The Family Gamers - Reviews

What’s Up and Strawberry Ninja: Short and Sweet!

8/10

July 27, 2017 Updated: August 20th, 2019 Andrew Smith Reviews

This week, we take a look at a pair of short, simple games from Strawberry Studio, What’s Up and Strawberry Ninja. Strawberry Studio’s mission is to “enrich the world of gaming with a line of smart, fun and easy to play microgames for families and friends”. Do they succeed with these two titles? Let’s dive in and find out.

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Andrew, Family Games, Microgames, Strawberry Studio, Tabletop Games

Potion Explosion: A Magical Concoction!

9/10

July 24, 2017 Updated: September 19th, 2022 Anitra Smith Hall of Fame Reviews, Reviews

Whizz! Clack! At first glance, Potion Explosion looks like just a gimmick – a board game adaptation of digital match-3 games like Bejeweled. Pull out marbles, make matches. But there is so much more to this delightful game!

Kingdomino: Crown Your Territory

9.5/10

July 20, 2017 Updated: September 19th, 2022 Anitra Smith Hall of Fame Reviews, Reviews

You are a king (or queen), looking to expand your kingdom. As you explore the terrain, you must decide which territories will be the best and most productive. But watch out! Other monarchs are scouting the territory, too, and may steal your most-coveted lands!

The Mysterious Forest: Bad Dream or Fantasy?

7.5/10

July 17, 2017 Updated: March 8th, 2024 Andrew Smith Reviews

“Ask yourself a question!” “When you recall the past, can you always distinguish which memories were real events and which were dreams or fantasies?”

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Andrew, Carlo Rossi, Iello, memory game, WormWorld Saga

Tumble Tree: Build a Baobab

6.5/10

July 13, 2017 Updated: March 16th, 2022 Anitra Smith Reviews

A baobab tree has a thick trunk and flat, spreading branches. Why? Because the players have to build it that way! Can you build a spectacular canopy, or will your tree tumble?

Outfoxed!: Cooperative Logic for the Littles in your Life

8/10

July 10, 2017 Updated: April 6th, 2021 Andrew Smith Reviews

The clue-scouring gumshoe has always been a role masked in mystery and intrigue. Hardly a role for kids usually, mysterious detective tales filled with riddles and enigmas are designed to confound even the brightest observer. Enter Outfoxed, a lighthearted cooperative whodunit game from GameWright aimed squarely at a younger generation.

Box of Rocks & Parent Quiz: Trivia Games the Whole Family Can Play

8.5/10

July 6, 2017 Updated: January 17th, 2019 Anitra Smith Reviews

Box of Rocks and Parent Quiz are two simple trivia games designed for family play. Each takes just a few minutes and encourage discussion among the players. Which one is right for your family?

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Anitra, Family Games, Haywire Group, trivia

Ark & Noah: A Game Drenched in Biblical Themes

5.5/10

July 3, 2017 Updated: August 20th, 2019 Andrew Smith Reviews

Crashing lightning, booming thunder, and thousands upon thousands of gallons of water pour from the sky. The drumming of torrential downpour on the roof of the Ark is calming in its regularity, as the unending rows of matched pair animals bray and paw nervously. There is a loud creaking as the rising water level begins to lift the massive boat

Pirate Ships: Yo Ho Ho and a Battle of Fun!

6/10

June 25, 2017 Updated: August 20th, 2019 Andrew Smith Reviews

What could be more classic than a naval battle between two warring pirate ships? With straightforward mechanics and great art by accomplished artist Kevin Rechin, The Haywire Group brings us Pirate Ships, a simple game of naval destruction! Do we think Pirate Ships is seaworthy? Or is it cannon fodder?

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Andrew, dexterity games, Family Games, Haywire Group, pirates

Scuttle!: A Card Game of High Seas Pirate Adventure

8/10

June 19, 2017 Updated: February 25th, 2021 Ray Kelley Reviews

Scuttle! by Jellybean Games is a card game full of pirate adventure, attacks, conquest, and fun, for 1-5 players. Manage the shifting seas of cards like an old salt, be the first to collect enough treasure, and you’ll win the title of master pirate captain.

