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Benjamin Macready

My name is Ben, and I am a Gold Standard NCTJ certified journalist. I specialise in pieces about gaming and the culture surrounding it. I believe that games, whether they are played digitally or on a tabletop, are unambiguously art. Games can tell branching stories that wouldn’t be possible in other mediums. I aim to document and critique them on their own terms.

Wargamer •

The Legends of Andor board game has nothing to do with Star Wars, but is less than $20 on Amazon

Legends of Andor is a 13 year old fantasy adventure board game, designed for families, that is currently on sale for under $20 on Amazon.Back in 2012, Kosmos published the cooperative strategy board game Legends of Andor. In this dice rolling fantasy adventure, players embark on a quest to save the titular kingdom of Andor. It has nothing to do with Roguish Star Wars rebel Cassian Andor, nor is it in any way related to the Hungarian economist László Andor. All the same, it's a solid time, partic...
Wargamer •

The Priciest Pokémon cards from Mega Evolution are dropping in value, but they still cost hundreds

Mega Lucario ex and Mega Gardevoir ex are very expensive Pokémon cards, but they're worth significantly less now then they were in October.When they first released, the Mega Hyper Rare cards from the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution expansion were absolutely unstoppable. Available in only, approximately, one in every 1,260 booster packs, any Mega Lucario ex, or Gardevoir ex cards in this stark yellow art treatment are worth significantly more than their weight in gold. Now, while these cards remain in...
Wargamer •

MTG designer Gavin Verhey goes to bat for Hybrid mana in Commander - but fans aren't sure

Gavin Verhey, a prominent Magic: the Gathering designer, has given his thoughts on the debate around hybrid mana, although the community seem unconvinced.The big discussion among Commander players in the Magic: the Gathering community at the moment is a proposed rules change involving hybrid mana. From Murderous Redcap, to Kitchen Finks, and Lurrus of the Dream-Den, there's no shortage of cards that feature this split symbol in their casting cost. Hybrid mana has been a part of the game since Ra...
Wargamer •

Borderlands board game boasts of badass boss battles

Gearbox Software's Borderlands series is a space western first-person shooter, where players merrily blast their way across the planet Pandora in search of vaults of alien tech. It has made the leap from screen to tabletop once before, back in 2023, with the release of Mister Torgue's Arena of Badassery. Now, another Borderlands board game is on the horizon, as Mister Torgue gets ready to open his arena once again.
The crowdfunding campaign for Mister Torgue's Arena of Badassery 2 went live on N...
Wargamer •

For some reason an upcoming MTG Final Fantasy event will reward promos of Yuna in a Wedding Dress

Yuna, Grand Summoner is a popular commander from the Magic: the Gathering Final Fantasy crossover set. As one of the commanders of the Counter Blitz Commander deck, Yuna encourages an aggressive +1/+1 counter based gameplan. Wargamer have already covered how she works awesomely when used alongside Saga creatures. Well, now she'll also be working alongside a spouse, apparently, as Wizards of the Coast have printed a new version of the card wearing a wedding dress.
From December 5th to December 11...
Wargamer •

Meme song from Avatar referenced by an unblockable MTG land

The card Secret Tunnel in the new MTG Avatar expansion is unblockable, but can't turn itself into a creature, how are you meant to use it?Magic: the Gathering contains plenty of unblockable creatures. Typically printed in blue, cards like Invisible Stalker and Phantom Warrior have been nuisances for years, as it's very difficult to stop their attacks from slipping through. The upcoming Avatar: the Last Airbender expansion is printing a new unblockable card, but rather than being a creature, it's...
Wargamer •

Hold onto hope in this Dystopian Christmas solo board game

Archives of the Fallen World is a print and play board game that invites players to preserve knowledge in the midst of a bleak war.Board Games are a great group activity that can really bring friends together. Sometimes, though, you just want to pour yourself a nice warm mug of cocoa, snuggle up in bed, and enjoy a nice single-player experience. Archives of the Fallen World is a Christmas game, but it definitely isn't a cozy one. Set in a fictitious war-torn Eastern European town, the game enabl...
Wargamer •

Figurines with iconic Pokémon 151 artwork to be released… in China

It's safe to say that Pokémon 151 is one of the most beloved sets in the history of the Pokémon TCG. It was a tremendous success, even by the high standards of a card game where stock frequently sells out during preorders. Now, a series of figurines is being released that promise to bring the artwork of Pokémon 151 into 3D. These figures lovingly recreate the images that inspired them, and they're even available for a pretty low price. Unfortunately, they're only due to come out in China.
 
