The Palworld Trading Card Game team has apologized for poor Dawn of Palpagos availability, but more stock is apparently on the way.

It's no secret that the Palworld TCG is fiendishly difficult to get your hands on right now as unprecedented demand and scalpers make enjoying the Pokemon rival next to impossible. Cards are already selling for up to $4,000, and things aren't getting easier after the arrival of the game's first expansion, Dawn of Palpagos. However, fans shouldn't give up hope. In a post on Twitter/X, the team promises that "additional stock is already on the way, and we are currently planning a 2nd Edition print run to ensure more players can get their hands on the game."

There isn't a timeline for this wave yet, but more details will apparently be available soon.

The question is, how will the developers mark out the 2nd Edition print run? While giving these cards a clear demarcation rewards early adopters (AKA not resellers) who were able to find stock with a one-of-a-kind collectors' item, it also encourages resellers to keep at it on the likes of eBay or even Walmart. Plus, it drives up the cost of the first edition whilst simultaneously allowing resellers to do it all again with the second.

If these new cards are identical to the originals, though, it totally steals the wind from resellers' sails – it's hard to control the market with inflated prices if there's a sudden influx available to everyone at a reasonable cost. I doubt it'll happen that way, but c'mon... let me have this one.

Until we get those new cards, we've put together a guide on where to buy Palworld TCG sets. It's chock-full of advice on which stores to prioritize and the ones to avoid.

Speaking of resellers, they are currently charging up to $100 for empty Pokemon Krispy Kreme boxes, and I'd love to be able to say I'm surprised.

• See all available Palworld TCG packs at Walmart

Trick-taking games are enjoying a moment in the tabletop space right now, with several top games exploring cooperative trick-taking elements. Typically, trick-taking games are highly dependent on the draw of the cards. Some games have ways to mitigate weak hands, but very few games can totally negate the power of a strong hand. For better or worse, luck remains a key element of the trick-taking genre, no matter what the surrounding rules are.

Crits & Tricks doesn’t shy away from the randomness and luck of trick-takers. However, players are ultimately left to build their own luck. Players combine a hand of cards that represent suit only and couple them with differently sized dice. Each suit has its own win condition, meaning that rolling low at the start of the game isn’t necessarily a game-ender. Plus, if you’re unhappy with the value of a die, you can always play it and choose to re-roll it, giving you a second chance to change your luck.

Although chance plays a big role in Crits & Tricks, the game invites players to constantly test their luck for better or ill.

Crits & Tricks features & design

Crits & Tricks is a combination card and dice game that wears its Dungeons & Dragons influences on its sleeve. Each player has a set of dice from D&D and the best tabletop RPGs ranging in size from a D4 to a D20, which they will roll at the start of the round. Each player also has a miniature screen reminiscent of a DM Screen that they use to obscure their unplayed dice from other players.

The Crits & Tricks game deck consists of six different suits of cards, four of which will be used in every game. Each suit is named after a different D&D class and two sets of rules – one dictating their CRIT ability and one dictating the suit’s win condition when played to lead the round. Critically, only the CRIT ability is displayed on the card, so players will have to remember the suits’ win conditions or refer to their DM screen. One suit – the Bard – will always be used, but the other three suits can either be chosen at random or deliberately selected to create different gameplay variations.

In addition to the individual dice and the shared suit of cards, players will also use a deck of quest cards and a set of four barkeep challenges. The quest cards are individual challenges that players can try to complete for points and range from collecting a specific number of cards for a specific suit to avoiding certain cards for the entire round. Some quests can be completed during a round of play and can immediately be turned in for points. Other quests require the full round to play out. The barkeep challenges represent an additional win condition that all players can complete for additional points.

Victory points are represented via loot, which comes in the form of both coins and various magic items. Collecting a magic item doesn’t result in additional benefits, but they’re more fun to collect than a standard stack of coins.

Each round lasts six tricks, with players collecting loot throughout play and at the end of the round. The game lasts for three rounds, and the player with the most loot ultimately wins the game.

Gameplay

Anyone who’s ever played a trick-taking game will understand the basics of Crits & Tricks. Your general goal in Crits & Tricks is to score the most loot, which is collected by winning tricks and completing quests. Some quests are counter-intuitive to winning tricks, such as playing a D4 dice with a specific suit of cards, so it’s highly unlikely that a player will be motivated to win every trick. Of course, the various values of the dice and the variable win conditions for tricks makes it highly unlikely that a player will win every trick anyways, but sometimes it makes more sense to “lose” a trick to complete a quest because it nets more loot.

At the start of each round, players “summon their strength” by rolling all of their dice behind the screens. Once a dice is rolled, its value is fixed until it is played. However, when the dice is played is left up to the player. Because of the variable win conditions (which reward high values, low values, and even second-highest values), there’s not necessarily a poor set of dice rolls, depending on the suits active during a game. Once everyone rolls dice, four quests are dealt to each player. Every player selects a quest and then passes the remaining quests to the player next to them. This draft selection continues until each player has four quests. Then gameplay starts, with the lead player either being the player with the most loot or the player that rolled the highest on an initiative-determining D20 roll.

From there, gameplay largely plays out as any trick-taking game would with a couple of key differences. For one, when a player chooses what card to play, they also select a dice and play it on top of the card. If they don’t like the value of their dice for some reason, they can choose to re-roll it and have to take the new result. The lead suit determines the win condition – the Barbarian wants the highest dice value, while the Rogue wants the lowest value. Wizards want a value closest to 5, while Druids want the second-highest value. Paladins want the highest value, but only of whatever dice type was played by the lead player. As a wild card, Bards have no specific win condition but instead take the win condition of whatever card they’re meant to represent.

In addition to choosing what card and what dice to play, players can also choose to activate a CRIT ability. Each player can activate up to two CRIT abilities during a round of play. Some CRIT abilities increase or decrease dice values, force other players to re-roll dice, or guarantee a win during a tie. My personal favorite CRIT ability is the Wizard’s Transmute ability, which allows you to swap a player’s current dice with another dice they’ve already played. This allows a player to really maximize a well-rolled dice.

I also like the decision that comes from activating CRIT abilities. They are pulled out of a player’s hand, ultimately removing a card from future play. Not only does a player need to decide when they play a CRIT ability, they also need to decide whether to play a CRIT ability at all, as it ultimately limits their future options on hands. Playing a CRIT ability early might mean they can no longer have the suit they need for a future hand.

Should you buy Crits & Tricks?

Crits & Tricks uses the trappings of a trick-taking game to hide something that involves lots of quick decisions and strategy. Players aren’t really limited by their hand or dice results. Since players score more points by completing quests rather than taking tricks, it’s all about figuring out what plays will net players the most amount of loot in any given round.

The downside to Crits & Tricks is that there are a lot of moving parts, all of which can make a mess of properly preparing a strategy. A CRIT ability can be negated by another player’s counter, and of course there are times where you simply don’t have the lead suit, which automatically eliminates you from a win. There’s no such thing as a dominant hand in Crits & Tricks, but players can easily be prevented from implementing their strategy, which can lead to them scrounging for loot throughout a round.

Crits & Trick is also a fast-paced game, lasting only three rounds, so players who simply don’t have luck on their size can play another game pretty quickly without much problem. I like that gameplay can differ greatly based on which suits are selected for a deck, and I could see future expansions adding new suits into play without much difficulty or cost. Overall, Crits & Tricks combines strategy and luck in a very satisfying way, making for a game that tests both.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

This review was conducted using a product sample provided by the publisher.

For more recommendations on what to play next, be sure to check out the best board games or the best tabletop RPGs.

Two new Discworld board games are inbound, and one of them gives a fan-favorite a Terry Pratchett-inspired makeover.

Revealed by developer Modiphius Entertainment (which is also responsible for the Discworld TTRPG), 'Kill Sam Vimes' and 'Readers Digested' allow players to mess with some of the setting's most beloved characters. While the first sees you attempting to outscore your rivals and murder the eponymous City Watch Commander, the second reimagines award-nominee Blue Moon City by legendary designer Reiner Knizia. Both Discworld board games will be available to pre-order soon.

Originally released in 2006, Blue Moon City sees you rebuilding a destroyed fantasy metropolis and was a nominee for numerous honors when it first launched - including the coveted Spiel des Jahres, which is arguably the industry's most prestigious award. Readers Digest is a licenced reworking of the idea that shifts the action to Ankh-Morpork's Unseen University. Players work as assistant librarians to restore order during chaotic reading week, and they've got to escort students to the exam hall. It's made for two to four players and will take approximately an hour per match.

Meanwhile, Kill Sam Vimes is a competitive strategy game for two to six players where you work as a trainee assassin to outsmart both Vimes' traps and your opponents.

Knizia is something of a legend amongst the tabletop community with plenty of awards to his name (one of his most recent projects was the excellent Hobbit: There and Back Again roll and write game, which you can find for just under $40 at Amazon), so the fact that Readers Digested adapts his work is enough to put it on the radar so far as I'm concerned. If you missed the original Blue Moon City, this is also an opportunity to try a game that is still warmly received amongst the community 20 years after it first hit shelves.

It's unclear when the two Discworld board games will release, but they'll be up for pre-order via Modiphius from August 20, 2026.

Speaking of new ways to enjoy old favorites, this Disney Lorcana digital game sounds like a cross between MTG Arena and Pokemon TCG Pocket.

• See all Discworld offers at Amazon

A digital version of the Disney Lorcana trading card game is on the way, and it's being joined by a host of new sets for the classic tabletop version.

Unveiled over the weekend at D23 (Disney's biennial fan event where it reveals new info on movies, products, and theme parks), the Disney Lorcana digital game will be playable on mobile and desktop via an app. While details are scarce right now, it sounds as though this may be similar to MTG Arena and Pokemon TCG Pocket.

Regarding the project, publisher Ravensburger's Head of trading card games Elaine Chase says that "our mission in the Ravensburger TCG studio is to reach as many Disney fans as possible with our amazingly hand-crafted artwork and attention to storytelling detail. By allowing fans to experience each Disney Lorcana TCG card wherever they are logged in, I’m positive even more Disney fans will want to jump into one of the most open communities in all of gaming."

That was just one announcement of many, though; before Disney Lorcana hits our screens, it'll be adding plenty of new cards via a trio of expansions due to launch toward the end of 2026 and early in 2027, following on from the current set (Attack of the Vine, which you can order now from Amazon). I've rounded up everything you need to know about these sets below, they range from an all-new city "where metro meets fantasy" to a trip around the cosmos. We're also getting an in-universe lorebook this September, a visual guide to the world of Lorcana in 2027, the debut of Collector Booster packs, a brand-new rarity, and a Curator's Collection line with special artwork.

Here's everything announced for Disney Lorcana at D23.

"We've learned a lot from the fan reaction," MTG The Hobbit designers say as they battle dwarves and narrative constraints. Meanwhile, Palworld TCG devs "sincerely apologize" as unprecedented demand and scalpers make enjoying the Pokemon rival next to impossible.

• See all the latest Disney Lorcana sets at Amazon

The Ogor Mawtribes were always seen as endearing yet dumb murderhobos with very little brains but enough raw power to make anyone regret pointing that out. And with the new 2026 range, they… well, they're still endearingly dumb murderhobos. However, they finally look the part and have killer rules to match killer appetites. I'm not sure how the faction went decades without an overhaul, but I'm sure glad we have one now – it really does the army justice.

Wondering whether this is the right force for you? I've been able to get my hands on the entire Ogor Mawtribes range ahead of time, so have broken down how every single new unit/hero works here… including what it's like to build them. When paired with the recent Army Set (which won me over with how foul it was), these models should create one of the hardest-hitting melee-focused Warhammer Age of Sigmar armies out there.

Note: While you can pre-order these models straight from Warhammer, you can get a discount if you go to indie stores like Miniature Market in the US and Wayland Games in the UK. They typically offer between 10-15% off all new Warhammer models, including the refreshed Ogor Mawtribes range. (If they haven't appeared yet, give it time – they should drop soon.)

Morga the Mighty/Tyrant on Glutthorn

As "Overtyrant" of the largest Ogor Mawtribes clan, it may not come as a surprise that Morga gets one of the most impressive miniatures in the range. It's an imposing model that will make all but the most foolhardy nervous, and it has stats to back up the brawn. Besides being able to deal out wounds with ease, this is a leader with the ability to buff troops while stubbornly clinging to life thanks to a healing mechanic.

Not that you have to make Morga. This kit also builds a generic Tyrant warlord on a Glutthorn, and because I like to give my armies a personality of their own, that's the option I chose. It's just as intimidating; if anything, I think it may be fiercer.

Build

• Complexity: Moderate
• Build time: 30-40mins
• Customization: Two possible builds

This is one of the most time-consuming projects of the range, and it's the biggest single miniature too. That makes it relatively complex, but not so bad as to cause a headache. I've definitely had worse, and so far as cavalry goes, it's plain sailing.

Gameplay

So far as leaders go, this is a very respectable choice if you value smacking your foe as hard as possible – e.g. the true Ogor way. For starters, Morga and her Glutthorn can make a real mess of foes with wounds on a 2+ roll… and that's ignoring her ability to eat one foe from a unit during combat if she rolls higher than the target's health. When combined with her ability to buff nearby warriors and stay the course thanks to some cheeky regeneration (she recovers D3 wounds if she killed a model with combat attacks), Morga demonstrates why she's the boss.

As for the Tyrant variant, it lacks the same special abilities but still deals one hell of a punch in combat. Additionally, it can help your Ogors make their charges with a reroll. However, I'd still recommend choosing Morga unless you particularly want a unique warlord like I did.

Redd the Maw

Even though this guy isn't the leader of the army (Redd the Maw is their high priest, for want of a better word), he's by far and away the coolest model. Actually, I'd argue he's the Ogor range's showstopper piece; it's ambitious and complex enough to draw all eyes to it on the tabletop, even if Morga the Mighty is accompanying your force. He can also urge your troops into ever-greater acts of violence, so is the perfect choice if you value your heroes more for how they interact with your army than how nasty their attacks are.

Build

• Complexity: Moderate
• Build time: 45-50mins
• Customization: None

As the most complicated-looking model, I was expecting Redd the Maw to be a real pain in the butt – yet he's surprisingly straightforward. With the exception of certain pieces like the cauldron legs that require some jimmying to fit, everything else is labelled clearly, is easy to understand, and goes together beautifully.

Gameplay

If Morga is your "lead from the front while smashing everything in sight" kinda leader, Redd is more of a quarterback. Despite being able to deal a lot of damage in his own right, his value comes from how he's able to get more from your rank and file. Alongside a passive ability that provides them with greater Ward saves, he allows any unit in 12 inches to use the (very useful) "Eat 'em Alive" power at any time rather than at the end of a turn. In addition, he can cast a spell that either lets your Ogors move D3+3 inches out of sequence or deal D3 Mortal damage while in combat before healing D3.

Because Redd doesn't have an option to heal like Morga does, you'll want to keep him on the fringes of combat rather than in the thick of it.

Grell Firefist

As one of the smaller heroes, you may be tempted to overlook Grell – but that'd be a mistake. Besides boasting a unique, pirate-themed design that really differentiates her from the crowd, as does her ranged attacks and a mechanic that lets you counteract enemy commands. A great choice if you feel your army lacks ranged oomph, in other words.

Build

• Complexity: Low
• Build time: 10mins
• Customization: None

This one came together pretty quickly, and while there were some tricky bits like the gear hanging from her belt sash, it wasn't too bad overall. Grell made a welcome respite from the more complicated models in the Ogor Mawtribes range.

Gameplay

Grell stands out by virtue of using a dirty great cannon to blast her foes rather than relying on melee like most other Ogors. That gives her a unique position in the army as a result, and it's only strengthened by the opportunity to increase your cannon's attacks if you focus on a single unit.

Personally, I love her "Oi, Pay Attention, Slobs!" power that forces you to damage a nearby unit for D3 within three inches but also stop an enemy command dead in its tracks. This represents her hard-won knowledge of other factions' tactics from being a mercenary, so it's great flavor as well as being useful.

Butcher

If you want an example of what makes the Ogors different from the similarly violent-minded Orruks, just look at the Butcher. This hero is a cross between a chef and a wizard, combining the two ideas into one foul synergy. It's not the most useful champion in the range, but provides a helpful buff to your army that shouldn't be passed up.

Build

• Complexity: Low
• Build time: 10 mins
• Customization: Alternate head option

This was the first Ogor Mawtribes model I made for the new range, and it was one of the easiest. I put it together almost on autopilot, which goes to show how easy it was to make.

Gameplay

The Butcher isn't gonna come close to fellow magic-wielding heroes like Redd the Maw, but it does provide a very diluted version of the same experience. Namely, it's able to provide troops with a better Ward save if it successfully rolls 3+.

True to the theme of it being a gastro-wizard, it also becomes more dangerous the more it kills. If it destroys an enemy unit, it gains an extra power level for the rest of the match.

Cleavers/Gutseers

While I like the Cleavers, I'm far keener on the mysterious, hooded Gutseers – I think these chef-shamans are my favorite models of the range. No matter which one you choose to make, they're very useful to Ogor generals; they either use nearby wizards to boost their combat prowess (Cleavers) or act as conduits for your spellcasters (Gutseers).

Build

• Complexity: Moderate
• Build time: 25mins
• Customization: One of two unit types

No matter which version you choose to build, these models are more complicated to make than your average Gluttons… as is only right for their elite status. When I made the Gutseers, I found there was a bit of fiddliness here. Fortunately, things slotted together nicely even if I wasn't sure how they connected at first.

Gameplay

The version you choose depends on what you need in your army. Do you want a unit that can pack a punch and serve as anti-wizard elites? Go for the Cleavers. They get Crit (2 Hits) and/or Crit (Mortal) if close to spellcasters on a 3+ roll, so actively become more dangerous in proximity to magic.

Want to boost the power of your own mages? Choose the Gutseers. Besides boosting a wizard's casting roll by one if within 12 inches, they can also be used as a conduit for casting spells – thereby letting you take advantage of even greater range.

