design
Asymmetric Mechanics Powering Replayability in 2026: Design Patterns, Live Play, and Publisher Playbooks
DDr. Leo Harrows
•2026-01-13Advertisement
reviews
Review: Neon Harbor (2026) — Components, Meta, and Café Play Tested
IIrene Novak
•2026-01-13
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•2026-01-13Latest Articles
events•
9 min read
Micro‑Events and Pop‑Ups: How Tabletop Communities Reboot in 2026
In 2026, small, intentional events are the fastest route to rebuilding local tabletop networks. Practical strategies, venue tech, and advanced pop‑up playbooks for stores and organizers.
O
Owen Blake2026-01-12
reviews•
10 min read
Hands‑On Review: PocketPrint 2.0 & Short‑Run Zine Kits — What Board Game Publishers Should Know in 2026
Short-run zines, promo kits and compact printed accessories have evolved. We field-test PocketPrint 2.0 and compare fulfillment, type, and field‑ready pack design for tabletop publishers in 2026.
I
Ibrahim Ali2026-01-12
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S
Smart365.ai2026-01-13
technology•
10 min read
The Evolution of Rulebooks and Table Assistants in 2026: Live AI, Sensors, and the New Play Flow
In 2026 the humble rulebook stopped being a paper afterthought — it became an active, networked participant. Here’s how AI rule assistants, table sensors and edge inference are reshaping gameplay, design decisions, and cafe operations.
D
Dr. Keira Alvarez2026-01-11
gear•
11 min read
Field Review: Tabletop Lighting & Capture Kits for Hybrid Game Nights (2026) — Clarity, Portability, and What Cafés Should Buy
We tested five tabletop lighting and capture kits across 50 hybrid game sessions. Here's a field‑tested guide for stores, cafes and at‑home hosts who want low‑friction, high‑clarity captures without expensive rigs.
N
Noah Clarke2026-01-11
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Smart365.ai2026-01-13
deals•
7 min read
Deal Roundup: Best New Tools for Makers and Streamers — January 2026 Picks
We collected the best tools and deals for tabletop makers and live streamers available this January. Hardware, templates, and micro-tools that help you ship faster and stream cleaner.
M
Marta R. Klein2026-01-10
pop-up•
8 min read
Hybrid Pop‑Ups & Micro‑Retail: How Boardgame Cafés Are Adopting the 2026 Pop‑Up Playbook
In 2026, small tabletop venues are winning by combining pop‑up agility with community partnerships, sustainable packaging and micro‑fulfillment — a playbook every publisher and café should study.
E
Evan Morris2026-01-10
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Smart365.ai2026-01-13
hardware•
9 min read
Retail Tech Hands‑On: Nimbus Deck Pro as a Tabletop Demo Station — What Publishers and Stores Need to Know in 2026
We tested the Nimbus Deck Pro as a demo kiosk for boardgame stores and cafés. Here’s how publishers can use cloud‑PC hybrids to elevate demos, reduce hardware costs and create better in‑store experiences.
M
Marisol Vega2026-01-10
industry•
10 min read
Breaking Analysis: Licensing Changes That Will Reshape Tabletop Asset Use in 2026
A major image-model vendor changed terms. What designers, publishers, and print-on-demand sellers must know about new licensing realities and how to adjust production pipelines.
M
Marta R. Klein2026-01-09
events•
9 min read
Field Report: Night Market Board Game Pop‑Ups — Lessons from Urban Night Markets (2026)
Night market pop-ups are becoming a powerful discovery channel for tabletop designers. We travelled to three cities to document workflows, vendor economics, and unexpected audience behaviours.
M
Marta R. Klein2026-01-08
reviews•
9 min read
Hands‑On 2026 Review: Best Camera & Microphone Kits for Live Board Game Streams
We tested seven kits across five setups — cafés, clubs, and solo creators. Here’s what pros and hobbyists should buy now for dependable, low-friction board game streaming in 2026.
M
Marta R. Klein2026-01-07
design•
9 min read
Advanced Session Design for Long-Term Fun: Applying the Pokies Player Framework to Board Game Campaigns
The Pokies Player Framework isn’t just for slot-like experiences — applied thoughtfully to board game campaigns it improves pacing, retention, and satisfaction for recurring players.
M
Marta R. Klein2026-01-06
hybrid•
8 min read
How Hybrid Game Nights Evolved in 2026: Venue Tech, Player Flow, and What Organizers Must Do Next
Hybrid game nights moved from novelty to expectation by 2026. Here’s a practical playbook for venues and organizers to upgrade experience, monetize sustainably, and future-proof mixed in-person/remote play.
M
Marta R. Klein2026-01-05
cafes•
8 min read
Why Whole Grains Matter Now: Designing Snack Menus for Board Game Cafés (2026 Guide)
Snack menus affect session length, player focus and accessibility. In 2026, whole-grain options, portion sizing and kitchen equipment matter more than ever for sustainable cafés and events.
M
Marta R. Klein2026-01-05
publishing•
8 min read
Review: Governance and Crowdfunding Templates That Scale for Cooperative Game Publishers (2026 Picks)
Four governance and crowdfunding templates we used in 2025–26. These picks save time, reduce disputes, and make post-campaign approvals predictable for cooperative or community-funded game projects.
M
Marta R. Klein2026-01-04
pub-games•
8 min read
Designing Live Pub Game Nights That Scale: Sentiment Signals & Real-Time Personalization
Want longer sessions and higher per-head spend? Use real-time sentiment cues, dynamic pacing, and simple overlays to make live pub games feel bespoke for every table.
M
Marta R. Klein2026-01-03
retail•
9 min read
Retailers' Playbook: From Legacy POS to Interactive Displays — What Tabletop Stores Should Adopt in 2026
Stores that modernise display and checkout experiences win. This playbook covers showroom stacks, micro-shop marketing tools, and partnerships that increase discoverability and margins.
M
Marta R. Klein2026-01-02
events•
9 min read
Future of Club Tournaments: Layer‑2 Ticketing, NFTs and Community Markets for Event Organizers (2026 Roadmap)
Layer‑2 ticketing and community markets changed event economics in 2025–26. Here’s a roadmap for clubs to adopt tokenized passes, dynamic fares, and loyalty without alienating collectors.
M
Marta R. Klein2026-01-01
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