[blakeburch]

For video games, I'll look at OpenCritic's "202X Hall of Fame" list on a monthly basis. If something new pops up that's well rated, I'll take a look at it. YouTubers like Razbuten or VideoGameDunkey also play a role in awareness. I enjoy 5-10 hour single player experiences that have a complete vision and try to do something novel. Games that fit the bill are typically those made by indie studios. My favorite genres are metroidvanias and games that have knowledge-based progression, although I still play plenty of platformers and puzzle games. Recent standouts in my mind are Neon White and Cocoon. Favorite games are Outer Wilds, Hollow Knight, and Celeste.

For board games, I'll look up BoardGameGeek's ranking list on a monthly basis. If something new pops up that's well rated, I'll take a look at it. YouTubers like "Shut Up and Sit Down" also help. I also go to weekly board game events and some yearly conventions which help increase exposure to games I'm unfamiliar with drastically. I prefer games that have minimal luck, lots of strategic options, and high levels of player interaction. Recent standouts are Darwin's Journey and Hegemony: Lead Your Class to Victory. Favorite games are Food Chain Magnate, Terra Mystica, and Pipeline.

There's so many ranking sites and YouTubers in both realms that I really don't have any struggles to find something new to play. If I want a suggestion, I'll just find a random "Top X" list and see if there's something I don't recognize. The struggle is finding the time to play and explore as much as I would like. However, I have blind spots for "underrated" games that may match my preferences but never get on my radar.

Hope that helps with the discovery you're trying to do! Happy to answer anything more specifically.

[musicale]

In addition (or adjacent) to game conventions, I have to say meeting a friend or two who are board game fiends (and own many games) does wonders for learning and playing new games.

Also game stores are like black holes for me, even if I mostly end up browsing rather than playing (though they usually have a schedule of game play events that you can join.)