Great Titles from CGE (Czech Games Edition)

 The fine folks at Czech Games Edition were kind enough to send me a fabulous box of games for review! It's like Christmas in May here at our house! So, let's take a look and see what they sent!

Great Titles from Rio Grande Games

I love a fun review package!  It's always like Christmas when we receive games for review.  And the wonderful folks at Rio Grande Games were kind enough to send us a package full of fantastic games!  There's something in here for everyone: family card games, party games, and board games! So let's take a look!

Flash 10 Card Game Review

I'm not usually a fan of speed-type games.  They're just too anxiety-causing for me. Haha!  But one game that I love and that my kids love is Dutch Blitz!  It's a speed game that's like solitaire in a group.  Everyone is grabbing cards and trying to finish first. It’s fast, it's fun, and it never seems to make me anxious. Well, thanks to the kind folks at Devir, I've found another speed game that is right up there with Dutch Blitz in my family's estimation - Flash 10!

Autumn Card Game Review

Our family are big fans of card games.  We are particularly happy when we find games that play all 5 of us.  But sometimes hubby and I just want a 2-player game.  Or a couple of my kids feel like playing when no one else is available. So quality 2-player games are a must in our home.  That's why I'm so glad I found Autumn, by Devir Games!

Doomlings Review

My family are big card game lovers, so I was excited when the folks at Doomlings asked me to review their game. In Doomlings, each player is a new life form on a distant, alien planet. You're all competing for supremacy - until the inevitable end of the world. (It's a lot less doom and gloom than it sounds. I promise!)

Wingspan Expansions Review

 One of my FAVORITE GAMES OF ALL TIME is Wingspan, by Stonemaier Games! The art is gorgeous. The gameplay is both fun and easy to learn. And the educational value is out of this world! So of course I had to have all of the expansions! (I purchased the European Expansion and received the Oceania, Asia, and Fan Art Pack expansions from Stonemaier Games for review). I've Already done reviews of the base game and the Fan Art Pack, so I thought it was time for a review of the whole lot!

Wyrmspan Review

 Are you a fan of Windspan?  Do the gorgeous cards and "thinky" game play float your boat? Do you also love dragons? Would you like to build your very own dragon sanctuary where dragons of all shapes and sizes can come to roost?  Then Wyrmspan just may be the game for you!

Truck Off Card Game Review

Guys, I love a good card game!  Card games are so much fun.  They usually can accommodate a larger group of people.  They often don't have super complicated rules, so they can be taught to new players fairly quickly. And they're usually short enough in play time that you can play more than once if you really enjoy the game. Not only that, but I also love a good food truck!  Haha! I mean, food? On the move?  Food that just shows up where I am?  Yes please! So, what if there was a card game ABOUT food tucks?  Um, yes, please! Sign me up!

Delicious Game Review

I'm a huge fan of roll & write and flip & write games.  They involve cards or dice, lots of decision-making, and filling in some sort of play sheet, whether with numbers of drawings. These games are my jam!  And my family really enjoys them too! So when the wonderful folks at Pencil First Games offered to send me a copy of their beautiful flip and write game called Delicious, I was giddy with excitement!

Galaxy Trucker Board Game Review

Ever thought of getting into the trucking business?  How about the interstellar trucking business? If this sounds like an intriguing business opportunity, then Galaxy Trucker, by Czech Games Edition may be just the game for you!

It's A Balloon!? Game Review

 As my kids get older, I really enjoy party games.  As a family of 5, it’s sometimes difficult to find a game that accommodates all of us.  Most party games have higher play counts.  They also involve some reading, math, and/or critical thinking. The folks at Rio Grande Games were kind enough to send me a copy of one of their party games for review! So let's take a look at It's a Ballon!?

Tiger Stripes Card Game Review

 Card games are a BIG part of our gameschooling day. They're usually quick to learn, quick to play, and a fun way to take a break from "work." For this reason, I'm always on the lookout for cute, new card games that I think my kids will enjoy. That's why I was excited when Tabletop Tycoon sent me a copy of Tiger Stripes: The Card Game, by Flying Meeple, for review. 

