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You Won’t Want to Look at Your Phone With These Well-Designed Tabletop Games Around

I’ve found it easier to say no to doomscrolling if I’m busy playing one of these aesthetically pleasing board games instead.

Welcome to Someone Buy This!, a monthly shopping column featuring the fun, the frivolous, and the practical from a very discerning shopper.

I’ve been trying to spend less time scrolling on my phone and more time doing literally anything else with my hands. Lately, that’s meant taking on small DIY projects and playing board games.

The problem is that most board games look like they’re designed for children: bubbly fonts, cartoon characters, and loud colors. The games that are made for adults are often weirdly raunchy or look like those lucite chess sets you’d see in a museum gift shop. Who buys those?

This plight sent me searching for games that I’d actually want to play, not tuck away in a drawer or closet. Here’s what I found.

New stuff

My absolute favorite find was Snakes of Wrath, a two-player game by Weast Coast Games. The goal is simple: use the domino-size pieces to grow your snake and stab your opponent along the way. It’s just challenging enough and when the game really gets going, super competitive players (i.e. my partner) might even yell.

Snakes of Wrath is an abstract tile-laying game with a simple ruleset and a wealth of strategy and tactics. Two players battle for dominance as a tangled tiled ouroboros grows into a handsome art piece on your table. Games last around 15-20 minutes, as players compete to build, heal, stab, and steal their way to the top. Lay your tiles strategically, incapacitate your opponent, and close all ends of your snakes to emerge victorious. Two-sided tiles mean the tides can change at any moment with a sinister steal or a well-laid trap. Be the first player to reach 13 points and win.

The game’s packaging caught my eye as I was searching online for two-player games. (There are NOT enough two-player games out there!) The snake illustrations have a really cool tattoo-like style to them and the box fits right in with the rest of my books and knickknacks. Weast Coast has two other games, both card games, and they’re just as unique as Snakes of Wrath. All three manage to feel retro and modern at the same time. Striking that balance without the design feeling dated is tough to pull off. Plus the games are actually fun!

Spruced up classics

We’re a big Uno household, so when I saw the "retro edition" at a store I picked it up immediately and have since renamed it Uno for Creative Directors. We have, somehow, five different Uno games, but this is the only one that lives out in the open. The rest, especially one we refer to as Evil Uno because it’s a double-sided deck, are too loud to blend in with our decor.

UNO Retro combines the classic game of matching colors and numbers with special "throwback" style packaging and UNO cards!

And then there’s this Eames deck, which I came across recently. I don’t actually own a standard deck of cards, so this one is definitely on my list. I love the slight twist on the traditional design, but wish they’d done something more interesting with the King, Queen, and Jack.

Designed by Art of Play in close collaboration with the Eames Office. A tribute to the timeless sensibilities of Charles & Ray Eames.

While looking around for twists on classic games, I stumbled upon a new (to me) corner of the board game world: designer board games. Gucci is, or was, killing it in this category. I’ve never played backgammon but this set is incredible, and so is this poker set which looks to be from the same era. These are obviously not casual purchases. They’re well outside my price range but if you’ve got a couple thousand to spend, these games are great options!

The '50s and '60s archives reveal a selection of intricately designed pieces from the world of sports and leisure. Inspired by these items' playful spirit and curated details, this NEW briefcase backgammon game set is presented in Geometric G print canvas and black Demetra trims, handle and key chain. Demetra is an eco-friendly material developed by Gucci's own technicians and artisans which uses the same tanning processes but with animal-free raw materials primarily from sustainable, renewable, and bio-based sources. This game includes chips, 5 dice and a dice shaker. Designed by Alessandro Michele and Made in Italy in 2022

Go back in time

My search for games also led me backwards to vintage games from the 1950s and ’60s. I learned you can easily replace childhood favorites—like Trouble and Clue—with their vintage counterparts. Look at the typography on this Sorry! game from the ’50s!

A true mid-century classic from Parker Brothers’ Toronto studio, this 1950s "Sorry!" edition pairs sleek modernist graphics with bright primary playing pieces and a textured navy box. Complete with its original cards, rule sheet, and bold typography, it’s a nostalgic collectible or ready-to-play piece of family history.

Some of the search results, however, were emotionally confusing. Seeing the Monopoly board I played with in the late ’90s labeled as "vintage" made me feel something I’m not quite ready to unpack.

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My Search for Furniture I’ll Keep Forever

You Can See the Golden Gate Bridge From This $3.5M Home in the Berkeley Hills

Designed by Artifact Collaborative, the new-build residence has an indoor garden, solar panels, and a fully glazed rear facade.

