Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Tabletop Pile of Shame: New Year's Resolution Update

Welcome to the second entry in my attempt to play through my pile of shame.  I was successful in crossing two games off my list earlier this year, and am doing my best to keep my momentum moving forward.   For those who don't know what this is, I am happy to explain.  A lot of people in the board game hobby tend to purchase games at a quicker rate then they play them.  I often fall victim to this trap as I am prone to purchase games and then struggle to get my group together to play.  One problem with a pile of shame is that as soon as you take a game off of the pile, another one or two find their way to the bottom.

One of the New Year's Resolutions I set for myself in 2017 was to play 10 games from my pile of shame and I am happy to report that I have crossed four off of my list now.   Over the past two weeks I was successful crossing Carrotia from MAGE and Codenames from Czech Games Edition off of my list!




Carrotia by MAGE Company - As someone who enjoys playing games with my kids, I am always looking out for new family games.  I am happy to report that Carrotia provided a unique and challenging game cooperative opportunity for my family.  In Carrotia, you are laying tiles to build a labyrinth for a bunny to traverse, collecting as many carrots as possible and escaping in a set number of moves.  Each round requires you building a bigger maze and adds additional depth and effectively introduces new players to the mechanics.  The components on this game are incredibly beautiful and do a great job immersing you in what feels like a fairy tale.  While this isn't a game I would break out with my adult friends, I think it makes a great addition to anyone looking for a fun cooperative experience to play with the kids.  The tile laying sequence is fast and tense, followed up by the fun of moving the bunny through the paths you just created.




Codenames by Czech Games Edition - I am extremely late to the table on this title and had it in my collection for over 2 years without ever playing it.  I am ashamed of that behavior, but happy to report that it completely lives up to the hype and is an amazing party game that should be included in every game library.  There are multiple editions, so I would suggest picking which one sounds like the most fun for your group.  I have heard good things about the picture edition.  Codenames is a simple clue driven guessing game, that supports up to 8 players and keeps everyone engaged throughout.  This game is simple, easy to teach, and a whole lot of fun.  After playing it multiple times it has quickly raced to the top of my party game list.  Definitely a must own title.

POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.