Publisher: Seajay Games
Player Count: 3-5 Players
Game Length: 120 Minutes
Kickstarter: September 30-October 30

Click here to see the Kickstarter campaign

Era of Atlantis is a worker placement and area-control board game by Seajay Games set in a distant mythical-scifi past.

The unique twist about this game is that you control two nations at the same time and share each one with another player! The lesser valued one at game end determines your score.

You are playing a secret society seeking to expand the two powerful nations you control during the mythical antediluvian age, 12000 years ago. This includes legendary civilizations such as Atlantis, Lemuria and Hyperborea.

Cooperate and compete with your rivals to become the most successful one before the Era of Atlantis ends either in glory or in cataclysm!

In Era of Atlantis, you are a secret society seeking to expand the powerful nations you control during the mythical antediluvian age, 12000 years ago. You have two of these under your control and share each one with a rival. You also have a secondary goal trying to bring “light” or “darkness” to the world. Working with and against your rivals you must prove to be the most powerful secret society in the world before the Era of Atlantis ends either in glory or in cataclysm.

This is an area-control and worker placement game with a unique twist. You control two nations with the lower-valued one counting for your score at game end. This means you will usually try to balance the two. You also share control of each one with another player, who has the same interest in the success of that nation as you do. Switching control of a nation is also possible, but difficult.

There are ways to score a few additional points for yourself only, such as with your remaining mystical energy or by fulfilling secret objectives.

The game is played over a variable number of rounds, with each player taking a turn per round. There are two main ways to gain new areas for your nation: militarily or politically. You can also expand your abilities by constructing buildings or acquiring powerful special actions. A nation will grow more successfully the better its two controlling players can cooperate.

Era of Atlantis is the successor game to Galactic Era and plays in the same universe (chronologically the prelude). There is also a campaign game mode where you can play both games together.

Publisher: Good Games Publishing
Player Count: 1-5 Players
Game Length: 60 Minutes
Complexity 2/5

As a competitive New York City dog walker, building an efficient business is the key to success. But when your business involves unpredictable 4-legged canines—each with their own unique preferences and personalities—you’ll often have to juggle the needs of the pets while still trying to stay on schedule in this thematically bright and family friendly board game. 

In Bark Avenue, you’ll be walking a variety of real-life dog breeds around the blocks of New York City, picking them up, giving them plenty of exercise and fun before dropping them back home. You’ll need to keep plenty of dog treats on hand and maybe a coffee or 2 to keep up with these energized pooches. Do a good job and you’ll receive great reviews as you watch your business grow and seek to become the most prestigious dog walker in NYC.

ON YOUR TURN

Bark Avenue is really about the dogs. There are 81 unique and beautifully illustrated dog breed cards in the game. While I don’t want to downplay the strategy, the real joy of the game will come from your appreciation of the dogs and their unique traits.

On your turn, you’ll be picking up dogs across the city. Each available dog has a home address where you’ll meet it. Once a dog is in your care, you’ll move across a map of New York City that’s based on real world locations.

Each dog has its own “speed” or movement available per turn as well as the length (or number of turns) it will need to be walked. Certain dogs will only get along with specific sized dogs and some dogs will want to just walk alone. There are ways to mitigate these challenges, but you’ll typically need to incorporate careful planning to ensure any dogs walked together will play nice.

While each dog will earn you a specific amount of money, garnering tips can certainly help out your cause. Owners love it when you take photos of the dogs, cater directly to the dogs needs (be it playing ball, visiting fire hydrants or splashing in water). This is also the only game I’ve ever played that rewards you for your dog taking a poop.

You’ll need to plan each dog’s journey so you’ll be able to drop it off at the right time. Miss your return appointment and you forgo tips and positive reviews.

The game plays over 17 turns, each turn introducing an event, change in the rules or modifying the available dogs. As your business rating increases, you’ll have access to bonuses such as extra dog treats or the ability to walk more dogs at once. In the end, the player with the most money is the winner.

ARTWORK & COMPONENTS

As I mentioned previously, the dog artwork is bright and cheery. The game’s 81 unique dogs are all based on real-life foster dogs across the United States. The dog illustrations are fun and really well done and will definitely appeal to dog fanatics. Additionally, the game board showcasing a stylizing layout of New York City helps further immerse you in the theme.

The game delivers what you’d expect from a high quality production. The rulebook does a fantastic job explaining the game and referencing the game’s more detailed aspects.

PROS & CONS

Vibrant, high quality artwork

Fun, friendly theme

Despite a bit of a learning curve with the iconography and some of the game’s cards, I was pleased with how easy the game was to learn.

Easy to teach

Theme matched well with the turn actions

Turns sometimes felt overly simple and little ho-hum

Efficiency puzzle where choices never felt too challenging leaving me a bit underwhelmed by the overall mechanics

WHY WOULD YOU LIKE THIS GAME?

There is no mystery here, this is a game for dog lovers. I’ve got a number of dog lovers in my family and we’ve played every dog game you can get your hands on. Taking everything into consideration, this is one of the best dog-themed implementations I’ve played. The developers certainly knew where they were going and did a great job catering to a pet-friendly audience.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS GAME?

I sound like a broken record, but the variety of dogs in the game is truly the best part. They’re all so bright, friendly and charming, it completely transcends the entire experience.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Bark Avenue is a rare game where the charm coming from the theme saves what could have been a somewhat lackluster experience. The actual actions of moving around the board and grabbing bonuses often felt like I was repeatedly moving in a circle. But that’s really the life of a dog walker and finding a puddle for Nova, my Teacup Pomeranian, to splash in or walking through the park to play frisbee with Nico, a Bernice Mountain Dog, brought the game to life. The colors and the dogs and location provides a really friendly and fun thematic experience even if you’re not met with the most thoughtful or engaging decisions.

That being said, I think Bark Avenue does a nice job bringing a slightly more challenging experience to a genre of board games that are typically very light and simple. To be truly effective in the game, you really need to engage the planning and it will sometimes require a little thought to make sure you’re running your dog business smoothly. It’s certainly not overly complicated for anyone over age 10, but it will require strategy. In the end, I think many are going to find a sweet spot in the game’s overall experience.

I was pleasantly surprised by Bark Avenue and the wonderful theme really won me over. It seems to be flying under the radar a bit and that may be due to so many similar themed games hitting the market, but Bark Avenue definitely has a lot of quality, standout points. This may be the best dog-themed game I’ve played.

