Alrightgames: 7 Wonders Duel – Pantheon

7 Wonders Duel: Pantheon

2016 / Card drafting game expansion / 2 players

****

Adding gods to an already convoluted game makes things more complicated, as in life. While the base game didn't need any fixing, this expansion adds variety, atmosphere and more interpersonal drama that at the very least makes it a worthy variant. I miss the guild cards, but the temples add tension in the final stretch, and adding extra wonders and tokens to the mix probably tips it into essential. Besides, the board would look naked now without the add-on. Hey, what are all those notches on the other side for...?

Alrightgames: Monopoly Expansion – Free Parking Jackpot

Monopoly Expansion: Free Parking Jackpot

2025 / Board game expansion pack / 2-6 players

**

Another one of these, but only after the young Monopoly fan agreed I could try to sell one of her outgrown Junior versions (it went to a charity shop in the end) and one of her disappointing Christmas games as an exchange. It's not as fun or crazy as Buy Everything, being closer to the normal game with loads of freebies and blowout jackpots to swing things (with more end conditions imposed), but you can combine the two to drive out even further from the centre and any sense of monetary value. Technically, you can't combine them, but you can.

Alrightgames: Carcassonne – The Flier

Carcassonne: The Flier

2012 / Tile placement board game mini expansion / 2-6 players

****

The most fun looking and borderline essential of the old mini expansions has always flown a bit higher in price than I could reasonably pay for 9 bits of cardboard and a dice, but after a satisfying auction win, it's finally landed in my overloaded Big Box, complete with its own diddy box. The only failing is it doesn't come with its own spring-loaded launchpad, so you have to do the action and noises yourself.

Alrightgames: Lex Go! – Jungle Animals

Lex Go!: Jungle Animals

2021 / Spelling card game / 2-4 players

**

She recently wanted a marathon of all her ex-Happy Meal animal card games (took about 10 minutes), so I checked which others were going for a sub-postage price on eBay to add to the multicoloured collection.

There might be some educational benefit in this minimalist spelling game, but there weren't any Jungle Animals to be seen, outside of that panda on the card backs. Weak and totally irrelevant, but still not as bad as  Dos.

Alrightgames: Atmosfear IV – Countess Elizabeth Bathory, Vampire

Atmosfear IV: Countess Elizabeth Bathory, Vampire

1993 / Video board game expansion / 3-6 players

***

Growing up with The Harbingers, I hadn't considered bothering with the original, presumably inferior Atmosfear, until I found scans of all the cards from the expansions on BoardGameGeek and realised that – with printing and YouTube VHS rips – a cheap base game was all we needed to open a whole world of Nightmares (up to 4 hours, anyway. Not that we ever get very far into the tapes).

My daughter wanted to play the vampire one first, which was as punishing as its reputation suggested. By seven minutes in, she'd already been randomly gifted all of her keys while I moped in a black hole and was headed for the finish line when she rolled an unfortunate 1 and was banished from the board to join the legion of the damned. We were then reminded why you need more than two players as further random punishments made what was supposed to be the exciting pursuit of my flesh and soul drag on until we switched off out of boredom. She was getting a bit creeped out by the Countess' transformation anyway.

Suffer!

Alrightgames: Pocket Mars

Pocket Mars

2017 / Worker placement card game / 1-4 players

***

I'd been intrigued by this budget colonisation simulator for a while, but lukewarm reviews put my space program on hold until I saw an irresistible price and could get my ass to Mars. Ultimately, it is just about moving coloured cubes between cards, but I think it's a neat little game. The solo mode feels justified as the feature attraction rather than an afterthought, and you can increase the difficulty when you quickly work it out.

Alrightgames: Boss Monster

Boss Monster

2013 / Card game / 2-4 players

****

I don't need card games to look like they're video games to get me to play them, and was sceptical that this wouldn't have much more than nostalgia bait going for it when trying out a cheap eBay listing. But it hits that sweet spot of lightweight games that involve a bit of tactical thinking, but are so dependent on the luck of the draw that things are mostly out of my hands (see also: Star Realms), so I can just relax and enjoy it. More than I'd enjoy playing a lightweight video game nowadays, plus I'll still be able to play this after the great EMP destroys all computers to save us from the AI revolution, so it's got that going for it.

Alrightgames: 7 Wonders Duel – Solo

7 Wonders Duel: Solo

2020 / Card drafting game variant rules / 1 player

***

For want of similarly aged and boring opponents, I'm happy enough fighting a Me1 vs Me2 Duel and trying our best to wreck each other's civilisations, but the lockdown solo rules are a slightly streamlined alternative.

