TFG superfan Nick Martinelli joined our writing team in 2018.
Explore reviews and podcasts he has contributed to:
Nick
Dizzle: Dice Drafting with a Bang
Dizzle can be played over and over again without feeling the same, due to the randomness of die rolls and the various layouts of the score sheets. Each level has a different layout that plays to the special fields included.
» Read moreWelcome To Your Perfect Home
We would recommend Welcome To… if you regularly find yourself wanting a game that can play six or more players simultaneously without a lot of time pressure or player interaction. For smaller groups, there are so many more games available, that we wouldn’t reach for this one.
» Read moreSNAP Review – Slap It! : Monstrously Fast
A portal to another dimension has opened, and monsters are
pouring out. What do you do when you encounter a monster? You SLAP IT! – a fast-paced game for 2-8 players.
Adventure Land: May the Bravest Win!
Call fellow adventures to the table and prepare for epic battles! Protect the realm from the dangers that lurk within the fog surrounding the banks of the great river. On your way, gather swords from the mountains and medicinal herbs from the forests. Will you heed the call to Adventure Land?
» Read more171 – ChiTAG Interviews – The Family Gamers Podcast
Nick Martinelli went to the Chicago Toy and Game Fair before Thanksgiving, and came back with a gaggle of interviews! We’ll tell you about what we’ve been playing lately, then get to the interviews after the break.
» Read moreSNAP Review – Bermuda Pirates
Push your boat and collect treasure, but beware of hidden whirlpools! Nick and his kids tell us about Bermuda Pirates, a game simple enough for kids to play without adults.
» Read moreSNAP Review – Furry Foodies
Furry Foodies is a short, simple game of pushing food off the table. We’ll tell you about it in just 5 minutes.
» Read moreFantasy Ranch
In Fantasy Ranch, players take on the role of horse ranchers competing in a horse show season. Score the most points by building up a large stable and expanding your ranch to be the best around.
» Read moreHonga: Are you worthy to lead the tribe?
Gather food, barter, attract mammoths, and protect your tribe – but don’t forget to pet Honga, the friendly neighborhood saber-tooth tiger! Read more about this excellent introduction to action selection games.
» Read moreFortune: Fast Forward into Slot Machine Fun
Fortune is the 4th installment of Friedemann Friese’s Fast Forward series, in which players open the box and just begin playing. No rulebooks are included because the game teaches you how to play as cards are drawn from the deck. As the game progresses, new rules and new card types are introduced to change up the game.
» Read more157 – Gen Con wrap up with Izzy, Jace, and Nick – The Family Gamers Podcast
We’re back with even more Gen Con coverage! Let’s wrap up our con season with the Martinellis’ impressions of Gen Con. Isabelle and Jace both attended with their parents. What’s Gen Con like from 3 feet off the ground? Jace liked “playing games”. His favorite was Rhino Hero Super Battle. Izzy’s favorite was Food Fighters from Kids Table Board Gaming
» Read more156 – Gen Con 2019 Interviews (part 2) – The Family Gamers Podcast
More GenCon! Nick interviews Mattel, Good Games, IELLO, Green Couch Games, Grail Games, North Star Games, Grand Gamers Guild, and Kids Table Board Gaming.
» Read moreRoad Trip Dice Game: Getting There is Half the Fun
Do you enjoy the freedom of open roads and pausing to explore landmarks along the way? Have fond memories of taking road trips with family or friends? Or were your road trips right out of the Griswold family vacation playbook with a little bit of chaos just for fun? If you checked any of the boxes above, you’re ready for
» Read morePikoko: Trick Taking with Peacock Panache
Pikoko turns traditional trick-taking upside down with feathery flair. Place bets on the tricks that each player will take. The only catch is that you can see their cards but not your own!
» Read more150 – Theme – The Family Gamers Podcast
Nick joins us for episode 150, where we cover some recent favorite games, and discuss THEME. Each of the three of us has a different take on theme and its role in board games.
» Read moreSNAP Review – Inoka
Forest creatures fight in a beautifully illustrated game reminiscent of rock-paper-scissors for 2-4 players. Nick tells us what his family likes about Inoka.
» Read moreRoll For Your Life, Candyman: Let’s Get Ready to Crumble!
Four cookies enter, one cookie leaves, in this fast-rolling, dice chucking game of Gingerbread cookie carnage. Bring Thunderdome to the tabletop and take on the role of a Gingerbread cookie gladiator.
» Read moreJunk Orbit: Always Be Delivering!
In Junk Orbit, players take on the role of salvage ship captains scouring the galaxy for space junk and delivering it to any city that will take it. Eject unwanted junk from airlocks to propel yourself around the cosmos. Simple astrophysics for profit!
» Read moreProfessor Treasure’s Secret Sky Castle: Reclaiming Riches!
In Professor Treasure’s Secret Sky Castle, players compete over three rounds to earn the most points by collecting stolen treasures from the Professor’s Castle. It’s a puzzle-y game where you’ll need to outwit your opponent by sending adventures out with unique abilities to collect these priceless treasures. Be wary as the other team will seek to thwart you every step of way.
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