Aqua ROVE and ROVE Jr. Games Review

The wonderful folks at Button Shy Games have a couple of new games that just arrived on Kickstarter and I can't wait to introduce you guys to them! Created by Dustin Dobson and Milan Zivkovic (the team behind ROVE: Results-Oriented Virtual Explorer and Battlecrest), Aqua ROVE and ROVE Jr. entered the chat in April of 2024!

Button Shy was kind enough to send me review copies of both games, so let's "explore" these new games a bit!

Aqua Rove is a solo player game for ages 8 and up that takes approximately 15 minutes to play.

Boop Board Game Review

It's time for a kitty cat-themed review!  And I love kitty cats, so I'm here for it! MEOW! Today's game up for review is Boop, by Smirk & Dagger! I'll be completely honest. I didn't think I would care for this game much. I've seen it around lately online and in game stores. It looked super cute.  And I love cats, so I was always drawn to the cute kitty on the cover.  And, of course, the name is adorable.  But maybe because of the cuteness of the theme and design, I thought it would be too simple to be enjoyable.  Boy was I wrong! 

Great Small Box Games From AllPlay

 I've done several reviews featuring small box games recently.  There's a very good reason for that - I'm running out of room!  Haha!  Small box games are ideal for a couple of reasons. Firstly, and most obviously, they take up less room. That mean I can fit more games in my house.  WIN! Secondly, they are ideal for travel.  Whether it's just traveling to a doctor's appointment, a restaurant, or a park, or its traveling across country, small box games allow you to take the fun with you! So today I'd like to introduce you to some fabulous small box games from AllPlay, formerly known as BoardGameTables.com. 

Pollen Game Review

It’s Spring, you guys! I love Spring! Warmer weather, beautiful flowers, birds singing.  It's a wonderful time of year.  Except for one thing - POLLEN. I have lots of blasted allergies, but pollen is definitely one of the biggest offenders. It wreaks havoc with my eyes, my nose, my throat. UGH!  So, you'd think a boardgame called Pollen would be the LAST game on my review list.  Thankfully though, Pollen the game is beautiful and fun - and contains no actual pollen, so I'm safe!

Aldabas: Doors of Cartegena Card Game Review

 I love a game with a good backstory!  And if that back story is educational, then all the better!  Games that have some sort of historical backstory really float my boat!  So I was thrilled at the opportunity to review Aldabas: Doors of Cartegena, by Grand Gamers Guild!

Cat In The Box Card Game Review

 Are you a fan or trick-taking games? Do you love out-of-the-box thinking? Are you into physics? You ever heard of Schrodinger? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then have I got a game for you!

Cat In The Box, by Bezier Games combines trick-taking, a completely out-of-the-box game idea, physics, and that pesky Schrodinger's cat for a game that is truly unique and tons of fun! So let's take a look!

Three Great Small Box Games from CardLords

We own a lot of games.  I mean, a lot a lot.  Haha! We own 600+ games.  That'll happen when you couple a love of gameschooling with a blog where you review games. But honestly, we don't have room for 600+ games. At least, that's what my family keeps telling me.  So Finding games that come in small boxes is a really big plus in our house!  Thankfully, lots of board game publishers have jumped on the small box bandwagon.  So I thought I'd share some great little gems I've found.  All of today's games are from the awesome folks at CardLords.

Agree To Disagree Board Game Review

 In our current society, it can be really hard to disagree with someone without causing a huge argument. And board games can often cause disagreements too.  But what if there was a game all about disagree with other people? Well, now there is - Agree To Disagree, by Adam's Apple Games! But in this fabulous game, you're looking for someone to disagree with because that's how you score points!

The Pirate's Flag Board Game Review

Arrr, matey! Are ye ready for a pirate-y good time? In The Pirate's Flag, by CardLords, you and 2 to 5 of your pirate friends will be battling for the coveted pirate's flag. You'll be racing, scheming, and backstabbing your way through the Serpent's Pass in an effort to capture the flag and bring it back to the Dread Sea, where you started your adventure!

Applejack Game Review

Are you a fan of delicious flavor? Do you love nice, crisp apples? Do you like the idea of growing your own food?  Are you interested in agriculture? Then a game about apple orchards may be just the thing for you!  Join me and learn all about becoming the best apple farmer around!

