rid
@manaworm.com
he/him.
writing about tabletop games @ manaworm.com
writing about tabletop games @ manaworm.com
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rid
@manaworm.com
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My Most Played Games of 2025
Extra! Extra! Manaworm is entering its Buzzfeed era and I’m making a list of games I’ve played a lot in 2025.
manaworm.com
i played a lot of board games in 2025. i played so much that i blogged a list about it.
read here: manaworm.com/2026/01/13/2...
#boardgames #bgstats
read here: manaworm.com/2026/01/13/2...
#boardgames #bgstats
i played a lot of board games in 2025. i played so much that i blogged a list about it.
read here: manaworm.com/2026/01/13/2...
#boardgames #bgstats
read here: manaworm.com/2026/01/13/2...
#boardgames #bgstats
My Most Played Games of 2025
Extra! Extra! Manaworm is entering its Buzzfeed era and I’m making a list of games I’ve played a lot in 2025.
manaworm.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:15 AM
i played a lot of board games in 2025. i played so much that i blogged a list about it.
read here: manaworm.com/2026/01/13/2...
#boardgames #bgstats
read here: manaworm.com/2026/01/13/2...
#boardgames #bgstats
Reposted by rid
Hey, guess what: buriedgiantstudios.com
January 13, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Hey, guess what: buriedgiantstudios.com
Reposted by rid
HI WORLD! Buried Giant Studios is a new company formed by Cole Wehrle and Kyle Ferrin 🏠 Learn more here: buriedgiant.com
January 13, 2026 at 9:08 PM
HI WORLD! Buried Giant Studios is a new company formed by Cole Wehrle and Kyle Ferrin 🏠 Learn more here: buriedgiant.com
Back from the holidays with a review of Pyrotechnics from @thinkdeepplaylight.bsky.social. A subtle and strategic fireworks-y game about efficiently trading in colors for more colors before your opponent can do the same.
my review: manaworm.com/2026/01/08/p...
#boardgames
my review: manaworm.com/2026/01/08/p...
#boardgames
Pyrotechnics Review: Pocketful of Sparks
★★★☆☆ — For every limitation imposed by size, there is someone out there creative enough to accept the challenge and bound over them. Pyrotechnics by Michael Sprague does exactly that, albeit…
manaworm.com
January 8, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Back from the holidays with a review of Pyrotechnics from @thinkdeepplaylight.bsky.social. A subtle and strategic fireworks-y game about efficiently trading in colors for more colors before your opponent can do the same.
my review: manaworm.com/2026/01/08/p...
#boardgames
my review: manaworm.com/2026/01/08/p...
#boardgames
didn't play or write as much as i wanted (or hoped) to in december, but excited to keep it moving and get more stuff to the table in the new year
#boardgames #bgstats
#boardgames #bgstats
January 1, 2026 at 9:46 PM
didn't play or write as much as i wanted (or hoped) to in december, but excited to keep it moving and get more stuff to the table in the new year
#boardgames #bgstats
#boardgames #bgstats
got mildly hooked on warioware and mastered my first game on retroachievements
December 21, 2025 at 8:23 PM
got mildly hooked on warioware and mastered my first game on retroachievements
using AI for ideation, inspiration, concept art, or "filler text" in your game is genuinely embarrassing. have some respect for your artists and yourself.
shoutout @jasonschreier.bsky.social for his always great reporting.
shoutout @jasonschreier.bsky.social for his always great reporting.
sigh
December 16, 2025 at 8:35 PM
using AI for ideation, inspiration, concept art, or "filler text" in your game is genuinely embarrassing. have some respect for your artists and yourself.
shoutout @jasonschreier.bsky.social for his always great reporting.
shoutout @jasonschreier.bsky.social for his always great reporting.
been playing a lot of tetris ds
good game. i'm terrible at tetris though.
good game. i'm terrible at tetris though.
December 14, 2025 at 5:44 AM
been playing a lot of tetris ds
good game. i'm terrible at tetris though.
good game. i'm terrible at tetris though.
i know there's probably no easy solution, but i hope the nba can get rid of the fouling up 3 next year. it's not a fun watch.
December 14, 2025 at 5:25 AM
i know there's probably no easy solution, but i hope the nba can get rid of the fouling up 3 next year. it's not a fun watch.
i fell asleep to northernlion binding of Isaac videos for like two years straight (a couple years ago) and i still haven't found a suitable replacement since
December 11, 2025 at 4:34 AM
i fell asleep to northernlion binding of Isaac videos for like two years straight (a couple years ago) and i still haven't found a suitable replacement since
I wrote a short lil review of my second @kevinwilson42.bsky.social game, a Gentle Rain. It got me thinking about the things I enjoy in tabletop games (and ambient music.)
Read here: manaworm.com/2025/12/09/a...
#boardgames
Read here: manaworm.com/2025/12/09/a...
#boardgames
A Gentle Rain Review: Water Memory
★★★★☆ — Kevin Wilson’s A Gentle Rain is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle with an infinite number of subjective solutions. When I play, I imagine each blossom is an interlocking mec…
manaworm.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:55 PM
I wrote a short lil review of my second @kevinwilson42.bsky.social game, a Gentle Rain. It got me thinking about the things I enjoy in tabletop games (and ambient music.)
Read here: manaworm.com/2025/12/09/a...
#boardgames
Read here: manaworm.com/2025/12/09/a...
#boardgames
this video got me to back 52 duels. i love matthew dunstan's work, and "dice throne but poker" as a pitch sold me
Today's video is all about the design of 52 Duels, the latest release from @postmarkgames.bsky.social (on KS until the end of this week!). In it, I explore how important good ideas are for game design, and surprising emergent gameplay that can come from simple rules.
