It’s the most wonderful time of the year for Toronto fans of all things nerdy, as Fan Expo Canada returns! If memory serves me correctly, this will be my 6th time going to the show. Here’s what I’m excited for this year!
board games
Board Game Night Playlist: Large Groups
Playing board games at my family gatherings is hard. With so many cousins to account for, most of my collection can’t handle player counts to support us all. For moments like this, I turn to a few quality games that shine with many people in the same room.
Killer Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot Review
Killer Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot is a very apt name for this silly action game. Each player is on a mission to use their killer bunnies to find this magic carrot. The “killer” part refers to the fact that rival bunnies are trying to kill you so they can get the magic carrot for themselves, and it’s probably in your best interest to return the favour. There are aspects of this game that deserve merit, though other parts of it can be real deal-breakers for some.
Love Letter: Batman Edition Review
Without context, Love Letter: Batman Edition sounds like the worst game ever. Who would want to play a game where you write love letters to the Dark Knight? Luckily for us, this isn’t the premise. Instead of sending romantic notes to a princess, which was the goal of the game this is based on, this edition requires players to apprehend Gotham’s fiercest foes. Awkward name aside, should you and your friends aid Batman on this adventure?
Analyzing the ICv2 Board Game and Card Game Sales Charts for Q1 2015
I recently discovered the phenomenal work of ICv2. They do a tremendous job of covering the business side of geeky things, such as board games and comic books. One of the things that caught my eye in particular are their board game sales charts. While their list may not be perfect, it’s probably as close as we’ll realistically get to how these games are performing compared to one another. Let’s take a peek at their list of best selling board games and card games of spring 2015!
Knowing When to Stop Buying Board Game Expansions
Who doesn’t want more of a good thing? This is the logic that drives the sale of expansions of any sort. With board games, I’m not one to shy away from purchasing additional items to supplement my main purchase. Just to name a few, we have three out of four Pandemic expansions, almost all of the Marvel Legendary expansions, and hundreds of additional dice for Dice Masters.
Once you start down the expansion rabbit hole, it’s hard to stop. The urge to have a complete collection kicks in and making the decision to cut things off can get quite difficult. When is the right time to pull the plug?
Batman: Gotham City Strategy Game Review
Who runs Gotham? Of course, we all know it’s Batman, but that’s not going to stop his rogue gallery from trying. In Batman: Gotham City Strategy Game by Wizkids, you play as the villains as they try and build their crime empire while taking over the city. Of course, Batman won’t just give it to you, as he has a knack for showing up at the most inopportune times to clean up the streets. Is it worth your time to square off against rival bad guys and the Dark Knight himself?
Hanabi Added to the List of Awesome Board Games You Should Play
Years ago, we foolishly passed up on Hanabi, choosing to buy Card of the Dead instead. That game was a complete bust. Today, we’ve righted our wrongs by playing and loving Hanabi. This cooperative card game about players helping each other build the perfect fireworks display is extremely clever, easy to learn and highly engaging for everyone involved. Since you have to rely on others to give you the information you need, every move has the intensity of someone cutting a wire from a bomb. Any time we have a board gaming occasion, this one always comes with us. This is as close to a must-have game for pretty much anyone and I can’t recommend it enough!
Check out the full list of Awesome Board Games You Should Play2
Board Game Night Playlist: Call My Bluff
Am I bluffing? Most of the time, if I am, it’s pretty obvious. I suffer from a crippling inability to bluff. In most cases, being hard-wired to be honest is a great thing. Unfortunately, it puts me at a real disadvantage in games where bluffing is key.
This edition of the Board Game Night Playlist is the equivalent of my board gaming Kryptonite. These games are certainly fun, though my inability to bluff puts me at a huge disadvantage in all of them. Still, bluffing is a very popular board gaming mechanic and one that can lead to a hilarious night of tabletop gaming. If you’re in the mood to lie through your teeth, try out this trifecta of bluffing goodness!
Stone Age Review
Board games are not one to shy away from historical themes. The middle ages in particular have been the backdrop for a countless number of tabletop experiences. Stone Age by Bernd Brunnhofer and Rio Grande Games sets the time machine all the way back to a time when mankind was at its most primitive. It’s up to you and your fellow players to push our ancestors up the evolutionary track. Are you ready to venture back to the dawn of civilization?
In Third Person 