The Family Gamers

207 – Marc Specter / Endgangered Expansion – The Family Gamers Podcast

August 17, 2020 Anitra Smith Podcast Episodes, The Family Gamers Podcast

We are talking to Marc Specter from Grand Gamers Guild this week, primarily about the expansion to their game Endangered. We learn about a major league pitcher with 207 wins – but he’s famous (or infamous?) for something very different. Look up Carl Mays and find out the gruesome details. Thanks again to First Move Financial for sponsoring this episode!

SNAP Review – Super Cats

August 14, 2020 Updated: April 29th, 2022 Anitra Smith SNAP Reviews

Assemble your team of super-powered cats to face down the robo-dog, rock-paper-scissors style. We love this short game for 3-6 players. Meow!

Gen Con 2020: HABA Games with T. Caires

July 30, 2020 Updated: September 2nd, 2020 Anitra Smith Interviews

For Gen Con online, we interview T from HABA about a few of their new releases: 5er Finden, Cloaked Cats, Barnyard Bunch, and new Animal upon Animal sets.

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Andrew, animals, Anitra, convention, Family Games, Family Gaming, Gen Con, HABA, Interview

SNAP Review – The Bad News Bears: More Bärenpark!

July 17, 2020 Updated: September 19th, 2022 Andrew Smith Hall of Fame Reviews, SNAP Reviews

Add on to your bear park with monorails and grizzly bears in this un-bear-lievably great expansion to Barenpark.

Skulk Hollow: A Hulking Masterpiece

July 13, 2020 Updated: September 19th, 2022 Andrew Smith Hall of Fame Reviews, Reviews

Skulk Hollow is an asymmetric 1v1 battle game where the Foxen smallfolk try to defend Skulk Hollow from various Guardians! Will the Guardians overwhelm the Foxen, or will the smallfolk overcome the Guardian with sheer numbers?

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2 players, Andrew, animals, asymmetric, battle, duel, monster, Pencil First Games

Koi: Beautiful, Selfish Fish

June 29, 2020 Anitra Smith Reviews

In the game Koi by Bill Lasek, you’ll compete with other koi fish to stay well-fed. As the pond changes with new features, whoever can eat the most over seven days will win – and maybe have a chance to become a dragon one day!

SNAP Review – Bees: The Secret Kingdom

June 26, 2020 Updated: September 19th, 2022 Anitra Smith Hall of Fame Reviews, SNAP Reviews

Gather pollen to make the most valuable honey in this set-collection game. We’re pleased to review a game that looks so “grown-up” while remaining accessible to pre-reading kids.

Animal Kingdoms

May 18, 2020 Updated: September 19th, 2022 Anitra Smith Hall of Fame Reviews, Reviews

Gain the most influence in the Animal Kingdoms by placing Noble Beast cards that match each kingdom’s (randomly-chosen) Decree. Animal Kingdoms feels very “adult” but is definitely approachable for kids.

SNAP Review – Yum Yum Island

May 15, 2020 Anitra Smith SNAP Reviews

Rescue all the animals on Yum Yum Island by feeding them food tokens. But don’t let the giant steal it! We’ll tell you all about this cooperative dexterity game… that involves blindfolds.

SNAP Review – Squire for Hire

April 10, 2020 Updated: November 17th, 2020 Anitra Smith SNAP Reviews

Build your “bag” of overlapping cards and manage inventory to get the most points. An 18-card game for 1-2 players.

Learn Physics, Discernment, and More: Animal Upon Animal Crest Climbers

March 18, 2020 Chrissy Wissler Resources for Parents

Animal upon Animal Crest Climbers stacking

Animal Upon Animal Crest Climbers is so much more than just a stacking game. It’s a great option for young gamers, because there’s so much to learn!

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animals, Chrissy, dexterity games, Education, HABA, stacking

184 – Play This, Not That – The Family Gamers Podcast

March 9, 2020 Anitra Smith Podcast Episodes, The Family Gamers Podcast

We introduce a new format on this show: Play This, Not That. We examine a few popular children’s games and suggest games that use the same concepts in a better way. We also try Wendy’s breakfast sandwiches… FOR SCIENCE!

Fluttering Souls

March 9, 2020 Nick Martinelli Reviews

Fluttering Souls is a unique two-player game where players will compete to catch a kaleidoscope of butterflies. Score the most points each round to collect a White Butterfly.

182 – Year of the Rat – The Family Gamers Podcast

February 25, 2020 Anitra Smith Podcast Episodes, The Family Gamers Podcast

It’s the Year of the Rat, and we offer up our top 5 games featuring mice and rats – and 5 more where rodents play a “supporting role”.

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Andrew, animals, Anitra, mouse, rat

Incubation

December 26, 2019 Updated: September 26th, 2022 Guest Contributor Reviews

I love dragons. The new game Incubation promises that I can hatch their eggs and see the cute little dragonets pop out, making this game seem like a must-have for dragon lovers.

SNAP Review – Narwhal Free for All

December 20, 2019 Updated: November 12th, 2020 Anitra Smith SNAP Reviews

I’m not a fan of water games (especially inside) but Narwhal Free for All won me over. Five-year-old Elliot will tell you about this frantic ring flipping game.

Brainwaves: Stretch Your Memory Muscles

November 25, 2019 Updated: March 27th, 2022 Anitra Smith Reviews

Brainwaves games challenge you to remember details about previously-revealed cards. But each stretches your working memory in a different way.

2019 Holiday Gift Guide for Games

November 25, 2019 Updated: July 5th, 2022 Anitra Smith Resources for Parents

Board games bring families together around the table. So why not give games to your loved ones this holiday season? Here are our suggestions for every age and ability level.

SNAP Review – Dragon’s Breath

November 8, 2019 Updated: September 19th, 2022 Anitra Smith Hall of Fame Reviews, SNAP Reviews

Dragon’s Breath from HABA is fun, easy to learn, and beautiful. You and your fellow players are little dragons, hoarding sparkling stones. But the stones are all stuck in a column of ice! Dragon Dad can melt the ice with his fiery breath, but who can grab the most stones as they fall?

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