In August, we played 36 different board games from new releases to old classics. Here are our picks for the best games we played last month.

Monthly recaps are to help you know about all the games we played in the past month, share our favorite games, as well as give out some end-of-month awards. Not all of the games we play make it onto social media or the blog so this is a fun way to show you what we have played behind the scenes and which games left an impression.

Check out our previous month’s recaps:
2022:  Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | June | July

August Games Played

Make sure to let us know on our social accounts which of these games you want to hear more about!

Kelsey’s Favorite Game: Hive

Hive is our surprise hit of the month. We could not stop playing this game the night we learned it. This two-player abstract game has an enjoyable tactile feel with tactical strategy. We can’t wait to bring this one with us when we visit family and friends.

Adam’s Favorite Game: Warp’s Edge

This bag-building game is excellent. Warp’s Edge is perfect for anyone wanting a solo game that offers great variety and is quick to set up/play. With 16 different starting set-ups plus a choose-your-own-adventure booklet, this solo game has high replayability.

We also got coin capsules to upgrade the feel of the token. We 10/10 recommend this budget friendly upgrade for anyone interested in the game. (You’ll need two packs for Warp’s Edge)

Kid’s Favorite Game: Reign of Dragoness

Our family loves Grandpa Becks Games, and their latest game was again a hit with our kids. They love the artwork on cards and the joy of playing a better hand than their parents. Kelsey and I love the practice our kids are getting when creating runs of numbers and thinking about using one card multiple ways. I was concerned this one would be a bit much, but our 6, 8, & 10-year-old played great with limited coaching after the first couple of rounds. 

You can use my code KELSEY15 to save 15% off all Grandpa Beck’s Games when ordering from their website. 

End of Month Awards

Best Game Added to Collection: Explorers

Explorers is an exploration race game by Phil Walker Harding that our family enjoyed. Like most Phil Walker Harding games, it is straightforward to learn but offers a depth of gameplay options that makes it highly replayable. I can’t wait to talk more about this game after a few more plays. 

Watch an overview of Explorers.

Best Dice Version of a Game: Pandemic: The Cure

Pandemic the Cure is a cooperative game, but instead of cards determining what gets infected, it is dice. Alice and I thought we had this one as an easy win, but soon our luck went terrible, and we barely won. That was because we had made good decisions to migrate our bad luck, so the game does require some tactical thinking and isn’t determined by if you only have good or bad die results.    

Favorite Expansion: Tie: Everdell Pearlbrook + Spirecrest Expansions

We got to play the Pearlbrook and Spirecrest Everdell Expansions this month, and Kelsey and I couldn’t agree on our favorite.

If you want an expansion that opens up the game and gives you more point-scoring opportunities, we recommend Pearlbrook – this was Kelsey’s favorite.

If you want an expansion that makes the game a more challenging/punishing puzzle while providing opportunities for unique rule-breaking player abilities, we recommend Spirecrest – this was Adam’s favorite.

Read our full review of Everdell.
Overview of Pearlbrook.
Overview of Spirecrest.

Best Educational Game: Sumoku

This simple Math game mixes a tile placement puzzle with great simple addition practice. Highly recommend it for any teachers looking for a classroom game since it is easy to teach, has excellent math practice, and is simple to store. 

Overview of Sumoku.

Best Date Night Mystery: Cold Case: A Pinch of Murder 

By day Kelsey is an unpaid detective solving the cases of “who stole the cookies” and “where is the iPad.” At night, we used her skills to solve Cold Cases from ThinkFun. You get a file folder stuffed with interviews, newspaper clippings, and all the evidence you need to solve the case. The two cold cases we solved were both enjoyable to solve while still being a relaxing experience since there was never any time pressure.

Our favorite case was A Pinch of Murder, but we recommend any of the Cold Case games! 

Most Played: Tie: Pokemon Battle Academy and 5 Minute Marvel (5+ Plays Each)

These games were played by our boys without us way more than five times since they are their current favorites. We highly recommend the Pokemon Battle Academy box for anyone wanting to get into Pokemon for the first time. 5-Minute Marvel is an excellent real-time cooperative game with a Marvel theme to make it extra fun.  

In Case You Missed It:

TikTok: Secret Game Closet
Instagram: Quoridor Play Through
Review: Comparing the Top Board Game Mats