Hello patrons!
We've reached the end! The final chapter of my Top 100 Games, 2025 edition. One or two new faces here from when I did this two years ago, plus my usual old favourites.
This video is being released slightly earlier to patrons. The sponsor of the video has asked me to delay the release of the video. I plan to release it to the public on Monday, but I didn't want to make you wait any longer, so you can have it now as a Friday treat.
Actually yours,
Jon
2025-05-30 18:23:27 +0000 UTC
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Hello!
Here is the penultimate chapter of my Top 100. The games 20 to 11.
Sorry about the delay for this one - my family were ill last week, so I needed to postpone the video.
Actually yours,
Jon
2025-05-14 16:37:17 +0000 UTC
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Happy Thursday!
The Top 100 continues, and increasingly diverges into the very big games and the very small ones.
Enjoy!
Jon
2025-05-01 21:33:43 +0000 UTC
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Hello patrons!
Normal service is being resumed. It’s been a busy month settling into our new home, but we return with a good old fashioned Actualol newsletter.
This month, I catch you up with what I’ve been up to, and tell you about all the games I played at Handycon.
Actual Life
Moving house, moving town, with a toddler? I don’t recommend it. You don’t app...
2025-04-28 11:32:48 +0000 UTC
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Happy Thursday everyone!
Let's carry on the list with some absolute classics. This one's got a rare game from the 80s, two from the 90s, and one from the early 00s.
See you next week!
Jon
2025-04-24 17:50:15 +0000 UTC
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We're at the halfway mark! It's more Top 100 goodness, and these games are 10% better than the last video.
See you next week for part 7!
Actually yours,
Jon
2025-04-17 19:24:40 +0000 UTC
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It's time for part 5 of the Top 100! Enjoy!
I'm off to Handycon this weekend, so I'll see you soon for a newsletter about everything I played there. :)
Actually yours,
Jon
2025-04-10 20:03:44 +0000 UTC
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We MUST continue! The Top 100 barrels on with part 4 - with a couple of new faces and some Actualol classics.
We've been in our new house for a week, and it's been a whirlwind of unpacking and organising and losing things that you really need to set up your computer.
We learnt the day after the move that our movers lost a beloved piece of furniture - a whole TV unit! Our only custom piece of furniture, the only thing made of real wood and not from IKEA 😭. It was probably left o...
2025-04-03 18:07:08 +0000 UTC
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Greetings from my new home!
We are moving as I type, and I'm just taking a brief moment to click "post" on Part 3 of my Top 100.
Enjoy!
Jon
2025-03-27 17:58:42 +0000 UTC
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It's time for part 2 of my Top 100!
Behind the scenes I've been feverishly filming to get it all done before we move. We're moving in a week's time. I should have another Top 100 video out this time next week, but I won't immediately have the Internet in our new place, so there's a small chance it's delayed.
See you next week!
Actually yours,
Jon
2025-03-20 20:33:11 +0000 UTC
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Hello patrons!
It's time for my first ever Top 100 on the main channel. I'm counting down my current favourite games, with as much b-roll footage of the games as possible.
The reason I'm doing this now is because we're about to move house and leave London after living here for 18 years - so I wanted to film enough content before we leave to keep the channel busy for a while. I am also leaving my studio, so it's going to take me a while to set up my new space.
So far I've fil...
2025-03-14 17:30:50 +0000 UTC
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Yesterday I posted my latest video - 11 Red Flags When Buying Board Games. After posting it I got some feedback that the final red flag section came across poorly. Realising that I’d failed in my intent with the section, I deleted it from the video. I’m sorry to anyone I offended, clearly I misjudged it.
To explain the situation - the final section was meant to be tongue in cheek, suggesting it’s a red flag if the game doesn’t have an American or German designer, because I...
2025-03-01 13:01:45 +0000 UTC
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Happy Friday! Let's have a bloody video.
These are my board game red flags - the warning signs that a new game might not be worth your time, learnt from a decade of buying the wrong ones.
AND - with it comes the launch of https://actualol.com/search - a new way to search Actualol videos by game title. So you can find in which videos I spoke about High Society, for example, (the answer is all of them). AND, i...
2025-02-28 15:54:47 +0000 UTC
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Good morning patrons!
Here's a little unhealthy treat for you - my most anticipated games of 2025. I'm sorry if it's over your recommended daily allowance of hype.
To counter balance the hype, my next video will be my Red Flags when buying Games, which I'm working on the moment.
Life is crazy at the moment with gearing up to move house, but I'm making plans to ease the transition between studios for viewers. And I recently filmed an extra video my friend Dr. Ed Hope, which ...
2025-02-12 11:42:10 +0000 UTC
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Hellooooooooo!
Thanks for your supportive comments on my last outpouring newsletter. It’s been a positive opening to the year for Actualol, with my Top 10 Games video getting off to a flying start.
And I’ve already been to a convention! So in this newsletter I’ll tell you about the fun games I played there.
