The Dark Imp Blog
Video: 3 games to play with the ELL deck
Ellie shares three games that you can play with the ELL deck. In this video Ellie introduces the game system and talks about Grabbell, Coupell and Alphabeticell. https://youtu.be/apvYhkePkEg The ELL deck is created and published by Bez Shahriari. Bez mentioned some of...
Update: Playtests galore
Uranus! Here we come... There have been playtests galore this week. Uranus! is a cooperative network-building game in which each player aims to move her alien race from her home moon (which is under attack) to a safe place on Uranus. This is going to be the main game...
Are vintage games best left in the past?
Some people get a soft, misty look in their eye when talking about board games they loved playing as children. Others get very animated when waxing lyrical about the virtues of some ancient title. Board games seem to hold a special place in childhood memories. Are...
Video: 8 reasons to keep board games on show
Ellie give 8 reasons why you should keep board games out and on view in your house, rather than at the back of a dusty cupboard. https://youtu.be/vP8K7zX3OMw
Update: Cakes & coasters
Blind cake stacking Top Cake was blind playtested this week. In a blind test, the players teach themselves the rules from the rule book, while the designer watches and takes notes. In Top Cake, players compete to win layers of cake in a partially hidden auction....
10 reasons I love playing board games with Mum
As is quite obvious, I’m a big fan of playing board games with my family. But I must admit, I usually focus more on the benefits of playing with my children than with other family members. But recently I’ve been touched by comments from fellow board game enthusiasts...
Video: 10×10 Board Game Challenge 2020
Ellie shares her 10x10 Board Game Challenge for 2020. Which ten games will she be playing ten times this year? What will your family's 2020 board game challenge be? https://youtu.be/ow9ACJId4wI
Update: Blind doughnut testing and new coaster games
Blind Testing Doughnuts Doughnut Dash was blind playtested this week. In a blind playtest, the players teach themselves the game from the rule book while the designer just watches and takes notes. It is really difficult not to dive in and start explaining things that...
Alfie reviews… Flip City
Deck building games have always been a family favourite. From classics like Dominion to popular trading card games such as Magic: the Gathering we’ve tried a lot. The goal of this deck builder is to create the perfect city for your residents without making them too...
Video: Top 10 board games published in 2019
In this video Ellie shares her Top 10 board games published in 2019. Disclaimer: There have been over 4000 new games published this year and Ellie has not played all of them! These are Ellie's Top 10, of the ones she has personally played. It's been a great year for...
Update: A cracker of a Christmas
Cracker Games I've been using the holiday week to do some more testing of cracker games on the family. These are a series of games that will go inside Christmas crackers and will be available in 2020. Finally, some Christmas crackers which will last more than 2...
Byron Raal’s Eight Games
In Eight Games different board gamers share the eight games they’d select in eight different situations. The games are not explained, but the links are given to Board Game Geek listings for you to find out more. This month Byron Raal chooses his Eight Games. Byron is...