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Shallow Sea Review — Immaculate Tile Laying

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside

💾

We review Shallow Sea, a tile-laying Euro with incredible design, no kidding! This 1-4 player low-conflict game has players managing their own coral reef, juggling fish tokens and coral/Sealife to get the most victory points come end game. There are some objectives to pursue (rewarding set collection), but it’s mostly about just building the best reef with lots of biodiversity! You tackle grid coverage in the pattern building of tiles every turn. Also the solo mode is incredibly clean with no automa needed! Is this game too solitaire, or does Bad Comet truly have another gem on their hands?

Other games featured: Wondrous Creatures, Earth, Splendor, Brass Birmingham

Table of Contents:
Overview - (0:00)
How to Play - (0:53)
Pros - (2:15)
Cons - (13:34)
Recommender Score - (15:32)
Ashton's Personal Score - (18:18)

Support us:
https://www.patreon.com/shelfside
https://ko-fi.com/shelfside

Our Website!
https://www.shelfside.co/

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
https://amazon.com/shop/shelfside

Shelfside Social Media:
https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT
https://www.instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames/
https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/
https://discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62

Links to our other stuff:
Ashton's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu
Daniel's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2

#boardgames #tabletop #review
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Haggleoff Review — Avoid Taxes in a Trading Game

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside

💾

We review a negotiation game filled with trading opportunities! In Haggleoff, you try to get the most money by set collecting and hand management, a bit like the popular bohnanza. However, with the introduction of power cards and timed turns, there’s a lot of chaos happening! You’re essentially investing cards into diverse industries, cashing out as an action to try to get points. Cards are also multi-use with the donation pile, to make this game feel like a TCG at times. It even has a fake online tax program for bookkeeping, called Tax404! Though perhaps this tabletop game doesn’t quite have enough components, even though it could be considered party-esq? Though it may have lots of educational aspects for even middle schoolers!

Use promo code SHELFSIDE at checkout (not affiliate): https://haggleoff.com/discount/SHELFSIDE?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fhaggleoff-card-game

Table of Contents:
Overview - (0:00)
How to Play - (1:05)
Pros - (3:28)
Cons - (10:40)
Recommender Score - (15:34)
Ashton's Personal Score - (18:36)

Support us:
https://www.patreon.com/shelfside
https://ko-fi.com/shelfside

Our Website!
https://www.shelfside.co/

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
https://amazon.com/shop/shelfside

Shelfside Social Media:
https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT
https://www.instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames/
https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/
https://discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62

Links to our other stuff:
Ashton's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu
Daniel's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2

#boardgames #tabletop #review
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Twilight Imperium 4: Thunder's Edge | Shelfside Review

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside

💾

We review the latest Ti4 expansion, after playing it four times! Well technically, we played Codex 4 3 times, then this once, but there’s a lot of crossover! This 2nd expansion for the top BGG game, Ti4 (with Pok) includes more asymmetric factions all the way to new 4x mechanics (Thunder’s edge + fracture). Explore the fracture and invest into the new legendary planets! Or play an entire new game mode with drafting, in Twilight’s Fall! There are patched cards from the codexes and cardboard pieces like the strategy cards. With the 20 galactic events, you can fix voting or even introduce RTS-isms with the Monuments to the Ages! Will this be the definitive first expansion to get, even with Prophecy of Kings already being out? How do the 6 new factions fare? What has become of the massive product Twilight Imperium, as maybe there could be a Ti5 one day?

Table of Contents
Overview - (0:00)
What’s New - (1:50)
Pros - (2:37)
Cons - (18:15)
Recommender Score - (20:36)
Alexander’s Personal Score - (26:21)
Ashton’s Personal Score - (28:42)

Support us:
https://www.patreon.com/shelfside
https://ko-fi.com/shelfside

Our Website!
https://www.shelfside.co/

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
https://amazon.com/shop/shelfside

Shelfside Social Media:
https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT
https://www.instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames/
https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/
https://discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62

Links to our other stuff:
Ashton's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu
Daniel's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2

Stuff Used:
Spirit of the Law — Everything You’ve Wondered About Wonders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBEkT92YjC4

#boardgames #tabletop #review
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Arydia Exceeds All Expectations!

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside

💾

Shelfside's thoughts and impressions after reaching level 4 in Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread! A campaign board game heavily inspired by ttrpg's like dnd, players will create characters to adventure and roleplay with a d20 checks system and pre-painted minis! With by far the BEST components we've ever seen coming out of massive kickstarter projects alongside incredibly smooth story and tactical gameplay using 2 standard and 1 minor actions from your loadout of equipment and abilities.

