There is something uniquely satisfying about pausing at the end of a month and glancing back over the games played, the sessions shared, and the small moments that made them memorable. For many board game enthusiasts, a monthly recap serves as more than just a record; it becomes a reflection of time well spent, creativity explored, and connections strengthened. As May 2025 comes to a close, it feels like the perfect moment to reflect on what this month of gaming looked like.
The month was busy, filled with everyday responsibilities, but at the same time it was vibrant with the rhythm of tabletop experiences. Dice were rolled, cards were shuffled, meeples were placed, and stories unfolded around the table. Each session became a fragment of memory stitched into the larger fabric of the gaming hobby. Looking back, the collection of plays not only shows numbers—56 total plays across 23 different titles—but also reveals an ongoing commitment to making play a part of daily life. That number is less about statistics and more about a lifestyle choice, one where board gaming is integrated into the everyday routine just as naturally as making coffee in the morning or winding down with a book in the evening.
What stands out about May is its balance. There were sessions with family, explorations of newly acquired titles, returns to old favorites, and quiet solo moments. Variety kept the month fresh and ensured that no two evenings of play felt alike. Some games lasted for hours and demanded deep strategy, while others were lighthearted fillers that wrapped up in fifteen minutes. Together, they formed a mosaic that captured the diversity of the hobby and the unique flexibility of board games as both a form of entertainment and a means of connection.
One of the most rewarding aspects of a monthly reflection is noticing the evolution of play habits. Certain games find themselves returning to the table again and again, becoming staples that feel almost like comfort food. Others make their debut, still carrying the newness of discovery. There is joy in opening a fresh box, punching out components, and experiencing unfamiliar mechanics for the first time. May 2025 offered both kinds of experiences, and that balance helped create a month that was both exciting and reassuringly familiar.
For players who like to keep logs of their sessions, each number in the record tells a hidden story. “56 plays” is not just a count; it represents dozens of hours of laughter, concentration, and strategy. Twenty-three different titles mean that the month did not lean too heavily on repetition, though it’s natural for a few games to surface multiple times. Four brand-new titles entered the collection and earned their first moments on the table. That mixture of exploration and reliability makes for an engaging rhythm, reminding us that the hobby thrives when both curiosity and tradition are kept alive.
Another layer to the month’s story is the ongoing personal challenge of playing at least one in-person board game every day of the year. This goal, while ambitious, adds an extra spark to the act of sitting down to play. It transforms board gaming from a hobby into a ritual, something that is not only enjoyed but deliberately pursued. The streak continued unbroken through May, which in itself is an achievement worth celebrating. It shows consistency, discipline, and a genuine passion for keeping the love of board gaming alive on a daily basis. While many of those plays were solo sessions, the fact remains that the table never went untouched. Each day carried at least a few moments of intentional play, and that kind of continuity strengthens both skill and appreciation for the games themselves.
Reflecting on May also means acknowledging the context of how gaming fits into daily life. The month carried its own share of obligations—work, family responsibilities, and personal projects—but carving out time to play meant carving out time for joy. That is one of the understated values of board gaming: it acts as a pause button. Even if only for a half hour, sitting down with a game shifts focus away from screens, stress, or deadlines and channels it into something creative and interactive. Whether that meant building a sprawling city in a solo puzzle or engaging in a competitive tug-of-war with a friend, those moments became miniature escapes that refreshed the mind.
One of the most striking qualities of this month was the inclusion of both heavy and light experiences. Some nights demanded the tactical intensity of a game where every move mattered, where resources had to be carefully managed, and victory came only after navigating tough decisions. Other nights leaned into levity, where the game’s purpose was less about winning and more about laughing together over unpredictable twists. This flexibility is part of what makes board gaming such a sustainable hobby. Unlike a television series that demands binge-watching or a book that must be read linearly, games offer modular, adaptable experiences. They fit the mood of the day, whether it’s craving something light or wanting to dig into something meaty.
It’s also important to consider the social element that board games bring. May offered not just a chance to play games but also a chance to connect with others—family members, friends, and even solo gaming as a form of self-connection. Playing with a child, for instance, transforms the game into more than a competition; it becomes a teaching tool, a way to encourage patience, strategy, or even simple counting. Playing with peers might spark laughter, friendly rivalry, or discussions about the cleverness of a design. Playing alone, meanwhile, offers a quiet space for reflection and problem-solving, almost like meditation. This mixture of contexts across the month enriched the experience and highlighted the versatility of the hobby.
