GameHead Preview: Fun, Easy-to-Learn Board Games | PAX East 2026

Starting as a company focused on game mats, GameHead has expanded into board games, creating some of the most interesting concepts I’ve seen in a while. Their games are easy to learn, quick to set up, and fast to play, which I really appreciate. Lately, a lot of the games I’ve been playing seem to spend thirty minutes or more just explaining rules and getting everything ready. That’s not the case with GameHead games.

The boxes are also small, which makes them easy to take on trips or bring to someone’s house, or even pack in a carry-on. The current lineup is impressive, and I also had a chance to check out several upcoming titles set to release in June. And these games look very promising.

The first game I got to see was Pet Quartet. It’s a trick-taking game where players play cards to either complete a band or perform as solo artists.

The names are clever, with characters like Crawl McCartney, Wontgo Farr, John Shellnnon, and George Tortoison, four turtles that make up one of the collectible bands, clearly inspired by The Beatles. There are also solo acts like Birb Dylan and Wing Newton. Most of the cards are based on musicians, with a few pop culture references mixed in.

Solo artists are worth more points, but there’s a risk. From what I was told, opponents can force you to take additional solo artists, which can end up costing you points.

Another game I’m excited about, and got to play a round of, is Size Wise. This is easily one of the most interesting games I saw at the show.

Each player is given a length of string with a bead that slides up and down, along with a hook at the end. A description is read aloud, and players have to determine the size of the item. In my demo, the prompt was an elf shoe. I asked a clarifying question, “Are we talking about D&D elves or Keebler?” Ryan from GameHead simply replied, “That’s for you to decide.”

From there, everyone sets their guess using the bead and hangs their string on a central hook. The players whose answers land in the middle win the round.

It feels like a really fun party game, and I’m looking forward to playing more.

Tricks to the Future is another game I’m really looking forward to playing. As the name suggests, it’s a trick-taking game, but with a clever twist. Fuel rods, which are part of a time-traveling machine, can be used to change the value of a card.

For example, I could turn a zero into an eight by placing a fuel rod in the middle of the number. The best way to think about it is like a digital clock, where each number can be altered by adding segments.

It’s a fun way to shake up what would otherwise be a straightforward trick-taking game.

All of these games are set to release later this year, but GameHead already has a fantastic lineup available. I picked up a few titles and plan to share more in-depth reviews soon.

If you’re a fan of board games and want something new to play with friends without spending most of the night explaining rules, GameHead is worth checking out. The games are compact, easy to learn, and affordable.

Checking out GameHead at PAX East was one of the highlights of my trip, and I’m looking forward to playing more as new releases roll out.