Actual Games
Yamatai
2025-01-31 15:27:00 +0000 UTC
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Here it is! My Top 10 Board Games of 2024.
Actually yours,
Jon
2025-01-09 17:26:53 +0000 UTC
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Happy New Year patrons!
Thank you for giving me another year of Actualol. It’s been a tough year. So I thought I’d give an honest look back at my year - on and off screen. Please don’t share this outside of Patreon.
January
At the start of January, I received my 100K subscribers plaque from YouTube. Which felt nice. It’s embarrassing to have feelings that have been artificially induced by a mega corporation, but hey, at least I didn’t cry.&nb...
2025-01-01 12:15:57 +0000 UTC
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Hello patrons!
My Top 10 Games of 2024 video is on its way - it's been delayed by the Christmas break - but will be with you in early January. In the meantime - you can watch my Top 20-11 Board Games of 2024, which is this month's exclusive video. The games which weren't quite good enough to make my Top 10.
And I'll see you soon for a special year in review newsletter!
Actually yours,
Jon
2024-12-29 17:04:59 +0000 UTC
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Happy Christmas patrons!
Let me play Scrooge for a minute, as I recount my Top 10 biggest disappointments in board games. The games I was so very hyped for, and so very crushed by when I actually played them.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
Actually yours,
Jon
2024-12-23 17:24:11 +0000 UTC
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Season’s greetings!
On the 3rd day of Christmas, your true love (me) has brought you 3 game reviews - Worms: The Board Game, Focus and Shenanigrams, the last two of which have a certain Christmassy charm, or maybe I’m just listening to Christmas music while I’m writing this.
I hope you enjoyed my Board Game Gift Guide video, and 2024-12-03 17:53:54 +0000 UTC
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Happy holiday season, patron people!
This year, my gift recommendations are mostly new games, in three price categories - so there's something for everyone.
Actually yours,
Jon
2024-11-29 16:32:58 +0000 UTC
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Afternoon patrons!
I bring to you this month's exclusive video. I run down the best games I don't own - but why don't I own them if they're so bloody good? You'll have to wait and see.
Enjoy!
Jon
2024-11-14 14:45:28 +0000 UTC
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Good day to you!
I return from Lobstercon with news of all the games I played there. I hope you liked my Alternatives to Clue(do) video.
I’ve decided to hold off the Patron exclusive video until next week. I keep releasing the exclusive video immediately after the main video, and I thought it made sense to spread them out a bit.
The next channel video wil...
2024-11-05 14:05:38 +0000 UTC
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Happy Halloween!
It's a happy accident that I bring you a video about murder mystery games. Here are six reasons not to play Clue ever again, and six modern games that do it better. With the return of my (well not my) Sherlock character!
Actually yours,
Jon
2024-10-31 18:54:02 +0000 UTC
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Hi patrons!
I hope you enjoyed last week's exclusive Essen video. Today we've got the exclusive video voted on my Voter LOLs patrons - The Out of Print Games I'm Glad I Found.
These are all the games I hunted down when they were out of print, that were actually worth finding and have stayed in my collection. Plus at the end, I mention a few OOP games I'm still on the hunt for.
This is officially last m...
2024-10-11 12:15:54 +0000 UTC
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Hello again!
I hope you've finished your 2 hour homework from last night - because I've got something else for you to watch. My most anticipated Essen games for this year! Especially for you patrons.
But seriously, I would have preferred to space these out a bit, but Essen begins in 2 days, so I wanted to get it out quickly for those of you who are going.
And I haven't forgotten the exclusive video voted on from last month (Out of Print Games I'm Glad I Found) - that will b...
2024-10-01 13:06:47 +0000 UTC
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I did it!
I played and ranked 100 board games designed by the great game designer that ever lived - Dr. Reiner Knizia, making the longest Actualol video of all time in the process.
Tell me how I'm wrong in the comments!
Actually yours,
Jon
2024-09-30 18:44:01 +0000 UTC
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Aloha memberinos!
Coming very soon (probably Monday), is my ambitious 100 Games by Reiner Knizia video.
Everything’s been pushed back getting that finished, so next week, we’ll have the member exclusive Top 15 Anticipated Essen games, and another exclusive video shortly after that.
While we wait for all that, let’s have a newslette...
2024-09-27 15:49:39 +0000 UTC
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The copies of my party game have arrived. I'm planning to pitch the game to publishers, and I'll share my pitch video with you when it's ready so you can learn how the game plays.
As mentioned before, if you pledge at the I Want More LOLs tier for 6 months, I'll send you a copy of the game.
2024-09-04 15:47:34 +0000 UTC
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Bonjour board gamers,
I hope your summer exploits haven’t been getting in the way of your board gaming. This month we had the 10 Games To Start A Collection, and the Few Expansions I Actually Like.
Coming up next month - I have finally played 100 games by Reiner Knizia, so I’ll be making a video all about that. And in this newsletter, we’v...
2024-08-30 15:41:46 +0000 UTC
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