Hunters with Saberfangs

Yes, I know they look really damn cool. They're valuable additions to any Ogor army too. But hold up just a second. These guys are a nightmare to make, so even though I'd say they're worth it, be aware that getting them on side is a trial in itself.

Build

• Complexity: High
• Build time: 40mins
• Customization: Alternate heads

This unit was by far the most complex to make, and honestly, I don't know why there had to be so many small fiddly bits. It's not entirely clear where pieces go based on the pictures so you'll end up guessing, and even when you get it right things slide around at first rather than staying securely in place. It's a frustrating build that I didn't enjoy.

Well, apart from the Saberfangs. They were easy, and very good bois.

Gameplay

Once you've got these warriors built, you're laughing. As well as being one of the few ranged units in the Ogor Mawtribes army, they're superb anti-monster/anti-cavalry choices that have a very tasty mechanic that allows them to redeploy… ideally behind enemy lines.

Plus, those Saberfangs are nasty. If a unit charged your Hunters, you can roll two dice per Saberfang. On a 3+ the Saberfangs inflict a Mortal damage.

Looking for something else to play this summer? Be sure to check out our guide to the best board games, or the best tabletop RPGs.

• See the latest Warhammer Age of Sigmar deals at Amazon

Palworld stock is incredibly difficult to get hold of right now, but there are some Set 01 pieces in play. Whether you slept on pre-orders or you're only just hearing of the Palworld TCG, grabbing a regular-priced booster pack or box is going to prove particularly difficult right now. Those wondering where to buy Palworld TCG, though, have two spots to hit.

In the US, Walmart is the only retailer with physical cards on the shelves, though it should be noted these prices are looking pretty inflated and come from third party marketplace sellers. It's important to check who you're actually buying from here, and whether their reviews stack up.

In the UK, Magic Madhouse is the only store with Pals in tow. The site is out of stock on booster packs and bundles, but has the Red / Blue Trial Deck on the shelves. Again, this is at a higher price than you'd find at RRP.

We're still waiting on a number of retailers to receive their Palworld TCG stock. Amazon is the most notable in both the US and UK, after many assumed the online giant would receive early shipments in plenty of time. Amazon regularly stocks new Pokemon, One Piece, and MTG releases from launch, protected from resellers by an invite-only system in many cases. It's well worth keeping an eye here in your hunt to buy Palworld TCG then.

US stock

UK stock

FAQ

We're also showing you where to buy the Pokemon 30th Anniversary Collection and where to buy Pokemon TCG Pitch Black.

Palworld recently saw the release of its very own Pokemon-style trading card game, and it's going as well as one might expect – so well, that it's sold out practically everywhere.

And, you know – scalpers. Lots and lots of scalpers, with some cards having gone up for a whopping $4,000 thanks to resellers. So, as is the case with Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, and many other TCG experiences out there, legitimately getting to collect, play, and trade the Palworld spin-off is proving no easy feat.

Producer Bushiroad is well aware of this and is addressing it, as revealed in a new post (as translated by Automaton, DeepL, and Google).

The creators of the TCG first "sincerely apologize" to fans who have been waiting to play the tabletop Palworld game, explaining that they're experiencing a "continued shortage of stock" and are "internally discussing" how to get the cards into the hands of more eager players.

Although they don't have any specific restock dates to share just yet, it sounds like we'll get an update when they have one ready – whenever that might be in the "near future."

Bushiroad thanks fans for their dedication and patience, concluding that they look forward to continued support.

As for the Japanese release of Dawn of Palpagos (which has also been sold out), the producer's got a new shipment coming to pop-up stores today. These will be sold without any shrink wrap, likely to counter scalpers and resellers hoping to snag the set to post it online for, erm, much higher than its retail value.

Honestly, while I'm not surprised that the Palworld TCG is going the way it is (I mean, we do have Pokemon as an example, don't we?), I'm glad its producer is on the case and seems to actively be pushing back against scalpers.

The tabletop market is a tough enough one to crack as it is, with many retail-value products selling for a lot even before they're picked up by resellers. It's a tale as old as time, anyway.

Palworld lead tells fans they "simply do not realize the sheer number of collabs we've rejected" because they didn't make sense for the survival game

Is it possible to buy Pokemon TCG 30th Celebration cards? Absolutely. Is it easy? Absolutely not. I'd go so far as to sat it's difficult to find stock for the latest set, not to mention at a reasonable price. However, I don't suppose that's surprising. As a commemoration of the last few decades for one of the most popular card games around, there's a lot of anticipation surrounding the expansion. Everyone wants a piece.

That's why I'm tracking down all the stock I can find for this hard-to-get release. I've spent a long time monitoring availability for the best card games so have plenty of advice on where to buy Pokemon TCG 30th Celebration if you don't want to break the bank. More specifically, I've listed my go-to stores below. Even though they still struggle with inflated costs, they're your best shot at securing cards at the most reasonable rate.

No matter what, just move quickly; these packs are highly sought-after so get snapped up fast. Don't hesitate if you see cards at a reasonable price, because they might not stay that way - or in stock - for long.

Where to buy Pokemon TCG 30th Celebration in the US

Another week, another wasteland of stock. It's tough to buy Pokemon TCG 30th Celebration at the moment, and the only place I've seen with actual cards is Walmart. That doesn't mean you should throw up your hands and write the whole thing off, though. Target got stock last week (before promptly running out), Amazon has yet to go live, and I've known indie retailer Miniature Market to restock cards regularly, so it's still all to play for. The key is moving quickly. If you see something at a not-unreasonable price from a store you trust, don't hesitate; it may not hang around for long enough to make you regret it.

Walmart

Miniature Market

Amazon

Best Buy

Target

TCGPlayer

eBay

Where to buy Pokemon TCG 30th Celebration in the UK

I'm not seeing any movement at all in terms of where to buy Pokemon TCG 30th Celebration in the UK, as it doesn't seem to be in stock anywhere right now. Well, there are listings at Smyths Toys, but these don't seem to be clickable - it looks as though they're placeholders, or the items will only be available in store.

With that in mind, I'd recommend keeping a very close eye on Wayland Games because it's often one of the first to drop cards at a reasonable price. Next, I'd prioritize Amazon. Yes, I know, it sounds obvious. But unlike so many other retailers, it offers an "invite by request" system to foil resellers, which means you have a chance of buying the items at a normal price.

Wayland Games

Amazon

Magic Madhouse

Zatu Games

Smyths Toys

Where to buy other Pokemon TCG sets

While all eyes are on places to buy Pokemon TCG 30th Celebration, that's sometimes easier said than done. Fortunately, demand doesn't mean you have to go without cards. Plenty of older sets are widely available, and stock (as well as prices) for them is stabilizing.

I've set our dedicated software to rounding up the best offers as and when they appear, so you'll find the lowest prices on the latest sets below.

Pokemon TCG 30th Celebration FAQ

Wondering what makes this set so special? As the name would suggest, it celebrates three decades of the trading card game with throwbacks to 30 years of sets. This includes an adorable suite of collectible Pikachu cards, an all-new rarity, and box sets that include everything from figures to themed 'Day' and 'Night' packs with a host of accessories.

If you're looking to play something while you wait for stock, don't miss the best board games or the best tabletop RPGs.

• See all Pokemon TCG offers at Amazon

Of all the Final Fantasy 14 collaborations and crossovers out there, I never expected to see the game make its way to Magic: the Gathering – but boy, has it.

Not only does Magic: the Gathering now feature a set of very nice Final Fantasy 14-themed cards, but there's one in particular that's downright dominating the scene currently: none other than that of Y'shtola, Night's Blessed, of course.

Now, I might not be a big MTG fan myself, but I just so happen to be a Warrior of Light and, yes, an Y'shtola enjoyer. So, I'm not all that surprised to hear that her card is proving to be incredibly popular.

So popular, in fact, that EDHREC confirms it's "the #1 most popular commander" on its site. And, perhaps even more impressively, "This is the fastest rise to glory of any commander in the format's history, by the numbers."

Truly, this might have to do with how strong the card's abilities are. Per our tabletop and merch editor Benjamin Abbott: "Mechanically speaking, Y'shtola is... well, let's just say this card isn't pulling its punches. Being able to deal 2 damage to an opponent when casting a noncreature spell with mana value 3 or more is already spicy, but healing you for 2 at the same time? Ridiculous. Add a host of artefacts, enchantments, and the like to your deck for later-game casting and you've got a very nasty screw-you-engine that'll be rightly feared."

But! There's also the fact that, erm, this is mommy cat lady we're talking about here… and folks love her. EDHREC seems to agree, too.

The platform makes a good point – Final Fantasy 14 is "the only major MMORPG" in Square Enix's JRPG series "that many people were exposed to." So, "if you went to a video game convention dressed as Y'shtola Rhul and you asked a random con-goer who you were dressed as, many would probably recognize you as more than just a 'catgirl.'"

Honestly, that checks out. Every time I'm at Comic Con, I do see at least one Y'shtola cosplayer.

If you're craving a bit of cat girl goodness yourself, the best way to get her card right now seems to be TCGPlayer, and the cheapest option for the Commander Deck itself is Miniature Market. Elsewhere, it's (unsurprisingly) largely overpriced.

Am I now wondering how to play Magic: the Gathering myself? Yes, perhaps I am… and perhaps I'm eyeing some online listings, too. This is the push into tabletop gaming I needed.

Now, if only I liked the Stardew Valley cards as much as I do these – although I suppose you can't win 'em all, eh?

Metal The Gathering: From ripping packs in a moshpit to a secret all-star metal MTG group chat, Atreyu explain why Magic is the most metal TCG. We were also able to chat with the designers for MTG Hobbit, who say "we've learned a lot from the fan reaction" to Universes Beyond.

A new and improved edition of the Fallout: Wasteland Warfare wargame is now available to pre-order, and it looks as though it could be a great alternative to the likes of Warhammer if you struggle to get regular games going (or simply don't have time for anything competitive).

Designed as a solo-first wargame, Fallout: Wasteland Warfare builds on "years of insights from the community" for a more streamlined and narrative-heavy experience. However, it can also be played cooperatively or competitively with an opponent controlling your foes. It's available to pre-order via the Modiphius store, and will ship in November 2026.

The original Wasteland Warfare dropped almost a decade ago, so this second edition update has been a long time coming (a bit like another fan-favorite that just emerged from hiding - a beloved, long out-of-print Arkham Horror board game is getting a revamp). The press release says that players will emerge from their home settlement to explore a randomized Wasteland, "creating a campaign map of locations and enemies as they move around the map." They can then choose how to handle combat encounters, upgrade their warband, or recruit fresh warriors along the way.

Not that you have to stick with the basics. Alongside the core starter set, you can also pick up packs that include miniatures for other factions like the Brotherhood of Steel or a range of foes from across the Wasteland.

Lead game designer Evie Moriarty (who also oversees the Wolfenstein RPG, complete with an OTT hail Mary system) says that "Fallout: Wasteland Warfare has a new lease of life with this edition, and we've worked hard to make solo and cooperative gaming the focus and better than it ever has been. With a streamlined ruleset, massively expanded campaign rules, and an innovative enemy AI system, we can't wait for you to get to grips with it and let us know about your stories out in the Wasteland."

There aren't many explicitly solo wargames out there in spite of the occasional box set like Kill Team: Exodus or Terror on Devlan, so it feels smart for Modiphius to lean hard on that niche with Fallout: Wasteland Warfare. Actually, I think that's the best thing it could do; the studio has proven time and again that it excels in this area, as shown by Elder Scrolls: Call to Arms. Judging by the fact that the upcoming XCOM game includes an upgradeable base and co-op campaign, this isn't the end of it either.

Fallout: Wasteland Warfare's second edition is aiming to ship in November 2026.

Speaking of fantastical worlds, the designers of MTG Hobbit say that "we've learned a lot from the fan reaction" as they battle dwarves and narrative constraints to create the most faithful adaptation yet.

• Shop Fallout miniatures and tabletop RPGs at Amazon

If you look at online chatter surrounding Magic: The Gatherings Universes Beyond IP collaborations, it’s easy to believe that they’re universally hated. Yet as people queue up to take photographs with Marvel standees at Magic Con and fans enthusiastically pay top dollar for Final Fantasy MTG sets, the on-the-ground reality seems to tell a different story.

"We've learned a lot from the fan reaction," principal game designer Gavin Verhey notes when reflecting on the evolution of Magic: The Gathering Universes Beyond. "We're always learning, listening to people, and taking in feedback. Universes Beyond is still in its relative infancy... so we're putting out all kinds of things and learning from them."

No matter where you stand on sci-fi and superheroes entering the best card games, however, one MTG Universes Beyond set was enthusiastically embraced by all corners of the Magic community – 2023’s Lord Of The Rings: Tale of Middle Earth. It was somewhat inevitable then that Wizards of the Coast would be returning to Middle-earth with The Hobbit. Now as Wizards gear up to release their anticipated The Hobbit collaboration on August 16th, I sat down with three of the game’s creative leads to see how they transformed Tolkien's literary classic into a rich and compelling TCG set.

When Tales of Middle-earth launched, the design team told me that they deliberately held back material from Tolkien's prequel novel, hoping that there’d be enough demand to make a Hobbit-specific-set.

“Magic in many ways pays direct lineage to Tolkien and the work that he did. That's why Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit are such natural fits for Magic: The Gathering,” explains Verhey. "When [LOTR] launched as a huge hit, almost immediately it was like, 'We've got to start working on The Hobbit!'"

After fans' enthusiastic reaction to the Lord Of The Rings set, it would have been easy to dig deeper into the Lord Of The Rings, yet for set lead Annie Sardelis, it was important that they treated The Hobbit as its own self-contained entity. “I saw a lot of people theorizing, 'Oh, they'll have this from Lord of the Rings.' But no, we stuck to The Hobbit,” says Sardelis.

"Really, The Hobbit is its own thing—it stands on its own," agrees Verhye. "It comes much more like a sequel years later, like a sequel to Strixhaven."

Finding Magic in narrative constraints

While on paper The Hobbit may seem a less rich narrative pool to draw from than LOTR, the story’s shorter scope instead enabled the team to focus on the specificity of each beloved story moment, dialling into nich characters and moments from the beloved novel.

"Anytime we made up a creature, we would search through the book for a characteristic we could evoke because we can get so specific with it." Explains Sardelis. "We don't need to broadly say, 'This is a Mirkwood elf.' We can say, 'No, this is the one that served drinks specifically,' or 'that guarded the gates of the cells.'"

"The Hobbit is not that long of a book—but on the flip side, I think it's actually an advantage," agrees Verhey. "Basically, if it's in The Hobbit, it's in the set somewhere. There's very little that happens in that book that does not show up in the set in some capacity."

Avoiding the films entirely, the team drew only from the original novel. Retaining the core team from the LOTR set also dramatically streamlined The Hobbits’ production. Executive producer Zakeel Gordon noted that typical Universes Beyond cycles typically take five years, but because this time they could retain the same art directors and narrative leads, they managed to shave off a year and a half of development time.

While the two sets will be narratively separate, Sardelis says she thought carefully about how fans might combine their LOTR and Hobbit sets into killer Tolkien-inspired decks, and the magic that she could help create there.

"That was a tough balancing act, honestly, because we know people like to put cards from different sets together," reflects Sardelis. "Making sure we kept the color alignment the same between the factions was tricky, because I didn't want to use the exact same mechanics; I wanted to make sure I was reinterpreting them."

"We don't really have this giant army of orcs pouring out of Mordor in this case, and the word 'orc' isn't even dropped in the book once," she adds. "But people still love that Amass deck—they're still playing that Grixis Sauron. So I decided to deliver Amass, but just make it goblins. The technology was already there to append [creature] types to Army."

A new form of storytelling

As the popularity of MTG-inspired novels and narrative podcasts grows, each set's designers are taking more care to ensure that their set tells an equally rich story.

"One thing that got me into Magic was being able to follow a story with the set," reflects Sardelis. "The Hobbit hands us an extremely popular story that someone might be familiar with, serving as a good jumping-in point. We made sure in the card set to really acknowledge that story every step of the way, in case someone just wants to absorb the set through the story."

Many fans feel that Dwarves have been underrepresented in the world of Magic: The Gathering. Thankfully, the little guys play a huge role in The Hobbit, and have been recreated lovingly in the new set.

"If you look at Magic dwarves historically, there's a lot of stuff that interplays perfectly with the dwarves in this set," reflects Verhey. "A lot of the dwarves in Magic history have done things that Tolkien dwarves like. Being aggressive, liking Treasure, liking artifacts—those are all things Magic has done, and they are also true in Tolkien's world. So that melding made a lot of sense. Putting a lot of dwarves in this set lets us do stuff we were never able to do before and lets you build out more of a dwarf deck."

Balance was a real focus for this set, too, with publisher Wizards of The Coast attempting to avoid unwanted power-creep in Commander-only releases.

"One thing that we've been very careful to try and do—especially recently—is not make cards in Commander-only products way better than the cards in the main set," Verhey adds. "That doesn't serve anyone well; you want to make sure they're about equal."

While Magic has long cultivated a devoted following, there’s no denying that Universes Beyond brings in vast audiences of new players. For The Hobbit, Verhey explains that designers prioritised keeping the rules accessible without ever diluting the tactical depth that experienced players expect.

"Making sure that your set is approachable for a newer player is an important priority, but at the same time, we don't want it to be a beginner set. This has to have all the complexity and richness that fans of Magic love and fans of the IP want, too. You want to feel like you're playing real Magic: The Gathering."

For more tabletop recommendations, why not check out our guide to the best board games or the best tabletop RPGs?

• See all MTG Hobbit packs at Amazon

Cooperative campaign tabletop games are getting leaner and more abstract. Traditionally, campaign games have acted as stand-ins for Dungeons & Dragons, complete with big boxes that contain a multitude of parts and an equally thick rulebook. However, we’ve seen a handful of campaign games skimp on the components recently in favor of really digging into the game system and squeezing out every last variance that it can support.

