The Family Gamers - Reviews -

Jungo – Welcome to the Jungo!

8/10

December 15, 2025 Andrew Smith Reviews

Ladder climbing games have been around forever. But since Tichu reintroduced the mechanic to the modern age in 1991 and especially since the award-winning Scout burst on the scene six years ago, it seems these card-shedding games of rising stakes have truly stepped into the limelight. Recently we reviewed Odin, a strategic take on this genre. Today we turn our

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, Andrew, card games, Family Gaming, Happy Camper Games, Ladder Climbing

ODIN – Climbing the Ladder to Valhalla

9/10

December 8, 2025 Anitra Smith Reviews

It takes a special kind of card game to get everyone at the table interested. Odin does a great job, with speedy turns, simple decisions, and engaging artwork.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, Anitra, card games, Crocotame, Family Gaming, Gary Kim, Helvetiq, Hope S. Hwang, Yohan Goh

INK – Where Color Meets Strategy

8.5/10

December 1, 2025 Andrew Smith Reviews

INK is a very satisfying puzzle, even playing solo, that takes less than an hour from start to finish.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, abstract, Andrew, Anitra, art, Asmodee, Final Score Games, Kasper Lapp, race, solo

Chit Chat – Numbers Party

8/10

November 24, 2025 Anitra Smith Reviews

The moment when a player drops a knowledge bomb that turns out to be wrong at the end is almost as fun (and funny!) as when they absolutely nail it. But either way everyone leaves the table knowing a little bit more…

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, 7 players, 8 players, Anitra, Asmodee, Billy Langsworthy, Helvetiq, Matt Burtonwood, numbers, party game, trivia

Cantankerous Cats

7.5/10

November 17, 2025 Jeremy Pike Reviews

Cantankerous Cats does not take itself too seriously, and players shouldn’t either. Embrace the chaos, just like a cat that purrs for attention before taking a swipe with their suddenly unsheathed claws.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, animals, Aven Gonzalez, card games, cats, Flat River Games, Jeremy, Mentha Designs, take that

Hifi – What Music Looks Like

8.5/10

November 10, 2025 Anitra Smith Reviews

Hifi is gorgeous. Everything you can see in this game evokes analog audio mixing: sliders, EQ knobs, record turntables, and all the various kinds of plugs and switches. Even the box and the rulebook add to this feel. But…

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, André Teruya, Anitra, Grok Games, music, Smirk & Dagger Games

Lost Ruins of Arnak: The Missing Expedition

8.5/10

November 3, 2025 Jeremy Pike Reviews

Arnak conjures up impressions of adventure, and boy, does The Missing Expedition add a story! You’ve got everything you’d want in an archaeological adventure with a fantasy twist…

2 players, Arnak, Campaign, CGE (Czech Games Edition), cooperative games, Elwin, expansion, Jeremy, Min, solo

Duel for Cardia

8/10

October 27, 2025 Anitra Smith Reviews

This is not a game for a casual break. Play it when you’re ready for 10-20 minutes of intense tactics.

2 players, Anitra, Asmodee, Card Game, card games, duel, Faouzi Boughida, Hans im Gluck, Mathieu Rivero, small games

Rebel Princess: Happily Never After

8/10

October 20, 2025 Updated: November 6th, 2025 Nick Martinelli Reviews

Happily Never After is a small expansion, but it adds big excitement to this game.

3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, Bezier, card games, Daniel Byrne, expansion, Family Gaming, Jose Guerrero, Kevin Pelaez, Nick, princess, Tirso Virgos, trick taking, Variable Player Powers

Red Letter, Yellow Letter – Words A-Plenty

9/10

October 13, 2025 Anitra Smith Reviews

We have never cut short a game of Red Letter, Yellow Letter. The goal of winning nine cards is just right. Any longer, and people could get tired of losing; any shorter, and slower players wouldn’t have the chance to get into the game.