Arydia gets a reprint soon! https://gamefound.com/en/projects/far-off-games/arydia-2nd-printing

Support us:
https://www.patreon.com/shelfside
https://ko-fi.com/shelfside

Our Website!
https://www.shelfside.co/

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
https://amazon.com/shop/shelfside

Table of Contents:
Preamble - 0:00
Game Overview - 3:34
Why Components Are Amazing - 5:43
Combat Simple Yet Thoughtful - 10:34
Very Smooth Experience - 13:10
Wrap Up - 16:20

Shelfside Social Media:
https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT
https://www.instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames/
https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/
https://discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62

Links to our other stuff:
Ashton's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu
Daniel's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2

#boardgames #tabletop #tabletopgames
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Threshold Prototype Review — MMO meets Campaign Game

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside

💾

We review a ‘MMO’ styled campaign board game! Threshold by owl studios features players deckbuilding with asymmetric characters, fighting on a hex map (like Gloomhaven). There is a combination of the overland and combat, as players manage their hands of 5 cards, upgrading their decks as they level up. You can role-play as a guardian or mystic in this prototype, to do MMORPG-isms! At some point there may be level 40 raids, or guilds to participate in! Lots of aspects of the questing and loot feel like the popular blizzard game World of Warcraft, but how online could this board game be? Could you play dungeons online with fellow members via discord after the gamefound?

Other games mentioned: Pokemon Emerald, Elder Scrolls Betrayal of the Second Era, Guild Wars 2, Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon, Tainted Grail: Kings of Ruin, Dragon Eclipse, Dominion

Play Threshold: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/oomm-games/threshold

Table of Contents:
Overview - (0:00)
How to Play - (2:00)
Pros - (4:41)
Cons - (13:40)
Tentative Score - (24:07 )
Ashton’s Personal Score - (30:37)

Support us:
https://www.patreon.com/shelfside
https://ko-fi.com/shelfside

Our Website!
https://www.shelfside.co/

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
https://amazon.com/shop/shelfside

Shelfside Social Media:
https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT
https://www.instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames/
https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/
https://discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62

Links to our other stuff:
Ashton's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu
Daniel's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2

Stuff Used:

Guild Wars 2 in 2025 | Is it Worth Playing?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx8lgTqPFLE

World of Warcraft Classic (2023) - Gameplay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNxgu5bueAQ

#boardgames #tabletop #review
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I eat at 5 NYC Board Game Stores & Cafes

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside

💾

New York City board game related stores, we’re coming to eat! We visit some FLGS and cafes, which feature popular BGG games, but also food/drink! We check out their offerings besides tabletop, like in some places Golf and Arcade! We go through the various places, including in Hoboken New Jersey all the way to Manhattan Upper East side. We can show which places have rentals and their open play policy, or do they just do MTG commander? Perhaps TTRPGs are more your style? Can you play big space operas or just simple 2 player games at these areas?

Play Conquest for the Capital: https://www.mountainsoul.com.au/

Table of Contents:
Intro - (0:00)
Conquest for the Capital - (1:00)
1. Hoboken Game Lounge - (1:49)
2. Silk Road Gaming - (8:15)
3. Gamestoria - (10:55)
4. Hex & Co - (14:15)
5. Chaotic good - (17:34)
Favorite Experiences - (20:50)

Games featured: Dune Imperium, Cosmic Encounter, That’s Not My Hat, Mahjong, Poker, Exploding Kittens, Monopoly, Magic: The Gathering, Battle of Hoth, Star Wars Rebellion, Dungeons and Dragons, Karen the Game, Twilight Imperium 4

Support us:
https://www.patreon.com/shelfside
https://ko-fi.com/shelfside

Our Website!
https://www.shelfside.co/

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
https://amazon.com/shop/shelfside

Shelfside Social Media:
https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT
https://www.instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames/
https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/
https://discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62

Links to our other stuff:
Ashton's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu
Daniel's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2

#boardgames #tabletop #tabletopgames
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Star Wars: Battle of Hoth Review — Memoir 44 Strikes Back!

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside

💾

We review this tactical 1v1 fight between the Rebels and Empire! Battle of Hoth is an asymmetrical hex based war game that only takes 30 minutes too! You'll manage your hand and battlefield to get the most medals, rolling dice to resolve combats. With simple line of sight rules and a great presentation, does this have what it takes to be popular on BGG in 2025? After all, many of the old Memoir 44 rules are here, just tweaked to make the game even more streamlined. There's also a TON of replayability and depth with the campaigns and mini-campaigns! Did Days of Wonder do it again, or is this game simply not innovative enough?

