Matt Thrower

Bath

Board and Video Game Journalist at Freelance

Board game and video game writer: IGN, GamesRadar, Dicebreaker, The Guardian and others. Software engineer. There Will Be Puns.

Articles

The Best 2-Player Board Games in 2025

5 days ago | ign.com | Matt Thrower

Many of the most ancient and enduring board games around, from chess to checkers, are for two players only, and with good reason. Two going head-to-head is an undiluted contest of skill and, sometimes, luck. As soon as you introduce a third player into the mix, you have a problem. If there’s any interaction in the game, that third player may ally with or otherwise help one of the other two.
Cyclades: Legendary Edition Board Game Review

1 week ago | ign.com | Matt Thrower |Chris Reed

While the myths of ancient Greece bubble through the substrate of many board games – take Horrified: Greek Monsters, for example – there are surprisingly few that place them front and center. Narrow the frame to the way many people think about the age, one of conquest, bloodshed and warfare, and there are even fewer. Which might partly explain the success of 2009s Cyclades, a clever marriage of myth, wargame and more subtle strategic mechanisms.
The Fellowship of The Ring: Trick-Taking Game Review

4 weeks ago | ign.com | Matt Thrower

Two things that seem to have been eternally popular since their inception are The Lord of the Rings and cooperative card games. Now, Tolkein’s legions of fans can enjoy both at once by playing their way through the first book of his trilogy, working together, in The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game.
The Cooperative Board Game Jumanji Stampede Is on Sale for 46% Off

1 month ago | ign.com | Matt Thrower

Some of you may have fond memories of a 1986 game called Fireball Island, which was notable for incorporating physical obstacles into play, in the form of marbles that rolled down random paths on the 3D board, knocking over player figures. That got a middling 2018 rework in the form of Fireball Island: The Curse of Vul-Kar (see it at Amazon), but if you want similar game concepts at a cheaper price, married to a blockbuster movie licence, then Jumanji Stampede is the game for you.
Cyberpunk 2077: Gangs of Night City Board Game Gets a Big Discount on Amazon

1 month ago | ign.com | Matt Thrower

Cyberpunk 2077 was a massively popular video game. And considering all the board game adaptations of video games that now exist, it was no surprise when Cyberpunk eventually made its tabletop debut. It's a fun game. It's also on sale right now for nearly 30% off at Amazon, dropping the price to $78 instead of its usual $110. If you've been thinking about adding Cyberpunk 2077: Gangs of Night City to your shelf, now is a good time to do that.
Cyberpunk 2077: Gangs of Night City Board Game Gets a Big Discount on Amazon

1 month ago | flipboard.com | Matt Thrower

1 day ago964 Pinocchio7 Images In a nightmarish institution in industrial neo-Tokyo, a cybernetic sex slave is subjected to a power-drill lobotomy after failing to satisfy two handlers during an orgy. Abandoned at the edge of the city, the hapless android is adopted by a feral street urchin named Himiko, who …
Amazon Has Glory Islands for 28% Off in Board Game Sale

1 month ago | ign.com | Matt Thrower

Who doesn’t love a pirate game, especially a pirate game that involves racing your ships around an archipelago of islands? And, extra-especially, a pirate game that’s currently on sale? Glory Islands, from Rio Grande Games, typically retails for $45, but Amazon has it on sale right now for the oddly-specific price of $32.17. To save you a calculation, that's a 28% discount. Not bad.
Amazon Is Having a Board Game Sale on Maps of Misterra for $12.99

2 months ago | ign.com | Matt Thrower

If you’re interested in unusual or innovative games, then Maps of Misterra should be on your radar, especially since it’s currently selling at a hefty sale discount. It normally runs in the $30 range, but Amazon currently has it on sale for $12.99, which is less than half price. That's quite a deal on a game that's worth a look. Maps of Misterra on Sale for $12.99In Maps of Misterra, players are cartographers, seeking to chart an unknown island.
The Best Classic Board Games to Play in 2025

2 months ago | ign.com | Matt Thrower

Board gaming is great in part because of the variety of new options available nowadays. You'll find plenty to choose from, whether you're interested in family board games, strategy board games, or just about any other genre. But just because modern games are the best they've ever been doesn't mean older games are bad. There's a good reason why the best board games have been popular choices for both beginners and veteran players for such a long time.
The Best War Board Games 2025

2 months ago | ign.com | Matt Thrower

The best board games come in a lot of different themes, but war is one of the most popular ones. And for good reason – war board games can be incredibly fun and exciting. All of the games below will give you a feeling of epic battle. Some may do it in an evening, some may take all day, but none of them will sell you short on battle strategy along the way. Gather some friends, get the snacks and drinks together, and settle in for a long haul thrill ride.