07Feb 2018 by theboardgamebandit No Comments

Medici Review

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Medici Player Count 3-6 Players (2 player variant) Game Length 45-60 minutes Designer Reiner Knizia (Ra, Colossal Arena, Ingenious) Publisher Grail Games Mechanics Auction, Press Your Luck I've got four florins. Do I hear Five? I really like Reiner Knizia’s games. I really dislike Auction-intensive games. Reiner Knizia makes quite a few Auction-intensive games, so what do I do? My disdain for the mechanic traces back to my unrivaled propensity to sit before what I deem “Chronic Passers” – players who always pass and never up the bid allowing the bid to be uncomfortably high by the time it comes back to me. Had they increased the bid instead, conceivably other players would have passed, but as a result the player that follows has little incentive to pass or increase…
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06Feb 2018 by theboardgamebandit No Comments

Grimoire Review

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Grimoire Player Count 2-5 players (Best with 5) Game Length 45 minutes Designer Hayato Kisaragi (Lost Legacy) Publisher Z-Man Games (Code of Nine, Pandemic Legacy, Fairy Tale) Mechanics Simultaneous Action Selection   Simultaneous Action Selection is one of my favorite game mechanics. I’ve mentioned at length how much I adore Race for the Galaxy which, in my opinion, perfected the mechanic. I love when I need to consider not only what action I will take but when I am forced to anticipate my opponents as well. A few years ago, I found myself searching for a new game in the mechanic because Race is so difficult to teach; blindly searching through games linked to the mechanic, I somehow stumbled upon Grimoire. Originally from Japan and published by Z-Man, the description…
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04Jan 2018 by theboardgamebandit 1 Comment

Reflections On Catan

Catan
Reflections on Catan I have been playing Catan for at least twelve years (possibly more) and it remains one of the most remarkable games I’ve ever played. It has been one of the most influential games, to both the industry and myself, professionally and personally. I doubt that it is ever going to change. Fellow blogger and game enthusiast Sarah Trager recently declared Catan was still her favorite game after all this time, an act which one again forced me to consider my own journey with the game over the last decade or more. Professionally, working on Catan was one of the hardest and most rewarding aspects of my career. I began just before Catan first became a phenomenon. My professors were unfamiliar with the game but loved the idea…
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02Nov 2017 by theboardgamebandit No Comments

Jaipur Review

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Jaipur Review Jaipur is a two-player drafting game where players compete to earn the most coins by selling goods. Neither player knows the exact score of the other and every coin matters. Wait too long and your goods will be worth even less! READ MORE
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18Oct 2017 by theboardgamebandit No Comments

Next Step Gaming Catan

Gateway Game, NextStepGaming, Videos
Next Steps Gaming: Catan Even more than twenty years after its initial release, Catan is still the first modern board game that people have played. It was my very first game and will forever be special in my opinion, so what would I recommend next? Looking carefully at the mechanics of Catan, I believe these games should be considered when looking for the game to take you From Gateway To Gamer. [embed width="720" height="405"]https://youtu.be/g_6Sl2hK7tg[/embed]
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06Oct 2017 by theboardgamebandit No Comments

Games To Try Before You Buy

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Digital Games To Try Before You Buy As I’ve mentioned before, digital board games will never replace their in-person counterpart for me. However, one of the advantages they offer is a chance to try a game at a lower price point before you invest in that title. When I purchase a game, I not only spend the money to buy it but I must also dedicate space on a shelf (not a trivial matter) and time to play it (definitely not trivial). There are several games that I am interested in buying, but for various reasons have had hesitation about purchasing; fortunately, some of these games were available for IOS. To highlight how useful digital games can be, I created a “Try Before You Buy” list for myself and documented…
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21Sep 2017 by theboardgamebandit No Comments

Dominion Review

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Dominion Review Dominion is a game of the year winner, the inventor of the popular Deck Building mechanic, and my favorite game of all time. Why is this game so amazing? It's all about the cards and how they can be combined to create the perfect engine. READ MORE
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14Sep 2017 by theboardgamebandit No Comments

Dimension Review

Gateway Game
Dimension Review Dimension is an abstract simultaneous puzzle game that will challenge you visually and intellectually without having you feel overwhelmed. Players have one minute to solve the a puzzle with six different rules that must be met at all times, otherwise penalties are occurred. Can you solve the puzzle? READ MORE
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09Sep 2017 by theboardgamebandit No Comments

Great Digital Board Games

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Great Digital Board Games For me personally, digital board games will never replace their physical form. Even as an AI programmer, I prefer human competition for many reasons, particularly humanity’s inherent unpredictability. Furthermore, online multiplayer is a rarity for me, as I am a data plan minimalist and I prefer the act of playing in person. However, a great digital implementation of a game can enhance the title’s overall experience by providing a means to learn the rules, practice strategy, or experience a new game at minimal cost. There are many great digital board games, including some that you may have already played, but the focus of this list is to introduce players to games that they might not have known. In my experience, IOS has better game support than…
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05Sep 2017 by theboardgamebandit No Comments

King of Tokyo Review

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King of Tokyo Review King of Tokyo is a modern classic that is perfect for families in terms of complexity, length and player count. In this battle of giant monsters, only one can remain supreme and be King of Tokyo! Whether rolling for points or to attack opponents, this game offers a lot of fun for everyone involved. READ MORE
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