Pirate Den, By Bo Radakovich

Ahoy mateys, and welcome to the Pirate Den. I'm yer captain, JRrrrrrrr, and I'll be watchin' from the mainstay while ye and yer mangy chums scrub the decks... and plunderin' treasure from ships floatin' about the vast blue sea. Yo ho! 

Pirate Den is on Kickstarter as of March 10th. The designer, Bo Radakovich, is a friend of mine and asked me to review it. We played Pirate Den on launch day for the campaign, and filmed an episode of Back It! to go with it. After one game I was hooked, and I can't wait until I'm playing this at my friendly local game store with all my buddies.

Review: Last Night On Earth by Flying Frog Productions

The work day is ending and the stillness of evening sets in on a quiet Midwest town, the kind of town where the high school, the police station, the junkyard and a farm are all within a short walk of each other.  Johnny, the high school quarterback is getting in a few more reps in at  the high school gym; Sheriff Anderson is locking up at the police station while his son Billy stashes his belongings in his locker.

Then, a blood-curdling scream echoes through the small town... Jenny, the farmer's daughter, on her evening walk through the cornfield!

The dead are rising, and it might just be these folks' last night on Earth...

Survive Escape From Atlantis! by Stronghold Games

Survive Escape From Atlantis! is a game of luck, planning, and misfortune where each round provides ample opportunity to benefit from or be the victim of whales, sharks, sea monsters, and whirlpools.  Explorers must swim or boat to safety before the volcano erupts and sinks the island of Atlantis once and for all!

Survive is the best “gateway” game I’ve been introduced to this year, and the game I’d point to if I was asked for a reasonably “deep” board game (pun fully intended) that a person could play with children, friends, family, and strangers of any skill level. Though it’s over 30 years old, it remains a fantastic game of light tactics and fun interactions for people of all ages.

Review: Kill Doctor Lucky by James Ernest

KILL DOCTOR LUCKY: The Family Board Game Of Murder In The Dark by James Ernest

Have you ever been to a house party hosted by someone you just cannot stand? Someone you've hated for as long as you can remember, and you've secretly been waiting for them to shuffle off this mortal coil? Perhaps he is the only thing between you and the family fortune. Maybe he just dumped your grandma. Lets just say he's a terrible person. Whatever your motive, someone just cut the power to the mansion. Find a weapon, get him alone, make your move. Tonight you will Kill Doctor Lucky.

Second Opinion: Lagoon, By David Chott

I had the chance to play a pre-release version of Lagoon: Land of Druids with our very own J.R. Honeycutt.  He gave his thoughts and excellently described how the game works (you should read it, if you haven't already), and as such I won't go over how the game works.  Instead, I will give you a second opinion on the game and why you should support it before the Kickstarter campaign ends.

Lagoon, By David Chott

Humans, the newest species in Lagoon, the oldest land in existence, strive to permanently alter the ancient world they inhabit. Through the control and influence of the three energies of the earth they shape the primeval landscape to fit their whims. You and your opponents must take up this struggle against each other as you vie to establish a dominant energy, and ultimately determine the fate of the world…

Full disclosure: David sent me a demo copy of Lagoon to review after we recorded an episode of Back It!, our show about crowd-funded gaming projects. I endeavor to keep my reviews biased only by my love for gaming, but it’s possible a little of my respect for David has seeped into my opinions about his first game. With that in mind, please join me on a spiritual journey to the first forests in the magical world of Lagoon!

Review: Elder Sign from Fantasy Flight Games

 

Elder Sign is a game based in the Lovecraftian Mythos. You and the other players take on the roles of the various characters from H.P. Lovecraft's writings. You are investigating the Miskatonic University Museum. The Museum has long been a hot-bed of unnatural occurrences.  Today an Ancient One will awaken. Your task is to locate the Elder Signs and seal the monster in the otherworld. There are unseen forces afoot. Keep your wits about you, or suffer the madness inducing twists and turns offered by Elder Sign from Fantasy Flight Games.