The...
Wargamer •

Controversial MTG card reprinted on the Avatar bonus sheet

Dockside Extortionist will be coming back again, with new cartoon screenshot artwork, once the Avatar set releases later this month.Dockside Extortionist is one of the most powerful red two-drops in Magic: the Gathering. This greedy goblin generates a treasure token for every artifact and enchantment controlled by opponents when it enters play. The card was so infamously strong in multiplayer Magic that it was banned from Commander in September 2024. Dockside Extortionist has just been reprinted...
Wargamer •

Price of Mega Latias ex box gradually trending down, but still $10 higher than MSRP

The Mega Latias ex box is growing cheaper, but is still difficult to find at the $21.99 price tag recommended by the Pokémon Company.It can be very difficult to secure Pokémon TCG products for their manufacturer's suggested retail price, or "MSRP". Pokémon cards are incredibly popular and often sell out during the pre-order period. The Mega Latias ex box is just one more example of a hyper popular Pokémon product that's difficult to find for a good rate. Its listed price in online markets has co...
Wargamer •

Board game about taxing the rich review bombed both ways

The board game geek page for the Norwegian card game Tax the Rich has become split as masses of positive and negative reviews pile up.Tax the Rich is a trick-taking board game published by Alion Games, who are also known for Sparks, and Gardlings.  It's due to release in several European countries later this month, but no US publication date has currently been announced. The Board Game Geek page for this taxation-based trick-taker has become deeply divided, with massive numbers of both positive...
EDHREC •

The 10 Most Popular Cards From Shadowmoor Block | EDHREC

Mystic GateMystic Gate | Art by Fred FieldsA fortnight ago, we took a trip down the omenpaths and remembered the 10 most popular cards from Lorwyn block. Now The Great AuroraThe Great Aurora is shining in the sky, and the world is inverting. The idyllic glades and sunny vistas of Lorwyn and Morningtide are morphing into the moonlit haunts and murky darkness of Shadowmoor and Eventide.While Lorwyn block had a typal theme, Shadowmoor was a bit more abstract. Cards in these two sets care about hybr...
Wargamer •

We uncover a treasure trove of D&D history with TTRPG researcher Shannon Appelcline

Shannon Appelcline talks to us about Dungeons and Designers: Origins, his series that tracks D&D’s transformation from a passion project into an international juggernaut.Shannon Appelcline is an ENNIE award winning historian of tabletop roleplaying games. He's authored books on RPGs of all kinds, from the star spanning Sci-Fi epic Traveller, to the eldritch Lovecraftian horror game Call of Cthulu. His latest project documents the early history of Dungeons and Dragons. Appelcline has already writ...
Wargamer •

Price of rare Master Ball Umbreon has tumbled into the double digits

Master Ball Umbreon from Primsatic Evolutions was once an unbelievably hyped chase card, now, its value has taken a dramatic dip, as the interest of players has waned.The Eeveelutions have to be some of the most popular Pokémon out there. Eevee is incredibly adorable, and it can evolve into one of seven fantastic new forms, and also into Flareon. Because of the popularity of Eevee and its evolutions, Pokémon TCG cards that feature them tend to be worth a pretty penny. The Master Ball treatment o...
Wargamer •

TTRPG historian tells us "Dungeons & Dragons is responding to the rest of the industry more than it ever has"

We talk with RPG researcher Shannon Appelcline, who gives us his perspective on D&D's role as the world's biggest TTRPG, and how the industry has changed over time.When it comes to tabletop roleplaying games, Dungeons and Dragons is easily the biggest name in town. There are more D&D supplements out there you can shake a +1 greatclub at, it was on Stranger Things, and Critical Role has drawn huge numbers of people towards the game. With that said, there are also plenty of fantastic small RPGs ou...
SUPERJUMP •

Skygard Arena Review

Whatever else Skygard Arena may be, it’s undoubtedly ambitious. It aims to unify the character diversity of a MOBA, like League of Legends, with the turn-based tactical combat of something like XCOM. The game doesn’t quite succeed in reaching its loftiest ambitions, but it makes a valiant attempt.

