The Castles of Burgundy: The Card Game
No Review Title
by TK2187
Bought this game for someone else and then daughter opened it so I kept it. Turns out it is pretty fun. Kind of scratches the itch for when the full game is too long (for most people). It goes pretty quickly and has many of the same concepts as the full game, just as a lighter version.
Pipeline
No Review Title
by TK2187
I think this is too complicated for our average gaming groups but Husband really likes it. Troy friends really enjoyed it but we don't see them that often.
Sagrada: 5-6 Player Expansion
No Review Title
by TK2187
The personal goal cards with the zones seem like they are a lot easier to get lots of points off of than the color goal cards especially when there is any color related public goal on the table. Haven't tried the personal draft boards yet.
Bazaar
No Review Title
by TK2187
Played this and had loads of fun with it as a kid. Would play occasionally as an adult and looking forward to playing with my kids.
Pandemic Legacy: Season 2
No Review Title
by TK2187
We had a lot harder time with this than Season 1. Not sure if it was just us. But it doesn't get quite as good of a rating because I'm not sure it was as balanced as Season 1. Or maybe it just wasn't as shiny because we were already surprised by many of the mechanics the first time around. Still a very enjoyable gaming experience though. Would highly recommend it to anyone.
Commissioned
No Review Title
by TK2187
The use of theme is absolutely brilliant in this game. I don't know how to describe it without going into super long detail, but one example that I love is that a trial card of persecution will cause you to lose members but also spread the gospel to other cities, just like in history/real life. The whole game is like that. Just perfect.
Codenames: Pictures
No Review Title
by TK2187
I don't think this is nearly as good as the original codenames because pictures can't carry the nuance that the words do. It definitely does work a different part of your brain though.
Mechs vs. Minions
No Review Title
by TK2187
We finished the whole game story with Jon, Amy, and Karen and may go back to play through hard mode at some point. Awesome game with great minis, just spectacular component quality. Also very popular with people new to gaming that we introduce it to. Simple mechanic that's lots of fun.
The Oregon Trail Card Game
No Review Title
by TK2187
So we were mistakenly playing with 5 rounds instead of 10 which actually made it way better. 10 rounds would be impossible to get through. With 5 someone always finished and it was more ok that people randomly died because the games were really short and we'd restart quickly. Is an ok fun/random game when played that way. Not really a challenge, just amusing.
Secret Hitler
No Review Title
by TK2187
Backed the kickstarter. May be a bit too early to rate, having basically only played once with a group of 6, but this seems pretty fun. Better than Avalon? I don't know. I like the theme of Avalon. But the legislative session is definitely interesting. Am looking forward to playing this game with more people. 2020 upped the rating to a 9. It hasn't hit the table as much lately but every time it does its a success. Except for certain people who don't like social deduction games.
Kill Doctor Lucky
No Review Title
by TK2187
So this is a cute, simple game. It can get kind of long with lots of people. I don't see it getting too much play, but it might be good with younger kids.
Hanabi
No Review Title
by TK2187
Averaged rating with Husband. I really like this game because it has a very simple concept yet is not easy. However, we played a 2 player game and it was basically impossible. Can get too hard? Husband is tired of it already I think.
Tak
No Review Title
by TK2187
Simple to play and learn yet there are layers of strategy. Truly a beautiful game.
Ghost Stories
No Review Title
by TK2187
Christmas 2015I really like this game. I'm a fan of co-ops in general and this one is pretty challenging. We haven't moved on from "easy" mode yet and while our win ration isn't terrible for a supposedly difficult co-op, we sometimes get overwhelmed and unable to dig ourselves out of a hole. I feel like there are many strategies we haven't yet developed that we'll need to learn as we play through the game in order to move onto the more difficult levels. I also am a big fan of the theme as someone who loves kung fu. Overall, I feel like this is a great co-op for those who are looking to play one that is more difficult than the Pandemic-type family.
