Charlie Theel

Board game critic. Bylines: @ArsTechnica @Polygon @ign @joindicebreaker @TabletopMag @geekandsundry @pcgamer @wargamercom. Co-hosted @DingandDent.

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

DC Breakout: Arkham Asylum is a zany racer from the Engelsteins. It shares so much DNA with Magical Athlete that I can't help but leverage this as my primary lens of critique. I discuss overlap, new tricks, and who will find it most appealing.

My Review: https://t.co/hXM2ZLbvEC

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

Cysmic is huge. It's enormous. It's obscene. It's also a breakneck area control game focused on combat, construction, and lavish pieces. This is the definition of a boutique passion project from a madman. My review: https://t.co/NpA1xjZsoD

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

LA-1 is a Launius captained adventure game with a sleek Blade Runner vibe. On one hand it's a resurrection of Arkham Horror 2nd Edition, and on another, a skillful adoption of modern content-focused design trends. My review:
https://t.co/pCCl3Uz4RP

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

@spofgamesmag Interesting, I can imagine the potential for that, but haven't seen it in my plays.

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

Barbarian Kingdoms is a taught and modest area control game that supports a large player count with a brief playtime. It has some nifty ideas regarding economy and war, but suffers from a restricted flavor profile.

https://t.co/SyhveRaW8r

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

It's been five years since our final episode of Ding & Dent. I was equally nervous and excited to get back behind the mic, appearing as a guest co-host on this week's So Very Wrong About Games. Thank you Walker for the invitation. Anyway, have a listen:
https://t.co/bxSUF7hgVc

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

With the new chapter of Arkham Horror: The Card Game, I take a look at the LCG model and question whether it's actually fulfilled its promise. I also discuss the strengths of this design and how it exists as the one throughline to the FFG of old.

https://t.co/X3EbLT4GPH

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

Dark Pact is Tom Lehmann's take on deckbuilding, of course fueled by explosive engine building and an unusual twist or two. This is Dominion supercharged to fly off the rails. My review: https://t.co/zDI3xslHML

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

Cardboard Cinema returns. This is my series where I do comparative analysis between a film and board game. This time I'm writing about one of my favorite games and its relationship to a film that is maybe the greatest achievement in cinematography.
https://t.co/JsGVZP0EJs

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

@SeanSeanmac31 It is a little pricey due to its indie/hand assembled nature. Wish we had more games at this scale of operation.

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

Zurmat is designer Tim Densham's memoir of his time in Afghanistan. It's a small scale wargame concerned with uncertainty, efficiency, and winning over the local populace. I struggle with this one a little due to current events.

https://t.co/nKeBm4wNWr

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

@SeanSeanmac31 While it's a totally unneeded game, I was hopeful it may carve out some space and make a case for itself. Sadly, that didn't pan out.

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

Valkyrie is Black Orchestra in a half hour. Can it pull off the drama and tension of its parentage in a fraction of the time? Unfortunately, it's about as successful as Claus von Stauffenbergs assassination attempt. My review:

https://t.co/ZdB1CkF5e0

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

World of Wrestling is a followup to the tremendous Techno Bowl. It's another pixel-based sports game full of drama and narrative. This one features slams, tap outs, and pins, capturing the big moments from one of the best video game series ever made.

https://t.co/TRVs4w1thl

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

Company of Heroes 2nd Edition weathered quite the storm to make it to the tabletop. The end result is a refined machine that understands its strengths and leans into them. My review: https://t.co/ORyYaYLV7y

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

Today, something different. I'm kicking off a new article series where I examine a board game and a film counterpart, analyzing theme, method, and style. I present Western Legends and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: https://t.co/i8DemwA0zi

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

Things in Rings is a game about organizing widgets in a Venn diagram. The trick is that you don't know what the overlapping categories represent. Who doesn't love a good Venn diagram? My review: https://t.co/LnVKVPiG7D

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

Wild Kingdom is an over-the-top modular expansion to The Old King's Crown. It's full of wonder and absurdity, pushing the game in interesting new directions. I dive deep into the box, offering thoughts on each module and making sense of its madness. https://t.co/yANYPo3gzv

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

Gnomic Parliament is publisher Fobs Games' follow up to the brilliant negotiation game Tiefe Taschen. This is also about pointed discussion, but it focuses that above table play on voting in laws that alter the rules of the game. My review: https://t.co/3HNPJOqgwV

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

@SocialmonkeyHQ Good luck with your journey, it's a great hobby.

[Charlie Theel @CharlieTheel]

My list of the top 10 board games of 2025 is here. This was a weird year. I struggled with my own self imposed rules, and honestly, I'm not wholly satisfied with my selections as I keep second guessing some exclusions. Too late now, here it is:
https://t.co/dV9rMfkzlZ...