Trekking the National Parks and Trekking the World Review

 As I'm sure you're already aware, I'm a HUGE fan of using games for educational purposes.  And while I firmly believe that ALL games have educational value of some sort, there are definitely games that are more educational than others.  And Underdog Games definitely fall in the "more educational" category. The fabulous folks at Underdog Games were kind enough to send me two of their games for review, and let me tell you, I am BLOWN AWAY!

5er Finden Game Review

 Well, its a new year!  Let's all hope its a better year than the last two!  But one thing you know you can count on in this new year is more game reviews from me!  So I'm thrilled to start out with one of my favorite companies - Haba USA!  The wonderful folks at Haba USA were kind enough to send me a fantastic little game called 5er Finden. Keep reading and find out what I think!

5er Finden (1-4 players, for ages 7+, plays in approximately 20 minutes) is a simple game - 5 dice, 5 shapes, 5 rounds.  In each round, roll all 5 dice, then search your board for the shapes on the dice arranged in any of the 5 shapes provided on the tiles. Earn points based on the shapes you find.  The person with the most points after 5 rounds wins!

Great Games from Luma Imports

 The fantastic folks at Luma Imports have sent me three games for review and we've been having lots of fun reviewing them as a family!  Here's what we got and what we thought:

1.) Pikoko - a trick-taking card game for 3-5 players

Mondrian Blocks Game Review

 With Christmas quickly approaching, I'm always on the lookout for games to give as gifts.  My family LOVES GAMES! (I'm sure you've figured that out by now.) So I was thrilled when the fabulous folks at Mondrian Blocks were kind enough to send me not one, but TWO boxes of their FABULOUS puzzle game!

I was excited to receive these, but I was even more excited when they arrived and I got to check them out for myself!  These games are seriously impressive!  So here's what I loved about them:

Buildzi Game Review

One of my kids' favorite quick dice games is Tenzi.  We reviewed this game (along with their other fabulous titles: Pairzi, Slapzi, and Itzi on our blog a couple of years ago and we thoroughly enjoyed all of them, so I was really excited when I found out they'd added another game to their collection.  Meet Buildzi

Great Game Titles from Stronghold Games

Stronghold Games is a company I've worked with quite a few times.  And why do I keep working with them?  Well, because I love their games, of course! I love this company because it has a wide range of games.  There's really something for everyone.  Card games, roll & write games, children's games, games for families,, games for more serious gamers, quick games, games that take hours.  There's really tons to choose from!  So today I'd like to introduce you to some of what I think are their "gamer games."  These games involve a few more pieces and a little more time.  But they are well worth it!  SO let's check them out!

1.) Calimala -

In Calimala, players act as members of the Arte di Calimala - the guild of cloth finishers and merchants in foreign cloth. They produce and gain cloth, gain prestige points by delivering goods, contribute to building projects, and sponsor artworks in Florence, Italy. Calimala is a game for 3-5 people, ages 10+. It plays in 75+ minutes. 

Wingspan Board Game Review

As you may have noticed, I review a LOT of games. And I thoroughly enjoy it! I rarely come across a game that I don’t like at all. In fact, I can’t think of a single game that I’ve reviewed that I absolutely hated. They all have their positives. Or maybe I’m just a “glass half full” kinda gal?  But I definitely have my favorites. And I have a few favorite companies as well. And Stonemaier Games is definitely one of my favs! Why? Well, simply put, I haven’t reviewed a game for them that I didn’t love. It all started with my review of My Little Scythe. And from that moment on I knew I was hooked. Their production quality is top notch. Their games are beautiful. And my family always has fun playing them! So I was thrilled with the opportunity to review Wingspan. Again, I’d heard great things, so I wanted to try it for myself. And I was NOT DISAPPOINTED! This game is beautiful, well made, and fun to play! And as a homeschool/gameschool family, I was THRILLED with its educational value as well! 

So, let’s get to that review, shall we? 

Tapestry Board Game Review

Have I mentioned how much I love Stonemaier Games? Why, yes. Yes I have! So I’ll say it again! Stonemaier Games are always a hit at my house! And today’s review game is no exception! Tapestry is quite the game! 

Board Games with Hidden Educational Value

 One of the things I get asked the most is, "Can you recommend a game with educational value?" This question involves a complicated answer.  You see, I firmly believe that ALL games have educational value.  Even the simplest game involves turn taking, which can be of value to younger kids.  And most games involve end game scoring, which can be great math practice!  So I try not to sound sarcastic when I answer the, "can you recommend a game with educational value" question with the answer: ALL OF THEM! But I get it.  Sometimes folks are looking for a specific educational skill or benefit from a game.  And it can be difficult to find a game that's both educational AND fun. (Although I have reviewed some straight forward educational games that are, in fact, lots of FUN!)  

The Sherlock Files Games (Volumes I-IV)

 I'm a huge fan of mysteries!  I love mystery books, mystery movies, and even mystery tv shows! So I was very excited when I found out that the fabulous people at Indie Boards and Cards had released an entire mystery series called The Sherlock Files!