The Family Gamers - Reviews -

Lands of Amazement – Build A Better Park

7/10

April 6, 2026 Anitra Smith Reviews

Step right up, step right up! We got an incredible amusement park here! You might even call it an AMAZEMENT park! Lands of Amazement is a solo game by Scott Almes, published by Button Shy Games. As with most Button Shy titles, Lands of Amazement is just 18 cards in a small wallet, and a full game takes 20-30 minutes.

amusement park, Anitra, Button Shy Games, polyomino, Scott Almes, solo

Shallow Regrets

7.5/10

March 30, 2026 Nick Martinelli Reviews

Shallow Regrets hit a sweet spot with my son. He’s 12 and a budding fisherman, so the fishing theme and simple gameplay lured him right in.

2 players, 3 players, animals, Button Shy Games, card games, Fish, fishing, Judson Cowan, Nick, open draft, set collection, wallet games

Leviathan Wilds

8/10

March 27, 2026 Jeremy Pike Reviews

If you remember the video game Shadow Of The Colossus, this is like that – but as a cooperative board game with a happier ending.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, cooperative games, Family Gaming, Jeremy, Justin Kemppainen, Moon Crab Games, solo

Shadow Ninjas – Phantoms for Fishes

7/10

March 23, 2026 Andrew Smith Reviews

Traps, razor-sharp strikes, and… zoomies? These are the tools of the Cat!

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, Andrew, asymmetric, Family Games, Family Gaming, Hidden Movement, Kedric Winks, Outset Media

Verdant Arizona – Cactus Arranging

8/10

March 18, 2026 Anitra Smith Reviews

Especially given its small size and ease of portability, I think we’ll be taking Verdant Arizona out for a spin fairly frequently. Just look out for those spines! Ouch!

2 players, Andrew, Anitra, Galens Games, Grid Movement, grid placement, plants, Robin David, small games, solo, wallet games

Puppies or Poop

7/10

March 16, 2026 Nick Martinelli Reviews

A peaceful walk quickly turns into a messy challenge when the dogs scatter into the leaves and leave surprises behind. Can you dodge the trouble and finish with spotless shoes?

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, animals, Card Game, card laying, dogs, elimination, Fight in a Box Games, Mark Eberhardt, memory game, Nick, Seppy Yoon

Embers – Protect the Fire

9/10

March 12, 2026 Anitra Smith Reviews

We heat our home with a woodstove. After an unusually harsh winter, I appreciate the absolute necessity to keep the fire from going out.

Anitra, Button Shy Games, card games, monster, solo, Steven Aramini, survival, tower defense, wallet games

Twisted Trumpets

7.5/10

March 9, 2026 Jeremy Pike Reviews

There are plenty of ways to gain points in Twisted Trumpets, so even the youngest players will feel like they’ve accomplished something.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, Family Games, Family Gaming, Jeremy, Matthew Rodela, path finding, Play to Z Games, tile laying, tile placement

Chip Theory Kids Independent Play Collection

8.5/10

March 4, 2026 Anitra Smith Reviews

Every once in a while, we find games that are so well suited to very young children that they’ll pull them out and play them alone, without an adult’s help.

Anitra, Chip Theory Games, deduction, Family Gaming, Johnny Chen, puzzle, Reiner Knizia, solo, tile laying, travel, Wesley Zhao, young children

Up or Down?

6.5/10

March 2, 2026 Nick Martinelli Reviews

Elevators force a choice you cannot undo. Once the doors close, it’s either Up or Down.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, Capstone Games, Card Game, card games, drafting games, hand management, Jina Rueter, Kwanchai Moriya, Michael Kiesling, Nick, set collection, Wolfgang Kramer

Marvel Dice Throne: X-Men – Two Boxes, Eight Heroes – Box 2

8.5/10

February 24, 2026 Andrew Smith Reviews

Fans of Dice Throne and fans of the X-Men will both bet getting something out of this box.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, Andrew, battle, comic, Dice Rolling, Family Gaming, Manny Trembley, Marvel, Roxley Game Laboratory, The OP

Marvel Dice Throne: X-Men – Two Boxes, Eight Heroes – Box 1

8/10

February 17, 2026 Andrew Smith Reviews

In this box we were a little disappointed by the implementations of Wolverine and Psylocke, while we loved what was done with Storm and Iceman.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, Andrew, comic, Dice Rolling, Family Gaming, Manny Trembley, Marvel, Roxley Game Laboratory, The OP

Logic & Lore – A Deductive Race

9.5/10

February 9, 2026 Anitra Smith Reviews

I enjoy logical deduction, and the beauty and simplicity of Logic & Lore hooked me from the very first time I played.

2 players, Anitra, Darren Reckner, deduction, Family Gaming, Jason Hager, numbers, Weird Giraffe

Umami: The Forest Food Fest

7.5/10

February 2, 2026 Nick Martinelli Reviews

Umami is a fast, family-friendly set collection game with clever card play, light take that, and plenty of savory decisions.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, animals, card games, CGE (Czech Games Edition), Don Eskridge, drafting games, Family Gaming, food, Heidelbar, Nick, open draft, set collection, take that

Outfox the Fox

9/10

January 26, 2026 Jeremy Pike Reviews

People love lists. All you have to do is an internet search, and you can find a top five or top ten list for just about anything…

10 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, 7 players, 8 players, 9 players, bluffing, Jeff Grisenthwaite, Jeremy, party game, Smirk & Dagger Games, social deduction, trivia

Mr. Postmouse’s Picnic

7/10

January 19, 2026 Anitra Smith Reviews

For most families, I think Mr. Postmouse’s Picnic is going to be frustrating – unless you modify it to make it easier. But for fans of the series, it can still be a fertile ground for imaginative play.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, Anitra, cooperative games, Hachette Games, Marianne Dubuc, solo, Xavier Violeau, young children

Leaders – A Finely-Tuned Team

9/10

January 12, 2026 Anitra Smith Reviews

Leaders fits into the same niche as chess – a tight duel where nothing is hidden except your opponent’s plans.

2 players, abstract, Anitra, drafting games, duel, Hachette Games, Hugo Frenoy

Gems of Iridescia

8/10

January 5, 2026 Jeremy Pike Reviews

If your family loves beautiful games that have a few choices without being overwhelming, Gems of Iridescia is for you.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, dice, Dice Manipulation, exploration, Family Gaming, Jeremy, Roberto Panetta, Rock Stone & Dice, solo

Person Do Thing – No Bad Thing!

7/10

December 29, 2025 Andrew Smith Reviews

Person Do Thing hardly reinvents the wheel in the clue-giving genre. In fact, one could be forgiven for mistaking Person Do Thing for another popular game, Poetry for Neanderthals.

10 players, 11 players, 12 players, 2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, 7 players, 8 players, 9 players, Andrew, clue giving, cooperative games, guessing, party game, Runaway Parade Games, Uri Bram

Rudolph – Help Santa Sleigh!

6.5/10

December 22, 2025 Nick Martinelli Reviews

Assemble the best combination of reindeer and sleighs to help Santa prepare for his big night!

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, card games, Christmas, Gabriel Herrerias, Holiday, Nick, Nico Cardona, real time, santa, set collection, speed games

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