Applejack, from Stronghold Games, is a wonderful tile-laying game for 1 to 4 players, ages 8 and up. It plays in 30 to 60 minutes. In Applejack, you'll be buying apple tiles and laying them in your orchard in an effort to harvest more and more delicious apples. 

Blueprints of Mad King Ludwig Game Review

 I love a game with a great back story.  One of my favorites is Castles of Mad King Ludwig, by Bezier Games. The game is based on the real-life King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Whether he was actually "mad" or not is debatable, but what isn't debatable is his absolute obsession with castle building. He's responsible for some of the most beautiful castles in all of Europe, including Neuschwanstein Castle, in modern day Germany, which served as the inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Another thing I absolutely love is roll and write/flip and write games.  These are games where you roll dice or flip over cards, choose one and mark it on a game sheet.  Some games even include drawing shapes instead of simply writing in numbers or coloring in a dot. These games are particularly fun and have a Tetris-like feel.

So when the creators of Castles of Mad King Ludwig decided to make a flip and write version of their fantastic board game - complete with drawing Tetris-type polyominoes, I was all ears!  Let me introduce you to one of my new favorite games: Blueprints of Mad King Ludwig!

Outrun the Bear Game Review

 I love a good, family-friendly game.  Especially one that plays my ENTIRE family of 5.  So when I saw Outrun the Bear, I knew I needed to check it out! And what could be more family friendly than a lovely little game about outrunning a bear - or at least, outrunning your other family members so the bear eats them first.  Haha!

Outrun the Bear is a game for 2 to 6 players, ages 8 and up and it plays in 20 to 45 minutes.

Ecosystem: Coral Reef Game Review

 As a board game reviewer, I often get contacted about reviewing games for various companies.  But sometimes I see a game that just grabs my attention and I contact the company myself and ask if I can review it. That's what happened with Ecosystem: Coral Reef, by Genius Games. I saw this game and immediately knew I had to review it for all my readers! 

I'd previously reviewed Periodic: A Game of the Elements, also by Genius Games, so I knew that Genius Games makes beautiful, quality, educational games. Their entire mission seems to be to make science fun and accessible for everybody - and I really love that! 

So let's take a look at Coral Reef!

My Lil Everdell Game Review

 There are a few things I'm a sucker for in a game:

1.) a wildlife theme

2.) fun dice

3.) well-illustrated cards

4.) cute animal meeples

That's why I'm THRILLED to review My Lil Everdell, by Starling Games! The wonderful folks at Tabletop Tycoon were kind enough to send me a copy and I am beyond excited!  This game fits all four of the previously mentioned game qualities that I love, so let's take a look!

Great Small Box Games and Game Accessories That Fit Perfectly In An Easter Basket!

Easter is coming!  And if you're like me, you're probably trying to find creative ways to fill those Easter baskets that don't include hopping your kids up on an insane amount of sugar. Thankfully I have a HUGE list of fabulous games and game-related accessories that fit perfectly in an Easter basket and make fantastic gifts!  So, let's jump in, shall we?

Grandpa Beck's Games = Perfect Gifts!

I'm always looking for games that make great gifts - either for my own kids or for their friends.  But I have some rules for gifting games to others:

1.) The game must be simple to learn. - I've made the mistake of giving complicated games as gifts before.  If I'm giving them to a fellow game-obsessed family, its ok. But if I give it to a family that isn't familiar with modern board games, the instructions can often seem overwhelming. So my current rule is that if I don't know their board game preferences, I stick with games that don't have instructions that may freak them out. 

2.) The game must be visually appealing. - The first thing most people do is look at components.  If they don't look interesting, most people won't invest the time in reading the instructions or playing the games.

3.) The game must be something we enjoy. - I only gift games that we've played and enjoyed.

Thankfully, Grandpa Beck's Games has some fantastic titles that check all these boxes!

Let's take a look at a few, shall we?

Patriots & Redcoats Game Review

As a homeschooling mom and a history buff, I'm always looking for fun games that will immerse my kids in a historical topic.  It can be difficult sometimes, though.  Most of the history games I've found are either mostly helpful in terms of geography - which is fabulous on its own - or they're too advanced in terms of gameplay.  That's why I was thrilled when Green Feet Games contacted me!  They have several games with historical theme that are accessible to kids and play in less than an hour.

