Episode 405 – Theme

Is game theme important? Is theme more than just the art?

0:00:00 Fact for 405

I-405 in California, heavily traveled by both commuters and freight haulers along its entire length, is the busiest and most congested freeway in the United States.

Sponsor Message

We learn about “spear phishing”. If you’d like to talk to someone about how you can protect your financial assets, remember you can book a free meeting with First Move at firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers.

0:04:20 What We’ve Been Playing

Spots [Editor’s note: “The Hundred and One Dalmatians” book was published in 1956. Still within copyright.]
Red Letter Yellow Letter
Cabanga! (our review)
Floristry (our review)
Duel for Cardia
Merchants of Magick (our review) – a lesson on what to do when pieces are missing.
Get Bit! (our review)
Oasis
Circus Flohcati (our review)
INK
Trio (our review)
Junk Drawer solo (our review)
Mr Postmouse’s Picnic
Endangered (our review)

Check out the Kickstarter for Endangered: Australia!

0:33:30 August Monthly Report

Anitra: 52 plays of 31 unique games. H-index 3: Trio, Unmatched, Cabanga! (plus Backstories, Flip 7, Duel for Cardia, A Gentle Rain)

Andrew: 31 plays of 18 unique games. H-index 3: also Trio, Unmatched, Cabanga!

0:35:10 The Family Gamers Community

Welcome to our newest community members! You can join the community too, on Facebook.

#Backtalk

We asked about video games you like to play together. You answered on the #backtalk channel on our Discord, and in this post in the Facebook community.

0:45:45 Is Theme Important?

Theme vs. Mechanics – why not both? Is theme important? Sometimes! For lovers of abstract games, theme can get in the way of a clean, enjoyable game.

Anitra has changed her opinion. Because a well-done theme can shape the mechanics of a game in a way that helps players join the “magic circle” and really get into the game.

This is especially true for “adult” games that can be approachable for kids. (Flashpoint, Mountains).

But not all themes are created equal!

We mentioned playing Endangered. It’s great to save endangered animals… but this game does it in the way people do it in the real world: a lot of interaction with government bureaucracy and fundraising! Not super interesting for our kids.

Know what themes your kids like! Talk to them and be aware that their tastes change.

We’ve mentioned HiFi, a game about mixing musical tracks and uses a record player as a way to choose actions. We have another kid who loves D&D and can’t wait to sink into Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons.

There’s a reason we have done episodes focusing on just a specific theme (food, dragons, etc.) and why our lists for older kids and teens are organized around theme.

The right theme is not a cure-all, but it has the power to make a game feel EASIER as well as more immersive. (Maybe *because* it’s more immersive, and the game progression feels like it makes sense.) Example: Lacrimosa really works for Anitra, even though it’s a harder game than she’d usually choose to play.

We mention Megaland (yes, it’s still in print) as a great way to pull in a videogame feel to a kid-appropriate board game, or more complex game themes, like Worms, Halo: Flashpoint, or Call of Duty: The Boardgame. And check out our review of Shovel Knight: Dungeon Duels!

1:02:00 New Backtalk Question

Where are you on the theme bandwagon? Do you care more about theme or mechanics? What is YOUR favorite theme?

Tell us on the #backtalk channel on our Discord, or in our Facebook community.

Find Us Online:

Facebook: @familygamersaa and thefamilygamers.com/community
Twitter (X): @familygamersaa
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Youtube: TheFamilyGamers

or join the Family Tabletop Community on Discord! thefamilygamers.com/discord

Or, for the most direct method, email us! andrew@thefamilygamers.com and anitra@thefamilygamers.com.

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The Family Gamers is sponsored by First Move Financial. Go to FirstMoveFinancial.com/familygamers to learn how the team at First Move Financial can help you pile up the victory points.

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