May’s reflections also draw attention to the evolving nature of a board game collection. Many players know the feeling of acquiring games through sales, trades, or crowdfunding projects, only to see them sit unplayed on a shelf. This month, there was particular satisfaction in finally giving some of those titles the attention they deserved. It’s one thing to collect a game; it’s another to experience it. Removing shrink wrap, setting up the board, and actually playing transforms a box into a memory. That act of finally playing a long-owned but untested game carries its own reward, turning potential into experience.
The routine of documenting these plays, whether through photos or notes, becomes part of the joy. Looking at a list of plays provides both a record and a source of motivation. It’s one thing to remember vaguely that a month was busy with games; it’s another to see the exact number of plays and the diversity of titles. This documentation does not need to be exhaustive or obsessive—it can simply be a way to appreciate how gaming has enriched daily life. Over time, these monthly recaps create a narrative of growth, showing which games rise to become favorites and which gradually fade from memory.
As May 2025 is remembered, the biggest takeaway is not any single game or single play but the tapestry as a whole. Fifty-six sessions meant fifty-six chances to learn something new, enjoy company, or simply unwind. The sheer variety, from large Kickstarter productions to quick card-based fillers, ensured that the month never felt monotonous. The ongoing streak added a sense of purpose, while the mix of social and solo experiences reflected the adaptability of the hobby to different circumstances. Together, these elements paint a picture of a month that was not just about playing games but about living them—integrating them into everyday life in ways that enriched time, created memories, and maintained a joyful rhythm.
Discovering New Titles – First Plays in May 2025
One of the greatest joys in the world of board gaming is unsealing the plastic wrap, lifting the lid of a fresh box, and stepping into a design for the very first time. New games carry with them a special sense of anticipation—part promise, part mystery. Will the mechanics click? Will the theme shine through? Will it earn a place in the rotation or linger on the shelf as a curiosity? May 2025 brought four new titles to the table, each with its own personality, challenges, and surprises.
The month’s lineup of newcomers was an eclectic mix: an elaborate bag-builder with area control mechanics, a mythologically infused strategy game, a streamlined push-your-luck card duel, and a worker placement design that adds a familiar yet satisfying twist. Taken together, these four games showcased just how wide the range of tabletop design has become. From epic productions born on crowdfunding platforms to compact card games acquired through a trade, they collectively reminded me of the sheer diversity of experiences available to players today.
Wonderland’s War
The standout new arrival of the month was Wonderland’s War, a title that had been waiting patiently on the shelf since its arrival from a Kickstarter campaign some time ago. Like many backers, I pledged for the game when the campaign first launched, drawn in by its colorful reinterpretation of Alice’s fantastical world. The game’s mixture of bag-building, drafting, and area control sounded promising. But as is sometimes the case, enthusiasm at the point of purchase doesn’t always translate immediately to plays. Life moves on, other games rotate in, and before you know it, a once-anticipated title becomes part of the backlog.
Finally bringing Wonderland’s War to the table in May was immensely rewarding. The production value was striking from the outset—the vibrant artwork, chunky chips, and thematic boards immediately drew attention. But it wasn’t just surface-level beauty; the game itself had real substance. At its heart, it’s about crafting a bag of chips that represents your army, your influence, and your risk-taking tendencies. Each battle becomes a push-your-luck contest as chips are pulled from bags to determine outcomes, but beneath that luck is the strategy of how you built that bag in the first place.
What struck me most was the balance between whimsy and strategy. On the one hand, there’s undeniable chaos—Mad Hatters and Cheshire Cats clashing in surreal conflicts. On the other, there’s a satisfying layer of control in how drafting and upgrades shape the odds in your favor. Each round built tension, and each battle felt like a miniature story unfolding, complete with unexpected twists when a chip pull went awry or a clever upgrade suddenly shifted momentum.
After the first play, it was clear this wasn’t just another Kickstarter novelty. It had the right blend of fun and tactical depth to warrant repeated plays. The wait to get it off the shelf had been worthwhile, and it quickly felt like one of the most rewarding debuts of the month.
Pantheum: Demigods of Olympus
Another fresh arrival was Pantheum: Demigods of Olympus, also a Kickstarter-backed project but one that only recently delivered. Unlike Wonderland’s War, this one didn’t sit idle for long. Excitement for the theme and the relative ease of setup meant it reached the table quickly after arrival.
Pantheum leans into mythology, casting players as demigods seeking to leave their mark among the legends of Olympus. It weaves together thematic elements of divine favor, quests, and powers in a way that feels familiar but still distinct. What impressed me most was how quickly the game taught itself. Despite its mythic scope, the rules were relatively straightforward, making it easy to dive into strategy without feeling bogged down by a heavy rulebook.
