Big Bad Fables Kickstarter Campaign

I recently came across what appears to be a really fun game on Kickstarter and I really wanted to share it with my readers! I don't usually blog about games I haven't played yet, but this one is time sensitive, so I wanted to get a post out ASAP!  It’s called Big Bad Fables and it’s currently running a Kickstarter campaign!  I don't usually write posts about games I haven't played yet, but this one is time sensitive.

New Games for 2020 from Indie Boards and Cards

As a gameschooling mom and blogger, I love sharing great games with my readers and followers.  But one thing that's SUPER SPECIAL is getting to share newly released games or even games that haven't yet released!  So I was so excited when the AWESOME folks at Indie Boards and Cards sent me a box full of games - and many of them are releasing THIS YEAR (2020)!  Woohoo!!!  I'll share more about some of the other awesome games I received in a later post, but I wanted to go ahead and share these new releases so that you can keep an eye out for them, because there are some fascinating and unique games in this bunch!  So let's go ahead and jump in!

Kodama 3D (Release Date: February 2020, Ages: 14+, Players: 1-4)

Skyjo Card Game Review

I'm just gonna say it.  Again.  I'm a sucker for a good math game!  I love gameschooling of ALL  TYPES!  We have science games, history games, art games, English games, geography games, and so on.  But math games hold a special place in my heart.  I think it's because math has always been a bit intimidating to me.  Games lesson that intimidation.  Sometimes kids don't even realize they are learning! That's why I was excited to review Skyjo, by Magilano!

Red7 Card Game Review

I love big, board games that have lots of components.  They're definitely fun.  But sometimes I just want a nice, fun card game.  Card games are fantastic because they're usually easy to learn, take up little space, are easy to set up, and are very portable.  So I was excited to try a new card game that I'd never played before: Red7, by Asmadi!

Great Games from Indie Boards and Cards

I recently posted a review of some new games from Indie Boards and Cards.  Well, the fine folks there also sent some of other popular games for my to share with my readers!  I was really impressed with the wide variety of games I received!  So let's check them out!

Second Chance, by Stronghold Games - (Release Date: 2019, Ages: 8+, Players: 1-6)

Second Chance is a flip and write game.  These are similar to roll and write games.  But instead of rolling dice and filling out a paper, you flip a card and fill one out.  My family really enjoyed this one!  And as a Tetris player during my childhood, I loved it too!

What I loved:
1.) It plays up to 6 players! - I've mentioned it many times, but I LOVE a game that can accommodate all 5 of the people in my immediate family!
2.) It can be played solo! - Sometimes I'm the only one who wants to play a game. (*Sad.*) This is a great solo option!
3.) It gets you thinking! - You have to really think and plan to get all those shapes on your page. And you have to be able to flip the shapes in your mind sometimes to make them work.  I love that this game makes everyone think!
4.) It's "artistic." - Everyone enjoyed drawing and filling in their blocks in their own unique style. I chose to just use one color for mine.  The kids all did a rainbow of colors.  My husband used black and lime green.  (His looked like something from Minecraft.  Haha!)  But every single person enjoyed it!
5.) Its family friendly! - I love a game that we can all enjoy together and this one definitely fit that bill!

Conflicting Legends - (Release Date: June 26, 2019, Ages: 14+, Players: 3-6)



This game is literally a historic game of Rock, Paper, Scissors!  Every person plays "persona cards" (famous people in history) and tries to earn "realm cards." The first player to gain 10 stars from their realm cards wins.



What I Love:

1.) The illustrations! - I was IMMEDIATELY attracted to this game because of the amazing illustrations of historical characters, like Napoleon, Frieda Kahlo, Albert Einstein, and Joan of Arc!

2.) Rock Paper Scissors!!! - Seriously!  This is such a stinking fun idea!  You literally play Rock Paper Scissors to resolve conflicts during the game!

3.) Its fairly simple.  - I read the instructions - which weren't long at all - and understood how to play pretty quickly.

4.) The game moves pretty quickly, which I enjoy.  There isn't a ton of down time because everyone just performs one action on their turn.


