WordsbyAnnaBlackwell,MattBassil,AlexandraSonechikina,SimonCastle,GlennFord,BenMaddox,CharlieTheel,DanJolin,PaulWake,MatthewVernall,MarkCooke,ChadWilkinson,CharliePettit,andChristopherJohnEggett.
WatchPartOneofthisHERE!
Designer:MatthewInman,ElanLee,ShaneSmall
Publisher:ExplodingKittens
Price:￡20
Ah,ExplodingKittens.UntilFrosthavengracefullytransferredthecrownatopitsfurryheadtoitsown,itwasthehighestfundedgameonKickstarter,andsellsineverywherefromFriendlyLocalGameStorestohighstreetsupermarketsandbookstores.Thatmeansboththatit’sgotapopularfollowing,butalsoyou’relikelytoalreadyhaveagroupfamiliarwiththerules–onestepinnegotiatingapartygame,tickedwithacapitalT.
Therulesthemselvesaresimple–don’texplode.Saveyourselfbypromptingotherstoexplode.Diffuse,avoid,andrunawayfromsaidpotentialexplosion.So,easy,wecantellyoustraightawayit’sthebluewire,andavoidallofthattensioninthemiddle.Right
Ofcoursenot,that’dbenofunatall.Thiscardgameinsteadgivesyouahandthatincludesadiffusecard,(touseiftheexplodingcardappears,ofcourse),andthenarandomcombinationofothercards.Thesemightgiveyouthepowertoseeaheadinthedeck(andperhapsfindabomb!)maybeaskipcard(tothenskipthebomb!),orevenjustpowersincombiningpairs–stealcards,requestcards,andthelike.
Therearetwogreatjoysinthisgame,onebeingtheOatmealartworkthatisquirkyandengaging,andtheotherbeingtheNopecard,thatpreventstheotherplayersfromtakinganaction.Thereislittlemoresatisfyingthanaplayersmirkingatyouastheylaywhattheybelievetobetheperfectcarddowntomakeyourcardplayinglifeinfinitelymoredifficult,onlyforyoutobeabletoshoutatriumphant‘NOPE’atthem,withadefinitiveoverturnofyourowncard,scupperingtheirplansandtransferringthesmugnessinstantlyfromthemtoyou.Thesemomentsofattackordefence,amidstbrightlycolouredcharmingcards,arewherehilarityensues,andwhatplacesExplodingKittensfirmlyatopthepartygameshelf.
CharliePettit
Designer:Kate&Zak
Publisher:Guttergame
Price:￡25
Hollywoodhas,andcontinuestobe,ahugesourceofAmericanisation.Anunstoppableshoggoththatspreadsitslanguageandcustomsintoeverythingittouchesandwhiletherearesomethingsthatarebestleftacrossthepond,theimageoftheAmericancollegepartyisawelcomeaddition.
Withtheirlittleredcups,beerpong,kegstands,andskamusic,thesepartieswereleaguesaheadofthetypicalUKaffair.SowhenwesawBeatThatallsetoutatUKGEacoupleofyearsago,weliterallyleaptwithjoy.
Thegamecontains:reinforcedredplasticcups,pingpongballs,plasticchopsticks,ameasuringtape,stickynotes,dice,atimer,andbettingchips.Eachround,someonedrawsoneofthechallengecardswhichcouldbesomethinglike“placeacupovereachhandandstackfourdiceontopofeachotherin30seconds”or“gargleasongwhileyourpartnertriestoguessit”.Beforeplayersstarttheirattempt,theybetanumberoftheirchipswiththeultimategoalofbankingthehighestvalueofchipsbytheend.Succeed,andyoubankthewageredchip;failandit’sgone.
Withsolochallenges,battleroyales,headtohead,andteamtrials,BeatThatkeepsthingsfreshandexcitingthroughout.Tothepointthatwe–andyouwillaswell–wereloudlycheeringandstillreminisceofanamazingoffthewallpingpongshotthatcircledthecupforagesbeforefallinginandwinningahighstakesbet.Youhadtobethere.
Veryfewgamesbecomeastaplepartofour“allagespartygamecollection”butBeatThathasbeenamustforeverypartysincewegotitandisoneofthefewnon-BigPotatogamestoearnsuchanhonour.
ANNABLACKWELL
Designer:JackFordMorgan
Publisher:HalfMonsterGames
AfterCardsAgainstHumanityrevealedthatwe’reallalittlesick,itwasano-brainertopickupTrustMeI’mADoctor.
ThisweirdlittlepartygamefollowstheCardsAgainstHumanityformatofhavingeachplayerplaycardstomakethefunniestresultaschosenbythepatient.Butratherthanjustfillingintheblanks,playersareinsteadgivenrealhistoricalcuresandtreatmentsthattheymustcombineandimproviseaboutinordertomakethemfitwhateverrealailmentthepatientoftheroundhaspresented.Playersarethenencouragedtoactlikeoldetimeysnake-oilsalesmenandbiguptheircureswhiledenouncingtheothersasfraudsandcharlatanswhichismyfavouritepart.
Inoneround,thepatientplayedtheimpotencecardtowhichthefirstdoctorenthusiasticallyandconfidentlyexplainedthatimpotencewascausedbyjealouselves.ThecureAconcoctionmadeofspecialberrieswhichfairiesdespisedandflagellationofthegenitals,ofcourse.ThejealouselvesepiphanyledusdownarabbitholeofsomedoctorsagreeingwiththediagnosiswhileothersdecrieditassuperstitioustoshasitwasclearlytheworkofSatan.
TrustMeI’mADoctorgoestheextramiletoinspireyourcreativityaswhilethecoregameplayisthankfullyloose–essentiallyjustmatchyourtreatment’siconstotheiconsonthepatient’sailmentcard–eachcardhasapicturesourcedfromahistoricmedicaltextbookoradvertinthecaseofsomenewerones.Withtreatmentsandailmentsrangingfromthemiddleagestothe1900s,there’salotpackedintothislittlegameandmuchlikeCardsAgainstHumanity,repeatpairingsendupbecominganin-jokethatmakeseveryoneexceptthenewcomerbucklewithlaughter.Thoughthankfullysuchjoylessnesscanbecuredwithabowlfulofaleandsomeexploratorysurgery.
Designer:TedAlspach
Publisher:BezierGames
Price:￡24
Werewordsworksbecauseit’sfamiliar.Thisisgroup20Questionswithatraitor.Really,it’sthatsimple.
Afreephoneappdisplaysawordthatoneplayerreads.It’salsothenreadbyahiddenwerewolfinthegroupwhosegoalistofoilthegame.Allofthisishandledwithclosedeyesinanightround,reminiscentofclassicWerewolf.
Thegameproperisabitchaoticandrushedduetothepoundingtimer.Playerstaketurnsposingquestionssuchas“isitsmallerthanabreadbox”or“Isitananimal”Thegamecantakewildturnsasthegroupnarrowsthesolutiondownandracestheclock.
AllthewhiletheWerewolfistryingtoeatuptimeandsteerthecrewinthewrongdirection.Theycan’tsabotagethegametooovertly,however,aseveryonewillhaveafinalmomentatthegame’sendtovoteonwhotheythinkisthewerewolf.Whicheverplayerreceivesthemostvotesislynched,possiblyresultinginthevillagers’victoryiftheypentheculprit.
Thisgameiswonderfulandbrutalandfullofdrama.Additionalroles–lifteddirectlyfromWerewolf–canbetossedintovaryplayandshiftthedynamics.TheSeerforinstanceisanotherplayerwhogetstoseethewordinthenightphase,buttheymustnotbetooobviousintheirknowledgefortheWerewolfgetsachancetopickthemoutforthewininthefinale.Itallholdstogetherandthepuzzlekeepsevolving.
I’veseendeviousplayssuchastheWerewolfguessingthecorrectword,onlytosnatchvictorybythensuccessfullyguessingwhotheSeerisinthefinalphase.It’saverycleverexperiencethatrewardsplayersimmensely,anditallwrapsupinlessthan10minutes.Thisisoneofthosegamesyoucanpulloutforashortstint,onlytorealizethesunhaslonggonedownandhourshavetickedaway.
CHARLIETHEEL
Designer:JordanDraper
Publisher:JordanDraperGames
Price:￡40
OnceyouwearthepinoftheTokyoGameShowHost,yourlifeischanged.You’renolongeramildmanneredgamesenthusiast–instead,you’retheheartandsoulofagameallaboutsillyandamusingtasksthatyourfriendsaregoingtotryandcompleteforpoints.Andwhatdopointsmean...Sadlytherearen’tanyprizesinthebox,butthereistheprideofhavingbeenthebestatdescribingavisitingdeadperson,findingallthebesttokensquickest,orcatchingtumblingdice.
Thisisthedefinitionofaboxfullofpartygames–it’sawhiskershyofexpectingyoutohandoutfavourbagswithasliceofcakeinitandapartyhornattheend.Thegamesinsidealluseaseriesofminorpropsthatareinstrokesinterestingandabsurd.There’sthecolouredwristbands,anumberofcolouredcards,ahandfulofdice,andevensomeglowinthedarktokens.Thehostpicksthegamesbeforehand,ormorelikely,ontheflyinafitofRichardO’Brien’sCrystalMazestylemania,andchallengesthegrouptowordgames,dexteritygames,andtheoccasionaltreasurehunt.
Reallythere’sfewgamesthataskeveryonetoleavetheroomasthehostsetsupitup,orturnsthelightsoffsothattheglowinthedarktokenscanbehandedout–andanygamethatdoesthesethingstendstobreakdownthat‘gamey’barrierintosimpleandundilutedfun.Thereare63gamesincludedinthebox,sosillinesscanbeinjectedintoaneveningoverandoveragainwithminimalrepeats.Ifyou’rewillingtogiveupanypretenceatacerebralchallengebeyondthinkingofsomethingfunniertosaythan“alienswithfloppyfemurs”thisisaperfectwaytosliplightandsurprisingfunintoanevening.
CHRISTOPHERJOHNEGGETT
Designer:JohnKovalic,JonMichaelRasmus,JohnSams,SeanWeitner
Publisher:RenegadeGameStudios
Price:￡10
ThisearlytitlefromRenegadeGameStudioswasreleasedbackin2015andunfortunatelyseemedtoslipundertheradarformostpeople.Admittedly,thestudiowasyettoreachtheheightsofsuccessandrenownitenjoystoday,butasthesoletriviatitleintheircatalogue–andauniqueoneatthat–it’swortharevisit.
DoubleFeaturedescribesitselfas‘themoviegameforeveryone’,inthesensethatplayersneedonlycomearmedwithknowledgeofthefilmsthey’veseen.
Theaimofthegameistonameafilmwhichlinkstogetherthetwocategorycardsplayedeachround.Thesixcategoriescanrangefromcharactersandpropstoscenesandsettings,witheachfeaturingsomebrieftextonthecard’sreverse.