Taboo
No Review Title
by TK2187
Great party game. Have good memories circumventing the prohibited words with nerdy references.
Ace of Spies
No Review Title
by TK2187
Eh. Interesting enough game but the interrupt card kind of make it broken. Just save up all your interrupts til the end and then steal your way to victory. Sold 2020
7 Wonders
No Review Title
by TK2187
I like the fact that there aren't really turns. Its constant action unless someone (usually me) is taking too much time to decide. However, its a completely different game when there are more people (5-7) versus fewer (2-4). I think there's more strategy at the less person level.
Apples to Apples
No Review Title
by TK2187
Can be fun depending on your group. Have some good memories playing this game.
King of Tokyo
No Review Title
by TK2187
Good gateway game. Easy to pick up. Only problem is if people die early they're not doing anything for a while. We're trying to work out a good house rule where if they die they loose VP or the cards they've bought or some combination thereof so they can stay in the game.
Sequence
No Review Title
by TK2187
I own this game strictly for nostalgic purposes and also to play with kids to teach them to follow rules. Its like a more complicated tic tac toe.
Bang!: The Bullet
No Review Title
by TK2187
Great game and loads of fun. Slightly hard to introduce to new gamers because of all the pictures and confusion on what they mean.
Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
No Review Title
by TK2187
This game is genius. I love it. The only bad thing is that it makes regular Pandemic kind of boring.
Tokaido
No Review Title
by TK2187
Initially I thought this game was pretty fun. Very beautiful and relaxingly simple. However, after playing it several times during one month I think we kind of got bored of it so I'm revising my rating downward because it lacks staying power. Still good for new gamers or those who don't like things that are super complex or maybe to just break out once in a while.
Betrayal at House on the Hill
No Review Title
by TK2187
This game has a great dynamic and has tons of replayability value. I just don't like it as much because in the beginning stuff just happens TO you and there really isn't much you can do about it one way or the other. My husband loves this game however so really I averaged our ratings.
Codenames
No Review Title
by TK2187
When I read the description for this game, I was like eh. Then I played it and was wowed by how difficult and complex it actually was. A hallmark of a good game, simple premise and complex play.
Munchkin
No Review Title
by TK2187
The art and captions on these cards are hilarious and its worth playing the game just to use those. But I feel like the mechanic leave something to be desired. The first person to get to lvl 9 never wins because everyone spends all they have defeating them and then the next person to get there wins because the players have nothing left. Sold 2020
Coup
No Review Title
by TK2187
This game is quick and easy to teach to new people and yet more advanced players don't necessarily have a huge advantage. (except for the fact that new people never lie)
Coup: Reformation Expansion
No Review Title
by TK2187
I LOVE the teams expansion. Adds a whole other layer of strategy. Haven't tried using the inquisitor yet. I like being able to play with a bigger group, but it makes the game slower.
Tsuro
No Review Title
by TK2187
This is a beautiful, simple game but for more advanced players I think it doesn't hold interest very long. I keep it around mostly to play with non-gamers or younger kids that I'm trying to introduce to gaming.
Splendor
No Review Title
by TK2187
I think the lack of actual crystals in this game is a total lost opportunity. This is basically a slightly more complicated version of Bazaar, which I loved as a kid but not so much fun as an adult.
Kingdom Builder
No Review Title
by TK2187
Both Husband and I really like this game. Very simple mechanic yet every game is different. Considering purchasing all the expansions.
Dixit
No Review Title
by TK2187
This is what everyone is thinking: http://www.uptofourplayers.com/comic/45-trip-of-the-trade/But it is a good gateway game. We don't play it with the same group of people that often, but I feel like if you did you'd need to keep buying expansions so you can get new crazy pictures.
Once Upon a Time: The Storytelling Card Game
No Review Title
by TK2187
This game can get sooo hilarious. Also its harder than it looks. Also definitely planning on using it as a subtle educational tool in the future.