The Family Gamers - Fireside Games

SNAP Review – Ultimatch

May 17, 2024 Updated: November 2nd, 2024 Anitra Smith Hall of Fame Reviews, SNAP Reviews

We’re not just going to match. We’re going to ULTIMATCH!

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, Andrew, Anitra, Anne-Marie De Witt, Card Game, Fireside Games, Justin De Witt, matching, solitaire, solo

SNAP Review – Castle Panic: Crowns and Quests

September 22, 2023 Andrew Smith SNAP Reviews

“This is the most important expansion that Fireside Games has ever released for Castle Panic. It adds so much, it changes so much, but it retains the core of what Castle Panic is.”

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2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, Andrew, Anitra, Anne-Marie De Witt, Castle Panic, cooperative games, expansion, Fireside Games, Justin De Witt, solo, video

Castle Panic Second Edition: What’s New?

September 20, 2023 Andrew Smith Resources for Parents

Foreground: Castle Panic Big Box with draw bag and gameboard Background: old Castle Panic box, board, and draw bag

We’re going to look, piece-by-piece, at all of the updates to the game, from the game board to the rulebook. Let’s see what we find!

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Andrew, Anne-Marie De Witt, Castle Panic, cooperative games, Fireside Games, Justin De Witt

Top 10 Games for 5 Year Olds

May 8, 2023 Updated: June 19th, 2024 Anitra Smith Games for Every Age, Resources for Parents

Five year olds usually have more patience for rules and competition. Here are 10 games we recommend for five year olds.

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Amigo, Anitra, card games, clue giving, cooperative games, creativity, dance, deduction, dexterity games, Exploding Kittens, Family Gaming, Fireside Games, FoxMind, Gamewright, gifts, HABA, Horrible Guild, matching, racing games, Repos, roll and write, semi-cooperative, Top 10, young children

Top 10 Games for 4 Year Olds

April 23, 2023 Updated: October 21st, 2024 Anitra Smith Games for Every Age, Resources for Parents

giant numeral 4 superimposed on building blocks

Our top recommended games for typical 4 year olds. Short, fun, and educational!

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Anitra, Blue Orange Games, cooperative games, dexterity games, Family Gaming, Fireside Games, Funko Games, HABA, Lucky Duck Games, matching, memory, Peaceable Kingdom, Pegasus Spiele, silly games, ThinkFun, Top 10, young children

Board Game Holiday Gift Guide 2021

October 28, 2021 Updated: October 25th, 2022 Anitra Smith Resources for Parents

Over the past year, I think many families have been reminded how great it is to sit down and play board games together. If you’d like to add a few games to your holiday shopping list, we have suggestions for all ages and situations.

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25th Century Games, Aporta Games, Big G Creative, Blue Orange Games, dV Giochi, Fireside Games, Funko Games, Gamewright, gifts, Good Games, Grand Gamers Guild, HABA, Holiday, Horrible Guild, Hub Games, KOSMOS, Luma Games, North Star Games, Palm Court, Pandasaurus, Renegade, Restoration Games, roll and write, Scorpion Masque, teenagers, The OP, Thunderworks Games, young children

Giveaway: My First Castle Panic

November 29, 2020 Updated: January 4th, 2021 Anitra Smith Giveaways

Our youngest gamer has outgrown My First Castle Panic – but our loss can be your gain! Enter the giveaway.

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Fireside Games, young children

Holiday Gift Guide 2020

November 11, 2020 Updated: September 30th, 2021 Anitra Smith Resources for Parents

It’s been a long year. Maybe you have a better idea of what your family likes in board games? Or maybe you need some different, more accessible games. We’ve got your back, with board game gift suggestions for any age, player count, and experience level.

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10 players, 2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, 7 players, 8 players, 9 players, adults, Andrew, Anitra, Best of 2020, Blue Orange Games, Calliope Games, Fireside Games, Funko Games, Galactic Raptor Games, Gamewright, gifts, Grand Gamers Guild, HABA, Holiday, Horrible Guild, Hub Games, KOSMOS, Letiman Games, Luma Games, Outset Games, Palm Court, party games, Pencil First Games, Ravensburger, Repos, Restoration Games, Skybound Games, Stellar Factory, The OP, Thunderworks Games, University Games, young children

177 – Best of 2019 – The Family Gamers Podcast

January 20, 2020 Anitra Smith Podcast Episodes, The Family Gamers Podcast

Nick joins us as we share our favorite games of 2019.

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AEG, Andrew, Anitra, Ankama, Best of 2019, Blue Orange Games, Fantasy Board Games, Fireside Games, Funko Games, Gamewright, Good Games, Horrible Guild, Luma Games, Nick, Repos, Restoration Games, Smirk & Dagger Games, Stonemaier Games, Thunderworks Games, Ultra PRO

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.

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2 players, 5 players, 6 players, 7 players, 8 players, adults, AEG, all ages, animals, Ankama, Anomia, Anomia Kids, Best of 2019, Blue Orange Games, Brain Games, Breaking Games, card games, deduction, Deep Water Games, dexterity games, dinosaur, dragons, Educational Insights, EXIT, Family Games, Family Gaming, Fireside Games, FoxMind, Gamewright, gifts, HABA, Happy Planet, KOSMOS, Looney Labs, Luma Games, North Star Games, Oink Games, party game, Peaceable Kingdom, Presents, Renegade, Restoration Games, Roxley Game Laboratory, Skybound Games, Smirk & Dagger Games, solo, Stonemaier Games, Tabletop, Tabletop Games, word games, young children

My First Castle Panic: So Easy a Child Can Do It!

April 2, 2019 Updated: November 29th, 2020 Andrew Smith Reviews

Playing Castle Panic (a fantastic game) with my 4-year-old felt more like giving instructions to an unwilling robot. He wasn’t enjoying himself, and I wasn’t enjoying him not enjoying himself. Would My First Castle Panic be different?

My First Castle Panic is a cooperative tower (castle) defense game for 1-4 players ages 4+ that plays in just 20 minutes. Team up and protect the castle from monsters coming to knock it down! Throw the monsters in jail and save the castle!

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2 players, 3 players, 4 players, Andrew, Castle Panic, cooperative games, Fireside Games, monster, solo, Tabletop Games, young children

Why I Hate Candy Land (and What to Play Instead)

February 21, 2019 Updated: October 18th, 2024 Anitra Smith Resources for Parents

Kids love the candy theme and the fun characters. But Candy Land is too hard, too long, and uninteresting.

So, what can we do about that?

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Anitra, Blue Orange Games, Devir, dice, Exploding Kittens, Family Gaming, Fireside Games, FoxMind, HABA, Hasbro, matching, Peaceable Kingdom, young children

75 – The Family Gamers Podcast – PAX Unplugged Interviews

December 4, 2017 Updated: January 20th, 2023 Anitra Smith Podcast Episodes, The Family Gamers Podcast

This week, we’re bringing you all the interviews we recorded at PAX Unplugged. There are a lot of interviews, so it’s another extra-long show. But first, some special guests – Asher and Claire!

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