Eachroundthe‘director’willchooseanewcategorycardtoreplaceapreviouslyscoredone,addingittothetable.Uponreadingthetwocardsplayersmustthenracetonameafilmwhichthe‘director’deemsworthyoflinkingthetwocategories.Forexample,onecardmightread‘InNewYork,Chicago,orLosAngeles’andtheotherstating‘There’sadreamorfantasysequence’,withoneplayershouting“TheBigLebowski!”forthepoint.
It’sallverysimplebutthisiswhatmakesDoubleFeaturesuchasuccessinnearlyeverypartysituation.Everyonewatchesfilms,andI’msuremostpeoplecanrecollectafilmwhengivenafewcategoricalboundaries.Infact,thelargestchallengehereisoftenbeingquickenoughorloudenoughonceyouhaveananswer.
Interestingly,successoftenhingesontheknowledgeofaparticularround’s‘director’,leadingtosomeunexpectedstrategywhencomingupwithfilmsyou’recertainthey’veseen.Indeed,playersattemptingtoshowofftheirvastknowledgeofobscureEuropeanindependentcinemamightfindtheirpretensionsbackfiring.
Overall,DoubleFeatureisgreatpartytitleforfriendsandfamilies,andcruciallymanagestoworkwellforboththeyoungandold.
CHADWILKINSON
Designer:MikeBoxleiter&TommyMaranges
Publisher:GoatWolf&Cabbage
You’veopenedyoureyesasaliberalplayer,andsataroundthetableareyourfriendsandfellowplayers.Excepttwoofthemarenotastheyseem.Twoofthemarefascists,specifically,onebeingHitler,andonebeinghischancellor,thoughyoucannottellatthisstagewhichtheyare,andonlytheyknowofeachother,afterbeingrandomlydecidedatthebeginningofthegamebyacarddraw.You’regoingtohavetotrytocallthemoutbasedonthepoliciesthey’retryingtopasswitheverycardtheylaydown,butinthistimeperiodofGermany,thosecardsarestackedinthefavourofthefascists,andtheymayhavenochoicebuttopassafascistpolicy.Youquestionthem–didyouhaveachoiceinwhichcardyoulaydownNo,theysay,butyoucannotbesure.Aretheytruthful,oraretheyawannabedictatorindisguise
SecretHitlerisagamethatmanyareputoffbysimplybecauseofthename.Whilstunderstandable,it’sashame,becauseit’sanincrediblycleverlittlesocialdeductiongame.Ateveryturnyou’rescrutinisingthemovesoftheothers,tryingtotrackwhetherthey’vejustbeenunfortunatewiththecardsthey’vebeendealt,orarestealingsneakylookstotheirchancelloracrossthetable–orindeed,tryingtoconcealyourownsneakylooksandliberalcards.Theduallayerofdistrustinboththepersonsrole,andthensuspicionsthroughthecards,andtheimpactofpassingtoomanyofonekindofpolicy,bringsittogetherinawellbalancedgamewhereyou’llrarelybe100%certainofanyaccusationmade.Ifyourideaofapartyisshoutingatyourfriends,thisistheonetodoitwith.
Designer:CareyGrayson,RandyNash,RickSoued
Publisher:Eagle-Gryphon
Price:￡50
There’snomistakingtheloudclatterofafistfulofdicebouncingdownthesteppedboardofTumblin-Dice.Iremembermyfirsttimeencounteringthis.Iwaswanderingaroundataconventionmanyyearsago,andIheardthatunmistakablenoisefollowedbycheersandcurses.AsthegroupcameintoviewInoticedtheywerethrowingdownmoneyandplacingbetsonthegame,completelycaughtinthethroesofcascadingdice.
Thisonecanreallysinkitsteethin.Playerstaketurnsrollingtheirthreesix-siders,onedieatatime.You’retryingtogentlybouncethecubedowntheboard,landingnearthebottomforthehighestamountofpoints.Youmultiplythevalueontheboardwiththenumberyourolledonthedieandaddtoyouraccumulatingtotal.Easy.
Butyoudon’tscoreuntileveryoneisdonefortheround.Thismeanslaterplayerscanviciouslytosstheirdiceinanattempttounseatthemostsuccessfulrolls.Ifyou’rebumpedofftheboardyouscorenothingandmustwallowinmisery.It’swonderfulyetcutthroatasonlysillygamesofskillandchancecanbe.
Youplaythisthingroundafterroundanditbecomesenveloping.Noonewantstoquit.It’senthrallingasit’sasimpletask,andmuchlikethegameofgolf,areallywellplacedshotwarmsthesoul.
Thisiskindofaweirdoneasyouhavetohaularoundabigboxwiththoselargewoodenboards.Thismakesitmoreofaneventthansomethingsimpleandquicktobreakout.Butitalwayssucceedsinthisuniqueroleandwilllandsuccessfullywithjustaboutanyindividual.Inshortorderyouwillbeaddinginnewdiceandhouserules,lookingtouptheanteasTumblin-Dicetakesfirmholdofyou.
Designer:FrédéricHenry
Publisher:Asmodee
Price:￡14
Rememberwhenyouwereakidandyouhadtolearn30historicaleventdatesfortheschoolpop-quizthenextmorningShudderatthethought.Butslapthosedatesonabunchofbeautifullyillustratedcardsanddareyourfriendstoseewhocouldarrangetheminacorrecttimelinefirst,andsuddenlywehaveahighlyentertaining(andeducational!)game.Timelineissosimpletoplay,it’spracticallyallinthename!
Timelinehasmanydifferentthemeddecks,rangingfromscienceandhistoriestopopculture,soeveryonecanfindsomethingtotheirliking.Maybeyouarenotsowell-versedinthedatesoftheNapoleonicWars,butcanperfectlytracethereleasesoficonicHollywoodmovies,inwhichcaseTimeline:Music&CinemaisabetterchoicethanTimeline:HistoricalEvents.Youcanalsomixvariousdeckstogetherforanextrachallenge.
Thestartofthegamemayseemeasy:withonlyfewcardsonthetable,youjustneedtoplaceyoureventwithinthecorrecttimegap(knowingactualdatesisnotarequirement,thankfully).Butitgetsmoredifficulttowardstheend,asthetimelinegetsbusierwithcardsandthegapsbetweeneventsgetsmaller.Atfirst,youcouldguesswithinaballparkofacentury,butduringtheendgameacoupleofyearscanmakeallthedifference!
Timelineisnotjustsimplyapop-quizinafriendlierpresentation.Ofcourse,youcanlearnalot–howmuchyouwillrememberafewdayslaterisadifferentissueandabonusforthegame’sreplayability.Yetthereisalsosomethinguniquelysatisfyinginarrangingeventsinatimeline,makingsillygoofsorgettingthingsright,showingoffyourknowledgeanddiscoveringsomethingnew,withanaddeddropofhealthycompetition.
ALEXANDRASONECHKINA
Publisher:Gigamic
Price:￡12
Haveyouevertriedtopickupacardwhilstsimultaneouslybalancinganotherhandonthebackofyourlefthand,keepingyourrightpinkypointingdown,whilstyourearistouchingyourshoulderThesearethekindsofsituationsplayerswillfindthemselvesinwhilstplayingYogi.
Icameacrossthisgameinitsoriginalform,InABind,andcarrythedeckwithmeregularly.Youneverknowwhenaquickbitofsillyfunmightbeneeded!WewerealsoveryprivilegedtorunagameofInAGiantBindatAireConafewyearsago,withsuper-sizedcardsandevensillierchallenges,custommadebythedesigner,Bez.Weevenranatournament,withpeopledrawinguptosevencardsbeforeitallwentwrong.
Therulesaresimple,drawacard,dowhatitsaysonituntiltheendofthegame.Ifyoueverstopdoingwhatoneofyourcardstellsyou,you’reout.Lastplayerstandingwins.Andoftenthey’llbestandingononelegwithacardheldabovetheirheadandtheirchintryingtoholdacardtotheirshoulder.
It’sgreatfunatparties,inpubs,atconventionsandissuretogetpeoplelaughingandgatheringaroundwonderingwhat’sgoingon.Asgamesareshort,peoplecanalsojoininatanytime,andit’sverylikelythatyou’llplaymultiplegamesinsuccession.
MARKCOOKE
Designer:BenBeecher,TrevorMoorman,JustinQuick,BradSappington,JoeSklover,MaxTemkin,ChrisWeed
Publisher:GnarwhalStudios
HaveyouevercollapsedinlaughterafterwitnessingthepainfulrepercussionsofafriendaccidentallyslappingahorseNoWell,Slap45.mightbethesafest–andleastcruel–wayofdoingso.
ThislittleknowndexteritycardgamewasKickstartedin2015,withdesignandproductiondutiesbeinghandledbythepeoplebehindCardsAgainstHumanity.
Thegame’spremiseisessentiallyreplicatinganoldWesternstand-off,albeitwithBlazingSaddleslevelsofhilarity.
Threetosevenplayerswilltakeontherolesofrivallinggangs-suchas‘ThePonchoPosse’and‘TheComanche’-andattempttobethelastonesstandingafteraseriesoftenseshootouts.Eachgangcomeswiththeirownhomebasedetailingtheiruniquespecialpower,andsixgangmemberswho,ofcourse,willrapidlydwindleasthegameprogresses.
Asthenamemightsuggest,thekeymechanichereisslapping.Eachroundsimplyinvolvesflippingthetopcardofthedeckandbeingthefirsttoreact,oftenbyslappingyourhanduponitandgesturingpistol-fingerstowardanopponent.Playissimultaneous,turningeachroundintoamadflurryofhands,gasps,andpainedshrieksfrominevitablyslappingtoohard.
Whippingoutpistol-fingersisn’ttheonlyroadtovictorythough;oftenit’smoresatisfyingtowatchyouropponentsslamtheirhandsdownonahorseinsteadofasix-shooterorcannon,andwatchtheirgangpeteroutthatway.Othercardscomeintothemixtoo,suchasgold(usedtoactivatespecialpowers)andmypersonalfavourite;thethrowingknife.Unlikethepistol,merelyslappingandpointingwon’tfinishthejob-thiscardmustbethrownatyourfoes.Beingaflimsy,linen-finishflapofcard,thisgoesaswellasyou’dexpect,althoughlandingaparticularlyfineshotwillhaveSlap45.promptingtriumphantroarsatavolumeunparalleledinthetabletophobby.
TherealjoyofSlap45.thoughiswitnessingthefinalshowdown.Justtwowearyplayers,adesignateddealer,andtensionsothickyoucouldslapit.Perfect.
Designer:KenGruhl&QuentinWeir
Publisher:NorthStarGames
Price:￡15
GLENNFORD
Designer:WolfgangWarsch
Publisher:StrongholdGames
Secretpartnersinpartygamesoftenadduptoalotofsurprises.Thinkingyouknowwhoisthinkingjustlikeyou–onlytothenrevealthatthey’rebarkingupanentirelydifferenttree–isbothhumblingandhilarious.Andit’salsotheisthespiceofSubtext.