Publisher: Mini Mysteries
Player Count: 1-4 Players (my recommendation)
Game Length: 60 Minutes
Complexity 1.5/5

A mysterious package has arrived at your door and as unbelievable as it may seem, this parcel is a plea for help from a time traveling agent from the future! Should you accept the mission? Before you know it you’re listening to a correspondence from a woman named Cleo who is trapped in Egypt in 1922. Now you must solve a series of puzzles before time runs out or Cleo will be trapped in the past forever.

Escape from Ancient Egypt

Egyptian Enigma is a lighter, friendlier escape room targeting families with kids. Players will be tasked with solving a series of puzzles centered around the Egyptian gods. The adventure is supplemented with a website link that provides a timer for the game as well as a story that intercuts in between solving your objectives. All the characters are voiced by real audio actors and the story is whimsical and humorous keeping the entire experience light and fun.

I’m going to do my best to avoid spoilers, but the entire presentation is really well done. All the material is delivered in a series of envelopes. Everything feels very authentic with a variety of pieces and paper-types. The graphic design has a neat throwback-vibe that really places you right in the middle of this mystery.

As I mentioned, this is more of a family-friendly escape room meant for younger adventures. The puzzles are just challenging enough to keep kids engaged without getting them frustrated. It’s really ideal for a child’s parent to help guide them through, but hang back and let them solve the puzzles. There was only 1 puzzle that didn’t quite feel up to the quality of the others, but that may just be due to my personal thought process. Throughout the game, you’ll be faced with a series of puzzles that also have a level of educational and instructional material. As the game progresses you might need to lean on past puzzles as the entire story comes together.

I’m not a super-sleuth when it comes to escape room games. I’m actually notorious for spending hours on a puzzle that the average person might solve in a matter of minutes. Thankfully, Egyptian Enigma is a legitimate, under-and-hour scenario. In fact, the game comes with a timer you can cast on your iPad or television that increases the tension. Once completed, you’ll be able to compare your success against other players from all over.

PROS & CONS

Fun story full of humor and solid vocal performances

Great production with authentic looking pieces

Quick, light puzzles to keep kids and families engaged and moving forward

The entire game plays in under an hour – which feels just about right

Fun overall experience

I struggled with 1 puzzle that I didn’t feel quite reached the level of the others

The audio drama did contain some brief, mild language. So that’s something to consider in regards to your audience.

Neutral – Puzzles may be too simple for older kids. I’d put this in the 8-13 year old range.

WHY WOULD YOU LIKE THIS GAME?

If you’re looking for a quick, tight, escape room that’s got a fun presentation, humorous story and works well for younger adventures, you should definitely check out Egyptian Enigma.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS GAME?

The best thing about Egyptian Enigma is the overall presentation of the material. While the puzzles may be lighter, the production doesn’t flinch. Each puzzle is unique and has its own look. It is all very historic and authentic and makes for an engaging experience.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Egyptian Enigma is a fun escape room experience you can easily complete in one evening. The puzzles are on the lighter side so this is best for families with kiddos. While you may have a good time, it’s certainly not intended for more seasoned escape artists. I thought the puzzles were consistent and interesting. I really appreciated that they weren’t too challenging. We had played a more demanding escape room game the night before and while it claimed to be for kids, the difficulty level ultimately led to my kids losing interest. I love seeing my kids work to solve puzzles and the excitement stirred when finding the answers. One day they’ll be ready for escape room primetime, but until then, this hit the right level of difficulty. Along with the solid production and theatrics, Egyptian Enigma brings a lot of value. Overall we really enjoyed the experience.

Check out this and other mysteries at minimysteries.club.

Publisher: Pandasaurus Games
Player Count: 2-6 Players
Game Length: 25 Minutes
Complexity 2.25/5

In 2002, rapper Missy Elliott dropped a line that strangely describes Faraway when she spouted “Put your thing down, flip it and reverse it.” In Faraway, you’re going to be putting your thing down… then you’ll flip and reverse it. It’s really quite that simple.

Far from the modern music scene, players will be adventuring to a mysterious land full of strange characters, wonders and secrets… gaining fame as you seek balance in an ever shifting landscape.

In reality, you’re building a tableau of drafted tiles earning points through a variety of different combinations. The twist is after 8 tiles, you’ll reverse the entire order of tiles forcing you to score in reverse. It’s quite a trip for us linear thinking folks.

ON YOUR TURN

It’s the scoring twist that really helps Faraway standout. The game’s actions alone are fairly rudimentary: One any turn, players will simultaneously choose a tile from their hand and play it sequentially in a line in front of them. Players then draw new tiles from a community pot based on the lowest number tile played. If players played a tile larger than their previous tile, they gain a bonus card. Rinse and repeat.

I realize this is all very ambiguous, so let me briefly dive into the tiles that make the game run. Each tile in the game is unique, featuring a number, color, cool illustration and a combination of icons, scoring functions and scoring requirements. For example, a card may give you 2 points for every rock played, but you need 3 plant icons to trigger the action. On top of that, the card may have its own rock icon earning you an immediate 2 points if you’re able to meet the prerequisites. Bonus cards offer additional icons and scoring conditions to supplement your pursuits.

Enter the TWIST! 

A game consists of playing 8 tiles. Once the final tile is played, players will flip over all their tiles and reveal them one at a time in reverse order. Each tile will be scored based on what’s visible. So when you hit that tile giving you 2 points for each rock, you’ll need to have 3 plants visible as well as any rocks you hope to score. What this ultimately means is that you’ll have to rely on some pretty serious planning and a bit of luck to lock up your big time scoring ambitions.

We love to process things in linear fashion, so when a game like Faraway challenges the status quo, it can be a little jarring. Despite my best teaching efforts, Faraway is a game you have to play once to truly grasp. The idea of planning for the future so you can activate actions in reverse order will force you to look at Faraway in a different way.

ARTWORK & COMPONENTS

Each tile in Faraway is uniquely illustrated in a very stylized and vibrant look full of personality and flavor. The artwork does a nice job defining the game’s vibe. Whether the art is “your” style or not, it certainly helps Faraway stand out visually.

As far as components are concerned, you’re getting a stack of 68 tile/cards and 45 bonus cards. It’s a small box that doesn’t have a large footprint.

PROS & CONS

Unique scoring twist gives Faraway a fresh spin

Simple decisions feel weighty and challenging in the moment

Simultaneous play and simple turns make this a quick play

Card variety will force you to think on your toes and take unique paths each game

Game plays great at all player counts

Luck factor will occasional lead to a dud of a game

I often get stuck with cards that “lead nowhere”

WHY WOULD YOU LIKE THIS GAME?

This is a game for players in the market for a think-y, quick playing card game that feels fresh and different. It’s easy to teach, but the learning curve adds to the game’s mystique. Once the game’s “ah-ha’ moment hits, you’ll be singing the praises of Faraway.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS GAME?

