New Year, New...sletter!
Happy New Year to you all! I hope you’ve had a fun Christmas period and received all the games you were hoping for.
2022 was a much better year for new games than the one before, and I’m working on my Top 10 Games of 2022 video (there will be ten this time). What have been your favourites from last year?
In this newsletter, I review Evergreen, Verdant and Challengers.
I get pensive and opinionated, answering some tough questions in this Q&A video, such as:
- What's something you see commonly in the board game industry that you do not like?
- Any chance you'll record another Essen Spiel video?
- Are there any popular mechanisms or games you personally consider overrated?
I hope you enjoy it,
Actually yours,
Jon
2022-12-16 15:29:16 +0000 UTC View PostHello newsletter receivers!
(Sorry for the delay, I’ve been struck down by the flu the last few days)
Welcome to the new patrons! Thank you so much for coming aboard and supporting my work - especially at such an uncertain time in the world. I can now look forward to the next year of making videos with excitement. Speaking of, I will be filming a Q&A video soon and then cracking on with my Top 10 Games of 2022, which I hope to release much earlier than previous years.
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In this video, I share 11 Reasons to become an Actualol Patron - hopefully you agree with some of them!
Thank you all for your support this year. If this pledge drive does bring in some patrons, I promise I'll still appreciate you old school members just as much.
I'm filming a Q&A soon - if you have any questions, let me know in the comments.
Actually yours,
Jon
2022-11-25 18:29:54 +0000 UTC View PostAfternoon avid audience,
I hope you enjoyed my new Top 10 Couples Games video. It’s such a relief to have it finished and out in the world. In this newsletter, I’m continuing the list by sharing my Top 20-11 Couples Games, the games that almost made it. And I’m giving my strong opinions on three new games, Flamecraft, Tenpenny Parks and Maui. If ...
2022-11-03 16:34:28 +0000 UTC View Post
The new video is here! My new rankings for my Top 10 Board Games for Couples! With my now promoted "wife" character 😁
Watch, enjoy, share with your friends! It would be a dream if this video could reach as many people as the first one did.
Thank you for your patience, this one was a real labour of love.
Newsletter coming tomorrow!
Actually yours,
Jon
2022-11-02 17:54:32 +0000 UTC View Post
I've been wanting to make this video for years - a new version of my Top 10 Couples Games video after 7 years, with a new ranking, new games and new jokes.
It's been over a month in the making, and I haven't quite finished it today. It will be out later this week for sure, I can't wait to share it with you!
And the newsletter will come once the video is done.
See you soon!
Jon
2022-10-31 14:53:35 +0000 UTC View PostGreetings my royal recipients,
I hope you enjoyed this month’s hidden movement game video. In this month’s newsletter I’m sharing my Top 10 Anticipated Essen Games.
This month, I made a guest appearance on the Chance and Counters podcast, a board gaming podcast where the guest has to come up with a gaming situation, and th...
2022-10-02 14:01:37 +0000 UTC View Post
I've always had a soft spot for hidden movement games. I feel like I'm on a lifelong hunt for the best one, so I had to give Mind MGMT and Sniper Elite the full Actualol treatment. And because it's a genre I'm passionate about, I really wanted to do this one justice.
Thankfully, for the sake of a good title, one of them has become my new go-to hidden movement game. Here's hoping it stays in print longer than past favourites did!
There's a little cameo for my Ceedee character in th...
2022-09-27 16:22:46 +0000 UTC View PostHello everyone,
Happy gaming season! That’s enough Vitamin D for now. It’s time to lock ourselves indoors and get some games in. The summer is barely over and I’ve already noticed an uptick in the amount of gaming I’m doing.
I’d always noticed that I’ve never had a “successful” video on the channel over the summer, and after 7 years I’ve only just realised it’s probably because people are watching less videos and playing less games. Duh!
This month, I put...
2022-09-01 17:00:59 +0000 UTC View Post
Hello patrons!
Today's video is a collection of all the great gateway games I've recommended over the years, inspired by the popularity of last year's Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide.
Yes, I have a Top 10 Gateway Games video, but in reality there is far more than 10 great gateway games, and I think the right game comes down to the person looking and what resonates with them. So better to recommend a wide variety and let them decide. It's also nice to re-recommend games from ol...
2022-08-25 17:00:35 +0000 UTC View PostHey there gaming pals,
Calling in from the home of football, and new home of the European Championship. Last night we watched England Women’s team win in the final against Germany.
(The Shard lit up to celebrate, with the Tower of London in the foreground)/
It's the first time an England football team has won something in my lifetime! But back to games that we can win ourse...
2022-08-01 20:31:34 +0000 UTC View PostIf you buy games from Zatu, a UK board game retailer, you can now help support Actualol with every purchase, by using this link: tagserve.com/clickServlet?AID=3405&MID=317&PID=455&SID=4185&CID=1642&LID=787&SUBID=
2022-07-28 16:58:37 +0000 UTC
View Post
Libertalia was my last remaining grail game, and thanks to patron Darek, I now own a copy. But what's that on the horizon, the new Libertalia: Winds of Galecresat from Stonemaier Games! Is the new one better?
I talk about what I love (and hate) about this modern classic of a game, designed by Paolo Mori.
And its featuring a new character - Clayton Garbanzo.
Enjoy!
Jon
2022-07-27 16:18:37 +0000 UTC View PostHappy 7 Year Actualversary!
A neat time to hit 50,000 subscribers! Thanks for sticking with me over the years. I finally feel like a proper YouTube channel. Well, a proper board game YouTube channel at least!
And a nice time to look back at where it all began, in my last video “Are These Games Still Good?” . I hope to look back again some time - but perhaps focus on the games that didn’t fare so well of the...