Take Time, a new title designed by Alexi Piovesan and Julien Prothière, is a very unique cooperative campaign game that makes the most of a simplistic system. Over the course of 40 rounds (divided into 10 chapters), players will attempt to work together to solve a relatively simple puzzle using the same deck of 24 cards. Each round features a unique set of challenges to overcome, with players either succeeding or failing as a group. The result is a campaign game that’s easy to pick up, with rounds that pass by in a few minutes and chapters with unique challenges that will leave players frustrated at times but exultant when they’re finally conquered – normally a preserve of the best board games.

Take Time features & design

Take Time isn't necessarily telling a story; it's abstract, like Azul. Publisher Libellud describes it as a limited-communication game that "invites players to slow down, reflect, communicate, understand one another, and build mutual trust."

Gameplay is split into three phases – a strategy phase where players discuss potential gameplay, a placement phase in which cards are played, and a resolution phase in which players see if they’ve passed that round's requirements. To win, players must play cards (generally facedown) next to segments of a clock, aiming to have the value of each segment arranged in an ascending order. However, you can't discuss which cards you have during play. You'll need to come up with a plan beforehand and attempt to guess what your team is hoping to do next based on their actions.

For a campaign game, Take Time is remarkably simple. There are 10 chapters, each of which contains a sleeve filled with four 'clocks' (e.g. four rounds) made of solid quality paper cardstock. Each clock consists of six segments, some of which have particular rules that must be followed during the course of the game. While there is some commonality between types of rules (which usually limit which cards can be played in specific segments), every clock is unique and the rules become increasingly granular and complicated as you progress through the chapters.

Gameplay

The goal of each round in Take Time is the same – players play cards in segments, aiming to have the value of all cards played on a segment either equalling or exceeding the value of the preceding segment. Basically, players are trying to arrange their cards so they resemble the face of a clock. The catch? Players can’t discuss what cards they’re playing on their turn and the cards generally have to be played facedown, much like Sky Team. Each round essentially becomes a guessing game where you’re trying to figure out what cards are in play and trying to figure out the optimal segment to play your cards.

Complicating matters is that each clock has at least one segment with a rule limiting what cards can be played on it, represented by various symbols. Some rules are simple – such as stating that a segment has to have two cards played on it or that a card can only have Solar or Lunar cards on it. Other rules are more complex, such as stating that a segment can’t have cards of a certain number played to it or stating that the highest card in play needs to be played in a certain segment.

The other complication is that players will only use half of the deck during any round, so there’s no guarantee as to what cards will be in play. The random selection of cards particularly comes into play when dealing with segments that have high or low card requirements. While you can assume that a "low" segment will contain low cards, you can never be sure if you’re getting a 1, a 2, or something even higher.

Players will never go into a round of Take Time totally blind though. Each round starts off with a Discussion Phase in which players can discuss general strategy options, such as where to play cards of a general value range. However, while cards are distributed to players before the discussion phase, they can’t actually look at them. So, players can only come up with a general strategy, and nothing specific to their actual hands.

Once a round starts, players have one more proverbial arrow in their quiver. On their turn, players can choose to play their card face-up. These face-up cards provide valuable information to the other players, often dictating how subsequent cards will play out. For instance, if a player plays a 7 on a segment that requires a value of 10, other players know that they need to play a 3 (or cards that add up to 3) to satisfy that requirement. At minimum, players will have three face-up cards to utilize on each round, but players get an additional bonus face-up card each time they fail a round.

In short, it's a fun challenge – but there are some niggles. One important thing to remember about the clocks is what constitutes a segment. While it might be easy to assume that a "segment" is the area between two points, it’s actually a portion of the clock consisting of a point and two line dividers. The line dividers are stylistically incorporated into the artwork of each clock, so it’s not quite intuitive. My gaming group wrongly assumed that a segment was the area in between each point, so we were confused about which segment a rule corresponded to. A good rule of thumb is to remember to play cards on points of the clock.

Should you buy Take Time?

Take Time is a fun cooperative game that mixes campaign elements with a set of simple mechanics that’s easy to learn but hard to master. Since players are never guaranteed to have the “right” cards for a specific clock, a lot of the fun comes from coming up with a strategy and then trying to implement it with an imperfect hand. However, it can be a little frustrating to play Take Time, as you’ll occasionally come up with a solid strategy but have to wait for the right hand to get dealt to implement it.

Although they’re very different games, Take Time reminds me a bit of one of my favorite games of recent years – The Two Towers Trick-Taking Game. Both games opt to dig into their respective game mechanics, exploring every nook and cranny of a rather simple set of rules as opposed to trying to overtune a game with a complex rulebook. Players will have an understanding of Take Time quickly, but mastering the game will come from understanding how to adapt their knowledge of gameplay into a series of increasingly complex scenarios.

Ultimately, Take Time is a fantastic game, which is why it ended up on the recommended list for the Spiel des Jahres. Every clock is a puzzle to conquer, and half of the fun comes from guessing how the other players are making decisions over the course of a quick-paced round. What’s even better – a failed round doesn’t cost a lot of time. Since each round takes just a few minutes to complete, a bad hand or a bad strategy won’t leave players feeling frustrated. At worst, it just takes time to beat Take Time. Well… time and a good strategy.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

The One Ring tabletop RPG is getting a major update, and this will launch alongside multiple expansions for the award-winning Lord of the Rings game.

Revealed via a crowdfunding campaign on Backerit, this wave of content is being pitched as a "new age" for the tabletop RPG that allows you to adventure across some of the most iconic Lord of the Rings locations – as well as crossing swords with its best villains. Besides the updated One Ring rules, a campaign book is being produced that takes us to Gondor and Rohan along with a bestiary that lists the many foes of Middle-earth. Both will be launched with D&D-compatible versions as well.

I'll be honest with you; The One Ring is hands down one of my favorite roleplaying games, and it takes pride of place in our list of the best tabletop RPGs because it's so well done. Its mechanics are elegant and easy to learn, yet impactful. The books are also jam-packed with lore, gorgeous artwork that hews close to J.R.R Tolkien's vision for Middle-earth, and an aesthetic which feels as though it's been taken straight from the novels. It truly feels like Lord of the Rings in a way , so this revamp has me doing a Gollum-style "my precious" impression right off the bat. If you're a fan of the series, you need to check it out.

It feels like there's never been a better time. While the updated core rulebook won't change a lot, it apparently clarifies certain mechanics to make learning them easier. Plus, this fresh drop provides an entirely new campaign (The White Tower and the Hall of Gold) that takes us somewhere we've not seen in the tabletop RPG before – the southern kingdoms of Men, Rohan and Gondor. It's unclear what this will involve, but judging by the interior artwork shared on Backerit, our journey may lead us into the Dimholt… AKA the halls of the dead that Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli brave during Return of the King.

Throw in a bestiary (Creatures Strange and Foul) with foes like the Ringwraiths and you've got the tools you need to create any kind of adventure set across the breadth of Middle-earth.

It's unclear when these books will be released, but we should have details before long – the Backerit campaign is "coming soon." Fans can also apparently get beta PDF copies "months ahead of the official release" if they back the project.

While we're lacking details at the time of writing, I've seen enough projects from developer Free League to be confident in it. These are the folks behind the superb Alien RPG and numerous other very well-received systems like Vaesen, for example, so I'd be surprised if this Lord of the Rings update wasn't good. Basically, I'd recommend watching this one closely.

This isn't the only tabletop game earning an upgrade; a beloved, long out-of-print horror board game is getting a revamp, and I can't wait.

• See all The One Ring products at Amazon

The fan-favorite second edition of Arkham Horror is coming back with improved rules, all-new art, and totally different graphic design for the cosmic horror board game.

Revealed as part of developer Fantasy Flight's "Vault Series" that revives classic titles, Arkham Horror Remastered takes the long out-of-print second edition board game and gives it a drastic makeover for an October 2026 launch. While the visuals are different, its gameplay is still the same; the project has simply been "upgraded with new quality of life components."

Crucially, this game seems to resurrect Arkham Horror 2nd Edition's full suite of expansions. While the core experience is beloved, the complete collection has a reputation to match the best board games amongst cosmic horror fans. Unfortunately, we don't have any details on these expansions yet – but the fact even some may be included in the revival should cause a stir, because these are even harder to find in the wild than the core 2nd Edition game.

If you're new to the Arkham Horror franchise, it's based on H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. That means it's a cosmic horror adventure where you play investigators trying to stop cults or eldritch beings like the Old Ones from taking over. Expect a race against time and horrific, gribbly monsters that challenge your character's sanity as they grapple with concepts the human mind simply isn't equipped to comprehend.

As for Arkham Horror Remastered itself, this new version sticks to the same vibe but drastically updates (and improves, in my opinion) the visuals from that original game. It'll be familiar to longtime fans, but feels more high-budget and atmospheric. It also brings the visuals more in-line with modern Arkham Horror instalments or spinoffs like Unfathomable.

This project should land in October 2026, and we'll get more details soon via its crowdfunding campaign on Gamefound. We'll hopefully learn what other old-school games will be included in the "Vault Series" as well. Personally, I'd vote for a revamp of Star Wars: Imperial Assault. It's increasingly difficult to get hold of but still provides a great RPG experience like Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion, complete with an ongoing story and character upgrades as you progress through the campaign.

What would you vote for? And are you excited for Arkham Horror Remastered? Shout about it in the comments below.

It's a good time for fan-favorites coming back; D&D Icons resurrects Greyhawk and Dragonlance. Meanwhile, post-apocalyptic D&D world Dark Sun is also returning in the not-so-distant future.

• See all Arkham Horror games and expansions at Amazon

As Atreyu takes to the stage in Amsterdam, the metalcore five piece have no idea what to expect. 28 years into their career, they’ve toured the world and played everything from gargantuan European festival stages to grimy dive bars. Yet tonight they find themselves playing a career first – a Magic: The Gathering convention.

With the 1,500 capacity afterparty venue packed to the rafters with Atreyu fans and Magic Con attendees alike, once the first notes of bruising opener ‘Dead’ ring out, any doubts of the gig’s legitimacy fade away. As booster packs for one of the best card games rain down from the stage like confetti, circle pits open unprompted, and fans crowd surf while ripping open packs of cards, the unholy union of metalcore and Magic: The Gathering has received its booster-strewn blessing.

“If our usual shows are a 10 out of 10, that was a 15 out of 10,” beams Atreyu bassist, Porter McKnight. With no barrier separating the audience and the band, the joyous gig saw fans soaring onto the stage and opening boosters while Porter inspected their pulls mid-riff. While the rest of his bandmates' constant grins speak for themselves, for the MTG-obsessed Porter, tonight’s show wasn’t just a fun performance – it was a dream come true.

“I didn't know what kind of crowd we were going to get – whether they would be many Atreyu fans or just convention-goers – I just knew we were going to do our thing, make it a safe space, and have fun,” reflects Porter, “What I didn't expect was circle-pit Magic, crowd surfing and opening packs on stage... that show will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

Discovering the card game at a young age at a sleepover in rural Alabama, Porter tells me that Magic was his “first love”, beating music to the punch. “The art, the themes, and the way the game is played immediately got me,” recalls Porter, “Each color has its own style, feeling, and environment. Seeing all this cool art and being immersed in this magical world stirred something deep inside my soul as a creative person.”

Porter and his childhood friend only had a limited number of cards and no internet – so they’d make up the rules for the complex card game as they went, imagining stories and synergies for their cool-looking collection of creatures. Yet once Porter picked up his bass, deckbuilding took a backseat. While Porter briefly played again at college, as Atreyu kicked into gear, the band became his focus and he swapped tapping lands for tapping frets.

Years later, however, Porter’s two passions unexpectedly collided. “Four or five years ago an awesome band from Slovenia called Within Destruction was opening for us,” says Porter. “Their drummer was very shy and we never really talked beyond friendly hellos. Our drum tech asked me, 'What's that game you play on your iPad?...Magic Arena? …I think their drummer is playing it over there.'It turns out he competes and is so good.”

With the musician introducing Porter to Commander decks, the once-intimidating world of warlocks and wards suddenly clicked. With Magic’s artwork pulling from dark fantasy, depicting skeletons, dragons and demons, it’s easy to see why there’s such an overlap between metalheads and the card game. Yet Porter still believed that meeting another Magic-loving metal head was a fluke, until he played the UK’s biggest metal festival in 2024.

“At Download Festival about two years ago, I met Tuck, the bassist from Fit for a King,” recalls Porter, “He was wearing a Magic hat, and I complimented it…. And he told me, 'I'm in this group, 'Metalcore Magic.' and it's the wildest group chat! The number of bands on it could sell out a world tour."

With the WhatsApp group boasting members of I Prevail, The Ghost Inside, We Came as Romans, Currents, Neck Deep and Don Broco, Porter suddenly discovered a travelling network of fellow Magic nerds. “I meet up on tour with people from Metalcore Magic all the time….," beams Porter, “I've found it brings people together in a physical, off-screen way that we rarely get in this digital age.”

While it’s not uncommon for bands to bond on tour, once the shows come to an end Porter admits that so too do most of their friendships. Yet thanks to this group chat, these bands have a shared passion that extends beyond a 12 date tour. “I've existed in the metal and hard rock community for a while, which brings people together through shows and meeting fans – but this is a different level of connection,” says Porter. “It forces you to sit down face-to-face with people and connect. As an introverted person who needs an activity to socialize, having a shared love for this game builds an instant bond. It's cool as fuck."

It’s something I see playing out in real time as I bump into a smiling Rob Damiani of Don Broco at Atreyu’s Magic Con gig. “[With] Don Broco – I didn't know Rob personally, but we were both at Rock am Ring [festival] in June…He recognized me from the Metalcore Magic chat, so we hung out,” says Porter. “Later, when Don Broco played in Cologne, I drove an hour and a half to a sweaty game store during a heatwave… and we played Magic for four hours with local fans and the store owner. Now we're genuine friends.”

A day later at a bustling Magic Con, Porter and his bandmates host a packed signing session where hundreds of fans queue up to meet the band and buy exclusive Atreyu-themed playmats. “People were bringing packs to the signing today asking, 'Can you sign the pack you gave me at the show?' or 'Can I open this with you?',” beams Porter. “ I loved that.”

As well as squiggling over fans’ cards, Porter is also an artist in his spare time, inspiring him to design his own set of custom Magic cards that correspond to the artwork and theme of each Atreyu album. “Each one is a 'game changer' card that vastly influences play, so they are functional and usable,” smiles Porter as he proudly shows me his cards, “but they also thematically connect to the feeling of each album.”

As grinning fans stream out of a sweaty venue and thousands of players pack into the bustling convention center the next day, it’s hard not to be won over by the sheer joy this hobby exudes. The camaraderie I witness among Magic fans undoubtedly mirrors the passion that unites a roaring crowd of strangers as their favorite band takes the stage. “Music is the universal language – it’s deeply embedded in the human soul. When you meet someone who loves the same music, you share an instant bond talking about those songs,” Porter says. “Magic operates similarly, but instead of just sitting and listening to an album, you actively engage in a shared universe for hours. You can go to concerts with friends, and you can play Magic together – one shouldn't exist without the other.”

“Music and Magic mesh in perfect synergy,” Porter concludes, “Last night's show was living proof—it was one of the best shows of our career. Magic is better played with music, and apparently music is better played with Magic, too."

Plenty of cool new sets are on the way to MTG, from brand-new settings to crossovers like Star Trek. To get a heads up on what's coming, check out our guide to everything announced at Magic Con 2026.

• See the latest MTG sets at Amazon

Gen Con 2026 visitors were treated to their first glimpse of an official Final Fantasy board game that recreates the original three video games, and damn, it's looking beautiful so far.

Developed by KessCo, Origins of Light: A Final Fantasy Board Game draws inspiration from the Pixel Remaster series which ressurects classic FF titles with new 2D visuals. Judging by the Gen Con preview posted on Reddit by xander574, this licensed Final Fantasy board game brings that same aesthetic to tabletop. Based purely on how it looks, mission accomplished; it's gorgeous.

I'll be honest; although I spend a lot of time covering the best board games, this one completely passed me by. Aside from a quick announcement toward the beginning of 2026, there's not much information out there about this Final Fantasy board game beyond what I've seen on reddit and the game's tease via Kickstarter.

We don't have any details about gameplay either. However, looking closely at the Gen Con preview shows off truly bizarre – but very fitting – crystal dice alongside character and boss cards that may as well have been dragged straight from the 16-bit screen. It appears there's also an overworld map and a town board with space for quests, but the resolution is too low for me to see much else.

Basically, it may be worth keeping an eye on this one if you're an FF fan. Just apply some tempered expectations here; while KessCo has a vast library of IP games to its name, their reception can be mixed.

Still, KessCo's Sonic Knock puck-based board game sold out at this year's Gen Con and appears to have generated the right kind of buzz amongst the community. Hopefully its new Final Fantasy game follows suit.

From what I've been able to find, Origin of Light: A Final Fantasy Board Game will launch toward the end of 2026. Meanwhile, the Kickstarter promises to get going soon. In other words, we should hopefully be able to find out more before long.

This is the second cool Final Fantasy reveal I've found over the last couple of days; a fan's made an incredible Lego Final Fantasy set, and now I'm hoping it becomes a real model.

• See the full MTG Final Fantasy range at Amazon

Palworld released its first set of TCG cards just yesterday (July 30, 2026), but some of the rarest cards are already selling online for up to $4,000. This includes cards that were sold on auction websites like eBay before the set was available to the public.

Pocketpair announced the first set of the Palworld tie-in TCG called Dawn of Palpagos in January 2026, but the first cards didn't go on sale until recently.

The brand-new TCG set reportedly sold over 3.5 million packs on release day, but certain cards, notably the rarest ones, began popping up online for breathtaking prices before the packs were even on sale.

The rarest card in the set is the Cattiva Gold Soul card. The first copy of this sold on eBay for almost $4,000 three days before the set officially launched.

Since the set's launch, a few more cards have sold for around $1,000 on the site, though some of these selling prices are obscured by accepted offers.

A copy of Chillet Dragon Whisperer sold for $1,400 the day before the set's launch, but copies have sold since then for around $1,100. You may see prices even higher than this online, but the sold price is the one that truly reflects what people are actually willing to pay.