The first play revealed a clever balance between resource management and narrative flair. Each action felt purposeful—building up power, completing heroic tasks, or maneuvering to gain influence. While many mythological-themed games can get lost in spectacle or become bloated with unnecessary complexity, Pantheum managed to deliver a streamlined but engaging experience. It felt like the kind of game that would appeal to both newer gamers intrigued by its theme and seasoned players looking for a middleweight title that doesn’t overstay its welcome.
Most importantly, the game’s first impression left me eager for more. It had enough variability to promise future replay value and enough thematic flavor to feel distinct from the many other mythology-inspired titles already out there. In a month filled with variety, Pantheum stood out as a confident new contender.
Lost Cities
Not all new games arrive in the same way. While Wonderland’s War and Pantheum were born of crowdfunding campaigns, Lost Cities entered the collection through a board game trade. This classic two-player card game has been around for years, but it was new to me in May, and it quickly earned appreciation for its simplicity and elegance.
Lost Cities is, at its core, a push-your-luck experience. Players take turns laying down expedition cards in ascending order, committing to paths that may or may not pay off depending on how the deck unfolds. The decision-making is deceptively tense: Do you commit to another expedition, risking failure if the right cards don’t show up, or do you focus on shoring up the ones you’ve already begun?
What struck me during those first plays was how much drama could emerge from such a straightforward ruleset. Every card mattered. Every decision felt weighty, even though the game itself only lasted about twenty minutes. Unlike sprawling strategy titles, Lost Cities managed to pack emotional highs and lows into a compact session.
As a two-player option, it felt like the perfect filler for times when longer games weren’t practical. It also offered a nice break from heavier titles without sacrificing meaningful decisions. While it may not have the production flash of a big-box Kickstarter, its design elegance reminded me that not every great game needs an overflowing component tray. Sometimes, a simple deck of cards and a clever set of rules are enough to create lasting tension and memorable moments.
Century: A New World
The final new game of the month was Century: A New World, a worker placement game acquired on sale. Unlike the other newcomers, this one wasn’t carefully planned or anticipated; it was more of an impulse purchase. Sales have a way of pulling board gamers in, especially when the price is right and the promise of discovery feels justifiable.
Century: A New World belongs to the Century series, which is known for its modularity and resource-conversion mechanics. Going in, expectations were modest—it was picked up more out of curiosity than necessity. What unfolded, however, was a surprisingly enjoyable experience.
At its core, the game offers a fairly traditional worker placement structure. Players assign workers to spaces, collect resources, and fulfill recipes for points. Yet within that familiar framework, there was a smoothness that made the game easy to pick up and play. The resource engine clicked quickly, and the pacing felt brisk without sacrificing depth.
It’s true that Century: A New World doesn’t reinvent the wheel. Veteran gamers might recognize patterns they’ve seen elsewhere in the genre. But there’s value in a game that does the basics well, offering a streamlined take on worker placement that doesn’t overwhelm. For a relatively inexpensive find, it turned out to be a pleasant surprise and one that seemed worth exploring further before deciding its long-term place on the shelf.
The Value of First Plays
Together, these four titles—Wonderland’s War, Pantheum: Demigods of Olympus, Lost Cities, and Century: A New World—defined much of the novelty of May 2025. Each came from a different corner of the hobby: a long-awaited deluxe Kickstarter, a fresh mythological design, a classic card game finally experienced firsthand, and a bargain-bin discovery. Each brought something distinct to the table, enriching the month’s variety.
What these first plays also underscored was the joy of discovery. There is something invigorating about trying a game for the first time, learning its quirks, and sensing its potential. Not every title will become a lifelong favorite, but every new play adds perspective, comparison, and variety to the hobby. For collectors, it’s a reminder that a shelf is not just storage but a reservoir of potential experiences waiting to be unlocked. For players, it’s proof that freshness can come from both the grandiose and the humble, from Kickstarter extravaganzas to decades-old card games.
May’s new games provided plenty to think about. Some will surely return to the table frequently; others may remain occasional diversions. Either way, their arrival kept the month feeling dynamic and ensured that the rhythm of play was not only about returning to the familiar but also about embracing the new.
Discovering New Worlds on the Table
One of the greatest pleasures in board gaming is the moment you finally crack open a new game and let it spill onto the table for the very first time. Every box holds potential: new mechanics, unfamiliar artwork, and fresh opportunities for interaction. May 2025 offered a particularly strong lineup of first-time plays for me, with four games finally making their way to the table. Each one brought a different flavor to the month, ranging from the chaotic push-your-luck of bag building, to the steady hand of worker placement, to the simplicity of classic card play.
The four titles that joined my gaming record in May were Wonderland’s War, Pantheum: Demigods of Olympus, Lost Cities, and Century: A New World. They couldn’t be more different from one another, but that is precisely what made the month such a dynamic experience. Let’s take a closer look at what each of these newcomers offered and how they shifted the rhythm of my plays.
