A children's game about marriage and relationships? Not exactly. Samarkand: Routes to Riches is a "train game" in camel's clothing, with low complexity and short playing time. A good choice for younger school-aged children with enough to keep adult gamers interested. Expand your trading routes across the Orient...at least it's not the Mediterranean!
Games like this always make me happy as they keep me engaged. I also enjoy the game for its simple but necessary risk taking. A player can always elect to take the "safe path", but this is not going to win any games. There is just enough need to take some risk to make the game feel a bit tense without feeling stressful. If you are looking for a fun family game that plays fast, challenges, and entertains, do give Ugh! a try.
Zip Zap, by Gamewright, is a fast-paced card game where the players are attempting to discard their hand as quickly as possible. There is no turn order and each player needs to pay attention to the table, to the other players, and their own cards at all times. Match colors and discard numbers in sequential order whenever possible, but watch out for the Zap! In a blink of an eye, your winning streak could come to a crashing halt!
Ultimate Driver 300 Deluxe is a card game that puts the player in the driving seat and sets them down the track on a high-speed race where only one player can be the winner. The game is entertaining without being taxing, is fun without feeling like work, and allows players to be social and play at the same time. The game is very straightforward, but it made me smile, allowed me to have fun with my little geeks, and I would gladly play it again for these reasons.
A king and kingdom is nothing without a castle. From the high walls, lords and ladies look out upon the land they rule and at the people they protect. But for some lordlings, the walls that surround their holdings is not enough. The truly ambitious seek to expand their territory and control. Their walls of power and of stone begin to stretch and travel outward, encompassing more and more land. It falls to you, the Lord's castellan, to build such a castle. A challenge made all the more difficult by your rivals competing for your lord's favor.
King for a Day was a wonderful surprise. When I first reviewed the rules and looked at the cards, I figured the game would be light enough to play with just about everyone but not terribly loved by the Gamer Geek crowd. How wrong I was! Turns out everyone, from Child Geek to Gamer Geek, enjoyed the game and was ready for more. The game moves fast and feels exciting from the very first card to the very last!