Subtextisanotherdrawinggamewhereplayshavetogiveeveryoneahint,butnottoomuchofahint,abouttheobjectontheircard.Theleadingplayerpicksacard,memoriseswhat’sonitin,andthendrawsasmanycardsasthereareplayers,minusone.Thesenewcardsareshuffledwiththeoriginalcard,thendealtout.
Thenthefunbegins.Everyonedrawsahinttotheclueontheircard,hopingthatthey,infact,havethecardthattheleadingplayeroriginallyhad.Oratleast,thatitcanbereadthatway.Onceeveryonehasdrawntheirhint,playersbetonwhichonesmatchthecarddrawnbytheleadingplayer.Getitright,yougetpoints,getitwrong,yougetnothing.
Andagain,it’sthefunnymeanderthroughtryingtogivejustenoughawaywithoutgivingitallaway.Acleverandastutescribblethatlandswiththerightpersoncanfeellikemagic.Oritcanfallflatonitsface.
Whilereallyit’sdowntohowwelltheroomknowsoneanother,andthekindofweirdtangentseveryoneelserelieson,thereisacompetitioninhere.It’sapartygamewithaproperthrillinitsheart,because,youmightactuallywanttowinthisone.
Designer:JunSaski
Publisher:OinkGames
Price:￡19
Pictionary,butfun,isawell-worncategoryforgamesonthislist.Drawinggamesthatdon’trequiretoomuchbeyondtheskillsofUgandZuggof30,000BCareusuallyelevatedbysomespicywrinkleintheirdesign.Telestrationsasksyoutowhisper,andAFakeArtistGoesToNewYorkasksyoutofakeituntilyoumakeit.
Oneplayerplaysthepartofthequestionmaster,whoannouncesthegeneralcategory,andthenwritesdownthespecifictitleofthepiecethateveryoneiscreatingonwipecleantiles.Thesearethendistributedtoeveryonearoundthetable.Exceptforoneperson,whogetsablanktile,andisthereforethefakeartist.Everyonethentakesturnsaddingasinglelinetoapieceofpaper,drawingthepiececollaboratively.Except,ofcourse,ifyou’rethefake,thenyou’regoingtohavetobluffitwithaline.Afterasecondroundoflineshavebeenadded,playersgettooutthefakeartistwithabitofpointing.Ifthefakeartistescapesbeingdiscovered,orisdiscovered,butcannamewhatthetitleofthepieceis,theygainsomepointsalongwiththequestionmaster.Artistsonlygetapointforfindingthefaker.
Andit’sajoytositthereandgiddily(ontheinside)addasquiggletothepicturethatyou’vereallygotlittleideaastothesubjectof.Equally,it’shilarioustobequitesurethatyourfriendisthefake,becausesurelytheydon’tthinkthataseagullhasabeaklikethat,right
There’splentyofversionsofthisgamefloatingaround(DrunkenSailorforexample)butthere’snothingquitelikethebeautifulandtactilenatureofanOinkgameatthetable.
Designer:Ga?tanBeaujannot&AlainRivollet
Publisher:ReposProductions
Price:￡27
ConceptisabitlikeCharades…Heywhatareyou-WAITNO,WAIT,COMEBACK!It’sabitlikecharades,BUTit’sverymuchacleverer,slicker,moreenjoyablegame.
Conceptisaguessinggamewhere,byplacingaseriesofdelicious-lookingcolouredcubesacrossaboardthat’scoveredinsymbols,youmustcommunicateacluetotheotherplayers.
Youhaveafewmoretoolsthanthatatyourdisposal–youcanalsousedifferentnumbersofcubestoconveyrelativeimportanceanddifferentcolouredcubestotryandseparatedifferentaspectsorideas–anecessityattimesbecausewhileit’sstraightforwardenoughtospelloutawordlikeapple(foodsymbol,roundsymbol,redsymbol)howdoyoucommunicatenostalgiaOrthephrase“Ithink,thereforeIam”
Conceptisoneofthosegamesthatencouragescreativityandcreatesinstanthumourbyplacingheavyrestrictionsoncommunication.It’ssurprisinglyintuitivetoplay,aquickscantogettoknowtheboardandyou’llsoonfindelegantwaystostringsymbolstogetherspringingtomind.Whetheryourfriendswillguesscorrectlyisanothermatterthough.It’scommontofleshoutanideainprecisedetail,usingfistfulsofcubestoconveyeverysinglefacetofamorecomplicatedconceptandthenwatchindespairasyourteammatesentirelyfailtohopaboardyourtrainofthought,insteadcareeningoffacliffofdistractiontocrashandburninavalleyofconfusion–inevitablymuchgigglingensues.
Perhapsmoreofafamilygamethanapartygame–Conceptissimpletoteach,makingitverysuitableforchildrenorusuallyboardgame-averserelatives.Butitworksinlargegroupstooandcanbeagreaticebreaker–whatbetterwaytogettoknowsomeonethantotryandgetinsidetheirnoggin
MATTBASSIL
Designer:JackDire
Publisher:SkyboundTabletop
Youknowwhenakidwillpipeupsometimeswithanepicquestionlike“whowouldwininafightbetweenaT-RexandSuperman”,then“okay,butwhatifthatT-Rexhadlasereyes”andthen“okay,butwhatifSupermanhadtheT-RexversionofKryptonite”(we’veallbeenthere).Thisgametakesthatideaandmakesitintoanadultpartygame,havingyouarguingoverabsurdtopicswithfriendsinlittletonotimeatall.
Withatinyscrapofpapertomakeuptherules,you’llsimplydrawonewhitecard(whichwillcontainyourfighter),yourblackcard(yoursuperpowerorsituation),andsettoworkarguingwhyyourbonkersconcoctionwouldwininafightwithyourfellowplayersequallybonkersfighter.Partwaythroughthough,you’llpickupanotherblackcard,andhavetoexpandyouroriginalargument.
Forexample,mypetrockcantravelthroughobjects,andI’marguingagainstadragonwhocansummoncatstodotheirbidding.Atthedrawofthenextcard,mypetrockalsohasamoustachethatcanstretchandmoveatwill,butnowtheaforementioneddragonisdrunk.Myopponentwillhavetoconvincetheotherplayersthattheyareinaperfectpositiontobeatme.Soifyoulikegamesthathaveyouarguingnonsenseasanicebreaker,thisreallyticksthebox.
Designer:KasperLapp
Publisher:SitDown!
Mostpartygamesarecompetitiveandclamorous.MagicMazeisn’tlikemostpartygames.Infact,iftheneighbourshavebeencomplainingaboutthenoise,thenit’stheidealpartygame.Becauseit’sagameinwhichsilenceisgolden.
Thethemeisabitofajumble:uptoeightplayersmustworktogethertohelpfourfantasyheroesperformaraidonamodern-dayshoppingmall.HuhButdon’tworryaboutthat.It’stheuniquegameplaythat’llwinpeopleover,aseveryoneworkssimultaneouslytomovefourpawnsfirstlytotheirowndestinations,thentoanexitpointonatile-basedmazethatisrevealedonetileatatime.Eachplayercanmoveanypawn,butonlyaccordingtotheactiontiletheycurrentlyhold.Forexample,movenorth,rideanescalator,oraddanewmazetile.
Buttherearetwocomplications.First,ifthethree-minutehourglassrunsout,youalllose(youcanextendyourtimebyputtingapawnonanhourglassspace,butthisalsomeansactiontileshavetobepassedtotheleft).Second,nobody’sallowedtocommunicateverbally,orevenpointattheboard.Themostyoucandoistakealarge,red“DoSomething!”pawnandplonkit(nottoohard)infrontofanotherplayer.Though“staringintensely”isalsopermitted.
Itallmakesforagameofiron-hardgroupfocuswhichisalso,somehow,alaughtoplay.Ofcourse,youhavetotryandnotbecometoofrustratedifsomeoneontheteammessesuporfreezes,butatleasttheywon’tgetshoutedat.Moreoftenthannot,eachgamewillendwithtension-easinglaughterandenthusiasticdiscussion,beforeyoudivebackinwiththenextmaze-tacklingscenarioandtheneighbour-pleasingsilencedescendsoncemore.
DanJolin
Designer:ZoeLee&JamesVaughan
Publisher:BigPotato
Astrongentryintothe‘it’sbasicallyagameaboutsmallscalepranksandbanter’sectionofanygoodpartygameslist,Don’tGetGotisagamethat’sgoingtotakeoveryourdayinwaysbothsubtleandhilarious.Notonlythat,butyoukindofneedtoactuallyhaveapartytoplayit,ratherthanagameseveningwiththetonesettosilly.
Eachplayerisdishedoutsixsecretmissionsatthestartofthegame,whichcouldbeanythingfromaspeoplehavearrivedatyourparty,inthemorningonChristmasday,oratthestartofadayout.Thesesecretmissionsarethingslike‘makesomething,andgetsomeoneelsetowearit’,‘hidethiscardonsomeoneelse(withoutgettingcaught)’or‘getaplayertoflipacoinuntiltheygetheads’–andoncethemissionsaredistributedit’sgameon.UntilwhenUntilsomeone‘gets’threeoftheirmissionsdonebytrickingotherplayers.Thiscouldwithinthehour,or,possibly,dayslaterifitallgetsabitparanoid.
Winningthegameisusuallyaboutverycasuallytrickingpeopleintodoingthings(usuallybygettingthemtobehelpful)whilealsonotpushingitandendingupactingveryweirdly.Walkingthislineisparticularlygoodfuninlongersessions,asplayerswillcomeandgofromrememberingthey’replayingthegame.Canyougetsomeonetoopenajar(withyourcardin)withoutitseemingtoostrangeProbably,ifthey’veforgottenthatthey’replaying.Oncethey’vebeengothowever,youprobablywon’tbeabletogetthemtopassyouthesaltanymore.Ifyouwantapartygamethatcanseepintoeverypartofyoureveningorouting,thenthere’snothingbetter.
Designer:AnthonyConta
Publisher:Mattel
Price:￡16
Nobodylikesjobinterviews.Thestress,thenecessitytoreadandre-readyourCV,it’sanightmare.Soyouknowwhat’sanincrediblecatharticgamethatletsyouandfriendsmakefunofthismiserableexperienceFunemployed.
Inthislighthearted,card-basedimprovgame,playerstaketurnsapplyingforrandomjobswithrandomqualifications.Oneplayertakestheroleoftheinterviewerandeitherrandomlydrawsorselectsajobroletheotherplayerswillbeapplyingfor,withjobssuchasButler,TaxiDriverorSuperVillain.Oncedecided,allplayersaredealtskillcardsandtenmorearedisplayedfaceuponthetable,whichplayerscanfreelyswapwithcardsinhanduntilthey’vebuiltahandoffour.Thesequalificationsareperfectlynormal,like“Self-entitled,”“FiftyTattoos”or“Chainsaw.”Eachapplicantplayeristheninterviewed,usingtheircardsasjustificationsfortheiranswers(“Wellyousee,asaSuperVillain,identityisimportant,sobyhavingfiftytattoosI’mhighlylikelytobememorable.”)
