The best games by S J Macdonald 🇳🇿👨 2026

In Architects of the West Kingdom, set against the backdrop of the late Carolingian Empire around 850 AD, players step into the roles of royal architects. Tasked with constructing important buildings and advancing the construction of the Archbishop's cathedral, this game uniquely combines resource management, worker placement, and moral choices into a rich strategic tableau. Players vie for the King's favor and maintain their noble status in a world where virtue and vice coexist.

Wayfarers of the South Tigris transports players back to the golden age of the Abbasid Caliphate, where they embark on a grand journey as explorers, cartographers, and astronomers. Tasked with the monumental job of mapping uncharted territories, navigating intricate waterways, and cataloging celestial bodies, players strive to contribute to the famed House of Wisdom in Baghdad. Success in this endeavor promises great prestige and the favor of the Caliph, while failure could mean obscurity or peril.

Set in the flourishing Abbasid Caliphate around 830 AD, players aim to expand their influence in the House of Wisdom and hire linguists to translate foreign scrolls into Arabic. The goal is to acquire the most victory points by translating scrolls, advancing knowledge in various scientific fields, influencing guilds, and retiring translators after years of service. The game ends when all four caliph cards have been revealed.