The best thing the game has to offer is its spin on scoring. It’s a very simple twist, but I love how it forces you to plan and think differently. I imagine there’s a deeper metaphor about looking at life from a different angle, but for now, I’m just going to enjoy turning my cards around and scoring in reverse.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Faraway has been a huge delight and another solid, quick-playing, family-friendly game from the fine folks at Pandasaurs Games.

The game plays at a rapid pace, but the choices and turns feel deep and important. Each game, the lay of the cards will introduce some wrinkles on your standard strategy keeping you on your toes and keeping the game fresh. Every once and awhile you’ll get a dud. The tiles won’t fall just right and your luck may fail you. The upside is each game is over before you know it and you’re ready to go again.

It’s always refreshing to discover a new twist on board gaming and Faraway provided that for me. Unique in its ability to appeal to gateway gamers and more seasoned players, Faraway provides some serious mass appeal and fun. I highly recommend Faraway to any and everyone interested in board/card games.

Publisher: Write Stuff Games
Player Count: 1-4 Players
Game Length: 30-40 Minutes
Complexity 2.25/5

Saddle up your band of ruffians and explore the Wild West in one of my favorite flip and write games ever!

In Fliptown, players resolve their problems (and life choices) with a simple deck of cards. It’s the value and suit of the card drawn that’s going to open a gateway into a sandbox-style world where you’ll choose to seek your fortune mining gold, rustling up trouble in the badlands, seeking adventure on the trail or exploring all that the frontier towns have to offer. The sheriff’s hot on your trail, so be quick to earn your fortune while avoiding the law.

Breathing new life into the flip and write genre, Fliptown pushes boundaries with interesting turns and rich rewards. Designer, Steven Aramini had previously found success with micro games such as Sprawlopolis and Circle the Wagons – games full of tough choices and tight turns. It’s exciting to see him branch out with a Fliptown, a grand celebration of the art and spirit of Western America… all tied beautifully together in a box that will fit on any size shelf.

ON YOUR TURN

Everything Fliptown has to offer literally stems from a simple deck of cards (albeit, a thematic and beautifully illustrated one). On your turn, you’ll draw 3 cards, using the results to make your choices. The suit will determine the area of your player board you tackle while the numerical value determines the strength or area you pursue. The third card is placed toward your ongoing poker hand that resolves after a single round of 5 turns.

Each player has a reusable dry erase board presenting all the actions you have available. At first glance, it can be a bit overwhelming since it appears there is a lot going on. But I promise you, it all comes together logically and quickly without hardly any struggle.

Representing each of the 4 card suits, players can visit 1 of 4 areas per turn. Each of these areas are thematically highlighted by different mini-games to conquer. The value of the 2nd card chosen will determine what you can accomplish in the area. For example, mining gold presents a tech-tree puzzle where you’ll use your card value to mine further down earning bonuses along the way.

Yes, Fliptown is all about the combos and bonuses along the way. There are definitely ways to extend your turn, and give you that big gun feeling while earning you additional actions and resources.

One of the highlights of Fliptown is in its ability to tell a story throughout the game without diving into an unnecessary narrative. Seeking to rob a stagecoach in the badlands can lead to big rewards or huge legal trouble with the law. The actions come to life, and while the decision is resolved in a matter of moments, your choices begin to shape your adventure in unique and exciting ways.

Traveling to the town provides the opportunity to invest in a ridiculous number of Wild West activities. Visit the undertaker, the church, saloon, general store, land office, gunsmith, bail bonds and plenty more. Each sub location provides fun ways to modify your abilities, benefits and pursuits.

In the end, the player with the most points (or Wild West fame) is the winner. You can play it safe, seeking to avoid the law and go on your merry way… or you can push your luck with hopes of greater victory. Higher reward always comes with a cost and in Fliptown, it’s the sheriff you’ll want to avoid. Each round, players face increasing heat from the law. As you take actions, you’ll accumulate wanted icons that put you in conflict with the local sheriff. Of course there are ways to mitigate these dangers and in the Wild West, even sherifs aren’t above a bribe or two.

Players choose 1 of the game’s 14 personas giving you unique, asymmetrical actions to help you along your trail. Community goals give players additional pursuits to garner game changing points.

Riding Solo

Fliptown also features a simple yet engaging solo mode that creates new challenges as you face off against 4 different bots. Fliptown is a bit of a multi-player solitaire experience, so it isn’t much of a reach to transition to a solo game. I’d even recommend Fliptown just for the solo gamer.

ARTWORK & COMPONENTS

Fliptown is beautifully illustrated with decorative, turn-of-the-century stylings, a rusty, orange hue and mesas adorned with cactus set amongst endless vistas. I love the vibe of the artwork and it immediately draws me in each time I pull this one off the shelf.

This is a big game in a small box with somewhat minimal components. The deck of cards, goals, player personas and dry erase markers round out the package.

If I’m going to be critical, the type on the player board can be a challenge. The design team did a great job working within the boundaries of the board size and box, but it would have been nicer if some of the type wasn’t so small. It obviously hasn’t ruined my enjoyment of the game, but it is worth noting.

The rulebook does an amazing job navigating you comfortably through the game’s actions, areas and rule variants.

PROS & CONS

Exciting choices

Simple, yet deep actions

Activate areas full of personality

Beautifully thematic production

Easy setup and teardown

Tons of replay ability

Great solo and multiplayer

Quick play time

Some of the text is challenging to read on the boards

That’s really it – this is one of my favorites of the year!

WHY WOULD YOU LIKE THIS GAME?

Fans of games like Hadrian’s Wall and Fleet: The Dice Game are going to find the most to enjoy here. This is a think-y, sandbox-style flip and write that rewards players looking to venture down multiple paths. While it certainly isn’t heavy, it will take a moment to familiarize yourself with the game’s choices, icons and functions. That’s all a necessary and worthwhile pursuit to grant passage into the richness, depth and enjoyment the game offers.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS GAME?

I’ve talked about the execution of the theme, the cool turn choices and the ingenious use of a playing deck… so I’ll give props to the combos. So many games fail to provide the right amount of combos. Too many and the game feels cheap… too few and there isn’t enough excitement. Fliptown brings a great level of bonus actions where you feel satisfied, but not overwhelmed. There’s really a nice balance to it.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Are you looking for a meaty, flip and write style game? Check out Fliptown. Maybe you’re looking for an engaging western-themed game? Fliptown works for that. Or perhaps you’re looking for a fun experience with satisfying choices? Yep… Fliptown.

Despite the complex player interface, this is a highly accessible game that’s quick to learn, easy to set up, plays smooth and fast and works for any of the 1-4 player counts.

