Game Night – Ad Astra

by Carol1 Comment
Ad Astra Designers: Bruno Faidutti, Serge Laget Manufacturers: Fantasy Flight Games, Nexus Editrice Year: 2009 Players: 3 - 5 Time: 60 minutes Ages: 13 and up This is not my favorite game set in space. That would be Race for the Galaxy, but Ad Astra's fun enough to play occasionally. Basically players explore the galaxy searching for new planets. Most planets produce a resource, allowing you to build colonies, factories and more ships. Sometimes, however you will run across an alien artifact that can give you a distinct advantage. The turn system is unusual. Each player has a handful of cards allowing different actions like exploring, building and trading. At the beginning of the round, these action cards are placed face down on the main game board on one of fifteen slots, whatever is open at the time. The number on the slot indicates the order in which that action card will be resolved. Since all players may be able to benefit from...
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Game Night – Kingsburg

by Carol5 Comments
Kingsburg Designer: Andrea Chiarvesio, Luca Iennaco Manufacturers: Fantasy Flight Games Artists: Mad4Gamestyle Year: 2008 Players: 2 - 5 Time: 90 minutes Ages: 10 and up David got this fantasy-themed game for Christmas and since then, we've played it several times. It takes place in the realm of Kingsburg, which is under attack! Invaders, dragons, zombies, demons, are gathering at the borders, aiming to invade and plunder the realm! The king has chosen governors (the players) to take charge of provinces: each will manage their province and help defend the realm. Governors must influence the King's Advisers and the Royal Family to obtain gold, wood, stones, and soldiers to expand and defend their lands. The goal ultimately, is to earn victory points by building buildings, influencing advisers and defeating the enemy. In the end, only one Governor will earn the King's rewards. The game is played in five years (rounds), each consisting of 3 productive seasons, spring, summer, and fall, and then the enemy attacks each winter. There...
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Game Night – Cir*Kis

by Carol5 Comments
Cir*Kis Manufacturer: Hasbro Year: 2009 Players: 2 - 4 Ages: 8 and up Amber (9) got Cir*Kis for Christmas and we've played it several times since then.  It's a great "abstract strategy" family game. Players take turns placing one of their nine differently-shaped pieces on the beveled game board next to the last piece played. You complete Circles and Stars to score points. First player to 40 wins. It's easy to learn, but the more often you play, the more strategy you can find. You can plan ahead on how to get points, even if others score too. You can block other players from placing a piece. If they don't have a piece they can play, they have to pass. We've played it with Amber (9) and adults, and she seems to be fairly even, with just as much chance of winning. It's also a pretty game, with the different colored tiles forming different patterns. I'd recommend it for families. I actually enjoy it more than...
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Game Night – Rum and Pirates

by Carol1 Comment
I may have mentioned before that my husband really likes pirates, is fascinated by them,w hich is why we have this game. Rum and Pirates Designer: Stefan Feld Manufacturers: Alea, Rio Grande Games Artists: Claus Stephan Year: 2006 Players: 2 - 5 Time: 60 - 75 minutes Ages: 9 and up The pirates are not on board ship; they're in town. Each player has his group of pirates and he moves them and the captain up and down the alleys looking for treasure maps or treasure chests, in addition to supplies. Sometimes there are fights with the guards and of course every pirate needs to stop by a pub or two.  At the end of the day, they head back to the ship and wrangle for the few sleeping places available there, which is why at our house the game is called Pirate Nap. Everything earns the player points, positive or negative. It's a fun, light game. The rules aren't difficult and it's easy to catch on to....
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Game Night – Stone Age

by Carol3 Comments
It can be hard to pick a new game every week to spotlight from the stacks in our basement and those our friends own. Today's, though, is an interesting one. We've only played it about three times, but it seems good. Stone Age Designer: Michael Tummelhofer Art by: Michael Menzel Manufacturer: Rio Grande Games Year: 2008 Players: 2 - 4 Time: 60-90 minutes Ages: 10 and up You're living during the Stone Age, struggling to survive and prosper. Each player has a tribe whose members are sent out to farm, gather food, make tools and collect resources. In that way it reminds me of other games. You send your guys out to do certain jobs, then, usually, a dice roll decides how well they did. Each round you need to feed your tribe, but you also want to collect resources to trade or build huts with. Players' tribes do not directly fight each other, although resources and the spaces available for each job can be scarce. So,...
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Game Night – Winter Games

by Carol3 Comments
With winter just around the corner, I was trying to think of some seasonal games. Unfortunately we don't have any in our collection. I did find a couple that look fun for families, though. Of course, on a day when it's too cold or mucky to go outside, any board game is great. A while back I posted about Ticket to Ride, which is a fun family game. Well, here's a snowier version. Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries Designer: Alan R Moon Manufacturer: Days of Wonder Artist: Julien Delval Year: 2008 Players: 2 - 3 Time: 30 - 60 minutes Ages: 8 and up Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries takes you on a Nordic adventure through Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden as you travel to the great northern cities of Copenhagen, Oslo, Helsinki and Stockholm. Visit Norway's beautiful fjords and the magnificent mountain scenery on the Rauma Railway. Breathe in the salt air of the busy Swedish ports on the Baltic Sea. Ride through the Danish countryside where Vikings once...
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