"alliances"

2019 · 2-6 Players · ~120-180 min · Competitive / Negotiation

Dune (2019) is a faithful reprint of one of the most important designs in board gaming history, and at six players it remains a peak experience. The asymmetric factions capture the spirit of Herbert's universe with remarkable precision, the negotiation and alliance systems create unforgettable dramatic moments, and no two games play alike. Getting six people together for a three-hour commitment is the game's biggest barrier, and lower player counts can't replicate what makes it special. But when the stars align and you have the right group, this is about as good as tabletop gaming gets.

2018 · 3-5 Players · ~90-120 min · Negotiation and Area Control

Rising Sun is a bold, beautiful area control game that does its best work during its war phase, where the secret bidding system creates tense, strategic showdowns unlike anything else in the genre. The alliance and negotiation mechanics generate incredible table talk, and the variable clan powers keep each game feeling distinct. It's held back by repetitive early rounds, volatile swings that punish new players, and a learning curve that demands multiple sessions before the strategy clicks. For a group willing to invest the time, Rising Sun rewards skilled play with some of the most dramatic and memorable moments area control has to offer.