The Family Gamers - solo

Sneaky Cards 2: Bridge the Social Distance

October 26, 2020 Updated: November 8th, 2020 Anitra Smith Reviews

Girl holding a card. Written: Play It Forward

In this time when we’re being urged to stay socially distant, it may seem odd that I would review a game designed to bring you together with strangers. But more than ever, we need ways to connect with the people around us, even as we wash our hands, cover our faces, and try not to touch each other.

Anitra, Card Game, card games, Gamewright, solo

SNAP Review – Marvel Battleworld: Fend off Thanos in Style!

September 18, 2020 Andrew Smith SNAP Reviews

Opening a Thanostone

In Marvel Battleworld you play as some really unique heroes, trying to uncover the mystery of the Thanostones and free your friends, through die-rolling combats.

2 players, Andrew, Asher, blind box, collectibles, cooperative games, Dice Rolling, Marvel, solo

Cities: Skylines – Build Your Own Metropolis!

September 14, 2020 Anitra Smith Reviews

Cities Skylines

Cities: Skylines is the tabletop version of a video game with the same game. It’s a nice tight city-builder but too hard for younger kids.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, Andrew, Anitra, city building, cooperative games, KOSMOS, solitaire, solo

SNAP Review – 5er Finden

September 11, 2020 Updated: August 7th, 2023 Anitra Smith Hall of Fame Reviews, SNAP Reviews

5er Finden

5er Finden is an unusual roll-and-write search game designed by Jürgen Grunau. Up to four players can play, including a solo mode. Published by HABA, the recommended age range is 7-99 and it plays in about 20 minutes. Search for shapes on your personal board that contain all five colored shapes rolled on the five dice. Flip the timer if

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, abstract, Andrew, Anitra, Claire, dice, dry erase, HABA, matching, polyomino, puzzle, real time, roll and write, Simultaneous Play, solitaire, solo

Endangered: A Wildlife Journey

August 24, 2020 Updated: September 15th, 2022 Anitra Smith Reviews

Endangered game

Save the tigers and the sea otters in Endangered, a cooperative game for up to 5 players. Slow habitat destruction, encourage wild animal breeding, and sway ambassadors to vote for your cause.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, animals, Anitra, Beth Sobel, cooperative games, Dice Rolling, Education, educational games, Endangered Species, gameschooling, Grand Gamers Guild, nature, solo, Variable Player Powers, worker placement

Crazy Tower – The Architect Meets the Saboteur

August 10, 2020 Ryan Smoker Reviews

Crazy Tower

Put a little “fun with gravity” in your next family night with Crazy Tower, a building game that’s engaging for both builders and destroyers—you know who you are!

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, dexterity games, Luma Games, Ryan, solo, stacking, Synapses Games

SNAP Review – Trick Dice: (Skateboard) Fun for Ollie

August 7, 2020 Nick Martinelli SNAP Reviews

Trick Dice

Practicing skateboard tricks becomes a game with Jortner’s Trick Dice. Nick and Jace tell how to play and why it’s fun.

audio, dexterity games, dice, Dice Rolling, Jace, Nick, outdoor games, solo, sports

SNAP Review – Clip Cut Parks

July 3, 2020 Updated: August 7th, 2023 Anitra Smith SNAP Reviews

Clip Cut Parks

In Clip Cut Parks, you’ll design parks by cutting and combining pieces to get exactly what you need. In our SNAP review, you’ll hear Andrew rap about it.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, Andrew, Anitra, audio, Renegade, roll and write, scissors, Simultaneous Play, solo

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!

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, animals, Anitra, fishing, Grid Movement, movement game, Smirk & Dagger Games, solo

SNAP Review – Metro X

June 12, 2020 Updated: August 7th, 2023 Anitra Smith Hall of Fame Reviews, SNAP Reviews

Metro X

Flip cards and write Xs into your transit stops to fill your train lines and get passengers all the way to the end. Colorful and bright, Metro X always leaves us saying “let’s play again!”

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, abstract, Andrew, Anitra, Gamewright, roll and write, Simultaneous Play, solo, trains, travel

Animal Kingdoms

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

Animal Kingdoms game

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.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, abstract, animals, Anitra, Carla Kopp, Family Games, Galactic Raptor Games, Katy Grierson, solitaire, solo, Steven Aramini

Encore! Roll and Write, Again and Again

May 11, 2020 Updated: August 7th, 2023 Nick Martinelli Reviews

In Encore, players roll dice, pick a number and color, then fill in those spaces on their sheet. Everyone races to complete columns to score bigger points.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, dice, Dice Rolling, Encore, Inka Brand, Marcus Brand, Nick, roll and write, Simultaneous Play, solo, Stronghold Games

SNAP Review – Adventure Games: The Dungeon

February 14, 2020 Updated: March 27th, 2022 Anitra Smith SNAP Reviews

Adventure Games: The Dungeon

Escape the dungeon in a new interactive story from KOSMOS. Best for ages 12+, it’s approachable for younger kids with a little bit of help.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, adventure, cooperative games, fantasy, KOSMOS, older children, Phil Walker-Harding, solo, Storytelling

Criss Cross: Will Make You Roll, Roll

January 27, 2020 Updated: August 7th, 2023 Nick Martinelli Reviews

Criss Cross game

In Criss Cross, you’ll roll two dice and write the pair of symbols anywhere on your player sheet. Make groups of matching symbols in rows and columns to get the best score.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, abstract, Criss Cross, dice, Dice Rolling, Grail Games, Nick, Reiner Knizia, roll and write, Simultaneous Play, solitaire, solo

Dizzle: Dice Drafting with a Bang

January 13, 2020 Updated: November 12th, 2020 Nick Martinelli Reviews

Dizzle box with player sheets, markers, and dice

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.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, dice, Dice Rolling, Dizzle, multi-level play, Nick, pen and paper games, Ralf zur Linde, roll and write, solitaire, solo, Stronghold Games

Welcome To Your Perfect Home

January 6, 2020 Updated: May 4th, 2023 Anitra Smith Reviews

Welcome 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.

10 players, 11 players, 12 players, 2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, 7 players, 8 players, 9 players, Anitra, Corey, Deep Water Games, Family Games, flip and write, Nick, pen and paper games, solo

Dreams of Tomorrow

December 2, 2019 Updated: November 12th, 2020 Anitra Smith Reviews

Dreams of Tomorrow game

Dreams of Tomorrow is a gorgeous game with mechanics that are not too difficult, but our family’s experience clearly shows that it’s not a great game for everyone. And that’s OK! We hope this review can help you make a decision whether Dreams of Tomorrow would be a good choice for your family.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, 6 players, Action Selection, art, dreams, rondel, set collection, solo, Weird Giraffe

Brainwaves: Stretch Your Memory Muscles

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

Brainwaves games

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

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, all ages, animals, Anitra, card games, KOSMOS, memory game, Reiner Knizia, solo

2019 Holiday Gift Guide for Games

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

Holiday Gift Guide

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.

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

Family-Friendly EXIT Boxes

October 16, 2019 Updated: June 25th, 2022 Anitra Smith Reviews

EXIT: The Haunted Roller Coaster, EXIT: The House of Riddles

Are EXIT: The House of Riddles and EXIT: The Haunted Rollercoaster good for families? We tried them both with our kids (ages 8 & 11). The following review will have pictures of some of the interior content, but should not spoil any of the puzzles.

2 players, 3 players, 4 players, 5 players, Anitra, cooperative games, escape room, EXIT, KOSMOS, puzzles, solo

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