Mark Jackson
@akapastorguy.bsky.social
follower of Jesus, husband, father, former pastor, boardgamer, writer, blogger, Legomaniac, Disneyphile, likely to have the same Christmas list at age 62 as he did at age 12
My newest post on the Opinionated Gamers site - a report on my solo gaming (so far!) in 2026.
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/09/15/s...
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/09/15/s...
Solo Gaming 2026: The First Eight Months
The new era of well-designed automata and solo modes for multiplayer games, coupled with excellent new solo game designs, is actually quite heartening to someone (me!) who finds something very sati…
opinionatedgamers.com
September 15, 2026 at 11:35 AM
My newest post on the Opinionated Gamers site - a report on my solo gaming (so far!) in 2026.
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/09/15/s...
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/09/15/s...
We remember.
NYC
Shanksville, PA
Washington DC
Final image is my own photo of the New Jersey 9/11 Memorial.
NYC
Shanksville, PA
Washington DC
Final image is my own photo of the New Jersey 9/11 Memorial.
September 11, 2026 at 1:41 PM
We remember.
NYC
Shanksville, PA
Washington DC
Final image is my own photo of the New Jersey 9/11 Memorial.
NYC
Shanksville, PA
Washington DC
Final image is my own photo of the New Jersey 9/11 Memorial.
Excursions… coming soon to KS from @kinsonkeygames.bsky.social.
September 4, 2026 at 2:35 AM
Excursions… coming soon to KS from @kinsonkeygames.bsky.social.
Reposted by Mark Jackson
With just a few hours left to go, it’s cool to see that Rebels Against Rebellion has reached #5 on the BGG hotness. Really awesome for such a niche topic.
@trevormbenjamin.bsky.social @kwanchai.bsky.social
www.kickstarter.com/projects/mar...
@trevormbenjamin.bsky.social @kwanchai.bsky.social
www.kickstarter.com/projects/mar...
August 18, 2026 at 10:31 AM
With just a few hours left to go, it’s cool to see that Rebels Against Rebellion has reached #5 on the BGG hotness. Really awesome for such a niche topic.
@trevormbenjamin.bsky.social @kwanchai.bsky.social
www.kickstarter.com/projects/mar...
@trevormbenjamin.bsky.social @kwanchai.bsky.social
www.kickstarter.com/projects/mar...
Three recent posts from me on the Opinionated Gamers site:
1. Tenpenny Parks (review of base game & expansions)
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/08/06/t...
1. Tenpenny Parks (review of base game & expansions)
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/08/06/t...
Tenpenny Parks: The Game, The Expansions, & The Nifty Storage Solution
Those of you who’ve followed my writing and social media posting over the years know I have a very special place in my heart for the Disney theme parks… and, prior to becoming the guy who turns a c…
opinionatedgamers.com
August 8, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Three recent posts from me on the Opinionated Gamers site:
1. Tenpenny Parks (review of base game & expansions)
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/08/06/t...
1. Tenpenny Parks (review of base game & expansions)
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/08/06/t...
What?!
Oh, man... really curious to see what they do with this classic dice-chucker.
Oh, man... really curious to see what they do with this classic dice-chucker.
August 6, 2026 at 11:33 AM
What?!
Oh, man... really curious to see what they do with this classic dice-chucker.
Oh, man... really curious to see what they do with this classic dice-chucker.
My newest review on the Opinionated Gamers site - this time, it's Tenpenny Parks (and the expansions) from designer Nate Linhart and @thunderworksgames.bsky.social.
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/08/06/t...
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/08/06/t...
Tenpenny Parks: The Game, The Expansions, & The Nifty Storage Solution
Those of you who’ve followed my writing and social media posting over the years know I have a very special place in my heart for the Disney theme parks… and, prior to becoming the guy who turns a c…
opinionatedgamers.com
August 6, 2026 at 11:09 AM
My newest review on the Opinionated Gamers site - this time, it's Tenpenny Parks (and the expansions) from designer Nate Linhart and @thunderworksgames.bsky.social.
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/08/06/t...
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/08/06/t...
You saved the best for last, @wesmolebash.com… way to stick the landing!
Everyone else: go read the whole trilogy.
Everyone else: go read the whole trilogy.
August 3, 2026 at 10:06 PM
You saved the best for last, @wesmolebash.com… way to stick the landing!
Everyone else: go read the whole trilogy.
Everyone else: go read the whole trilogy.
My newest blog post on the Opinionated Gamers site - a recap of the wonderful time I had (and all the games I played) at Gulf Games 56 last week!
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/08/02/c...
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/08/02/c...
Convention Report: Gulf Games 56
Gulf Games started in 1998… and I’ve had the honor of being a part of it (on and off, due to living halfway across the country for a decade) for twenty-eight years. In 2015, I started b…
opinionatedgamers.com
August 2, 2026 at 1:43 PM
My newest blog post on the Opinionated Gamers site - a recap of the wonderful time I had (and all the games I played) at Gulf Games 56 last week!
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/08/02/c...
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/08/02/c...