Location: 1136 Keith Avenue, Berkeley, California

Price: $3,495,000

Year Built: 2025

Architect: Artifact Collaborative

Footprint: 3,136 square feet (4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths)

Lot Size: 0.14 Acres

From the Agent: "Fold House, designed by women-led firm Artifact Collaborative, is a striking new-construction residence set in the Berkeley Hills. The home’s name is derived from its central design motif: the dynamic articulation of planes that create interlocking volumes. West-facing windows and doors capture 180-degree views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. Sculptural in form, the home features floating two-story staircases and a dramatic creased roofline with a clerestory that fills the interiors with natural light. This all-electric home is built for modern living, featuring solar with battery, high-efficiency heat pumps, EV charging, seismic-resistant foundations, and fire-hardened construction with standing-seam metal roofing and a full sprinkler system. The four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath layout includes two bedroom suites, separate living and family rooms, and a dedicated office. Located on a quiet street above Codornices Park, moments from North Berkeley’s Gourmet Gulch, Fold House offers architectural distinction, sustainability, and extraordinary Bay views."

A unique creased roofline peels upward to capture light through a triangulated clerestory window, bathing the interiors with natural light. — Clerestory windows set beneath the home’s lifted roofline bring natural light into the center of the plan.

Photo by Peter Lyons

The house was designed by the duo Bridgett Shank and Megan Carter, who together make up Artifact Collaborative. — The house was designed by Artifact Collaborative cofounders Bridgett Shank and Megan Carter.

Photo by Peter Lyons

See the full story on Dwell.com: You Can See the Golden Gate Bridge From This $3.5M Home in the Berkeley Hills
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Penny, Subway, Mosaic—This Renovated Warsaw Home Is a Master Class in Tile

The owners mixed and matched to strike a balance with curving counters and mirrors.

Houses We Love: Every day we feature a remarkable space submitted by our community of architects, designers, builders, and homeowners. Have one to share? Post it here.

Project Details:

Location: Warsaw, Poland

Architect: Lyre Studio

Footprint: 1,400 square feet

Photographer: Mood Authors / @moodauthors

From the Architect: "This is the latest project by Diana Żurek and Gutek Girek from Furora Studio. It was created for a lovely couple with two young children, who dreamed of a vibrant, pattern-filled home. To make it possible, the original layout was completely redesigned—making room for a spacious kitchen and a living area with large glazing leading to a small study. From the entry, one is drawn in by the sunny tones of oak, interwoven with colorful accents on walls, side tables, and chairs. The whole is ‘sprinkled’ with small tiles dancing in different rhythms—from square monochrome slabs to irregular stick mosaics and tangerine metro tiles combined with timeless classics.

"The strict geometry of rectangular divisions is softened throughout the apartment by gentle arches, visible in the built-in furniture and wall finishes. The interior composition is strikingly diverse—from airy neutral whites, through light and dark woods, to bold, expressive burls—all enriched with waves, arches, and dots. The apartment features three bathrooms. While they subtly correspond with each other, each speaks its own visual language. The variety of tiles, their arrangements, and the presence of natural stone bring a light yet refined character. In the primary bedroom, the bathroom opens into the room through round glass blocks. The bedroom itself is built around soft rounded lines and bold patterns. A sunny-toned wardrobe balances the interior, adding a flowing sense of coziness, while the wavy headboard invites relaxation. In the children’s rooms, accents of color jump playfully across walls and furniture—more scattered, mischievous, and full of energy—giving the youngest inhabitants room for imagination and fun. The entire project is a symphony of colors, patterns, and rhythms, composed with a touch of freedom and playfulness, making the interior pulse with energy and life."

See the full story on Dwell.com: Penny, Subway, Mosaic—This Renovated Warsaw Home Is a Master Class in Tile

In Cambria, a Curvaceous Midcentury Beach House Surfaces for $4.3M

Set steps from the sand, the completely renovated home has ocean views in every room—and it comes with a guesthouse.

Set steps from the sand, this completely renovated home has ocean views in every room—and it comes with a guesthouse.

