5-player Archives - The Board Game Family

Trekking the World 2nd Edition family board game

Trekking the World 2nd Edition game review and comparison

Four years ago, just as people were starting to travel again after being cooped up for months for COVID, we reviewed a fun family board game by Underdog Games called Trekking the World.

So when we heard Underdog Games was publishing a new version of the game, we were more than eager to try it out. And now that it’s hitting store shelves, we’re happy to share the details with you.

While the premise remains the same as the original, Trekking the World 2nd Edition is much more streamlined and simplified to play. Not that the 1st edition is complicated. But this new version is even better for general family play.

We really like the changes made to the game.

We’ll give a quick overview of how to play Trekking the World 2nd Edition, then go into details on the many elements that have changed to make this fun family board game even better.

November 20, 2024November 20, 2024 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, family, luck, solo, strategy, theme, Underdog Games

Card Games Family Games Game Reviews

Cat In The Box card game review

Has a black cat crossed your path lately?

Halloween is in the air, and you never know what’s lurking around the next corner.

Actually, the Cat In The Box game doesn’t have anything to do with Halloween. (It’s just fun review timing.)

Instead, the game refers to Schrödinger’s cat.

Schrödinger’s Cat is a thought experiment devised by the Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger. If you place a cat and something that could kill the cat (a radioactive atom) in a box and seal it, you won’t know if the cat is dead or alive until you open the box. Thus, until the box was opened, the cat was both “dead and alive”.

Okay, so maybe a “dead and alive” cat is pretty Halloweenish.

However, rest assured that no cats are harmed in this unique trick-taking, card game by Bezier Games.

October 21, 2024 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, Bezier Games, luck, strategy, trick-taking

Card Games Family Games Game Reviews

Thrones of Valeria card game review

Welcome back to the world of Valeria!

In May, we reviewed the first Valeria game published by Daily Magic Games, Valeria: Card Kingdoms. It’s a fun card and dice game where players build their crew of various citizens to expand their realm and fight monsters.

Since then, Daily Magic Games has published a number of card games in the Valeria universe. Each have unique game mechanics.

Today, we’re excited to share our thoughts on one of the most recent Valeria card games, Thrones of Valeria.

It’s a unique trick-taking card game where the ranks of the different Houses (suits) change constantly. Every card played may alter your plans. We hope you’ve got what it takes to win in Valeria.

September 11, 2024September 16, 2024 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, 6-player, card, Daily Magic Games, luck

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

World Wonders: Mundo Wonders Pack expansion review

In our recent review of World Wonders we mentioned how it’s more than just a tile-laying game and that there’s plenty to think about during the game.

In addition to the spatial layout of your city, you need to consider the money you have to spend, how your resources are growing, where you want to be in turn order, how to keep expanding with roads, and when you’ll meet the requirements for adding a monument to your city.

Well, if that’s not enough for you, Arcane Wonders has already published an expansion for the game!

It’s time to take a look at World Wonders: Mundo Wonders Pack.

August 8, 2024 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, Arcane Wonders, expansion, solo, theme

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

World Wonders board game review

Earlier this year, I had my first chance to play World Wonders – a fun new tile-laying board game published by Arcane Wonders in 2023.

I played it at one of the Hot Games tables at SaltCon Spring 2024 and immediately wanted to play it again.

I couldn’t get it out of my mind and was still thinking about it a month later.

That’s when you know you’ve found another great family board game.

Even though I’d categorize World Wonders as a tile-laying game, it’s packed with much more than that. The game also includes economic, turn-order, and resource elements that keep players considering many choices throughout the whole game.

August 3, 2024August 8, 2024 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, Arcane Wonders, luck, solo, strategy, tile-laying

Card Games Family Games Game Reviews

Sandbag card game review

We enjoy playing several trick-taking card games.

Our favorites over the years have been Skull King, The Crew: Mission Deep Sea, and Cat in the Box. That’s because they all present some very unique spins on basic trick-taking game play.

We’ve recently played a new trick-taking card game with unique twists that have us thinking in fresh ways yet again.

Sandbag, by Bezier Games, is a fun new spin on trick-taking card games that’s a lot of fun.

June 18, 2024July 17, 2024 Trent 0 Comments 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, 6-player, Bezier Games, card game, trick-taking

Board Games Card Games Dice Games Family Games Game Reviews

Valeria: Card Kingdoms game review

My first encounter with Valeria: Card Kingdoms at SaltCon 2017 was an absolute blast, leaving me eager for more.

It reminded me a lot of Machi Koro, but I liked Valeria’s fantasy theme much better. Plus, I loved that everyone gains resources on anybody’s turn, not just on their own turn.

I added the game to my wish list soon after, but just never pulled the trigger on buying a copy. That is, until two years ago when Daily Magic Games published an updated version!

The new edition not only had upgraded components and streamlined play, but it was also much cheaper!

I’ve since introduced the game to many friends, and everyone has had a great time playing.

May 18, 2024 Trent 2 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, card, Daily Magic Games, dice, luck, solo, theme

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

Downforce – Such a fun racing game

A few years ago, I was introduced to a new racing game from by Restoration Games that has become one of my favorite racing games of all time – Downforce!

In the game, players bid in car auctions, race the cars, use special powers, and bet on the outcomes. There’s no dice rolling as it’s the cards that determine which color cars move and how far. And even though you want to favor the cars you bought in the auction, the cards you play will also be moving other player’s cars as well.

I first played Downforce at SaltCon End of Summer 2021 and then bought a copy later that year.

So it’s high time for me to write a review about it and share why I enjoy it so much.

April 9, 2024 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, 6-player, luck, racing, Restoration Games, strategy, theme

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

Cascadia board game review

We really enjoy tile-laying board games.

Whether we’re building out our own areas like in Barenpark or adding to a central area like in Carcassonne, we love creating a unique arrangement every time. No matter whether we win or not, we feel accomplished seeing what we’ve made.

That’s one reason we were drawn to Cascadia when it was first published in 2021 by Flatout Games.

We were also drawn to the gameplay and the wonderful theme of habitats and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest.

And after having played it numerous times, we’re happy to report that Cascadia knocks it out of the park on all accounts!

February 18, 2024 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, animal, Flatout Games, luck, strategy, theme, tile-laying

Card Games Cooperative Games Family Games Game Reviews Kid Games

Similo deduction game review

This time of year, it’s great to gather as family and friends for some light-hearted games.

Similo, by Horrible Guild, fits that very well.

That’s because Similo is a cooperative deduction game where everyone either wins or loses together. It comes in a variety of card sets of 30 cards such as Fables, Myths, Animals, History, and more. All of which have fantastic artwork that add to the enjoyment of the game.

The goal is to make the other players guess one secret character by playing other character cards from your hand as clues, stating whether they’re similar to or different from the secret character.

And because it’s nice and compact, it’s a great game to give as a gift as well.