Wonderland’s War: The Madcap Bag-Builder
This game had been looming on my shelf for quite a while, a reminder of how many titles we sometimes collect before finding the right opportunity to play. I had backed it years ago, watched it arrive in a gloriously heavy box, and then left it untouched until May. That long wait carried with it the risk of disappointment, but instead, I found the experience to be worth every bit of anticipation.
At its heart, Wonderland’s War is a strange blend: part bag-builder, part area control, part card drafting. Thematically, it throws players straight into Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland, not as wide-eyed visitors but as participants in a grand battle for dominance. The idea alone is delightfully chaotic—Alice, the Mad Hatter, and the Queen of Hearts each leading their armies across the board in an attempt to seize control.
The gameplay unfolds in two phases. The first is a drafting phase, where players gather resources, special chips, and characters to enhance their personal bags. It’s a calm period of planning, full of tough decisions about whether to strengthen your forces directly or prepare for the unpredictable chaos of the next phase. That second part—the battle resolution—is where the game comes alive.
Drawing chips from the bag to see how your forces perform in each contested region feels like riding a roller coaster. Every pull carries tension. Do you draw the powerful tokens you added during drafting, or do you stumble into madness and watch your plan unravel? There’s a constant balance between preparation and chance, with the thrill of not knowing when luck will smile on you.
What surprised me most was how well the mechanics captured the thematic spirit of Wonderland. The experience felt whimsical, unpredictable, and yet still rewarding for careful planning. Unlike some purely luck-driven games, here the chaos is tempered by strategic choices. That mix of structure and mayhem is what made Wonderland’s War such a standout first play in May.
Pantheum: Demigods of Olympus
If Wonderland’s War is about wild swings and unpredictable chaos, Pantheum sits at the other end of the spectrum. This game dropped into my collection much more recently, also through crowdfunding, and I wasted no time learning the rules and diving in. Whereas Wonderland thrives on whimsy, Pantheum builds itself on myth, power, and the calculated struggle of demigods vying for influence.
The game’s central conceit places players in the shoes of figures striving for recognition among the gods of Olympus. It’s a competitive, multi-layered system of resource management, tactical card play, and divine favor. The design invites players to weigh long-term strategies against short-term gains, as every choice about where to devote effort carries consequences across multiple areas of the board.
What stood out most was the tone of intensity that the game manages to create. Unlike the cheerful chaos of Wonderland, Pantheum feels deliberate and serious, as if every move is a brushstroke in a larger mythological tapestry. The artwork reinforces this feeling with bold depictions of gods and heroes, giving weight to each decision.
In play, the satisfaction came from the way different paths to victory opened and closed depending on the choices of others. The competition for divine favor created constant friction, and no strategy remained unchallenged for long. For a first play, the sheer depth was both overwhelming and exciting. There is clearly much more to uncover in future sessions, with nuances that only reveal themselves after repeated plays.
What I appreciated most was that Pantheum didn’t feel like a derivative title. While it borrows familiar mechanics from the broader landscape of modern board gaming, the way it blends them together feels distinct. It creates a narrative arc where your demigod truly feels like they are clawing their way toward godhood, one calculated decision at a time. For me, that was enough to mark Pantheum as a success worth revisiting.
Lost Cities: A Quick Journey of Risk and Reward
In contrast to the larger, more elaborate productions of Wonderland’s War and Pantheum, my introduction to Lost Cities was a reminder of the beauty of simplicity. I acquired it through a recent trade, almost on a whim, without strong expectations. What I found was a compact card game that punches far above its weight in terms of tension and decision-making.
The premise is straightforward: two players set out on expeditions, represented by building ascending sequences of cards in different suits. The twist is that every expedition costs points to start, so you must commit carefully, hoping that your future draws will pay off the risk. Each card you play is a small step forward, but the wrong choice or an ill-timed discard can set you back.
What struck me in my first plays was just how sharp the push-your-luck element felt. Because the game is so quick, there’s no room for slow, meandering strategy. Instead, you’re constantly deciding whether to commit to an expedition fully or hedge your bets and leave room for flexibility. That pressure makes every card matter, which in turn makes the game far more engaging than its simple rules suggest.
Lost Cities reminded me of why compact games endure over decades. They’re easy to learn, quick to set up, and yet endlessly replayable because the tension comes not from elaborate rules but from the razor’s edge of decision-making. This one was a pleasant surprise, and I can already see it becoming a regular filler when time is short but I still want a dose of strategy.