🎲✂️
youtu.be/eOZKyLxdRBA
🎲✂️
youtu.be/eOZKyLxdRBA
The importance of a good idea: the design of 52 Duels
YouTube video by Matthew Dunstan
youtu.be
December 8, 2025 at 9:13 PM
this video got me to back 52 duels. i love matthew dunstan's work, and "dice throne but poker" as a pitch sold me
some good stuff hit the table in november
December 4, 2025 at 12:34 AM
some good stuff hit the table in november
Over the holiday, I replayed one of my all-time favorites, Bullet♥︎ . I figured it'd be fun to self-indulgently write a sweet little review. Bullet♥︎is so confident and sure of itself, it's hard not to love.
Read here: manaworm.com/2025/12/03/b...
#boardgames
Read here: manaworm.com/2025/12/03/b...
#boardgames
Bullet Heart Review: Extradimensional Lead Storms
★★★★ — Level 99 Games beamed Bullet♥︎ into this universe from an alternate one where its diverse cast was already beloved in profile pictures and fan forums. In our world, Bullet♥︎ is not emu…
manaworm.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Over the holiday, I replayed one of my all-time favorites, Bullet♥︎ . I figured it'd be fun to self-indulgently write a sweet little review. Bullet♥︎is so confident and sure of itself, it's hard not to love.
Read here: manaworm.com/2025/12/03/b...
#boardgames
Read here: manaworm.com/2025/12/03/b...
#boardgames
played some mtg, bomb busters, and cascadia (pictured) tonight. coupla good games #boardgames
December 1, 2025 at 2:35 AM
played some mtg, bomb busters, and cascadia (pictured) tonight. coupla good games #boardgames
supported my flgs today (bought a board game)
November 29, 2025 at 5:20 AM
supported my flgs today (bought a board game)
accidentally joined a tournament on board game arena that involves playing in 11 games async at once... just clicking buttons at this point
November 27, 2025 at 2:19 AM
accidentally joined a tournament on board game arena that involves playing in 11 games async at once... just clicking buttons at this point
In Tinderblox, you make a little campfire with tweezers and tiny wood blocks. It is adorable. Recently, when I have ten minutes before a bigger game or just want to play something small with family, it has been great.
My review: manaworm.com/2025/11/26/t...
#boardgames
My review: manaworm.com/2025/11/26/t...
#boardgames
Tinderblox Review: Little Inferno
★★★☆ — Piece by piece, you’re building this fire– not just the logs, but also the blocky fire and the blocky embers, too. Eventually, you’ve cobbled together malformed pixel…
manaworm.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:33 PM
In Tinderblox, you make a little campfire with tweezers and tiny wood blocks. It is adorable. Recently, when I have ten minutes before a bigger game or just want to play something small with family, it has been great.
My review: manaworm.com/2025/11/26/t...
#boardgames
My review: manaworm.com/2025/11/26/t...
#boardgames
got some good games in today: a couple more plays of tinderblox, a few rounds of bullet ❤️, and even a victory in cthulhu death may die (only one episode away from finishing season 3!)
November 24, 2025 at 3:34 AM
got some good games in today: a couple more plays of tinderblox, a few rounds of bullet ❤️, and even a victory in cthulhu death may die (only one episode away from finishing season 3!)
My latest is a review of Landmarks, a sometimes-frustrating but often-good party game about navigating a cursed island via word association.
Check it out here: manaworm.com/2025/11/22/l...
#boardgames @floodgategames.bsky.social
Check it out here: manaworm.com/2025/11/22/l...
#boardgames @floodgategames.bsky.social
Landmarks Review: Unclear Signage
★★☆☆ — It is their job to lead their team, the metaphorical horse, to water. In Landmarks, as in life, it is not possible to make them drink, nor keep the water jug intact.
manaworm.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:59 PM
My latest is a review of Landmarks, a sometimes-frustrating but often-good party game about navigating a cursed island via word association.
Check it out here: manaworm.com/2025/11/22/l...
#boardgames @floodgategames.bsky.social
Check it out here: manaworm.com/2025/11/22/l...
#boardgames @floodgategames.bsky.social
November 22, 2025 at 12:14 AM
i wish my basketball team wasn't losing every single game. alas
November 19, 2025 at 2:03 AM
i wish my basketball team wasn't losing every single game. alas
tried @playrelichunters.bsky.social on a whim and i've been really enjoying it. such a wholesome, well-written game. gameplay is killer too.
this year has quietly been pretty good for my video gaming, even as i feel i've been playing less.
this year has quietly been pretty good for my video gaming, even as i feel i've been playing less.
November 17, 2025 at 6:21 AM
tried @playrelichunters.bsky.social on a whim and i've been really enjoying it. such a wholesome, well-written game. gameplay is killer too.
this year has quietly been pretty good for my video gaming, even as i feel i've been playing less.
this year has quietly been pretty good for my video gaming, even as i feel i've been playing less.
I reviewed Casinopolis, my first Button Shy game and one I've had my eyes on for a while now. With just eighteen cards, you build your own little Vegas by matching colors and creating runs.
manaworm.com/2025/11/15/c...
#boardgames
manaworm.com/2025/11/15/c...
#boardgames
Casinopolis Review: Paving Paradise
★★☆☆ — I am impressed by how much “game” has been compressed to fit into such a thin and pocketable package, but I’m coming away with the impression that the Opolis series m…
manaworm.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM
I reviewed Casinopolis, my first Button Shy game and one I've had my eyes on for a while now. With just eighteen cards, you build your own little Vegas by matching colors and creating runs.
manaworm.com/2025/11/15/c...
#boardgames
manaworm.com/2025/11/15/c...
#boardgames