The best games from Paul Peterson 👨 2026

Kingdom Builder is a strategic board game where players shape their domains by building settlements, with the ultimate goal of earning the most gold by the end of the game.

Players choose from four winning factions in Smash Up: It's Your Fault! The selected factions are Sharks, Superheroes, Mythical Greeks, and Dragons, along with a bonus faction called "Shark Delivery System." This game involves a fun process where players worldwide contributed to the selection.

Paaranoia is a game where players aim to avoid pairs of cards. Using a deck of 55 cards, players are dealt one card and must decide whether to draw again or risk losing the round. If they draw a matching card, they incur penalty points and the game continues until someone exceeds a predefined threshold of penalty points and loses. Various versions of the game feature different artwork and some include unique rules related to their themes.

Smash Up: Awesome Level 9000, also known as Smash Up II, is an exciting expansion to the Smash Up base game, introducing four new factions and eight new bases. This expansion not only adds variety but also brings unique combinations and fresh strategic layers to the already dynamic gameplay of Smash Up.

Pretty Pretty Smash Up is an expansion for the popular card game Smash Up, introducing a whimsical and sweet twist to the classic base-smashing gameplay. This expansion adds four new factions: Kitty Cats, Princesses, Fairies, and Mythic Horses, each with their unique abilities and strategies. The Kitty Cats can charm their way into controlling enemy minions, while the Princesses use their regal influence to command the battlefield. Fairies offer a variety of tactical choices with their magical mischief, and the Mythic Horses bring a powerful group dynamic to the fight.

Smash Up: Monster Smash adds a thrilling twist to the Smash Up universe with its inclusion of four new, terrifying factions: vampires, mad scientists, werewolves, and giant ants. This expansion not only enriches the game's thematic diversity but also introduces unique mechanics that reflect the iconic abilities and lore associated with each monster genre.

Smash Up: Science Fiction Double Feature expands the universe of Smash Up with four new, out-of-this-world factions, each bringing unique gameplay mechanics to the table. This expansion allows for a fresh mix-and-match experience with the original game or stands alone as a two-player showdown.

Smash Up: Forgotten Heroes can be played as a two-player game or combined with other Smash Up titles, allowing up to four players to compete for control of the bases. It includes four factions – Astroknights, Changerbots, Star Roamers, and Ignobles – each with 22 cards. Players mix two factions together, regardless of whether they are from this set or another Smash Up title, and then start the game.

Smash Up is a unique and engaging "shufflebuilding" game where players combine two distinct factions, each with a 20-card deck, into a single 40-card deck. The game is known for its quirky and diverse factions, each with its own unique mechanics and gameplay style.

Smash Up: Adventurous Legends is a standalone game for two players that can also serve as an expansion for other Smash Up titles. The four factions included in this set are Vikings, Cowboys, Samurai, and Egyptians.

Europe, summer 1997. You and your creative friends have stumbled upon two problems with one common solution: mad cow disease in England and unexploded bombs in France. By herding your cows through France and releasing them behind the Cordon Rouge, you aim to get rich, all while dodging Greenpeace.

Never be fooled by a sweet face; behind that cuddly smile lurks a beating! If you survive the onslaught of teddy bears, you'll encounter rockstars, grandmas, and explorers – seriously, what were we thinking? This expansion brings back the wild randomness of the early days of the game, allowing you to pit zombie rockstars against explorer dinosaurs or time-traveling grandmas against teddy bear vampires. Your wildest dreams can finally come true!

Smash Up: Big in Japan introduces the most adorable base-bashing you've ever seen, featuring four factions inspired by Japanese pop culture. These include anime fighters, cute collectible creatures that are definitely not Pokémon, colorful warriors that are in no way Power Rangers, and Godzilla.

Smash Up: The Wild 70s is a standalone game for two players that can also be used as an expansion for other Smash Up titles. The four factions included in this set are truckers, vigilantes, disco dancers, and kung-fu fighters.

Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set is a cooperative strategy card game set in the Pathfinder universe. Players embark on a fantasy adventure, facing various challenges and evolving their characters throughout the game.

Join the Smash Up World Tour! "Resistance is Futile" kicks off a year-long journey to explore cool heroes from diverse cultures. This first World Tour set introduces fantastic factions like the Luchadores, Mounties, Musketeers, and Sumo Wrestlers, each bringing unique abilities to the battle for the bases.

Smash Up: The Obligatory Cthulhu Set dives into the deep, dark corners of the Cthulhu mythos, bringing a tentacle-filled twist to the Smash Up universe. This expansion pack is a love letter to H.P. Lovecraft's work, integrating iconic elements of the Cthulhu lore into the chaotic and strategic card game where different factions vie for dominance.

Get ready for the craziest vacation ever! A herd of mischievous bulls has taken over the picturesque town of El Toro, and players must outmaneuver them to reach fabulous coastal destinations. Use a handful of dice as runners and play cards to roll again or influence opponents' runners while trying to avoid the bulls that are chasing you.

The world tour continues! To explore every continent, five factions are included for a whole lot of fun at the price of four.

Players combine two twenty-card decks from different factions to create a forty-card deck and compete to destroy more bases than their opponents. Each faction adds unique powers and mechanics, making every combination an exciting experience. The game features base cards with varying challenges and abilities, and players score points based on their standings when a base is destroyed.

Players have a stack of chips, each with hit points ranging from 0 to 6. They must form a stack of 15 chips without exceeding a certain number of Clout points. Players take turns throwing the chips into the play area, with different effects triggered by how the chips land. Some chips have abilities like protection or poisoning, while others can weaken opponents or enhance nearby chips. After all chips are played, players count up their remaining chips and score extra points for proximity to others, with the player holding the most Clout points declared the winner.

The Ninth World is a card game for 1 to 5 players that can be played competitively, cooperatively, or solo. Players assume the roles of a Nano, Jack, or Glaive, each described by an adjective, a noun, and a verb phrase. Characters explore the realm of the Steadfast or venture into the mysterious lands beyond, making strategic decisions to spend their skills wisely while competing for valuable cards. In cooperative mode, players work together against creatures threatening the city, while in solo mode, one must face the challenges alone.

Players can engage in the Apocrypha adventure card game cooperatively or with a game master in a role-playing format. Set in a world on the brink of an apocalypse, players encounter monsters visible only to their characters. The game features a rich narrative, deck-building mechanics, and character development, where players unlock fragmented memories that grant new powers. Each mission presents unique challenges and objectives, often involving the pursuit of hidden threats. The base box includes 584 cards, dice, rulebooks, and character tokens, with expansions adding further content and complexity.