Thisslighttweaktotheusual“randomjokesoncards”formatthatmadeCardAgainstHumanityaproblematicfavourite,improvesthegameforeveryone.Withouthavingtorelypurelyonshockhumour,playersareencouragedtogetsilly,usingcardsasaidsinsteadofanswers.Slowlyrevealingatraitlike“Pyromaniac”whenapplyingtobeaMotivationalSpeakerwillcauseyourroomtoexplodewithlaughter.
Thewidearrayofjobsandskillsincludedshowthedesigner’sdeeplevelofcommitmenttofashioningaselectionboxofcomedystarters,thoughifyouwanttoplaythiswithfamilyyoumaywanttoremovesomeoftheless“PG”friendlycards.Inanycase,ifyou’relookingforagigglethatgiveseveryoneachancetoshine,Funemployedisdefinitelyworthalook.
MATTHEWVERNALL
Designer:VlaadaChvátil
Publisher:CzechGamesEdition
Price:￡17
Pictionaryisoneoftheclassicpartygamesforareason:laughingatyourfriends’attemptstodrawthingsunderpressure,andcompetitivelyguessingwhatthehorriblesquigglestheyproducearemeanttobe,isgreatfun.It’dtakeabrilliantdesignertoevolveonsuchacoreconcept.
Fortunately,there’snoquestionthatthefamedVlaadaChvátil(designerofmodernclassicpartygameCodenames,amongmanyothergames)isuptothejob.
TheterribledrawingsandspeedyguessesattheheartofPictionaryarestillthere,buteveryrulearoundthatcarefullyimprovesontheclassic.Ratherthantakingitinturns,everyonegetstodrawsimultaneously,andyoudon’tneedtobethefastesttobeabletoguessateveryoneelse’s–you’lljustgetmorepointsifyou’rethefirstcorrectguess.
You’reonlyallowedtostartguessingonceyou’veputyourpencildown,committingyourowndrawingwhereitis,whichmeansfastersketchesarerewarded–atleastuntilno-oneguessesyourscorrectly.Thenyoustartthinkingabouthoweveryone’ssubjectsareassignedallowsforaspotofdeductivereasoning…butnowyou’reriskingspendingtoolongapplyingaprocessofelimination.Thisisadrawinggamewithopportunityforstrategyandtoughsnapdecisions–butstillwiththeopportunitytowinbyjustdrawingandguessingwell.
Andifallthisissoundinginterestingbutmaybejustalittledryforapartygame,justwaitforwhenthethirdandfourthdifficultylevelcardsgetputout.AfterafirstcoupleofroundsdrawingthingsfromobjectcategorieslikeFruitsorAnimals,you’llmoveontosketchingspecificemotionsor“FormsofWriting”.Evenjustseeingthesubjectsislikelytomakeyourgroupstartlaughingatthesheerideaofdepictinganyofthem;whenyoustartseeingyoursketchesandyourguesses,it’llbeasraucousasanyothergameonthislist.
SIMONCASTLE
Designer:RobertoFraga,YohanLemonnier
Price:￡45
CaptainSonarisoneofthebestteamgamesevermade.Youanduptothreefriendssitononesideofthetablewithfourenemiessittingacross.EachgroupoperatesamilitarysubmarinewitheachplayerperformingvariousrolessuchasEngineerorFirstMate.Thecrewsareseparatedbyalargedivider,creatingasortofgroupBattleshipfeeling.Thetensionandenergyispowerful.
Thisgamejustdeliversonitslivelypremise.I’vehadgameswherethecoordinatedstrategicdiscussionwasbrokenbyplayershurlinggummybearsovertheseparator,laughterpunctuatingthehusheddiscussionandthenthestatusquobrokenagainbyaCaptainyelling“Fire!”
Thereisanelementofcamaraderieatworkwhichproducesthesemomentsofexcellence.Tosucceedyoumustworktogether.Eachroleintheshipfeedsintotheeffortandpositioningofthewhole.TheCaptainformstheconnectivetissueofthemovingparts,shoutingorderstothecrewandattemptingtomakesenseofthereal-timechaos.
ThemostinterestingroleisthatoftheRadioOperator.Thispersonsitswithamapandsimplylistenstotheiropponentsverbaldiscussion.Theyattempttomaptheenemy’smovement-Captainsmustverballydeclarewhichcardinaldirectiontheyaremovingwitheachaction.ItfeelsasthoughyouaredecryptingandrelayingcommunicationstotheCaptain,allthewhilepeoplearedroppingminesandlaunchingtorpedoes.
Everythingcomestogethersowell.Whenyouconnectwithoneofyourattacks,blindlyfiringintoagridcoordinate,itfeelsspecialinawayfewgamesmanage.TheinformationfilteredbyyourRadioOperatorconnectswithpreparationcompletedbytheEngineerandFirstMate,allpushedthroughthecentralnodeofthecommander.
Thisgamecanbeanintimidatingexperienceforanewcomer.There’satemptationtoteachusingtheoptionalturn-basedvariant.TheproblemisthatthemagicofCaptainSonarexistsinthefrictionandmesscreatedbyrusheddecisionsandbuildingpressure.It’sagameyouneedtojustdiveintoandfumblearound,eventuallycomingouttheothersideagrizzledveteran.
Designer:KristianAmundsen?stby
Publisher:QueenGames
YouknowthatsceneinIndianaJones,wheretheballrollstowardshiminimpendingdoom,andthere’samildpanicthatpoorIndymaynotmakeitoutofthisone…that’sisbasicallythewholevibeofthisgame,inthebestway.Asthetitlesuggests,you’regoingtoneedtoescapethetemple,butnotwithoutyourtreasure.Rolldicetomeettheconditionstoopenanewroom,andlayanewtiledowninthatdirection,beforemakingyourwaytotheexitbeforeit’stoolate.Soundslovelyanddelightful.
Exceptfortheindescribablemountingpanicthatthegameimpressivelybuilds.You’llplayaCDtrack(orifyou’vemovedtoofarintothefutureanddon’townaplayer,youcanfinditontheirwebsite),thattimesyoutoexactlytenminutestoescape.Partwaythrough,you’llheargongssound,wherefirst,you’llhavetoracebacktothestartingchamberorloseoneofyourdice,andatthenext,escape.
That’sstressfulenough,butthencomethedice.Thisgameisasimultaneousplaygame,soeveryoneisfranticallyrollingtheirdiceasquicklyaspossibletotrytomeetconditionsofeachroom,losingdiceonsomerolls,recoveringdiceonothers,andthere’sarealtensionmadeupoftheculminationofmusic,thetimelimit,andtherepeatedhitofdiceonthetable.Ifyourteamsplitsupinitsexploration,you’reevenmorehyperawareofeveryone,everywhere.
Thefactis,stressfulasitbecomes,it’simmenselyfun.You’reconstantlyrolling,shoutingformoredice,squealingatthetimepressureandfailedrollsatapivotaltime,witheveryonedoingthesamearoundthetable.Sure,youcouldgodophysicalexercisetoraiseyourheartrate,butwhywouldyouwhenyoucanplaythisjoyofagame
Designer:AndrewBryceson
Publisher:Tomy
Price:￡33
Maybeoneofthemostmainstreamgamestoappearonthislist,inasortof‘youcangetitinthesupermarketsatChristmas’way.Whileonedaywe’llseemorehobbyistgamesinTesco,fornow,Articulate!istheoneforus.Whilewordgamescansometimesbeachallengeforthoseofuswhoareperformanceadverse,Articulate!ismoreabouthowyouthinkthanwhatyouknow.
Twoteamstaketurnsdescribingawordtotheircollaboratorswithoutsayingthatword,givingawayhowmanylettersitis,orothertooeasyclues.Youdothisasquicklyasyoucan,asmanytimesasyoucanbeforethetimerrunsout.Thereareafewtrickyrulesaboutlandingexactlyonthegoal,whichnoonehaseverreadasfaraswecantell.
Themainthrillofthegameistheabsolutelystupidthingsthatyouendupblurtingoutinanattempttogetyourteammatestounderstandandguessthewordyou’recircling.Equally,you’llendupwithsomeverystrangedescriptorsbecauseyourbrainhassimplyrunoutoforthogonallyarrangedverbalsignpoststogettoyoutowhereyouwanttobe.Youmayfindyourselfsaying“Horse,”followedby“BigHorse,”andthen,toensurethatpeoplereallygetit,“AmazingHorse!”–towhichyourteammateswillobviouslyknowtheansweris…“Stallion.”
Ifpartygamesareallaboutlearninghoweachoneofusticks,andwhoyourfriendsreallyare,thenArticulate!isoneofthebestwaystogofromgraspingatstraws,toaFreudianslip,totheroomfallingaboutlaughing.Sometimesit’sthesimplethings.
Designer:Uncredited
Triviagamescanbeasoresubjectforsome,givenhowquicklytheycanbecomedatedorfrustrating,buttrustuswhenwesaythatthisisoneofthebestquizgamesever.
RatherthanquestionslikeknowinganexactWorldCupwinnerordatedcelebrity,thisgamepitsteamsinapopculturepenaltyshootout,providingquestionswithmultipleanswerswhicheachteamtakesturnsusinguptothreechancestoguess.Questionsrangefrom“NametheSevenDwarfsinDisney’sSnowWhite”to“Listanyoftheninecommonwaystocookanegg,”alwaysprovidingplentyofscoringopportunities,thoughguessingmoreobviousanswersfirstcanoftenstumpyouropponents,givingyouthewin.Incaseofatieeachquestionalsohasacomplementarynumericaltiebreaker,givingwhoeverguessesclosertheroundwin.Eachcardhasadrinkprintedonit,withtheoverallwinningteambeingwhoevercancollectfivedifferentdrinksfirst.
Thegamedoesatremendousjobinprovidingawidevarietyofcategories.It’suncommonfortwobacktobackroundstohaveanythingclosetosimilarthemes,ensuringthatnosingleplayercouldpossiblyholdtheanswerstoeveryround(unlesstheyhappentobeapubquizprofessional.)Thetiebreakquestionsarealsotherightmixofludicrousyetguessable,whilsttheneedtocollectdifferentdrinksensuresteamsalwayshavetimetocatchup.Ialsoappreciateeachcardhavingadatasourceanddate,tominimiseanyamountofsquabbling.
Adelightfultwistongeneralknowledgegamesthat’shighonlevityandlowonobscuretrivia,ifyou’rehappytohaveadedicatedquizmasterwhilsteveryoneelsestrugglestorememberanumberonesongbytheBeatles,thengettingthisgameisanobrainer.