10 players, 11 players, 12 players, 25th Century Games, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, 7 players, 8 players, 9 players, Anitra, Nathan Thornton, party game, travel, word games

Hunter x Hunter: The 287th Exams

6.5/10

October 6, 2025 Updated: November 5th, 2025 Jeremy Pike Reviews

Overall, Hunter x Hunter: The 287th Exams is a tough, fun game. But it needs some additional explanations to just help make things clearer. It’s a great choice if you love the anime and are ready to learn from your failure to pass the Final Exam.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, Alex Kessler, anime, asymmetric, cooperative games, Dice Rolling, Jeremy, KessCo, Michael Grothe, solo

SNAP Review – Back Stories: The Emerald Wedding Anniversary

September 29, 2025 Updated: October 30th, 2025 Anitra Smith SNAP Reviews

We played the first Back Stories – and it was awesome! We hoped our kids would enjoy this second spy-themed mission.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, adventure, Andrew, Anitra, Anthony Perone, Asher, Benoit Bannier, Claire, Elliot, escape room, Jules Messaud, Lucky Duck Games, Nicolas Fuchs, solo, story

SNAP Review – Horrified: World of Monsters

September 22, 2025 Andrew Smith SNAP Reviews

This cooperative game includes monsters from all over the world. Can you defeat the Sphinx, Jiangshi, the Yeti, or even… Cthulu?

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, Andrew, Anitra, Asher, Christmas, cooperative games, Family Gaming, Mike Mulvihill, monster, mythology, Peter Lee, Ravensburger, santa, solo

Xylotar Unhinged

7.5/10

September 15, 2025 Nick Martinelli Reviews

We popped in Xylotar like a mixtape, and it’s been on repeat ever since. So, If you already own Xylotar, do you need the Unhinged expansion?

3 players, 4 players, 5 players, Bezier, card games, Christopher Wray, Davi Comodo, expansion, music, Nick, trick taking, Variable Player Powers

SNAP Review – Shovel Knight: Dungeon Duels

September 8, 2025 Andrew Smith SNAP Reviews

Shovel Knight is a retro video game that hits just right. How does it translate to the tabletop?

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, Andrew, Asher, Elliot, Panda Cult Games, video game, Yacht Club Games

Strawberry Shortcake Berry Besties Bakeoff Card Game: Would You Like Some Math With That?

5/10

September 1, 2025 Corey Lagunowich Reviews

We’ve got another game for review at the Millennial Nostalgia Grab Department of The Family Gamers…

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, card games, Corey, Family Gaming, Flat River Games, Maestro Media, WildBrain

Leaf

8/10

August 25, 2025 Nick Martinelli Reviews

In Leaf, players become the wind, strategically placing leaf tiles to grow mushrooms, help animals, and advance the season.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, Angela Rizza, animals, nature, Nick, plants, set collection, solo, tile laying, Tim Eisner, Weird City Games

Unmatched: Battle of Legends Volume 3 – The Legend Continues

9.5/10

August 18, 2025 Anitra Smith Hall of Fame Reviews, Reviews

Battle of Legends Volume 3 is the conclusion to the “Battle of Legends” trilogy for Unmatched, which is a little sad.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, Andrew, Anitra, battle, monster, mythology, skirmish, Unmatched

Worms: The Board Game

7/10

August 11, 2025 Jeremy Pike Reviews

Worms aren’t high up the list of dangerous creatures. But what happens when you hand a worm a bazooka? Chaos.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, Andy Davidson, battle, Jeremy, Mantic Games, Team17, video game

HUTAN: Life in the Rainforest

8.5/10

August 4, 2025 Anitra Smith Reviews

At the end of every game of HUTAN, I have a miniature rainforest model right on my table, full of trees and a few animals.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, animals, Anitra, Asger Harding Granerud, Daniel Skjold Pedersen, drafting games, flowers, plants, Sidekick Games, solo, The OP, Tile Drafting, tile placement, Vincent Dutrait

1 2 3 … 39 »