A fatherly geek perspective on Bohnanza, a set collection card game about bean farming. Long touted as a “gateway game”, will this game plant the seed of gaming in your little geeks? Read on! Continue reading
Our final review of 2011 Kinderspiel des Jahres (Children’s Game of the Year) nominees examines this game of bubble, bubble, toil and (above all) trouble! Magician’s Kitchen is a dexterity game with magnets – enough said? Sure, it sounds cool, but you know what would have been even cooler? Lasers! Magnetic lasers, even! Still, there is enough meat here for children, but not quite enough to keep adults engaged. Continue reading
The second of three reviews of Kinderspiel des Jahres (Children’s Game of the Year) nominees looks at Monster-Falle (“Monster-Trap”). This riotously fun cooperative dexterity game requires players to work in pairs to trap monsters, and there is no question that this will be a strong contender for the award. The additional dimension of cooperating with your neighbor makes this game a rare gem, indeed. Continue reading
In the first of our reviews of the 2011 Kinderspiel des Jahres (Children’s Game of the Year) nominees, we look at this game about racing worms, with some betting thrown in for good measure. It is a simple game, with vibrant components and quick play, and is suitable for pre-schoolers. Continue reading
Castle Keep is a simple tile-laying game that plays like a multiplayer jigsaw puzzle. Although no Carcassonne, it has a short playing time and is suitable for pre-schoolers. Bet you can’t play just once! Continue reading
Piece o’ Cake is a set collection game based on the concept of “you cut, I choose”. Great theme, simple rules and engrossing play ensure that this will satisfy the appetite of child and adult gamer alike. Continue reading
With so many imaginatively themed board games to choose from these days, not to mention the endless variety of movies and video games out there, does a purely abstract game stand any chance of attracting a child’s interest? If you thought not, think again. TZAAR is a quick-playing abstract game for two players and is great entertainment for children and adults alike. Continue reading
Terra is a semi-cooperative card game about saving the world, not from aliens or mutants, but from ourselves. Well, that sounds very touchy-feely and not very exciting, you might say, and you would be right. But, as long as you are not expecting a deep game, it is a good choice for playing with early school age children. Continue reading
Cards with animal cartoons, surely this is nothing more than a re-themed Snap or Happy Families. Or … could there be more to this game than meets the eye? In fact, Frank’s Zoo (a Rio Grande Games title from the last century … er, 1999) is a ladder-climbing game that deserves to be recognized as Tichu for Kids. Continue reading
Sport is a decidedly non-geeky activity, and my own little geeks’ passion is for football. It is an activity that I am delighted to support … mostly. But I would welcome readers’ advice on what to do when those passions run too high! Continue reading
Where does music rank on the geekiness scale? I believe every child should be give the chance to find out. Continue reading
Wobble is a simple game in which players place weights around the rim of a tilting platform to shift the balance and make the ball “roll to the hole!” Continue reading