Location: 107 Sherwood Drive, Cambria, California

Price: $4,350,000

Year Built: 1964

Renovation Date: 2022

Renovation Architect: Brent Barry

Renovation Builder: Cambria Corbet Construction

Footprint: 1,593 square feet (2 bedrooms, 3 baths)

Lot Size: 0.14 Acres

From the Agent: "This oceanfront estate blends midcentury design with a full renovation. The single-level residence embraces panoramic ocean views, while the privately sited guest home, just steps from the water’s edge and enhanced by the soothing sound of the surf, offers a serene sense of separation. Signature midcentury architectural elements including the curved wall, semicircular glass line, exposed beams, and original floorlines, which have been preserved and enhanced, grounding the home’s sculptural presence along the coastline. There’s a chef-caliber kitchen with Wolf appliances and a waterfall island,custom cabinetry, designer lighting, wide-plank flooring, a gas fireplace, a new roof, a new HVAC system, updated plumbing and electrical, a newpowder bath, and a discreet laundry area. It’s a rare oceanfront offering where iconic architecture, thoughtful craftsmanship, and coastal luxury converge along one of Cambria’s most captivating shorelines."

The kitchen is home to custom cabinetry and Wolf appliances. — The updated kitchen has custom cabinetry and Wolf appliances.

Photo by ƒ/twelve Marketing

The renovation architect, Brent Barry, spent a week at the home to study it before beginning drafting.

Photo by ƒ/twelve Marketing

See the full story on Dwell.com: In Cambria, a Curvaceous Midcentury Beach House Surfaces for $4.3M
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Frank Sinatra’s L.A. Home Just Hit the Market for the First Time in 53 Years

The $7.5M mansion is steeped in old Hollywood glamour, with luxe finishes and views from Downtown L.A. to the Pacific Ocean.

This $7.5M mansion is steeped in old Hollywood glamour, with luxe finishes and views from Downtown L.A. to the Pacific Ocean.

Location: 2200 Maravilla Drive, Los Angeles, California

Price: $7,500,000

Year Built: 1929

Architect: Adolph Semrow

Staging: Vesta Home

Footprint: 7,400 square feet (6 bedrooms, 7 baths)

Lot Size: 0.3 Acres

From the Agent: "On the market for the first time in 53 years, Villa Dorada is a meticulously preserved 1929 Spanish Revival estate. From the Hollywood Sign to Downtown Los Angeles and all the way to the Pacific Ocean, its views are nothing short of breathtaking. Steeped in Hollywood lore, Villa Dorada has hosted some of the industry’s most legendary figures—Bela Lugosi, the original Dracula, once called it home, followed by Oscar-winning songwriter Jimmy Van Heusen, who shared it with close friend Frank Sinatra. Each owner has honored the estate’s legacy, preserving signature elements. Multiple terraces invite seamless indoor/outdoor living, framed by dramatic city-to-ocean vistas. A generous yard, spacious three-car garage, and mature landscaping complete this singular property. This is your chance to own an authentic piece of Los Angeles history, preserved with care."

Perched in the hills, the home's views span from downtown LA to the ocean. — Perched in the Hollywood Hills, the home has views from downtown L.A. to the ocean.

Photo by Marc Angeles & Tiffany Angeles, Unlimited Style Photography

Photo by Marc Angeles & Tiffany Angeles, Unlimited Style Photography

See the full story on Dwell.com: Frank Sinatra’s L.A. Home Just Hit the Market for the First Time in 53 Years
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Will Architecture Firm Leaders Ever Budge Against Unionizing Employees?

A recent win for workers stateside and a high profile protest abroad are drawing eyes to the particular tensions of organizing in the industry.

2025 wasn’t a great year for architects. Billing continued to dwindle. In the penultimate month of the year, Trump "deprofessionalized" architecture, a change that will affect higher ed funding for the worse. After a year of sad trombone sounds, building collective power amongst precarious workers has become even more urgent: As business slows, firm leaders attempting to undercut competition by reducing their workforce and overloading whoever remains has become common practice. Yet two pieces of good news this month may provide cause for hope, with architectural workers in the United Kingdom and the United States standing in solidarity and even scoring a win, too. Firms leaders should take notice. These recent battles expose the tensions that are inherent to building a business dependent on creative minds. As the industry’s stresses put pressure on firms to innovate or perish, junior staff are urging their bosses to recognize that valuing their humanity is an asset in creating cutting-edge design—not a liability.

This past week, per the Architect’s Newspaper, workers at Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) took to the streets of rainy London to protest the firm’s decision to lay off more than 70 workers who were hired to work on a now-cancelled project (Dezeen reports that the project in question is located in Saudi Arabia; there’s some speculation that it’s one of many cancelled or suspended projects driven by crown prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030). More than half of BIG’s London staff are part of the Section of Architectural Workers Union, though as they await formal recognition from management, BIG’s London office announced "mass redundancies" late last year; the protest was a reaction to the combination of these cuts, and BIG’s recent alleged $10.2 million payout to shareholders (though a representative from BIG called this sum "false"). Workers are demanding six months of pay to those who lost their positions and urging management to recognize the union. As many of those designers are reportedly working on visas, potentially forcing them to relocate or return to their home countries, union demands also include "fair redundancy terms for workers who relocated to London on skilled visas," per AN.

