A local game creator has taken a stab at the indie card game scene—literally. Don’t Get Stabbed was developed by Jordan McLaughlin, a Columbus resident whose passion for horror movies has led to a thrilling, laugh-out-loud game perfect for parties and casual game nights

Don’t Get Stabbed brings together classic horror movie tropes with fast-paced laughs in a perfect blend of humor and horror. One player is the Killer. The rest play as Victims. Victims take turns drawing cards and trying to avoid being “stabbed” by the game's slasher, all while building alliances, plotting escapes, and trying to survive the night. The Killer tries to kill all the victims by “stabbing” them three times.

The idea for Don’t Get Stabbed first sparked during a casual game night in 2018 when McLaughlin’s cousin suggested he create his own card game. He started working on the game the very next day. McLaughlin spent weeks going to the local library after work to teach himself how to illustrate the game. “I didn’t have money to hire an artist, so I knew I had to figure this out for myself.” Said McLaughlin.

As Ohio’s cannabis industry grows, it's time for lawmakers to take the next logical step: launching a pilot program for cannabis social lounges. By looking to the successes of other states, Ohio can create safe, legal spaces for public consumption while supporting small businesses and enhancing public safety.

Currently, cannabis use is largely confined to private residences in Ohio, leaving renters and residents in public housing, where landlords may prohibit cannabis use, with few options. This forces many to resort to consuming in less-than-ideal locations like cars, public spaces, or hotels, increasing risks and public safety concerns.

Designated social lounges would help mitigate these issues. Just as Nevada reduced public consumption problems in Las Vegas by introducing lounges, Ohio could do the same, keeping cannabis off the streets and out of parks in popular areas like the Short North and Easton.

The Columbus Free Press is proud to announce the recipient of our 2024 "Libby" award for Lifetime Achievement in Community Activism -- Abe Bonowitz. The Free Press honors community activists annually with a "Libby" Award, named for a former Free Press editor, Libby Gregory, who lost her life in 1991 in an airplane accident. 

The Awards event will happen during the Free Press Second Saturday Salon in the afternoon on December 14, 1:30-4:30pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Church at 93 W. Weisheimer Rd. It is free and open to the public with refreshments. Facebook Event.