Dan Hinkin

The end is upon us. The end of the remastered core books, that is. Player Core 2 (PC2) is finally here and chocked full of new ancestries, player classes, archetypes, feats, and spells to add to your Pathfinder campaigns. I personally have been waiting for this book to see what updates they made to the Monk that I am playing in my current campaign. You won't be disappointed in all the content the book adds to the set.

It's not very often that I get to see a game go from conception to prototype to finished product. Back in the spring of 2023, the GamingTrend crew got a firsthand look at the Gnome Hollow prototype and had a great time collecting mushrooms and building paths. At Origins Gamefair 2024, I was able to get to see and play the final production copy, alongside Chief Tabletop Editor Mike Dunn. It was great to play Gnome Hollow a little over a year later and with a few tweaks to gameplay and artwork later, Gnome Hollow has found a publisher and released to the masses.

The trading card game space seems to be a bit crowded these days. From your big hitters like Pokemon and Magic the Gathering, to newcomers in the last year like Lorcana and Star Wars Unlimited, to others like Flesh and Blood and Yu-Gi-oh, it seems like there are enough trading card games to go around. When it was announced that another game would be coming from one of Asmodee's subsidiary companies, when they already released SW Unlimited, I was a little skeptical. Altered, published under French company Equinox, attempts to reinvent the TCG with its “first-of-its-kind” ‘phygital' integration and unique play style that emphasizes both strategy, exploration and discovery.”

Following the trail out of camp, you come across a riverbed with something glinting in the distance. As you investigate, it looks like the jewel from your lost comrade. Suddenly, out of the brush a giant form appears and hungrily looks towards your party. You draw your sword and ready yourself for battle…

In the land of Vigil, the Muses of Malevolence are threatening the world and a new era of heroes must step up to defeat them. Along their path, legendary heroes from the pantheon of Ascension have returned to guide their way and offer assistance. Who will earn the most honor to be named a new […]

I’ve been soured on prison themed games in the past. Whether it was the basic gameplay or the over the top stereotypes, I’ve just been turned off to the theme. When Animalcatraz came across my radar, I had some preconceived notions of what it may be. I was met with a surprisingly fun, strategic, and […]

Lord of the Rings will always hold a special place in my heart. From the first time I read the trilogy in middle school, or watched the movies for the first, or 30th, time, or introducing the world to my students and family, there is something timeless about the story of how a few people […]

I corrupted my wife into modern board gaming quickly while we were dating. In her family, she grew up letting other people win so people would play with her and now a maniacal grin crosses her face when she realizes she makes a tactical and well planned move, regardless of the havoc she creates along the way. Nowadays, we keep different games in the car for when we're grabbing a coffee or a beer at a local establishment. With Confusing Lands, we have added a new quick hitting tactical game to the collection.

In this episode of Tabletop Throwdown, Mike Dunn and Dan Hinken welcome Jay Cormier, a game designer and founder of Off The Page Games. They discuss Jay’s journey in game design, the development of the Mind Management game, and how comic books influence his work. Jay shares insights on the challenges faced during game development, […]

Need some last minute ideas for that tabletop gamer in your life? Look no further, these are some things we have been excited about this year: Party Games Dadada A game where everyone at the table is collaboratively making a new language?? Yes, it sounds crazy, but amazingly it works, and is one of the […]