Century: A New World
The last of my new plays in May was Century: A New World, which I had picked up on sale without knowing much about it. Sometimes a bargain purchase ends up forgotten, but in this case, I was glad to discover a solid worker placement game with a clear sense of rhythm.
In Century: A New World, players send out workers to collect resources and trade them for various combinations needed to fulfill contracts. It’s a familiar structure, seen across dozens of other worker placement titles, but what makes it distinct is its streamlined approach. The turns are quick, the choices are clear, and the satisfaction comes from the efficiency of converting raw resources into valuable sets.
What surprised me was how approachable the game felt. Unlike heavier worker placement games that can bog down in complexity, Century strikes a balance that makes it accessible without being trivial. There’s enough interaction and competition for spaces to create tension, but not so much that the game drags.
That said, my first play also left me wondering about its long-term staying power. While it was enjoyable, it didn’t quite have the spark of originality that some other games carry. It may take a few more plays to decide if it will remain on my shelves or eventually make room for something else. Still, as a first impression, it provided a smooth and enjoyable experience that fit neatly into my month of gaming.
The Role of New Games in a Month of Play
Looking back, these four new titles shaped May in a powerful way. Each offered a different lens on what gaming can be. Wonderland’s War delivered unpredictability and theatrical battles; Pantheum provided calculated depth and mythological stakes; Lost Cities reminded me of the timeless charm of streamlined design; and Century: A New World gave me a steady, approachable worker placement experience.
Together, they highlighted the diversity of modern board gaming. No single title can define the hobby because it stretches from massive, table-filling epics to small card games that can be played in twenty minutes. That variety is what keeps the hobby so fresh. Each new play doesn’t just add to a tally; it reshapes how I think about games and why I play them.
For me, May 2025 became more than just another month of tracking plays. It became a reminder that new games—whether long-awaited Kickstarters, casual trades, or impulse purchases—each carry the potential to reshape the rhythm of play. They bring novelty, spark conversations, and sometimes even surprise us with how much joy can be packed into a small deck of cards or a bag full of tokens.
In the end, the value of trying new games lies not only in discovering future favorites but also in appreciating the breadth of experiences the hobby has to offer. May’s newcomers each left their mark, ensuring that the month’s gaming felt fresh, unpredictable, and deeply rewarding.
Returning to Old Favorites and Expansions
One of the quiet joys of board gaming is revisiting titles that have already earned their place at the table. While new games bring novelty, surprises, and the thrill of discovery, older favorites provide something equally valuable: familiarity, comfort, and the pleasure of refinement. When you bring out a game you’ve played before, you step into a space where rules come more naturally, strategies are remembered, and experiences deepen with each session.
In May 2025, alongside the four new titles that shaped my month, I also found myself returning to several familiar companions. 7 Wonders Duel, Dungeons, Dice, and Danger, Galaxy Trucker, Turbo Drift, String Railway, and the Boss Battles expansion for Keep the Heroes Out all made appearances on the table. Each offered a different kind of return—sometimes a reaffirmation of why the game belongs in the collection, sometimes a reminder of how expansions breathe new life into something familiar, and sometimes a chance to see the game through someone else’s eyes, especially my son’s.
7 Wonders Duel: The Elegance of Two-Player Competition
Few games capture the essence of a tight two-player contest like 7 Wonders Duel. It’s one of those titles that seems almost inevitable once you play it: of course this is how you adapt a sprawling civilization-building game into a direct head-to-head showdown. The card-drafting pyramid, the tug-of-war over military and science, the layered paths to victory—it all comes together in a design that is as smooth as it is strategic.
Playing it again in May reminded me of its elegance. Every card draft carries weight. Do you take the resource you need now, or deny your opponent the card they want? Do you invest in science for a potential instant win, or spread your efforts more broadly to ensure stability? The tension comes not just from what you choose, but from the knowledge that your opponent is reading the board with the same intensity.
After multiple plays over the years, the game continues to feel alive because of its variability. The wonders change, the card draft shifts, and the path to victory never feels predetermined. It’s the kind of game that rewards repeated play by offering subtle adjustments each time. For me, returning to 7 Wonders Duel in May felt like reconnecting with an old friend whose stories never quite run out.
Dungeons, Dice, and Danger: Rolling into Adventure
While 7 Wonders Duel thrives on precision and calculation, Dungeons, Dice, and Danger leans into something more chaotic: the joy of rolling dice and venturing into fantasy dungeons. This game is lighter, faster, and infused with the spirit of exploration. It may not deliver the same depth as a full-blown role-playing campaign, but it captures the flavor of delving into dark caverns and facing monsters with clever dice allocation.
My return to this game reminded me of how refreshing it can be to play something straightforward. Each turn is a small puzzle: which dice combinations to use, which monsters to attack, which treasures to pursue. The choices are meaningful without being overwhelming, making the game a comfortable fit for casual sessions.
