Coronavirus

News

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG’s World Championship 2023 brings back physical attendance and a dedicated Master Duel tourney

Publisher Konami has not detailed any additional safety measures for August’s world championship in Japan

Feb. 6, 2023 Chase Carter

Best Games

Best Zoom games: 7 great board games you can play remotely over video call

Play together - even when you’re apart.

Dec. 13, 2022 Matt Jarvis

News

Warhammer Fest 2023 to include laser tag and painting competitions at annual miniature wargaming meet-up

No word on safety guidelines, yet.

Oct. 27, 2022 Chase Carter

News

Richard Tait, Cranium co-creator, has passed away

Following complications with COVID-19.

Aug. 3, 2022 Chase Carter

News

Pokémon will no longer require vaccine mandates at live events, including upcoming world championship

We’re not talking about spreading Pokérus, here.

July 1, 2022 Chase Carter

Feature

How button football, Brazil’s favourite tabletop sport, scored a goal during the pandemic

Back of the ‘Net.

June 22, 2022 Gabriel Leão

News

MTG event host Star City Games lambasted after dropping safety requirements for upcoming convention

SCG CON Syracuse will not require proof of vaccination amid a growing number of positive COVID-19 cases in the region.

May 18, 2022 Chase Carter

News

UK Games Expo 2022 drops COVID-19 guidelines again, will not require vaccination or face masks

Following reversal of decision before last year’s show.

May 11, 2022 Matt Jarvis

2 comments

News

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG replaces cancelled 2022 World Championship with regional tournaments

Territorial championships will be held in North America, Europe, Central America, Oceania and South America this summer.

April 22, 2022 Matt Jarvis

News

Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series dates first in-person tournament for TCG in over two years

Event to return next month following multiple cancellations due to COVID-19.

March 18, 2022 Matt Jarvis

News

Commander decks for MTG Streets of New Capenna will be in short supply at launch

All five crime family-themed decks have suffered setbacks “due to supply chain issues.”

March 17, 2022 Chase Carter

News

Magic: the Gathering pushes back space carnival-themed Unfinity set due to “supply chain delays”

Abort launch.

Jan. 21, 2022 Chase Carter

Opinion

Dungeons & Dragons brought us closer when the world said to keep our distance

Joining a nerdy, diverse D&D group when I needed it most.

Dec. 14, 2021 Keith Reid-Cleveland

News

Yu-Gi-Oh! returns to in-person Championship Series, says pandemic safety guidelines coming “at a later date”

It’s time to d-d-d-d-d-mask up.

Oct. 26, 2021 Chase Carter

News

Pokémon: TCG Championships set to resume next March, dependent on “health mandates”

Europe and North American events confirmed.

Oct. 20, 2021 Alex Meehan

1 comment

News

Essen Spiel 2022 announces early October dates but no safety restrictions, yet

Next year’s tabletop convention will run October 6th through the 9th, but no word on continuing safety restrictions.

Oct. 18, 2021 Chase Carter

1 comment

News

PAX Unplugged makes full vaccination and masks mandatory for December return of board game convention

Following 2020 cancellation due to COVID-19.

Oct. 6, 2021 Matt Jarvis

News

Gen Con 2022 dates confirm return of US board game convention next summer

After this year’s in-person event sees 50% of 2019 attendance.

Sept. 30, 2021 Matt Jarvis

1 comment

News

Critical Care simulates the stressors and collaboration of the hospital ICU in a board game

Treat ailing patients while dealing with midnight shifts and surprise infections with a practicing physician’s first title.

Sept. 23, 2021 Chase Carter

1 comment

News

Gen Con’s day-one crowd left attendees and online onlookers worried despite safety guidelines

The board game and TTRPG convention proved unable to enforce vaccination cards, relying on masks and best safety practices.

Sept. 17, 2021 Chase Carter

2 comments

News

Cyberpunk Red RPG studio R. Talsorian becomes latest publisher to exit Gen Con 2021 over COVID-19 concerns

“We write about Dark Futures for fun, but we also believe we have a responsibility to try and prevent them from happening.”

Sept. 2, 2021 Matt Jarvis

1 comment

News

Local game stores and casual players were the hidden winners of the Magic Showcase 2021

The non-core sets releasing over the next year are some of the best entry points to Magic’s many game modes.

Aug. 25, 2021 Chase Carter

News

Frosthaven creator won’t announce hard shipping dates to avoid a rushed, and expensive, fulfillment

Isaac Childres says Cephalofair can afford the wait, and it saves players on shipping costs.

