Dr. Reiner Knizia is a prolific board game designer, and one of our favorites for family games.
Iliad – A Legendary (Tile) Battle
Battle over influence, as both Hector and Achilles seek the favor of the gods to gain an edge.
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Chip Theory Kids Independent Play Collection
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.
» Read moreSNAP Review – Bear in Mind
I think this is a great step up from traditional memory matching games. The storytelling aspect is a nice twist, and when everyone feels invested in the stories, it actually makes it easier to remember what item was placed where.
» Read moreSNAP Review – Circus Flohcati
I was surprised and impressed at how simple this game was while being simultaneously incredibly fun to play. This is the kind of game that you lose and then it’s pretty easy to convince yourself you can win the next go ’round.
» Read moreSunrise Lane – A Town on the Rise
In Sunrise Lane, players compete to build the most lucrative and attractive neighborhoods. The higher their town rises, the more prestige they will enjoy. Certain city blocks are better investments than others, but timing is everything, and sometimes blocking a fellow builder from a great investment is the way to get ahead! The player with the most clever balance of both short-term scoring and long-term planning will surely rise to the top.
» Read moreRa – A Classic Resurrected
Although Ra felt pretty simple to learn, it’s still going to be very challenging for younger kids. The well-designed player boards smooth the way to understand all the scoring, but it’s still a lot to keep track of. We think the 12+ age range on the box is about right.
» Read moreSNAP Review – Pollen
No, it’s not about allergies! Attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies by planting appropriate flowers. You’ll need a variety of different bugs to win!
» Read moreLongboard – Surf’s up!
Living in the Midwest, there are no ocean waves. But surfing is on my bucket list of things to try someday. In the meantime, I’ll try the next best thing; running a surfboard shop right at my kitchen table.
» Read moreTutankhamun: Cleanse Your Spirit On The Nile
Tutankhamun has great table presence that will raise eye brows for a curious onlooker. It’s very family friendly (up to 6 players!) and is a could welcome anyone to the table for the first time.
» Read moreMy City – Marvelous Municipal Creation
A legacy game with rules that gently ramp up over time – and NO conflict! We think it’s perfect for families.
» Read moreTajuto: Pagoda Pandemonium
In Tajuto from Renier Knizia up to four players will construct pagodas to increase their Meditation and achieve Spirituality points. Tajuto is published by Super Meeple (Luma Imports distributes it in the US & Canada) and is best for players ages 10+. How to Play Your goal is to have the most Spirituality points when the fourth pagoda is completed.
» Read moreSNAP Review – Marshmallow Test
No, not “Chubby Bunny”! Marshmallow Test is a trick-taking game of delayed gratification, loosely themed on the Stanford marshmallow experiment.
» Read moreCriss Cross: Will Make You Roll, Roll
In Criss Cross, you’ll roll two dice and write the pair of symbols anywhere on your player sheet. Make groups of matching symbols in rows and columns to get the best score.
» Read moreBrainwaves: Stretch Your Memory Muscles
Brainwaves games challenge you to remember details about previously-revealed cards. But each stretches your working memory in a different way.
» Read moreIngenious: Who’s Smartest With Symbols?
Ingenious is a game with great accessibility for new players and depth of strategy for experienced players. Lay down a tile, making straight lines in each color.
» Read moreMmm!: Cooperative Family Fun
Mmm! is a favorite game to play with children. Reiner Knizia has created a puzzle that is neither too easy for adults nor too hard for preschoolers.
» Read moreSNAP Review – POW!: Comic Equality
POW! is a press-your luck game of comic book character drafting, from Reiner Knizia and Gigamic. Your goal: build a cast of characters for your comic book. Collect both superheroes and supervillians, to create a balanced comic. Listen to our SNAP review of POW! in 5 minutes, or read on below. Gameplay Setup by randomizing the superheroes (blue/teal) and supervillians
» Read moreLoot: Piratical Plundering Cards
Arr, mateys! We be pirates, sailing the high seas in search of Loot. We play cards to capture or defend merchant ships. Loot is one of the earliest games from designer Reiner Knizia. It’s been available in the United States since 2005 from publisher GameWright, but the newest version has updated artwork and comes in a metal tin.
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