Originally released in 1975, Dungeon! transforms Dungeons & Dragons into a board game. Granted, it’s an experience that is greatly streamlined compared to its source material, though it aims to still deliver the essence of what D&D is all about. Is this a dungeon worth raiding?
One aspect of the Marvel Dice Masters experience that I really like is the game’s low price point. Starter sets are only $15, while booster packs featuring two dice and two cards are only $1. The problem is that the starter pack is short on supporting materials to play and store the game. The paper bags used to shake up your dice are of poor quality, there’s only one dice placement guide tucked away in the manual, and the actual box itself doesn’t hold many extra dice and cards beyond the ones that it already contains. Clearly, these concessions were made to keep the price down, but some players – like me – would prefer the extra bells and whistles.
This is where the Marvel Dice Masters: Uncanny X-Men Collector’s Box comes into play. Besides being a nice and large box to hold your stuff, you also get just enough stuff for one player to get going. I crack it open so that you can see if this is worth adding to your collection.
Up until this very moment, I never really thought about all of the different meanings that “family game night” can entail. There’s a difference between parents playing board games with their young children versus adults playing board games with their even older parents, which is where I’m at now. The definition can vary even further, as there are a seemingly endless number of family configurations out there.
Trying to approach a family game night to fit every family configuration is a lost cause. However, coming up with one is a bit easier if you’re looking for games that are fun for all ages that don’t have any sort of objectionable content within them. Hopefully this isn’t too late for the holiday season. Here’s my Board Game Night Playlist that may work wonders for your next family game night!
Splendor and Pandemic: The Cure are both awesome games that came out in 2014. The former is an awesome game mechanically with an odd theme bolted onto it, while the other is a great re-imagining of a modern classic. Should you choose to play either, I’m fairly certain that you’ll have a blast. Check these games out in more detail, as well as many other great board games, on the Awesome List of Board Games You Should Play!
Buy Splendor Board Game Now From Amazon.com
The Emperor of China has recently given the Emperor of Japan a giant panda as a gift. In order to take care his new pet, you and the other players must take care of the panda by tending to the Japanese Imperial garden. This is the crux of Takenoko by Antoine Bauza and Asmodee. I can’t speak for everyone, but the idea of playing a board game about creating a garden and feeding a panda doesn’t do much for me. Thankfully, I put that preconceived notion aside to give this one a chance. To my surprise, it’s actually an accessible and interesting strategy game. Continue reading
I’ve been told on many occasions that I’m horrible to shop for. Ever since I joined the workforce, I would go out of my way to purchase everything I ever wanted as soon as humanly possible. It’s part of the reason why I’ve been able to generate so much content for this site over the years.
This year’s a bit different. While I am not broke or unemployed, my financial situation is such that I can no longer maintain that lifestyle. As such, my wish list is a country mile long. I won’t share the whole thing in this post, but here are a few choice items from my wish list this year!
Meeple City will never be the same by the time players are done with Terror in Meeple City (formerly known as Rampage). Two-to-four players will take turns smashing buildings and eating people until the city is nothing but rubble. The civilians may be on borrowed time, but they will fight back if enough of them escape. When they do, they’ll knock out your teeth or find other ways to slow you down.
I love the concept of Terror in Meeple City. The thought of it kind of makes me think of reverse Jenga, where the point of it is to generate mass destruction. While it certainly is a game that lets you break stuff, the actual fun that comes from toppling buildings isn’t as fulfilling as I thought it would be.
This edition of the Board Game Night Playlist is designed around two-player competition. Drawing from my own life for inspiration, my brother and I used to play video games together all the time. Growing up, the games we’ve played together were competitive in nature, from Goldeneye, to Mario Kart to Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Now that we’re adults and don’t live together anymore, this happens less often, but we still make time for it where possible. Once or twice we’ve also put the controllers aside to play some analog games. Next time we get together for a one-on-one board game night, here’s the games we would play. If you’re looking to host or partake in a two-player board game battle, try these out!
Over the course of my life, I’ve developed a fascination with the country of Japan. It started out with my love for video games and anime, but the more I’ve looked into it, the more I think that Japan is one of the most interesting places in the world. Though I don’t have the resources today to hop on a plane and experience it for myself, it is on my list of things to do before I die.
In the meantime, there’s Tokaido by Antoine Bauza and Passport Game Studio. In this board game, players are tasked with hiking through Japan. Along the way, you’ll get to experience the best that Japan has to offer, from stunning vistas, helpful companions, delicious food and more. By the end of your adventure, the player that had the best experience on their trip is declared the winner.
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Splendor is a game in which 2-4 players are Renaissance-era merchants. You’re all vying to be the most prestigious merchant, which you’ll attempt to achieve by buying gem mines, shops and other things that merchants buy in order to be the best at what they do. If this sounds like a super lame game based on its premise alone, I don’t blame you. However, by dismissing it at face value, you’d be missing out on a really cool strategy game.
In Third Person 