This $20 Strategy Game Is Barnes & Noble's Game of the Month For June
In a world filled with sprawling board games that can take hours to finish, Barnes & Noble's latest pick proves that sometimes the smallest games create the biggest rivalries.
The bookseller has named High Tide its June 2026 Game of the Month, shining a spotlight on the portable strategy game that is quickly winning over players looking for a quick but satisfying challenge.
Created by designer Marceline Leiman and published by Underdog Games, High Tide is a two-player abstract strategy game inspired by the movement of the ocean. Players compete to keep their own pieces visible while covering their opponent's tiles beneath an ever-changing landscape of stacked wooden hexagons.
Barnes & Noble praised the game's combination of accessibility and depth, noting that it is easy to learn while still offering plenty of opportunities for strategic thinking. The retailer also highlighted its compact design, making it ideal for travel, coffee shops, beach trips and summer vacations.
One of the game's biggest strengths is its simplicity.
On each turn, players move one of their own tiles, or a neutral tile, onto an adjacent tile or stack. As the stacks grow higher, the board continually changes shape, forcing players to adapt their strategy and think several moves ahead. The goal is to keep as many of your own shells visible as possible while burying your opponent's beneath the rising tide.
When no more moves can be made, the player with the most visible tiles wins the round. The first player to win three rounds claims victory.
While the rules are straightforward, the strategy quickly becomes surprisingly deep. Every move changes the landscape, creating new opportunities and new problems to solve.
The game also benefits from a beautifully designed presentation. High Tide features natural wooden tiles, colorful glass stones and a soft travel bag that makes it easy to bring almost anywhere. With rounds lasting roughly 5 to 15 minutes, it is the kind of game that can fill a spare moment or fuel an entire evening of friendly competition.
At $19.99, High Tide is also one of the more affordable selections Barnes & Noble has featured in its Game of the Month program.
Whether you're looking for a new couples game, a travel-friendly strategy challenge or simply something different for your next game night, Barnes & Noble believes High Tide is worth making waves this summer.
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This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 5:23 PM.