<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[To Play or Not To Play]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tabletop game reviews and criticism]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/toplayornottoplay</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:09:06 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Apiary]]></title><description><![CDATA[Apiary is, bar none, the friendliest worker-placement game I've played.  How can a worker-placement game where you can always send your workers to any space have any tension or stakes? That's the magic of Apiary!]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/post/apiary</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b5c331b4f7fa41b81ba358</guid><category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 02 Oct 2025 19:10:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed724c_edbd9046019f481ca5d38ecbb44c8d57~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_600,h_252,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Star Wars: Outer Rim]]></title><description><![CDATA[Outer Rim easily sits in my top 5 board games of all time, and it's a strong contender for number 1. It's no secret what my recommendation is going to be. Go play this game! ]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/post/star-wars-outer-rim</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68a76df212a9126f7a976b0f</guid><category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 25 Sep 2025 16:49:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed724c_bbca4295b1b6444e9e0f35b8b169ed4a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_600,h_204,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Azul: Summer Pavilion]]></title><description><![CDATA[At its core, Azul: Summer Pavilion is almost identical to Azul. Players draft tiles from circular factories and place them on their board to create pretty patterns. The big difference is that instead of a 5x5 grid of square tiles, you have these pinwheels of colored diamond-shaped tiles. But you'll also notice some features are absent: there's no staircase or smashed tiles row. And there's now an extra board, that's different!]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/post/azul-summer-pavilion</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6875b92de7aaf23c10361e62</guid><category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 15:43:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed724c_792f90ae3a20455eb1ecf1fefacde808~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_600,h_600,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Undergrove]]></title><description><![CDATA[Thematically, this game's focus is on the nutrient distribution networks facilitated by mushrooms and other fungi within forest environments. Each player represents a different species of tree, and your goal is to utilize the mushrooms growing near your trees; roots to absorb carbon and make your trees grow big and strong. ]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/post/undergrove</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68990a82070b0cdfd0dd911a</guid><category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 20 Aug 2025 18:15:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed724c_3150251182134116944334d2b471b5c9~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_600,h_312,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[PARKS]]></title><description><![CDATA[PARKS is a cozy, well-produced game about hiking along trails and visiting the many beautiful U.S. National Parks.]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/post/parks</link><guid isPermaLink="false">674a308b9d95c516446f3e45</guid><category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 13 Aug 2025 15:00:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed724c_d2b54a8305814320839529f0aa90ff2f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_900,h_450,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[WBC 2025 - In My Experience, There's No Such Thing as Luck]]></title><description><![CDATA[Just a quick post today: I was at the World Boardgame Championships once again from July 19 - July 28.]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/post/wbc-2025-in-my-experience-there-s-no-such-thing-as-luck</link><guid isPermaLink="false">689608cc4d23f3b3541174d2</guid><category><![CDATA[Retrospectives]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 08 Aug 2025 14:29:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed724c_64a0bff20732431189a7c0397c31f792~mv2.gif/v1/fit/w_576,h_271,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Azul]]></title><description><![CDATA[Azul is a simple tile-drafting game. Each player has a board that depicts a 5x5 grid of tiles arranged in a pleasing pattern. Your goal is to fill this pattern with tiles that you draft from the center of the table in ways that will score you more points than your opponent. Simple enough, right?]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/post/_azul</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6771809677ffe881a285489f</guid><category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 22 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed724c_c0f201a0983d4faea36adf5f1d37675d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_600,h_600,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tricks, Tales, and Tatooine]]></title><description><![CDATA[It's somehow been another year, and that means it's time for another retrospective on my past year of gaming.  Join me on a stroll through memory lane as I look back on the past year of board games: https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/346669/tricks-tales-and-tatooine-the-games-i-played-6-1-2]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/post/tricks-tales-and-tatooine</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6872fe45ac041791c78ba2b3</guid><category><![CDATA[Retrospectives]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 13 Jul 2025 00:38:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed724c_ac84620af764464798831e9b9664c6da~mv2_d_2274_1827_s_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[WBC 2024 - We're all fine here, now, thank you. How are you?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Just a quick post today: I was at the World Boardgame Championships once again from July 19 - July 28.]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/post/wbc-2024-we-re-all-fine-here-now-thank-you-how-are-you</link><guid isPermaLink="false">66b16aa03ac5e07a4ffb2645</guid><category><![CDATA[Retrospectives]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Aug 2024 00:17:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed724c_64a0bff20732431189a7c0397c31f792~mv2.gif/v1/fit/w_576,h_271,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vermlings, Shoggoths, and Roseate Spoonbills, oh my!]]