BILDER Overview - Kickstarter Prototype

I received a prototype copy of BILDER in exchange for posting an overview of the game, which was passed on to another reviewer.  I played the game 4 times with 3, 4, and 5 players.  The prototype I received seemed to be laser cut MDF.  I painted it silver for my own enjoyment, but the final version of the game will come with laser cut pieces made from quality, natural wood. My goal is not to convince you to back the game, but to let you know how the game plays so that you can decide for yourself if it's something you would enjoy.

I’m not usually a fan of party games or word games.  I’m not very good at thinking on the spot, and having to draw or act things out or get others to guess what’s going on in the crazy recesses of my mind never goes well.  So when I was asked if I’d like a preview copy of BILDER I was about to write it off, but out of curiosity I checked the YouTube links of how the game is played.  I found myself laughing aloud at some of the examples and getting excited at a game that’s basically an excuse for grown adults to play with blocks like small children.  I was taken in by the creativity the game encourages, and agreed to check it out.

Review: Holmes: Sherlock & Mycroft

Holmes: Sherlock & Mycroft

I’d like to thank the fine folks at Devir Games for supporting Women Like Board Games by providing a review copy of this game.  I played a total of 5 times with 3 different players before putting together my thoughts below.

Given the theme, Holmes: Sherlock & Mycroft seems it should be a game of deduction, testing the wits of the Holmes brothers as Mycroft tries to prove a boy’s guilt while Sherlock searches for clues to prove his innocence.  However, while you are gathering clues, there’s little deduction involved in this straightforward game of set collection.  What Holmes: Sherlock & Mycroft does offer is a quick, tight puzzle of balancing economy, efficiency, and luck.

Azimuth Overview - Kickstarter Prototype

 

I received a prototype copy of Azimuth in exchange for posting an overview of the game, which was then passed on to another reviewer.  I played the game 5 times with 2 and 4 players.  My goal is not to convince you to back the game, but to let you know how the game plays so that you can decide for yourself if it's something you would enjoy.

I hadn’t heard the term Azimuth until learning of the newest game from Tyto Games on Kickstarter.  Of course, I then had to know what an azimuth was, and the internet showed it to be a very confusing concept (for me at least).  I guess when you’re drifting alone on the open seas with only a compass and the horizon to keep you company, figuring out azimuth can be important to help you find your way home.  All you need to do is to find a fixed reference point in the sky (such as the North Star), and calculate the angle away from North or South in relation to the horizon… and you’d need to know how to do tangents, sines and cosines in your head… and you’d need to know what to do with that information once you had it…

Luckily when it comes to games, Azimuth a really cool title for a simple game that doesn’t require complex math to play!   

Review - Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 (Spoiler Free)

Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 is the best board gaming experience I’ve ever had.  It takes a game that I love and turns it into something so much more.  The basic premise is there, but it’s expanded upon, updated, changed, like a shape shifter constantly morphing from one figure to another as the campaign progresses.  It’s a roller coaster that takes you and your friends through highs and lows and twists and turns you’ll never expect; it’s exciting, and exhilarating, and exhausting all the same time.  And it’s wonderful.

Review - The Walking Dead Board Game

I have a love/hate relationship with The Walking Dead; something about the zombies grosses me out, but I enjoy the drama and psychological/philosophical musings of how people would react to such an apocalypse, yet somehow nasty zombies always pop up to ruin the only thing I do enjoy about the show.  I’ve only seen the first season fully and snippets here and there from other seasons.  I’m not saying I’m opposed to zombies in general, I just think they’re really gross on The Walking Dead, and they die in really gross ways, and they sound gross, and I just don’t like them.  So when my (non-gamer) friends said they had a Walking Dead board game they’ve owned for years but never played because the rulebook seemed confusing and asked me to help teach them the game, I agreed, because that’s what you do for friends.  For what it’s worth, this review is based only on the 4-player game.