Game Night – Treehouse

Treehouse Designer: Andrew Looney Manufacturer: Looney Labs Year: 2006 Playing time: 20 minutes Ages: 8 and up Players: 2 - 4 Last weekend, as we were on our way out the door to the fireworks, David said to grab a game to take with us, something to play while we waited on the sidewalk the hour or so before the explosions started. So, what game to bring? There were only four of us, set-up had to be easy, it had to be one David could carry in his pocket, and it couldn't be something that would blow away, since it was an outdoor, pretty crowded area. Treehouse was perfect. All the pieces come in a small tube. The game can take up a small area and wind is not an issues, unlike with cards. It consists of of plastic pyramids and a die. In the initial set up, one set of three pyramids is set up as the "House," the black set in...
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Game Night – Igloo Pop

Igloo Pop Designers: Heinz Meister, Klaus Zoch Manufacturer: Rio Grande Games Artists: Victor Boden Year: 2003 Players: 2 - 6 Time: 15 - 20 minutes Ages: 7 and up This game is entirely different from every other game we own. The theme is on the silly side. The young ice giant has a big problem: he wants to buy fish sticks, but he cannot remember how many and he has nine shopping lists in his basket. So he goes from igloo to igloo and shakes each. In each he listens to the delicious fish sticks bouncing off the igloo walls. When he thinks that the igloo in his hand has the same number of fish sticks as one of his shopping lists, he takes it home. When he gets home, there are no fish sticks in the igloo. Instead, wild and laughing Eskimo children tumble out of the igloo. Excitedly they shout, "Shake us again!" "That was great fun!" "This is super", thinks the young ice...
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Game Night – Foosball

Isn't our new Foosball table wonderful? Our old one was getting kind of tired, and all the men were mismatched from being broken during play and replaced. Rob and Kerri (my brother and sister-in-law) got this one for us for Christmas. It's amazing how much use we get out of it. We probably play a few games at least twice a week, and it's great for adults and kids, at least the ones who are tall enough. Notice, Rob and David even attached a couple holders to the ends....
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Game Night – Winter Games

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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Game Night- Foosball

Most game nights at our house begin and end with foosball. Granted only four people can play at once, but when we play, winners stay at the table and play the next two people who want to play. Unless of course one team keeps winning and winning and winning, then we have to split up teams, or change who's playing offense and who's playing defensive. We only play singles once in a while. I know that initial cost of a foosball table seems high, but you'll get years of fun from it and never get bored. People of any age can play, as long as they're tall enough to see. Our table was originally a gift and we've had to replace some of the guys that broke, but we've been playing at least once a week for like six years now. It' s not the one pictured. Ours is cheaper and now the guys are mismatched, but keep an eye out. You may find one on...
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