The best games by Shem Phillips 🇳🇿👨 2026

In the warmest nights of the year, shimmering lights fill the waters as sleeping Noctiluca awaken. Known for their regenerative properties, these glowing creatures are highly sought after by healers. Players dive into the waters to collect colorful transparent cubes representing the Noctiluca and securely store them until they can be delivered for points. A double-sided game board also offers a solo mode where one player must save the Noctiluca before a storm strikes.

Raiders of the North Sea is a vibrant board game set during the Viking Age, where players embody Viking warriors vying for the Chieftain's recognition through strategic raiding and resource management.

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.

During the reign of Emperor Yao, the people of ancient China were plagued by deadly floods along the Yellow River. After numerous failures in flood control, Yu, inheriting his father's work, set out to build a series of channels to divert the swelling river. Players step into the role of Yu the Great in a fully resettable, non-linear solo campaign, aiming to construct the channels while defending their growing village against neighboring barbarian tribes.

Explorers of the North Sea plunges players into the Viking Age's waning days, tasking them as sea captains on a quest to discover and claim new lands. The goal is to transport crews, capture livestock, and build outposts across newly found islands. With a longship and a Viking crew at your disposal, the seas are ripe for exploration and conquest.

Raiders of Scythia is a captivating board game that takes players back to the era of the Greek, Persian, and Assyrian empires, focusing on the formidable warriors known as the Raiders of Scythia. Renowned for their combat prowess and craftsmanship, players in this game take on the roles of these raiders, aiming to amass victory points through various daring raids, quests, and acquisitions of treasures.

Paladins of the West Kingdom is a compelling strategy board game that transports players to the tumultuous era of West Francia around 900 AD. The game beautifully blends historical themes with deep strategic gameplay.

Viscounts of the West Kingdom is set in the turbulent era around 980 AD, a time when the once powerful monarchy begins to falter. Players, as viscounts, navigate this uncertain period, striving to maintain loyalty to the weakening king while also gaining favor with the people, preparing for any sudden shifts in power.

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 early Viking Age around 900 AD, players compete as shipwrights to build the largest fleet on the North Sea. They must gather oak wood, wool, and iron while recruiting other craftsmen for assistance. Managing limited gold wisely is crucial, and players will encounter a mix of characters in the city, some who can aid them and others who cannot. The aim is to score the most victory points by constructing ships and buildings before the game ends when a player builds their fourth ship.