Based on the name and its nondescript theme, it’s easy to say, “No thanks,” to No Thanks. Once you open up the box, there isn’t much to look at either besides a handful of numbered cards and a baggie filled with plastic tokens. But once you get it going, it delivers an experience far greater than what you’d expect from its pedestrian components.
Tabletop
The Importance of Theme in a Board Game
We’ve been taught since the dawn of time (or at least since the dawn of books) to not judge a book by its cover. Well, when it comes to board games, cover-judging has been a huge part of my decision-making process. Before making inroads with the scene a few years ago, I’d be immediately off-put just by looking at any visual material for games like Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer or Magic: The Gathering. I dislike pretty much everything medieval fantasy across all forms of media, which acts as a deal-breaker for these and many other designer board games long before I could judge it on its merits.
Forbidden Desert Review
Pandemic made a fantastic first impression on me. Since that fateful first try, the game has become a favourite on board game night while inspiring me to look for more games of that flavour. After weeks of research, I picked up Forbidden Desert. Some may know it as the direct sequel to Forbidden Island, but the immediate connection is the fact that this is the latest game from the designer of Pandemic. While this is another co-operative adventure, does it do enough to step outside of its spiritual successor’s shadow?
Blokus Review
At first glance, it’s easy to dismiss Blokus as some sort of board game knock-off of Tetris. In actuality, this blocked-based experience shares virtually no resemblance to the classic puzzler beyond the look of its pieces. Instead, this is actually an awesome strategy game that’s easy to pick up with a ton of depth.
Fluxx Review
Fluxx is a game whose presence is ubiquitous. Practically every board game store I’ve been to carries this as well as the game’s many variants and expansions. Since it’s being widely distributed, it must be good, right? It also doesn’t hurt the game’s cause that I’ve generally read favourable things about the game online. On one fateful date night at Snakes and Lattes, we gave this one a shot.
Some Thoughts Before The Release of DC Comics Deck-Building Game: Heroes Unite
Just before Christmas, I had a pre-order in place for DC Comics Deck-Building Game: Heroes Unite. I like the first game for what it is, and this standalone game also acts as an expansion for it. However, common sense got the best of me when I realized that putting my money down for this now would just cut Steff off from one potential gift idea. As it turns out, the game would get pushed back to February 26th.
Though this would have been a done deal by had it come out during its initial release window, but now I’m not so sure if this is deserving of my money.
Ticket to Ride USA 1910 Expansion Review
Over the past few months, Ticket to Ride has almost become a mainstay at Steff and I’s tabletop nights. I think it’s masterfully done, though if I were to knock it for anything, it’s for the fact that the 30 destination tickets wears a bit thin after playing the game a number of times. They also leave certain swaths of the map largely untouched because they don’t directly map to destination tickets.
With 39 new destination cards, The Ticket to Ride USA 1910 Expansion is a direct answer to this dilemma. However, the expansion comes with a total of 181 cards. What the heck are the rest used for?
Forbidden Desert Added To the List of Awesome Board Games You Should Play
I have to admit that the first games that Steff and I played of Forbidden Desert were a bit lukewarm. But once we got our bearings with it and busted this out at a party, it really picked up steam. This desert adventure uses some elements of Pandemic in a very different context to make for a game that stands on its own as an awesome cooperative experience. Whether we won or lost, the journey through this desert proved engaging and thrilling. When Forbidden Desert is at its best, you and your group of adventurers will be strategizing, sweating bullets and praying to a higher power that Mother Nature’s next move won’t kill you. Check out the full list of Awesome Board Games You Should Play right here!
Pandemic Review
In Pandemic, the world is at risk of extinction due to four rapidly spreading diseases. With the fate of the world in your hands, you and your team of specialists must work together to contain – and hopefully find cures for – all of the diseases before it’s too late. You won’t always be successful in saving the world, but you’ll almost always have an amazing time trying.
Pick-Up Post: Board Game Edition
Even though hot new video games are finally start to trickle in after months of inactivity, it’s going to have a hard time shaking me of my current interest in board games. In this pick-up post, I highlight some of my most recent purchases, which includes one new game and two expansions for some of my favourites!
In Third Person 