★★★☆☆ You Gotta be Kitten Me!; Only click this post if you truly love kittens.
Check out this game if: you like the game liars dice or press your like games.
★★★☆☆ Kodama; cute but demanding tree spirits.
Check out this game if: you are looking for a simple game that has some strategy, but feels like a creative project (think competitive solo jigsaw puzzle).
★★★★☆ Ice Cool; as in “Gee, I can’t wait till I go to Ice Cool.”
Check out this game if: you are looking for a silly dexterity game (think Foosball).
★★★★½: Bohnanza; explore the exciting life of a bean farmer(!)
Check out this game if: you like highly interactive games where you trade cards a lot and make quick real decisions.
Holiday 2017 Pick List
I have been getting asked for a lot of gift ideas this year, so I thought I would write up my responses. For the kid (5 to 8). Harry Hopper: Because it’s fun to flick things. This game comes with 2 high quality grasshoppers. Flick the grasshopper to knock over blades of grass. Simple, Easy,…
★★★★★ Las Vegas; nothing like the real Vegas, unless you feel spite for the other gamblers.
Check out this game if: you’re looking for an exciting and random game (and don’t mind a little conflict).
★★★★☆ Potion Explosion; because you can’t get enough candy crush (?)
Check out this game if: you do or do not like candy crush type games (it’s different, promise).
★★★★☆ Roll for it; a game of luck, spite, and simple fun.
Check out this game if: you want a quick game that is almost all luck, but still a lot of fun. This game stands out because: although it’s almost all luck, the few decisions you make feel important. Also, because it’s luck heavy, it doesn’t feel mean. Positive: 1. The luck aspect of the game makes…
★★★★★ The Chameleon; because it’s fun to act like you know what everyone else is talking about.
Check out this game if: you’re looking for a party game that takes some thinking -but can still get rowdy.
★★½☆☆ Robot Turtles; you can lead a turtle to a gem but you can’t use your laser on it.
Check out this game if: you are looking for a veiled education game for kids.
★★★☆☆ Anomia; can you come up with the name of an astronaut before your friend names a musician?
Check out this game if: you like fast paced, quick thinking, clever group games.
★★★½☆ Dead Man’s Draw; a Press-Yar-Luck game with a pirate theme?
Check out this game if: you like pressing your luck (or watching others fail).
★★★★☆ The Resistance; someone is lying and if it’s you, you better keep a straight face.
Check out this game if: you’re looking for a rowdy time and don’t mind lying.
★★★☆☆ Diamonds: a trick taking game like hearts, but with stealing.
Check out this game if: Your family or group of friends already like trick taking games (like hearts) but want to try something with a new twist.
★★★½☆ World Fair 1893: curate the best attractions for the fabulous world’s fair, but don’t forget to sell tickets.
Check out this game if: are not afraid of some new concepts and a very rewarding game.
★★☆☆☆ Medieval Academy; train to kill a dragon, or study books, but don’t forget about the Princess.
Check out this game if: you’re looking for a quick game with a some complexity but still some luck.
★★★☆☆ Stack Jack: you can play friendly or nice, but you can’t play with too much caffeine/hand wobble.
Check out this game if: you’re looking for a quick/small footprint game –kids birthday(?).
★★★☆☆ Boom Boom Balloon; don’t let the silly balloon face fool you, this game is intense.
Check out this game if: you are looking for a silly good time for a medium size group (focused on kids).
★★★★½ Concept; the board has every image except the one you want -but that’s what makes it fun.
Check out this game if: you are looking for a fun activity for a large group.
★★★☆☆ Sheriff of Nottingham; where lying to the sheriff is incouraged.
Check out this game if: you are looking for a medium weight bluffing game -with a great theme.
★★★★☆ Bananagrams Party; imagine they told the spelling bee kids to stand on one foot or run in a circle while spelling.
Check out this game if: you or your family/friends like scrabble (or banana grams) and want to switch things up a bit (also much better than the previously mentioned if you don’t like word games as much).
★★★★½ are you dumber than A Box of Rocks?
Check out this game if: you are looking for a silly excuse to have fun with clever trivia questions.
★★★★☆ Lost Cities: the Board Game; discover ancient civilizations by collecting playing cards -just like real archaeologists.
Check out this game if: you are looking for a simple, unique, and fun game for four players (great small-family game).
