The best games by Josh J. Carlson 🇺🇸👨 2026

20 Strong is a new deck-based game system that can be played in about 30 minutes or less. It features a core of simple, adaptable rules applied to various unique decks, each with its own mechanisms. Players navigate through a mixed card set, facing challenges that may include opponents or unique scenarios, and must manage their successes while keeping track of health and resources.

Too Many Bones is a meaty dice-builder RPG for 1 to 4 players where you guide a hero, called a Gearloc, through a string of encounters before facing a powerful boss. It rewards anyone who enjoys tactical depth and premium components.

A cooperative tabletop adventure for 1-4 players, it is set in the Second Era of Tamriel during the Events of the Planemeld. Players will uncover the dark plot of a cult attempting to secure the Amulet of Kings, while customizing their hero and managing various skill lines across three sessions. Each session lasts about an hour, allowing for unique character development and exploration of the diverse regions of Tamriel without the need for extensive narrative recall or playing with the same group continuously.

Set in 79 AD, seers have foreseen the eruption of Vesuvius, prompting mystical attempts to avert disaster. This has angered Pluto, the god of the underworld, who threatens greater destruction unless the strongest champions complete a series of daunting tasks. The game features a solo experience focused on heroes and campaign play, offering deep strategic decisions and exciting battles with updated art and design.