iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Hard to say what's worst: the frenzied kiwi bloodlust, or this calculating, sell-out prick.

A rooster businessman, in his suit and tie, smiles as he fronts the branding for a notable fried chicken shop. The charismatic, slightly upturned beak and watchful gaze, however, betrays a glimpse of fear that someday in the future justice, in whichever form it takes, will catch up with him for sending millions upon millions of his own kind to their horrifying deaths.

Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

The writing of this review of a board game from the 1980s may, once or twice, have been subtly impacted by the events of the past couple of weeks. So perhaps have fun reading between the lines as you go through it and see if you can pinpoint any subtext.

But hey, at least the monsters they’ve survived were clearly outlined and didn’t have a supine media and political sphere obfuscating and legitimising their terrible deeds or that, actually, I think you’ll find the swimming islander navigating their way around a national calamity was a left-wing lunatic agitator committing some sort of domestic terrorism who, rather than trying to steer their ship away from that innocent giant octopus, guided the rudder toward its tentacles and therefore deserved to be gobbled up in an act of self-defence. Eh? EH? EHHH!!!!

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

OK, not sure how this is news, but really glad Scott's not going hungry this morning.

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 25/09/2024

This week's newsletter: Ian Livingstone on his new Fighting Fantasy book The Dungeon on Blood Island, and if there are plans to bring the series to TV screens... thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/ian-living...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 17/09/2024

Reviewed with the kid: Super Ski Jump Flinging yourself off a big hill is a tricky conversion for the notoriously flat tabletop. But Goliath Games has made a good fist of it. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 09/09/2024

Reviewed with the kid: Rhino Hero Maybe our eponymous hero/deluded oaf will run out of towers to knock down, but we’ll be here to build them again. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 03/09/2024

Reviewed with the kid: Dive A tabletop game with literal depth thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 29/08/2024

This week's newsletter: The Shivers designer Andy Logan on his pop-up role-playing tabletop game and its upcoming expansion set, Triple Terror! thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/the-shiver...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 19/08/2024

Reviewed with the kid: Cup Final Dodgy pitch? One-dimensional kick-and-rush tactics? Yes, it’s definitely the 80s again. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 15/08/2024

Reviewed with the kid: Valley of the Vikings A barrel of laughs with Haba's Kinderspiel des Jahres winner. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 07/08/2024

'I feel sorry for whoever is going to have to listen to me teach the rules. Marriages have been ruined over less.' ‘What am I Playing at? is where we discuss board games with those outside the industry. This week we speak to author James Breakwell thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/what-am-i-...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 05/08/2024

Reviewed with the kid: The Enchanted Tower Sorcerers love locking princesses up in towers. Here's another one at it. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 31/07/2024

This week's newsletter: we speak to Fingagolf designer Glyn Richards, about what makes this golfing tabletop adaptation different from the rest. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/fingagolf-...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 29/07/2024

Reviewed with the kid: Podium Get a multi-sports fix tinged with corporate greed and excess between Olympic screen breaks with this tabletop version. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 22/07/2024

Reviewed with the kid: Dosa More throwing games. This time with magnetised ice hockey pucks. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 15/07/2024

Reviewed with the kid: Bugacula Avoid a terrifying Hexbug before shooting for the moon in Ravensburger's family board game. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie... #boardgames #tabletopgames

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 08/07/2024

Reviewed with the kid: Tin Can Alley Could have just washed up my food cans and piled them up in the garden. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 03/07/2024

This week's newsletter: Award-winning game designer, podcast host and advocate Danielle Reynolds (@tokengaymer.bsky.social) on the state of the tabletop games industry and what goes into making a great family game. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/danielle-r...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 02/07/2024

Reviewed with the kid, you know, cos Wimbledon's on the telly: World Cup Tennis 1990s frying-pan mechanics on a foam court on this bizarre tabletop adaptation of the sport. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 21/06/2024

Reviewed with the kid: Total Action Football Ideal's tabletop football game's USP is omitting the flicks of Subbuteo and replacing it with a push mechanism. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 10/06/2024

Reviewed: Cranium A family board game that's stood the test of time. But are we the right family to play it? thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 10/06/2024

Reviewed with the kid: Disc Golf Ruin a good walk by plastering these flags all over the place. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 03/06/2024

Reviewed with the kid: Don't Wake up the Doggy Yes, yes, it’s a knock-off of Don’t Wake Dad. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 31/05/2024

Reviewed: Quoits The hoop-throwing garden game gateway to other garden games. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 31/05/2024