Palworld has faced consistent criticism for following in the footsteps of the Pokemon franchise, and the massively inflated prices resellers are asking for aren't helping matters.

Over the last few years Pokemon cards have been increasingly difficult to legitimately purchase instead of giving in to scalpers' pricing, for reference. Hopefully, the Palworld TCG won't go the same way.

Palworld lead shrugs off "dead game" suggestions as Pocketpair's survival hit continues to bring in half a million concurrent Steam players mid-week, weeks after 1.0 launch

D&D Star Wars is on the way in 2027, but fan response seems divided.

Revealed in a surprise announcement at Gen Con 2026, D&D Star Wars is the second 'Universes Beyond' crossover after D&D World of Warcraft kicked off the initiative. Although we don't have many details yet, the idea was shown off via Darth Vader taking to the stage and it's being teased as part of a "Season of Rebellion." Both would strongly suggest we're going back to the original trilogy.

While there's a lot of excitement for the project (D&D's announcement post on Instagram has 30K+ likes, for instance, while the YouTube stream live chat was full of gleeful disbelief when Vader strode into view), feedback has been mixed so far. A lot of comments on the aforementioned Insta reveal voice concern that it's not a particularly good fit for either brand, while others are heartbroken that D&D Star Wars may spell doom for another well-loved RPG – Star Wars Roleplaying by Edge Studios.

"That all but confirms that the FFG/Edge product line is officially dead and buried," writes DraethDarkstar on reddit. "Star Wars has had many RPGs over the years, but it's never been licensed for more than one ongoing at once."

I can't help but think they're right. Edge Studios doesn't seem to have released anything Star Wars-flavored for a long time; it's mostly focused its attention on Arkham Horror and Twilight Imperium systems (yes, these turn some of the best board games into RPGs). I've wondered before why it was steering clear of a galaxy far, far away, and this could be the reason.

In terms of D&D Star Wars itself, I'm cautiously optimistic. While I appreciate the sour taste left by Universes Beyond right now (especially after Magic: The Gathering's head designer said fans must adapt or "walk away" if they don't like crossovers for the card game, which uses the same Universes Beyond title), I think it's the best fit so far as sci-fi goes. A science fiction/fantasy book is a niche D&D's been missing for a long time, and while I'd prefer an original IP to fall in love with, Star Wars does meet the criteria. It's a world of magic, monsters, and swashbuckling adventure – just like Dungeons & Dragons.

Plus, it shouldn't be as in-your-face for Dungeons & Dragons. In MTG, Universes Beyond crossovers are impossible to avoid; they're legal in most formats so it's very difficult to dodge Spider-Man teaming up with Cloud from Final Fantasy.

Sure, it'll need some heavy editing just like Lord of the Rings did when it was brought into the D&D fold. Magic will need to be stripped away from most classes because it's simply not that common, for example (I guess many spells should be re-flavored as technology). Ship combat mechanics will need a lot of work as well, because the ones in Spelljammer: Adventures in Space left something to be desired. But otherwise, the possibilities are exciting. There's a whole galaxy of species to play with, the potential for unique subclasses tailored to tropes like the Han Solo-esque scoundrel or hot-shot pilot, and the thrill of planet-hopping on your shared hunk-o-junk ship. That sounds like a great combo to me.

I'm not worried about it being hung out to dry either. My exclusive interview with D&D World of Warcraft principal game designer James Wyatt made the level of passion and care for these crossovers clear, so I'm confident it'll get the love it deserves.

Would I rather Star Wars be kept as its own thing? Yes, because I think it'd be easier and more to create a unique system than jury-rigging D&D to fit. But this seems to be what we're getting for now, and it's sure to draw countless new players to the game (which, let's be honest, is part of the reason why it's being done).

What do you think about D&D Star Wars? Sound off in the comments.

It's been a busy Gen Con for D&D already, and the show's only just started; D&D just revealed its long-awaited Dark Sun revamp, and it's resurrecting classic settings with beloved creators.

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Post-apocalyptic D&D world Dark Sun is being revamped in early 2027, and it'll be the first 18+ setting for the tabletop RPG.

There's a good reason for that mature age-rating. The returning D&D franchise (which takes place in a world devastated by magic) is going all in on the gore, sex, and bleak atmosphere of its inspiration. Unlike many of the best tabletop RPGs, you don't save the kingdom in Dark Sun; you're simply trying to survive it.

This has led to D&D's lawyers insisting that new Dark Sun books must be shrink-wrapped on shelves to avoid anyone younger than 18 seeing it. That… well, it probably says a lot about the tone of this reboot. The teaser trailer is a blood-soaked gore fest that'd make Warhammer 40K nod in approval, for example, and the content warning will advise reader discretion due to depictions of violence, nudity, bloodshed, and sexuality. It's certainly a far cry from the newly revealed D&D World of Warcraft crossover, which works to evoke the feel of that beloved MMO.

There will be two books launching when Dark Sun makes its comeback in February 2027; the Blood and Power Gameplay Expansion alongside the Edge of Oblivion Setting Expansion. These will be joined by a Dungeon Master Screen and a map pack tailored to the setting, not to mention an alt-art Player's Handbook based on Dark Sun.

With Blood and Power, you'll get everything you need to carve a path through this broken world with subclasses and player options. However, the thing that may interest fans most is its addition of a new class – the Psion. This psychic warrior wields innate magical power with their mind, and if last year's Psion playtest is anything to go by, they'll stand out due to their use of Psionic Energy Dice and the Psionic Spellcasting feature. They should also wreak havoc on the battlefield using subclasses like one that allows Psions to morph their body as if it's clay (something seen in the trailer, where it's used to turn a warrior's arms into deadly spikes).

No matter what, this is notable for beign the second new class to be added to the current, fifth edition of D&D since it began in 2014. (The first was the Artificer.)

By the looks of it, Edge of Oblivion will focus on the setting itself with locations, lore, a bestiary, and, if last year's Forgotten Realms duology is anything to go by, short adventures. The accompanying 'Season of Survival' should provide more campaign fodder too if you want to get the most from Dark Sun.

Fans have long suspected that the grim world would be making its return to D&D; official playtest material (dubbed "Unearthed Arcana") for post-apocalyptic characters dropped months ago. This strongly suggested that we would be going back to Dark Sun because it fits the bill so neatly, but playtests for the previously mentioned Psion class sealed the deal – that class is closely associated with Dark Sun, so a book revolving around the setting seemed guaranteed.

Personally speaking, this is the D&D Gen Con announcement that has me most excited. Sure, the fact that D&D Star Wars is on the way made my week. But the gritty, post-apocalyptic world of Dark Sun fills a niche that we really haven't had an answer for before now. It's drastically different in tone, setting, and story to almost anything else in the Dungeons & Dragons pantheon, so I'm looking forward to exploring this world with my group next year.

We'll be able to take Dark Sun for a spin ourselves when it launches in February, 2027.

It's all happening at Gen Con if you're a Dungeons & Dragons fan, because the game is resurrecting Greyhawk, Dragonlance, and more with new books from legendary creators.

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You'll soon be able to wander Azeroth on the tabletop, because D&D World of Warcraft is on the way.

Revealed by publisher Wizards of the Coast at Gen Con's 2026 Dungeons & Dragons show, the surprise crossover allows fans of the best tabletop RPGs to explore the MMO's world in pen-and-paper form for the first time since 2005. D&D World of Warcraft is also the first entry under the "Universes Beyond" label, a title borrowed from another Wizards of the Coast product known for its crossovers – Magic: The Gathering. The second looks as though it might be the newly-revealed D&D Star Wars.

D&D World of Warcraft will launch in November 2026. The crossover, which principal game designer James Wyatt promises will let you "explore Azeroth as you never have before" features a "Gameplay Expansion" sourcebook, a Dungeon Master screen, and a map pack crammed with tokens and battlemaps (much like the treatment for D&D's long-awaited Dark Sun revamp, which was also shown off at Gen Con).

In terms of what you're getting inside the sourcebook, 11 new species are up for grabs, allowing you to play any race in World of Warcraft (including ones that are merely cosmetic in the MMO). Six brand-new subclasses are also making their debut here, like the iconic Death Knight, alongside three updated subclasses. You'll be able to use these across many notable Azeroth locations and seven dungeons based on beloved raids. Some of the MMO's biggest names are included with stat blocks too, from Arthas the Lich King to Jaina Proudmoore.

It's a development that I'm willing to bet WoW fans will get hot under the collar for. In my conversation with designer James Wyatt, the enthusiasm for the project – and everything it'd let players do that they couldn't in the MMO – was palpable. Wyatt's been playing World of Warcraft for years so is a passionate fan himself, and that really comes across.

The thing that may give fans pause is the inclusion of the "Universes Beyond" moniker, though. This has been a source of controversy in the Magic: The Gathering community due to their prevalence and these crossovers not always gelling thematically, with the debate rearing its head again when MTG head designer Mark Rosewater said fans must adapt or "walk away" if they don't like Universes Beyond. I can see the name being carried across to D&D raising hackles as a result.

Still, there is an upside. Unlike MTG where different sets from various IPs are much more likely to encounter one another in a game (most modern Universes Beyond sets are legal in the majority of formats, so they're hard to avoid), D&D is more insular by design. Arthas isn't going to be found wandering the taverns of Baldur's Gate in your home game, for example, and you've got to opt in to those worlds when playing. As such, I don't think it'll be nearly so jarring. Plus, the D&D team also noted during a press pre-brief Q&A session that there isn't a quota for the number of Universes Beyond books that will be produced – not like half of all MTG products a year being Universes Beyond.

What do you think about exploring Azeroth at your tabletop? Be sure to let us know in the comments.

In other news from Gen Con, D&D Icons resurrects Greyhawk, Dragonlance, and more with new books from legendary creators.

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Actor and tabletop RPG fan Joe Manganiello just revealed D&D Icons, a new slate of content that pairs legendary creators with their most beloved settings.

Serving as chief creative officer for the imprint, Manganiello teed up the first D&D Icons books at Gen Con 2026: Dragonlance from creators Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, The Legend of Drizzt by author RA Salvatore, and a Greyhawk project by Luke Gygax (son of D&D creator Gary Gygax) using his father's unfinished content. We don't have a release date for these yet, but the Greyhawk book will potentially hit shelves as early as 2027. Considering this project, the long-awaited return of Dark Sun, and the reveal of D&D Star Wars, it feels like next year is already shaping up to be a busy one for Dungeons & Dragons fans.

It's not the only return to Greyhawk we can expect in the not-so-distant future. Publisher Wizards of the Coast also showed off new adventure Greyhawk: Crown of the Witch Queen at Gen Con, and it pits us against the returning villain Drelnza, a vampire who is trying to claim their birthright. Seeing as Drelnza is the daughter of Tasha (a longtime D&D character who is set to become our patron in the Warlock video game), that doesn't bode well for us.

Greyhawk: Crown of the Witch Queen will launch in late 2027. According to the team, in a press briefing attended by GamesRadar+, this is a visually grand, operatic story that feels like classic Greyhawk but updated for the modern day. You can see concept art for the project below, with Castle Greyhawk itself appearing prominently alongside the majestic Yatil Mountains, rivers, and ruins. It feels like traditional high fantasy fare, which probably isn't surprising seeing as the official D&D roadmap places it in the middle of the "Season of Swords & Sorcery."

As for those other projects, we don't have much to go on just yet. The Dragonlance tabletop RPG book is the first one using that setting in 20 years to be overseen by creators Weis and Hickman, and it promises decades of lore crammed into one tome. Meanwhile, Luke Gygax using unfinished work from his father means we're getting a Greyhawk adventure with close ties to its original architect. Seeing as Gary Gygax was literally one of D&D's creators, it's a rare opportunity for players to go back to basics.

It's certainly been a busy Gen Con so far; besides Icons and Crown of the Witch Queen, the D&D World of Warcraft crossover finally broke cover. We were able to catch up with designer James Wyatt on bringing the MMO to tabletop in an exclusive deep dive, and he promises that this "will be your chance to explore Azeroth as you never have before."

What's been your favorite announcement so far? Be sure to let us know in the comments.

For recommendations of what to play while we wait, don't miss our guide to the best tabletop RPGs or the best board games.

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Late last year, Dungeons & Dragons publisher Wizards of the Coast revealed that it's working on a new open-world game, the ever-mysterious Warlock, and its cast has now added a well-known games star.

The Hasbro company didn't unveil too much about the exciting title, aside from the fact that it is not, in fact, a turn-based game like Baldur's Gate 3 (much to many fans' disappointment, I'd say) – no dice rolls, and a less "tabletop" vibe. It's also evidently magic-heavy, if the name didn't give it away, and an entirely single-player experience.

Warlock almost strikes me as a mashup of Skyrim and D&D so far, but it's difficult to tell… yet.

What we do now know, however, is that Tasha – the archmage and demonologist you might recognize from various adventures in the Forgotten Realms – is featured in Warlock, and she's voiced by none other than Lady Dimitrescu actor Maggie Robertson.

Yes, the very same Maggie Robertson who plays Orin the Red in Baldur's Gate 3. She'll be taking care of Tasha's motion performance capture as well, if her voice wasn't exciting enough.

Kaatri, the protagonist of Warlock, also has quite the star backing her voice: Tricia Helfer of Battlestar Galactica and Lucifer.

It's shaping up to be one heck of a cast, that's for certain – and if other D&D games like Baldur's Gate 3 taught us anything, it's that the cast can shine very brightly in such titles. Something tells me that Warlock will serve as a great example of this, too, when it arrives sometime in 2027.

I'm excited to see how Tasha fits into Warlock and what the dynamic is like between Kaatri and the historically chaotic evil mage – there's a lot that Wizards of the Coast and developer Invoke Studios could do here lore-wise, but they're not being too open with what we can expect to see just yet.

Searching for other new games to hop into? Here are the best tabletop RPGs you and your pals can enjoy this year – there's more than D&D out there, after all.

D&D World of Warcraft isn't trying to be like the MMO.

Alright, so that may sound counterintuitive. After all, the book – which was just announced at Gen Con 2026 – takes us back to Azeroth with all the familiar classes and species you'd expect. But D&D World of Warcraft isn't interested in slavishly recreating the video game. That isn't ever going to work, so principal game designer James Wyatt took a different approach.

"So much of what I love about WoW is really intangible," Wyatt tells me when we sit down for an exclusive deep dive into D&D's trip to Azeroth. "That's very hard to put into a book, and the process of doing something like this is not about translating mechanics on a one-to-one basis. It's about evoking the feel of playing one of these characters of this class and this species, even fighting this boss in a dungeon."

The promos we've seen so far are exciting, but avoiding that temptation to simply play the hits is what tips me into 'fully seated.' You're never going to capture everything that makes WoW so beloved on pen and paper, and it's a fool's errand to try. But you can nail how it feels, as well as straying off the beaten path the video game never allowed.

"This is your chance to explore Azeroth as you never have before," Wyatt promises.

From Teldrassil to Darkshore

While the crossover will be launching with 11 new species for us to play, six brand-new subclasses alongside three updated ones, a chance to explore major locations from across Azeroth, and seven dungeons drawn from the video game's most beloved raids, this isn't the best bit for Wyatt.

"It's the stuff you can't do in the MMO that I'm most excited about," he says. "My Night Elf character can have a completely different origin story than any Night Elf character in World of Warcraft, because they all have the same origin story [in the MMO]. I can choose any background from the D&D Player's Handbook. I can be a Night Elf sailor. What does that even mean? Turns out I ran the ferry from Teldrassil to Darkshore until Darkshore blew up. That is my origin story. So, just opening up the possibilities is the most exciting part."

Not that revisiting classic dungeons isn't exciting, of course. In terms of size, these are "more than mini and less than maxi." These range from two pages long for Onyxia's Lair to around six pages for the rest, and each one comes armed with everything a Dungeon Master needs to lead their party into the dark – a map, boss stat blocks, encounter tables, treasures, inhabitants, and inspiration for why adventurers might go there in the first place.

Long-time fans won't have any trouble recognizing these famous settings. Aside from Wrath of the Lich King's Azjol Nerub, all of them are classic dungeons – including Blackfathom Deeps and Dead Mines. Actually, the problem was knowing where to stop.

"Our original list was a lot longer, and then we realized that we needed more space for each one than we originally planned," Wyatt admits.

Delving into the past

With all this talk of 'classic' dungeons, will the book take place during a specific time period? No, Wyatt tells me – and that's because it focuses on the themes that define WoW instead. This in turn dictated which dungeons made the cut.

"The adventures chapter starts off by talking about the main conflicts of Azeroth, which are the conflicts that have driven all the expansions of the game," says Wyatt. "In the same way that the Dungeon Master's Guide talks about choosing three conflicts to drive your campaign, that's the way we're presenting these. You could choose to build your campaign around the Burning Legion and the Dragon Flights and the Scourge, and so the dungeons were chosen to have some connection to those major themes."

With that in mind, some dungeons include sidebars that let you tweak its foes based on time period. The book's take on Blackfathom Deeps uses the Naga version, for example, but there's a section detailing how to tweak it for when Twilight's Hammer moves in.

While I'm sure navigating 20 years of in-game history like this was a headache, nothing compares to the tangled knot of jury-rigging D&D classes to fit WoW. This ended up being a unique challenge for Wyatt and the team, because there's no one-size-fits-all solution – some builds could be represented accurately with added Feats, while others required all-new subclasses. This is what made the project "really fun from a design perspective."

Something new, something old

To help you recreate WoW's distinctive classes, the book begins by recommending certain combos to reflect those ideas. (The Mage could be created using D&D's Evoker Wizard with a handful of specific Feats, say.) This isn't always what you might expect; if you want to create a Shaman, for example, you're pointed toward D&D's Barbarian class "which surprises people," Wyatt says with amusement.

