This House is Haunted Game Review

You couldn’t believe your luck when your dream home was on the market for such a low price. You suspected some sort of foundation or plumbing problem, but the house inspection came back with an “A+” rating. You purchased the home and moved in a few days later. A week after, strange things started to happen. Doors would open by themselves, keys would go missing, and the cat wouldn’t go into a certain rooms. You didn’t believe in ghosts, so it never bothered you. But when the blood started dripping from the walls and the smell of decay hung heavy in the air, you changed your mind. You have gathered a group of friends to help you purge whatever evil dwells in the house once and for all. Come dawn, either you will live in your dream home or something else will. Continue reading

7-Card Slugfest Game Review

No one really remembers how the fight began. A few witnesses remember there being a loud laugh and then some angry words, but that’s about it. The next thing everyone remembers is chairs being thrown, bottles breaking, and tables being turned over. It was, by all accounts, the biggest bar brawl in the town’s history. The bar is a mess, the barkeeper is unconscious, and none of the bar brawlers have much to say other than, “That was a great fight.” Continue reading

You’re Pulling My Leg! and You’re Pulling My Leg! Junior Game Review

Mark Twain said, “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.” In this game, players must tell stories that border on the fictional and the factual, but always told with a truthful or dishonest point-of-view. Listeners must pay attention to the details and determine if what they are being told is true or the Storyteller is attempting to pull their leg. Continue reading

Going, Going, GONE! Game Review

Marcus Aurelius said, “Look beneath the surface; let not the several quality of a thing nor its worth escape thee.” We are immediately drawn to BIG, BOLD, and FLASHY things. Kind of like a moth to a flame. It’s only after our mania subsides that we take stock and realize that all that glitters is far from gold. In this game, expect to be swept up in the excitement of the bid and then immediately feel buyer’s remorse. Continue reading

Awkward Moment Game Review

It happens to everyone when you least expect it. Something is said out-of-place, a reaction is given, and a very long and painful silence ensues. Ah, awkward moments, how I loath thee. But these impossibly long stretches of discomfort need not end in tears! If you have your wits about you, you can emerge from a very awkward situation glittering with class! This game gives you a chance to practice slashing the most awkward of moments in twain! Continue reading

Story War Game Review

Friedrich Nietzsche said, “The irrationality of a thing is no argument against its existence, rather a condition of it.” In this game, you’ll be asked to describe the impossible to battle the probable. You must talk fast and think faster as conditions change and new story elements are introduced. In the end, what will determine victory is not rational thinking, but creative logic. Continue reading

Choose One! Game Review

Just how well do you think you know your friends? Your spouse? Your children? Odds are you think you know them well, but there is much yet to be discovered! In this game, you are rewarded for knowing as much as possible about the people you are playing with, but be careful! You cannot lie in this game and every question must have a real answer. The real question is how much do you want to share? Continue reading

Buffalo Game Review

Quick! Name a hairy adventurer! GOOD! Now name an undead superhero! AWESOME! If you are keeping up, then you’re a perfect candidate for this game of quick matches and even quicker name dropping. Your knowledge of literature, pop-culture, history, politics, and just about everything else you can think of will be challenged! Also, expect to feel really stupid at times, as the easiest of answers might not come to you. Continue reading

Funny or Die Game Review

Mel Brooks said “Life literally abounds in comedy if you just look around you.” Sometimes you have to look really hard to find the humor in things and humor is highly subjective. What I find to be laughable will make others frown in displeasure. For every person, there is a joke to be told and a joke to be hated. Often times, it’s the same joke. In this game, you write the jokes and hope the majority think it’s worth laughing at. Continue reading

The Upside Game Review

Winston Churchill said, “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” In this game of outrageous misfortune, every player is asked to be an opportunist to the extreme. The worst possible situation you can imagine is about to be presented. The goal is simple: flip difficulty into opportunity. Not an easy task. Sometimes finding the upside is an uphill struggle, but well worth the effort. Continue reading

Pretty Ugly Game Review (prepublished version)

The pursuit of beauty is often in the opposite direction of truth. We cover wrinkles, hide bulges, and cake ourselves with chemicals in hopes of becoming beautiful to others. Some have made a career out of defining “beauty”. Others have dedicated their lives to obtain it. Both groups quickly learn that what is pleasing to the eye today will be shunned tomorrow, making the pursuit of beauty a pretty ugly experience. Continue reading