July face-to-face gaming… the spike is Gulf Games.
August 1, 2026 at 10:58 AM
July face-to-face gaming… the spike is Gulf Games.
I just backed Rebels Against Rebellion on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/mar....
Two reasons:
1. @djackthompson.bsky.social
2. as a resident of TN, it's an important part of the history of the state
Two reasons:
1. @djackthompson.bsky.social
2. as a resident of TN, it's an important part of the history of the state
Rebels Against Rebellion
From David Thompson and Trevor Benjamin (Undaunted, Resist!) a card game about a Tennessee county that battled secession.
www.kickstarter.com
July 28, 2026 at 4:17 PM
I just backed Rebels Against Rebellion on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/mar....
Two reasons:
1. @djackthompson.bsky.social
2. as a resident of TN, it's an important part of the history of the state
Two reasons:
1. @djackthompson.bsky.social
2. as a resident of TN, it's an important part of the history of the state
Congratulations to @thunderworksgames.bsky.social
on the two new expansions for Tenpenny Parks… both Innovation and Winter Lights & Spooky Nights add great twists without overwhelming the excellent base game.
on the two new expansions for Tenpenny Parks… both Innovation and Winter Lights & Spooky Nights add great twists without overwhelming the excellent base game.
July 11, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Congratulations to @thunderworksgames.bsky.social
on the two new expansions for Tenpenny Parks… both Innovation and Winter Lights & Spooky Nights add great twists without overwhelming the excellent base game.
on the two new expansions for Tenpenny Parks… both Innovation and Winter Lights & Spooky Nights add great twists without overwhelming the excellent base game.
Lost Revenant yesterday solo in a TIE against the Corrupted Crew.
Dadgumit…
Just means I’ll need to play again!
Dadgumit…
Just means I’ll need to play again!
July 9, 2026 at 8:36 PM
Lost Revenant yesterday solo in a TIE against the Corrupted Crew.
Dadgumit…
Just means I’ll need to play again!
Dadgumit…
Just means I’ll need to play again!
As someone who had the privilege of playtesting "The Game Makers" over the last two years... it's really wonderful to see the process to build/publish such an amazing game on film.
Doesn't hurt that I just got my delivery notice for my own copy - it'll be here next week!
Doesn't hurt that I just got my delivery notice for my own copy - it'll be here next week!
July 9, 2026 at 5:13 PM
As someone who had the privilege of playtesting "The Game Makers" over the last two years... it's really wonderful to see the process to build/publish such an amazing game on film.
Doesn't hurt that I just got my delivery notice for my own copy - it'll be here next week!
Doesn't hurt that I just got my delivery notice for my own copy - it'll be here next week!
My newest post on the Opinionated Gamers site - a recap of all things Heroscape from RenegadeCon in June.
@renegadegamestudios.com
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/07/09/h...
@renegadegamestudios.com
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/07/09/h...
Heroscape: RenegadeCon June 2026
Not quite a month ago, the good folks at Renegade Game Studios hosted yet another RenegadeCon – an online “convention” with new product reveals, painting videos, playthroughs, and…
opinionatedgamers.com
July 9, 2026 at 11:07 AM
My newest post on the Opinionated Gamers site - a recap of all things Heroscape from RenegadeCon in June.
@renegadegamestudios.com
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/07/09/h...
@renegadegamestudios.com
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/07/09/h...
July 1, 2026 at 12:36 PM
The newest blog post in my Reconstructing My Faith series... sorry it took so long to write.
akapastorguy.blogspot.com/2026/06/reco...
akapastorguy.blogspot.com/2026/06/reco...
Reconstructing My Faith: Postmodernity, Bullies, and Uncle Carl
Well, you knew we'd eventually get to Mark Driscoll if we started talking about deconstructing and reconstructing my faith, right? [insert h...
akapastorguy.blogspot.com
June 29, 2026 at 3:54 PM
The newest blog post in my Reconstructing My Faith series... sorry it took so long to write.
akapastorguy.blogspot.com/2026/06/reco...
akapastorguy.blogspot.com/2026/06/reco...
Fantastic first game of Kinfire Chronicles last night… birthday gift from my wife & sons.
Well done, @kevinwilson42.bsky.social.
Well done, @kevinwilson42.bsky.social.
June 29, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Fantastic first game of Kinfire Chronicles last night… birthday gift from my wife & sons.
Well done, @kevinwilson42.bsky.social.
Well done, @kevinwilson42.bsky.social.
Playing Distilled… my son aged Rum with the flavor profile shown below.
Me: “How can anyone drink that?”
Son: “It’s alcohol. They will drink anything.”
Did I mention he’s a college student? :-)
Me: “How can anyone drink that?”
Son: “It’s alcohol. They will drink anything.”
Did I mention he’s a college student? :-)
June 19, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Playing Distilled… my son aged Rum with the flavor profile shown below.
Me: “How can anyone drink that?”
Son: “It’s alcohol. They will drink anything.”
Did I mention he’s a college student? :-)
Me: “How can anyone drink that?”
