Table talk does not always improve a party game. Meaningful discussion requires players to make claims supported by evidence. As any improv performer can tell you, when the only response is "no&

Playing cards present challenges for real-time gameplay. They take time to parse, can be difficult to pick up from the table, and are impractical to shuffle under time constraints. The game Nertz (and

Temporary alliances add a lot to a game. Working together feels great because it creates a shared sense of purpose. But being stabbed in the back by a teammate hurts a lot. To

In game design circles, you will often hear "use input randomness, not output randomness." Input randomness sets choices up while output randomness resolves them; think of drawing a tile in Carcassonne

Players expect games to move forward. This creates a problem for conflict-heavy gameplay: if an attacker's goal is sabotage, their progress erases the defender's progress. But then, how can