Publisher

Garphill Games

Garphill Games is a New Zealand publisher based in Waikanae, active since 2015, known for strategic Eurogames and strong solo options.

2 Games

Biography

Garphill Games was founded in 2009 by designer Shem Phillips and appears in our database as a publisher from 2015. The company lists 11 games and is based in Waikanae, New Zealand. Early years saw small family-style print runs; a 2014 Kickstarter boosted their international profile.

Career

From 2015 Garphill Games released regular strategy titles emphasizing hand management, solo play, and contract mechanics. The publisher has produced several series and stand-alone titles in collaboration with designers around Shem Phillips. The catalogue often features medieval and ancient themes and includes city-building elements. Garphill combines heavyweight Euro mechanisms with optional solitaire modes across annual releases.

Most Famous Games

Key titles include Raiders of the North Sea (2015), Architects of the West Kingdom (2018) and Paladins of the West Kingdom (2019). Other notable releases are Viscounts of the West Kingdom (2020), Hadrian's Wall (2021) and Legacy of Yu (2023). Several of these games received Golden Geek and Board Game Quest recognitions.

Design Style

Garphill's style centers on eurogame mechanics such as Hand Management, End Game Bonuses and Contracts, often providing Solo / Solitaire options. Themes skew toward medieval and ancient settings, with recurring series like the West Kingdom games.