Recent Articles & Reviews by Thomas Martin

Thomas' experiences with board games started with a small flock of sheep, a cattle station, and a knack for surviving natural disasters. Cutting his board game teeth on the infamous "Australian Monopoly", Squatter, board games for him meant the family coming together—collecting wool, buying and selling sheep, all whilst working through the unpredictable challenges of rural living. It’s this sense of coming together and sharing in something wholesome that he’s always associated with board gaming.

It wasn’t until many years later, during an unusual summer when his partner was home for an extended period, that the hobby reappeared. On a whim, one day they walked into their FLGS and were recommended to buy a copy of Everdell. Drawn in by the art and story, they took it home, built the tree and played their first game together—opening up an entire world Thomas hadn’t realised he’d been missing.

After joining a local gaming group, he was exposed to some of the best games contemporary board gaming has to offer. From Kanban EV to A Feast for Odin, Raiders of the North Sea to Age of Innovation, his mind was blown—and so began his journey into modern board gaming. Although he hasn’t played Squatter since he was a kid, he knows that tucked away in an old biscuit tin somewhere in his closet are those sheep. One day, he’ll bring them out and revisit those formative cattle stations once again.

Café Game Review

June 29, 2025
Thomas Martin

From French seductions to global legacies, hidden behind Café’s quiet, elegant cards lies a story as rich as the coffee it brews. Join Thomas as he...

Subscribe to Meeple Mountain!

Read past newsletters

Crowdfunding Roundup

Crowdfunding Roundup header

Resources for Board Gamers

Board Game Categories