Designer Diary: Xenology
by Dan Manfredini Alien Origins Some of my designs begin with a single starting point. Xenology, which Play to Z released in December 2025, began with several. Every once in a while, I sift through my old design notes and…
Command Railways in Bengal, Paddle to a Campsite, and Send Dwarfs Against a Dragon
by W. Eric Martin ▪️ In March 2025, UK illustrator and author Owen Davey crowdfunded Fame & Fable, with copies currently anticipated to reach backers in Q2 2026 and presumably available elsewhere after that. The publisher’s game overview is minimal:…
Matt: Two Links
They’re both long reads, but worthwhile. Dan Wang’s 2025 Letter: Is excellent writing and provides keen insight into the dynamics of American and Chinese tech. Zhengdong Wang’s 2025 Letter: If you follow all the links, you’ll have the most complete…
My 18 Proven Tips to Succeed With Your WooCommerce Store
Most WooCommerce store owners hit a wall trying to turn visitors into paying customers. Sales trickle in slowly, customers abandon their carts, and you wonder what you’re missing. This is because running a successful WooCommerce store goes far beyond just listing…
Designer Preview: Dark Pact
by Tom Lehmann Dark Pact is a deck-building game for 1-4 occult researchers seeking to make pacts with otherworldly forces. The game includes thirteen dark pacts, and the first player to obtain and satisfy a dark pact’s condition wins. An…
Matt: Happy New Year
I rang in the new year with an unexpected trip to St. Barts that ended up with friends. I made a resolution in 2025 to watch more films. It’s an art form I have many friends in and when we…
Wingspan, Scythe, Cartographers, and More: Teasers for 2026 from Stonemaier and Thunderworks
by W. Eric Martin ▪️ On Dec. 31, 2025, Jamey Stegmaier hosted a preview video of Stonemaier Games‘ 2026 release schedule, giving teasers for each title, with more info to come as each game nears release. In chronological order: •…
Travel to Gold Country, Return to Las Vegas, and Await the New Condottiere
by W. Eric Martin ▪️ U.S. publisher Bitewing Games has revealed its next collaboration with designer Reiner Knizia: Gold Country, which this being a re-implementation of 2012’s Spectaculum that has been “reworked from the ground up”, according to Bitewing’s Nick…