Son: “It’s alcohol. They will drink anything.”
Did I mention he’s a college student? :-)
My recap of my top 100 games list (circa spring 2026) is now live on the Opinionated Gamers site.
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/06/03/m...
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/06/03/m...
Mark’s Top 100 Games: The 2026 Edition
Every couple of years (or so) I blog through my top 50 or top 100 games over on my personal blog, akapastorguy. In 2022 and 2024, I shared that list with our faithful readers here at the OG… and I’…
opinionatedgamers.com
June 3, 2026 at 3:03 PM
My recap of my top 100 games list (circa spring 2026) is now live on the Opinionated Gamers site.
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/06/03/m...
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/06/03/m...
After you climb the iconography mountain to figure out the game, Race for the Galaxy is an amazing adventure in hand management & reading your opponents' mind - made even better by clever card design & interaction as well as great sci-fi art.
akapastorguy.blogspot.com/2026/06/1-ra...
akapastorguy.blogspot.com/2026/06/1-ra...
#1: Race for the Galaxy (Mark's Top 100 - 2026)
Race for the Galaxy BoardGameGeek rank: 94 rating: 7.7 published: 2007 designer: Tom Lehmann Print Status in print Why It's On The List Afte...
akapastorguy.blogspot.com
June 2, 2026 at 11:47 AM
After you climb the iconography mountain to figure out the game, Race for the Galaxy is an amazing adventure in hand management & reading your opponents' mind - made even better by clever card design & interaction as well as great sci-fi art.
akapastorguy.blogspot.com/2026/06/1-ra...
akapastorguy.blogspot.com/2026/06/1-ra...
This is the perfect collision of all the eras of my gaming life: it's got enough warfare & tactics for the chit-pusher in me, the gorgeous plastic bits remind me of the 1st day we cracked open Axis & Allies, & the speedy gameplay fits my current lifestyle.
akapastorguy.blogspot.com/2026/06/2-me...
akapastorguy.blogspot.com/2026/06/2-me...
#2: Memoir '44 (Mark's Top 100 - 2026)
Memoir '44 BoardGameGeek rank: 222 rating: 7.5 published: 2004 designer: Richard Borg Print Status in print Why It's On The List The best (a...
akapastorguy.blogspot.com
June 1, 2026 at 12:02 PM
This is the perfect collision of all the eras of my gaming life: it's got enough warfare & tactics for the chit-pusher in me, the gorgeous plastic bits remind me of the 1st day we cracked open Axis & Allies, & the speedy gameplay fits my current lifestyle.
akapastorguy.blogspot.com/2026/06/2-me...
akapastorguy.blogspot.com/2026/06/2-me...
This is a lovingly crafted and brilliantly designed open world fantasy adventure, full of surprises and grace notes and moments of real emotion.
akapastorguy.blogspot.com/2026/05/3-ar...
akapastorguy.blogspot.com/2026/05/3-ar...
#3: Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread (Mark's Top 100 - 2026)
Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread BoardGameGeek rank: 403 rating: 9.0 published: 2025 designers: Cody Miller & Ira Fray Print Status a secon...
akapastorguy.blogspot.com
May 31, 2026 at 11:38 AM
This is a lovingly crafted and brilliantly designed open world fantasy adventure, full of surprises and grace notes and moments of real emotion.
akapastorguy.blogspot.com/2026/05/3-ar...
akapastorguy.blogspot.com/2026/05/3-ar...
My favorite civilization-building game... the free-wheeling tech-tree and relatively simple mechanics make for an excellent play experience with 2, 3 or 4 players.
akapastorguy.blogspot.com/2026/05/4-cl...
akapastorguy.blogspot.com/2026/05/4-cl...
#4: Clash of Cultures (Mark's Top 100 - 2026)
Clash of Cultures BoardGameGeek rank: 231 rating: 8.3 published: 2012 designer: Christian Marcussen Print Status the original edition is o...
akapastorguy.blogspot.com
May 30, 2026 at 11:36 AM
My favorite civilization-building game... the free-wheeling tech-tree and relatively simple mechanics make for an excellent play experience with 2, 3 or 4 players.
akapastorguy.blogspot.com/2026/05/4-cl...
akapastorguy.blogspot.com/2026/05/4-cl...
My newest Heroscape review on the Opinionated Gamers site - a pile of stuff released by @renegadegamestudios.com in April & May.
Including the Kraken!
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/05/29/h...
Including the Kraken!
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/05/29/h...
Heroscape: Release the Kraken! (and a whole lot of other stuff)
There’s been a veritable deluge of Heroscape over the past month and a half. The follow-up to the successful appearance of GI Joe (Go, Joe!) and Cobra in the realm of Valhalla is a wealth of …
opinionatedgamers.com
May 29, 2026 at 3:48 PM
My newest Heroscape review on the Opinionated Gamers site - a pile of stuff released by @renegadegamestudios.com in April & May.
Including the Kraken!
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/05/29/h...
Including the Kraken!
opinionatedgamers.com/2026/05/29/h...