tile laying
Episode 407 – Our Favorite 15-Minute Games
We’ve been looking forward to making this episode for a little while. Sometimes you don’t have a lot of time to play games – so let’s talk about our family favorites that play in 15 minutes or less. 00:00 Fact for 407 This one is for Zach. on 15 November 2012 a new world record was set. The most people
» Read moreLeaf
In Leaf, players become the wind, strategically placing leaf tiles to grow mushrooms, help animals, and advance the season.
» Read moreSNAP Review – Alpina
“The dual nature of the cards forced me to keep swapping back and forth and think of both aspects of every card – how it could be used for its scoring condition, and how it could contribute to the goals I’d already set out.”
» Read moreSNAP Review – Floristry
Who knew the floral market was so competitive? Floristry is quick and cozy for two players.
» Read moreGnome Hollow – Mushroom Mischief
Donut Shop
Every time we played Donut Shop, the first few rounds felt like everyone helping each other, as we collectively made one or two large groups of donuts. But once everyone picked up a few Order cards, it became a race to fit the best boxes.
» Read moreTangram City
“Take me down the Tangram City
Where the blocks are square
And balance is pretty…” In Tangram City, up to five players compete to build the largest city blocks, while keeping a balance between buildings and green space.
Beacon Patrol
Beacon Patrol delivers a calm, enjoyable experience that’s accessible to many ages. Explore the North Sea by laying tiles, together.
» Read moreSNAP Review – Captain Flip
Randomly draw crew tiles from the bag, then decide to keep them or flip them. Craft the best crew organization to earn the most treasure and prove yourself the best captain!
» Read moreColor Field – Abstractly Puzzling
All paintings start as color and line. Color Field lets us play with matching up colors in an artistic framework.
» Read moreSNAP Review – A Gentle Rain
One of the calmest games I’ve ever played is A Gentle Rain, which I discovered in 2022, and is now back in print with a new publisher.
» Read moreTiwanaku – Mother-Earth Minesweeper
With Tiwanaku, designer Olivier Gregoire has asked the question, “What if I embellished the old Microsoft Windows game Minesweeper and turned it into a board game?”
» Read moreDice Manor: Build for Prestige!
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.
» Read moreChomp
With simple rules and quick set up, Chomp is easy to dive into. The complexity lies in the decisions of card drafting and placement while considering end game scoring. And it works wonderfully as a solo puzzle game.
» Read moreOverboss: A Boss Monster Adventure
Can you build the best “overworld” for your video-game monsters? “Overboss is a map-building game from the makers of Boss Monster.
» Read moreEpisode 357 – Spooky Games and Hidden Gems with Stephanie Nye
Today, we’re talking with the newest writer to join The Family Gamers, Stephanie Nye! What are some of her favorite games for the “spooky season”? And what games are awesome that not enough people talk about?
» Read moreSNAP Review – Junk Drawer
A game about organizing my junk? I was skeptical. But Junk Drawer is easy to learn, while offering interesting decisions on every turn.
» Read moreSNAP Preview – Forage
I think I like Forage even more than Grove. It’s fast, and compact, and gives me more options for how to layer the cards and gain points.
» Read morePrehistories Evolutions – A Welcome Expansion
When I originally reviewed Prehistories, I noted it was very family friendly and would appeal to folks who enjoy tile placement games. This is still true, but I enjoyed it even more with the addition of the Evolution modules!
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