strategy 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

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

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

Skyrise board game review

In 2016, I played a fun board game at SaltCon that left me thinking about it long after – Metropolys.

The only problem was that the game was first published in 2008 and was out of print, and I couldn’t find a copy anywhere. I’ve kept an eye out for it ever since.

That’s why I got super excited a few years ago when I heard the game was being reimplemented as Skyrise!

And I was even more excited when I learned it was being designed by Adam Wyse (a game designer I’ve met, played some games with, and reviewed a couple of his games, Head of Mousehold and Gorilla Marketing) and published by Roxley Games (a publishing company that produces fantastic games and that we’ve also reviewed a bunch of).

But the real questions you’re asking are, “What’s the game all about?”, “Why did you find it so fun?”, and “Is the reimplementation any good?”

July 17, 2024 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, auction, city buidling, Roxley Games, strategy, 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

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

16 Board and Card Games Played at SaltCon 2024

The first weekend of March, I spent a couple of days playing a bunch of fun games at SaltCon Spring 2024.

SaltCon Spring is a 4-day event held on the first weekend of March. This year, I arrived Thursday night after work and stayed through Saturday afternoon (taking Friday off work so I could play all day).

Even though SaltCon now hosts game events a few times each year, the spring gathering is the biggest of the bunch and one I look forward to every year.

This year, the attendance hit 2,400!

Read on to get a quick recap of the 16 different games I played and my thoughts on each.

March 16, 2024March 16, 2024 Trent 2 Comments bluffing, Board Games, deduction, Family Games, luck, party, SaltCon, space, 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

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews Kid Games

Lucky Numbers board game review

When playing with family, we like games that have a good balance of both luck and strategy. We enjoy having to make interesting choices during a game but also like an element of luck to keep things interesting.

So when a game has “Lucky” in the very name, should we shun it?

Don’t be too quick to do so!

At least, you shouldn’t do so with Lucky Numbers by Tiki Editions.

That’s because Lucky Numbers has great choices throughout to keep players engaged and having fun.

December 29, 2023 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, luck, solo, strategy

Board Games Game Reviews

Expeditions board game review

When I heard Stonemaier Games was publishing a sequel to Scythe, my interest jumped into overdrive.

After all, if you’ve seen my video review “17 Things I Love About Scythe” then you know how much I enjoy the original board game. And even while I write this, I realize my original review was over 7 years ago in July 2016!

Wow, how time flies.

Anyway, earlier this year, Stonemaier Games released Expeditions to the delight of many.

I was fortunate enough to get a review copy and now I’m eager to share my thoughts after diving into the game wholeheartedly.

December 7, 2023December 7, 2023 Trent 4 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, solo, Stonemaier Games, strategy, theme

Articles Board Games Card Games Cooperative Games Dice Games Family Games Game Reviews Kid Games Party Games Top 10 Lists

Board Game Gift Guide 2023 – 45 Favorites!

We’ve posted a Board Game Gift Guide for the past 12 years. And each year we’ve recommended around 40 games to get your friends and family as gifts.

Which means that through our annual gift guides, we’ve shared close to 500 game ideas!

Well, rather than give another list of new games to check out, we’ve decide to roll back through our 12 years of game gift guides and pick out our very favorites to recommend for 2023.

So, without further ado, here’s our recommended favorites in each category.