New subclasses are then introduced if the build requires more work, like the Oath of the Ebon Blade for Paladins which represents a Death Knight. Some of these update previous ideas, such as the Warrior of Mystic Brews subclass for Monks that tweak the Drunken Master we saw in Xanathar's Guide to Everything. (The Barbarian's Path of the Elements does something similar but on a more radical scale – it's 90% new compared to its inspiration, Path of the Storm Warrior.) Others are entirely new, like the Paladin's Oath of the Holy.

You'll certainly have enough to fight using these builds. Wyatt explains that the bestiary is crammed with foes who fit the book's themes, from demons and dragons to representatives of the Horde and Alliance. That stretches to famous faces like Arthas the Lich King, Anduin, or Thrall.

Crucially, though, these adventures will be distinctly yours. Rather than sticking to the linear path laid out by the MMO, your shackles are off and your leash is cut.

"This is where you can interact with anything you can see, you can talk to anyone you meet, you can learn about the world first person in a whole new way," Wyatt says when I ask what he thinks will tempt WoW fans to try this D&D crossover. "It super excites me. I think it's gonna excite everybody."

D&D World of Warcraft has an early access launch on November 3, 2026. A full retail release follows on November 17.

It's been a busy Gen Con for D&D so far; alongside revealing a long-awaited Dark Sun revamp, a new imprint called D&D Icons resurrects Greyhawk, Dragonlance, and more with new books from legendary creators.

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There's a long-running joke about finding really valuable stuff squirreled away at your grandparents' house, but for one Pokemon cards fan, that's actually come true – and the value of what they uncovered is probably around six figures.

In a post on reddit, InkedSketch describes how "Grandma [had] been asking us to come find her Pokemon cards for years." What they didn't expect was just how valuable this collection was. Once it'd all been gathered together, they found dozens of booster packs from the game's launch worth hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars, incredibly rare sealed 'Fossil' box sets, and even a bunch of high-value toys like a pristine, still in-packaging Pokedex.

"She told us she had some packs from along time ago, and that she had a few 'sharjarzds.'" InkedSketch writes in their post. "We finally decided to look for them at the end of last year. She's in her 80s and has been recently talking about them more, we just thought it was like our own trashed pokemon/yugioh collection that was leftover from when we were super young."

Turns out, not so much. Even a quick glance reveals over 70 sealed 'Fossil' booster packs which are worth hundreds of dollars each on the likes of eBay, three sealed Fossil boxes that clock in at $7K+ individually on some price tracking sites, and 60 original booster packs from the game's launch. I quickly checked PriceCharting and these earn anywhere between a couple of hundred dollars to several thousand depending on their grading.

If that was it, grandma would still be sitting on a goldmine... but we're not finished yet. The haul includes everything from original theme decks and starter sets to individual cards too. I count three holo Charizards, a shiny Gyrados, Raichu, multiple shiny Zapdos, and more. There are even a couple of Mew cards in a binder.

The haul goes far beyond Pokemon cards, too; there are also action figures, the sealed '90s Pokedex toy I mentioned from before, a themed mini skateboard (remember those?), and even a still-in-packaging interactive Poke Ball game that really brought me back to my childhood. It's enough to ilicite an "oh damn" at the very least.

The fan community is suitably stunned. "Literal treasure trove," FisherKelTath00 replies with 2.1K upvotes. "Seriously this is prolly like $250k in product. That’s a ROUGH estimate too," War-Daddie adds.

Some in the comments are even suggesting that this estimate is too modest. "Sincere lowball estimate I think," lucky_719 writes. "The one shadowless Charizard can go for five figures alone if it's in decent shape. The 1st edition fossil booster boxes go for $15-$30k each and the lady has 3."

Either way, it's one hell of a haul that would probably make me evolve into "Nervous Wreck" with a special "breakdown" attack if I found it - this is a literal fortune.

What would you do if you stumbled upon that kinda stash at your grandparents' house? Let me know in the comments below.

For recommendations on what to play next, don't miss the best card games. As for what's happening in the community right now, the war on Pokemon resellers now includes facial recognition checks in some stores in Japan.

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The owner of a Gifu, Japan-based trading card shop is asking the public for help finding its alleged robber, but they're cautioning any would-be vigilantes against straight-up killing the perpetrator for the crime.

Spotted by Automaton, the folks behind the Kaitorip Game shop, which sells Pokemon and One Piece trading cards, took to Twitter to reveal footage of what appears to be a single hooded robber breaking into the store and stealing product before fleeing the scene. In the caption, the owners offer a monetary reward for delivering justice to the thief. Per Automaton's translation of the call to action, the store owners specify that a reward of 1 million yen, or about $6100, is up for whoever "captures and brings the robber alive."

If it weren't for that ominous level of detail, this probably wouldn't be a story outside local news. $6100 is a generous enough reward for bringing a burglar to justice, but the suggestion that the Japanese public would be ready and willing to murder someone for robbing a toy store caught the attention of several Twitter users, one of which asked if the bounty would be reduced if the robber is returned damaged, a joking reference to the TCG ecosystem.

"As long as the culprit is breathing," it stays at 1 million yen, the store owner replied.

Thankfully, it seems no one was hurt in this specific case, but the trading card economy in Japan is no joke, involving cards valued at many millions of dollars, which is a big reason crimes like these happen. The Pokemon Company has been aggressive in combatting scalpers, which artificially inflate demand by depleting stock and then reselling at a mark-up, with facial recognition being implemented at some stores in Japan.

Pokemon card resellers are ruining the hobby, but making my own Pokedex got me back in the game

A big change is happening at Dungeons & Dragons owner Wizards of the Coast. John Hight, current president of the company, is leaving his position soon, and the process of finding his replacement has already begun.

As revealed in a filing for the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Hight is stepping down on September 1. This comes just two years after he took on the role, in August 2024, and a tenure where he oversaw some contentious strategizing.

He's overseen the transition to D&D 5.5 edition and put a big emphasis on the Universes Beyond initiative, helping launch crossover after crossover within Magic: The Gathering. Although some of these partnerships were well-received, like The Lord of the Rings, the general push for novelty isn't completely beloved within the wider community.

Wizards has been aware of this, but believes it's better to lean into evolving the card game rather than backing away. "Once the toothpaste is out of the tube, it's just not going back in," Mark Rosewater, head designer on Magic: The Gathering, wrote on a personal blog earlier this month.

"Whether you like or dislike Universe Beyond, it has fundamentally changed the nature of what the game is," he added. "It’s taking the game to a whole new level, in both scope and awareness, much like Commander forever changed how people saw and interacted with the game."

Hight brought a lot of experience with fantasy IP, since he moved over to Wizards from Blizzard, where he served as general manager of Warcraft for over a decade. According to comments provided to GamesIndustry.biz, Hight will continue with Wizards in an "advisory capacity," and the search for his successor is now ongoing.

"There is no change to the strength of the Wizards business," says the statement. "Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons continue to perform incredibly well, consistent with our most recent earnings release, and our upcoming 2027 video game slate, including Exodus and Warlock remains on track."

That last line stands out too, since Hasbro reported a $56 million loss on canceled games just recently. Warlock and Exodus represent a considerably trimmed down slate of releases from the corporation, amid growing uncertainty about its investments in the industry.

Skyrim and Stardew Valley mods weren't enough: rotund icon Jimothy the viral raccoon invades D&D as a Wizards-approved "cryptid" who is "hurling garbage and making friends."

Wingspan Pocket is like one of the apex predators it depicts; it swoops in, claws outstretched, and carries you away before you even know what's hit you. I love the original version, but after getting my hands on this travel-sized follow-up… well, a new board game rules the roost in this house.

Based on the mega-popular Wingspan, this smaller, nimbler variant is designed to be played in just 25 minutes or so. Because it's made up of cards and a few tokens, it also requires much less real estate. (The original board game had some spectacular plumage, but it ate up table space like a gannet.) However, the most crucial difference with Wingspan Pocket is that it's so much easier to play… but is arguably just as fun. I spend a lot of time testing the best board games so would like to think I've got a good idea of what works, and I've got a very good feeling from this. My family enjoys Winspan but can feel overwhelmed by it if we haven't played for a while, so I appreciate that this one streamlines the system into something much more manageable.

You're still collecting birds here, but you don't need an entire menagerie; you just have to get six. Once half a dozen are arranged in a flock on the table, that's it – game over. Players then get another turn until everyone has had an equal number of goes, and you tally up your score. This means you can be done in a fraction of the time.

The way you get birds is the same too, but has been similarly tidied up. Rather than relying on dice rolls to earn resources, each bird card has a random resource symbol printed on the back. These are laid out in a row of four decks you can draw from each turn, and they'll be used to pay for any feathered friends you'd like in your flock. It's so much more deliberate than the original, because even though you're still at the mercy of chance based on what's at the top of each deck, there are always four to choose from at any given time. Plus, there seem to be a lot of 'double' resources available, with certain bird abilities allowing you to swap or ignore specific values. Canny players have options as a result.

The key is when to strike. Actually, that's true of everything about Wingspan Pocket. You have limited space for birds so must balance how many points they'll earn you at the end with their abilities. In addition, those abilities can only be used when the bird card is locked into your flock… so get ready to make some tough, quick-fire decisions on what to use, and when. Should you deploy something that allows you to use a resource in place of anything else, even though the bird itself earns you fewer points when all is said and done? Or are you better off going for a bird with a higher score, but less interesting abilities? I've only just started scratching the surface of this board game, and there's already a lot to consider.

This extends to the fact that your match draws to a close when anyone has added six birds to their flock. It adds a ticking clock to proceedings, because you don't want to be caught out by the endgame without having done everything you want… and by the same token, it adds pressure to keep an eye on what your foes are doing in case they're planning to end the game early to stop you in your tracks.

Even if it all goes awry, this only adds to the "one more match" element of Wingspan Pocket. There's always some new tactic or approach you'll want to try, and that's catnip to me. I can see it being a great travel board game as a direct result, because it'll keep you amused across many evenings of play on vacation.

It reminds me of Catan On the Road, which sunk its hooks into me nice and early too. Both condense their inspiration into something much more bitesize, all without losing what made the originals special.

Just proceed with caution, though; if you're anything like me, Wingspan Pocket may sweep you off your feet too.

For something else to play on the go, don't miss the best card games. As for something you can enjoy with your loved ones, be sure to check out our guide to the best family board games.

• Browse today's best discounts on board games at Amazon

The Pokemon Company will begin using facial recognition at official Pokemon Card Stores in Japan in an effort to discourage scalpers.

The publisher already announced this summer that it would use standardized, but not mandatory, Japanese ID called My Number Cards to verify some transactions made through the official Japanese Pokemon TCG website. Soon, it'll be harder to buy a TCG pack than board an international flight.

The company explains its intentions to use facial recognition in a post on its Japanese website (h/t IGN) revealing the start of Pokemon Card Stores, which will be dedicated to selling Pokemon Trading Card Game packs and related merch, as well as hosting free classes to learn the ways of Pokemon TCG. All five initial stores located across Japan will, according to machine translation, be outfitted with facial recognition "to prevent crime."

The Pokemon Company says anyone elementary school age and older will have their facial data slurped up by their recognition system, but preschoolers will not, as 3-year-olds are presumably deemed low-risk. After all, everyone knows you never start cranking up the price on resold TCG packs until the ketchup-and-mayo grime of second grade starts gettng to you.

In Japan, certain new products launch under a lottery system, and store workers give everyone who lines up outside a number that lets them buy the product when it's called. So, with its new facial recognition system, The Pokemon Company is hoping it can prevent nefarious resellers by correctly allocating one number per buyer, preventing people from showing up on line multiple times, or padding the line with multiple buyers.

The company also instructs potential buyers to alert staff if they have to leave to use the bathroom. Who knows, they could be planning to stick on a fake mustache and googly-eye glasses while they're in there.

Clearly, based on the intense defenses The Pokemon Company is raising, scalping and stealing is a serious international problem in the Pokemon TCG community. Earlier this year, an unofficial store in New York was even robbed at gunpoint of $100,000 worth of merchandise.

Though, I don't know if The Pokemon Company turning its stores into a surveillance state makes me feel especially safe, either.

Pokemon dev Game Freak says its history informed Beast of Reincarnation's feeling of "becoming partners through gameplay" despite looking totally different.

As soon as Kill Team: Exodite was announced, folks went nuts for its dinosaur riders. And you know what? That's fair. Space elves on the back of dragon-esque velociraptors is one hell of a sales pitch. However, this hides the most appealing thing about the box set.

Aeldari cavalry are all good and well, but the real gem is what they're sitting on – a kickass singleplayer or co-op campaign. This is far more in-depth than I'd expected, and while it's not going to dethrone Warhammer Quest: Darkwater, Kill Team: Exodite feels more like the best board games than I'd anticipated.

If you haven't been keeping up with the grimdark future, this is the latest installment for Warhammer 40K's smaller, leaner spinoff that brings back the eponymous Exodites – isolationist Aeldari who fled to "maiden worlds" before the collapse of their civilization. These guys are famous for riding dinosaurs (or "dragons," as they call them) into battle, so you're getting three here alongside a couple of what I like to think of as emotional support dinos. This Kill Team is being pitted against the Beast Snagga Boyz – Orks that love the thrill of the hunt.

As you might expect, this puts the two on a collision course. The Orks are keen to hunt those maiden worlds for their wildlife, while the Exodite Dragon Masters are honor-bound to protect those same planets. There's no chance of a peaceful solution here, so players must saddle up as dino-knights to see off the Orkish invaders across a sprawling campaign of missions. These greenskins are controlled by a clever matrix of behaviours, meaning you don't need anyone to control them.

Much like Armageddon, the launch box for Warhammer 40K's latest edition, Kill Team: Exodite does a great job of making you feel as though the weight of an entire world rests on your shoulders. A lot of time is spent building up the lore of the maiden world that the Orks have invaded, and the campaign itself features branching paths based on the approach you want to take or your success. This really puts you in the driver's seat and makes you feel in charge of this story.

However, unlike the previous box set, Kill Team: Terror on Devlan, your characters earn upgrades as they progress. This only helps enrich that sense of ownership.

Is it odd that Kill Team has focused on two singleplayer/co-op campaigns rather than its traditional competitive match-type? Yeah, a bit – and I'm now eager to see what the next 'season' holds, because we're due a head-to-head box set with a new Kill Zone to fight over. (I can't believe it's already been a year since we last got that with Kill Team: Tomb World.) But I shouldn't complain, because this fits a niche that 40K didn't really have – a legitimate singleplayer mode. We don't all have regular gaming groups or friends who like to play, after all, so this is a great way of getting matches in solo.

Plus, you do get some awesome dragon-riding space elves. So there's always that, if nothing else.

Looking for other recommendations? Don't miss our guide to the best tabletop RPGs. As for more Warhammer, the Ogor Mawtribes have won me over with how gross their mechanics are.

I used to love the heroes in a half-shell as a kid, but I didn't really remember how much until I cracked open some MTG Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle booster packs. This crossover is such a love letter to the series, with deep cuts that had me going "oh yeah, I remember them!" and generally geeking out.

Designed to be fully compatible with core Magic: The Gathering, MTG Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cards can be played with most match types… and they're currently a lot cheaper to get hold of than usual thanks to Best Buy's Black Friday in July sale. Numerous box sets – from the co-op Turtle Team-Up to fast-paced Draft Night – are on offer right now, and the prices here are far better than I'm seeing at the likes of Amazon. Because Magic's one of the best card games, such massive savings aren't as common.

Now, there is some consternation amongst the community about crossover sets like these because of whether or not they 'fit' Magic's aesthetic… not to mention how they're taking up increasingly more space on the release schedule. Indeed, the issue recently blew up when MTG head designer Mark Rosewater says fans must adapt or "walk away" if they don't like Universes Beyond. While I agree with those concerns (it's jarring to see Donatella fighting alongside high fantasy goblins, for example, and I'm bummed out at them taking up 50% of the lineup), I don't think you could ever claim that Magic isn't putting 100% into the design of releases like MTG Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Besides boasting sumptuous art, they have clever mechanics – like Sneak, which allows you to swap out cards and hit your opponent with a nasty surprise – that genuinely enrich the game. As such, I do understand the appeal.

Particularly if you're a diehard fan of the franchise in question. Like I say, I was instantly transported back to being a kid in front of the cartoon on Saturday morning when opening packs, and that's the kind of feeling I wish I could bottle.

• Browse more MTG deals at Amazon

For more tabletop recommendations, be sure to stop by our guide to the best board games and the best tabletop RPGs.

Jimothy, the viral raccoon from Seattle with suspected short spine syndrome, has been added to numerous games by modders, and many developers have paid tribute on social media with art featuring the raccoon in their games' style. Wizards of the Coast has gone one step further, though, by creating an official Dungeons & Dragons stat block for the "beloved cryptid."

Companies often try to jump on viral trends as part of their marketing, and few things have gone as viral as Jimothy's long legs and rotund frame. The raccoon with the rare mutation can be found all over the internet, not just in the few clips of him frolicking around the neighborhood.

The teams behind Cult of the Lamb, World of Warcraft, Old School Runescape, P.I. Mouse For Hire, Dead by Daylight, Among Us, and undoubtedly many more have all released pictures on social media of Jimothy rendered in their games' art styles. Modders who are enamored with Jimothy have also added him to Skyrim and Stardew Valley.

Triptherift's mod will let you interact with and talk to Jimothy in Skyrim. Kirbysteaks has added Jimothy to Stardew Valley as a type of livestock, and plurffle has made a mod that allows you to purchase Jimothy from Marnie, once you have your pet license, of course.

However, to our knowledge, only one company has been brave enough to officially add our latest overlord into its game. Wizards of the Coast has released an official stat block for Jimothy in Dungeons & Dragons and has bestowed upon him the title of "Beloved Cryptid." His special skills include 'Compact Frame,' which allows him to squeeze through gaps less than four inches wide, and 'Hurl Garbage,' a ranged attack that bludgeons and poisons the target.

Jimothy hasn't officially shown up in a video game yet, but we're sure it's only a matter of time.

Hasbro CEO says "you should expect more" crossovers for D&D

MagicCon Amsterdam 2026 had a lot to say, to the point that I'm still reeling. Between announcements for brand-new sets in 2027 and a host of Secret Lair drops, it was a flurry of reveals that didn't stop hitting across the weekend. Fans of the best card games were eating well, let's just put it that way.

