The Family Gamers - Nick

Rebel Princess: Deluxe Edition

June 9, 2025 Nick Martinelli Reviews

Game box featured surrounded by game components, including suit and round cards along with princess tiles.

The kingdom’s princesses have come together for a spectacular five-day celebration. But not everyone made the guest list—every needy prince in the land, feeling snubbed, plans to crash the ball. As a strong, free, independent princess, you’re determined to dodge their unsolicited marriage proposals. You’re not just any royal, you’re a Rebel Princess! Rebel Princess is a trick-taking game that

3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, adults, Alfredo Caceres, Bezier, card games, Daniel Byrne, Jose Guerrero, Kevin Pelaez, Nick, princess, Tirso Virgos, trick taking

Very Bad Lands

May 12, 2025 Nick Martinelli Reviews

Very Bad Lands

As chaotic as a mass extinction event, Very Bad Lands captures that vibe perfectly.

3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, card games, dinosaur, Family Gaming, Hachette Games, Marc Lariviere, Nick, Randolph, take that

Jalape-No!

April 28, 2025 Nick Martinelli Reviews

When it comes to spicy food, less is definitely more. My taste buds don’t handle heat well. That’s why Jalape-No! hit the spot for me.

25th Century Games, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, 7 players, 8 players, 9 players, Card Game, Danny Aldana, food, Michael Kiesling, Nick, Review, trick taking, Wolfgang Kramer

Reign of Dragoness

April 21, 2025 Nick Martinelli Reviews

Game box surrounded by scattered dragon cards

Reign of Dragoness is a light, approachable game that plays well across generations. If you’re familiar with traditional card games, you’ll pick this up quickly.

3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, 7 players, 8 players, Card Game, card games, dragons, Grandpa Beck's Games, Nick

Oh My Pigeons!

March 3, 2025 Nick Martinelli Reviews

Oh My Pigeons! game

Oh My Pigeons! turns these sidewalk strutters into the ultimate flocking challenge as players compete to gather a full roost of birds. But be warned—these birds aren’t above a little chaos!

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, Alena Istif, animals, birds, Card Game, dice, Dice Rolling, Family Gaming, Nick, party game, Ravensburger

My Shelfie: The Dice Game

February 24, 2025 Nick Martinelli Reviews

My Shelfie: The Dice Game box cover and components

Even with that urgency, My Shelfie: The Dice Game has a cozy vibe and feels relaxing to play. Its aesthetic contributes to this feel with its cute cats…

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, Cranio Creations, dice, Dice Rolling, Lucky Duck Games, Nick, press your luck, roll and write, Sara Valentino, set collection, Simone Luciani

Sausage Sizzle

February 3, 2025 Nick Martinelli Reviews

A group of Aussie critters follows the mouthwatering aroma of sizzling sausages. One by one, they sneak in to grab a bite.

2 players, 25th Century Games, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, animals, dice, Dice Rolling, Ian O'Toole, Inka Brand, Marcus Brand, Nick, press your luck

Pass Pass

January 20, 2025 Nick Martinelli Reviews

Close up of Pass Pass Game box

I’ve played and reviewed plenty of trick-taking games over the years. Some flop, while others become regulars at game nights with friends. Trick-taking games always offer a unique twist, whether through a quirky theme or an inventive scoring system that sets them apart.

3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, Alexandre Droit, card games, David Paput, Funnyfox, Hachette Games, Nick, trick taking

Patrician: Towers of Influence

December 16, 2024 Nick Martinelli Reviews

Patrician game box cover with components strewn about

Step into the Middle Ages as a master builder in Italy. Construct magnificent towers for wealthy aristocratic families, known as the Patricians.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, Andrew Hepworth, Area Majority, Calliope Games, Michael Schacht, Nick

Cabanga!

November 25, 2024 Updated: March 10th, 2025 Nick Martinelli Reviews

Cabanga!

When I heard about Cabanga!, I knew I had to try it. The thrill of deciding whether to play a card that might cause me to gain unwanted cards adds an exciting layer of suspense, making every turn feel like a risky, strategic gamble.

