From The Resistance to Werewolf, ferreting out the bad seeds in a group is not a new concept. However, deduction games of this style continue to make waves by adding meaningful twists to the core formula. Spyfall by Cryptozoic does this in a way that’s extremely tense for everyone sitting at the table.
When I first discovered the joys of board gaming, I felt like a kid entering a candy store for the first time. With so many games and no real concept of taste, I sampled many different flavours of board games. Some were fantastic, opening my eyes to a whole subsection of games that I enjoy today. Others were not so delicious, leaving me to shy away from titles of a similar nature. Through it all, my taste in gaming has been refined to a point where I have a good sense of who I am as a board gamer and what I like.
Formula D is a board game that brilliantly captures the excitement of car racing. For a game where the only movement comes from rolling dice and moving your car a few spaces forward, it’s almost magical how the game can still generate the thrill of the chase. Part of that magic comes from a nifty little gear box and corresponding dice. As you switch gears, you’ll gain access to larger dice with larger values that will let you travel faster around the track. When you think about it though, it’s the corners that make the game truly shine.
Working in the field right now are spies from rival sides, civilians and an assassin. Two opposing spymasters must help their field operatives spot their fellow agents with one-word clues before the other team can do the same. Meanwhile, an assassin is looming in the crowd, ready to prematurely end a mission if he’s outed. This is the challenge that awaits you in Codenames.
Board games, more than any other entertainment medium I can think of, rely heavily on medieval times as a backdrop. I guess ever since the invention of Chess – when it was actually contemporary at the time of its creation – the two have been inseparable. While I’m all for playing a great board game of any sort, medieval and fantasy themes generally don’t do it for me. In this post, I shine the spotlight on some of my favourite themes that don’t harken back to the middle ages!
Things aren’t looking good for you and your fellow colony members. Supplies are running low. The bitterly cold weather puts everyone at risk of catching frostbite. Tensions are running high, as you’re never sure of who your real allies are. Oh yeah, and there are zombies everywhere. Welcome to Dead of Winter: A Crossroads Game.
Thankfully, it piqued the interest of Steff’s sister Michelle. I gave it to her as a Christmas present and as a group, we gave it an honest try. I don’t think my words can make this game sound any sexier than the relatively dry premise it’s built around, but it actually makes for a phenomenal board game.
Aliens are hell bent on taking over our planet, but to quote Will Smith from Independence Day, “Welcome to Earth!” In XCOM: The Board Game, you and your fellow teammates will square off against the extraterrestrial threats on multiple fronts. This particular conflict may not be completely new to you, as this is a licensed board game based on the hit video game XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Nonetheless, it brings something very alien to the table for gamers of all sorts (pun intended), as it’s one of the first board games that needs to be played alongside of a digital app. Should you suit up for what might be Earth’s last stand?
One of the best reasons to play board games at Snakes and Lattes is that you’ll always have access to a board game guru. With their vast knowledge in games and experience in teaching games to others, they always seem to teach me a new game in a matter of minutes, versus the hours it usually takes me to fumble through manuals and online tutorial videos. If it were possible, I would want to have access to one of their board game gurus at all times so that they can teach me a new game anywhere.
The harsh reality is that this will never happen. Most of the time, I’m going to have to figure things out on my own or with Steff. In order to avoid placing the burden of learning games the hard way on others, I usually take the time to workshop a game alone or with Steff so that we can make the learning experience better for others.
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
In Third Person 