The beautiful production immediately draws you in and from there it’s guns blazing. I love the huge variety of choices that provide a near infinite number of paths to pursue. Turns feel powerful without cheapening the game and Fliptown gives you the sensation of accomplishment despite the player’s skill level (or lack of).

Of course your enjoyment of the theme can certainly affect your overall experience. I love the romanticized vision we have of a nearly civilized western society coming to terms with an untamed world around them. Fliptown does a fine job of embracing this vision, but being “in to” western themed games isn’t necessary to enjoy this one.

Fliptown doesn’t quite dethrone Hadrian’s Wall as the flip and write boss for me, but it’s in the neighborhood. ‘X’ and write games have always leaned on the lighter side and quality, heavier games in this space are few and far between. Fans of games like Hadrian’s Wall are going to want to get in on this.

After nearly a dozen plays, Flip is easily on the shortlist for game of the year (2024) for me. After wading through dozens of lackluster games, it’s experiences like Fliptown that remind me why I love board games. I can’t recommend this one highly enough.

Walking in Burano: Roll & Write
Publisher: EmperorS4
Player Count: 1-4 Players
Game Length: 30 Minutes
Complexity 2/5

Set on the island of Burano in Venice, players will work to decorate their home with plants, curtains, chimneys as well as the ever-present house cat in an effort to appeal to the frequent tourists and local inhabitants. Meet their high demands and earn their adoration in this dice drafting roll and write game. 

ON YOUR TURN

Walking in Burano: Roll & Write is a new version of the original board game, Walking in Burano from the same designer. I haven’t had the opportunity to play the original so there obviously won’t be any direct comparisons.

In this version, players will serve as decorators taking turns drafting dice and adorning the local homes with flair and enhancements to appeal to the local community. Burano is a vibrant tourist destination and visitors will often stop to admire the brightly colored real estate.

On your turn, you’ll place one of your boats on the canal next to one of the 6 available dice. Each round, the 6 uniquely colored dice are rolled and placed in their respective spots. Each dice reflects a specific home on your player sheet and the value determines how you can interact with that home if that dice is chosen.

There are 5 different ways to interact with each home. While each home is unique in its decorating opportunities, you can generally address any of these areas as long as you meet that decoration’s “mini-game” requirement. Planting flowers requires you to label the plant with a die value equal to or lower than any previously planted plant in that home. Cats can be added as long as the die value equals the floor the cat is on. Red or blue curtains can be added depending on the die being odd or even. Each streetlight has a specific number. Finally, chimney’s across the street will need their own unique number.

Each player will receive 2 die actions per round. There isn’t a ton of interaction aside from the general race to the finish and choosing a die previously chosen by an opponent. The penalty is a coin to the original resident of that dice space.

After all players have chosen their dice, they have the option to invite a guest. There are 10 unique guests all looking for a unique pattern present in all the houses. For example: inviting the photographer scores points for all the cats in a single house. The tailor is looking for a pair of red and blue curtains throughout the entire block. Santa Clause (yes, Santa Clause) scores points based on the total value of all the chimneys at the time he’s invited. You’ll score points in a variety of ways with some based on an individual house, while others would score an entire floor.

The game ends when a player has invited their 5th guest, so the push and pull of the game is in the balance between maximizing your scoring goals and actually activating those goals. When you invite a guest you score that goal immediately, often forcing you to leave points on the shelf in your pursuit of 5 goals before your opponent. Ultimately, the player with the most points wins the game… and that may not be the player who finished all 5 invites first.

ARTWORK & COMPONENTS

While the artwork is colorful and fun, this is a pretty basic production. The publisher’s creatively tied in the canal/dice holders to fit nicely in the box and still provide some dimension to the play area. Unfortunately, like the majority of the game, the paper quality isn’t the best and everything feels kinda cheap. I’d like to think the components don’t  diminish the game experience, but it was definitely something I noticed with each play.

The rulebook is simple and clear. The different requirements are easy to find making it easy to jump right in on your first play.

PROS & CONS

This is a quick and simple game that works for a broad audience

The rulebook is clean and clear making it easy to learn and teach

The theme is enticing on its own. While it doesn’t shine through intensely, there are going to be those who appreciate the personality and setting.

While production quality will likely keep the cost down, it is a bit of a disappointing production.

Turn choices ultimately aren’t that interesting. While you’re at the mercy of the dice, pursuing certain objects may or may not pan out. I wasn’t that excited or distraught no matter the outcome.

This is going to sound funny given that this is a game of luck, but everything felt a little deterministic. While some are going to win out and often win big, I’m just hoping I choose the right objectives to pursue. It may work out… it may not, but there didn’t seem to be a lot I could do about it once I was committed to a strategy. You can mitigate the dice by spending coins, but that’s even limited.

WHY WOULD YOU LIKE THIS GAME?

Walking in Burano comes across as a less refined version of Welcome To, but there are still some interesting choices and personality in the box for serious fans of roll and writes. The complexity level is just there enough to create an interesting experience for someone new to gaming or roll and writes in general.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS GAME?

The best thing about the game is the tourist personalities. They are each searching for something different and willing to score in their own way. This does add some diversity and replayability.

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you’ve made it to this point in the review, it’s pretty clear that I’m not jumping up and down for Walking in Burano: Roll & Write. It’s not that it’s a bad game, but rather a bland game. The turn choices aren’t that exciting and it all feels so random. The game’s production doesn’t do itself any favors either.

I mentioned briefly that this feels like a watered down version of the game Welcome To. It’s not nearly as refined and clever and the choices just don’t get me excited. There just isn’t a whole lot here that’s memorable.

The solo mode may be the way to play this. It’s super easy to implement and you can play at your own pace. In fact, the game as a whole is really easy to get into. It does play quickly, giving it some virtue under the right circumstances.

As a fan of roll and writes, I’m willing to give these types of games a little extra grace, but this isn’t one I’ll likely revisit. Perhaps if you’re a fan of the original game this might be something to check out out of curiosity.

Publisher: Funko Games
Player Count: 2-5  Players
Game Length: 45-60 Minutes
Complexity 2/5

Back in 1974, 4 friends set out on a road trip across rural Texas. Along the way they stumble on what appears to be an abandoned house only to discover unspeakable horrors lie within. What started as an innocent road trip turns into a battle for survival. In this one versus many game, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Slaughterhouse allows players to relive the madness as the young trespassers or step into the shoes of the murderous Sawyer family. Play through a series of scenarios challenging you with different objectives and puzzles. But remember, in this game, there are no winners… only survivors.

ON YOUR TURN

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is both a cooperative game and a one vs many experience. You choose the side you want to play and then embrace the storyline, objectives and mechanics uniquely related to that persona.

