Trent, Author at The Board Game Family

Bananagrams Duel Word Game Review

I’m not a big fan of word games in general.

However, there are a few that buck the trend and end up being word games I enjoy playing.

For example, though millions of people love playing Scrabble, I steer clear of it. Yet I quite enjoy playing Boggle. And the team word game, Word on the Street, is one of my favorite party games.

So when we got a copy of Bananagrams Duel from Bananagrams, the big question was, will this 2-player, dice-rolling, word-building, race-game buck that trend as well?

Let’s find out!

June 11, 2021 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, Bananagrams, family, spelling, word

Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig Secrets and Soirees board game

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig: Secrets & Soirees – expansion game review

The king is at it again!

More crazy castles to build with your neighbors plus options to go it alone!

Last year we reviewed a fun game from Stonemaier Games called Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig. It was a mash up of two games we really enjoy — Between Two Cities and Castles of Mad King Ludwig. And they did a fantastic job bringing those two games together in yet another enjoyable game.

So of course we were excited to get a chance to review this new expansion, Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig: Secrets & Soirees.

And it’s time to share our thoughts about the expansion game!

May 23, 2021 Trent 1 Comment 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, 6-player, 7-player, 8-player, castles, cooperative, solo, Stonemaier Games, strategy, theme, tile-laying

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

Disney: The Haunted Mansion – Call of the Spirits board game review

When was the last time your family spent some time in The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland or Disney World?

It’s a classic ride that Disney fans flock to the world over. And now you can live it up on your own kitchen table!

Last year, while all the Disney parks were shut down, Funko Games published Disney: The Haunted Mansion – Call of the Spirits Game.

Players explore all the classic rooms of the ghost-infested manor, from the festivities-filled Ballroom to the Attic and out to the Graveyard and beyond in search of ghosts.

Are you ready for those grim grinning ghosts to socialize?

May 18, 2021 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, Disney, Funko, luck, strategy, theme

Articles

UnboxBoardom – A subscription service for board games!

When we first started reviewing family board games almost 12 years ago, there was a local board game store that had a rental service. They would rent board games for 10 days 10% of the cost of the game. It was a unique service that we enjoyed using for trying new games.

It gave us a way to experience something fresh on a regular basis.

Well, since then we’ve seen a number of different board game services offered by companies to tap into the joy people find with discovering new and fun games to play.

Recently we heard about a board game subscription service called UnboxBoardom.

May 10, 2021May 10, 2021 Trent 0 Comments

Card Games Family Games Game Reviews Kid Games

Abandon All Artichokes Card Game Review

When you give your kids vegetables for dinner, do they just push them around and try to make it look like they ate some?

Or do you have to tell them to stop playing with their food?

Well, now there’s a new way to play with vegetables — Abandon All Artichokes!

Gamewright is known for making fantastic board games and card games for families and we’re happy to say that tradition continues with this light, fun family card game.

April 27, 2021 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, card, Gamewright, luck

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

Dinner in Paris board game review

Almost 2 years ago (June of 2019), a friend and I traveled to Normandy, France for the 75-year commemoration of the WWII D-Day landings.

It was an amazing experience to visit so many historic sites over the course of our week in France. And we capped the trip off with a final day and a nice dinner in Paris at a cafe near the river Seine.

So when I heard from Funnyfox about their just-released board game, Dinner in Paris, it brought back tons of memories and sparked my interest in playing the game!

Now the big question is…is the game as memorable as my actual last dinner in Paris?

April 18, 2021April 18, 2021 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, Funnyfox, luck, strategy, theme

Articles

6 Tips for Teaching Kids Time Management

Before the global pandemic hit in 2020, I would have confidently told you our family was great at time management. We were never late, we finished our homework on time, and we had plenty of time to get everything done.

Jump to spring 2020, and you’d find us in total disarray. Homeschooling is done ad hoc, homework is checked when me or my husband can find 15 spare minutes away from our individual screens, and the TV has taken over all that lovely playtime we used to have.

Having realized how easy it is to slip into the habit of chaos, I’d like to share some of our tips on how to teach kids to better manage their time.

(Guest contributor article)

April 12, 2021 Trent 0 Comments

Card Games Game Reviews Party Games

Got any Spies and Turncoats?

“These are the times that try men’s souls.”

I’m sure many people may have uttered that phrase this past year. But we’re not here to talk about last year. Instead, we’re looking back to 1776 when Thomas Paine penned those words in The American Crisis.

Of course, we’re not here for a book report either, but instead to look at a social deduction card game set during the American Revolutionary War — Patriots & Redcoats by Green Feet Games.

In the game, players take on the roles of the Americans fighting to win independence and the British fighting to stop the rebellion. And like in typical social deduction type games, players are secretly assigned which side they’re on and must figure out who to eliminate to win.

But, be careful because players may also change loyalty along the way!

March 31, 2021 Trent 0 Comments 10-player, 4-player, 5-player, 6-player, 7-player, 8-player, 9-player, deduction, Green Feet Games, party, social, theme

Articles

11 Essential Storage Tips For The Growing Family Board Game Collection

Board games bring hours of fun and excitement, except when it comes to trying to find that missing piece. Efficiently storing your board games will keep your home tidy, as well as ensuring those little parts of the puzzle stay together.

Here, we share our top board game storage tips so you can effortlessly organize your collection.

March 28, 2021 Trent 1 Comment Board Games, storage

Board Games Cooperative Games Game Reviews

The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth board game review

It’s been a while since we’ve reviewed an epic board game. Well, we’ve got a doozy for you today!

The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth is a monster of a game from Fantasy Flight Games that we included in the Gamer Games section of last year’s Board Game Gift Guide.

It’s an epic game based on an epic story. But although the characters and themes are based in The Lord of the Rings lore, the adventure is completely new.

Like the Fellowship itself, the game is a cooperative experience for you and up to 4 of your friends. You’ll battle powerful foes, discover lost treasures, uncover forgotten lore, and customize your skills according to your role within the Fellowship.

Darkness will rise, shadows and corruption will expand and you’ll have to take a stand to survive.