Because so much was unveiled, and keeping up with it all is something of a headache, I've rounded up the biggest news from MagicCon Amsterdam 2026 (an annual celebration of Magic: The Gathering with big news and community events) right here. That includes a bite-sized summary, so you can catch up on the latest happenings quickly.

2027 release schedule

As well as giving fans the lowdown on 2026's releases, we got the lowdown on next year's lineup – and it feels pretty stacked. There are three new sets dropping in 2027 that introduce new settings or bring back old favorites, interspersed with three Universes Beyond sets that have yet to be revealed.

Nauctis: The Sunken Realm – February 7 2027

Magic is finally getting its underwater setting! This has been one of the most requested planes for a while, and players will be able to explore the oceans from shallows to abyss in this set. Humans are the outlier here and must use diving suits to get by in a world of sea-dwelling species like lobster folk.

Kamigawa: Titanbreach – June 4, 2027

The Japan-inspired plane of Kamigawa returns next year, but it isn't alone; it's being invaded by Ikoria, the plane of monsters. Basically, that means a Magic spin on Pacific Rim – we're talking mechs vs giant kaiju.

Zhalfir – October 1, 2027

One of Magic's oldest settings is returning at last after a long absence, this time in its own plane. The Afrofantasy Zhalfir is getting a full set for the first time, split between a world of endless day that's lit by five suns and the spirit realm of eternal darkness.

Universes Beyond

Although Wizards of the Coast announced that we would be getting three crossover sets in 2027, including when they'll arrive, there's no word on what they'll be. You can start theorizing now, in other words.

• Universes Beyond set – April 9, 2027
• Universes Beyond set – August 6, 2027
• Universe Beyond set – November 19, 2027

Reality Fracture

This year's final mainline set (Reality Fracture) was a major focus for Magic Con 2026, and we finally know what we're up against. Narratively, it's the culmination of longtime hero Jace's fall from grace. After suffering some pretty rotten luck over the last few years, such as being assimilated/'compleated' by the evil Phyrexians, he decided that enough was enough; this multiverse sucks, he thought, so it's time for a new one.

That's his mission in the set: replace the real world with his 'improved' multiverse (the "Echoverse") that removes villains like the Phyrexians. The downside is that it'd destroy the MTG world we've come to know and love. Because most people don't like the idea of being erased from existence, MTG's heroes are opposing him… but the Echoverse has created twisted reflections of each hero, so they'll be met by bizarre doppelgangers. Cue a massive fight.

Mechanically speaking, these Echoverse characters mirror their inspiration. The fire-wielding Chandra Nalaar is challenged by a frost-powered version, for example, while others flip the character's classic color association. As a case in point, standard green Garruk wants creatures to enter, while Echoverse black Garruk wants them to leave.

However, it's not just Planeswalkers who are getting mirror images. Every booster pack for the set features an 'echoed pair,' showing the normal version alongside a twisted variant. Similarly, a lot of classic MTG staples have also received Echoverse versions that flip the script.

Reality Fracture is available from October 2, 2026.

Secret Lair

All eyes may have been on Reality Fracture and 2027's lineup, but Secret Lair was quietly churning out surprise after surprise.

• Stardew Valley Superdrop: This is a crossover I never expected, but it's bringing the goods. A staggering number of cards have been created for the drop (as shown on MTG's blog), and they include a new-to-Magic Stardew Valley land card alongside a mechanic for gifting cards. It's out on July 27, 2026.
• Hatsune Miku: As of August 10, 2026, a Secret Lair Commander Deck themed around the virtual singer will take center stage.
• Hobbit Superdrop: It's not enough for The Hobbit to be getting its own set, because Secret Lair is getting in on the action with a range of different cards on August 14, 2026. That includes some very handsome food tokens detailing a hobbit's meal plan (from breakfast to supper) along with some gorgeous alt treatments that use drastically different styles like claymation.
• Masters of the Universe: Yes, He-Man and co are making their way to MTG as of September 14, 2026.
• A Perfectly Normal Superdrop: This range is available as of September 1, 2026 and features an incredibly random lineup of cards from Marvel characters like Joe Fixit to the return of classics such as the Shivan Dragon.
• Chaos Vault Het Moment Is Daar: Five cards bedecked in beautiful classic Marvel art became available during MagicCon, ranging from Scarlet Witch's Hex Magic to Spidey villain Hammerhead.
• Festival in a Box Amsterdam 2026: This drop went live during MagicCon and sold out pretty much instantly. A green-themed treasure trove, it featured a Mystery Booster 2 Display, four exclusive promo cards, and the Wild in Bloom drop.

The Hobbit

As the next set on the release schedule, MTG's Hobbit got plenty of love at Magic Con Amsterdam 2026. The focus was primarily on new cards, with an emphasis on those that introduce new or returning mechanics. The most notable ones are "Storied," which provides permanent bonuses if you control three or more artifacts, legendary permanents, and/or Sagas, and "Recruit," which lets you pick up a card, discard a card, and create a 1/1 white Human Soldier creature token if it was a nonland.

We also got our first look at some of the alt-art treatments for the set, which include old-school book cover cards and dwarvish language cards.

Community events

It wasn't just new sets and card reveals for Magic Con 2026; Wizards of the Coast also showed off the litany of community-focused events that'd be coming our way next year. Here are the headlines.

MagicCon 2027

Rather than just having a couple of MagicCon events for 2027, there will be four scattered across the globe next year.

• MagicCon Detroit: February 26-28, 2027
• MagicCon Tokyo: May 14-16, 2027
• MagicCon Las Vegas: August 27-29, 2027
• MagicCon Amsterdam: December 3-5, 2027

Mystery Booster Commander Edition

The Mystery Booster format is wildly popular despite only being available from in-person events like MagicCon, and it features both old favorites and weird playtest cards for a one-of-a-kind experience. So popular, in fact, that the idea is now being given a shakeup with a Commander-themed version. Besides the usual mix of previous cards, it's adding over 50 brand-new ones not seen anywhere else. A great example is Tolabow, Loch Rascal, which creates 1/1 otter tokens whenever you cast an instant or sorcery.

Hall of Fame

Think you have what it takes to become one of the best Magic players around? Now's your chance, because Wizards of the Coast is looking for new additions in 2026 and 2028. You can get the full details via the MTG blog, but you've got to have five "Top Finishes" in major events – e.g. you have to be in the top eight for the Arena Championship or have won the Magic Online Showcase over the past few years.

Want something to play while you wait for all this juicy Magic goodness to drop? Don't miss the best board games, or the best tabletop RPGs.

They say a change is as good as a rest, and by the end of Warhammer 40,000 10th Edition, I was in dire need of either.

Not that 10th Edition wasn't great – it had just gotten a little samey. Well, that's all out the window now because Warhammer 40K 11th Edition is here and I've smashed my way through a tournament's worth of games over the past two weeks to get the lowdown on the new version of the wargame.

We didn't get a full rules overhaul this time around – which means all our 10th edition Codexes still work and most of the core rules remain relatively familiar – but that doesn't mean that there haven't been some significant changes to the way we play Warhammer 40,000.

The good

Off the bat, I'll say this: I like Warhammer 40,000 11th Edition. It feels like a refined version of the game that we've all been playing for the past three years, with a lot of quality-of-life upgrades baked into it.

The overhauls to both terrain and objectives – which resulted in terrain becoming the objectives – have massively shaken up what a 40K board looks like, while the new army dispositions and asymmetric primary missions have given a similarly seismic shuffle to how we build our lists and play the game itself.

Secondary missions feel fairer too, because you can stockpile them, so you're never punished for drawing "Behind Enemy Lines" in the early game or pulling "Assassinate" when all your opponent's characters are hidden.

Getting to build your army towards a specific goal instead of generic missions adds a ton of flavour; my Necrons don't care much for reconnaissance, but they do love to stand in a place and proudly declare dibs, and I can build a list almost exclusively with that in mind now. I love the new detachment system, which lets you glue multiple detachments together to buff different unit types. It helps massively in the flavour department, something that was often lacking in 10th.

Battleshock is more impactful; attached characters no longer forget half of their rules when their unit dies; flying units can actually fly over buildings again… the list of improvements goes on and on.

To top it all off, this feels like the most balanced start to an edition of Warhammer 40K that I can remember, and, most importantly, the game is fun to play. I'm having a great time, and so are my opponents. What more could you want?

The bad

OK, now for all the "more you could want".

I said this is the most balanced start to an edition of Warhammer 40K that we've ever had, and while I stand by that, some balance issues are creeping up already, specifically around the five dispositions. Take & Hold, Priority Assets, and Reconnaissance all seem to be broadly in line with each other, but the other two have some issues.

Purge the Foe is just too strong and too singularly focused as it stands. While other dispositions need to vary up their game plan a little, Purge the Foe just needs to kill you stone dead. There's a danger it pushes the game into a "who can table who first" competition, which is rarely a fun time for Warhammer.

Disruption has the opposite issue; it asks too much of players, and the rewards are just a bit weaker than those in other detachments. You need an ungodly number of trash units to make it work, which means you can find yourself bleeding resources just to keep up, while your opponent has a much simpler and less costly objective to achieve. The missions can be tweaked, so I'm not too worried here long term, but it's an issue to acknowledge.

Some matchups also feel a tad noninteractive – games where players can avoid getting into a serious brawl with each other and still score 80+ points each. This can lead to some boring-ass games of 40K, so I'd like to see tweaks to these mission combos to force some engagement.

Another elephant in the room is that "toeing into terrain" is back. In 10th edition, if you touched a unit (like a tank) partially into a building, you could see into it, but not out the other side – you needed to be entirely within that terrain piece to shoot out the other side. That's no longer the case in 11th, and when combined with the new terrain layouts, it results in some frighteningly long sight lines across the board.

Fast guns are always strong in 40K, but this rule change is stacking the deck further in their direction. 10th Edition was smart enough to avoid this mistake. Again, this is an easy fix, and I suspect 11th will eventually revert to the old ways, but for now, prepare to get blasted from downtown.

The unknown

We're less than a month into the lifespan of Warhammer 40K 11th edition, and we have no idea what's in store for us as the edition progresses.

The codexes remain a mystery, beyond a brief glance at the contents page for the debut book – Codex Orks – from the Big Summer Preview, and they're certainly going to shake up the foundations of the game in a big way. We've seen a taster of how they'll work with the swathe of 1DP detachments that were added to the game alongside the Armageddon launch box, but these are bolt-ons to make the 10th Edition books work with 11th Edition.

The codexes will be built with this new edition in mind, and that offers a lot of opportunities for great (and terrible) things. GW are no strangers to releasing an overpowered codex at the best of times, but now they need to balance books built for 11th against a bunch of hangers-on from the previous iteration.

Hell, even some of the 1DP detachments they've already added are a little too strong, with the Librarius Conclave and Sekhetar Cohort both springing to mind. We've got our first balance pass due any day now, and I'm sure they'll get some appropriate nerfs, but it's a constant game of whack-a-mole that we've seen before.

For something to play in between matches, why not check out the best board games?

If "murderhobo" was an army, I think it'd be the Warhammer Age of Sigmar Ogor Mawtribes. These monstrous gluttons are interested in one thing: eating and fighting. Well, that's two – but in my defense, they're one and the same thing for these horrors.

The mechanics of the Mawtribes' overindulgence force me to really play up to that idea, which ends up the perfect marriage of theme with gameplay. Everything about the Ogor Mawtribes is designed to make them hit hard and chow down harder, with combat often allowing your troops to take literal chunks out of other Warhammer Age of Sigmar armies. They're utterly disgusting, and that really helps them stand out from their rivals.

Barbaric goodness

This faction of gross gourmands was first introduced in 2005 for the Warhammer Fantasy Battles system, but back then, they were simply known as Ogres. Their range didn't change much with the introduction of the streamlined Age of Sigmar wargame; they simply got a new title and were left to it, becoming a nomadic species known for their love of food and fighting. That means many of their models are now decades old, and while they've held up surprisingly well to the ravages of time, they're in dire need of a spruce… and that's exactly what 2026's refresh does.

The Ogor Mawtribes Army Set is our first chance to take this revamp for a spin, and I was able to get my hands on a copy early following its announcement in the Big Summer Warhammer Preview 2026. Although it's lighter on headcount (which should tell you something about how hard the faction hits), there's plenty of barbaric goodness inside. Besides a full Spearhead force featuring a Tyrant leader, Maulbeast Cavalry, elite Ironguts infantry, and Gluttons foot-soldiers, the set includes a special edition version of the Battletome alongside 52 Warscroll cards.

I went into this unsure of what to expect, because my only experience with Ogors have been via mercenary units for the likes of Cities of Sigmar (a faction that brings back the weird, old Warhammer I love so dearly). However, it's immediately obvious that these new models are so much more dynamic than their forebears while still honoring their distinctive vibe. As is probably befitting their more… to-the-point attitude, they're really not that complicated to make. However, that doesn't mean they lack personality. There are plenty of customization options (more so than last year's excellent Helsmiths of Hashut, anyway), and while you'll need to be careful of certain heads only working on specific torsos, you can personalize the force a decent amount.

Bowled over

Their gameplay is an equally no-fuss affair. The Ogor Mawtribes aren't interested in the art of war or complex weaponry; they just wanna hit stuff, and then eat it whenever possible. This translates to incredibly tough troops who hit hard but will always be outnumbered – particularly with the Mawglutt Maurauders Spearhead featured in this box, whose troops don't all turn up until later in the game. This apparently represents their nomadic nature, but it also likely evens the playing field.

That kind of theme-to-mechanics thinking carries over into visceral, hard-hitting rules that make this army a lot of dumb fun to use. I adore the "Eat 'Em Alive" rule, for example; it shows your Ogors having picked up enemy body parts to chew on during the fight phase, providing numerous benefits like adding to their Control score or giving them dangerous bonuses. The "Bull Charge" is also a laugh; after charging, you can move your target three inches back to represent them being bowled over like tenpins.

All this makes the Ogor Mawtribes army a great fit for anyone that prefers the "just smack things" approach to Warhammer, or as a starter force that doesn't need to deal with much complexity. Mawtribes is also a great choice for a second army as a result, because its smaller number of models makes it easier to paint quickly, and the rules don't require quite as much juggling as others.

In other words? This is one of the few times where the game actively encourages you to be a murderhobo…

Looking for something else you can play on the tabletop? Don't miss our guide to the best board games.

MTG has revealed three new sets for 2027, featuring both fan-favorite and unfamiliar settings that will arrive alongside as-yet unnamed Universes Beyond products.

Revealed as a part of Magic Con 2026, these three new sets will launch between February and October of next year. They divide attention between long-requested ideas like an underwater setting and the return of beloved realms – in this case, Kamigawa and Zhalfir. Fans of the best card games will likely recognize the latter two as they've been part of MTG lore for a long time, but these upcoming appearances drastically shake things up. For Kamigawa, it's being beset by giant monsters… forcing citizens to armor up in powerful mechs. As for Zhalfir, it's getting a full set for the first time and will dive deep into rich Afrofantasy lore we've not seen before.

So, what about those Universes Beyond releases? It's certainly a hot topic right now (especially after MTG head designer Mark Rosewater says fans must adapt or "walk away" if they don't like Universes Beyond), but publisher Wizards of the Coast is staying quiet for now. All we know from Magic Con 2026 is that three unnamed sets will launch in April, August, and November – with more details to follow.

Nauctis The Sunken Realm – February 5, 2027

This water-world takes us beneath the waves of a brand-new setting, charting welcoming shallows to the deepest abyss. While we've seen plenty of underwater creatures and locales throughout Magic's history, this is the game's first purely ocean-bound set.

That means a host of new species beyond the merfolk you're likely to expect, ranging from lobster folk and strange penguin sages to walrus warriors. (Humans are the minority here, requiring diving gear to get anywhere.) Taking place under the sea also makes this the first set in a long while, if ever, to ditch MTG's 'flying' mechanic. You can't fly underwater and positioning isn't such an issue when you can swim in any direction, after all. While we don't know much about it, MTG devs are promising an evasive replacement.

A unique challenge of Nauctis was apparently working out how all five mana colors look – and operate – underwater. MTG's solution includes the likes of green-adjacent kelp forests, black-themed whale carcasses on the ocean floor, and hot springs to represent red.

Kamigawa Titanbreach – June 4, 2027

We're going back to the Japan-inspired plane of Kamigawa next summer, but it's not quite as you remember – and that probably has something to with it being invaded by Ikoria, the plane of monsters. The result is basically Pacific Rim; kaiju are rampaging across the world, and mechs are deployed to stop them. Chunks of Ikoria itself are also tumbling into Kamigawa like meteors, so it's very unlikely either setting will come out of this the same.

According to the design team, a lot of focus has been placed on how the people of Kamigawa cope with the invasion of monsters that literally dwarf everything around them – and you quickly get a sense of that from artwork where heroes are tiny specs on artwork featuring larger-than-life foes. What does it mean for these two worlds to combine, and what happens to the citizens stuck in the middle? It feels like we may end up with an MTG Lorwyn Eclipsed situation going forward, where both realms are entwined together.

Zhalfir – October 1, 2027

One of Magic's older locations is finally making a triumphant return toward the end of next year, and this is the first time we're seeing it explored as its own setting (Zhalfir was originally located on Dominaria but phased out during the First Phyrexian War, and has come back as a plane in its own right). It's divided between a world of endless day lit by five suns and the spirit realm, a place of eternal darkness that's home to ancestors… but also monsters.

This Afrofantasy world is heavily inspired by African culture and mythology. With that in mind, the team worked to make sure it was as authentic and Afrocentric as possible, using cultural consultants, Afro-futurist authors, and African historians to ensure it stayed true to that ideal. (It's also worth noting that the trailer for the set featured a predominantly Black development team.)

"I hope the people who see this and haven't seen themselves represented in such a way, I just hope they feel empowered, excited, energized, and inspired to also know that they are represented, their body-types are represented," says senior art director and concept artist for Zhalfir, Lauren Brown.