So yes, you’re going to have to learn 2 sets of rules, but they’re pretty straightforward and TCM is any easy game to jump into. I’d liken it to the Horrified series from Ravensburger in terms of depth and engagement. There seems like just enough rules and choices to keep you engaged without overwhelming you.

Playing as the trespassers puts you in the shoes of the uninvited guests who have just happened to wander onto the Sawyer property. The game provides a series of unique scenarios that give the trespassers different goals to keep the game fresh. In truth, they all basically culminate with the trespassers trying to not end up dead, but you get to do different things along the way.

As the trespassers, your job will be to quickly, quietly and efficiently rummage through the game’s creepy 2-story house. In the first scenario, your goal is to repair a specific vehicle, grab the gas and the keys and get out of Dodge before the Sawyer family can beat you to death. In another scenario, you’re taking photos around the property to document the murderous activities. Choices are fairly limited: you either search a location in and around the house, walk to another location or run for your life! You may uncover useful tools to escape or items to help defend yourself. But, doing things in general creates noise and noise has consequences… which leads to one of the coolest features in the game…

As you take actions, you collect noise tokens. For anyone who’s ever seen a scary movie, noise is not something you don’t want to create. These noise tokens will both conceptually and physically become the fear tokens that fuel the antics of Leatherface and the crazy Sawyer family.

Playing as the Sawyer family is more of a process pulled directly from the pages of a movie script. Key characters are revealed, plot twists exposed and tensions rise to a frenzied pace. The Sawyer family consists of 4 members, each with their own special abilities, but they’re not all available to start the game. The Sawyer family will need to progress on the chainsaw track (a cube track shaped in a cardboard chainsaw) to bring out additional family members. The Sawyer family will move around the house chasing after the intruders, but they are aided in their quest with the fear tokens. These fear tokens can be spent on additional actions to gain bonus abilities or move forward on the chainsaw track. And this is key to amping up the pressure in the game. With more baddies on the board, the Sawyer family has a tactically heightened opportunity to make life difficult for the survivors… and if the survivors last long enough for Leatherface to make an appearance, they better make haste.

Damage is randomly assigned to the survivors through confrontations and a deck of death cards. Once a trespasser is assigned 4 unique injury cards they’re no longer injured… they’re dead. And that player gets to enjoy the terrifying screams of their companions from the sidelines for the remainder of the game. Now survivors can deal damage to the Sawyer family in a number of ways and cards drawn throughout can help balance the power struggle, but in my experience, survivors are running and Sawyers are chasing.

The game ends when at least 1 survivor has met their objective and escaped or all the survivors end up on the chopping block.

ARTWORK & COMPONENTS

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Slaughterhouse is a highly thematic experience and the overall look of the production is a huge contributor toward immersing you in this twisted experience. The artwork does a fantastic job fabricating an uneasy, fear-driven environment. This is a game that truly seeks to honor its source material and it doesn’t pull any punches. It’s gritty, brutal and nasty.

While I wish the survivors were more than cardboard standees, the Sawyer family mini’s look great and are fun to move around the board. (Deep thought: Perhaps it’s the frail, cardboard nature of the survivors that made cardboards standees a must for these terrified youth characters… I’ll have to ask my therapist about that).

Overall, the production, rulebook and materials used in the game create a visceral and tactfully good time.

PROS & CONS

 Wonderful thematic experience

 Simple rule set allows you enjoy the game and not get bogged down in unnecessary rules

 Player aids supplement ease of play

 Cool noise/fear mechanic instantly creates tension

 Flexibility to play as the Sawyers or the survivors as well as multiple scenarios creates plenty of replayability.

 There is a decent amount of luck in this game and bad dice rolls can affect your enjoyment

 No one really likes to sit on the sidelines and dying early can be a bummer

WHY WOULD YOU LIKE THIS GAME?

I’d say fans of the movie franchise are going to love the vibe of this game, but that’s too easy. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a game with tons of universal appeal. While the theme is incredibly macabre, the excitement, tension and unique one vs many/cooperative angle makes this a fun experience for groups at Halloween or anytime for that matter. This is a gamer’s party game and groups looking for a good horror experience are going to love this.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS GAME?

The best thing is the noise/fear mechanic. I spoke about it above, but this single mechanic really elevates the entire game. Again, you collect noise tokens by taking actions. Some actions (such as running), create additional noise. At the end of the survivor’s turn, they roll a die in hopes of removing some or all of these noise tokens. Any remaining after the roll ends up in the Sawyer’s pocket and are almost guaranteed to come back and haunt you later. I love the tension of this mechanic and I can’t get enough of it.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I had a blast with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Slaughterhouse. The tone, the tension and the mechanics make this a real immersive experience and I think it’s going to surprise a lot of people. The look of the game does an amazing job putting players in an unsettling position. The semi-cooperative, one vs many setup creates an almost party-style gaming environment that, paired with the theme, will be a unique addition to many gaming libraries.

I mentioned how much I enjoyed the mechanics. There is really a nice tension in your choices and it always makes you a little unsure of how things are going to work out. It’s not terribly heavy and it’s relatively easy to jump into, but the mechanics paired with the theme give it a nice, thick feeling. For reference, this is a game that really matches up well with the hugely popular game Horrified. The weight, complexity and game length hit a lot of the same notes. It is its own game, but It also provides an equally satisfying and exciting experience.

Where TCM: Slaughterhouse might struggle is with the IP. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre the movie is a grindhouse-type film that originally marketed itself as a true story. The gritty, violent, realistic approach made it a hit with a limited audience paving the way to its cult status today. In addition, it was made almost 50 years ago. There’s been some sub-par sequels, but I imagine there are a number of potential players who have never even seen the original. Where Horrified evokes an almost campy-vibe, Slaughterhouse is edgy and dark and may not appeal to everyone.

The final point I need to address is the game’s luck factor. Yes, there are a lot of dice rolls in this game and that means a lot of luck. In fact, you can lose this one thanks to poor die rolls. Certain cards will mitigate some of that luck, but not enough to sway the outcome in my experience. This didn’t sit well with everyone who I played with. While I typically like to control my own gaming destiny, I think the luck element really lends itself to the tension of the entire experience. These classic horror films are a roll of the dice. We never know who’s going to make it out alive and the somewhat swingy nature of a die roll provides those unexpected plot twists. Sadly, it might be you who takes the brunt end of this mechanic, but all the more reason to come back again for another try.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Slaughterhouse has “hidden gem” written all over it. While players might be apprehensive to give this one a roll initially, word-of-mouth is going to catch on. This is an exciting, satisfying, tension-filled game that sets the tone early and doesn’t let go until the survivors escape or the Sawyer family gets the last laugh… just like a good horror movie. If you’re looking for the next great horror game for your gaming group, you definitely need to give Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Slaughterhouse a serious look.