Play Conquest for the Capital: https://www.mountainsoul.com.au/

Other games mentioned: Star Wars: Rebellion, Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game, Star Wars Unlimited, War for the Ring, Undaunted: Normandy

Table of Contents:
Overview - (0:00)
Conquest for the Capital - (1:00)
How to Play - (1:47)
Pros - (2:54)
Cons - (9:08)
Recommender Score - (15:13)
Ashton's Personal Score - (18:45)

Support us:
https://www.patreon.com/shelfside
https://ko-fi.com/shelfside

Our Website!
https://www.shelfside.co/

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
https://amazon.com/shop/shelfside

Shelfside Social Media:
https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT
https://www.instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames/
https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/
https://discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62

Links to our other stuff:
Ashton's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu
Daniel's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2

#boardgames #tabletop #review
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Heroes of Might & Magic: The Card Game ▸ Shelfside Plays

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside

💾

We engage in a 1v1 card duel to the death! This TCG by Archon Studios has players using their asymmetric decks (Castle vs Necropolis) to drop the enemy hero to 0 HP. Players will manage their hands of cards but also manage units on a grid battlefield, vying for control of locations that can give special abilities. There's powerful spells/artifacts and fun unit nuance including stacking! With Ashton controlling Adela the Cleric and Alex controlling Isra the Death Knight, who will win with these sample packs?

Play HoMM TCG: https://tinyurl.com/39wy9eb9

Table of Contents:
Intro/Overview - (0:00)
How to Play - (0:34)
Alex vs. Ashton - (2:11)

Support us:
https://www.patreon.com/shelfside
https://ko-fi.com/shelfside

Our Website!
https://www.shelfside.co/

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
https://amazon.com/shop/shelfside

Shelfside Social Media:
https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT
https://www.instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames/
https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/
https://discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62

Links to our other stuff:
Ashton's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu
Daniel's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2

Stuff Used:
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings — Track 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDcZXEMF84k

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings — Track 8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkOC5BnnXwU

Age of Empires 2: The Conquerors - Track 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jDWRC9_Gk0

Age of Empires 2: The Conquerors - Track 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BaShAjqNFE

Age of Empires 2: The Conquerors - Track 6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7fzvohmvsQ

Age of Empires 2: The Conquerors - Track 7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ed1G4I_UpE

Age of Empires II: The Conquerors — Track 8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JUdalWK-vI

Kevin MacLeod — Strength of the Titans
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?collection=047&page=0

Kevin MacLeod — Division
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?Search=Search&feels%5B%5D=Dark&feels%5B%5D=Driving&page=2

Kevin MacLeod — Big Drumming
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?collection=056&page=1

Kevin MacLeod — Southern Gothic
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?collection=027&page=0

Kevin MacLeod — Hiding Your Reality
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?collection=012&page=0

Kevin MacLeod — Unholy Knight
https://soundcloud.com/kevin-9-1/unholy-knight

Kevin MacLeod — Burnt Spirit
https://soundcloud.com/kevin-9-1/burnt-spirit

Kevin MacLeod — Grim Idol
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?collection=010&page=2

Kevin MacLeod — Study and Relax
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?Search=Search&isrc=USUAN1900030

#boardgames #tabletop #tabletopgames
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The most frustrating & nonsensical board game ever

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside

💾

The designer of Pictionary has apparently also made this disaster of a game. Thinkblot is a party board game where you're guessing shapes, then convincing others to also see it... but the mechanics are all completely off! Mattel published this game that looks exactly like a Rorschach test. In fact, the point scoring works in a way where the game just might not end sometimes. With pencil and paper, you're not even working in teams, and the specialization of rounds/turns are off. You might as well play another party game like Dixit or Telestrations! Even Last Word, with its vague rules, is better than this. Tom Vasel from the Dice Tower seems to agree a bit too.

Play Conquest for the Capital: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/mountainsoul-gaming/conquest-for-the-capital

Table of Contents:
Intro/Overview - (0:00)
Conquest for the Capital - (1:00)
How to Play - (1:47)
Pros - (2:50)
Cons - (2:58)
Recommender Score - (9:05)
Ashton's Personal Score - (12:55)

Support us:
https://www.patreon.com/shelfside
https://ko-fi.com/shelfside

Our Website!
https://www.shelfside.co/

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
https://amazon.com/shop/shelfside

Shelfside Social Media:
https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT
https://www.instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames/
https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/
https://discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62

Links to our other stuff:
Ashton's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu
Daniel's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2

#boardgames #tabletop #review
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World of Tanks: The Card Game ▸ Shelfside Plays

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside

💾

There is now a card game version of World of Tanks! This is a 1v1 duel to have the most tank power on the battlefield at the end of every round. You'll manage ammo and tank abilities within your asymmetric faction! There's actually positioning too into 5 different locations, so tank range matters. For these samples, we have German and American decks, with their own bases too! To get more ammo, you can create ammo depots by placing facedown cards.

