Sushi Go! Review

sushi go review

Basic Information for Sushi Go!

sushi go review

Number of Players: 2-5

Age: 8+

Time: 15 minutes

Price: Low

Introduction to Sushi Go!

Sushi Go is a fun family card game where players are trying to collect certain types of sushi to get the maximum amount of points. It’s a great game to play with anyone aged from 8 to adults. Its fluid play style makes it easy to learn and teach to new players which makes it a great game to pull out at small parties or family dinners. I own both the base version and Sushi Go party which has additional sushi types and goes up to 8 players which I play often at family dinners.

How to Play Sushi Go!

First take out all the puddings and set them aside and shuffle the remaining sushi together. Then take a number of puddings as listed in the rules and add them to the deck and shuffle again. Deal out the sushi cards and then place the rest to the side (including the unused puddings). Each player then choses one sushi from their hand and places it face down in front of them and hands the rest of their cards to the player to their left. Before people pick up their new hand of cards they reveal their chosen sushi that is face down in front of them. Players then pick up the new hand of cards they just received and play continues until there are no more sushi left to pass on. Players then count up their score and keep note of it on a piece of paper. Whoever had the highest score at the end of 3 rounds is the winner.

sushi go party review

Common Sushi Go! Mistakes:

Puddings are added in the deck at the start of each round. They do not count towards individual rounds but to the final score at the end of the three games. Players keep their puddings that they play throughout the game next to them until the game is over. The player with the most puddings gets an extra 6 point on their final score and the player with the least gets negative 6 points.

Chopsticks are a way to take two cards from a single hand, when a player places the chopsticks down in front of them instead of a regular sushi, they are creating a placeholder for a sushi when they see two that they want to get in a single hand. Please note that they do not necessarily need to use it in the next hand of cards they receive. Once a player has taken two sushi from a hand of cards, they place the chopsticks back in the hand of sushi and pass that hand to the next player who may also chose to play the chopsticks.

Maki Rolls are another slightly tricky one. You want to collect the most of them so that you get the most points (6). The individual Maki rolls on the cards have not point value themselves.

Notes on Sushi Go

The first time I played sushi go the owner had not read the rules properly at all so even though it’s a relatively simple game to play we initially played a hugely broken variant. From this experience I always insist on reading the rules as I feel that it’s important to try and play the game as intended and to avoid any misinterpretations of the rules which can lead to some severely broken mechanics. With Sushi go just make sure you read the rules and keep an eye out for the puddings, chopsticks, and Maki rolls.

Guide to buying a board game as a gift

guide to buying a board game as a gift

Have you ever found yourself trying to find a good gift but don’t know where to start? Well I always say that there is a board game for everyone and its my goal to help you find the perfect one. Whether it be for a child, sibling, friend, parent or other, I believe that you can find a great board game by asking yourself a few simple questions.

Who would they be playing with?

How many board games do they own (if any)?

Do they want a board game that’s easy to learn or want a more complicated game?

Would they prefer a cooperative experience or a competitive one?

Can they get good replay value from the game?

These questions are good starting points to go off from because they narrow down the type of game you are looking for.

If you are buying a board game for a kid, check out the best board games for kid’s page we have for a list of some popular games. Remember when buying a board game for someone who is young, you want it to be easy enough to play, but not so easy that they lose interest. Most games have a varying age bracket, and you can use them as a rough guide for what game will be good.

board game buying guide

If you a buying it for someone who is fairly new to board games, you can check out our best classic board game list. That list covers most of the basic board games that most people will at least have heard of, so the familiarity might make them more invested in the game when playing. You can also check out our best party games page which has a good list for both new and casual gamers.

If you are buying for a more seasoned player, check out my list of hardcore board games which are game that I personally love as an avid board game player.

Regardless of skill level and age, there is a board game for everyone and that is what this whole website is about, trying to help you find the perfect board game!

Twister Review

twister review

Basic Information

twister review

Number of Players: 2-4

Age: 5+

Time: 20 minutes

Price: low

Introduction to Twister

Twister is the classic contortion party game where the aim is to be the last person standing. Great for kids, couple, adults who may have had a drink or two, and everyone in between. Twister is the game that gets you off your feet and on the twister sheet!

How to Play Twister

Each round a player will spin the wheel which will give an instruction of where to place a limb, and what color. Players take turns spinning the wheel and keep moving and placing hands and feet until one (or everyone) falls over. Try to be the last person standing and win!

Notes on Twister

Twister is great for kids who are able to contort their bodies more comfortably than big gangly adults. I have never once beaten my niece (who also happens to do gymnastics so I feel she has a double unfair advantage) but I still have fun every time I play. I feel like I get a pretty serious workout after every game as my legs and arms are always sore from trying to stay up and balance myself in such unnatural positions. An easy choice for the young and young at heart.

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Apples to Apples Review

apples to apples review

Basic Information for Apples to Apples

apples to apples review

Number of Players: 4-10

Age: 12+

Time: 30 minutes

Price: Medium

Introduction to Apples to Apples

Apples to Apples was like the pre-curser to Cards against humanity. It’s a fun card game where players are trying to match description cards to things cards with some hilarious results. I played this a lot when I was younger and had a lot of fun with my friends in high school trying to get the most cards to win.

