I've been waiting a long time for a new entry in the Culdcept series, and Culdcept Begins doesn't disappoint. The local and online multiplayer features, along with GameShare, were exactly what I hoped would be included, and I'm thrilled they made it into the game. While I wasn't expecting a story, it grew on me over time. That said, I wish multiplayer and other features weren't locked behind the first few story chapters. Overall, though, Culdcept Begins is the best game in the series.

Solnox: Grimoire of Seasons has a solid gameplay core. The strategy and deckbuilding elements are clever, especially when combined with the changing seasons and the buffs they provide. Unfortunately, the level design isn’t as strong. Each area feels the same, and there’s no environmental cover, which seems like a staple of strategy games. The bosses didn’t feel particularly special either, and the character designs were too similar to one another.

In today's The Morning Grind, I take a look inside the Pirate Borg Core Rulebook and show why it's become one of my favorite tabletop RPG books.