Fluxx, the edumacational versions (Boardgame)

The somewhat silly, chaotic game of Fluxx comes in a huge variety of themes. Math Fluxx and Chemistry Fluxx are now options that make a fun little game that combines learning with quick (chaotic) gameplay.

Chemistry Fluxx or Math Fluxx
Publisher: Looney Labs
Ages: 8+
Players: 2-6
Time: 5-30 minutes
(Review copy provided by Looney Labs)

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Codenames Duet (Boardgame)

In the cooperative game Codenames Duet, two players alternate giving one word clues to each other hoping the other player will select specific words out of a 5×5 grid. Clues must be flexible as the players have a limited number of clues available to suss out the needed 15 words, but they can’t be too general as several words on the grid result in an immediate loss when chosen. Codenames was a great party game (played between two teams with a clue giver for each) and Codenames Duet brings that fun gameplay to a cooperative, two person game.

 

 

Codenames Duet
Publisher: Czech Games Edition
Ages: 11+
Players: 2
Time: 15 minutes
(Review copy provided by Czech Games)

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Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate (Boardgame)

Part story, part game, Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate is never the same game twice. Players start the game exploring the city of Baldur’s Gate. About halfway through the game changes into an entirely new experience when one player becomes the traitor and begins to work at cross purposes to the rest of the players. Neither side knows the other’s winning conditions until the contest is over. Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate takes the gameplay of the popular Betrayal at House on the Hill (released in 2004) and blends it together with a strong Dungeons and Dragons theme. The result is a fun, narrative rich, slightly horror-esque delve into the Forgotten Realms.

 

Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate
Publisher: Avalon Hill / Wizards of the Coast
Ages: 12+
Players: 3-6
Time: 60 minutes
(Review copy provided by Wizards of the Coast)

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Culdcept Revolt (3DS)

Culdcept Revolt brings the “Monopoly meets trading card game” back for another round. Roll to move, but fight monsters instead of purchase properties, and upgrade terrain rather than place houses or hotels. The game does not end end with elimination, it ends when one player collects enough magical power. An enjoyable game if one is willing to look past the somewhat random nature of the dice.

The story of Culdcept Revolt centers around the main character (who has amnesia – surprise!) in a town strictly controlled by a nasty dictator. Your character makes a few friends who band together to try to overthrow the government or at least distract them enough to escape the city to the freedom beyond. Challenge the enemy characters in a Culdcept “duel” as you try to recover your memories and take down “the man.”

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Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth (Nintendo 3DS)

Yet another foray into the giant tree. Etrian Odyssey V brings back once again the old-school party building, turn based combat, exploration RPG. Form up a party of up to five characters, and delve your way UPWARDS into the giant Yggdrasil (say that three times fast.) Abandoning even the slim storylines of past games, take your party higher and higher into the tree to find the riches within. EOV: Beyond the Myth brings more of the same found in previous games, which is a good thing.

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Unplugged: Printing 3D Terrain

Role-playing games are typically a theater of the mind, but sometimes setting up a fancy game area makes an encounter extra special. Plaster or resin terrain can be used to set up a dungeon or castle, but they aren’t cheap, about $1.50 per piece. However, if you have access to a 3D printer, you can print your own for about ¼ the price. While some 3D files can be found at the popular Thingiverse site, Fat Dragon Games (currently running a Kickstarter) sells a selection of files for printing professionally sculpted 3D terrain pieces.

 

 

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Hasbro Fun Night (Party Games)

The party game has evolved from the days of Charades and Trivial Pursuit. Here are a pair of games from Hasbro that are less “game” and more “party”, but should supply plenty of laughter.  Speak Out has players trying to pronounce words while their lips are spread apart, and Pour Taste simply challenges players to drink from a cup full of a little bit of everything.

 

 

 

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Nintendo Handhelds (New Nintendo 3/2DS/XL)

It is easy to argue that the Nintendo Gameboy revolutionized the portable gaming market, and may even have created the market. Since that time, Nintendo has found the Gameboy system to be a reliable source of income, updating the system and churning out games at a regular pace. For the past six years, the system of choice has been the Nintendo 3DS line. (Note that the “Gameboy” moniker is no longer present.) However, calling it the 3DS line of hardware does not do the variability of options justice. In celebration of the newest release, the Nintendo 2DS XL, I thought it might be fun to take a look back at the history of the handheld and possibly offer some advice..

 

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Exit: The Game (An Escape Room in a box)

Escape Rooms have been growing in popularity and fans now have a way to have a similar experience in their own home. Several companies have released an “Escape Room in a Box” style game that provides an Escape Room experience through a consumable game. (As you play, the components are destroyed.) Just this week, Exit: The Boardgame, was honored as one of the two “Games of the Year” in Germany. Today we’ll take a look (without spoilers) at one of the Escape Room options, Exit: The Game.

 

 

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Carrotia (Boardgame)

Carriotia has players cooperate to quickly build a progressively bigger maze, moving their rabbit to collect carrots when they finish. A timed section has players laying out maze tiles to connect the start and end points of the maze, followed by an untimed phase where players take turns moving about the board trying to pick up the placed carrot tokens. The rabbit must exit the maze in a limited number of moves, and things can get complicated as various birds also move about and can affect the board. Complete three progressively larger mazes and then count your carrots to measure your performance. Thirty carrots is an incredible score, while collecting only ten carrots means there are hard times ahead this winter.

Carrotia
Publisher: Mage Company
Ages: 8+
Players: 1-6
Time: 30 minutes
(Review copy provided by Mage Company)

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