2022-07-04 14:45:18 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi patrons!
It's time for something a little different. In this video, I watch back my first few videos to see whether I still agree with what I said back then - would I still recommend those games?
On a related note, it's been a difficult few weeks for me - Serena needed some unexpected surgery and it's been a stressful, worrying time for us both. She's doing better now, but I wanted to mention it because it's impacted my ability to work. Thanks for your patience.
Jon...
2022-06-15 18:17:49 +0000 UTC View PostHey there patrons,
I’m going to get straight to the games this month. I went to Lobstercon at the start of May - our biannual London on Board by the Sea convention. While I was there, I played 23 games. Here’s my thoughts on each of them:
Actual Games
1. Get on Board: New York and London - Great start. I loved this game as “Let’s Make A Bus Route” and I love it ev...
2022-06-01 10:22:55 +0000 UTC View Post
Hello!!! I return from the wilderness with a classic Actualol Top 10, starring everyone's favourite little brother - Timmy!
This one is a collection of games that are really easy to teach and learn - games that I often favour over the typical "gateway" games for introducing new people to games, because I want to get them to the fun quicker.
It took me a lot longer to make than I would have liked (hence the 9pm on Friday release) - but I hope you appreciate the extra love that went...
2022-05-20 19:53:02 +0000 UTC View PostHowdy patron pardners,
It’s been a quiet month for various reasons - I’ve had some personal troubles, I had some time off, then I got a cold, and I started writing some videos that didn’t go anywhere - it happens sometimes. I did find the right idea, and the next video is on its way.
To be honest, it’s also down to a new approach where I focus on making quality videos - I explain more about the reasons behind that 2022-04-28 18:21:55 +0000 UTC View Post
In this post, I share some of my thoughts about the channel - if only to have them leave my brain temporarily. If you trust the direction I’m taking the channel in, then you might not want to read how the sausage is made. But if you’d like to learn more, read on…
My Top 10 Mistakes video earlier this year was a revelation - one that I wasn’t expecting. It is now my most viewed video of all t...
2022-04-28 17:49:44 +0000 UTC View PostBonjour bon jouers!
The sun is shining, we’re enjoying some brief Fool’s Spring here in London, before the inevitable Second Winter. (It literally just started snowing as I posted this!)
I hope you enjoyed my Best Board Games of the Year video. In this newsletter, I’ll share the near misses that were good, but not quite good enough to make the list. If you’re looking for my takes on the popular games that...
2022-03-31 18:46:43 +0000 UTC View Post
Fashionably late to the party, I tried as many games as I could from last year to make my Top 10 list, but there weren't 10 games I could get suitably excited about.
Hence, we have a Top 8 - of all killer, no filler, board games from last year.
Here's the newsletter where I talk about the games from last year that weren't worthy of the list - and why: https://www.patreon.com/posts/62294001 2022-03-26 11:19:28 +0000 UTC View Post
Alol-ha patrons,
In this newsletter, I share my 95-91 favourite games, to accompany the second video in my Top 50 games of all time video. And let’s get some Board Game Arena games going.
Thanks to the 10 Mistakes video, Actualol has now hit 42,000 subscribers! Thank you to the new patrons that have joined this month - I’m really excited for the future of the channel, and can’t wait to share my next video - My Top 10 Games of 2021.
Actualol now has its own Discord server, for patrons (and me) to hang out in and talk about games, life and anything you fancy.
It's also a great place to find people to play against on Board Game Arena - so if you want to challenge me to a game of Patchwork - that's the best place to set it up!
To access the Discord, you need to connect you Discord account to your Patreon account (on Patreon) and then you'll be added automagically. 2022-03-01 17:09:38 +0000 UTC View Post
Thanks to your support we reached the goal for the next Top 50 Games of All Time video - so here it is!
Featuring:
45. A Kennerspiel winner
44. A modern Reiner Knizia title
43. The only real-time game in my Top 50
42. An out of print gem
41. My favourite theme
Enjoy! And Happy Weekend!
Actually yours,
Jon
2022-02-18 18:49:19 +0000 UTC View PostBonjour mes amis,
Thanks for your patience with the newsletter, it was good to get the 10 Mistakes Most Gamers Make video done. And welcome to all the new patrons! I’m really grateful for your support.
Thanks to all of you, we have reached the goal for the next Top 50 video! So that is on the way!
Make sure to join the new Actualol Discord channel, and come hang out with ...
2022-02-08 17:53:42 +0000 UTC View Post
Happy new video day everyone!
It's been a long time coming, that's because it's quite a long video! Something a bit different with this one, I wanted to talk about the 10 biggest mistakes most of us have made a some point in our gaming lives.
And it's featuring three characters that you might recognise from older videos.
I'm a bit exhausted now, newsletter will be coming on Monday.
Actually yours,
Jon
2022-02-04 18:12:51 +0000 UTC View Post
Who remembers this guy? He's from a popular video from 5 years ago and he's coming back in the next video!
I wanted to make a quick post to let you know the next video is on its way, I'm finishing filming today. I wanted to make a character video next because of the overwhelming votes on the survey, but they always take longer than other videos.
It's a weird quirk of Patreon/YouTube that I'm at my most quiet when I working hardest, so wanted to give a quick wave, and let you kno...
Thanks to those of you who asked me questions - here are my answers in video form!
2022-01-11 19:23:29 +0000 UTC View PostHappy New Year!
And Happy New Discord! I’ve set up a Discord channel, (basically a message board) for Actualol patrons to hang out and chat about games, and arrange games on Board Game Arena.
To connect to the Discord, you have to connect your Discord account to your Patreon account. Details on how to do that are here. Please come and join in! I pu...
2021-12-31 17:04:50 +0000 UTC View Post