Want something to play while we wait for these new sets? Try the best board games.

The debate over third-party franchises in MTG has raged for years now, but the issue just came to a head with head designer Mark Rosewater suggesting that those who don't like Universes Beyond should either adapt or leave the game behind.

In response to a fan expressing concern over how Rosewater responded to previous complaints about Universes Beyond, the designer writes on tumblr that there are only three paths forward for fans of the best card games: they must either accept the change, find like-minded players who don't want to use crossover sets, or "walk away" from MTG altogether.

"None of those is inherently easy," Rosewater says after comparing some fans' dislike of Universes Beyond to his own struggle in adapting to the player-led Commander format. "I really do understand your pain." However, he warns that there's no going back to how things used to be; the genie's out of the bottle.

"This just isn’t the way the game or the world works. Once the toothpaste is out of the tube, it’s just not going back in," he suggests. "Whether you like or dislike Universe Beyond, it has fundamentally changed the nature of what the game is. It’s taking the game to a whole new level, in both scope and awareness, much like Commander forever changed how people saw and interacted with the game."

Fans on reddit are taking issue with that comparison to Commander, though. As pointed out by user Anubara in the thread's most upvoted comment, "there's a difference between 'I don't like commander, so I will continue playing 60 card formats and not interact with commander', and 'I don't like universes beyond, but it's legal in every format.'" Many seem to be in agreement; KARLWHEEZER says that "the issue is that it really is unavoidable at every level of magic aside from draft and cube," while others criticize how Commander is an opt-in format compared to Universes Beyond now being available across most major playstyles.

For what it's worth, I understand fan frustration. While it looks like a cool set, it'll be jarring to see the likes of Captain Kirk in November's Star Trek (which features ultra-rare cards signed by actors) beating up dragons. Yes, we had the sci-fi Edge of Eternities last year, but that was designed from the ground up to be a part of the MTG multiverse – it shared a lot of design language with Magic mainstays. By contrast, Star Trek, TMNT, and the rest can feel sort of… thematically tacked on, as it were, despite having a lot of love put into them both mechanically and in terms of overall design. (I'll argue with anyone who says they're phoned in, because that's simply not true.)

Still, I also understand where Rosewater is coming from. There's no denying how popular Universes Beyond is, and as he says, you can't put the toothpaste back into the tube now; it's too much of a success for that. After all, last year's Final Fantasy set was one of the fastest-selling MTG sets ever made, period - and according to MTG owner Hasbro's Q1 2026 financial report, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was a big hit too. Plus, the simple fact that more Universes Beyond sets are being produced than ever suggests this hasn't been an isolated incident. As such, I suppose we've got no choice but to find a way of living in a world where Universes Beyond make up 50% of annual MTG releases.

It may not always be this way, of course; in a tumblr response to fan feedback, Rosewater has reiterated that Magic "will always follow the will of the players, as a collective whole [...] Just because we do something one way doesn’t mean we will always do it that way. If opinion shifts, we will shift with it."

In short? Universes Beyond might not always be the focus it is right now.

Any change would come down to the community voting with their wallet though, and at the moment, sales indicate that many are digging Universes Beyond... even if those sets aren't to everyone's liking. Rosewater addresses this directly by pointing out that "what you personally believe the direction of the game should go might not be the current desire of the collective whole. And recognizing your perspective is not lined up with that of the larger collective can be hard to do."

All the same, Rosewater makes it clear that he isn't trying to silence fans by saying this or with previous talk of walking away. In his response, he writes that "we very much listen to what you all are saying, and I never want people to feel that they shouldn’t be empowered to share their opinion."

What do you think? Is Universes Beyond pushing you away from MTG, or are you all in on crossovers? Let me know in the comments.

Want something to take your mind off all this? Try the best board games or, if you're planning a vacation, the best travel board games.

We've now got our first look at MTG Star Trek after months of waiting, and fans of the franchise should set their phasers to "holy crap" – it includes some incredibly cool but impossibly rare cards collectors will wanna get their hands on.

Alongside the reveal of a (surprisingly extensive) product lineup that ranges from Commander Decks to beginner boxes, publisher Wizards of the Coast pulled back the curtain on the set's most valuable cards: extremely limited character cards signed in person by the actors. While there are seven of these cards in total (including Captain Kirk and Captain Janeway so far), only 200 or so have been made for each one across the entire MTG Star Trek range.

As you might expect, these aren't going to turn up just anywhere. The signed autograph cards can only be found in Collector Booster packs, so fans of both Star Trek and the best card games should make a beeline for those when MTG Star Trek launches in November 2026.

Naturally, those weren't the only cards to be shown off. We also got our first look at an Enterprise card (the Enterprise D from Next Generation) that brings back the 'Station' mechanic from last year's sci-fi Edge of Eternities set. In essence, you've got to use creatures to power it up with charge counters until it activates, at which point it becomes a powerful artifact creature in its own right. This represents crew-members manning their posts.

By the looks of things, thematic mechanics such as this are laced throughout MTG Star Trek. The Borg can assimilate and take over rival creature cards, for example, letting you infect the table. (Resistance is futile, after all.) Meanwhile, Captain Janeway 'Explores' just as she does in Voyager – you reveal the top card of your library, and if it's a land, you put it into your hand.

Thematic mechanics like this will be seen in full force throughout MTG Star Trek's four Commander Decks. Speaking of which, here's everything you need to know about them along with the other products launching as part of MTG Star Trek:

We'll apparently get more details about MTG Star Trek over the next few months, with a large info dump to come in October. The set will then launch in November, 2026.

For something to play before then, why not check out the best board games? As for more Magic, MTG Hobbit reignites the "no pumpkins allowed in Middle-earth" debate, and yes, it's as wild as it sounds.

I wasn't expecting a board game to unlock this primal fear of the sea within me, but here we are. Trapped beneath the waves and running out of oxygen with an armful of treasure weighing you down? Er, no, thank you. I'll pass.

Except I won't, as Deep Sea Adventure is a bloody excellent board game.

Developed by Oink Games (those of Scout fame), this aquatic board game is all about nabbing as much loot from the ocean floor as possible before running out of air – you're playing chicken with the sea, basically. It's clearly taken notes from the best travel board games, too; it comes in a tiny box, doesn't take ages to play, and is pretty simple yet very replayable.

The tricky part here is knowing when to call it quits. There are four tiers of treasure with increasingly high points values to choose from, but the most valuable gear sits right at the bottom of the ocean. Because this uses up the most oxygen to carry back, and the round ends once your shared air reaches zero, you've got to weigh up when to keep going or when to rush back to homebase. Plus, these treasure tiles being so far from the sub means you've got more ground to cover on your return journey. Seeing as you only move as many spaces as you can roll on two dice, going that deep is a risk – particularly late in a round.

Sure, luck plays a definite role – if you roll badly, you're in trouble. But that's why it's so important to judge when to stop. That's where the skill is; knowing your limits, as in many of the best board games.

I found this to be a really enchanting challenge. It's not difficult to grasp, but requires a lot of thought to come out on top. For me, that makes it a great choice for taking on vacation. OK, so I might not recommend it for a cruise – my nerves have limits, after all. But as a travel board game, it really cuts the mustard.

I'll just try not to think too hard about the imaginary divers who perished on our playtest sessions…

For more tabletop recommendations, don't miss the best family board games. As for something else on the go, you need this travel-size pirate card game.

The Warhammer 40,000 Introductory Set is like a good science teacher; it's patient, generous, doesn't take itself too seriously, and delights in blowing shit up for educational purposes. If you're new to Warhammer (or wargaming in general), rest easy. You're in good hands here.

Rather than tackling a 40 year-old game that's now on its 11th edition head on, this beginner box takes a different approach – it breaks everything down into bite-size, step-by-step chunks that are easy to get your head around. The Warhammer 40,000 Introductory Set also provides everything you need to get started in this hobby, from paints to accessories. Although there are some compromises (clippers would have been a nice addition, and it could do with extra paints like white), it's surprisingly good value overall.

Warhammer 40,000 Introductory Set features & design

True to its name, the Warhammer 40K Introductory Box Set aims to give you a taste for the game – and provide a springboard you can use to jump into full games. The box furnishes you with a small armory of content, and I'm genuinely impressed with what you get.

First up, you'll become the proud general of six Space Marines (five Intercessors along with a Lieutenant) and just as many Orks (five Boyz and a Boss Nob). These come in pieces that you simply twist off the sprue and push together - no glue required. Even if it's your first time making a Warhammer model, it shouldn't take much more than a half an hour per side. Everything slots neatly and logically into place.

Second, you receive a handful of paints along with a paintbrush to slap some color on your models. When combined with a range ruler, dice, a battlemat, and thin card scenery, your tabletop battles will start to look fancy.

Finally, you'll find a streamlined rulebook with an introduction to the game's mechanics in addition to some backstory that helps ground you in the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

In other words, it's a comprehensive starter pack. While I think a couple of extra key paints and clippers would seal the deal (the latter allows you to remove pieces from sprues without leaving plastic nubs on your models), I'm genuinely taken aback at how good this offering is.

Plus, the models aren't repeats - we've never seen them before. While it would have been easy to include the same Space Marine Intercessors and Ork Boyz featured in other sets (such as this edition's launch box, Armageddon), these sculpts are unique. Crucially, I'd argue that they're more dynamic on the whole. They feel like individuals with distinct characters, not unlike operatives from Warhammer's Kill Team skirmish game.

Gameplay

If you're concerned about being overwhelmed, don't be; although there's a lot to take in with 40K, the Warhammer 40,000 Introductory Set breaks it all down into bite-size chunks that drip-feed everything you need to know across multiple missions. Much like the Kill Team Starter Set, it does this with step-by-step actions that are given a light-touch narrative so you aren't just drudging through dry mechanics. There are plenty of examples that help contextualize what's going on too, so most should find they have a good grasp of what's going on before long.

Once these tutorials are finished, it's time for war. You're then let loose with all the box's models on scenarios that provide your first proper taste of Warhammer. This isn't the full Warhammer 40K, of course; it's a stripped back version so as not to overwhelm newcomers. However, this will give you the grounding you need to jump into 40K proper.

Are you going to hunger for something more once you've run a few matches? Absolutely. Those flimsy card terrain pieces leave something to be desired as well, because they're incredibly thin so could tear or bend under pressure. But as a first step into Warhammer 40,000, I'd say this Introductory Set nails the assignment.

Should you buy the Warhammer 40,000 Introductory Set?

In the end, whether you should buy the Warhammer 40K Introductory Set can be answered with a single question: are you undecided about whether you'll commit to Warhammer 40,000, or are you totally new to wargaming? If the answer to either of those is yes, it's the perfect on-ramp. It has everything you need to get going, and those bite-size missions ease you into the mechanics.

If the answer is no, though, you may be better off looking elsewhere. The full Starter Set provides Warhammer 40K's complete rules and features two full Combat Patrol armies alongside a table's worth of plastic terrain. It's excellent value overall. Meanwhile, the individual starter boxes for Space Marines and Orks get you a playable army with the necessary paints and quickstart rules. They're a money-conscious way of starting an army if you just want one of those factions, not both.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

This sample was provided by the manufacturer.

League of Legends trading card game Riftbound is set to release its fourth set, Vendetta, later this month on July 31. Previews of cards for the upcoming set have already begun, and we here at GamesRadar+ have our very own duo of cards to share with players excited to see what's coming next for one of the best card games in recent years.

It's worth noting here that Vendetta is set to introduce new mechanics like Flow, Burn, and Empower alongside the new unit type Unit-Gear (which counts as both) as well as "decrees" – all of which you can read about in the official Riftbound: Vendetta overview.

Zed, From the Shadows

Our big reveal for this particular set is the Overnumbered Champion Unit Zed, From the Shadows. He's got 4 Might and costs 4 Energy on top of the requirement to recycle a Fury rune. Fairly straightforward, but that's about where things end.

"You may discard 1 as an additional cost to play me" gets its own line, and technically is its own ability. While this Zed card doesn't feature Flow, Burn, or Empower, discarding to the trash is an interesting ability given how many different mechanics now play with the trash.

If you've paid the additional cost while playing Zed, you can also play a 0 Might Shadow Clone unit token. But, what does that mean, exactly? I'm so glad you asked…

Shadow Clone

On paper, a 0 Might unit token isn't necessarily going to wow anyone, but Shadow Clone's ability to banish a unit from your trash when attacking in order to give it Assault 4 on a turn (+4 Might when attacking) can be fairly menacing. Something that was once harmless is suddenly rather deadly with a single banished card. Because the Shadow Clone operates as its own unit, this also opens up all sorts of other shenanigans based on positioning or unit-targeting spells.

Further Riftbound: Vendetta cards are expected to be revealed through July 18, so be sure to keep an eye on the official Riftbound card gallery. As noted above, Riftbound: Vendetta is set to release on July 31, and we'll be sure to keep you updated on where to buy Riftbound cards.

For recommendations on what to play while you wait, why not try the best board games? If you're arranging a vacation, on the other hand, here are the best travel board games.

We're just a month or so away from the release of MTG The Hobbit, but those tricksy halflings are up to mischief already – the community has cottoned on to there being pumpkins in Magic's version of the Shire, and it's reignited a debate that's sent me down one hell of a rabbit hole.

As often happens with new sets for the best card games, MTG The Hobbit features specially themed cards… including seasonal basic lands that follow a hobbit hole through the year from Spring to snowy Winter. One card has pumpkins in pride of place outside the door for Fall, and that's where our problem begins. You see, pumpkins aren't allowed in Middle-earth. As in, at all – and the Tolkien estate has a history with making damn sure these squashes are forcibly evicted from Lord of the Rings.

In a reddit thread discussing the cards, user PublicOutcome27 points out that "it's really weird to see giant orange pumpkins (Themselves a modern breed from the 60s/70s [...]) in the Shire" before giving a very insightful explanation as to why that blew my mind. Middle-earth is apparently supposed to be prehistoric Europe in a time history forgot (with the Shire being roughly where modern-day Oxford is in England today), so Tolkien was dedicated to making sure it highlighted local flora and fauna you'd find on that continent. Because pumpkins are found in North America, they shouldn't be available here. Sorry, Bilbo Baggins – no Jack-o-Lantern for you.

While MTG seems to have gotten away with this, other developers haven't been so lucky. As originally discussed in a Polygon article, developers who'd worked on Lord of the Rings-related video game projects told stories about how the Tolkien estate came down hard on them for including pumpkins and even tomatoes in their work. Hidden Path Entertainment CEO Jeff Pobst says that his team at the time "had pumpkin patches in the Shire" for a Fellowship of the Ring game from the early 2000s, "and the Tolkien Enterprises people went nuts about it." They then had to pause production while these were removed.

Honestly, it feels like a bit of a weird hill to die on – and Tolkien himself had to backtrack after including New World produce in his work like potatoes, corn, and tobacco. (He suggested that Aragorn's ancestors, the Numenoreans, may have shipped it over.) And as pointed out by Fit-Government8676, "i could be wrong but i dont think there were elves and nazgul in europe either."

What do you think? Would you prefer that pumpkins stay away from Middle-earth, or are you happy for the halflings to invent pumpkin spice lattes a few millennia early?

For recommendations on what to play before MTG The Hobbit arrives, why not try the best board games or the best tabletop RPGs? As for gaming on the go, we're also covering the best travel board games right now.

Former Grinding Gear Games co-founder and Path of Exile co-creator Chris Wilson previously sold parts of his Magic: The Gathering card collection "to fund the company" during PoE's development, but has since amassed one of the biggest and most valuable Magic collections the world has ever seen, as he demonstrates in a new video.

Wilson could – but in this video, does not – claim to have one of the top 10 or even top five biggest Magic collections known to exist.

Showing off "My Oldest Magic: The Gathering Cards," Wilson shows page after page, pile after pile, of high-value and hard-to-find Magic cards dating back decades. From Alpha icons to The Dark, Legends, Antiquities and many other early sets, in this brief look – which seems to represent a fraction of Wilson's library, which includes tens of thousands of Lands alone – the man comes across like a dragon walking you through his treasure hoard.

The headliner is obvious: 14 copies of Black Lotus, the most famous Magic card around, crown Wilson's collection. With 12 sleeved in a binder and two more 9-grade Lotuses safely encased in plastic slabs, Wilson is sitting on a fortune in cardboard flowers.

Wilson never really talks about the value of these cards – beyond turning his nose up at the prospect of paying modern prices for more Black Lotuses – and it can be difficult to price some rarities in a turbulent market. But these are apparently "raw Alpha copies" of Black Lotus with black borders, which can easily sell for five digits apiece, and often much closer to six digits, even ignoring private collectors who've reportedly shelled out millions for a Lotus.

The Lotuses are one thing, but there are also random pages in Wilson's binders that could kill a Magic player. The Magic: The Gathering Reddit community was agasp at collection bombs like 24 copies of The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale, a hotly contested Land which can go for thousands according to TCG Player.

Wilson has one or even two dozen copies of tons of cards that many people have never held in their life. He rifles through piles of the fabled "Power Nine," a set of cards – spiritually related to Yu-Gi-Oh's Power Five – from early sets that offered enormous advantage, often in the form of extra mana, but also via extra turns a la Time Walk.

The Power Nine were printed back when the goblins in the Magic designers' brains flip-flopped unpredictably between pack filler that will never be played because it's unfit to even absorb beer can condensation on the kitchen table, and nuclear weapons that can never be played because they're banned in every galaxy. Thank goodness Magic players don't have to deal with that anymore. The Black Lotus, a bite of free mana, is just one of these nine.

Condition is obviously a factor in resale value, but Wilson has at least 12 near-mint copies of every Mox artifact in Alpha, and he talks over them like nothing. Those are just the ones in a binder; he has loose, more damaged copies of even more Power Nine, including yet more Moxes. The video feels like a fever dream; I wouldn't have the patience to make proxies of all these. Wilson alone commands a non-trivial portion of the entire Alpha market.

