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Writer
Sarah Mitchell
Sarah Mitchell is a lifelong board gamer and the lead writer at BoardGames.World. With over a decade of tabletop experience â from weekly strategy nights to rowdy party-game sessions with family â she specializes in helping new players find games they'll actually love. Sarah has personally tested hundreds of titles, attends SPIEL Essen when she can, and believes the best game is the one that gets everyone around the table talking. When she's not writing reviews, she's probably arguing over the last settlement spot in Catan.
22 articles
Articles by Sarah Mitchell
Strategy
Wirecutterâs New Best Board Games List Plays It Safe, and Mostly Gets Away With It
Our honest take on Wirecutterâs refreshed 2026 board game picks.
October 14, 20266 min read
Family
How Many Players in Catan, and Which One Are You?
The player count, and the people behind it.
October 12, 202614 min read
Two player
A Bot Just Beat Strategoâs Greatest Player, and It Plays Dirty
AI just beat Strategoâs greatest living player.
October 9, 20266 min read
Strategy
Flamecraftâs Digital Adaptation Is Cozy, Cross-Play, and a Little Thin
Monster Couchâs cozy dragon board game goes digital.
September 30, 20265 min read
Strategy
Best Strategy Board Games for Adults, Sorted by How They Make You Sweat
Sixteen picks grouped by how they squeeze you.
September 25, 202616 min read
Party
5 Horror Board Games Worth Playing This Halloween
Five horror games worth your Halloween table that your friends will like to play.
September 22, 20267 min read
Strategy
King of Tokyo Is Free to Try, So Are These Other Board Games
I played King of Tokyoâs video game myself, plus what else you can try free.
September 16, 20266 min read
Strategy
Still Waiting on Wingspanâs Africa Expansion? We Made Four Birds Ourselves.
Four homemade Wingspan bird cards while we wait for Africa
September 10, 20265 min read
Strategy
Space Kingâs Kickstarter Funded in Six Minutes, Then Kept Climbing Past $9.5 Million
Space Kingâs Kickstarter closed at $9.5 million.
September 2, 20269 min read
Strategy
Cephalofair Is Betting That Youâre Tired of Carrying Gloomhaven to Game Night
Cephalofair ditches dungeon crawling for a ruthless mercenary staffing agency.
August 28, 20264 min read
Strategy
The 5 Best Stonemaier Games, Ranked
Wingspan to Vantage: 5 Stonemaier games ranked.
August 19, 20267 min read
Strategy
Catan Strategy: Why the âBestâ Opening Doesnât Exist
The 6/8 corner isnât the strategy. Reading the table is.
August 12, 202619 min read
Party
What Is Spiel des Jahres? Germanyâs Board Game Award, Explained
German critics pick top board games, instantly sparking massive sales.
August 10, 20264 min read
Cooperative
JinxO Wins Spiel des Jahres 2026, Knizia Finally Completes the Set
Three years running, the Spiel des Jahres jury handed the big trophy to a cooperative game. Dorfromantik, then Sky Team, then Bomb Busters. Iâd started assuming co-op was just what won now, the way a genre calcifies once a few voters decide they like the shape of it. Then this year the jury picked a
July 27, 20265 min read
Strategy
How Many Players Can Play Catan? (And What Happens at 2, 5, or 6)
The base Catan box is built for 3 to 4 players, full stop, thatâs whatâs printed on the box and itâs also the honest answer once youâve played it enough times to notice why. Go under that range and the game changes shape in ways most people donât expect until theyâve tried it. Go over
July 21, 20267 min read
Family
The Death of the âShelfieâ: Why Board Game Storage Is Shrinking
7-word excerpt: Megaboxes are dying. Your shelf isnât ready.
July 16, 202611 min read
Cooperative
Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons Goes to Ravenloft: Smart Move or Just More Monsters?
Strahd has a board game now. Whether it deserves one is complicated.
June 25, 20263 min read
Strategy
Finspan Gets Its Oceania Moment With Sharks & Reefs
Finspan finally stops feeling like the lighter Wingspan alternative.
June 22, 20264 min read
Party
Three Indie Board Games That Struck Gold on Kickstarter
Crowdfunding completely decentralized the tabletop gaming industry.
June 15, 20265 min read
Strategy
The Disney Villainous Cash Grab: How Many âExpandalonesâ Do We Actually Need?
Ravensburger knows they have us hooked. Our shelves donât.
June 15, 20263 min read
Strategy
Why did we get sharks before Wingspan Africa?
We got sharks before the Shoebill. Stonemaier has explaining to do.
June 15, 20268 min read
Cooperative
5 Board Games Every Beginner Should Try
New to tabletop gaming? Start with these five approachable board games that hook new players without overwhelming them.
April 14, 20262 min read