Tournament of Towers: A Sophisticated Game of Dexterity and Planning

9/10

June 12, 2017 Updated: February 4th, 2021 Anitra Smith Reviews

The beauty of Tournament is in its difficulty. The pieces were intentionally designed to be difficult to use for building boring towers. Once I realized that, I embraced the difficulty; rather than trying to build the tallest tower, I began trying to build the most interesting tower instead.

Barnyard Roundup: Fill Your Farm by Fibbing

7.5/10

June 4, 2017 Updated: November 26th, 2019 Anitra Smith Reviews

Oh no! All the animals have escaped the barn and are hiding out. Can you fill your pen with the most valuable animals and avoid the sneaky crows? Barnyard Roundup is a simple bluffing game for 2-6 players designed by James Hudson and published by Druid City Games.

Clear for Takeoff: A Race Down the Runway

6/10

May 29, 2017 Updated: August 20th, 2019 Corey Lagunowich Reviews

One of my recently adopted criteria for a good family game is total length – from setup, through play time, to teardown. In this, Clear for Takeoff excels. Designed by Hagen Temeryazev, an airline pilot, illustrated by Etienne Hebinger, and published by Blue Orange Games, Clear for Takeoff is a card game that has you racing to get all three of

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Blue Orange Games, Board Games, card games, Corey, Family Games

Fight for Olympus: An Epic Battle!

8.5/10

May 22, 2017 Updated: January 23rd, 2024 Andrew Smith Reviews

Unbelievable tales of legend filled with debauchery, treachery, and heroism make the stories of the Greek gods fascinating to anyone who enjoys a good adventure. From the snakes of Medusa to the rippling muscles of Hercules, to the near invincibility of Achilles, every hero and villain captures our imagination with their epic tales of adventure, victory, and heartbreak. With virtually

Hoyle Play games: Catch’n Fish, Sharks are Wild, Piggy Bank

5.5/10

May 15, 2017 Updated: April 14th, 2018 Anitra Smith Reviews

Hoyle, the familiar name in playing cards, is introducing its own line of original card games for kids, under the brand name Hoyle Play. Their motto is “fun with room for a lesson”. The Family Gamers were given three of these games to try. All three reinforce early math skills, but are they fun enough to keep playing?

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animals, Anitra, card games, educational games, Hoyle, Kids

Knot Dice: Knot What We Expected

9/10

May 7, 2017 Updated: March 27th, 2024 Anitra Smith Reviews

Whether it’s the intricate twists and corners, the woven patterns, or the unbroken strands, Celtic knots capture the imagination. Now you can build beautiful Celtic knot designs with Knot Dice, from Black Oak Games.

Dr. Eureka: Formula for Fun?

7.5/10

May 1, 2017 Updated: August 7th, 2023 Anitra Smith Reviews

Test tubes clank as their contents are poured back and forth. “Eureka!” a voice shouts. “I’ve got it!” Dr. Eureka promises fast-paced, family-friendly gameplay. But does this dexterity-puzzle game master the formula for fun?

Wise Alec: Family Trivia Game

7/10

April 24, 2017 Updated: August 7th, 2017 Andrew Smith Reviews

In 1982, a few newspaper editors came together to eventually create a game that became a household phenomenon. Using a non-linear board that facilitated stumping friends with trivia questions across various disciplines, Trivial Pursuit became firmly entrenched in the cultural zeitgeist of the United States. But for Gen-Xers and Millennials, it existed as a game with impossibly difficult questions and

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Andrew, Family Gaming, Griddly Games, multi-level play, trivia, Wise Alec

Battle Sheep: One Sheep, Two Sheep, Red Sheep, Blue Sheep

8/10

April 17, 2017 Updated: February 2nd, 2021 Corey Lagunowich Reviews

I love playing games with my kids that have either a simple setup, a simple cleanup, or simple rules. Battle Sheep, designed by Francesco Rotta and published by Blue Orange Games, has all three. With just a handful of quality components and a very limited set of choices to make each turn, games are breezy fun with your little lambs…

Digit’y Do: Fun With Numbers For All Ages

7/10

April 10, 2017 Updated: October 17th, 2024 Ray Kelley Reviews

Digit’y Do is a simple pen-and-paper game that combines Bingo, counting, probability, and guesswork. It keeps kids and adults engaged and entertained. It takes less than five minutes to explain, so you’ll be playing in no time. Best of all, proceeds from this game go to a good cause: the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF), which provides medical grants for children

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