Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, by Blizzard Entertainment

Hearthstone is a collectable card game played entirely online, produced by Blizzard and similar to the World of Warcraft CCG, but with various features only possible in an online environment. Hearthstone is free to play on the computer (Mac or PC) or on the iPad, and while you can pay for things in game, it’s easily possible to be competitive and enjoy the game without ever spending a penny – I know, I’ve done it!

It’s not as deep or intricate as other CCG’s (like Magic: the Gathering), and it doesn’t offer the same visceral pleasure of buying and opening packs at your Friendly Local Game Store, but Hearthstone is a perfect mix of a compelling game, elegant design, beautiful graphics, and a top-notch interface that’s redefining online games. I feel about this game like I did when I saw The Matrix for the first time: “Whoa.” This is something new, something that’s raised the bar.

If you’ve got an internet connection and a few hours to burn, go download Hearthstone and give the tutorial a try. It’s like traveling to Italy or eating some great Thai food… I can explain why it’s great (and I will after the jump) but to truly understand it, you have to do it for yourself.

(Bonus: I’m posting a short Q&A with Phillip Jenne, competitive HS player and co-designer of NOVUS, at the end of this review. Enjoy!)

Under Two Reviews #5: Among the Stars by Vangelis Bagiartakis

"Under Two Reviews" is a weekly video series in which we take a look at tabletop games and present them to our readers in under two minutes.

Drafting games sometimes have a disconnect between the theme and the gameplay. This is a drafing game where the cards you draft are interesting things that become part of a space station. In outer space. Which is a better place for a space station than Newark. Come learn more in our review video. It'll be quick, I promise.

Enjoy the video after the jump!

Dead Panic, by Justin De Witt

You’re in a Cabin in the Woods^TM and the zombies are closing in. From your living room window you can see their slow, groping strides as they emerge from the forest that surrounds you. Somewhere out there, a rescue van provides relief for those souls lucky enough to have working radios… but all you have are wits, weapons, and a wish for survival. Can you hold back the horde long enough to piece your radio back together, and call for the ride that will SAVE YOUR LIFE?

Dead Panic puts you in that cabin, destined to live another day or die as dinner for the undead. Choose your role, act quickly, and try to outlast your neighbors – but make sure you work together well enough to survive.

The Resistance, by Don Eskridge

In a world ravaged by greed, devastated by natural disasters, and conquered by corporate monsters, a small team of brave revolutionaries dare to work against powerful, terrible forces. This incredible squad of women and men seek only one thing - retribution for the damage done by those who hold power. They are The Resistance and they work to make the world safe for you and I…

…but even in this elite group, treachery lurks within the ranks. Those they trust most to carry out these missions are destined to betray them at the critical moment, and yet they still believe victory – freedom! - is just a few short days away…

Under Two Reviews #4: Double Feature! Snake Oil and Channel A

"Under Two Reviews" is a weekly video series in which we take a look at tabletop games and present them to our readers in under two minutes.

Party Games are a great way to have fun when you have many players, and some of them are really good at getting people talking and sometimes even laughing together. But game reviews are a serious business, you won't find any clever jokes in this video where we showcase two Party Games that are quite similar. Or maybe you will. Either way, it'll be quick, I promise.

Enjoy the video after the jump!

Under Two Reviews #3: Cleopatra and the Society of Architechs

 "Under Two Reviews" is a weekly video series in which we take a look at tabletop games and present them to our readers in under two minutes.

Did you know that it's hard to build a temple? Well, maybe that's not entirely true. It's just pretty hard to build a temple better than your other players without stooping to corruption. That's what this video is about. Watch it, and learn all about building temples and getting fed to crocodiles. It'll be quick, I promise.

Enjoy the video after the jump!

Under Two Reviews #2 - Gravwell: Escape the 8th Dimension, by Corey Young

"Under Two Reviews" is a weekly video series in which we take a look at tabletop games and present them to our readers in under two minutes.

Gravwell: Escape the 8th Dimension is a really long name for a game. For health and safety reasons, we're going to shorten the name to "Gravwell" But only for a little while!
Rather than tell you that it's a game about using your opponents moves to get ahead, how about we show you instead? It'll be quick. I promise.

Enjoy the video after the jump!