></title><description><![CDATA[My annual retrospective on the board games I played is now live on BGG!]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/post/vermlings-shoggoths-and-roseate-spoonbills-oh-my</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6669d2dc3c07f1a102db93f8</guid><category><![CDATA[Retrospectives]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 12 Jun 2024 16:58:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed724c_ac84620af764464798831e9b9664c6da~mv2_d_2274_1827_s_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Let the Wookie Win!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Well, between grad school and a bunch of home repair emergencies, the ol' board game review website has fallen by the wayside once again....]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/post/let-the-wookie-win</link><guid isPermaLink="false">64b5d33b9131f96c870eaab3</guid><category><![CDATA[Retrospectives]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 18 Jul 2023 14:59:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed724c_ac84620af764464798831e9b9664c6da~mv2_d_2274_1827_s_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Review: Aquatica]]></title><description><![CDATA[Category: Hand Management Designer: Ivan Tuzovsky Publisher: Cosmodrome Games Year Published: 2019 Players: 1-4 Playing Time: 30-60...]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/post/aquatica</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6446c809b6cc14745bbf8334</guid><category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 25 Apr 2023 18:07:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed724c_a29529a72fab430fae69c4ee81a5d0bb~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_900,h_900,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lost Ruins of Arnak]]></title><description><![CDATA[In Lost Ruins of Arnak, you'll explore a mysterious island, uncover powerful artifacts, and research a mysterious temple! ]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/post/lost-ruins-of-arnak</link><guid isPermaLink="false">620e996e8857124b96227598</guid><category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 19 Aug 2022 18:00:07 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed724c_b8c38fbdf8fd4cbba08dc1c8338edaa8~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_336,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Another year in review!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Huh . . . it's been six months since my last post. It's been hard to carve out time for this blog with work, school, and everything else...]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/post/another-year-in-review</link><guid isPermaLink="false">62b5e7017c558bde9cef5ea4</guid><category><![CDATA[Retrospectives]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jun 2022 16:34:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed724c_ac84620af764464798831e9b9664c6da~mv2_d_2274_1827_s_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Chris' Collection 2021 - Top 9]]></title><description><![CDATA[Last time, I wrote about the bottom 9 games in my board game collection. Today, it’s time for the top 9! Like before, these are the games...]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/post/top-9-2021</link><guid isPermaLink="false">61d8d54d74be03001671f9be</guid><category><![CDATA[Retrospectives]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 08 Jan 2022 20:00:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed724c_b678abdb97f741639f8d6bbe4048bd77~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Chris' Collection 2021 - Bottom 9]]></title><description><![CDATA[A few weeks ago, I got inspired to make a return visit to pubmeeple.com. Pub Meeple has a lots of interesting board game related things...]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/post/bottom-9-2021</link><guid isPermaLink="false">61c7c35bc4f7260016589dc7</guid><category><![CDATA[Retrospectives]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 31 Dec 2021 18:13:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed724c_b5016901e82945a8b677271d8975db75~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Spooky Month part 6 - Arkham Horror: 3rd Edition]]></title><description><![CDATA[I began Spooky Month with Arkham Horror, and it's only fitting to end it with the same. I've written at length over this past month about...]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/post/arkham-horror-3rd-edition</link><guid isPermaLink="false">617c16a2dc3f2300178a77e2</guid><category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 31 Oct 2021 17:00:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed724c_ee0c52cbeff74309b97e012a4435adfc~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_595,h_276,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Spooky Month part 5 - Arkham Horror: The Card Game]]></title><description><![CDATA[Spooky month is rapidly approaching its climax, but we have one more stop  before the big finale! If you want to check out the earlier...]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/post/arkham-horror-the-card-game</link><guid isPermaLink="false">616f367f7ad1640017421b11</guid><category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 26 Oct 2021 15:50:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed724c_89a2222ed76b4d049139b9f9c8e89e07~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_602,h_258,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Spooky month part 4: Eldritch Horror]]></title><description><![CDATA[Spooky month continues! If you're just joining us, welcome! I'm going to be referencing the last few reviews pretty heavily through out...]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/post/eldritch-horror</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6160ad670fceb40016b2b0ac</guid><category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 18 Oct 2021 16:30:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed724c_713701f8a26b4459b8f030b087c554a5~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_607,h_303,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Spooky month part 3: Elder Sign]]></title><description><![CDATA[Welcome back to spooky month, where I'm reviewing all the games in Fantasy Flight's Arkham Files series. In part 1 , I reviewed Arkham...]]></description><link>https://www.toplayornottoplay.net/post/elder-sign</link><guid isPermaLink="false">61576c941953660017b01f61</guid><category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 12 Oct 2021 16:16:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed724c_efd8ec19dabe425e85692d2f19509646~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_590,h_333,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>