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....

Bag of Chips Game Review

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American celebrity fitness guru, entrepreneur, and former New York City Ballet dancer Mary Helen Bowers said, “Even if you’re having a snack, enjoying it in a beautiful teacup or on a lovely plate makes it feel like more of an event.” Players will enjoy this colorful game of risk and reward with friends at their table. The game is genuinely “snack size” in length and table space requirements, but will it leave our players feeling full and satisfied or make them crave something more substantial? Continue reading →

Monster Kegger Game Review (prepublished version)

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American author and Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame instructor of pool and carom billiards, Robert Byrne, said, “Partying is such sweet sorrow.” Truly, throwing a party and being at a party takes work. You have to be energetic, personable, and approachable. Or not, and sit in the corner sulking while everyone around you has fun. In this game, you must try to keep everyone at your party happy, and the only way to do that is to ensure you have the right food and drink available. The catch? Your guests are monsters and have particular likes and dislikes. You and your opponent are competing to see who can throw the best party for these monsters! Continue reading →

Psychopath Game Review

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American author Alice Sebold wrote in her book The Lovely Bones, “Murderers are not monsters, they’re men. And that’s the most frightening thing about them.” In this game, one player will take on the role of such a monster. They will hunt and attempt to take out a small group of Campers who had the misfortune of choosing a seemingly abandoned camp as their party spot. The Campers are being stalked by a madman, but they can survive if they organize and fight back or attempt to be rescued. One thing is for sure, the line between hunter and hunted can quickly become blurred, and survival of the fittest often comes down to the right card at the right time. Continue reading →

Dulce Game Review

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Beloved American cartoonist and creator of the comic strip Peanuts, Charles M. Schulz, said, “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” Oh, how very true. Whatever mood I am in or the day I am having, a delicious piece of chocolate brings a smile to my face. In this game, players are tasked to build cafes that will sell their delicious confectionaries, but their approach must also balance the need to grow the necessary ingredients and then ship them out for use. This game will challenge the players to make tough choices to make sweet deals. Continue reading →

Fragments and Fakes Game Review

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Regardless of one’s belief, the existing religious-based documentation influences modern-day faith and the faithful. Church doctrine, ceremony, and even an individual’s definition of morality are based on manuscripts and letters written by individuals long ago. It’s of little wonder why men and women today dedicate their personal and professional lives to seeking out documentation and examining its authenticity. Such information can change the minds and spirits of the faithful. You are such an individual in this game, and searching for truth is a messy affair. Continue reading →

Undermine Game Review

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Garden Gnomes have long since been a staple for those who enjoy making their garden a whimsical place. During the day, they bring joy to those who find them under bushes and trees. At night, however, these same gnomes come alive and go underground to find precious gems and rare mushrooms. They dig deep and fast as they only have the time afforded them at night to toil for riches. In this game, you must help your gnomes find the best path to collect as much wealth as possible. It’s dirty work, but some gnome has to do it. Continue reading →

Marvel Dice Throne: Scarlet Witch v. Thor v. Loki v. Spider-Man Game Review

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We live in a golden age of comic book heroes! There are movies and TV shows, cartoons and comic books, video games, and board games available to us to dive deeper into our superhero love. The Dice Throne line of games makes its debut entry into the exciting world of Marvel heroes by pitting four well-known characters into a battle royal. While each is a powerhouse on their own, able to tackle most foes easily, it’s a different outcome each time these superheroes (and villains) combat one another. If anything is certain, nothing is certain until the very last dice is rolled. Continue reading →

Pocket Spades Game Review

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Card games continue to be not only one of the first games we are taught as a child (who here hasn’t played War, Old Maid, or Slap Jack?), and a constant in our society regardless if you are a casual player of game enthusiast. It’s little wonder that we continue to return again and again to our oldest games and dust them off for a new generation. So deeply rooted are they in our culture we cannot help but play that which we love and introduce it to the next generation who will continue the tradition. In this game, the traditional rule of Spades is updated to provide gamers of all kinds with a new and exciting approach to an old classic. Continue reading →

Rebuild Refuge : Zombie Apocalypse (prepublished version)

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In this game, players must gather as many survivors as possible and stay safe while the world outside is nuked to eradicate a virus that turns people into zombies. These shambling undead continually attack the players’ small and poorly protected bunkers, and the refugees do not trust each other. It’s a game of survival and crowd-control, as players must navigate attacks from within and without. Continue reading →

Paraphrase: Songs in Other Words Game Review (prepublished version)

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To paraphrase is to use different words to express a previously written or communicated idea or body of work. Sometimes these paraphrases let others say something in a way that is more relevant to their audience, or they can be used to provide insightful wit. In all cases, paraphrases come down to disguising something already well defined or named in a cloak of thick ambiguity. In this game, players will be challenged to take the paraphrase and deduce the actual title of a song. Extra points if you can sing it, too! Continue reading →

Escape the Minotaur’s Maze Game Review

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Former American football tight end who played in the National Football League (NFL), Martellus Bennett, said, “Any time you’re in a maze, there are multiple ways to get to the end.” And in this game, that is true. You have two ways to exit, one of which is death. Alternatively, you can live, but you’ll need to navigate and explore an ever-shifting maze as a monstrous minotaur hunts you down. To survive, you must use the maze to your advantage and outwit your opponents. This is one puzzle that’ll challenge you to the very end. Continue reading →