Enter the Arena Game Review (prepublished version)

Spectators say it’s the roar of the crowd that drives the combatants into bloody rages. Scholars suggests that the brutality of man comes from the will to survive at all costs. Whatever the reason, death reigns supreme in the arena. Blood cakes the sand and the crowds scream in excitement and horror. You are now in the middle of the arena and it’s time to put on a show. Fight well and you might yet live to see the sunset. Continue reading

RARRR!! Game Review (prepublished version)

They came from the deep oceans, the fiery core of the Earth, and from the cold reaches of outer space. They are taller than buildings, capable of great destruction, and you get to control them. They are the Daikaiju and they know only one thing: battle! Take control of your monster and travel the world to see exotic lands and then destroy them. In the end, the most powerful monster will rule all! Continue reading

Say Uncle Game Review

Saying “uncle” is an idiomatic statement meant to express submission. For example, if you were to scream “UNCLE!!!” while being tickled mercilessly or being offered a third piece of pie you really didn’t want, you are telling everyone that you want to stop. In this game, other players will do all they can to get you to throw your hands up in the air and shout “UNCLE!” as quickly as possible! Continue reading

Block Builders Game Review

One of the earliest toys many of us played with as kids were simple building blocks. We’d stack them on top of each other to build a tower and giggle hysterically when they toppled over. There was a simple joy in that kind of play that we have a hard time recapturing as adults. In this puzzle solving game, we get a chance to play with blocks again, but this time, there’s a twist. Or better put, a hinge. Get your mind ready and dust off your imagination. It’s time to play. Continue reading

City Center Game Review

According to Jane Jacobs, an American-born Canadian writer and activist with primary interests in communities, urban planning, and decay, “There is no logic that can be superimposed on the city; people make it, and it is to them, not buildings, that we must fit our plans.” If such is the case, then all that we live in and around is ours to control and define. This includes traffic jams. In this game, planning and timing is essential for success! Continue reading

Mage Wars: Conquest of Kumanjaro Game Expansion Review

Kumanjaro is a place of endless savannahs and ancient jungles. The Johktari people have called this vast wilderness home since the beginning of time. When the strangers came to their shores, they were at first welcomed as friends. It later became clear that the friendly visitors were selfish invaders, determined to strip the land of its gifts. Now the Johktari fight for their home and to preserve their way of life against an empire set on colonization and control. Continue reading

UFO Hunter 2nd Edition Game Review (prepublished version)

Only crazy people talk about government cover-ups and conspiracies in public. No sane individual would want to draw that kind of attention to themselves with so many unfriendly alien eyes watching. You know all about the stealth helicopters and the mind control. You have learned to read the real story between the lines in the newspapers. Soon, you’ll have enough evidence to expose it all, but not yet. This is a game of hunting for facts and being hunted. Be careful. Continue reading

That’s It! Game Review

Sometimes, there are multiple answers to a single question. For example, if I were to ask you what tool is found in a tool box, the number of correct answers is more than I care to count. But what if I were to tell you that I’m only looking for one specific tool that answers the question? Well, now, that’s a bit different, isn’t it? In this game of logical deduction and quick wit, players will be asked a question that has many correct answers but only one that is right! Continue reading

Fantasy Frontier Game Review (prepublished version)

By royal decree, all men and women of able body and means are to immediately assist the Crown and Country explore and claim the wilderness across the frontier. For too long, we have waited behind our walls and looked out across a land that is ours by right. The Queen now asks all her loyal subjects to be brave and find new land to colonize for future generations. Several well-known airship captains have been drafted to help in the effort. Now, take to the skies, and claim our birthright! Continue reading

Belle of the Ball Game Review (prepublished version)

To socialites, it’s very important to be seen at the right time, at the right place, wearing the right apparel. Just as important is who you are seen with. When it comes time to organize a large social gathering, getting the best caterer is just as important as getting the right guests. In this game, you must compete with other socialites to claim people of importance in hopes of creating the perfect party. The stakes could not be higher. Everyone of importance is watching and gossiping. Continue reading

Fluxx: The Board Game Review

It’s in our nature to attempt to control the uncontrollable. It’s a hopeless venture. We define and categorize the unexplainable, create rules that can be broken, and lie to ourselves to create new truths. One could say this is a rather bleak way to look at things, but I find it fascinating. How else can one navigate the tempest to obtain control without first defining their place in the chaotic maelstrom? In this game, chaos is an agent of change and a path to victory. Continue reading

Wig Out! Game Review

We all want to be unique individuals, despite also wanting to fit in. How can we standout while at the same time wrap the warm protective arms of the status quo about our shoulders? It’s a conundrum, but not entirely impossible. In today’s age, fashion tends to be the medium in which an individual celebrates their individuality. Be it clothes, fragrance, and even hairstyles. But uniqueness can be drowned out by the masses and attempting to recognize one person in a sea of faces is darn tough. Continue reading