Aug. 20, 2021 Chase Carter

News

Gen Con 2021 makes face masks mandatory for all in updated COVID-19 guidelines

Drops option for vaccinated visitors to attend without mask.

Aug. 9, 2021 Matt Jarvis

News

UK Games Expo 2021 revises COVID-19 guidelines to make tests, vaccination and masks mandatory

Estimates 50% of regular attendance at return of board game convention later this month.

July 13, 2021 Matt Jarvis

3 comments

News

Essen Spiel 2021 to require proven COVID-19 immunisation or negative test for entry, will enforce mandatory face masks

“Masks will be mandatory at Spiel in any case, even if the government does not make it mandatory.”

July 9, 2021 Matt Jarvis

1 comment

News

Gen Con 2021 will enforce face masks for attendees without proof of COVID-19 vaccination

Vaccinated visitors can choose whether to wear a mask, with event “strongly recommending” protection indoors for all.

July 9, 2021 Matt Jarvis

News

UK Games Expo 2021 drops all COVID-19 safety requirements, including masks, tests and social distancing

“UKGE will not enforce any requirements that are not legally required as we do not believe that will be practical on the day.”

July 8, 2021 Matt Jarvis

8 comments

Best Games

9 best print-and-play board games you can download at home

Discover new tabletop experiences from your own home with these top print-and-play games.

June 12, 2021 Owen Duffy

News

Escape from the Two Base Stations gives you and a friend a home escape room to play over video call

Poles apart.

May 24, 2021 Matt Jarvis

News

“Digital fatigue” is fuelling board game sales among adults - report

Games and Puzzles market expected to top $12bn worldwide this year, Euromonitor International predicts.

May 20, 2021 Matt Jarvis

News

Games Workshop plans a return to official public gatherings with events and a new tournament

Field yourself.

May 10, 2021 Chase Carter

News

US in-person Magic: The Gathering events to return in time for Modern Horizons 2 release

Local game stores must still follow government safety guidelines.

May 7, 2021 Chase Carter

Feature

Tabletop roleplaying has given players comfort, connection and control in a world that’s taken them away

“A really big thing is having an arena where you feel like you have some control over the stories that are told.”

April 23, 2021 Peter Ray Allison

News

Indie RPG bundle packages dozens of games to pay for designer’s COVID-19 hospital treatment

100% of proceeds go to designer Tiago Rolim.

April 5, 2021 Chase Carter

1 comment

Feature

‘It’s been a life-saver’: The Warhammer fans who’ve taken tournaments online during lockdown

Forward Slaanesh.

March 29, 2021 Luke Shaw

News

Free time during lockdown helped board game sales to jump in 2020 - report

Games and Puzzles market exceeded $11bn last year, with $12bn predicted in 2021, according to Euromonitor International.

Jan. 29, 2021 Matt Jarvis

News

UK Games Expo 2021 announces summer dates for return of in-person convention

Betting large on eight-week delay.

Jan. 27, 2021 Chase Carter

News

World of Darkness and D&D RPG writer and designer Jackie Cassada dies of COVID-19

Fundraising efforts launched to support collaborator and widow Nicky Rea.

Jan. 8, 2021 Matt Jarvis

News

Gen Con plans to return with a physical convention next summer

“A variety of factors need to come together for a physical convention to be feasible.”

Dec. 16, 2020 Matt Jarvis

2 comments

News

PAX Unplugged dated for December 2021

Tabletop convention set to return next year after cancellation due to coronavirus.

Dec. 7, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Catan: First Adventure is a free spin-off from the classic board game you can print and play at home

No need to pirate it.

Dec. 4, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

The Queen’s Gambit has caused a massive spike in chess sales

On top of a resurgence during lockdown.

Dec. 2, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Board games ranked by SAGE among top COVID-19 risk factors during holiday gatherings

Seriously, just stay home.

Nov. 30, 2020 Chase Carter

News

Sally Phillips and James Acaster are among the comedians playing more Dungeons & Dragons for Comic Relief

Raised funds will offer COVID-19 support.

Nov. 19, 2020 Chase Carter

News

Video chat app Backyard comes with clones of Codenames, Cards Against Humanity and other board games

With games inspired by Secret Hitler, One Night Werewolf and Fish Bowl on the way.

