Aquamarine is a roll-and-write board game designed by Matthew Dunstan and Phil Walker-Harding; it is published by Postmark Games. Aquamarine offers a relaxing yet deeply strategic underwater adventure where players explore the ocean depths in search of marine wonders. Players take on the roles of divers exploring the ocean, mapping underwater habitats, discovering marine life, and collecting treasure. Using dice, the player will aim to create the most efficient and rewarding dive path while managing a limited oxygen tank.

To play Aquamarine, each player receives a dive map sheet to chart their underwater exploration. At the start of each round, 2 dice are rolled, determining the possible movement (distance and directions). Players will select one of the dice results and mark a path on their dive map, exploring new underwater areas. As players progress, they will encounter various marine creatures and treasures; those will grant points and bonuses. After 24 rounds, the game will end. Players will tally their points for marine life, completed objectives, and explored areas.

What strategy should you use to maximize your points and win Aquamarine? The first tip would be to plan your dive path carefully. Try to optimize your path to cover key areas while minimizing your oxygen usage. Keep in mind that oxygen is not unlimited; you will have a tank to manage for each of your divers. The second tip would be to prioritize marine life and treasures. Those are the items that will give you the most points or even boost your score with certain objectives. Last tip: Adapt to the dice rolls. Do not wait for the perfect roll to go where you want; adjust to the possibilities available to you.

Aquamarine creates a relaxing and strategic gameplay. This game offers a perfect balance of calm exploration and tactical decision-making. If you take a look at the PnP files, you will notice that many maps are available, making every game different. Aquamarine brings a new take on the “underwater theme”; few games explore the deep sea and its content. Whether you are charting the ocean floor solo or competing with a friend, Aquamarine offers a delightful gaming experience.

Fliptown is a “flip” and write game designed by Steven Aramini and published by Write Stuff Games. Fliptown is set in a whimsical Wild West setting, where players will explore the town of Fliptown. To play this game, you can use the deck of cards provided with the print-and-play file, or you can use a regular deck of cards, reducing your cost to print it. 

To play Fliptown, each player will receive a player sheet representing the different regions of Fliptown where actions are marked. Each turn, players will flip 3 cards. One card will be used to determine the region where to play (Trail, Badland, Mine, Town). The second card will determine the value and, by so doing, the action that is available. The last card will be added to the player’s poker hand. After a set number of turns, players will tally their poker hand to make bonus points.   The game plays over 3 rounds, after which each player will tally their poker hand. At the end of the 3 rounds, players will tally their stars, and the one with the most stars will win.

What should you do to win Fliptown? The first tip would be to balance your exploration. It is important that you do not focus only on one region of your player sheet. Try to diversify as much as possible. Second tip: try and maximise your poker hand; keep track of your poker cards throughout each round and try to maximise your end-of-round points. Third tip: plan for combos. Combos are going to make you generate more points. On your player sheet you will find buildings and locations that can be used to chain powerful effects. Use those as much as possible.

Why do we love Fliptown so much? The creative use of poker cards instead of custom decks makes the print-and-play aspect of this game really convenient. Also, it brings out a fun nostalgia of playing a game with an “old, regular” deck of cards. Fliptown is one of those “easy to learn but hard to master” games, making this game accessible to a large variety of players, from beginners to seasoned players. Fliptown is an excellent blend of classic gaming elements and modern mechanisms. Whether you play solo or with friends, this is definitely a game you should try out.

Roll and Rails is a roll-and-write game designed by Szymon Magiera & Krzysztof Matusik and published by DicePen. In this game, players take on the role of railroad tycoon, aiming to build the most efficient railway network. By rolling dice and making tactical decisions, players lay tracks, connect cities and manage resources to score the most points.

To play Roll and Rails, each player will receive a personal player sheet where they will keep track of their resources and points. A common map will be in the centre of the table. And you will need to provide several dice depending on the number of players. The game is played over a set number of rounds (determined by the map you choose). At the beginning of each round, players will roll the dice and draft them in turn order until everybody has 4 dice. Once everybody chose their dice, the player will plan the action they want to do. In turn order, the player will execute all their actions. Available actions are laying tracks, delivering goods, upgrading your railroad, and many more. At the end of the set number of rounds, players will tally their points for connecting cities and delivered goods.

How to win playing Roll and Rails? The first tip would be to focus on creating efficient routing. Try and connect the big cities as fast as possible with the shortest route possible. You want to make sure your railway is as effective as possible to avoid giving points to your opponents by using their railway. Second tip: make sure you keep track of resources and use them efficiently. Use your special actions to build more cities, upgrade your railway to deliver further away, etc. Last tip, be prepared to adapt your strategy based on what your opponents played. Often you will be in each other's way, and they may build a railway before you exactly where you wanted it.

Why do we love Roll and Rails so much? The shared map creates high interaction between players. You will often have no other choice but to use each other railway. This game has so much replayabilty with the multiple available maps. Roll and Rails creates a new take on train and railway games. So, pick up your pencil and start delivering! 

Villagers of Oak Dell is a dynamic roll-and-write game designed by Przemysław Fornal & Michał Łopato and published by Two Acorns Games. In VoOD (Villagers of Oak Dell), players take on the role of village leaders striving to develop the most prosperous settlement. Over 12 rounds, players will construct roads and structures, expand their population, and mine precious resources.

To play VoOD, each player will receive a village sheet representing their village and track their developments and resources. A central board with a rondel where the rolled dice will be assigned is placed in the middle of the table. 3 objective cards are available to give players an additional scoring opportunity. The game plays over 12 rounds; each round, the 4 dice are rolled, and the player chooses one die, which will give them a resource. Players will simultaneously allocate their resources on their player sheet. After the 12th round, players will tally their points from building, resources, and objectives and lose points for any unresolved marauder attacks.à

What strategy should you use to win VoOD? My first tip would be to make sure you do some defence planning. Each round there is a risk of marauder attacks; make sure you are prepared for them in advance and allocate some knights to your village defence. If you do not manage to defend all your marauder attacks, you could get penalty points at the end of the game. Second tip: focus on chain reaction. VOOD is a very combo-y game. Make sure you focus on actions that trigger additional benefits. Third tip: focus on achieving the common objective as fast as possible. Only the first player to achieve them will receive the maximum points. Aim to complete the objective early for the most bonus points possible.

Villagers of Oak Dell is such a fun roll-and-write game that creates high replayability with the various village sheets and objectives. Each game offers a unique experience. VoOD is an accessible game, and yet it brings a lot of strategic planning, making players engage all game long. If you have already enjoyed VoOD, you should also try the solo and campaign modes, giving you even more gameplay.

References: 

BGG. (n.d.) Aquamarine. Board Games Geek. Retrieved March 2025, from: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/360471/aquamarine

BGG. (n.d.) Fliptown. Board Games Geek. Retrieved April 2025, from:  https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/352418/fliptown

BGG. (n.d.) Roll and Rails. Board Games Geek. Retrieved April 2025, from:   https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/372883/roll-and-rails

BGG. (n.d.) Villagers of Oak Dell. Board Games Geek. Retrieved April 2025, from:  https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/390903/villagers-of-the-oak-dell