Designer:AristideBruyant,CyrilDemaegd,GuillaumeMontiage,YohanServais
Publisher:SpaceCowboys
Price:￡29
Aslightlyleftfieldrecommendationhereinthatyou’renotbeingchallengedontrivia,beingaskedtojudge,orlietooneanother.Instead,there’ssomethingreallyelectricaboutgettingtogetherwithsomefriends,crackingopenafreshUnlock!game,andgettingreallybuzzyaboutsolvingtheproblemswithin.Eachboxcomeswiththreecaseswithin,usuallyonasimilartheme–whetherthat’sfindingthenoseofacircusclown,trackingdownaneccentricmillionaire,orinthecaseoftheStarWarsflavouredversion,escapingHoth.
Playersthenuseacombinationofanappandaseriesofcardstosolvepuzzlesandmysteriesonebyone.Somethingthatcomesoutofonepuzzlemightbeusedaspartofthenextsolution–althoughit’softennotthatmechanical.Instead,thesheerrangeofwaysthatyou’reaskedtothinkaboutthesepuzzlesisastounding.There’sproperlateralthinkinginvolved,there’scluesthatwillcomefrompuns,there’sevenafairbitofsimple‘spotthenumber’elementstopuzzleswhichallowsprettymuchanyonetogetinontheaction.
Thegameisallaboutcreatingthesetableauswiththecards,addingandsubtractingthem,butoccasionally,you’llhavetobuildsomethingfromthecards,stacktheminasmartway,andlookatthemfromafunnyangle.There’snothingoffthecards,ifyou’llexcusethepun,whenitcomestotryingsomethingout–whichiswhyit’sagreatpartygame.Everyonecanbeinvolved;youcanpassaroundtheproblemwhileothersgetheatedaboutwhyitcan’tpossiblybethat.Andontopofallofthis,you’reagainsttheclock,givingyouabitofpressureasitcountsdown.
Designer:DonEskeridge
Publisher:IndieBoards&Cards
ItisimpossibletoimagineboardgamingwithoutTheResistance,ahiddenagendagame,whereplayersareonamissiontosabotageanevilEmpire,butamongtheirrankarethespieswhowilltrythrottletheirplans.Inthisgame,youwillgettofindoutjusthowmanytimesyourfriendsarewillingtobetrayyouanditmayalsocauseyoutoblurtout“that’sexactlywhataspywouldsay”inunrelatedsocialinteractionsformonthstocome.
TheResistanceisagreatsocialdeductiongame,butitsfollowup,Avalon,isbetterforonesimplereason:itintroducesdifferentroleswithspecialpowers.The‘good’players,thistimeasArthurianknights,areanoblequest,whileminionsofMordredaretryingtosabotagetheirefforts.Eachsidehascharacterswithspecialabilitiesaddinganexcitingroleplayingelementtothegame.
TheknightshaveMerlinwhoknowstheidentityofevilminions,butifMerliniseverdiscoveredbyMordred’sallies,thegameislost.PercivalknowsMerlin’sidentity,thatisunlesstheevilMorgana,pretendingtobetheall-wisewizard,isalsoinplay.Andtherearemanyotherrolesthatcanreallychangethedynamicofthegame.
Usingtheseabilitiestotheirfullpotentialisnoteasy,soAvalonmayplaybetterwithamoreexperiencedboardgaminggroupasacertainlevelofcommitmentisrequiredtoroleplaythemeffectively.But,whenMerlin’sandPercival’sgazessilentlymeetoverthegamingtable,andMerlincarefullyside-eyestheevilminions,sothenPercivalcancallthemoutinthenextmeeting(anobleself-sacrifice!)bringinginthewinfortheArthurianside,well,thatisaperfectboardgamingmomentrightthere.
Publisher:BigPotatoGames
Ifyou’reatthekindofpartywheresomeonemightshout,“Heylet’splayCharades!”(or“GiveUsAClue,”dependingonhowoldtheyareandhowmuchthey’reintoLionelBlair),thenyoucoulddoworsethansuggestingBlockbusterinstead–especiallyifit’sacrowdnostalgicfortheeraofVHSmovierental.
Charadesisjustonepartofthismovie-themedquizgame,whichsplitsplayersintotwoteamsandgetsthemguessingfilmtitlesoncards.Eachturn,onetitlemustbeguessedfromasinglemimeact(theCharades-ybit),onefromasingleword(“shark”forJaws,or“decapitation”forHighlander),andathirdfromaquotefromthemovie–or,ifyou’renotthatfamiliarwiththefilm,aquotethatcouldbefromthemovie(“Ohno,I’velostmyclownfishson!”)Thingsquicklygetloudandsillyinthebestwaypossible,especiallyasthere’satimedelementtoit,withabigblue-and-yellowelectronicbuzzergivingyouonly30secondstoguessallthreefilms.(Thoughbewarned:it’sthekindofbuzzeryouhit,soitmightgetbrokenifusedtoenthusiastically.)
Theaimistobethefirstteamtocollectamoviefromalleightgenres(includingcomedy,horrorand“All-timeclassics”),andinanice,take-thattytwist,ifyouhavethreeofaparticulargenre,youcanspendthosetonickacardofftheopposingteam,addingaveneerofstrategicconsiderationtotheraucousquiz-basedproceedings.
Ofcourse,it’sthekindofgamethatfavourspeoplewhofrequenttheIMDbandbuyEmpire,butonlymarginally.Tobehonest,muchofthefuncomesfrombravingitoutwhenyoudon’tknowafilmthatwell.Afterall,youdon’thavetohaveseenSnakesonaPlanetobeabletoactitout...
Designer:PeterWichmann
Publisher:Z-Man
Price:￡30
NMBR9ismoreofasedateaffaircomparedtotheothergamesfeatured,andyoumaybewonderingwhetheritcancountasapartygamewhenitonlyplaysuptofourplayers.NMBR9fitsintothecategoryofgamescategorisedas‘MultiplayerSolitaire’.Thismeansyoucancombinemultiplesetstoincreasetheplayercount,makingitidealforlargergroupsthatpreferquieter,puzzle-likegames.
Thegameisveryquicktosetup,asyoujusttakethelidofftheboxandremovethenumbercards(numbered0-9).Eachturnanumbercardisrevealed,eachplayertakesamatchingtileintheshapeofthatnumber.Playersmustthenplacethattileintheirplayarea,buildingupthelayersforhigherscores.Theymusttouchatleastonepreviouslyplacedtileonthesamelevel,andwhenbuildingontheupperlevels,theymustbefullysupportedbyatleasttwotilesbelowthem.Attheendofthegame,everyonewillhaveplacedtwotilesofeachnumber,andthescoresarethesumofthenumbersperlevel,multipliedbytheleveltheywereplacedon.
Initiallywestartedplayingthisgameonlunchbreaksatwork,whentwopeoplebroughtincopiesonthesameday,wehadthethoughttoplaywith8people,anditworkedreallywell.Aseveryoneisplayingsimultaneously,theplaytimeisn’taffectedbythenumberofplayers.AtAireConwetookthisideaandbuiltonit,andhaveplayedNMBR9withupto40peopleatonce!We’vedonethiswithothergamessuchasKarubaandDraftosaurus,anditreallyelevatesthese‘MultiplayerSolitaire’gamesintoafuntimeforallinvolved.
Designer:LudovicRoudy&BrunoSautter
Price:￡18
JustOneisabrilliantco-operativedesignthatwillworkwithalmostanygroup.Thesetupissimple-akeywordisgiventoeveryoneatthetablebutasingleplayerwhoisoblivious.Thisissomethinglike“hair”,“Matrix”,or“safe”.Everyonewhohasseenthewordnowtakesadryerasemarkerandwritesaone-wordclueassociatedwiththekeyword.Thegoalistogetthepersoninthedarktoaccuratelyguessbyassemblingalloftheclues.
Solet’stakethekeywordof“Matrix”asanexample.Oneplayermaywritedown“Keanu”,another“Neo”,andyetanother“Morpheus.”Allofthecluesarerevealedtotheguesserandtheyhaveamomenttoruminatebeforeblurtingitout.
Therearesomewrinkles.Ifmultipleplayerswritedownthesamecluethey’realltossed.Soiftwointhepreviousexamplewrote“Neo”,bothwouldbetakenoutofthepoolleavingasingleclue.Thatcanberough.Butit’sbrilliantinthatitforcescreativethinkingandforparticipantstoattempttogetintotheheadsoftheirteammates.
Someofthestrongestcluesaresimple.Keepingwithourscenario,imagineacluesetof“Keanu”,“hacking”,and“Reeves”.You’dprobablyguess“Neo”asopposedto“Matrix”.Soamoregeneric,yetinformativecluelike“movie”maybeappropriatetoaddcontexttotheother’swords.
Thosemomentsofworkingoutthebestcluetogiveandthentheguesserteasingoutthesolutioncanbeextremelysatisfying.Highfiveseruptandthegroupfeelswonderful.Successalsolandsinauniquewaybecausethisisoneoftheonlycooperativepartygamesonthemarket.Forthatreasonalonethiscanprovelessstressfulandmorejoyfulforthosewantingafriendlierexperience.
Designer:ScottFrisco&StevenStrumpf
Publisher:Haba
ThedelightfullychunkywoodenblocksofJengahavegracedthethroneofthedexteritygamekingdomforalongtime.ThenalongcametheplasticflimsycardsandrhinomeepleofRhinoHeroand,whilemaynothavedethronedit,certainlymadeitscrownalittlelesssecure.
UnlikeinJenga,whereyouremovepiecesofthetowerswaitingfortheinevitablecollapse,inRhinoHero,youbuildatowerinstead,waitingforyourwobblyconstructiontoalsoendupintheeventualcatastrophe.Youbeginwithacardbaseshowingthepositionofthewalls(bentcards),whichformtheverticalelementsforthenextfloortobeplayedfromtheplayer’shand.EachflooralsocomeswithanUNO-stylepower,makingotherplayersskipaturn,orreverseplayorderandsoon,addingabitofthestrategicflavourtothegameplay.
Thetrickiestpowerismovingarhinomeeplefromonefloortoanother.Assoonasyouhaveatleastacoupleoffloorsmadeupofwallsthatdoeverythingbutbentattherequiredrightanglesandthecentreweightofthetowerisoffsetbutthehaphazardnessoftheconstruction,doinganythingtothetower–evenbreathingtooclosetoit–cancausethecollapse.Thismakesmovingrhinomeeplefromoneshakyfloortoanotheraparticularlyriskyaffair.
Seeinganunavoidablyleaningtowerofcardsriseoffthetableandtheninevitabletopple,isanimmensedelight.Takeitfromsomeonewhoplayedgameforayearbeforebotheringtoreadtherules–itisenjoyablewhetheryouplayitwrongorright,playedwithchildrenorwithcopiousamountsofalcohol.Nomatterwhat,thetowerwillfall,thejoywillbehad,RhinoHerowillsavetheparty.