Play World of Tanks TCG: https://archon-studio.com/shop/products/worlds-of-tanks-the-card-game

Table of Contents:
Intro/Overview - (0:00)
How to Play - (0:30)
USA vs. Germany Sample Decks - (3:26)
Unboxing - (20:05)
Testimonials/Outro - (25:31)

Support us:
https://www.patreon.com/shelfside
https://ko-fi.com/shelfside

Our Website!
https://www.shelfside.co/

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
https://amazon.com/shop/shelfside

Shelfside Social Media:
https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT
https://www.instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames/
https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/
https://discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62

Links to our other stuff:
Ashton's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu
Daniel's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2

Stuff Used:
Sascha Ende — Evacuation
https://ende.app/en/song/8118-evacuation

Sascha Ende — World of War (Instrumental)
https://ende.app/en/song/147-world-of-war-instrumental

Kevin MacLeod — Study and Relax
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z_Ecyh6e7A&list=RD5Z_Ecyh6e7A

Age of Empires 2 Soundtrack — Track 8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EemMCUiqA2c&list=RDEemMCUiqA2c

Kevin MacLeod — Anguish
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgyQ0nBJOvw&list=RDdgyQ0nBJOvw

Kevin MacLeod — Ancient Rite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEsPdLolA14&list=RDFEsPdLolA14

Age of Empires 2 Soundtrack — Track 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcY5s5FwZhM&list=RDEcY5s5FwZhM

Age of Empires 2 Soundtrack — Track 6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSFot1V684E&list=RDPSFot1V684E

Age of Empires 2 Soundtrack — Track 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK_BmWIDVdY&list=RDaK_BmWIDVdY

Age of Empires 2 Soundtrack — Track 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcY5s5FwZhM&list=RDEcY5s5FwZhM

#boardgames #tabletop #tabletopgames
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Secret Societies Prototype Review — Deep Euro Bidding!

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside

💾

If you wanted a Euro-driven bidding game with strong asymmetry, look no further! This Garpill Games' release has hand management of your bids as you seek to get the most power (victory points). You will collect sets of deeds (countries) and expand your income by filling in your player board! This game shares some similarities to entries like Hadrian's Wall, but has a LOT more interaction in comparison. Is this the auction game for you with variable set-up and a lot of really nice wooden tabletop pieces?

Play Secret Societies: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shem/garphill-games-secret-project?ref=1v4r7y

Table of Contents:
Overview - (0:00)
How to Play - (1:04)
Pros - (3:24)
Cons - (14:07)
Tentative Score - (20:07)
Ashton's Personal Score - (24:11)

Support us:
https://www.patreon.com/shelfside
https://ko-fi.com/shelfside

Our Website!
https://www.shelfside.co/

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
https://amazon.com/shop/shelfside

Shelfside Social Media:
https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT
https://www.instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames/
https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/
https://discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62

Links to our other stuff:
Ashton's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu
Daniel's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2

Stuff Used:
Kevin MacLeod — Local Forecast - Elevator
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgXYzF5-Yiw&list=RDFgXYzF5-Yiw&start_radio=1

#boardgames #tabletop #review
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50k Subscribers, now what?

✇Shelfside
Von: Shelfside

💾

Milestone achieved! But now with 50,000 subscribers, what are we to do? Publish more content of top 100 BGG games? Or make more comedic sketches? Or gamefound/kickstarter reviews? More Ti4 or Gloomhaven content? This video is a bit of a celebration of our success, and perhaps some directions for our loyal fans to follow...

Support us:
https://www.patreon.com/shelfside
https://ko-fi.com/shelfside

Our Website!
https://www.shelfside.co/

Purchase Games We’ve Reviewed! (Paid Link)
https://amazon.com/shop/shelfside

Shelfside Social Media:
https://twitter.com/ShelfSideYT
https://www.instagram.com/shelfsideboardgames/
https://www.facebook.com/ShelfsideYT/
https://discord.gg/U7QQKqYT62

Links to our other stuff:
Ashton's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/ashtonwu
Daniel's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/doyduh2

#boardgames #tabletop #tabletopgames
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