The automated leaders' privilege means they get to take most of the red and green cards for free, making military and science victories a lot more likely than when I'm scuppering my own plans, which at least means less points admin. When I do manage to make it to points, it's not pretty. The whole thing feels unbalanced and unfair, which is appropriate to the theme, but I generally prefer playing with myself.

Junior Gamesmaster: Tails of Equestria – Finding a Kid

My Little Pony: Tails of Equestria – Finding a Kid

DIY roleplaying game adventure

We hadn't played "story game" in a while, but after giving an impromptu presentation about the game system to her Nana, she naturally wanted to have a go with our latest, untested characters. I had another generic dungeon occult library ready to go, but she preferred to tell her own story and set her own challenges, which turned out somewhat reminiscent of a scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Being preoccupied as Game Master and going easy on herself meant she neglected her character's development, but I squeezed some educational alchemical accidents in to help my guy along, I can't afford to be complacent with her in charge.

Babyliography CCXXXVIII

Dana Simpson, Unicorn Crush: Another Phoebe and Her Unicorn Adventure

Collected 2024 / Paperback / 176 pages

***

Gentle introduction to bestiality.

Richard Jones, An Anthology of Butterflies and Moths: A Collection of Butterflies and Moths from Around the World

2025 / Library book / 128 pages

***

Mainly used as a freaky flip book, no offence to the lepidopterans.

Unknown, Colour Illusions: Visual Tricks, Fantastic Facts, and Impossible Puzzles

2014 / Hardback / 32 pages

***

A shame the 3D glasses and other bits of plastic we're supposed to look through were long gone, but I complained and got a refund, so the rest of the permanent vision damage was free.

Zanna Davidson and Nuno Alexandre Vieira, Fairy Unicorns: Kingdom Under the Sea

2022 / Hardback / 112 pages

***

This inexplicably rare volume finally dropped to a regular price before she grew out of fairy unicorns (as if!). Kicking off the sequel trilogy, it's a refreshing change from the old formula, replacing it with a new formula.

Zoë Clarke and Edu Coll, Collins Big Cat Phonics for Letters and Sounds: The Stone Shadows

2021 / School book / 24 pages

**

More of a boy one, she helpfully explained to me what "peril" and "urgent" meant.

Babyliography CCXXXVII

Ben Clanton, A Waffle Lot of Love: A Narwhal and Jelly Book

2026 / Library book / 96 pages

***

The duo return to aromantically tick off Valentine's Day.

Harriet Muncaster, Isadora Moon and the Pop Stars

2025 / Library book / 150 pages

***

Practically tailor made for her interests, but she still didn't care for more than a few chapters. Needs more unicorn.

Clare Helen Walsh, Collins Big Cat Phonics for Letters and Sounds: Amazing Webs

2022 / School book / 24 pages

***

I'm convinced they're trying to desensitise kids to yucky bugs, and it seems to be working. Plenty for parents to learn too.

Gale Galligan and Ann M. Martin, The Baby-Sitters Club: Logan Likes Mary Anne!

2020 / Library book / 176 pages

**

Drawn back to the series for her first chaste teen romance story, she couldn't put it down. Update: She then read it again from cover to cover by herself over several days.

Jamie Smart, Max & Chaffy: What a Delicious Discovery!

2025 / Library book / 128 pages

***

The perpetually grumpy Foghorn steals the show again with just one word of dialogue.

Babyliography CCXXXVI

Unknown, Minecraft Epic Bases: Builds to Spark Your Imagination

2020 / Library book / 96 pages

**

Unachievable standards to shoot for. I like her more modest houses.

Chris Bradford and Korky Paul, Collins Big Cat Phonics for Letters and Sounds: Jake and Jen and the Balloon of Doom

2021 / School book / 24 pages

**

I genuinely didn't see the twist ending coming.

Nel Yomtov, Anything but Ordinary: Strange Beasts

2020 / Library book / 48 pages

***

Cool weird stuff.

Rob Alcraft, Collins Big Cat Phonics for Letters and Sounds: This Is Our Planet

2020 / School book / 24 pages

***

One of the more worthwhile entries, even if they're fixated on kite birds at the moment.

Jake Banfield, Magic Tricks with Coins, Cards and Everyday Objects

2016 / Library book / 120 pages

**

Not much new for a six-year-old veteran.