Nov. 17, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Long-awaited civilisation board game Clash of Cultures: Monumental Edition delayed to spring 2021

Monumental Edition’s price increased to $150 as result of coronavirus.

Oct. 15, 2020 Matt Jarvis

Feature

“We had to quarantine our games”: Friendly local game stores’ struggle to survive during coronavirus

Board game café owners and retailers on the impact of lockdown and social distancing.

Oct. 12, 2020 Matt Thrower

News

This year’s PAX Unplugged has been cancelled

With no digital replacement.

Oct. 9, 2020 Matt Jarvis

1 comment

Feature

What can board game Pandemic teach us about the real thing? We played with a disease expert to find out

Cardboard versus reality.

Sept. 23, 2020 Jamie Taylor

1 comment

News

Castle TriCon is an online board game convention held in a 3D virtual world

Taking place next week.

Sept. 17, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Civilization: A New Dawn has a new solo mode and AI opponent you can download for free

From Terra Incognita expansion designer.

Sept. 11, 2020 Matt Jarvis

Feature

The fatigue and loneliness of playing tabletop RPGs online in a pandemic

For players used to the intimacy of face-to-face sessions, taking games such as Dungeons & Dragons onto the internet can be exhausting and alienating.

Sept. 8, 2020 Khee Hoon Chan

11 comments

News

Have something interesting to say about games? Submit your talk and panel ideas for EGX Digital and PAX Online

Talks, workshops and panels running at this September’s super-sized event.

July 23, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Transformers TCG brought to an end, less than two years after its release

Past its Prime.

July 21, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Tabletop games had a record-breaking start to 2020 on Kickstarter, including their biggest-ever month

Gloomhaven sequel Frosthaven raised more money in May than every April campaign combined.

July 9, 2020 Matt Jarvis

1 comment

News

BoardGameGeek Con 2020 cancelled in response to COVID-19 concerns

Another Virtual Gaming Con coming.

June 30, 2020 Alex Meehan

News

Gamewright releases free print and play version of Sneaky Cards for socially distanced stealth

Can you win? Sure-you-can!

June 24, 2020 Johnny Chiodini

News

Upcoming WWII deckbuilder Undaunted: North Africa has an official demo on Tabletop Simulator

Play your corps right.

June 9, 2020 Alex Meehan

1 comment

News

Vampire: The Masquerade and World of Darkness RPG studio Onyx Path is holding a virtual gaming convention

Taking place this weekend.

June 9, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Magic: The Gathering cancels all remaining in-person events for 2020 as result of COVID-19

Outstanding tournaments to be held in MTG Arena, with new season format for Zendikar Rising.

June 1, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Ticket to Ride: Stay at Home is a free print-and-play expansion about living under lockdown

Domestic bliss.

May 28, 2020 Alex Meehan

Opinion

Playing Scythe online has given my life stability in a time of great uncertainty

Steel yourselves.

May 26, 2020 Alex Meehan

11 comments

News

Debut board game from Star Wars: Rebellion designer Corey Konieczka’s studio Unexpected Games delayed to 2021

Development of first release “pretty much done”, with two more projects already in the works.

May 22, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Stranger Things, Marvel and WWE stars are playing Dungeons & Dragons for Red Nose Day

D&D Live 2020: Roll w/ Advantage line-up includes actors, comedians and wrestlers.

May 22, 2020 Matt Jarvis

1 comment

News

7 Wonders Duel gets official solo rules for playing the card game alone during lockdown

Vici, myself and I.

May 21, 2020 Alex Meehan

News

Try the new Pandemic board game, Hot Zone: North America, right now with free print-and-play demo

Shorter, simpler spin-off from co-op hit releasing later this year.

May 20, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

US board game convention Gen Con is cancelled for the first time in its 50-year history

Online event announced in wake of COVID-19 concerns.

May 19, 2020 Matt Jarvis

1 comment

News

Cancelled Essen Spiel 2020 board game convention replaced by online event Spiel.Digital

Taking place during October weekend of ‘postponed’ games fair.

May 19, 2020 Matt Jarvis

1 comment

News

Cyberpunk Red RPG release date delayed after coronavirus 'gut punch'

“There’s just no way we can release in June without compromising quality.”

May 19, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Essen Spiel 2020 is cancelled

2021 dates announced following ‘postponement’ by one year due to COVID-19.

May 18, 2020 Matt Jarvis

1 comment

News

Zombicide and Blood Rage maker CMON is holding a virtual board games convention this weekend

With designer talks, painting competitions and more.