Booty Dice Game Review

Sometimes there's nothing better than a simple, fun dice game!  Don't get me wrong.  I love a long, complicated game with lots of pieces. But sometimes simplicity is what we crave!  Especially if we don't have tons of time. Also, I'm arrr-guably a big fan of pirate games (See what I did there?), so reviewing  Booty Dice, by Messy Table Games was a no-brainer!

Horticulture Game Review

If you read my blog regularly or follow me on instagram, you probably know that I'm a HUGE FAN of roll and write games!  I even wrote an entire blog about great roll and write games!  So when I find a new game that fits into the roll and write genre (or its sister genre, flip and write games) I have to try it!  And when it's about plants - another love language of mine - well, that's just too good to pass up!  That's why I'm thrilled to introduce you to Horticulture, by Last Night Games! But first, I thought I'd explain a little more about what a roll and write/flip and write game is to anyone who may not be familiar...

Button Shy Games Review

 As a mom of 3 kids, I'm constantly looking for small box games that I can easily bring to restaurants, waiting rooms, and on trips.  It's great to have a few game options with me, but space can be awfully limited - unless I'm willing to lug around an extra bag.  That's why Button Shy is such a brilliant company!  All of their games are wallet-sized! Literally!  You can slip them in your wallet!  You can't get any more portable than that!  And the fabulous folks at Button Shy were kind enough to send me three of their amazing games for review!

Trio Card Game Review

 As gameschoolers (and a game reviewer), we own a lot of games.  We have big, elaborate games that take a long time to play. We have medium and light strategy games. We have tons of learning games. But we also have lots of small, quick card games.  Sometimes there isn't time for a huge board game.  And a quick card game can scratch that gaming itch in a pinch! That's why I'm thrilled to share Trio, by Happy Camper Games with all of you!

The Finest Fish Board Game Review

Try your hand at fishkeeping. Be one of four players in this puzzly, tile laying game and play a fish owner competing at the National Goldfish Competition. Will your goldfish be voted the most beautiful and win the coveted Best In Show award?

The Finest Fish, by Last Night Games, is a pattern building and tile placement game for 2 to 4 players that takes 30 to 60 minutes. 

Sharks! Board Game Review

I have an elementary-aged homeschooler who is a HUGE fan of all things marine biology, so I jumped at the opportunity to review Sharks, published by The Dietz Foundation. My gameschooling Insta-friend, Kristen Mott, over at family.boardgaming on Instagram created this game!  

Review of Unforgiven: The Lincoln Assassination Trial, by Green Feet Games

 As a homeschooling/gameschooling mom, I'm always on the lookout for educational games. But sometimes the search can be difficult.  A game can be extremely educational, but if it isn't fun enough to play, the educational content isn't of any use - because my kids won't play it. Finding a game that's both educational AND fun is key.  That's why I love sharing the games I've found with you, my readers!  If I can help you find fun, educational games to use with your own kids, I feel like I've done a good deed!

Some educational subjects are easier to find than others.  For example, there are lots of great games that introduce or enforce mathematical concepts.  And any game that includes reading/writing/creating words is a great language arts game (learn new vocabulary words, practice reading and spelling, etc.).  But American History games that are fun and don't take hours to play are fewer and farther between.  That's why I'm so excited to introduce you to Unforgiven: The Lincoln Assassination Trial, by Green Feet Games!

Great Titles From Sweet Bros Games!

The amazing folks at Sweet Bros Games were kind enough to send me several of their games for review! What a treat! Their games are so cute, and they all looked like interesting family themes, so I was thrilled to try them out with the family this past weekend.

Wingspan Fan Art Pack Review

Recently, the wonderful folks at Stonemaier Games sent me a copy of their Wingspan Fan Art Pack for review.  I had already reviewed the Wingspan base game for them and my hubby and I both LOVED it, so I was more that excited to review this new set of cards!  And, as usual, Stonemaier and Wingspan did NOT DISAPPOINT!

Things I loved about this expansion: