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Plague Inc.: The Board Game Review

Way back in 2009, our then 6-year old son, Caleb got us rolling in reviewing board games with his video review of Pandemic.

He shared how to play the game and what he enjoyed about working together to save the world from deadly viruses.

Fast-forward 12 years and the tides have turned.

Now we’re infecting the world with viruses and competing to be the most lethal in Plague Inc.: The Board Game!

That’s right, the popular mobile app game, Plague Inc., first released in 2012 by Ndemic Creations, is now available as a board game available from Asmodee.

I know it sounds odd while we’re struggling around the world facing a real global pandemic, but to be honest, we’ve had a very fun time playing Plague Inc.: the Board Game. And we’re happy to share why.

October 30, 2021October 30, 2021 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, Asmodee, luck, solo, strategy, them

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews Kid Games

Mondrian Blocks Brain Teaser review

Do your kids love puzzle challenges?

Or maybe it’s you that loves such challenges.

If so, then you’ll want to check out Mondrian Blocks, published by Smart Egg.

On its own, it’s essentially a solitaire puzzle. However, if you’ve got more than one copy, you can play them in head-to-head races.

September 27, 2021September 27, 2021 Trent 2 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, puzzle, Smart Egg, solo

Board Games Cooperative Games Family Games Game Reviews Kid Games

Stuffed Fables: Oh, Brother! – Even more stories to play

Last week we shared about the cooperative story game, Stuffed Fables – where players are the stuffed animals helping a little girl.

Now that little girl has a baby brother with his own 2 “stuffies” – Pokey the unicorn and muscular Manny.

So it’s time for the stuffies to dive into even more adventures in Stuffed Fables: Oh, Brother!

While the game includes a new storybook, new tokens, sleep cards, and its own discovery deck, players still need components from the Stuffed Fables base game to play.

August 15, 2021August 15, 2021 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, Asmodee, cooperative, family, kid, Plaid Hat Games, solo, story, theme

Board Games Cooperative Games Family Games Game Reviews Kid Games

Stuffed Fables – Bedtime stories as a cooperative game

Toy Story movies are still some of my favorite movies.

I love the idea of our toys having a purpose. And Pixar knows how to breath depth of character into them throughout their adventures.

Well, a few years ago, Plaid Hat Games brought that concept to life in a cooperative board game that’s fantastic for families called Stuffed Fables.

The game is a cooperative adventure game where the main characters are “stuffies” (stuffed animals) working together to save the child they love from a scheming, evil mastermind.

It’s also an “Adventure Book” game where the game board is actually a physical book teaming with adventures on every page.

And it works wonderfully!

August 9, 2021August 15, 2021 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, Asmodee, cooperative, family, kid, Plaid Hat Games, solo, theme

Board Games Cooperative Games Family Games Game Reviews

Break In: Area 51 – Game Review

Congratulations! You’ve successfully completed your mission.

Unfortunately, you left your spaceship behind and the humans have captured it and are taking it apart in a place they call “Area 51”.

You better break in and get it back before it’s too late. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to return home.

What are you waiting for? Get going!

June 24, 2021 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, 6-player, cooperative, escape, PlayMonster, solo, thinking

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 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.

March 16, 2021March 15, 2021 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, campaign, fantasy, Fantasy Flight Games, Lord of the Rings, luck, solo, theme

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

Metro X Board Game Review

Years ago, when my wife and I took our long-anticipated trip to London, we were super excited to see so many sites. But we knew the first step to seeing them would be getting there!

So we headed to the Underground and pleasantly discovered the wonderful world of the Tube.

And now when we play Metro X, we can’t help but recall our fantastic week in London.

That’s because the Metro X board game is all about navigating your subway map in optimal fashion!

February 20, 2021February 20, 2021 Trent 3 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, 6-player, Gamewright, luck, simultaneous, solo, write

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews Kid Games

Smart Four Connected board game review

Growing up, I loved playing a 3D version of 4-in-a-row game called Score Four.

Playing it made me feel so clever because I could look for tons of ways to get 4 in a row. I wasn’t limited to the 2-dimensional way to get 4 in a row like in Connect 4.

However, my siblings didn’t like playing it as much as I did, so the game sat on the shelf a lot. It’s hard to play a 2-player board game when you don’t have another person to play against.

But with Smart Four Connected, by Giiker, all that has changed!

January 16, 2021 Trent 1 Comment 2-player, digital, Giiker, physical, remote, solo, strategy

Board Games Cooperative Games Family Games Game Reviews

Break In: Alcatraz Game Review

It’s June 11, 1962, the day you’re going to break into Alcatraz.

Yes, you read that right. You’ll be breaking into the most secure prison in the world to break 4 inmates out. Months of planning has gone into this daring operation and now it’s time to act.

At least it will be if you’re playing Break In: Alcatraz!

From the publisher, Playmonster: “Throughout this collaborative experience, you must work together to follow a series of clues and solve puzzles to unfold multiple layers of the game and move deeper into the prison to help your friends escape! You’ll encounter many obstacles and characters along the way…this game provides the thrill and challenge of an escape room, combined with the experience and world-immersion of a movie”!

Do you have what it takes to break into Alcatraz?