"Alpha is special," he says of the formative Magic set. "Because this is the original history of the game. These are cards that dictated the future of what was gonna happen and set it in motion. If Alpha was bad, the rest of the game would never exist. But thankfully Alpha captured a generation of people and that's why we're still playing Magic to this day."

Gobsmacked Magic players also latched onto standouts like the sheets of Mishra's Workshop and Candelabra of Tawnos. Likewise, Wilson has 12 honest-to-god, white-border, Unlimited Ancestral Recalls. Don't worry, he says he "limited" himself to just a dozen because it would be "silly" to try and get 24 today. Signed Alpha cards dating back to the original artist run naturally round out the dizzying video.

"It just makes me feel so happy to go through sets like this and just appreciate the cool old stuff they printed – in my opinion, back when the game was even better than it is today," Wilson says. "Of course, that opinion's gonna vary."

Path of Exile co-creator tells developers "don't survey your players" because "'your audience is good at recognizing problems and bad at solving them'"

A Ghost in the Shell tabletop RPG is inbound, and it plunges players straight into the beloved story by letting them create their own Section 9 agent.

Developed by Mantic Games (the studio behind wargames like Halo: Flashpoint) and due to launch on Backerit later in July, this Ghost in the Shell tabletop RPG is based on the manga by Shirow Masamune rather than the anime. It promises to be "the most authentic tabletop roleplaying experience ever created" for the franchise, and features a custom system put together by the legendary designer Alessio Cavatore (co-creator of Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game, Mordheim, Kings of War, and more) alongside Zak Barouh, an award-winning tabletop RPG writer.

It's still early days so we can't tell for sure how this system will compare to the best tabletop RPGs, but Mantic promises that it "combines fast-paced, narrative-driven mechanics with the philosophical depth and visual flair that define The Ghost in the Shell." Judging by the sneak-peek via DrivethruRPG, it appears to use different dice to represent your character's skill rather than static numbers that provide a bonus. They might use a d8 for reflexes but have a d12 for hacking, say.

A lot also seems to hinge on your character's "Synthesis Conflict" that represents an inner conflict they're fighting. This provides "a way to reflect character development through a personal story tied to each Player Character," and uses aspects like duty vs. family, humanity vs. technology, or tradition vs. progress.

Not that the Ghost in the Shell tabletop RPG is purely philosophical, of course; you'll need to arm up with cybernetic enhancements along with a host of weapons to battle corruption in this dystopian future, and it seems as though you'll be able to use miniatures for fights if you'd like.

We'll be able to find out soon enough. The Ghost in the Shell: Tabletop Roleplaying Game will launch on Backerit this July 28, and backers will immediately receive the full digital rulebook as a PDF after the campaign ends.

For more tabletop recommendations, why not drop in on the best board games? If you're planning a vacation this summer, it's also worth visiting our guide to the best travel board games in case there's something you can add to your suitcase.

Vacations are looming and time off is all anyone can think about, so the only thing left to do is clear some space in your suitcase for the best travel board games. No matter whether you're taking a break with family, friends, or your partner, these portable favorites will brighten up the trip. Personally speaking, my family and I adore trying to outdo each others' high scores over the course of a holiday.

Where should you start, though? I've been writing about and reviewing the best board games on GamesRadar+ for almost eight years now, and that means I've got plenty of recommendations. These are the best travel board games our experts and I make a beeline for when we head on vacation, so they'll hopefully add a little sunshine to your trip as well. Bananagrams always finds its way into my suitcase because of how replayable it is, for example, while Hive is an excellent choice if you want to play something compact on plane or train tray tables.

These choices span a range of interests and costs, so there should be something to suit you regardless of your budget!

Quick list

Best travel board game overall

Countless fans (and our own writers, no less) swear by Scout, and honestly? I can't argue with them. It walked away with the industry's most prestigious game of the year award in 2022, and it continues to be highly recommended by the community now.

For starters, it travels exceptionally well due to coming in a small box while only using a few cards and tokens. That means you've got a lot of entertainment crammed into one small space.

Secondly, it's dead easy to learn but has a hidden depth that should keep you coming back. Your aim is to create sets of the same number or sequences of a higher value than the last one laid down, but you can't change the order of the cards in your hand. That means you've got to be clever in the way you gather and play new cards, giving plenty to think about. As our Scout review notes, "its emphasis on speed and uncertainty makes for an addictive 'just one more match' feeling that's hard to beat."

Best travel board game for families

Looking for a game everyone can enjoy, regardless of whether they like board games or not? Try Bananagrams. It's a high-speed crossword that anyone can understand, and it also travels brilliantly. For one thing, it's all stored in a single soft case that's easy to find room for. Next, it can be played anywhere with a flat surface.

The idea here is to use up all the letter tiles in front of you to create your own crossword, with words that all connect to one another. Each time you use up the supply, you shout "peel" and everyone must grab a new tile. Play then continues until every single tile is gone. It can become incredibly speedy once everyone gets the hang of things, and what may have sounded like a dry word game becomes a frantic race to the finish.

Enjoy competitive challenges? This will very much be your jam. It's a test of speed, skill, and flexibility, because rearranging your crossword when progression becomes impossible is key. While that can be overwhelming if you fall behind, there's no better feeling than outsmarting your rivals - particularly if you've gone from the back of the pack to pole position. You'll be dining out on that high for a while if you win.

Best travel board game for friends

There's nothing better than a hidden role game, if you ask me - and this one streamlines the mechanics of my favorites, including Unfathomable (which I said was brilliant but took too long to play in my Unfathomable review).

The aim is to take the gameplay excellence of those fan-favorites and condense them down into a 20-minute experience that's easy to understand and even easier to play. One side are pirates, while a small number take on the role of mutineers (the number of which varies depending on how many players there are). The pirates are trying to build up the value of their treasure chest and meet a specific goal, like 11 points in total. Meanwhile, the mutineers are trying to reduce that chest's value. To do this, everyone places a card from their hand into the chest each turn - and these cards have a value of +1, 0, or -2. If you're a pirate, you'll want to add as many +1s or 0s as possible. If you're a mutineer, it's all about those 0s or -2s. Once a pirate thinks the required goal has been met, the game ends and you check the chest... but you won't know if you've succeeded until you flip the cards over.

Things get interesting because you're encouraged to play fast and loose with the truth as a mutineer. You're meant to discuss what you've put into the chest each round, and mutineers can obviously lie. "Oh," they say after slapping down a -2 in secret, "me? I put in a +1. Definitely, yes sir." A pirate's only defence is to give anyone they're suspicious of three 'walk the plank' cards and banish them from the game, though they can also use ability cards to turn the tide.

Best travel board game for 2 players

It's impossible to discuss the best 2-player board games without Hive being mentioned. This is an utterly stone-cold classic that's been going strong since 2001, and there's a good reason for that. Despite being very accessible and portable enough to be used anywhere (be it a plane tray or a beer garden table), there's enough strategy powering it to keep you coming back.

Basically, Hive is like an easier-to-understand version of chess. Your aim is to surround and trap your opponent's queen, but all your tiles have to be connected to something else - you can't have bugs out on their own. Because they all move in different ways, you have to cleverly outmanoeuvre your foe whilst keeping you queen safe, all as they try to do the exact same thing. It's a shame only two people can play at once, but hey; it's good enough to make up for that shortcoming.

Enjoy competitive games or head-to-head challenges? Make sure this is in your collection.

Best strategy travel board game

If you want a travel board game that'll make you think but isn't going to stretch your gray matter too far out of shape, Catan: On the Road is a great choice. Actually, I started recommending this travel game to everyone after playing it once. That's the highest praise I can give.

This on-the-go spin-off condenses everything brilliant about the original (which our Catan review calls a must-have) into a streamlined version that takes between 15-30 minutes to play. Your aim? Build up seven Victory Points by settling the island of Catan. How players do that is up to them, though - you can increase your score through building cities, constructing the longest road, or gathering the largest army. Each path offers advantages that may tip the scales in your favor, so choose wisely. Cities allow you to draw extra resources every turn, for example, while knights protect you from Robber cards that may steal your goods.

When you throw in wrinkles like trade (which provides a short-term boost but may nudge your opponent one step closer to their goal), Catan: On the Road provides more nuance than you might expect. It's not perfect by any means, and those with an early advantage may run away with the game. However, it's just as easy to catch up if you've played your cards right... and there's something deeply satisfying about leap-frogging your foe into first place.

Best travel board game for kids

Even though it isn't just for kids (everyone can have a great time with this vacation board game), Sushi Go is particularly good when travelling with younger family members. On top of an inviting cartoon style, it's very easy to get the hang of and only lasts 15 minutes or so per session. It also comes in a hard-wearing metal tin, so can be taken pretty much anywhere.

Your aim is to create the most delicious sushi menu around, and you do that by choosing cards from a deck that's being passed between players. Each card scores differently, so you've got to choose wisely; they either provide points straight away or can be combined for a more powerful combo if you collect enough of an item. That gives plenty of options, but it also risks you winding up with nothing if you (literally) don't play your cards right. When multipliers, sets, and 'puddings' that only count at the end of the game are added to the mix, this straightforward game shows that it's got more than enough to chew on.

Honestly, Sushi Go is one of my ride-or-dies in terms of travel games; it goes with me everywhere.

For more recommendations, don't miss the best tabletop RPGs.

The Old World Core Set is like a time capsule; it's filled with bric-à-brac from the past wrapped in fond memories. As is the case with so many time capsules, though, this is an idealized version of history. The bad has been trimmed away, leaving your best foot forward.

This is the cantankerous Warhammer Fantasy Battles (AKA Old World's inspiration) on its best day. There are grand armies with gorgeous models sweeping across the battlefield, crunchy rules with endless depth, and enough dice being thrown to form a bone-white carpet on your table. However, The Old World Core Set goes one better than its predecessor. It's made a noticeable effort to be as beginner-friendly as possible, and it's a shining example of what The Old World should be. In fact, it's the best entry-point to the game yet.

Don't get me wrong – this is still the most complicated entry in Warhammer's arsenal. It can be overwhelming in its ambition, too. But if you're able to stick with it like a block of spearmen bracing for the charge, you'll be richly rewarded.

The Old World Core Set features & design

• This is a crunchy, rules-heavy game
• Includes two Battle March armies & everything you need to play
• Brand-new Warriors of Chaos vs. Grand Cathay

Much like The Horus Heresy, this is a ganglier, more complex beast than anything else on Warhammer's lineup. It's far denser than Age of Sigmar and makes 40K seem trite. This is a game of edge-cases and sub-rules; everything from flanking to the willpower of your units is included, and there are a staggering number of mechanics to define the most unlikely scenario. It's far crunchier, too. The Old World still has you consulting to-hit and to-wound tables, comparing your unit's scores against your opponent's.

You'll know just from reading that paragraph whether The Old World Core Set is for you. If you find mathematical tomfoolery like this intimidating, run. But if you find today's wargames too lightweight, prepare to feast. This is the ultimate tactical experience, with so much to factor into your strategy.

Not that you're thrown in at the deep end, of course. Before now, you had to fully commit with a massive battalion box or by buying individual units to start playing Old World. This Core Set fixes that with two smaller, but still competitively-recognized, "Battle March" armies that are far less intimidating to make. (An all-new range of Chaos Warriors is featured here alongside last year's Grand Cathay line.) They're supported by the full rulebook, stats for all your troops, a battlemat, reference guides, and all the accessories necessary to play. In other words, you've got everything you need to get stuck in here other than terrain.

In terms of construction, these models are far more advanced than you'd find in a box like the starter sets or Armageddon; they're incredibly 'bitty' in a way that's reminiscent of the Horus Heresy Custodes models. They look phenomenal and are far more dynamic than the majority of (in some cases decades-old) miniatures in the game, but they require more patience.

Gameplay

• Incredible depth leads to so many tactical options
• The complex mechanics make its warriors feel like real people
• You'll need to flip between multiple books at first as you learn rules

There's nothing quite like seeing two enormous armies of ranked infantry, resplendent knights, and grand warmachines marching into battle on the tabletop. It's a sense of scale you rarely see from the hobby, which normally limits itself to skirmishes with a loose handful of warriors per unit. As a result, formations and where you charge the enemy are far more important factors here. Flanking maneuvers and well-timed cavalry attacks can be devastating, just like they would be in real life, and you'll have to keep an eye on your army's morale to make sure groups don't turn and flee under strain.

I grew up with this back when Fantasy Battles was still a thing, and I don't think I realized how much I missed it until I was pitting The Old World Core Set's Chaos Warriors against Grand Cathay. Soldiers turning tail or to-hit tables representing the cut and thrust of combat makes it all feel much more real. I became a lot more invested in my troops as a result.

I just hope you're prepared for a lot of flipping back and forth through the rulebook (or between booklets) while you get used to the rules. Each unit's stats are included in the same pamphlet, while info like to-wound tables are kept elsewhere, so you'll be bouncing from stats and back again throughout your first matches.

That's my one criticism about The Old World Core Set; I think it could do with separate datacards for each unit of the kind you'd find in Kill Team: Terror on Devlan, because then there's far less hassle jumping between pages. Similarly, a separate summary sheet of key terms would also have been handy. It's fine consulting the rulebook's glossary to find what you need mid-match, but it does bring things grinding to a halt.

Still, that'll become less of an issue the further down the road you go. And because both armies are a strong foundation from which to build a greater force, it's an off-ramp to exciting possibilities.

Should you buy Warhammer The Old World Core Set?

If you're looking for a crunchy, in-depth game system with a lot of weight, you'll be in heaven here; The Old World's complexity makes it feel so much more alive than its peers, and the result is immensely satisfying. This Core Set is also the best route in by far. Although it could do with some more player aids to assist with those early days, it provides everything you need to get stuck in.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested Warhammer The Old World Core Set

This product sample was provided by Games Workshop.

After familiarizing myself with the rules and constructing models from the box-set, I tried a test-match pitting both armies against one another in a full battle (as laid out in the Muster Lists booklet). This allowed me to get a practical sense of how gameplay worked in practice.

For more on our process, be sure to check out how we test board games or the GamesRadar+ reviews policy.

For recommendations on what to play next, don't miss the best board games or the best tabletop RPGs.

Wingspan Pocket has just been revealed as a smaller, travel-friendly version of the family-friendly birding board game – and you'll be able to pick it up in just a few weeks.

Although it uses similar gameplay and comes from the same designer, Wingspan Pocket "distills the Wingspan experience down to a lighter, shorter, card-driven game" according to the official description. It'll be available to buy from publisher Stonemaier Games this July 15, 2026, followed by a wider retail release in late August.

While we adore the original here at GamesRadar+ and gave it four-and-a-half stars in our Wingspan review (putting it in contention with the best board games), there's no denying that it's a chunky critter. It contains a flock of playing pieces and takes up a lot of space on the table, so isn't exactly easy to stuff in a suitcase. Wingspan Pocket is the opposite, however; it's a card-based game that sees players activate just one row of cards per turn rather than an entire board of birds. These all provide benefits as usual, but each card is double-sided with food on one side and a bird (one of 106 from around the world) on the other. That means you've got to weigh up what to play, and when - a level of strategy that should hopefully put it on par with the best travel board games.

I'm a huge fan of this idea. I'd argue that the series stands amongst the best family board games around (Finspan became my summer obsession last year, for instance), but they're not the easiest to get into… or travel with. A more accessible, portable entry-point fills that niche, and it means we can take the experience with us. That means Wingspan doesn't have to stay home this summer if you're going away.

There's certainly an appetite for portable games like this. More of them are emerging from the woodwork with each passing year, and they usually make a point of streamlining things without compromising what made the original so beloved. I played Catan On the Road once and am now recommending it to everyone, for example.

Will you be picking up Wingspan Pocket, or migrating to something else?

If you want something with a little more bite, a Kingdom Come: Deliverance board game with all the gritty RPG elements fans love is on the way from the award-winning developers of Codenames and SETI.

A Kingdom Come: Deliverance board game is coming this Fall from a pair of award-winning developers, and it's every bit as grungy as its inspiration.

This sprawling RPG is set in 15th Century Bohemia and looks every bit as gritty and sim-heavy as the video game it's based on; you'll need to hunt to stave off hunger, for example, while the condition of your clothing (which may get messy if you move through 'muddy' spaces) can have negative effects… like getting you kicked out of town if your get-up is in a state. The Kingdom Come: Deliverance board game also features "rich storylines unfolding in the background" chosen from several possible options, meaning you're unlikely to have the same playthrough twice.

This is all very exciting, but the most eye-catching news is that it's being made by developers behind some of the best board games. Vlaada Chvátil put together modern classic Codenames, while Tomáš Holek is the rising star behind SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence – a critical darling that swept the awards scene last year. The fact that they're responsible for Kingdom Come: Deliverance The Board Game is enough in itself to get me invested.

Rather than playing as video game protagonist Henry, you'll see a peasant from rags to riches. Well, in theory; there are plenty of jobs to complete, side-quests to chase, or NPCs to work for, but players must also contend with Encounter cards that can put a twist in the tale. Whoever earns the most points at the end of five in-game days will be declared the winner, so you better hustle.

We don't have an exact release date for the Kingdom Come: Deliverance board game yet, but it's due to launch at some point in Fall 2026. You can pre-order it direct from publisher Czech Games Edition's store, and that seems to be the best way of securing a copy in the short term; while CGE is hopeful it'll go to retail later on, there isn't a timeline for that yet.

In terms of price, the core game weighs in at €149.99 via the publisher's EU store. Meanwhile, the US version costs $199.99. Why is it so much more? Well, Czech Games Edition CEO Petr Murmak notes on a BoardGameGeek post questioning the decision that it's due to a mix of tariffs going into the US (15%), shipping, and an uncertain future.

"Shipping to US also costs us something, so we have slightly less profit on one copy in US than in EU," Murmak points out. "Moreover there is uncertainty about tariffs in the future (they might go up - there were some threats already from US government), or dollar might go down like last year..."

For recommendations of what to play next, why not check out the best tabletop RPGs or the best card games? As for something lighter, Wingspan Pocket shrinks the beloved board game down in size.