It also highlighted how dice games bring a certain energy to the table. Every roll is a moment of suspense, followed by the satisfaction of fitting the results into your strategy. Even when luck doesn’t favor you, the process of adapting to bad rolls keeps the game lively. Revisiting Dungeons, Dice, and Danger in May gave me exactly that sense of lighthearted adventure, a nice counterbalance to the heavier games on the table.
Galaxy Trucker: Chaos in Space
For sheer hilarity and unpredictability, few games rival Galaxy Trucker. It’s a title that thrives on chaos, inviting players to build fragile, awkward spaceships under time pressure and then subjecting those ships to every imaginable hazard. Meteor showers, pirates, breakdowns—it’s all fair game in the mad dash across the galaxy.
What made my May plays special was that my son absolutely loves this game. Watching him piece together ships, laugh at disasters, and cheer when his cobbled-together craft miraculously survives brings a kind of joy that goes beyond the mechanics. It’s a reminder that games are as much about the shared laughter and stories they generate as they are about rules and strategies.
Returning to Galaxy Trucker also reinforced how well it captures its theme. The real fun isn’t in “winning” so much as in seeing how your ship holds up under the absurd trials it faces. Sometimes the best memories come from spectacular failures—when half your ship is blown away, or when you limp to the finish line with nothing but a cockpit and a single engine. It’s those moments that make the game worth bringing back to the table again and again.
Turbo Drift: Fast, Furious, and Compact
Not every game has to sprawl across the table to make an impact. Turbo Drift is proof of that. It’s a quick racing game that captures the essence of drifting cars through tight tracks with just a few cards and clever mechanics. The game is over in a flash, but the energy it packs into that short time is memorable.
In May, Turbo Drift became another hit with my son, who enjoys the racing theme and the immediate feedback of watching cars speed, spin, and occasionally careen off the track. For me, it served as a reminder that small games often shine because of their accessibility. They’re easy to pull out, teach, and play in the span of a short break, which makes them invaluable in a larger collection.
Revisiting Turbo Drift didn’t just provide quick entertainment; it also highlighted the variety of experiences that board games can offer. One evening might feature an epic mythological struggle in Pantheum, while the next afternoon is filled with the zippy thrills of a micro racing game. That range is part of what makes board gaming such a rewarding hobby.
String Railway: Lines Across the Table
Among the more unusual games I returned to in May was String Railway, a quirky little title where players literally use pieces of string to lay down train tracks across the table. It’s one of those games that looks odd from the outside but creates a unique spatial puzzle for those at the table.
The appeal lies in its physicality. Unlike most games, where components are rigid and defined, String Railway embraces the flexibility of string to create organic, sometimes messy layouts. Placing tracks becomes a matter of precision, creativity, and a little bit of imagination.
What made it especially enjoyable this time was again seeing how my son engaged with it. Children tend to embrace the tactile aspects of games with enthusiasm, and String Railway plays directly into that. Watching him stretch the strings, twist them around obstacles, and laugh at the tangled results made the game feel more alive than it ever could on my own.
Keep the Heroes Out: Boss Battles Expansion
Finally, one of the highlights of May was trying the new Boss Battles expansion for Keep the Heroes Out. Expansions often serve as lifelines for beloved games, keeping them fresh by introducing new challenges, characters, or twists. Boss Battles did exactly that, breathing new life into a cooperative dungeon defense game that was already a family favorite.
The expansion adds a climactic element to the game by pitting players against powerful bosses, each with unique abilities and challenges. Instead of just repelling waves of heroes, now there’s a central figure to contend with—a looming presence that changes the rhythm of the game.
Playing with the expansion reminded me of why I enjoy expansions in general. They allow you to revisit a familiar ruleset but experience it in a new way. The foundation remains the same, but the added content refreshes the experience, making it feel both comfortable and new. For us, Boss Battles immediately elevated our enjoyment of the base game and made us eager to return to it again soon.
The Comfort of Returning Games
Taken together, these returns—7 Wonders Duel, Dungeons, Dice, and Danger, Galaxy Trucker, Turbo Drift, String Railway, and Keep the Heroes Out with Boss Battles—formed a core part of May’s gaming experience. They provided balance to the novelty of the new games, grounding the month in familiarity and reminding me of why these titles remain in my collection.
There’s something reassuring about pulling a game off the shelf and knowing that it will deliver. You don’t have to wrestle with new rules or wonder if it will be enjoyable; you already know the shape of the experience. That doesn’t mean the plays are stale—far from it. Each session offers its own story, whether it’s a surprising strategy in 7 Wonders Duel, a hilarious disaster in Galaxy Trucker, or the tactile joy of laying down strings to build railways.
Expansions, meanwhile, offer a bridge between the old and the new. They allow us to revisit games we know well while still keeping the experience fresh. The Boss Battles expansion reminded me that sometimes a small addition is enough to spark a renewed wave of excitement.
In the end, May 2025 wasn’t just about discovering new games. It was also about cherishing the old ones, deepening the stories they tell, and enjoying how they continue to shape gaming nights with family and friends. The balance between discovery and return is what makes a gaming month feel complete. New games broaden horizons, but old favorites give those horizons depth.
Solo Journeys and the Bigger Picture of Play
When most people think of board games, they imagine crowded tables, shared laughter, and a chorus of voices debating strategy or groaning over unlucky dice rolls. And yet, board gaming has quietly expanded into a domain where playing alone is not only possible but deeply satisfying. Solo gaming has become an essential part of my own rhythm, a way to keep the streak alive and to experience games from a different perspective.
In May 2025, I logged quite a few solo plays. Most notably, I revisited Sprawlopolis and its cousin Naturopolis, two compact card games that distill urban and natural planning into tight solo puzzles. Alongside them, other titles also saw solo action, ensuring that every day of the month included at least one play. It wasn’t always a bustling game night with friends or family—sometimes it was just me, a small deck of cards, and a few minutes carved out of a busy day.
This balance between group sessions and solo sessions defined the month. It also underscored a larger truth: board gaming is as much about personal growth and reflection as it is about social interaction.
Sprawlopolis and the Art of Compact Challenges
If May had a solo centerpiece, it was Sprawlopolis. At first glance, it looks unassuming—just a small deck of cards, no flashy components, and rules that can be explained in a minute. But inside that simplicity lies a fiendishly clever puzzle. Each game begins with a set of scoring conditions that change from session to session, forcing you to juggle competing priorities as you lay out cards to build your city.
What struck me again during my May plays was how flexible and challenging the game remains. Even after dozens of sessions, no two games feel alike. Sometimes you’re striving to connect roads, other times you’re punished for sprawling too much, and often you’re trying to reconcile scoring conditions that pull you in opposite directions.
The joy of Sprawlopolis is that it demands focus without demanding time. A single game can be over in ten minutes, yet in those ten minutes you’ve wrestled with spatial planning, long-term efficiency, and the nagging sense that if you’d just placed one card differently, everything might have come together. It’s the kind of game that invites repeated play, not because it tells a sweeping story, but because it’s a pure test of wits against a shifting puzzle.
Naturopolis: Nature’s Counterpart
Alongside Sprawlopolis, I also explored Naturopolis, a sibling game that trades cityscapes for natural landscapes. Where Sprawlopolis is about roads and blocks, Naturopolis focuses on forests, rivers, and meadows. The rules remain familiar, but the scoring twists provide a fresh layer of variety.
Playing both games in tandem throughout May was a reminder of how subtle changes in theme and scoring can keep a concept alive. Naturopolis doesn’t replace Sprawlopolis; instead, it complements it. The city puzzle scratches one itch, while the nature puzzle scratches another. Together, they make solo gaming feel richer, as if the two games are in dialogue with each other.
What I appreciated most was how these games fit into the practical realities of maintaining a daily play streak. Sometimes there just isn’t enough time in the evening to set up a sprawling game or gather multiple players. A pocket-sized challenge like Naturopolis ensures that the streak continues without feeling forced. Instead of being a compromise, these quick plays became highlights—small yet meaningful moments of focus and satisfaction.
The Discipline of a Daily Streak
By the end of May, I had maintained my streak of playing at least one in-person board game every single day of the year. That milestone might sound trivial to some, but it requires both dedication and flexibility. Life doesn’t always make space for games, so keeping the streak alive often means turning to solo play.
The streak itself is more than just a number on a calendar. It’s a way of weaving games into daily life, ensuring that the hobby remains active rather than passive. Like any habit, consistency builds momentum. By committing to play each day, I’ve found myself more willing to explore new titles, revisit old favorites, and embrace short solo sessions when needed.
There’s also a psychological benefit to the streak. It transforms gaming from a once-in-a-while luxury into a regular rhythm, something to look forward to even on the busiest days. On days when stress looms large, ten minutes with a compact solo puzzle can feel grounding, a reminder that play doesn’t have to be elaborate to be meaningful.
The Role of Solo Play in the Broader Hobby
Solo gaming is often misunderstood by those who think of board games strictly as social events. But in reality, solo play expands the hobby rather than diminishes it. It allows games to be enjoyed when group play isn’t possible. It lets players learn rules at their own pace, experiment with strategies, and engage with games as puzzles rather than competitions.
For me, solo play has become a bridge between the social and the personal. It ensures that games remain part of my daily routine while also offering space for quiet reflection. There’s something almost meditative about laying out cards, rolling dice, or moving tokens on your own. Without the pressure of competition, you can immerse yourself in the mechanics and theme at your own pace.
Games like Sprawlopolis and Naturopolis thrive in this space. They’re built to be small, portable, and endlessly replayable, making them perfect for solo sessions. But even larger games can offer satisfying solo modes, and May reminded me that solo play isn’t a fallback—it’s a valid and rewarding way to experience the hobby.
Balancing Novelty, Familiarity, and Solitude
Looking back on the month as a whole, what strikes me is the balance between new discoveries, familiar returns, and solo sessions. Each played a role in shaping the narrative of May’s gaming. The new games brought excitement and unpredictability. The old favorites provided comfort and shared stories with family. The solo games ensured consistency, grounding the streak and giving me time for reflection.
That balance is, in many ways, the essence of board gaming as a hobby. It’s not about always chasing the newest release or clinging only to the classics. It’s about weaving together different experiences to create a rich tapestry of play. Some days you want the thrill of Wonderland’s War. Other days you crave the familiar comfort of 7 Wonders Duel. And sometimes all you need is a quick puzzle with Sprawlopolis before heading to bed.
In May, this balance felt particularly vivid. I could feel the hobby stretching in multiple directions at once—toward the epic, the intimate, the chaotic, and the serene. And through it all, the daily streak kept me anchored, reminding me that no matter how big or small the session, the act of play itself was what mattered.
As May turned into June, I found myself reflecting on what this daily commitment has revealed. Playing games every day isn’t just about filling time; it’s about prioritizing joy, focus, and creativity in a world that often demands the opposite. It’s about choosing to make space for moments of play, whether with friends, family, or alone.
It also reveals the adaptability of the hobby. Board games aren’t confined to one mode of play. They can be sprawling epics, quick fillers, group spectacles, or solo meditations. That flexibility is what makes it possible to keep a streak alive and to find meaning in it.
Finally, the journey underscores the way games connect us—to each other, to ourselves, and to the stories we create. Whether it’s laughing over a half-destroyed spaceship in Galaxy Trucker, debating strategies in 7 Wonders Duel, or quietly puzzling over a city layout in Sprawlopolis, each play adds to a larger narrative of shared and personal experience.
Final Thoughts
Looking back over the four parts of this reflection on May 2025, what stands out most is not just the number of plays or the variety of titles, but the way each experience contributed to a larger whole. The month was a reminder that board gaming is never a single, uniform activity. Instead, it is a mosaic made up of discovery, familiarity, family connection, and quiet solo moments.
The new games provided the spark of novelty, each one a doorway into unexplored territory. Wonderland’s War burst with theatrical chaos, Pantheum offered mythological intensity, Lost Cities distilled decision-making into a quick duel of risk and reward, and Century: A New World delivered steady worker placement satisfaction. Together they showed how fresh titles can rejuvenate a collection, each bringing a different mood to the table.
The old favorites grounded the month in comfort and continuity. Returning to 7 Wonders Duel, Dungeons, Dice, and Danger, Galaxy Trucker, Turbo Drift, String Railway, and the Boss Battles expansion for Keep the Heroes Out reminded me of the joy that comes from games already tested and trusted. They’re the games that don’t just fill time but build traditions, creating stories that grow richer with each play.
Solo sessions provided balance, ensuring the daily streak remained unbroken while also opening up a space for reflection. Sprawlopolis and Naturopolis in particular stood out, compact yet endlessly replayable, reminding me that even a short puzzle can carry meaning when approached with focus. Solo play gave the month texture, ensuring that gaming remained a constant presence even when schedules or energy didn’t allow for larger sessions.
Threaded through all of this was the streak itself—the ongoing goal of playing at least one board game every single day of the year. May proved that the streak is not just about persistence but about flexibility. It’s about finding joy in both the epic and the compact, in both the shared laughter of a chaotic spaceship disaster and the quiet focus of laying down cards alone at the end of the day.
In the end, May 2025 was not just a tally of 56 plays across 23 games. It was a snapshot of what makes board gaming meaningful: variety, connection, discovery, and habit. The month affirmed that games are more than entertainment—they are a rhythm, a practice, and a way of shaping time with family, with friends, and with oneself.
As I look forward to the rest of the year, the lesson of May is clear: whether through the excitement of something new, the comfort of something old, or the simplicity of a solo session, play finds its way into each day when you make room for it. And in making room for play, you also make room for joy.