Publisher: Z-Man Games
Player Count: 1-5  Players
Game Length: 60 Minutes
Complexity 2/5

Star Wars meets Pandemic in this interstellar, cooperative, mash-up where players take on the role of Jedi Knights from the Clone Wars saga seeking to rid the universe of droids, Dooku’s and other dastardly dirtbags.

In this card management and dice rolling game, players will attempt to fend off the continuous onslaught of droids as they infiltrate the universe, all the while working to fulfill missions and ultimately defeat a prime Star Wars villain all before the separatist’s threat becomes too much to bear. With a lot of Star Wars games available to choose from, is Star Wars: The Clone Wars right for you? Find out in our review below!

ON YOUR TURN

It’s critical I express my love for the Pandemic game series. It’s one of the games that really showed me that board games can be a truly thematic and immersive experience. I think it’s a brilliant concept and shines as brightly today as it did when it was first released. I’m always on the lookout for new games built around this system that seek to put their own spin on the tension-inducing concept while still maintaining the engagement and excitement it evokes.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is based on the Pandemic system, but it brings its own spin adding new strategies and of course, characters we know and love.

If you’re unfamiliar with Pandemic, the original is a fully cooperative game that centers around CDC professionals skating across the globe attempting to contain and eradicate a series of viruses that have run amok. Players each have a limited number of actions each turn and must carefully use their cards (or resources) to keep the diseases from spreading—but also collect the right amount of specific cards to find a cure for each disease.

In the Clone Wars, the Separatist droids replace the 4 viruses and city cards are now Squad Cards, each equipped with different actions.

Players take on the role of 7 different Jedi masters including Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, Anakin Skywalker, Aayla Secura, Ahsoka Tano, Luminara Unduli and of course Yoda. Each game features one villain and you can choose between Asajj Ventress, General Grievous, Darth Maul and Count Dock.

On your turn, you take 4 actions from a series of choices. Move your character from one planet to an adjacent planet, draw an additional Squad Card, attack enemies on your planet and attempt a mission.

After each turn, players activate a card from the villain deck. Each villain has its own deck and these actions move the villain across the board, cause trouble for the heroes and present various other problems.

Finally, players draw invasion cards equal to the current invasion level. These cards introduce new droid units on planets. This simulates the infection rate from Pandemic. When a planet exceeds 3 droids, the universal threat level increases. If the threat level reaches stage 7 everyone loses. If the game’s droid reserve runs dry… everyone loses. These enemy actions take place after each player’s turn in an effort to ratchet up the tension.

You can adjust the game’s difficulty by adding additional missions. Each mission requires a certain number of specific Squad Cards to achieve their goal. If multiple players are sharing the same planet where a mission is taking place, they all can contribute to the mission’s success. To attempt a mission, players must roll the 12-sided die. This die will potentially contribute additional “attacks” for the mission as well as damage to the player.

When all the missions are completed, the final battle with the villain is activated and players must track down the baddie and spend the necessary squad cards to achieve victory all before the threat level reaches the end of the line.

ARTWORK & COMPONENTS

The production is really solid. Star Wars fans are going to love the 7 Jedi and 4 villain miniatures. They’re detailed and really add a lot of fun to the game. There are an additional 36 plastic droids and blockades that bring the game board to life.

The retail cost for this is pretty expensive, but when you look and feel all the components and cardboard, you don’t really feel cheated.

It’s a Star Wars game, so you’d expect the artwork to be awesome, and it’s pretty darn good. Quality-wise, there isn’t anything negative here at all.

The rulebook is fine to get you going, but I ran into a number of minor rule issues that weren’t addressed. I did my best to manage everything, but it was a little frustrating.

PROS & CONS

 Beautiful production with nice miniatures and artwork

 Easy to teach, making this great for younger Star Wars fans

 Multiple villains change up the game creating new challenges

 Asymmetrical Jedi characters increase overall replayability

 The game doesn’t provide the tension you’d expect from a Pandemic game

 While the difficulty can be adjusted, I never felt too challenged in either my victories or defeats.

 I didn’t like the Squad Cards. They were an attempt to simplify the Pandemic card system as well as introduce a more war-like experience, but it feels flat and overpowered.

 The dice again, works to bring more chance and uncertainty hoping to introduce a battle system, but the luck-factor was more disappointing than exciting.

WHY WOULD YOU LIKE THIS GAME?

Die-hard Star Wars fans are really going to enjoy the theme. The production is really great for a retail-only release, and seeing the heroes and villains move across the board is a lot of fun. The artwork on the character cards and Squad Cards are really well done. Everything looks right for this Star Wars experience.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS GAME?

The best thing about the game is the production. While the game is a little on the expensive side, I feel pretty good about the cost to value ratio and think everything in the box justifies the elevated cost. You won’t be disappointed in unboxing this one.

FINAL THOUGHTS

As I mentioned above, I’m a huge Pandemic fan and I usually love everything in the Pandemic universe… USUALLY.

Despite the game’s beautiful production, Star Wars: The Clone Wars left me a little empty. The overall process felt like I was going through the motions as I attempted to accomplish missions that provided little resistance. The game does offer some decent variation and you may face additional challenges, but they typically serve as just minor diversions. I never felt like I was struggling with my choices. The objective was always clear and I went straight for it.

I felt how the game managed Squad Cards took a lot of the risk out of making decisions. I could easily exhaust a card to knock out an enemy and then refresh that card on my next turn. It felt like there was not a true cost to using these cards. You must have the same type of squad cards to attack a blockade or primary villain, but that never seemed like a problem. Maybe if there were additional card types and requirements for each mission were a little more restrictive I would have felt more tension. The dice rolling seemed tacked on and never really added any excitement either.

Speaking of tension, Pandemic is all about it. It’s almost a slow burn as you feel the diseases in the original game closing in around you. Actions become the most valuable resource and you’re biting your fingernails as the game comes down to 2 or 3 turns. That doesn’t really exist here. Throughout the first 2/3rds of the game, there is practically no tension at all. The Invasion cards don’t cycle fast enough nor are there enough revealed each turn to grab your attention. Once the final battle hits the stage things begin to get a little more interesting, but the villain doesn’t pose much more of a problem than the missions we just previously breezed through. There is a point where the invasion cards become a little more relevant, but I was usually able to outrun them for the final confrontation before they caused any real damage.