How to Play Apples to Apples

Just like in cards against humanity, there are two decks to pull from; the description deck and the things deck. A player, will pull a card from the description deck and read it aloud to the other player who will then chose a thing card from their hand that they think best matches that description and places it face down for judging. The player who read the description card, pulls together the thing cards and shuffles them and reads them aloud one by one. The thing card that they believe best matches the description card (or makes them laugh the most in my experience) is the winner and that person then gets to be the one to draw the description card. Play continues like this until someone wins a predetermined amount of cards and wins the game.

Notes on Apples to Apples

Apples to apples hold a special place in my heart as it was one of the main games I played with my friends throughout high school. It was a fun fast paced game where we tried to make each other laugh. It’s a great present idea for teenagers, even for ones who don’t particularly like board games.

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Geek Out Review

geek out review

Basic Information for Geek Out

geek out review

Number of Players: 2+

Age: 10+

Time: 30 minutes

Price: Medium

Introduction to Geek Out

Geek out is the ultimate geeky trivia game where players are asked to list a certain number of things based on the category and subject that was asked. There are 5 categories in Geek Out: Comic books, fantasy, games science fiction, and miscellaneous. The goal is to not only guess the amount listed on the card, but to also out bid the other players and win the card. Geek Out is a great way to test your knowledge against your friends and see who the ultimate Geek is.

How to Play Geek Out

Each round a player rolls the dice which has the 5 colors representing each category and a ‘wild’ where they get to choose. Whichever color it lands on is the category they are going to attempt. They pull the top card from the deck and read the list they must complete. For example. A player rolled a green and the card asks them to name 4 Brothers Grimm fairy tales. The player then can bid on how many they think they can name and the player who bids the highest wins the ‘auction’. They must then name the amount that they bid accurately, or they will lose the card. The player with the highest amount of won cards at the end is the winner.

Notes on Geek Out

Geek out is definitely ones of the more difficult games to play since it does rely so heavily on a players knowledge of the different geeky subjects. It’s similar to trivial pursuit in this regard, just with a higher level of knowledge needed for some of the categories. Regardless, I have a heap of fun playing with my partner and friends and it’s a create trivia game that keeps people in their toes.

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Anomia Review

anomia review

Basic Information

anomia review

Number of Players: 3-6

Age: 10+

Time: 15 minutes

Price: Low

Introduction to Anomia

Anomia is a fast word association card game that literally anyone from 10 years and up can play. Even the most intellectual person will fumble when under pressure as they try to think of a type of fish before the other player can think of a pop song. It really feels like an even playing field, age makes no difference, only your ability to perform under pressure! I highly recommend this for anyone and everyone as both a great party game, and a great card game to play with friends and family.

How to Play Anomia

In Anomia each colored deck is a single round. Players take turns QUICKLY taking a card from the deck and flipping it up in front of them and if their symbol matches someone else’s symbol, they must try to name something from the opponents card before the opponent can do the same to them. If a player draws a wild card with two symbols on it, that card is placed in the center and how those two symbols will also match up for more word battles. That player then also draws another card. In the event of a draw, a third player will draw a single card from the deck, the player to name something from that card’s subject first will win the battle and take the opponents card, while the tie-breaking card is shuffled back into the deck. Play continues around the table until the deck is empty. Players then count up how many cards they won, and the player with the most amount of cards wins.

Notes on Anomia

Anomia is one of those games that I bring to every family Gathering, Everyone from my 60 year old father-in-law to my 10 year old nephew love this game as they feel they are on even footing with each other and love to challenge other members of the family to a battle of words. This is a easy birthday or Christmas present to get since it is so inexpensive and the value you get is amazing.

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Secret Hitler Review

secret Hitler review

Basic Information For Secret Hitler

secret Hitler review

Number of Players: 5-10

Age: 17+

Time:  45 minutes

Price: Medium-High

Introduction to Secret Hitler

Have you ever wanted to experience the political intrigue and betrayal of Germany’s political system in the 1930s? Well now you can with this fully historically accurate representation which pits the players against each other as liberals and fascist. The fascists, who know who each other are, try their best to sew chaos with the liberals and get their supreme leader Hitler elected as chancellor. The liberals must do their best to find and kill Hitler before it’s too late!

How to Play Secret Hitler

Each player is secretly given an identity of either Liberal, fascist, or Hitler. Each player then closes their eyes and another player, or the app voiced by Will Wheaton, goes through a night in Germany as the fascists wake and see who each other is while Hitler raises his thumbs to the heavens to let his followers know his identify without revealing who they are to him. Everyone closes their eyes again and then everyone wakes up and the game begins. Each round the position of President is moved around and they elect a chancellor. The players then vote on whether they accept this appointment and if the appointment is rejected, the role of presents passes to the next person and they then elect a chancellor and so on (with some limitations). If the appointment is confirmed, the president draws three cards, discards one and passes the next two to the chancellor. The chancellor chooses from the remaining two and placed the chosen card on the board. For the fascist to win, they wither need to get through Majority fascist policies or get Hitler elected chancellor (after the 4th policy). The liberals need to get through majority liberal policies or kill Hitler.

