Get painting with Bob Ross: Art of Chill

Are you ready to paint some Happy Little Trees or Almighty Mountains?
That’s exactly what you get to do in Bob Ross: Art of Chill.

I’m pretty skeptical of board games based on pop culture references. Many times these publishers seem to rely on just the popular theme for success rather than quality game play. So when I heard about a board game based on Bob Ross, a PBS art show and personality from the 80’s, I was very skeptical.

It turns out that Bob Ross: The Art of Chill is my biggest surprise game this year!

I’ve had a great time playing it!

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It’s hard being Robinson Crusoe

Life sure isn’t easy on a deserted island. In fact, most of the time it can downright stink. But that isn’t to say there aren’t pleasures to be found.

Such is the case with the Robinson Crusoe 2nd edition board game from Portal Games.

It’s one of the hardest cooperative board games we’ve played. Yet it’s filled with so much adventuring theme and tough decisions, that we keep thinking about it long after we’ve played.

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You may not survive Hellapagos

In Hellapagos, you and your fellow castaways are shipwrecked on an island with an approaching hurricane in the distance. You must work together to have any hope of getting off the island before the hurricane strikes.

Or at least some of you may make it off the island alive…

Hellapagos is a semi-cooperative board game for up to 12 players that’s super challenging to all win together. But you have to try. Because if you don’t work together, no one will survive. By working together, there’s at least a chance you can make it.

Do you have what it takes to be one of the survivors?

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Head of Mousehold card game review

Tom & Jerry was one of my favorite cartoons growing up. Jerry would antagonize Tom to no end in every episode with lots of slapstick antics.

No matter how hard he tried, Tom could never get rid of Jerry.

For some reason, playing Head of Mousehold by FoxMind took me back to those simple, lazy Saturday mornings.

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Azul board game review

It’s hard for an abstract strategy game to make its way in this world. The masses clamor for board games dripping with theme. Like with movies and books, players are drawn to games that help them escape into a new realm.

So when an abstract board game comes along and wins the coveted Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) award, people take notice.

Such is the case with Azul by Plan B Games and Next Move Games.

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Thunderstone Quest is the best yet!

When AEG announced they were again revising Thunderstone and were set to publish Thunderstone Quest, we rolled our eyes. With all the original Thunderstone and Thunderstone Advance cards and expansions already on our game shelves, did we really want to dive into yet another implementation of the game?

Well, a couple months ago we got a copy and gave it a go…

Let’s just say those initial skeptical thoughts were completely washed away!

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33 games we’ll still be playing in 9 years

We’ve reviewed over 400 games, written over 350 other game and family-related articles, and our video reviews have close to 1.8 million views!

I’ve been reflecting about the games we’ve played the most over the past 9 years and trying to predict the games we’ll still be playing 9 years from now.

It’s interesting to think about. Because in 9 years, all our kids will be out of the house and we’ll most likely have grandkids in the mix (woah, that’s weird to think about). That means more 2-player and lighter games hitting the table for my wife and I. And it also means pulling out younger kid games again for grandkids. But I’ll also still have game nights with my boys, so games they love to play make the list as well.

So which games will we still be playing with regularity in 2027?

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Sail into the Blue Lagoon for family fun

One look at the box art for Blue Lagoon and we know exactly what you’ll think.

That’s because we, and everyone else we’ve shown the game to has said the exact same thing, “Is this Moana, the Board Game?”

Nope, it’s not.

It’s Blue Lagoon – another Gen Con 2018 release from Blue Orange Games!

And while there’s no “Maui, shapeshifter, Demigod of the wind and sea, hero of men” to be found anywhere in Blue Lagoon, you will find lots of island settlers and colorful huts to dot the board.

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Kingdomino: Age of Giants board game review

Suppose you’re relaxing in your castle or exploring the beauty of your kingdom (minding your own kingly business) when all of a sudden, a huge giant stomps through your field. Would you be scared, upset, or angry?

Would it make a difference if you knew that giant wandered into your kingdom because your rival kingdom sent him your way? I bet you’d start looking for ways to send him right back!

Thats just the way it goes in Kingdomino: Age of Giants – an expansion game for either Kingdomino or Queendomino.

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