The effort to bring a battle system to this particular Pandemic game feels like a huge missed opportunity. I think I would have preferred they take the original Pandemic game and reskinned it for Star Wars. It wouldn’t be thematic by any means, but I’d still get to enjoy Pandemic with the cool new miniatures.

Each villain does have its own deck bringing their own unique gameplay to the experience. I was hoping for something more along the lines of the monsters in Horrified, where they each bring a new puzzle to solve. Having different villains to battle does provide additional replayability, but they don’t differ enough from one another to really make a difference. For me, the only major change was having a different villain miniature on the board.

This is unfortunate considering how cool the production comes together. Z-Man Games makes fantastic games, but this is not one of them. I could possibly see this working for younger Star Wars fans who are still learning to make calculated decisions. I would say that it’s a good introduction to the Pandemic series since it’s a much easier overall experience, but I think you should just go with the original Pandemic. Star Wars: The Clone Wars feels a lot like Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker… a disappointing mis-fire of style over substance.

Publisher: Smirk & Laughter Games
Player Count: 2 Players
Game Length: 20 Minutes
Complexity 1.5/5

Kittens love to bounce on the bed and in boop., it becomes a battle for supremacy as they seek to rule the pillow top. In this fast-paced, tactical, 2-player game, you’ll clear space on the bed quilt by bouncing cats out of the way. Line up 3 cats in a row and win the game. Sounds simple doesn’t it? There might be more to this friendly feline fray than meets the eye. Check out our review below and see if boop. bounces you in the right direction.

ON YOUR TURN

On the surface, boop. is a simple game with simple mechanics tied together by a cute theme. It’s one of those games that are so simple you may end up thinking “I could have designed that.” The truth is, boop. combines a balance of accessibility, theme and strategic depth that is really well thought out and executed and will definitely resonate with a large variety of gamers.

In this tactical, area control game, players will be going head-to-head by strategically placing their kittens on the game board. Placing a kitten adjacent to another will cause you to “boop” that kitten to the next space over—as if you were jumping on trampoline or pillow. Kittens can even be booped right off the bed.

Divided into 2 abstract phases, players will initially seek to align 3 kittens adjacently. Once accomplished, your 3 kittens will be removed from the board and exchanged for full-sized cats. Play continues following similar rules until 1 player is able to align 3 cats.

There are some stipulations: Kittens can’t bounce cats (they’re much too small), booping a cat or kitten doesn’t create a chain reaction of boops and you can’t boop a cat or kitten when a boop would cause them to move into an occupied space on the board.

Games run roughly 10-20 minutes each and will likely require a 2nd or 3rd playthroughs to truly determine a true winner for the night.

Where boop. gains a foothold is in the cute theme and production. While cats can be divisive pets, the fun, wooden cat figures, bright colors and charming artwork is very engaging—it draws you right in. The game board isn’t a board, but a quilted, squishy piece of fabric that allows each cat to comfortably rest in its own space. It’s very unique and certainly elevates the aesthetics.

Being suckered in by a charming theme isn’t a crime, but where boop. will win you over is in the simple yet deep strategic gameplay. Playing your feline tokens quickly becomes a chess match where you’re considering how to successfully solve the puzzle for your own goals while simultaneously attempting to disrupt your opponent and even using their choices to your benefit. There is zero luck in boop. and the best strategist will win.

ARTWORK & COMPONENTS

There isn’t a ton of artwork in the game, but the whimsical, charming components immediately invite you to play. I love the wooden cat tokens and the surprisingly functional, quilted game board. The game even utilizes the box to prop up the board creating a true bed for the cats to play.

The rulebook is short, sweet and easy to understand. Picking up the game should be a breeze.

PROS & CONS

 Cute and appealing theme and components

 Fun and Simple mechanics that are easy to learn

 Light game with relatively deep strategy

 Game plays quickly allowing multiple plays at one sitting

I really have no cons here. If I’m digging deep, It’s possible the game COULD feel like a bate-and-switch… The deeper strategy might put-off some players who see the cute theme and are expecting a kids game. Fans of deeper, tactical games might be disappointed in the simple mechanics.

WHY WOULD YOU LIKE THIS GAME?

If you’re looking for a tactical, 2-player, chess-lite strategy game that’s easy to learn, completely void of luck, fun to play and easy to get to the table, boop. might be for you. This is something that works for players of all ages, but can still be satisfying for more seasoned players. The difficulty certainly adjusts for the age and ability of the players.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS GAME?

The best thing about boop. is the nice mechanics to strategy balance. The smooth and simple mechanics quickly take a backseat to the more pressing strategic choices. You’re playing the game versus the game playing you.

FINAL THOUGHTS

A lot of games bog you down with multiple mechanics and bizarre goals all in the name of strategic depth. Some are better than others, but there is something about a game that knows exactly who they are and doesn’t try to be anything else. boop. knows exactly who it is: A 2-player game that effectively transforms a simple mechanic into a near limitless series of strategic choices. There is zero luck to boop. allowing players to become the gaming gladiators they were truly meant to be… Gladiators moving miniature wooden kitten tokens across a fluffy, quilted game board.

I’m definitely a fan of simple, streamlined, 2-player tactical games. Games like Hive, Qawale and of course Chess quickly come to mind. While each of these succeed in different ways, boop. stands out by masking what could have been a very cold, abstract experience with a warm, silly and appealing theme.

I’m 12 plays in and my main opponent has been my bright, 11-year-old daughter. She absolutely loves the game despite consistently facing defeat. I’ve noticed that my game continues to evolve more efficiently with each play. I can see her thinking through her turns and not making the same mistakes or falling into the same traps. She has a ways to go, but I can see repeat plays between the same opponents really pushing them to try new approaches and outwit the other.

The question remains: Is boop. right for you? Cute and cuddly theme aside, boop. isn’t very cute and cuddly. I can see the lack of luck in the game feeling dry for some players. If you have a distaste for tactical games like chess, you might not like boop. Now boop. isn’t nearly as complex as chess. In fact, the game’s simplicity should help it cross boundaries and engage players who might otherwise shun a 2-player, tactical battle. The theme does soften the blow and the simple mechanics have a certain charm to them that continues to draw you in. boop. could feel more weigh-y if it wasn’t for how fast games zip by. It’s not the best 2-player tactical game out there, but it does check a lot of boxes. For me, I don’t see boop. slowing down. Its accessibility, simple mechanics and challenging choices make it a perfect game to break out any time you have a few minutes. For the right crowd, boop. is a real winner.

Publisher: Tettix Games
Player Count: 2-6 Players
Game Length: 15-30 Minutes
Complexity 1.75/5

Competitors gather yearly at a secret location unbeknownst to the common man to participate in the Global Abomination Association’s monstrosity creation contest. Why do they do this? It’s simply: to create the most hideous abomination the world has ever seen! Muuuhahahaha!

