artwork Archives - The Board Game Family

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.

December 16, 2023December 16, 2023 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, 6-player, 7-player, 8-player, artwork, Clue, deduction

Card Games Family Games Game Reviews

Silver Card Game Review

When everyone you introduce a new game to starts buying their own copies, you know you have a hit game on your hands.

Such has been the case for us with the card game Silver!

It’s a card game with a mix of hidden information, memory, strategy, luck, variable character abilities, and fun artwork that has us playing it over and over.

Plus, the expansions Bezier Games has published for it makes it infinitely replayable.

August 7, 2022 Trent 0 Comments artwork, Bezier Games, card, luck, strategy

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

Build your own bear park in Barenpark!

When was the last time you’ve been to a bear park?

What’s that – you’ve never been to a bear park? Well, you’re missing out!

Not only that, but with Barenpark you can build your own bear park!

Barenpark is a fun family, tile-laying game where players compete to build the best bear park complete with enclosures, animal houses, and green areas.

Even though we have a bunch of tile-laying games already, we love finding those that still offer something new. And Barenpark hits that mark.

August 1, 2019August 16, 2019 Trent 2 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, artwork, Lookout Games, strategy, tile-laying, variable scoring

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

Photosynthesis is more than just pretty trees

If you know someone who thinks board games are as fun as watching trees grow, how about challenging them to a new board game where you watch trees grow!

Ha – wouldn’t that be fun!

Board games come in all shapes and sizes and cover an unending array of themes. So having a game about growing trees isn’t really too surprising. But making such a game good is another matter.

We’re happy to report that Photosynthesis is a fantastic board game!

November 17, 2017March 18, 2018 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, artwork, Blue Orange Games, board, colorful, Photosynthesis, strategy, theme

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews Kid Games

A Dog’s Life family board game review

Have you ever wondered what life would be like as a dog?

Well, now there’s a good option for seeing life through the eyes of a dog in the new family board game, A Dog’s Life!

A Dog’s Life let’s players take on the role of a dog when they step away from their master for a bit of fun. They’ll roam the neighborhood, beg in restaurants, deliver newspapers, search through trash cans, drink from fountains, piddle on lamp posts, and bury bones all while staying clear of the dog catcher.

November 13, 2017November 28, 2017 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, 6-player, A Dog's Life, artwork, board, kids, luck, theme

Articles Board Games Card Games Cooperative Games Dice Games Family Games Game Reviews Kid Games Party Games

Board Game Gift Guide 2017!

Are you ready to find some great board games for your family and friends?

It’s time again for our annual Board Game Gift Guide so you can find the perfect game gift!

This year’s Board Game Gift Guide includes 38 great game ideas!

November 8, 2017November 19, 2023 Trent 8 Comments artwork, board game gifts, dice, Family Games, gift guide, luck, strategy, Top 10 lists

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

The kingdom continues in Queendomino

Queendomino is a colorful tile-laying game that can be enjoyed by young and old alike.

While Queendomino isn’t an expansion to Kingdomino, both games can be joined together to create even larger kingdoms or play with more players. But that’s just an extra bonus.

Queendomino is a stand-alone game that gets big thumbs up in its own right.

November 1, 2017November 17, 2017 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, artwork, Blue Orange Games, colorful, luck, puzzle, strategy, tile-laying

Board Games Card Games Family Games Game Reviews

Abyss: Kraken expansion board game review

Last week we reviewed one of our favorite board games in the last couple years – Abyss.

Well, we’re staying in the depths a little longer because we got a copy of Abyss: Kraken from Miniature Market earlier this year and it’s time to review it!

October 9, 2017February 1, 2019 Trent 0 Comments 3-player, 4-player, artwork, Asmodee, Bombyx, card, colorful, expansion, set collection, special powers, strategy, theme, underwater

Board Games Card Games Family Games Game Reviews

Abyss board game review

Abyss was published in 2014 by Bombyx and immediately got a lot a buzz in the board game realms. Some of the buzz was about the game play. But most of the buzz was about the evocative artwork.

After taking a closer look, I added it to my ‘want to play’ list and anxiously awaited a chance to play it.

That chance first came for me at SaltCon 2016 – and I loved it!

October 4, 2017November 17, 2017 Trent 5 Comments 3-player, 4-player, artwork, Asmodee, Bombyx, card, colorful, set collection, special powers, strategy, theme, underwater

Board Games Cooperative Games Family Games Game Reviews

Mysterium is an awesome cooperative mystery

Many people have compared Mysterium to a mash up of Clue and Dixit: Clue because of the mystery of trying to discover a person, place, and thing and Dixit because of the bizarre and evocative imagery on the cards.

But even that comparison can’t quite capture the essence of the game.

Because one of the differing aspects of Mysterium is that it’s a cooperative deduction game – everyone either wins or loses together.

Everyone we’ve played Mysterium with has loved it. And we’re more than happy to tell you why.