Current Plays

This week on Current Plays, Jordan and Thomas turn their attention to Tapestry, Stonemaier Games’ bold and brilliant take on the civilization-building board game. Rather than following the familiar path of traditional civilization games, Tapestry charts its own course, delivering a wonderfully distinctive experience that just seems to hit all the right notes.From developing your civilization across multiple tracks to watching your society evolve over time, there’s something special about the way Tapestry brings its systems together. And then there’s the production! Even in the base game box, the components feel truly premium, making this one gorgeous package from the moment you open the lid.Sometimes a game is simply wonderful, and Tapestry is one of those games. Join us as we explore what makes this unique civilization-building experience such a standout!

This week on Current Plays, Jordan and Thomas explore The Guild of Merchant Explorers, a light strategy board game about charting new territories, building trade routes, and expanding your influence across a beautifully illustrated world.With approachable rules and a relaxed pace, The Guild of Merchant Explorers offers an engaging experience without demanding a heavy strategic commitment. There are interesting decisions to make as you plot your routes and decide how to expand, but the game keeps things streamlined enough that you can sit back, enjoy the journey, and let the adventure unfold.Sometimes you don't need a sprawling, brain-melting euro. Sometimes you just want to explore, make some clever choices, and have a cozy time at the table.

This week on Current Plays, Jordan and Thomas set sail down the River of Gold! With simple rules that belie a surprising amount of depth, this is a game that gets you playing quickly without leaving the strategic thinking at the dock.And what a beautiful game it is. The production is absolutely gorgeous, the gameplay is fast and engaging, and the theme is right up our alley. River of Gold manages to pack plenty of interesting decisions into a streamlined package, making it easy to learn, quick to play, and surprisingly satisfying to master.So grab your boat, chart your course, and get ready to see what treasures await along the River of Gold!

This week on Current Plays, Jordan and Thomas step into the arena with Duel of Meloch, the newest release from Stonemaier Games!Imagine taking the DNA of Scythe and Expeditions, shrinking it down to an ambitious head-to-head duel, and setting two players loose in a race to accomplish competing objectives. If you know those games, Duel of Meloch feels wonderfully familiar while still bringing fresh gameplay into a two-player space. The design is clever, the gameplay is remarkably smooth, and the ability to mix and match components with its Stonemaier siblings adds a serious dose of value.But there’s one question we can’t escape: as a stand-alone game, does Duel of Meloch have what it takes to earn a permanent place on the shelf, or is its greatest strength being part of the bigger1920+ universe? Let the duel begin!

This week on Current Plays, Jordan and Thomas delve into Golem, a wonderfully intricate euro where ancient magic, precious marbles, and a whole lot of very important decisions come together.At the heart of the game is a fascinating action selection system that constantly asks you to weigh three competing considerations: which colour of marble you take, which action you perform, and how powerful that action will be. Getting one thing you want often means giving up something else, making every turn an exercise in finding the most satisfying compromise.And that's only the beginning. Golem weaves its interconnected systems together into a challenging strategic puzzle where choices in one area ripple through the rest of your game. It's demanding without being punishing, rewarding careful planning while still giving you plenty to chew on as your plans unfold.For Jordan and Thomas, Golem is exactly the sort of crunchy euro they love: clever mechanisms, interconnected systems, and just enough brain-bending decision making to make every marble count.