★★★½☆ Niya; fight for control over Japan’s imperial garden! -or play this fun little tile game.
Check out this game if: you are looking for a clever two player game that is quick but still has real strategy -perfect little game for on the go.
★★★☆☆ Colt Express; Robbing a train seems easy until everyone else tries to rob the same darned train.
Check out this game if: you’re looking for a game with a lot of interaction, some direct conflict, and a really fun theme.
★★★½☆ Spyfall; want to feel like James Bond -minus the drinking, ladies, and action?
Check out this game if: you are looking for a group/party game that plays quickly but can take some real thought.
★★★★½ Dr. Eureka: help a scientist discover chemical compounds -but what is he doing with these discoveries?
Check out this game if: you are looking for a great game that plays well with a variety of ages (fantastic with kids).
★★★★★ Mysterium; have you ever felt your dreams were trying to tell you something? How about that one with the lion/boat in the desert?
Check out this game if: you are looking for a group game with a unique play experience -and everyone can be social while still playing a thinky game.
★★★★☆ Kahuna; it’s common knowledge, the next best option to visiting tropical islands is building bridges with cards.
Check out this game if: you are looking for a medium to quick 2 player game that is simple to teach but offers unique strategy and an intense ending.
★★★★☆ Dominion; this is a deck building game, but you don’t need a carpenter or tools.
Check out this game if: you’re looking for a unique game with some complexity for teenagers and up.
★★★★☆ Blokus; the game looks like tetris but plays like a new pop song that spreads everywhere, until another song moves in.
Check out this game if: you’re looking for a quick 2 to 4 player game that offers a little bit of strategy and a lot of interaction with other players.
★★★½☆ Lanterns; the Gods love lanterns (obviously) and it’s up to you to light their favorite colors (obviously).
Buy this game if: you’re looking for an eye-catching game that is fairly friendly, but still has some strategy.
★★☆☆☆ Munchkin; fighting monsters with your friends (unless they want to stab you in the back).
Check out this game if: you’re looking for a silly game with lots of jokes but relatively complicated rules.
★★★☆☆ Say Anything; jokes about John Cusack do not go over well during this game, apparently.
Check out this game if: you’re looking for a quick game for a large group that can be clever and fun.
★★★★½ Lost Cities (card); imagine you’ve just found the lost city of Atlantis, and then you sit down to play a card game.
Check out this game if: you are looking for a 2 player game that is simple to teach but offers hours of wonderful intensity.
★★★☆☆ Battle Sheep; “they can take our land, but they can never take our wool.”
Check out this game if: You’re looking for a game for younger kids (I think 5 y/o can play this game with a little patience).
The Great Outdoors; games that can survive harsh environments (but likely won’t withstand a bear attack).
This past week, while visiting a little Caribbean island, I was determined to research good games that could hold up to wind, sand, water, and booze. But I got distracted by the sand, water, and booze.
★★★½☆ Small World; just like the Disney ride but with ghosts, goblins, vampires, giants -scratch that, nothing like the ride.
Check out this game if: you’re looking for a little more complicated game for kids who like multi player strategic games -like Risk but quicker and more fun.
★★★½☆ Forbidden Island; it’s like Indiana Jones put together a team of “experts” to retrieve treasures from a sinking island.
Check out this game if: you are looking for a cooperative/friendly game for a younger group.
★★★☆☆ Roll America; do you like Sudoku, but wish it were more random?
Check out this game if: you’re looking for a quick puzzle game for any number of players.
★★★½☆ Sushi Go; imagine building the best meal from a conveyor belt of sushi -that appear happy you want to eat them.
Check out this game if: you’re looking for a medium level game with adorable art.
★★★★☆ Qwirkle; matching shapes and colors, sounds easy, but…
Check out this game if: you’re looking for a thinky game that is very rewarding to play.
★★★½☆ Gobblet; it’s like connect four and memory at the same time.
Check out this game if: you’re looking for a two player game that’s a step up from checkers, but not quite chess.
★★★☆☆ Qwixx; rolling dice for points, really, that’s it, but still quite fun.
Check out this game if: you’re looking for a quick game that involves every player every turn and feels a little strategic.
★★★★½ Timeline: did Einstein wear Levi’s? trivia game with lots of surprises.
Check out this game if: you want to sneak a little education into game night, but still want to have fun.