Notes on Secret Hitler

Nothing says family like calling your brother a fascist or your sister Hitler, while you yourself are secretly for the cause. You really learn who is good at bluffing, or how to bluff better after a few games. Deceit and betrayal are after all the only way to get ahead in politics and this game perfectly encapsulates these ideals while being criminally fun. I hugely recommend this for any young adult who wants a fun game to play with friends (or the right family). Of course, Nazism is wrong, but making fun of it takes away its power and this game does just that! 

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Codenames Review

codenames review

Basic Information for Codenames

codenames review

Number of Players: 2-8+

Age: 10+

Time: 15 minutes

Price: Medium

Introduction to Codenames

Codenames is a team versus team game that is great to play with larger groups of people. It’s a fairly simple concept where the team leader of each team is trying to get their team members to guess the correct code words. Codenames is a great communication game which also engages your puzzle solving and interpretation abilities as you and your team try to guess all the correct codenames before the other team. I highly recommend this game for adults and especially at big family gatherings.

How to Play Codenames

Codenames is set up fairly quickly with a 5×5 grid of words on the table with the team leaders and team members sitting opposite each other. The team leaders have a card with a 5×5 grid that shows the position of words that they need their team to guess. The color around the edge of the card determines who goes first and that team leader then gives their team the first clue. A clue is comprised of two things, a number which is the amount of code words the team member wants their team to guess, and a single word that connects those cards together. There are some restrictions to what this clue word can be as read in the manual. If the team guesses correctly, the team leader places a tile of the team color on the correctly guessed word and the team continues until they have found the remaining words from the same clue. If they find them all they are allowed to guess an additional code word, usually from a previous clue to which they were not able to see at the time. If they get a bystander or their other teams code word, the turn ends and it moved to the next team. If they find the assassin, they lose the round and the other team wins.

Notes on Codenames

Codenames is a great party game that I play all the time with my family. My mum has trouble reading so we generally play the pictures version which has some amazing illustrations. I also own the original version and the duet version which I play all the time with my partner. There are also other versions such as Disney, Marvel and Harry potter, all which would be a great gift for someone who loves their respective franchises. Codenames is such a solid game and I highly recommend it for anyone who commonly is playing with larger groups of more than 6 people.

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Exploding Kittens Review

exploding kittens review

Basic Information

exploding kittens review

Number of Players: 2-5

Age:

Time: 15 minutes

Cost: Medium

Introduction to Exploding Kittens

Exploding kittens was first funded through kickstarter in 2015 and since then has become one of the most popular card games for kids and adults. It’s fast paced and explosive game play keeps players on their toes as they try to gain defuse cards and sabotage fellow players in order to be the last person standing. Exploding kittens is truly on of the funniest and craziest card games I have had the pleasure to play and I highly recommend it to casual and non-casual players.

How to Play Exploding Kittens

The aim of exploding kittens is to be the last person alive in a round. Each player starts with a defuse card in had with another few in the deck. Each round a player can play any number of action cards from his or her hand or play collections of cats in order to perform special abilities. At the end of their turn they pick up a card from the deck except for when the play an action card that skips this step. If they draw an exploding kitten, they must play a defuse card. If they don’t have a defuse card they are out of the round. If they don’t draw an exploding kitten, the turn moves to the next player.

The best way to win is to try and steal defuses from other players and then, while they are defenseless, make them draw an exploding kitten. The last person left in the game is declared the winner and you can reshuffle and play again for more kitten madness!

Notes on Exploding Kittens

Exploding kittens is one of my favorite card games and I own both the original and NSFW edition. I play either version with friends or family and I have found it to be an easy go-to gift if I need to get one for someone in a hurry. The fun game play and crazy art style has won over so many people I know and I’m sure it will win you over to.

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What Do You Meme? Review

what do you meme review

Basic Information for What do You Meme?

what do you meme review

Number of Players: 3-20+

Age: 17+

Time: 30-60 min

Price: Medium

Introduction to What do you Meme?

What do you Meme is a card against humanity like game where the aim is to get as many points as you can by making people laugh. It’s a great adult party game that is sure to tickle the inner meme-lord in all of us. If anyone you know loved card against humanity in the past this is a great option as a gift.

How to play What do you Meme

AS stated before, what do you meme plays much like card against humanity with a Rotating judge that hands out the points to the player than made them laugh the most. The main difference is that the balck cards are replaced with the images of popular memes and players are tasked with giving these images the meme-text. Once a player reaches 7 (or really how many points you want) they win the game.

Notes on What do you meme

What do you meme is a great party game for people who like cards against humanity and other adult-centered games. I personally love playing it with my brothers and their partners and we have so much fun trying to make the others laugh. Is a solid game all round and definitely recommend it for any upcoming parties.

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