May 14, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

UK Games Expo 2020 replacement online convention Virtually Expo announced

Following Birmingham show’s cancellation due to COVID-19.

May 14, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Liven up lockdown video calls with the free Working From Home edition of prank party game Don’t Get Got

Keep it on the download.

May 12, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Pandemic: Hot Zone - North America officially announced, first in new series of ‘fun-size’ co-op board games

Planned for release this summer, with play-at-home demo on the way.

May 12, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG organised play heads online with ‘remote duels’ in wake of COVID-19 tournament cancellations

Digital initiative coming to apps Duel Links and Legacy of the Duelist.

May 4, 2020 Alex Meehan

News

Oriflamme, one of 2020’s board game highlights so far, gets free two-player rules for coronavirus lockdown play

Official variant available to download now.

May 4, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Catan’s two-player rules and free mini-expansion released for COVID-19 lockdown

Don’t steal, stay at home.

May 4, 2020 Alex Meehan

Deals

Species-adapting board game Evolution’s multiplayer app is currently free on mobile

Creature comforts.

May 1, 2020 Alex Meehan

News

Sue Perkins, Nish Kumar and other UK comedians are playing Dungeons & Dragons next week for Comic Relief

Fundraising for COVID-19 support.

May 1, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

NHS Heroes playing cards launched to fundraise for key workers during COVID-19

All proceeds will go to NHS Charities Together.

April 30, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Play Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle as a lone wizard with free solo rules

A game a day keeps the dementors away.

April 30, 2020 Alex Meehan

News

Limited-edition Warhammer 40,000 miniature headed exclusively to local game stores in COVID-19 support effort

Time to bleed.

April 29, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

UK Games Expo 2020 has been cancelled

Following postponement to August as result of coronavirus.

April 28, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Essen Spiel 2020 organisers say world’s biggest board game convention will go ahead - for now - despite coronavirus

Events banned in German region of North Rhine-Westphalia until September.

April 23, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Games Workshop is already preparing to re-open Warhammer stores after COVID-19 lockdown

No US or UK locations included in limited ‘pilot’.

April 22, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Four starter decks for Keyforge’s upcoming Mass Mutation set released as free print-and-play after COVID-19 delay

Latest expansion pushed back to summer.

April 20, 2020 Alex Meehan

News

Play Carcassonne by yourself or in co-op thanks to free official solo rules for the board game

German publisher also releases single-player variant for Hadara.

April 20, 2020 Matt Jarvis

1 comment

News

Fantasy Flight suspends all X-Wing, Keyforge and Legend of the Five Rings organised play in wake of COVID-19

In-store events postponed until September.

April 16, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Dead of Winter creator’s next board game Forgotten Waters has retail release date postponed indefinitely

Releasing tool to enable online play.

April 14, 2020 Alex Meehan

News

US tabletop event Origins delayed to autumn, ‘virtual convention’ to be held this summer

Decision made in light of COVID-19 pandemic.

April 14, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Family board game Kingdomino gets a free print-and-play expansion, The Court

Also compatible with Queendomino.

April 9, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Spirit Island creator’s co-op board game For Science! launches on Kickstarter, publisher responds to COVID-19 sensitivity concerns

Real-time dexterity game rebranded from ‘Science or Die’.

April 8, 2020 Alex Meehan

News

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship 2020 cancelled in response to coronavirus

All WCS qualifiers suspended and national championships postponed.

April 8, 2020 Alex Meehan

Deals

Play Dungeons & Dragons 5E Starter Set adventure Lost Mines of Phandelver for free on D&D Beyond

Phandelver into a new campaign.

April 8, 2020 Alex Meehan

1 comment

News

Dixit, Dobble, Unlock! and more family board games released as free print-and-plays to download at home

Ink-credible news.

April 7, 2020 Alex Meehan

Deals

Grab Tabletop Simulator for 50% off on PC to keep your board game group going over the internet

Including the four-pack bundle.

April 6, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Cards Against Humanity has a new family-friendly edition you can download for free

A scatological move.

April 3, 2020 Matt Jarvis

1 comment

News

Play party game Love Letter for free with print-and-play edition Sender

April Fool’s Day joke turned real.

April 2, 2020 Matt Jarvis

News

Pandemic studio postpones announcement of new games in series due to real-life COVID-19 outbreak

Decision made “out of respect for those affected by the current situation”.

March 31, 2020 Alex Meehan