2022 is winding down to a close, but the drive to play games remains strong. It’s refreshing to know that despite the hardships and despite our differences, we can band together and share common interests. That said, there will always be toxicity. I’ve learned to steer clear of it and do what makes me happy. Took 40+ years to figure it out, but pleasing the masses by trying to be nice to toxic people just isn’t good for my health. As a content creator I’ve removed myself from Twitter & turned off YouTube comments and have not looked back. I’d rather attract a small, tight-knit, semi-mature/mature community rather than encourage a toxic environment. If the former sounds like you, join us on my Discord channel.
Video Games
Wait, we’re doing this again? ALREADY!? Time sure flies when you’re having fun. I hope 2021 has been a good year to whomever is reading this. With personal and health issues abound, we’ve been doing the best we can to make ends meet AND do the things we love to do…play games!
I’ve taken the plunge into Dungeons and Dragons 5e for the first time this year. All I can say is that it’s addicting! We’ve completed the Lost Mine of Phandelver and are currently running Storm King’s Thunder. I’ve got over 75 hours of recorded sessions on my YouTube channel, so go have a look once you’re done here if you’re a fan.
The Podcasts are still going strong too. We’ve decided to do them monthly due to time constraints, but with enough support I’d love to do them weekly like we used to. While we mostly talk about games, we do delve into other nerdy interests from time to time. You should give us a listen on my YouTube Channel!
With regards to the awards we’re keeping it simple. The following is a list of board games and videos games we’ve played this year and absolutely love. It doesn’t matter when they were released. Some are still considered “Early Access”. Some of our entries have indeed been released in 2021, but you’ll no doubt recognize some old chestnuts in there that are getting the recognition they deserve.
If you haven’t already, be sure to follow and subscribe to me on Twitch & YouTube. Support me on Patreon and/or PayPal. Buy games via my affiliate Humble Bundle & Green Man Gaming links. Most importantly, be kind to others and keep on gaming!
2020 has been a rough year for everyone. I myself had 3 surgeries this year and I am now trying to find a way to deal with chronic pain that keeps me awake at all hours of the night. I’m so thankful that game developers/publishers continue to pump out games so that the rest of us gamer folk can enjoy them, especially now that social distancing is a thing. Platforms like Tabletop Simulator and Steam have been incredibly helpful. I personally would love to see more board games go digital.
I never thought I’d see the day that I have my very own podcast. I say that because at heart, I’m an introvert. I grew up being afraid of people and it was hard for me to even talk to anyone let alone put myself out on the internet. This pushes me beyond my comfort zone and then some, but I think it’s doing wonders for personal growth.
I’m not a big fan of Mahjong, but “Dragon Castle” opened my eyes a bit when I took the plunge via the digital adaptation released not too long ago. “Dragon Castle” does, for the most part, stay true to the “Mahjong” style gameplay, but here each player is creating their own castle from the tiles they match from the central board. There are a number of different ways to score too.
In case you missed it, “Castle Dice” recently released for iPhones and IPad devices for roughly $7. It’s an interesting mix of dice drafting and resource management. Seeing as how I can’t find the tabletop game anywhere (when I do the price is beyond inflated) this is a great alternative. Watch the video below to learn how to play!
Well, hello! December snuck up on us pretty quickly and you know what that means…another DGA Awards list that is oh-so-helpful in helping people choose what games to look at next and/or possibly buy them for a loved one this holiday season. That’s what I keep telling myself anyway.
Orcs! Elves! Dwarves! Undead! Humans! Lend me your ears! *Waits for the barrage of ears to end* #RobinHoodMenInTightsReference
It’s that time of year again, the time where we look at the Top Ten Board Games and Video Games. Vinnie Jr, Aidalee, and I have prepared separate lists just in time for holiday shopping. If you’re buying tabletop games, please feel free to buy through Amazon via this link so that I get a small percentage of the sale. If you’re buying video games, check out Green Man Gaming and Humble Bundle for the same reasons.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the (*trumpets/fanfare*) “2017 DGA Awards”. You may now applaud. Seriously though, this time of year is probably one of my favorites. Aside from the fact that tax season is almost here, I get to revisit all the games I’ve played this year and compare them against games I listed as my favorite for the previous year.
Streaming Rules & Schedule:
Due to YouTube’s recent (and stupid) ad-friendly policy crackdown, I’m moving the rules and streaming schedule here:
2016 has been the year of hell with regards to my personal well-being. I know, I know…I shouldn’t be starting articles like this on such a positive note, but I’m a rebel that way. For those of you who forget that I have a semi-updated news feed, I’ve been rather sick as of late. It all started around November/December of last year…costochondritis, GERD, hiatus hernia, a rare inflammation in the throat that makes it swell, having my wisdom teeth pulled, and a bunch of ER visits. The fun is STILL on-going, huzzah! As such I really haven’t played a lot of board games, though I have now produced over 4,000 videos on my YouTube channel. While I didn’t get to play as many tabletop games as I would have liked, I have received a number of excellent games this year that are definitely in the below list. Like last year, I’ll be listing ANY game that I own regardless of release date.
I haven’t met a kid who didn’t like “Minecraft”. Sure, some adults may find it too simplistic in terms of graphics and not like it for other various reasons, but most kids appreciate the freedom to design and construct almost anything they want. I personally like the survival mode aspects and the sense of satisfaction I get when my house extension goes up or when I’ve found that rare patch of diamonds. Starting June 27th, Connected Camps will be hosting a “Summer of Minecraft” camp for kids…how neat is that?! It’s really too bad that camps like that weren’t around when I was young.
2015 has been a pretty good year for DGA. My YouTube channel has reached 9,000+ subscribers and contains over 2,500 videos, a far cry from last year’s numbers. While being diligent with my content is part of the reason the numbers continue to grow, it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of gamers like you. It also helps that there are a TON of awesome games out there just waiting for someone to discover and play them. Yes, it’s that time of year again folks…the 2015 DGA Awards are upon us!
Editor’s Note: The below is a paid advertisement from the folks at MTGHeadQuarters.
How many of you love card games like Magic: The Gathering , Pokémon, or Yu-Gi-Oh, but often have no one to play with? That’s where “GameFindr”, a FREE iPhone/Android app, comes to the rescue. Within minutes (sometimes seconds), you’ll be able to locate and connect with someone who shares your love for the same games you do. All you’ll need to do is download the app, set up your profile, and choose what games you enjoy playing. From there, the app will locate actual people within your area who want to play those exact same games. Better yet, it’ll help you find local game stores that also use the GameFindr app.
DISCLAIMER: The title “Early Access” means that the product/game is still under development. As such, the content featured below is subject to change. This includes any opinions I may have at the time of writing, as Alpha and Beta builds sometimes change their core mechanics on a whim. It’s important to stress the word opinions, as I find it unethical to review something not yet released in its final form. In other words, don’t take anything you see here too seriously. You can view all of the articles of this series by clicking the “Video Games” tab, located on the top of this page.
DISCLAIMER: The title “Early Access” means that the product/game is still under development. As such, the content featured below is subject to change. This includes any opinions I may have at the time of writing, as Alpha and Beta builds sometimes change their core mechanics on a whim. It’s important to stress the word opinions, as I find it unethical to review something not yet released in its final form. In other words, don’t take anything you see here too seriously. You can view all of the articles of this series by clicking the “Video Games” tab, located on the top of this page.