Designer:GéraldCattiaux
Publisher:ScorpionMasque
DoesanyonerememberMastermindAboxedgameIneversawinastatelessthanwhatcouldbedescribedas‘abittatty’,whichsawyouputtingcolouredpegsinasequencetotrytoguesswhatwashiddenbytheotherplayer,whowouldtellyouonlyhowmanyofthepegsyougotcorrect,butneverwhethertheythenmatchedthesequence
Ifso,you’vegotaheadstartonMasterWord.Areallyfunlittlegamethatgetseveryonetalking,oneplayerwillhaveawordgiventothem,withthepromptgiventotheothers.Theymustthenwritethreewordsoncardsinanattempttonarrowdownwhatthewordmaybe.Forexample,thecluemaybecharacter,soyoumaywrite‘active’‘male’and‘book’.Markersarethenprovidedforhowmanywouldansweryes,inthiscase,(arguably)twoarecorrecthere.Inthenextturn,anotherattemptismade–butwhichwasthewrongoneDoyouwastepreciousguessesinrepeatingthemtotrytoisolatewhichonesarecorrectOrmoveonandtrytoworkoutasemblanceofaguess
Thegameusuallyendsupwithadeeperthannecessarydiscussionofwhatthecluegivermayhavemeant–sure,weknowit’snotoabook,butisthatbecauseit’snotabookcreatedcharacter,orthatthey’veneverbeenseeninabook–andwithit,conversationiseasyandfun,andautomaticallyinjectsalittlehumour.Asapartygame,itworks,becauseeveryonecancontributesomething,evenifit’sanargumentagainstthechoicesbeingmade.Itsoundssimple,untilyou’refiveroundsinandbaffled.Inthiscase,thecharacterabovewasMickeyMouse–butyouknewthatalready,right
CHARLIEPETTIT
Designer:ExplodingKittens
Ifyouhaveasinglecellofcompetitivespiritinyou,you’llfinditquicklymultiplies,expands,andturnsyouintoagiantcatofscreamingdoom,whenyouplayAGameofCatandMouth.Or,inplayingthegame,you’llsimplybecomesilent,focussingintentlyonyournextmove.Experiencehasattestedthattherearenoin-betweens.
AGameofCatandMouthmanagestoperfectlyharnessthespiritofcompetitionandcramitintoapleasing-to-lookatdexteritygameinasuitcasestylebox.Youunfoldit,insertafewbumpers,awhiteplasticcatheadfitsintotheverycentre,andamagneticpawattacheseitherside,andyou’rebasicallyaway.Allyouneedtodotoplay,istoflicktinyrubberisedballsfromthepawonyourside,toyouropponent’sside.Ifyoumanagetoknockthreewhiteballsintotheopponent’sarea,orthesingleblackball,orbeclearofyellowballsentirely,youwintheround.Simple,right
Thesimplicityishalfthefun.There’salmostnoexplanationrequiredtogetupandgoing,assoonasyouflickthemagneticpawpeoplehaveanideaofwhatthey’llneedtodo.Thistinydexteritygamethenpokesatyourcompetitivespirit,anddrawsyouintobattle.Whilstit’sbuiltfortwoplayers,onephysicallyopposingtheotheronsidesoftheboard,ExplodingKittenshavethoughttoincludeatournamentmodethatworksjustaswell.Spectatingishalfthefun,andsothisworksperfectlyasapartygametohaveatthereadyforjustaboutanysizegaminggroup.Attheendofanintensebattle,thewinnerwillbelikethecatwhogotthecream.
CanyoudrawIftheanswerisnothenyouareperfectforthisgame.Therereallyissomethingwonderfulinhowhumanbeingscantwistandbendanddistortthingssimplybyshootingthemthroughthechicaneoftheirownperception.Wetakeafairlysimplesetoffacts,putthemthroughtheripplesofourbrainandtheycomeoutoftheotherendstretchedlikethosepeopleinthatJunchiItostory.Ratherthandistendedlimbsthough,inTelestrationswhatcomesouttheotherend,ifyouhavefriendslikemine(and,let’sfaceit,youdo),arecruderepresentationsofthekindofthingsthatwouldmakeyourmaidenauntgetthevapoursandrunfromtheroom.
Thisistheclassicgameoftelephonebutwithdrawinginsteadofwhispering.Youaregivenawordorphrase,youdrawit,passittothenextplayerwhowriteswhattheythinkthewordisthenpassesiton,thenextplayerdrawsitandsoonuntilit’stravelledaroundthetable.Thencomestherevealandyouareremindedhow,onceyoureachacertainage,yourmindpermanentlyresidesinthegutter.
EverytimeIplayitIguffaw,everytimeIplayitourtableisthemostannoyingatgamenightbecausewe’reallscreamingwithlaughter.Thisisagamethatcanbetailoredtoyourgroupthoughandifyouhappentobepeoplewhoaremoresophisticatedthanmyfriendsyoucanplaytheversionthatsuitsyourmorerefinedpalettes...ifyouwant...itwon’tbeasfunnyasoursthough.
BENMADDOX
Designer:AlexHague&JustinVickers
Publisher:CYMK
Partygamesdon’twanttohavelongrulesexplanations–thelessyouneedtoteach,thefasteryougettoplaying.Forthis,Monikers(apublishedversionofthepublicdomaingame‘Celebrities’)istopoftheclass:ithasalmostnorules,andit’sactuallybetterifyoudon’texplainitallupfront.Youdon’tevenhavetohandoutanycomponents.Simplysplityourgroupintoteams,grababout60cards,andexplainthatyou’regoingtodescribethecardswithoutusingthetitlesandyourteammustguessasmanyastheycanin60seconds;eachoneyouguess,youkeepasapoint.That’sit–you’replayingwithin30secondsofopeningthebox.
Onceyourtimeisup,handthecardsyoudidn’tgettoorpassedontoanotherplayer,andrepeatuntilallthecardsyougrabbedatthestarthavebeenguessed.Andthen,justastheplayersarethinkingthatwasfunbutshort,youexplainthemasterstroke:thatwasjustroundone.Collectallthecardsbacktogether,shufflethemupandthenstartasecondtimethrough–butthistimeyoucanonlyuseasinglewordtoclueeachcard.
There’samagictothis,asthefranticfasttalkingofthefirstroundisreplacedbyasuddenawkwardsilence,withtheclue-givergurningatthecard,tryingtoworkoutasinglewordthatwillhelp.Thenthereferencesstartup–butthey’reallreferencesbacktothefirstround.Beforeyouknowit,thegroup’sformedawholesetofin-jokesandeveryone’sboughtin,nomatterhownewtheyaretothegroup.Bythetimeyoureachroundthree–charadesforthesamecardsagain–everyonewillbelaughingsomuchno-onewillevenrememberthatyouweresupposedtobetrackingscores:thetruesignofaperfectpartygame.
Designer:DanPenn&RichCoombes
Parties,bytheirverynature,bringpeopletogether(well,exceptforthatonepersonwhoalwaysendsupinthetoiletcrying).SoinasenseHerdMentalityisabang-on-pointpartygame,seeingasit’sallaboutbeingofamindwithyourfellowplayers.Ifyou’reoneofthosekidswholikesdoingtheirownthing,you’lllose.Simpleasthat.
Beingasocialquizgame,everyoneinvolvedwillmostlyspenditansweringsillyquestions–secretlyandwrittendown.Questionslike,“Whatisthebestsauce”or“Namesomethingyoutakeintothebathwithyou.”Ofcourse,youcanbeclever-cleverandsaythingslike,“Newman’sOwnBlueCheeseDressing”,or“acopyofSunTzu’sTheArtofWar,”butthatwon’tgetyouveryfar.Theideaistocomeupwithananswerwhichmostpeopleintheroomarelikelytogive,becausethemostcommonanswerearnsyoucows,andyouneedeightcowstowin.Soyoumightbebetteroffsaying“Ketchup”,or“arubberduckie”;thoughofcoursethatdependsonwho’sintheroom.Conversely,ifyou’retheonlypersontogiveacertainanswer,youhavetotakethesquishypinkcow,whichblocksyoufromwinningthegame(thoughyoucanstillearnpoints).
Thefun,obviously,comesfromtryingtoreadtheroom,aseveryoneeffectivelyteststhemselvesontheirknowledgeoftheirfellowplayers.Butthat’scomplementedwellbyBigPotato’sbrightbovineaesthetic,completewithcartooncowtokensheldinacardboardpaddock,andtheaforementionedpinkFriesian,whichstandsproudonthetablelikeakindofinversetrophy.Itmightcostyouthegameifyou’vegotit,butatleastitmeansyou’reoneofakind.Hopefullynottothedegreewhereyou’llspendtherestofthenightinthetoiletcrying...
Designer:AlanGerding&SeanMcCoy
Publisher:TuesdayKnightGames
ShortlybeforeoneofthefirstpublicAireConeventsinBradford,we’dheardrumblingsofthisgame.Peopleweretalkingabouthowmuchfunitwas,butitwasextremelyhardtoget,sowemadeourownprintandplayversion.Ahandfulofpeoplejoinedusonthefirstsessionthatweranofit.Itallseemedabitrandom,noonereallyknowingwhatwasgoingon.Allsecrecyandmovinghostagesbetweendifferentrooms,approachingotherplayersindarkenedcornerstryingtocoaxinformationoutofthem,buteventuallyitclicked.WordgotoutandbythelastsessionIhadtostandonachairandshouttherulestothecrowdthathadgatheredtoplay.
Inthebasicgame,playersaresplitintotwoteamsspreadrandomlyacrosstworooms.Eachpersonhasarole,eitherabasicteammemberorthePresidentfortheblueteamandBomberfortheredteam.Intimedrounds,playerstrytofindoutasmuchinformationabouttheothermembersintheirroom,discussingrolesandteamswiththeothers,tryingtofigureoutwhoisplayingthekeyrolesoftheBomberandthePresident.Attheendofeachroundplayerswillvotewhofromtheirroomshouldbesentintotheotherroom.Onceallroundsareplayed,theBombersetstheirbomboff,iftheyareinthesameroomasthePresident,theredteamwins,otherwise,theblueteamisvictorious.
Newrolescanbeaddedinthatmesswiththegame,Agents,Ambassadors,ShyGuys,aClownandover70others.There’sloadsofreplayabilityandloadsoffuntobehadfromthissmallboxofdynamite.
Designer:SeijiKanai
Publisher:Z-ManGames
LoveLetteristhebestgatewaycardgamealthoughitmaybehardtoseeitatfirst.Ithasthecheesiestname,althoughalliterationsarealwaysappreciated.Itcomesinasmalldraw-stringedvelvetpouchwith16cardsandacoupleofredwoodencubes.Itsstorymakeslittlesense:youaretryingtodeliveralovelettertoaprincessaheadofotherplayersbecause–guessinghere–shewillmarrythefirstsuiterandgiftthemhalfofherkingdomItdoesnotmatter,becausewhetheryouarelowlyguard,oranall-knowingpriest(okay,maybewedohavequestions!)orashyhandmaiden,youcanwinthisgame,andmaybetheprincess’sheart,byscheming,bluffing,riskingandgettingabitlucky.
