We're Not Wizards - Tabletop Board Game Reviews

When is a box not a box? When it's a component, and then at that point, its only a part time box. Or maybe its a part time component all along, waiting in the shadows to spring a boxy surprise on you when you are not looking. Either way, its one of my favourite things to see in a game when the norm is to have boxes unused and very much, far too big for the purpose they were meant to be used for. In the case of Flyin' Goblin, the box plays the role (very convincingly) of being the castle of the King, with various rooms to plunder, or utilise as you play this projectile based dexterity game from IELLO. Gameplay itself is extremely simple, needing you to fire your wooden goblin grunt into various rooms in the castle in order to score winning diamonds or much needed coins, put a goblin in the wrong place and you can lose them all together, while those with a steady aim might find themselves knocking their opponents from strategy roofs to gin advantage and send them packin

The main thing to remember in all of these things is that not everything has to be a huge epic main course, consisting of multiple parts and flavours. Now more than ever, the simpler flavours are going to be more likely on the menu, as those with more eccentric and complicated tastes will have to stay away, as like so many places as the moment, the restaurant is closed. Okiya is the simplest of dishes, almost an appetiser, like Tapas but filling. Like a great dish, the presentation will get those saliva glands going, while the simple strategy will have you walking away feeling slightly full but not overly stuffed. It's theme is there as a garnish but not necessarily part of the flavour. Your aim is simple, you either want to form a square or a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line with your geisha tokens in the four by four grid. The grid contains stunning looking background titles, which you swap out as you take turns to play. The clever thing behind it is that you c

You never know what's in a tin,  Until you open it and begin,  to rummage through the compact contents, and see if it makes any sense. And all the time hoping what's contained,  is something that will be well explained. A simple circular set of rules inside, I hope they make sense, I can't abide The ones that leave you second guessing, as playing those games is most depressing. Let me tell you of the aim,  or how you win this simple game.  It's all about stacking blocks of different shapes and sizes while you're meant to try to make the other player, make  a mistake and topple down the Stake, oh sorry I meant stack.  You see you aren't just all out attack.  See unlike games of a similar nature,  You get to chose the other's future,  of what block they get to play,  Without them having the slightest say. So straight out the blocks you set your trap,  and try to leave them in a flap, As th

The original Kingdomino was a huge hit in our household, and is one of those games that gained a coveted position away from my collection of heavier games such as Dinogenics, Root and Scythe, and earned a special place next to Super Rhino Hero Battle and Gonuts For Donuts in the cupboard in the lounge. Kingdomino is one of the games that we'll continually bring to the table when we want something familiar and fun, but it's also been introduced on several occasions when we've been showing friends and relatives games away from the normal familiar assortment, usually to a lot of success. We've not had the pleasure of trying Queendomino to date, but I've heard that its like its sibling, but with strategic additions, and this concerned me as to whether it would be as accessible. Jump forward a year, and we have another player in the Kingdom.. ino.., Coiledspring have taken the plunge and licensed Kingdomino Duel in the UK (United Kingdomino), which is followi

There's a certain triumph in those eyes, and its not because they have just scored a raft of victory points that push their cutesy wooden star up ten places on the victory point tracker. It's because the route that saw them get those points demonstrated that fundamentally, they now 'get it', and it's just the beginning of what's to come.  Or in my case, the beginning of a sound thrashing by a 'pleased as punch' six year old. There's a few games in the house that get into The List,  which is more exclusive than the normal list of things we can do together. Games like Kingdomino and Rhino Hero Super Battle are on that list. Escape From Atlantis is on the list, Connect 4 and Gonuts for Donuts are on that list. They all share a commonality that they are relatively easy to teach in terms of access to play, but manage to be able to delve into complexity once you know the rules. They all have a two or three move choice that you need to know, but they