Hideous Abomination is a fast-paced, family-friendly, tile-laying and set collection game full of bizarre creatures, underhanded interaction and Frankenstinian achievements and awards.

I had the opportunity to review the game’s first edition a couple of years ago and I was truly curious to see what upgrades, changes and enhancements have been made. You’re welcome to read my original review HERE, but I’ll cover all aspects below for players new to the game as well as those looking to see if this new edition demands a place in your collection.

ON YOUR TURN

I was originally drawn to Judson Cowan’s Hideous Abomination thanks to the silly theme and strange artwork. Cowan’s providing double duty here serving as both the design and illustrator. The game features a monstrous 190 card deck featuring tons of different illustrated monster styles broken down into heads, hands, tails and various other limbs and structures. While this might seem disgusting… it is, but in a cartoony, humorous and family-friendly sort of way.

Light on rules, Hideous Abomination provides easy access to a game that can be introduced in less time than it takes to read this entire review.

In Hideous Abomination, you’re constructing your own unique creature out of spare monster parts and earning end game awards for a variety of things such as having the most attached eyeballs or fingers.

On your turn you roll the monster dice and do 1 of a series of actions ultimately ending with the opportunity to add a spare part tile card to your creature (or possibly an opponent’s).

The primary die roll actions mainly revolve around gaining new monster parts. This can be accomplished by drawing from a community pool or from the tile deck.

Additionally, you might roll the opportunity to dig through the discarded tile deck or steal a part from an opponent. There are limitations on what you can and can’t steal, but this can definitely cause trouble for your opponents. The final die action is to draw an award card.

Award cards introduce new end-game scoring objectives throughout the game. Each game starts with 3 grand prize scoring objectives, but it’s not crazy to have 7, 8 or 9 new awards to pursue before the end of the game. These awards are awarded to the player with the most of something. The most hands, heads or ears for example.

Stolen body parts can lead to embarrassing holes in your creation that you’ll want to repair. Having a part stolen earns you bolts to help anchor down other parts to keep them from being swiped later on.

The game ends when the first player has closed off all open part tiles protruding from their monster. Now, these tiles can be played on your monster, but it might be more fun to play them on an opponent’s to mess with their hideous plans. Either way, once a creature is complete, players add up awards and any additional points and a grotesque champion is crowned.

WHAT’S NEW IN THE 2ND EDITION?

For the most part, Hideous Abomination looks very similar to the 1st edition. A new monster die has been added, but the main changes have to do with the game’s actions.

The biggest game changer is how end-game awards are revealed. Previously, you randomly chose a number of awards to go along with the standard grand prize awards. Here new awards are revealed throughout the game challenging you to pivot and adjust your plans. I think this makes the steal action a bit more relevant here than in the previous edition. Quick upgrades might be necessary to earn those last few award points and this may mean stealing from an opponent. While this might seem mean, we’re stitching random body parts together to form an abomination… so checking your moral compass at the door is sorta mandatory. Overall, this new addition forces you to be aware of your opponents progress and results in more player interaction.

The stealing action now provides bolts to the victim to minimize future thievery. This is a nice change to the eyeball and piles of bolts used previously. While it stinks to lose a critical monster part, the bolts are a fine consolation providing security and peace-of-mind towards other valued parts.

The potential for an increased number of end-game awards also increases the time spent on end-game scoring. This was a small issue in the previous version and can possibly expand here. While this can be annoying, it certainly isn’t a deal breaker and, in some cases, provided nice suspense when determining a winner. There are simplified rules that ignore awards and give victory to the first player to complete their abomination as well as an even more simplified version where you just draw tile cards blindly from the deck.

Lastly, the box has been reshaped from the previous cube to a flatter, more traditional shape. I do kinda miss the previous cube – it was certainly unique, but I can see the new shape finding a more comfortable place on your gaming shelf.

ARTWORK & COMPONENTS

The silly and strange monsters created by designer and illustrator Judson Cowan are the heart and soul of the game. There are 190 different illustrated monster parts and they all carry unique personalities. Stitching these random parts together to form your own abomination is a visual delight for both young and old.

Component-wise, there isn’t a whole lot in the game besides the creature and award decks. The cardboard bolts do a fine job anchoring down your tiles and the cards aren’t too thin. The monster die is a uniquely crafted die that rolls a bit funny, but adds to the aura of the game.

The rulebook is a breeze to read and digest guaranteeing quick on-boarding to your first play.

PROS & CONS

 This is a quick game that appeals to both gamers and families with kiddos

 Easy rules and an easy to read rulebook make learning a breeze

 The creative monsters provide a lot of personality

 The number of different monster cards along with the numerous end-game awards encourage lots of replay-ability.

 Plenty of opportunity for a bit of “take that” player interaction

 Seeing your completed abomination is equally hilarious and satisfying

 Small box game fits on any shelf

 End-game scoring can take a minute

 Stealing monster parts from your opponent could be upsetting for younger gamers

WHY WOULD YOU LIKE THIS GAME?

Players looking for a simple game with endless replay-ability and an incredibly fun theme are going to find the most enjoyment here. Hideous Abomination is great for families and kiddos.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS GAME?

The best thing about the game is seeing your completed hideous abomination. Every monster is going to be unique making it fully your own—pursue your own monstrous style. The wonderfully silly artwork brings every monster to life—telling its own story.

FINAL THOUGHTS

On the surface, Hideous Abomination is a simple tile-laying, set collection game. It’s easy to teach, quick to play and works for gamers of all ages. What elevates Hideous is the wonderfully creative, whimsical and engaging monster illustrations. Suddenly I’m motivated to see what kind of strange creature I can build this time around. Scoring based on the number of fingers my monster has? How many tails I’m able to attach? Pure genius!

The added interaction is just enough to keep everyone on their toes between short winded turns while the finished product is truly satisfying whether you win or lose. The dice rolling element adds variation to the turns, but never really creates a true, luck-based advantage.

The 2nd Edition does a good job upping the interaction as well as providing added surprises throughout the game by randomly revealing end-game scoring awards. I wouldn’t say it’s 100% necessary to upgrade from the first editions, but it does tighten things up and creates a more enjoyable experience overall.

My 7-year-old daughter LOVES Hideous Abomination. With a library of hundreds of games at her disposal, she regularly drags Hideous Abomination to the table. Sometimes it’s to engage in a battle… Other times it’s just to sort through the tiles to find the right combination of monster parts. So I’m probably biased for that reason alone, but Hideous Abomination is a delightful game for our family that’s full of fun and delicious monster surprises. I whole-heartedly recommend this one!