3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, Amigo, Card Game, card games, card shedding, Family Gaming, Nick, small games

Toil & Troublez – A Magical Game for the Whole Family

October 28, 2024 Updated: December 14th, 2024 Nick Martinelli Reviews

Box cover and display of cards

Toil & Troublez brings a touch of magic to the table! This whimsical game keeps players engaged as they anticipate each draw and carefully place cards in hopes of getting the Talisman they need.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, Apryl Stott, card games, Family Gaming, Grandpa Beck's Games, halloween, magic, Nick, Petr Vojtech, press your luck, set collection, witches

Aurum – Metal Melding Alchemists

September 16, 2024 Updated: October 6th, 2024 Nick Martinelli Reviews

Aurum is a trick-taking game where players take on the role of alchemists melding base metals into gold. Earn points from gold and correctly bidding on number of tricks you’ll win. The unique trick-taking hook in Aurum is that players must not follow suit!

3 players, 4 players, Nick, Pandasaurus, Shreesh Bhat, Stevo Torres, trick taking

La Familia Hort

August 19, 2024 Nick Martinelli Reviews

La Familia Hort

Farming might not be the most exciting theme for young kids, but it went over well with my teenager. The art style drew her in, and the simple turn actions kept her engaged.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, economic, Esther Mendez, farming, Grand Gamers Guild, Market, Nick, Ownership, plants, Ramiro Merinero, Variable Player Powers

Episode 377 – Gen Con 2024 with Nick

August 12, 2024 Andrew Smith Podcast Episodes, The Family Gamers Podcast

Gen Con banner - Welcome Gamers

We waited an extra week for this podcast so we could bring you all the GenCon goodies with Nick.

Andrew, Anitra, Gen Con, Nick

The Walking Dead: The Dice Game

July 15, 2024 Updated: July 23rd, 2024 Nick Martinelli Reviews

Close-up of the game box and components used in The Walking Dead: The Dice Game

The Walking Dead: The Dice Game is quick to learn and suitable for all levels of gamers. Is it family-friendly? That depends on your comfort with zombie content, light gore, and weapons.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, Dice Rolling, Mantic Games, Nick, press your luck, risk-reward, Walking Dead, zombie, zombie dice

Pátzcuaro – Build Altars in Memoriam

June 3, 2024 Nick Martinelli Reviews

A closeup of the Patzcuaro box cover overlaying the games components; including shop tiles, colorful altar cards and objective cards.

Pátzcuaro drew me in with its unique theme, colorful art, and set collection mechanics. Its star mechanic, a rondel for action selection, blew me away.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, build, Card Game, Day of the Dead, Detestable Games, Día de los Muertos, Draco Studios, hand management, Mexico, Nick, rondel, set collection

Wandering Towers – A Magical Race

April 16, 2024 Nick Martinelli Reviews

A photo of the Wandering Towers board game box with components scattered around it.

Wandering Towers brings a special kind of magic to the table. It’s a game that will click after a single turn, and keep you super engaged until the last wizard drops into Ravenskeep.

2 players, 3 players, 3D game board, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, Capstone Games, cooperative games, hand management, memory, Michael Kiesling, Nick, racing games, solo, stacking, teams, Wolfgang Kramer

The Perfect Wave

March 25, 2024 Updated: April 20th, 2024 Nick Martinelli Reviews

The Perfect Wave

The Perfect Wave blends two of my favorite game mechanics – drafting and set collection – into a groovy mix that’s truly unique.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, action points, Bonus, card games, card laying, Chase Williams, drafting games, Family Gaming, Jason Mowery, Nick, set collection, sports, Surfing, The OP

Dogfight! Rule The Skies in 20 Minutes

March 11, 2024 Updated: June 28th, 2024 Nick Martinelli Reviews

Dogfight! has rapid, action-packed turns. Your toughest decision is determining how far to move and when to fire. You’ll need to be cunning to try and predict what your opponent will do. Can you out-maneuver them and line up your shot?

2 players, Aviation, Carlo Rossi, dogfight, flight, Floodgate Games, history, Nick, solo, War, World War I, WWI

Dice Manor: Build for Prestige!

February 5, 2024 Nick Martinelli Reviews

Dice Manor is light, family friendly, and quick to grasp. The multitude of choices make it a fantastic puzzle, and your choices will impact other players.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, Arcane Wonders, bidding, build, dice, Garrett Herdter, Nick, tile laying

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