The observation deck SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, designed by Snøhetta, is a popular tourist attraction in New York City.

Photo by James D. Morgan via Getty Images

Back in New York, another big name practice has been in the spotlight for their own anti-union actions: Three years ago, after a tumultuous organizing period, workers at Snøhetta’s New York office lost their union vote and eight employees were subsequently terminated. Those workers filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that they were discriminated against for organizing. Earlier this month, the NLRB affirmed that belief; as reported by the New York Times, the firm leaders were accused by the federal board of discouraging employees from engaging in protected unionizing activity, as well as "interrogating employees about their union sympathies or activities."

The industry would be pretty foolish to shrug off this news—in their ruling, the NLRB made public some damning emails shared between Snøhetta’s leadership. Hell Gate reported that one director compared the unionizing effort to the "‘conditioned-reflex therapy’ scene at the end of A Clockwork Orange" and besmirched unionizing employees, continuing, ‘I’m astonished by the diversity of detachments from reality the iPhone generation has gleaned from the recently digitized, remote industrial manufacturing of reality our erstwhile art has, at scale, become." Say that last sentence 10 times fast—or, as I had to, read it 10 times over. This director seems to bemoan the state of their "art" as having succumbed to the demand for rapid production while demeaning those who seek to fix at least some of the ramifications of those demands. It’s pretty embarrassing, frankly.

Architect Bjarke Ingels’s firm has offices in six countries.

Photo by Maria Jose Lopez/Europa Press via Getty Images

It doesn’t take revealing internal emails to show one’s ass, either; after all, Ingels has also raised the issue of rapid production and architectural artmaking. In a 2025 talk hosted by acoustics company Rockfon focused on the future of architecture, Ingels described an ethos that speaks to the humanity of an end-user, an architecture that is "generous toward the city." But in a twist, he responded to a question about AI in the field, stating that "someone who graduates from architecture school today, who has a lot of will and intent, could actually have the force of 700 [designers] at his or her fingertips simply by being very good at working with AI." He took it a step further in an interview posted to Instagram by an AI-powered architecture software company a couple months later, where he likened his interactions with his cadre of employees—which took him 25 years to amass as a team—to inputting a prompt into an AI interface.

Having compared his collaborations with colleagues to machine learning, it would come at no surprise then that he would treat his workers as interchangeable widgets, but it sounds like both Snøhetta and BIG are both grappling with the demands of technology, production, and artistry in their practices. Whether firm leaders want to hear it or not, creating a workplace where their designers are dignified through compensation and job security might just help them outpace their competition. Sadly, too many are content with lowering their profession’s own standards—treating salaried designers as 1099 workers, hired and fired en masse by shortsighted leadership to keep their business model competitive in an era of endless industry tumult and resulting concessions. Of course, to dig themselves out of this hole would require firms to collectively decide that intentionally recognizing the humanity of their workforce is what yields a thriving creative practice; whether or not they want to take the reins of their own profession is a test of how committed they are to artistry over capital.

Top photo courtesy of SAW-Unite.

Will Mamdani’s "Rental Ripoff" Hearings Help Tenants, or Be More Venting Into the Void?

Will Architecture Firm Leaders Ever Budge Against Unionizing Employees?

A recent win for workers stateside and a high profile protest abroad are drawing eyes to the particular tensions of organizing in the industry.

Top photo courtesy of SAW-Unite.

Will Mamdani’s "Rental Ripoff" Hearings Help Tenants, or Be More Venting Into the Void?

You Won’t Want to Look at Your Phone With These Well-Designed Tabletop Games Around

New stuff

Snakes of Wrath

Spruced up classics

UNO Card Game - Retro Edition

Eames x Art of Play: Kite Playing Cards

GUCCI Geometric G Briefcase Backgammon Game Set

Go back in time

Vintage 1950s Sorry! Board Game

You Can See the Golden Gate Bridge From This $3.5M Home in the Berkeley Hills

Penny, Subway, Mosaic—This Renovated Warsaw Home Is a Master Class in Tile

Project Details:

In Cambria, a Curvaceous Midcentury Beach House Surfaces for $4.3M

Frank Sinatra’s L.A. Home Just Hit the Market for the First Time in 53 Years

Will Architecture Firm Leaders Ever Budge Against Unionizing Employees?

Will Architecture Firm Leaders Ever Budge Against Unionizing Employees?

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