Reviewed with the kid: Beanbag Toss Chuck bean bag on board or in hole. That’s it. That’s the game. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 30/05/2024

This week's newsletter: Henry Lowood on curating board gaming's past. The Stanford University professor has documented video gaming's history. Now he's turning his attention to the tabletop. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/making-his... #boardgames #tabletopgames

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 22/05/2024

This week's newsletter: We speak to the creator of Nightshift: Navigate a strip club and its oddball clientele in a TTRPG, designed by an ex-dancer, which aims to build empathy for those working in the industry. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/nightshift... #boardgames

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 20/05/2024

Reviewed with the kid: Ker-Plunk. Pick sticks, avoid marbles. Sound about right? thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie... #boardgames

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 17/05/2024

Reviewed: Tumble Tower Summer's approaching, so it's time to try out a few garden games. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 13/05/2024

Reviewed: Super Cup Football Back to the 80s for our soccer fix – a time of proper tackles, horrendous hooliganism, and top Tomy playthings thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie... #boardgames

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 10/05/2024

Reviewed: Fishing Game An old childhood classic: grab as many creepy, gasping plastic fish with nasty big pointy teeth from a battery-operated rotating board thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 03/05/2024

Reviewed: High Speed Edition Ice Hockey Get in the rink with Stiga's smaller, but surprisingly massive, version of the winter sport thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 29/04/2024

Reviewed: Set & Match Proper rallies and court strategy in Prétexte SAS's sporty, dexterity tabletop game. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie... #boardgames #tabletopgames

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 26/04/2024

Reviewed: Sportac A grotty-looking vintage athletics board game? Interesting… but does it fall at the first hurdle? (SPOILERS: yes) thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie... #boardgames #vintageboardgames

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 22/04/2024

Reviewed: Pitch & Plakks Modular miniature golf, complete with bridges and volcanoes. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie... #boardgames #tabletopgames

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 19/04/2024

Reviewed: Raleigh Burner BMX Game Heart-stopping action is not to be found in this retro tabletop adaptation, but there are thrills of a more mundane nature. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie... #boardgames #vintageboardgames

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 15/04/2024

Reviewed: Send It! Like the idea of mountain biking without the mountains? Play the board game of the sport, without worrying about a trip to the hospital. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie... #boardgames #tabletopgames

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 12/04/2024

Reviewed: Extreme Rock Climbers Reaching for the summit, despite many frequent falls in this vertical tabletop game. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie... #boardgames

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 08/04/2024

Reviewed: Fighting Fantasy: Crystal of Storms Seventy original stories in, FF finally had its first female author in Rhianna Pratchett. Who better to test this choose-your-own-tale out with than my daughter? thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/fighting-f... #fightingfantasy

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 03/04/2024

This week's newsletter: Derek Pederson of Woosung Boardgames on how posting a few photos of family games night resulted in an online audience of more than half a million. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/derek-pede...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 27/03/2024

This week's newsletter: The Libraries Board Game Club is providing libraries in the UK with a 'board game club in a box'. We spoke to the programme's creators to find out how it can benefit communities. #boardgames #tabletopgames thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/libraries-...

A pile of tabletop games, including Dobble and Good Face Bad Face.

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 25/03/2024

Reviewed: Curling Game The Olympic sport without the housework element in this tabletop game version. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

The tabletop Curling Game, seen from above, with replica stones bunched together in the target area.

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 22/03/2024

Reviewed: Game of Games What if victory in the decathlon was mainly achieved via a roll-and-move mechanism? That's the premise of this 90s board game thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 20/03/2024

This week's feature newsletter: A chat with EAP Toy and Games' Chrissy Fagerholt. The key to a great game that spans the generations according to the indie publisher's founder and designer? Five rules or fewer thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/eap-toy-an...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 18/03/2024

Reviewed: Slide Quest A board game like a video game – Slide Quest plays straight out of the box. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 15/03/2024

Reviewed: Ghost Castle Spooky but simple ghostly goings-on with Milton Bradley's childhood nostalgia-fest board game thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 13/03/2024

This week's feature newsletter: We chat to Meeple Inc co-designer Joe Adams of Cogito ergo Meeple about their alternate universe board game publishing sim thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/such-a-coo...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 11/03/2024

Reviewed: Tabletop air hockey A game usually found in naff seaside arcades and bowling alleys. So how does it play when you bring that sense of sensory overload back to the home with you? thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 08/03/2024

Reviewed: Thomas the Tank Engine Game A Waddingtons vintage roll-and-move board game on a children's classic proves to be the physical manifestation of childhood memories. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/game-revie...

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