Kokoro: Avenue of the Kodama - (Release Date: October, 2017, Ages: 14+, Players: 1-8)



This is a path building card, where you're trying to connect a certain sanctuary to caterpillars and flowers on your player board.  This seems to be a continuation of their popular Kodama-themed games.  As I mentioned in my previous review, Kodama is a mythical tree "spirit." It's sort of the Japanese version of a dryad.



What I love:

1.) The game is small and fairly simple.  Although this is not a roll and write game, it had that same feel to me.  Not a ton of components, simple, yet fun!

2.) Its a 15 minute game! - I love these!  They're great for evenings when you might not be able to handle a long, super complicated game.

3.) It has a single player option! - I love games that have a single player option for those times when you're alone or can't find a playing partner.

4.) It plays up to 8!  Most games of this type usually play up to 4, 5, or 6.  Most are just up to 4.  So it's great to find a fun game like this that plays up to 8!  That makes it great for family gatherings too!

Kodama Duo - (Release Date: January 9, 2019, Ages: 14+, Players: 2)



Kodama Duo is a two-player game in their popular Kodama series.  Kodama Duo can also be used as an expansion for Kodama that adds an extra player!  That's a super neat feature.



What I Love:

1.) Its a two-player game! - I'm always looking for two-player games that my hubby and I can play after the kids have gone to bed!

2.) It plays in approximately 30 minutes! - This also makes it perfect for playing with hubby after the kids are in bed.

3.)

Ecologies Card Game Review

One of my favorite things about Gameschooling is how it takes subjects that can seem difficult and really make them easy to grasp. Digging into a game and using information you learned about a subject to solve a problem in the game really helps you delve deeper into what you're studying!  And that's what I love about Ecologies!

My Little Scythe Review

As I've been on this gameschooling journey lately, I've found a few games that my husband and I love, but are a bit too complicated for my younger kids.  It's always great when I see that a "grown up game" has a kids' version.  But the test is always: is it fun or is it just an oversimplified version of the original? I'm in several gameschooling social media groups and I'd heard repeatedly that My Little Scythe, by Stonemaier Games, was a great kids' version of their popular Scythe game.  But I'm a person who needs to see it and try it for myself.  After all, one person's favorite game can be another person's nightmare. Haha! So I was excited to get my hands on a copy and check it out for myself - using my 3 kids as little game playing guinea pigs!

Metaphor Dice Review

Creative writing is such an important subject to me.  I adored my creative writing courses in high school.  And one of my absolute FAVORITE college courses was a poetry writing course. It's such an amazing thing to put your thoughts on paper and have them validated - to have other people read your words and be touched by them.  But I'll be honest.  I often feel tremendous writer's block.  It usually happens at the beginning of the writing process. That jumping-off point at the very beginning can be harrowing.  So I was thrilled to find Metaphor Dice!

North Star Games Review

I recently discovered North Star Games.  That's one of the fabulous things about gameschooling!  You realize just how many quality board and card game companies there are that you may have not heard of yet!  So when I had the chance to review a few of their titles, I jumped at the chance!  They sent me a family/party game and 2 card games and they are pretty fun!  Let's check them out!

Absolute Zero Math Games Review and Discount Code

As we continue on this gameschooling journey, I've found so many benefits.  One of the greatest benefits I've seen is math practice.  There's just something perfect about pairing math with games.  Math is inherent to games.  From number recognition to scorekeeping, games involve math.  And math is one of those subjects that often intimidates both students and parents.  So putting everyone at ease through a game is a great way to make math practice more appealing!

That being said, I've been on the lookout for good math games!  And that's how I discovered Absolute Zero Card Games!

Dolphin Hat Games Review - Santa Cookie Elf Candy Snowman and Over Under Ostrich

A few months ago I reviewed a couple of fun little games from Dolphin Hat Games.  They were both HUGE HITS with my family! Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is a quick, fun, hilarious game that always has my family laughing.  And Frog Pig Pug is a fun thinking game with adorable animals!  Because their first games were such huge hits with my family, I was thrilled to review 2 new games from their company. And I was not disappointed!  Dolphin Hat Games has hit it out of the park again!