Skygard Arena is the debut title from French studio Gemelli Games. For a small team, they’re attempting a pretty vast undertaking here in creating a potential eSport. Players can build teams featuring...
Wargamer •

Grab this god bothering, mythological board game at a solid 50% discount

Who wants to learn a bit of Latin? Well, 'Deus' means god, which is appropriate because the board game Deus is a game all about Romans worshipping their gods. I mean, it's mostly about conquering a map and slaying 'barbarians', but there's some temple building, and making offerings to Jupiter, mixed in as well. Godlier still: you can currently get it on Amazon for $30 - 50% off the off the typical $60 asking price!
Deus is a tableau building strategic war board game. As the turns go by, you'll g...
Wargamer •

Upcoming Zacian Pokémon card will be strong… But only during the Phantasmal Flames prerelease

The new Pokémon TCG Zacian card from Phantasmal Flames looks ready to dish out huge damage at the prerelease before fading into obscurity.The prerelease for the next Pokémon TCG set, Phantasmal Flames, is fast approaching. Starting on November 1st, Pokémon Trainers looking to get early access to all of the Charizardy goodness of this fiery new expansion will be able to crack open Phantasmal Flames Build & Battle Boxes and take part in a prerelease tournament. Thanks to a unique quirk of the way...
Wargamer •

Reality Fracture won't merge MTG with other IPs, or feature triple-sided cards, but it will do something unknown and new

The MTG set Reality Fracture won't be out for a year, but Wizards of the Coast have made big promises about what it will and won't change.There's a lot of mystery and hype surrounding the upcoming Magic: the Gathering set Reality Fracture. While the release of Reality Fracture is still a long way away (it's not scheduled to come out until October 2026) Wizards of the Coast is making big claims about the Magic: the Gathering multiverse changing forever. There have also been a few misconceptions t...
Wargamer •

MTG Edge of Eternities card price spikes 474% thanks to plague slinging Legacy deck

Eumidian Hatchery, a land from one of the Edge of Eternities commander precons, has seen a dramatic price rise thanks to a new legacy deck.Legacy is one of Magic: the Gathering's strangest formats. Since almost nothing is off the table, all manner of chaotic strategies run rampant. There are Doomsday decks that exile themselves, reanimator decks that resurrect the strongest creatures in the game's history, and some decks that don't even bother to run lands. At the North America Eternal Weekend i...
Wargamer •

Full art Mythical Pokémon from Mega Evolution steadily dropping in price

Marshadow 146/132 from the Mega Evolution expansion has continued to drop in price, over several weeks despite being its mythical status.Marshadow, the Gloomdweller Pokémon, is one of the rarest finds from generation VII. It's not possible to obtain it in the digital games without downloading it via an exclusive event. In the Pokémon TCG, this shadowy lurker emerged from the darkness in the Mega Evolution expansion. Marshadow 146/132 is an elusive Illustration Rare card. Despite some initial hyp...
Wargamer •

Winnie the Pooh detective game now in development?

CrowD Games have announced a board game, that will be releasing in November, where Winnie the Pooh and friends become serious detectives. Thanks to the US copyright on the original Winnie the Pooh story expiring in January 2022, several enterprising creatives have attempted to use the character to tell new tales. We can all grimly recall the two Blood and Honey horror films that reimagined the adorable bear as a fluffy yellow Jason Voorhees. Now, CrowD Games (the publisher of En Route and Barrag...
Wargamer •

Get 25% off a cult hit solo board game, crammed full of charming pixel art

Puzzle Dungeon is a solitaire dungeon crawler made by a solo developer, and it's currently 25% off for the entirety of October via Etsy.Dungeons can contain all sorts of nasty surprises, from dragons, to mimics, to deadly traps - and sometimes, they're just loaded up with puzzles. Puzzle Dungeon is a solo dungeon crawler board game with gorgeous pixel art and a very strong 7.8 rating on Board Game Geek, and for the whole of October you can get it for 25% off its already affordable base price.
In...
SUPERJUMP •

Stewpots and Space Travel: An Interview With Takuma Okada

Takuma Okada is a tabletop game designer based in Portland, Oregon. Going by the title “No Road Home” on itch.io, Okada has been designing games about identity, isolation, and exploration since 2018. Their works include Stewpot: Tales from a Fantasy Tavern, a game about retired adventurers settling down and opening up a pub, which has been nominated for the 2025 ENNIE award for “Best Family Game”. They also created the Alone series, a selection of three solo-journaling games about exploring wond...
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