Author Archives: Cyrus

About Cyrus

Editor in Chief, Owner/Operator, Board Game Fanatic, Father of Three, and Nice Guy, Cyrus has always enjoyed board, card, miniature, role playing, and video games, but didn't get back into the hobby seriously until early 2000. Once he did, however, he was hooked. He now plays board games with anyone and everyone he can, but enjoys playing with his children the most. Video games continue to be of real interest, but not as much as dice and little miniatures. As he carefully navigates the ins and outs of parenting, he does his very best to bestow what wisdom he has and help nurture his children's young minds. It is his hope and ambition to raise three strong, honorable men who will one day go on to do great things and buy their Mom and Dad a lobster dinner. Cyrus goes by the handle fathergeek on Board Game Geek. You can also check him out on CyrusKirby.com. Yes, he has a URL that is his name. His ego knows no bounds, apparently....

ElevatorUp Game Review

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English poet noted for his war poetry during the Second World War and his wry memoir of the Western Desert campaign, Keith Douglas, said “Life is like an elevator. Up and down, make sure you get off on the right floor.” In this game, players will be riding up and down the elevator with the single intent of controlling the console that determines which floor to visit. Keep your options open, or you will find yourself traveling to a destination that won’t lead to victory. Continue reading →

Endangered World Game Review (prepublished version)

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Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist Mahatma Gandhi said, “The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Animal rights and protection have long been a topic of ethical and political conversation. One way to strengthen the need and awareness of this cause is to continue to drive home the message of how fragile our world is and the need for us – as a species – to take a higher level of accountability and responsibility. This game, designed for families, will certainly help even the youngest of geeks understand the need to protect and remind many adults, as well. Continue reading →

Dicey Curves: Road Rally Game Review

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One of the most successful racing drivers in the history of the sport, Mario Andretti, said, “If everything seems under control, you’re just not going fast enough.” In this game, control is necessary to win with your two-car team, but victory is not given to the fastest. As your team lead, you must manage your resources, timing, and position to take the lead and score the points.  Continue reading →

Fairy Season Game Review

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Scottish novelist, playwright, and creator of Peter Pan, Sir. James Matthew Barrie wrote, “Every time a child says ‘I don’t believe in fairies’ there is a little fairy somewhere that falls dead.” Yikes. In this game, whether you believe in fairies or not is inconsequential. Your only goal is to protect and save. To do so, you must follow the rules of nature and outthink the goblins (and your opponents). Sound easy? It’s not. This game might not require you to believe in winged sprites, but it will need all your attention if the fairies are to survive. Continue reading →

Robots! Game Review

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If Hollywood has taught us anything – other than having sexual relations in a cabin at night next to a lake is a bad idea if you are a teenager – robots tend to turn on their masters with a penchant for eradicating all humans. In this game, such nonsense is – well – nonsense. You are in charge of a highly operational robot factory. You build the best, and you expect the best. But competition is fierce, and skimping out on quality to produce quantity is not an option. Manage your resources right, and you’ll do fine. Do it poorly, and you’ll be junked just as fast as an out of date robot. Continue reading →

Spyfall: Time Travel Game Review

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In the movie Thunderball, James Bond responds to a question asking what he does for a living. In typical cool Bond fashion, he says, “Oh, I travel – A sort of licensed troubleshooter.” So cool! Your Spy is also a traveling troubleshooter in this game, but this type of traveling is through time! The spy game never gets any easier or less dangerous, and now it takes our Spy to different moments in human history, both in the past and the future. Can you do your job and stay hidden, or will you become history yourself? Continue reading →

Dead Shot Game Review

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English actor and voice actor Malcolm McDowell said: “One man can change the world with a bullet in the right place.” How true and grim. In this game, you play as a sniper. A highly trained soldier who lies in wait to take out their target. Your only two weapons are a high-powered rifle and patience. You sit and wait for your target, but be careful. Others hunt for you, too, and it is only a matter of time before they find you or you find them. Let the hunt begin! Continue reading →

Stadium Game Review

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American former competitive swimmer and the most successful and decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, said, “You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.” If your dream is to own a football franchise, complete with merchandise, the proper staff to support your empire, and the players to win games, then look no further. This game will take everything you know about sports and make it a business, right down to drafting the best players to play and hiring the best PR firm to push your agenda. Get ready to own a football team and create a dynasty! Continue reading →

Internal Affairs Game Review

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Hong Kong and the streets are owned by two factions: The Triad and the Police. You were always raised to show loyalty to your leaders. But what if your leaders weren’t showing loyalty to you? Being loyal is more than just following orders. You have to believe, and belief is hard to come by when there are turmoil and deception in the ranks. You need to survive, and to do so, you have to be smart and adapt. But be careful. No one knows who will come out on top until the end, and it’s always better to be on the winning side. Continue reading →

Zombiefilled Game Review (prepublished version)

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Your morning started like any other workday—Coffee, toast, something on the radio about the undead. You shuffle to your car, absent-mindedly throw it into the drive, and make your way to the warehouse where you work. Once you arrive, you punch in and get busy organizing the many boxes to be shipped. Then you notice that a few of your peers are moving a bit slower than normal this morning. You shake yourself awake and realize that Zombies surround you! They must have shuffled into the warehouse overnight! Well, this certainly makes work more interesting. Continue reading →

Triathlon Game Review (prepublished version)

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American triathlete and six-time Ironman Triathlon World Champion Mark Allen said, “You can keep going and your legs might hurt, or you can quit and your mind will hurt for a lifetime.” A triathlon is a grueling race requiring its participants to complete three different events: swimming, running, and cycling. It tests the athlete’s physical and mental endurance, demanding different disciplines each leg of the event. In this game, you’ll move as quickly as possible to the finish line, with victory going to the first player to complete three specific hands. Continue reading →

Banana Hammock Game Review (prepublished version)

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Working at a banana packing company has its perks. The hours aren’t bad, and you get to eat all the bananas you like. The only problem is that your bosses are monkeys. Not as in “intolerable imbeciles that cannot run a business.” We are talking real monkeys: tails and all with a penchant for eating your bananas. You have to meet your packing quota, but those monkeys won’t leave you alone. You’ll need to be creative and fast to pack as much as you can before you are overwhelmed by all the monkey business. Continue reading →