LoveLetterdoesnothavelittlecomponents,ithaspreciselytherightnumberofcharacterstocreatetightandengrossinggameplay,whereeverymovematters.InLoveLetter,youcreateyourownfortune.Itdoesn’tmatterwhatcardsyoustartwith,buthowyouusetheirabilitiestoeliminateyouropponentsorendthegamewiththehighestvaluecard.Therearecertainelementsofluckwithrandomcarddraws,buteachcharacterabilityisweightedperfectlytopackasignificantpunch.Youwillalsoneedtouseyourskillsofdeductiontoseewhichcharactershavealreadycomeoutandwhatcardsyouropponentsarelikelytohaveinthehands,reactingaccordingly.
Thisgamehaspreciseandcompellinggameplay,thatiseasytopickupforexperiencedandnewplayersalike,andneverseemstoloseitsnovelty.AgameofLoveLetteronlylastsacoupleofminutesandyouwillimmediatelyfeelcompelledtogoagain.Theletterswon’tdeliverthemselves,afterall.
Designer:BigPotatoGames
Yetittookthekeeneyeoftheconnoisseursofpartygames,BigPotatoGames,tospotthepotentialoftheautocompletefunctiontogetherwithamusinghumanweirdnessandcreateagamebasedonit.
Yougetexactlywhatitsaysonthebox:astackofcardscontainingweirdthingshumanssearchfor.Thetoprowwillcontainthebeginningofthesentence,withacolumnofwordstocompleteitbelow,withthemostsearchedoneatthetop.Therewon’tgetanyR-ratedcontent,butsomecardsstilltouchmaturetopics.Youwillneedagamemastertoreadoutthetopsentencesonthecardanddividetherestoftheplayersintoteams.Thenlettheexplorationoftheweirdnessofthehumanmindbegin!
Inthisgame,stickingtotheletteroftherulebookisnotnecessary.Switchteams,rotatethegamemaster,trytoguessallwords(notjusttwoasperrulebook),giveminuspointsforgettingawordwrong,ortakeashot!WeirdThingsHumansSearchFor’sinherentsimplicityallowsthisgametoseamlesslyslotintoanysocialsituation,adaptingtothenumberofplayers,orhowsillyorcompetitivetheywanttobe.Evenifsomeonehasneverplayedaboardgame,theconceptisimmediatelyunderstandable,allowingtostartwithinminutes.Itisagameforallofus,abouttheweirdnesswithinallofus.
ALEXANDRASONECHIKINA
Designer:PhilWalker-Harding
Publisher:Gamewright
ItisimpossibletonotfallinlovewiththelittlesushiinSushiGoParty!JustlookathowhappythoseTemakirollslook!AndtheadorablechubbycheeksofWasabi!EvenifMisoSouplooksabitgrumpy,youcanalsotellheisverywise.Inillustratingsushiforthegame,artistNanRangsimamanagedtocapturethefeelingofwholesomenessandthispositive,happyenergyradiatingfromthegameisinstantlyinfectious.
EventhoughonthecutenessscaleSushiGoParty!isoffthecharts,thisgamehasalotmoregoingforitthanjustitslooks.Themechanicsofthisdraftingcardgameareeasytopickup,evenforcompletelynewplayers,butthereisenoughsubstancewithdifferentabilitiesandsynergiesbetweenpowerstosustainthemostdemandingofappetites.InParty!,inadditiontoallthebasesushithatcamewithoriginalSushiGo!,youcanalsochoosefromavarietyofdeliciousdecks,makingeverygameplayverydifferently.
Somesushicardsencourageabitofrisktaking,forexampleTempuraareonlyworthpointsifyoudraftedtwoofthem.Others,preachcaution:MisoSoupscoresifit’stheonlycardsofitstypeplayed.Whileothersstillrewardpatience:Dumplingcardsscoremorepointsthemoreofthemaredrafted.Thegameisflexibleenoughthatyoucanchangeyourstrategyeachround(andeveninthemiddleoftheround!)andstillcomeoutontop!
WhiletheSushiGoParty!stillhasacompetitiveedge(youcandraftacardjustbecauseyouknowyouropponentneedsit),withsomanychoicesofstrategiesonthetable,theinteractionsneverfeelnegative.Whetheryouwonorlost,youwalkawaysmiling.And,perhaps,hungry.
Designer:RikkiTahta
RikkiTahta’sCoupisagamethatticksalloftheright‘party’boxes–itisquicktosetup,learn,andplay,andkeepseveryoneinvolvedwhatevertheplayercount.Italsofitsnicelyina(largish)pocket,takesupbarelyanytablespaceanddoesn’tcosttheEarth,allofwhichmakesitidealfortakingtothecafé/pub/park(orevenaparty).Oh,anditisfun,reallygoodfun.
Setinanot-too-distantfutureinwhichthegovernmentisrunbymultinationalCEOs,thegamepitsplayersagainstoneanotheraspowerfulofficialsvyingforabsolutepower.Onlyonecansurviveinabrutalgameofmanipulationandbluff,deductionanddeception.Allofwhichisapolitewayofsayinglying.
Playersstartthegamewithtwocardsrepresentingtheirinfluence–ifthey’rebothlost,you’reout.Eachcard(Duke,Assassin,Captain,Ambassador,andContessa)hasitsownaction(s)andeachroundplayersselectonetouse.Whatmakesthingsinterestingisthatplayerscantakeactionsoncardsthey’renotholding–aslongastheydon’tgetcaught!Imight,forexample,takethe‘assassinate’action,forcingyoutodiscardoneofyourcards.ButdoIactuallyhavetheAssassinAnyplayercanchallengeme,ifI’mbluffingIloseacard.OrperhapsyouhavetheContessa,whosespecialactionistoblockassassinations.Or,perhapsyoudon’thavetheContessabutfancyabluffofyourown.MaybeI’llchallengeyourightback…
WhatmakesCoupsoenjoyablePerhapsit’sthesimplicity(amIlyingortellingthetruth)orthestrategiesthatdevelop(shouldIplayitsafeortakeariskWhatinformationdoIhave,orthinkIhave),orperhapsitisthewonderfully-Machiavellianinteractionsthatemergewheneverithitsthetable.
PAULWAKE
Designer:BenDrummond
Doingtaskstowinpoints,prizes,orpride,isthestapleofapartygame,and20SecondShowdownisoneofthewilder,morefriendshiptestingversionsofthis.Playersbreakupintotwoteams,withasinglejudge(leadingtothe5-20playerrange)whoisthetaskmaster,andmostimportantly,thesand-timer-keeper.
Thejudgesetsupthesandtimesothereisanequalamountofsandineachside,thenflipsit.Thegoalforeachteamistocompletetheirtasksquickest,sothetimercanbeflippedovertoemptyingtheiropponent’sside,andfillingtheirown.It’ssortofthe‘takethat’ofsandtimers.Thisjollytugofwarisaconflictfoughtonthebattleofabsolutesilliness.Canyoupronounceeveryoneofyourteammates’nameswrong(Probably,butit’sveryfunnyandhardtodoquickly).Canyouwheelbarrowsomeonethroughthenearestdoor(alsolikely,ifeveryoneisgame,andprobablywithonlyminorinjury).Oreven,canyouhugtheclosestfern(Certainly,althoughwhenthisisinsomeone’supstairsbathroom,clatteringthroughthehousetowinthisonecanfeellikeatruerisktofriendships).
Andwithallthat,it’salittlebittransgressive.Thehost(ofthevenue,notthegame)needstobeagoodnaturedsorttoallowthistocarryon.Butiftheydon’tmindpeoplerummagingthroughthe‘stuff’drawinthekitchentofindsomethingtodrawonatattooonthemselveswith,thenit’saperfectlycompetitivekindofsilliness.Andthissenseofcompetitionkeepspeopleengaged,unlikeotherchallengegamesthattendtopeteroutafteracertainpoint.Organisedchaoshasrarelybeensomuchfun.
Designer:AlexHague,JustinVickers,WolfgangWarsch
Publisher:CMYK
Wavelengthisaweirdone.Thisisacompetitiveteam-basedgame.Eachsidetakesaturnwhereaplayerpicksupaweirdproprietarycontraption.Youspinawheelonthisdeviceanditdisplaysacolouredwedgeonaspectrum,randomlypositionedatapointfromlefttoright.Sowithaspin,thescoringwedgemaybeonthefarleft,thefarright,oranypositioninbetween.
Onlythisoneplayerseesthis.Theythencloseaflaptohidethewedgeandofferacluetotheirteambasedonacardvisibletoeveryone.Thecardofferstwoextremes,suchas“TerribleFood”ontheleftand“GoodFood”ontheright.Theleaderthenproffersacluetotheirteamattemptingtoillustratethepointonthatspectrumwherethehiddenwedgelies.
Simpleexample-“fungus”.Thatwouldmakeaspectacularclueifthescoringwedgewasallthewaytotheleftsince“TerribleFood”isatthatedgeofthespectrum.Itgetstrickywhenit’sclosertothemiddle.
Theleaderofferingthecluemustdecideastrategyandthentheirteamwillneedtocrawlintothatperson’sheadandpuzzleoutwhatthey’reaimingat.Thesubjectivityofsomethinglike“Salad”makesforintensediscussion.
Nowimagineothercardsinsubsequentrounds.I’vebeeningameswherewe’vespentfiveminutesdiscussingthemoralcharacterofapoliticianandwheretheylieonaspectrumof“GoodPerson”to“BadPerson”.We’vegonebackandforthoverwhetherasportscarwasextremelyfastornotterriblyfastrelativetoothermodesoftransportation.Alldifferenttypesofsubjectsarebroachedandyoulearnalotaboutyourfellowplayers.Youalsogettorevelinyouropponent’sfumbling.Wavelengthisallaboutemergentconversationandthevagariesofcommunication.
Designer:LudovicMaublanc
Noothergamefeelsassimultaneouslycoolandsillyasthisone.
Ca$h‘NGunsarmseveryonewithafoampistolandeightbulletcards.Atthestartofaround,eightlootcardsarerevealedandplayersdecidewhichoftheirbulletstoplayfacedown.Onthecountofthree,everyonemustpointtheirgunatanotherplayer,thendecideifthey’regoingtoduckintocoverorbravethebarrage.Everyoneisdealtfiveblanksandthreelivebullets,soyoumustchooseyourmomentstostrikecarefully.Anyoneleftstandingoncethedustsettlesgetstotaketheirshareoftheloot,choosingeithercash,diamondsorpaintings,aswellasmedikitsorammo.Whoever’sstillaliveandhasthemostvaluablelootaftereightroundsisthewinner.
Asidefromhavingoneofthebestgamecomponents(Ifyourfirstinstinctwhenhandedafoamgunisn’ttoholditupandmake“pewpew”noises,areyouevenhuman)Ca$h‘NGunsfindstherightbalanceinplayfulzaninessandconsideredcalculation.Everyoneseeswhotakeswhatloot,butasit’sstoredfacedownyouneedtobeabletokeeparoughideaofwho’sgotwhat,lettingyouknowwhereyoushouldbepointingyourgun.Tomakethingsmoreinteresting,oneplayergetstobe“TheBoss,”givingthemfirstpickofthelootandtheabilitytomakesomeonepointtheirgunsomewhereelse.Butasthistitleisupforgrabsalongwiththevaluables,playershavetochoosebetweengettingricherorhavingtheupperhandnexttime.
