Alyssa 🍁
@alyssagambone.bsky.social
trans woman, she/her, board games, lesbian, Philadelphia Union/Eagles/Phils Ottawa Charge/Rapid, actuary, US born emigrant in Canada
A normal 30 year old male would be lucky to walk off the field after one or two plays.
December 21, 2025 at 3:02 AM
A normal 30 year old male would be lucky to walk off the field after one or two plays.
2 connected to both work and home laptops.
December 20, 2025 at 9:07 PM
2 connected to both work and home laptops.
16. Western/Eastern Empires (23) - This shouldn't be as good as it is. The randomness of the calamities and how devastating they are, especially for the ones that can't be traded and are luck of the draw, shouldn't mesh with a 10-12 play time. But somehow, it all comes together beautifully.
December 20, 2025 at 3:47 PM
16. Western/Eastern Empires (23) - This shouldn't be as good as it is. The randomness of the calamities and how devastating they are, especially for the ones that can't be traded and are luck of the draw, shouldn't mesh with a 10-12 play time. But somehow, it all comes together beautifully.
17. Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy (26) - I'd never played this before moving to Ottawa, and it does give you the TI4 feel, though significantly pared down. Standing on it's own though, it's a very good space empire game, and manipulating where travel can happen adds a nice spice to it.
December 20, 2025 at 3:47 PM
17. Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy (26) - I'd never played this before moving to Ottawa, and it does give you the TI4 feel, though significantly pared down. Standing on it's own though, it's a very good space empire game, and manipulating where travel can happen adds a nice spice to it.
18. 18Mex (18) - This one hasn't moved, and is my 2nd highest rated 18xx this year. My opinions of 18xx titles is kind of fluid depends on what I'm looking for, but 18Mex is such a compact game and the train rush is crazy, especially with the hard rust of 4T variant. Will never say no to this.
December 20, 2025 at 3:47 PM
18. 18Mex (18) - This one hasn't moved, and is my 2nd highest rated 18xx this year. My opinions of 18xx titles is kind of fluid depends on what I'm looking for, but 18Mex is such a compact game and the train rush is crazy, especially with the hard rust of 4T variant. Will never say no to this.
19. Bus (13) - Back to back Splotters, and my 2nd highest out of 5 on this list. Bus is almost flawless in its execution of the mechanisms of action selection and network building, mixed with a large helping of meanness and a pinch of time manipulation.
December 20, 2025 at 3:47 PM
19. Bus (13) - Back to back Splotters, and my 2nd highest out of 5 on this list. Bus is almost flawless in its execution of the mechanisms of action selection and network building, mixed with a large helping of meanness and a pinch of time manipulation.
20. Food Chain Magnate (37) - Got to play this a couple of times online, and it really holds up. It's a rough teach and onboarding process, but if you can get people past those first couple of games and understanding the nuances, it's still a top notch game for me.
December 20, 2025 at 3:47 PM
20. Food Chain Magnate (37) - Got to play this a couple of times online, and it really holds up. It's a rough teach and onboarding process, but if you can get people past those first couple of games and understanding the nuances, it's still a top notch game for me.
Go Birds. Not sure it's exactly been 'celebrating' this season, but we'll see how it goes today. Could be playoff clinching and Cowboys elimination day.
December 20, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Go Birds. Not sure it's exactly been 'celebrating' this season, but we'll see how it goes today. Could be playoff clinching and Cowboys elimination day.
the market windows that are the thinnest piece of plastic that are impossible to pick up.
December 19, 2025 at 7:13 PM
the market windows that are the thinnest piece of plastic that are impossible to pick up.
As an American who fled, I'm not. American are great at ignoring others suffering. I'm more surprised by Canadians watching Danielle Smith start Canada down the same path with no discernable reaction despite seeing where it leads in 5 years when they look down south.
December 19, 2025 at 5:34 PM
As an American who fled, I'm not. American are great at ignoring others suffering. I'm more surprised by Canadians watching Danielle Smith start Canada down the same path with no discernable reaction despite seeing where it leads in 5 years when they look down south.
Reposted by Alyssa 🍁
24. Molly House (NEW) - Ok, you knew the game about forming queer community under the boot of societal oppression was going to be on this list right? This has been pretty well liked in my group, with queer or cishet people alike. The tension of if you should betray a house is HARD, especially now.
December 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
24. Molly House (NEW) - Ok, you knew the game about forming queer community under the boot of societal oppression was going to be on this list right? This has been pretty well liked in my group, with queer or cishet people alike. The tension of if you should betray a house is HARD, especially now.
21. Chicago 1875: City of the Big Shoulders (NEW) -- The last new game on the list, and it makes a big jump into the top 25 because the new market has fixed what was a glaring issue with the game in my opinion. I'm looking forward to digging into the solo campaign some in 2026.
December 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
21. Chicago 1875: City of the Big Shoulders (NEW) -- The last new game on the list, and it makes a big jump into the top 25 because the new market has fixed what was a glaring issue with the game in my opinion. I'm looking forward to digging into the solo campaign some in 2026.
22. Horseless Carriage (27) - The idea of using space as a cost is glorious, and having a economic game where you don't spend money turned the genre on its head. It's only by 4th favourite Splotter, but that's not a slight. Also notable for the WORST BOARD GAME COMPONENT EVER.
December 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
22. Horseless Carriage (27) - The idea of using space as a cost is glorious, and having a economic game where you don't spend money turned the genre on its head. It's only by 4th favourite Splotter, but that's not a slight. Also notable for the WORST BOARD GAME COMPONENT EVER.
23. Weather Machine (14) - Sliding down the list a little, because another Lacarda got more attention this year and moved up the list. I think this gets a bit of a bad rap as a lot of people will say the theme is nonsensical, but I find it a compelling puzzle and love it both solo and MP.
December 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
23. Weather Machine (14) - Sliding down the list a little, because another Lacarda got more attention this year and moved up the list. I think this gets a bit of a bad rap as a lot of people will say the theme is nonsensical, but I find it a compelling puzzle and love it both solo and MP.