Stalingrad Review - Emotional Gauntlet

Undaunted joins the long list of games to get a campaign mode, but instead of weighning it down the campaign mode lifts the system into one of the most memorable experiences we ever encountered in cardboard. Find out more in the video.

Stars of Akarios Review - Hyperflop

Hello everyone it's me Efka with one of the biggest disasters of the year. That's right, Stars of Akarios is a $170 rubbish, so grab some of that corn that you pop, but don't worry about the pan - I've got that covered.

Return to Dark Tower Review

Hello, it’s me Efka, the adversary of nostalgia, here to review a board game that has been ressurected from the annals of the cardboard eighties. It also features the most ridiculous board game component ever made. Which leads us all to ask - is this just a gimmick? Yes. But also, in a very big way, no. It’s complicated. I made a video about it. That’s what we’re all here for, so go ahead. Press the play button, if you dare 💀

Blood on the Clocktower and the History of Mafia and Werewolf

Ankh: Gods of Egypt Review

I guess that thumbnail is doing a lot of work for me. A big CMON Kickstarter project that I somehow ended up loving - that doesn’t happen every day.

Okay, so what is Ankh: Gods of Egypt? It’s a toys on a map game from Eric Lang, designer of Blood Rage and Rising Sun amongst others where 2-5 players have big minis, big fights and generally a big time. Why is it good? Well, that’s what this video is about. Bonus: tune in for some cultural commentary from someone who was very curious to find out how CMON’s treatment of Ancient Egypt stacks up. Spoilers: It’s complicated.

Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest Review

What’s a pirate’s favourite letter? That’s right, it’s the royal pardon. And whilst I can’t promise more quality jokes in our review of Libertalia, I can promise a curious look at a game meant for high player counts that works surprisingly well at two. How? Well, click the thing. Arrr.

Long Shot: The Dice Game vs Winner's Circle

Giddyup cowpeople! Or horsepeople? I’m already confused. Let’s make it a little less beefuddling by clearly and concisely pitting two games against each other and seeing which horcing game is the winner (pun included) and which one’s gonna retire to the pastures.

Ark Nova Review

Going to the zoo. How about you? Oh, you’re coming? Errr… not so fast? Look, zoos are great. In fact, I can confidently say I like them. But they’re also very big and have way too many animals. Sometimes those animals get loose and wreak havoc with your engine and deny you conservation points. Are we still talking about zoos? By this point, who knows.

Ark Nova is the latest smash hit from publishers Capstone Games and Feuerland Spiel, who bring you this decade’s big “game with lots of cards” extravaganza. It looks like for the next couple of years we’ll be figuring out how to build zoos efficiently, and I am here for it. Or am I? I am. But maybe I have one or two qualms? I do. I love qualms. Lets qualm together as we watch the video.

A review of Caesar!: Seize Rome in Twenty Minutes in twenty minutes

What’s green, white and has croutons? That’s right, it’s Caesar, once again invading your pallette with questionable art and incredible gameplay. Today Efka tells you all about Caesar!: Seize Rome in Twenty Minutes in exactly twenty minutes.

Caesar!: Seize Rome in Twenty Minutes is a two-player only area control game by famed designer Paolo Mori, and we think you owe it to yourself to check this wonderful gem out. It’s quick, it’s smart and it’s really good.

No Pun Included's Board Game of the Year 2021

Welcome to the BGotYs! Ugh, acronyms - they are the worst. You know what’s not the worst? That’s right - it’s the best. And last year’s best is here this year, on your screens - right now!

Once again, we follow on in proud annual tradition at No Pun Included to pick out one game that we think is worth of your attention. What is that game? Well, not so fast. Before we reveal it we’ll have to charge you the fine fee of exactly one digital eyeball. Please submit it via the receptacle of pressing the play button above.

It's Time to Say Goodbye to Air Hockey

Ooph. Air Hockey. It’s great, isn’t it? Or… is it? Well, today you get to find out and you also get the scoop on one or two things that might not only be better, but practical an affordable too. Join us for this mini compenium of Air Hockey alternatives.

Furnace Review

Hey capitalism fans, you might be searching for the next great lightweight game to imagine you’d be playing with your extended family over the holidays whom you would be seeing if we all weren’t staying home again. Well, imagine no more for we have the brown and white box of your dreams.

Furnace is a 30 minute Ebeneezer Scrooge simulator and if you’re wondering whether it’s a feast or a cold turkey - we have the scoop for you.