It’sagameofconstantbetrayalsandrevengethatdoesn’tleaveyoufeelingsour,awildlysillyexperiencethatconstantlykeepsyouontheedgeofyourseat.
Designer:MichaelAdames&PeterSarret
Publisher:R&RGames
Designer:ThomasDagenais-Lespérance
Publisher:LeScorpionMasqué
Decryptoisoneofthosegamesthatcantestafriendship–onbothyourteamandtheopponents.Thepremiseofthegameistotryandcommunicateasecretcodetoyourteammates,withoutgivingitawayentirelyforyouropponentstointercept.Playersslipcluecardsintothedecryptionscreensinslotsonethroughfour,revealingawordassociatedwiththenumber.Thesecanbeseenbyyourteam,butnottheotherside.Theactiveplayerthentakesacodecardandhastodescribethecodetotheirteammateswithoutusingtheworddirectlyassociatedwithit,forexample,youmightsay“cracked”tohintthatit’s“eggs”inslotthreeforthefirstletterofthecode.Yourteamthenscribblesdowntheiranswer.
Andthenitgetsinteresting,astheopposingteamalsogetsachancetoscribbledownyourclues,andalsohaveaguessatthecode.Iftheysucceed,theygetaninterceptiontoken.Ifyourteamfailtoguessthecodefromyourclues,youpickupamiscommunicationtoken.Twoofeitherissuccessorfailure,inthewayyouexpect.Aseveryoneisusinganincreasingnumberofwordstolinkbacktoone,guessingtheotherteam’scodecanbecomeeasier,meaningthere’sarealpressureontowalkthetightropeofwhatyourteamisgoingtogetwhileobscuringyourtruemeaningfromyouropponent.
Overthetableit’sahilariouslyriskygame,asyouutteranobscurecluethatyouwerecertainyourteamwouldunderstand,onlytoseetheirbafflementandthoseontheoppositetablegiveaverypronounced‘gotit’.Theensuingdebriefispartofthefun–asyou’realwaysgoingtobediscoveringtheweirdwaysyourfriendsthinkabouttheworld.
Designer:HervéMarly
Publisher:Lui-même
Skullisabluffinggamesodarnsimplethat,fromreadingtherules,itcanbehardtounderstandhowit’sagameatall–I’vefounditdoesn’teverquiteclickuntilthemomentyouactuallysitdownandstarttoplay.Butthen,wowdoesitclick.
Eachplayerholdsjustfourcards,threeflowersandoneskull,takingitturnstoplaceoneface-downinfrontofthem,untilsomeonemakesachallenge:thenumberofflowerstheythinktheycanturnup,startingwiththeirown,withouthittingaskull.Thetablethengetsachancetooutbidtheirclaimwiththeirownchallenge,beforeit’sgo-time.Turnupthatnumberofflowers,andyou’rehalfwaytovictory;hitaskull,andyouloseoneofyourpreciouscardsandedgeclosertoelimination.
InSkull,thegameisn’tinthecard-layingitself,oreventhebiddingportionforthatmatter,it’sallinthemindgames,theeyecontact,theedgingyourhandtowardssomeoneelse’spileandwatchingtheirfaceforthattell-talesmirk,theheartinyourmouthrisk-taking.
There’sajoythatcomesfromdiscoveringhowmuchhiddendepththereisinSkull.Therearesomanysubtlelittletrickstoplay:tryingtohidethefactthatyou’velostyourskullandhaveonlysafecardsleft,tryingtobluffthatyou’velostyourskull,waitingforjusttherightmoment.Andgamescanplayoutsodifferently!Withvictoryachievedbywinningjusttwotricks,sometimesaplayercansneakthroughinthefirsthandfulofrounds,othertimeseveryoneiseliminatedonebyoneuntiljusttwoplayersarelefttobattleitoutheadtohead.
Skullissosimpleyetsimultaneouslyfiendish.Funnyandtotallyexhilarating.Theperfectpartygame.
Publisher:CMON
WhenhearingthenameSheriffofNottingham,youdon’timmediatelythinkofagameaboutcustomscontrols,noronethatcanbefun.Whetheryouareasternmanofthelaw,theSherriff,sniffingoutillegalgoods,oramerchantwhomanagedtosneakinacontrabandcrossbowundertheverylegalloavesofbread,SheriffofNottinghamoffersalotofopportunitiestobedevious,honest,luckyorperceptive,sometimesallatthesametime.
Unlikeanyotherbluffinggame,thepowerdynamicchangesasplayersswitchfrombeingmerchantstoSheriff.SneakingsomethingunderSheriff’snoseisjustassatisfyingasdiscoveringsomeone’sillegalgoodsbeforetheyreachthetown,soeitherpositionisequallychallengingandenjoyable.
Attheendofthegamewhohasthemostvictorypointsbecomesecondarytoplayers’interactions.Whomanagedtosneakthemostcontraband,andwhowasentirelyhonest,buttheirbagwasstillcheckedeverytimeWhowasthesternestSheriffandwhotookthemostbribesNomatterhowyoudecidetoplaySheriffofNottingham,thisgamecreatesmemoriesforlife.
Designer:AlexandrUshan
Publisher:Cryptozoic
Spyfallisafundamentallysillygame,fromthecoreconceptofaspywhodoesn’tknowwherethey’veinfiltrated,totherangeofpossiblelocations(examples:amoviestudio,amilitarybase,orasubmarine),throughtothehilariousartworkforeachlocale,featuringtheSpyinaludicroushidingplace.Andthisisevenbeforethegameplaystarts,whichseesplayersaskingeachotherquestionsabouttheirenvironment,tryingtosussoutwhocananswercorrectly–butbothquestionsandanswersneedtobeobtuseenoughthatitdoesn’trevealtoomuchtothespy,foriftheymanagetoworkoutwhereyouallare,theywin!
Yetdespiteitssilliness,I’mnotsureI’veeverexperiencedsheerpanicinagameinquitethewayIhavewithSpyfall.Lookingatyourcardtodiscoveryou’rethepersoneveryone’slookingforinahiddenrolegameisterrifyingenough,butwhenthathappensinSpyfallandthenyouthengetpickedrandomlytoaskthefirstquestion,it’sawholenewleveloffear.Howdoyouaskaquestiongenericenoughtocoveryourcompletelackofinformation
Ridiculousquestionsandanswersensueasplayerslookforsneakyreferencesorpuns–orsimplyuninformativeanswersthatsoundplausibleenough.Althoughkeepalookoutfor“willyoupopoutsidetograbmeacupofcoffee”–that’sguaranteedtobeatrapfortheunwaryspythatyou’reonthespacestation.
Whiletheofficialminimumplayercountof3istoolowforthegametoworkinpractice,it’ssurprisinglysuccessfulat4andworkswonderfullyat5ormore.It’salsooneoftherarehiddenrolegameswhereit’satleastasmuchfuntonotbethe‘special’characterasitistobethem.
Designer:TedAlspach&AkihisaOkui
Publisher:BézierGames
Puttingthelaughinslaughter,thistitleputsparlourgameWerewolf/Mafiaonfastforward,condensinganhourofsecretmurderingtoablitzing10-15minutesoffranticfingerpointing.
Playersaresecretlydealtarolecard,lettingthemknowifthey’reavillainouswerewolforworriedvillager.Everyoneclosestheireyesandgetsachancetoopentheireyesbrieflytosecretlyperformtheirownuniquepower,whichcouldbelookingatanother’scard,swappingtwoplayerscardsandmanymore.
Onceeveryone’shadtheirchancetoact,alleyesopen,rolesremainfacedownonthetablesono-onecancheckwhotheyareandtheaccusationsbegin.Afteratimerrunsout,playersvotewhotheywanttoeliminate.Ifawerewolfischosen,thevillagerswin,whilstanyhumandeathisavictoryforthebigbeasties.
Thesheervarietyofactionsmakededucingthetruthamaddeningchallenge.Werewolvesneedtoavoidbeingcaughtandarealsoawareoffellowfiends,lettingthemteamuptoshifttheblame.However,it’sentirelypossibleforaplayerwhothinksthey’reawerewolfhasnowbeenswappedtotheotherside,soknowingwhentorevealinformationiskey.
Theeaseofmuddlingensuresthatthosewhodobestaren’tnecessarilytheonesdealtthebestcards,butwhoevercanfasttalktheirwayoutoftrouble.Beingabletocommunicateiscrucial,assimplyshoutingdowneveryoneelsewastestimeandjeopardisesyourchancetowin.
Whilethebasegamescomewithplentyofinterestingcharacterstoshakethingsup,we’vebeenblessedwithseveralgreatstandaloneexpansionsovertheyears,anyofwhicharefantasticforshakingthingsup(thoughpersonallyDaybreakisourabsolutefavourite.)
Amasterpieceinsocialdeductiongaming,musthave.
WhohasneverdreamedofbecomingaspyGoondangerousmissions,deciphersecretcodes,escapeunnoticedhavinggatheredclassifiedintel.Whileplentyofgames–boardgames,RPGsorvideogames–canimmerseplayersinperilousenvironmentsandgivethemworld-savingmissions,creatingjusttherighttypeofthespy-stylepuzzleistricky.
Youwantsomethingthattestsbothyourknowledgeandintuition,partskillandpartluck,whilebalancedperfectlysoeveryonecantrytosolveit,butalsofeelchallengedallthewaythrough.Mostimportantly,youneedtofeelreallycooldoingit!Codenameseffortlesslyticksalltheseboxes.
Splitintoteams,playersattempttofindthespecificwordsonthefive-by-five-wordgrid.Onlythespymasterfortheteamknowswhatwhichwordsaretherightones,andtheycancommunicatethistotherestofthegroupthroughacodedmessageconsistingofanumberandaword.
Comingupwiththecodedmessageishard:youwanttodescribeasmanywordsaspossiblebutalsoavoidgettingopponents’wordsand,mostdangerousofall,theassassinwordthatimmediatelyendsthegame.Decipheringisnoteasyeither.Maybetheclueistoobroadcoveringtoomanywords,oritissoobscurethatnothingonthegridseemstofit.Ormaybeawordmeanssomethingdifferenttoyouthanitdidtospymasterand–oh!–youaccidentallyhelpedtheopposingteam!Thegamechangessomuchbasedonthesizeoftheteams,howwellorlittleplayersknoweachotherandwhetherspymasterispreparedtoplaysafeorrisky.
Playersalwayshaveallthetoolsfortheproblem,butthesolutionisneverstraightforward,becausethingscanhavedifferentmeaningstodifferentpeople.Itmaybeatritenotionbutinthiscase,itmakesanunforgettablegamewheresolvingapuzzleisfist-pumpingsatisfying.
ChristopherJohnEggett
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