Trent, Author at The Board Game Family

SaltCon 2022 Recap – 22 Games Played

I had a fantastic first weekend of March because I was hanging out and playing tons of games with my friends at SaltCon Spring 2022!

I look forward to this 4-day gaming event with much anticipation every year. And it was especially great this year because the air was finally clearing around the Covid pandemic. Which means we could see the smiling faces of the 1,700 or so people who came out to play all sorts of games.

This year I was able to attend 3 full days of the event and played 22 different board games, card games, and dice games!

It was a lot of fun and I’m ready to share my thoughts on each of the games I played.

(Consider it like a bunch of mini-reviews.)

March 20, 2022March 30, 2022 Trent 0 Comments auction, board game, card game, dice game, drafting, luck, SaltCon, strategy, theme, tile-laying

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

3 Azul Board Games Compared

5 years ago, Next Move Games published a unique tile-laying game that made huge waves in the board game industry – Azul.

The game includes colorful and chunky tiles made of bakelite and it quickly jumped to the top of Hot Games lists all over the world. Because of its immediate success, it was very hard to find a copy of the game for months.

Due to the game’s popularity, it was quickly followed by 2 additional Azul games in 2018 and 2019–each delivering familiar elements mixed with novelty. And today we’re reviewing and comparing each of these sequel games:

* Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra
* Azul: Summer Pavilion

February 25, 2022 Trent 1 Comment 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, Azul, colorful, luck, Next Move Games, strategy, tile-laying, tiles

Articles Board Games Card Games Cooperative Games Dice Games Family Games Game Reviews Kid Games Party Games

2020 & 2021 – Years in Review

In getting ready to write my 2021 Year in Review, I realized that I never posted a 2020 Year in Review.

Maybe that’s because 2020 felt like a gap year for everybody – and many things just didn’t happen.

Well, that gives me a better chance to take a look at both years and compare how they’ve shaken out for family board game playing time.

January 27, 2022 Trent 0 Comments Top 10 lists

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

Galaxy Trucker 2022 board game review

We had a CB radio in our van when I was a kid and I remember talking to long-haul truckers via that radio during long trips with our family. Chatting over the radio while riding was a fun way to get a very small glimpse inside the cab of truckers.

I can only imagine the stories we’d get if we were to tap into truckers in space.

Because if they’re anything like what happens during a game of Galaxy Trucker, then we’d be in for quite the tale!

In the game, players frantically build their ships and then take them on a flight to gather goods, face space pirates, encounter meteor swarms, and more.

Strap in and check it out!

January 16, 2022 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, Czech Games Edition, luck, space, theme, tile-laying

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews Kid Games

Dragon Market board game review

The princess is having a wedding this weekend and everyone is rushing to gather gifts and treasures for the occasion.

But this gathering isn’t as simple as running to the store and buying things. Instead, you’ll be maneuvering boats and jumping from boat to boat to collect the items you’re after.

Plus, others will be out doing the same thing and they’ll make even harder for you to get around and get what you need.

So it is in Dragon Market – a fun family board game from Blue Orange Games.

January 10, 2022 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, Blue Orange Games, dice, luck

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews Party Games

Just One party game review

It’s that time of year again when so many of us want to have a great game to play at gatherings of family and friends for the holidays.

We’d all love a game that’s quick to explain, simple to play, can accommodate many players, and can be played over and over. It’s also nice to have a game that doesn’t take so much concentration that you can’t enjoy having conversations while playing the game.

Oh, and of course it’s got to be fun!

Well, we’ve got just the game for you and it’s called, Just One!

We bought a copy last year and have had a lot of fun playing it ever since.

December 21, 2021 Trent 1 Comment 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, 6-player, 7-player, guessing, party, Repos Productions

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

Jamaica Board Game Review

Setting: Jamaica, 1675.

After a long career in piracy, Captain Henry Morgan skillfully gets appointed to be Governor of Jamaica, with the explicit order to cleanse the Caribbean of pirates and buccaneers. Instead, he invites all of his former “colleagues” to join him in his retirement, to enjoy the fruits of their looting with impunity. Each year, in remembrance of the “good old days,” Morgan organizes the Great Challenge, a race around the island, and at its end, the Captain with the most gold is declared Grand Winner.

And with that, in the board game Jamaica you and your friends are set to race around the island of Jamaica, capturing treasure, battling your opponents, and trying to be the first one back to Port Royal!

Do you have what it takes to make it at sea?

December 12, 2021 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, 6-player, Asmodee, luck, pirate, Space Cowboys, theme

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

Gravwell 2nd Edition Board Game Review

Gravity is our friend!

I’m sure most of us don’t think about gravity very often. Even though this force keeps us all well-planted on Earth, we just take it for granted and don’t give it a second thought.

But if you’re floating around in space without much fuel, you may start thinking more seriously about gravitational pulls. And that’s exactly how it is in the fun board game we’re reviewing today — Gravwell 2nd Edition.

In Gravwell, you’ll rely heavily on gravitational pulls to get you to your goal first. It’s a fun game with a bit of chaos and this year there’s a new edition to love!

November 21, 2021November 22, 2021 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, 5-player, 6-player, chaos, luck, Renegade Game Studios, special powers

Articles Board Games Card Games Cooperative Games Dice Games Family Games Game Reviews Kid Games Party Games Top 10 Lists

Board Game Gift Guide 2021!

If you’re looking for some great game ideas for friends and family, you’ve come to the right place!

This marks our 11th annual Board Game Gift Guide and we love sharing great gift ideas!

And this year we’re sharing another 40 game ideas!

Since there’s a wide range of people (ages & interests) you may be considering, we break down this game guide into various categories and share a handful of game ideas in each category.

November 13, 2021November 19, 2023 Trent 0 Comments game gift guide

Board Games Family Games Game Reviews

Plague Inc.: The Board Game Review

Way back in 2009, our then 6-year old son, Caleb got us rolling in reviewing board games with his video review of Pandemic.

He shared how to play the game and what he enjoyed about working together to save the world from deadly viruses.

Fast-forward 12 years and the tides have turned.

Now we’re infecting the world with viruses and competing to be the most lethal in Plague Inc.: The Board Game!

That’s right, the popular mobile app game, Plague Inc., first released in 2012 by Ndemic Creations, is now available as a board game available from Asmodee.

I know it sounds odd while we’re struggling around the world facing a real global pandemic, but to be honest, we’ve had a very fun time playing Plague Inc.: the Board Game. And we’re happy to share why.

October 30, 2021October 30, 2021 Trent 0 Comments 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, Asmodee, luck, solo, strategy, them