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Pixel Cup Soccer 16
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App
Pixel Cup Soccer 16 is a casual retro style soccer game, a great evolution from the first edition....
Dice Brewing
Tabletop Game
Dice Brewing is a dice-building game in which you manage resources and brew beer to become the beer...
Boardgames BeerGames DiceGames BrewingGames 2014Games Thirstygames
Tranquility
8.0
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Tabletop Game
Jump on board the good ship Tranquility and set sail for paradise. Take care, though, because in a...
Purple Phoenix Games (2266 KP) rated Shelfie Stacker in Tabletop Games
Jul 29, 2021
I don’t know about you, but I love getting a new game. Unboxing it, punching tokens, reading the rules – it’s so satisfying! Now after that fun is done comes my dilemma: where to put it on my shelves… I know I’m not the only one that runs into this problem. I often see on Board Gamer Facebook groups queries about how to store/organize games. Do you place them vertically or horizontally? Organize by publisher? Size of box? Box color? Player counts? The list is nearly endless. So Arkus Games had the brilliant idea to make a meta-game in which you must sort and organize your game shelf! After having a good laugh at this theme and game, I decided to back it on Kickstarter. And as you can see above, it is one that has earned The Golden Feather Award for us!
Disclaimer: I do not intend to rehash the entire rulebook in this review, but rather provide an overview of the rules and gameplay. For a more in-depth look, check out the game at your FLGS or directly from the publisher. -L
Shelfie Stacker is a game of dice drafting and hand management in which players are trying to create the most prestigious board game shelf in the group. Players will be drafting dice, manipulating them with special abilities, and placing them on their Big Shelf in an effort to amass the most points by the end of 7 rounds. To setup for the game, each player receives a Big Shelf, Shelf of Shame, and Character Cards in their chosen color. Of the 16 Character Cards, you will select 8 with which to play this game, and return the others to the box. Place the Delivery Boxes in the center of the table (1 per player, plus 1 more), and place the dice into the dice bag. Randomly select 1 Sidekick, First to Claim, and End of Game cards and place them face-up in view of all players. The game is now ready to begin!
The game is played over a series of 7 rounds, each broken down into 5 phases. The first phase is to fill the Delivery Boxes. To do so, one player will draw and place 3 dice from the dice bag onto each Delivery Box. The dice don’t need to be rolled, but the drawing player shouldn’t change the faces in any way when placing. In the next phase, all players will select a Character Card to play. This will determine the turn order for the round. The Character Cards are numbered 1-16 (you only use 8 total cards in a game though), and each provide a special one-time ability for use in the game. Players select their Character Card in secret, and then will simultaneously reveal them. Starting with the player who played the lowest-value Character Card, each player will select one of the available Delivery Boxes as their own.
Once you have a Delivery Box, you will then start placing the dice in your Big Shelf! You must place all of your dice, following the placement rules (detailed in the rulebook). During this phase of the round is when most Character Card abilities will be used. These are one-time abilities to be used throughout the game, and allow you to manipulate your dice in various ways. One super important note is that the Character abilities do not need to be used on the same round in which they are played! So I could play a card for its number value (securing my spot in the turn order), but not use its ability until a later round. This really gives you the opportunity to strategize and potentially chain abilities together for maximum results! Once an ability has been used, it is discarded from the game and cannot be used again.
At any point during a round, a player may be able to claim the First to Claim or Sidekick cards, which provide end-game points. The first player to create the depicted pattern on the First to Claim card takes and keeps it for the end of the game. The Sidekick, however, won’t necessarily remain with one player. For example, I may have the most blue dice now and claim the Sidekick, but if in a later round you have more blue dice than me, you can steal it from me! If you are unable to place any/all of your dice on your Big Shelf. they will be placed on your Shelf of Shame *womp womp* and any dice there earn negative points in final scoring. When everyone has finished placing their dice, you prepare for the next round. The Delivery Boxes are returned to the center, and the game is ready to move to the next round.
After the 7th round, the game ends and final scoring takes place. Players can earn points in several ways: if columns get to a certain height, points per pip on the highest die of each column, bonus cards (First to Claim, Sidekick, and End of Game), and you lose 2 points for every die in your Shelf of Shame. Points are totaled and the player with the highest score is the winner!
Putting aside the humor and the theme, Shelfie Stacker is actually a very solid game. The premise is simple (manipulate and place dice) but the actual execution is more strategic than I first thought. The placement rules alone create quite a challenge. The first couple of rounds really determine your success in later rounds. If you don’t set yourself up early in the game with a good strategy, it could all come crashing down as the game progresses. Couple that with the Character Card abilities, and the strategy is elevated once more. You have to decide when to use which abilities, knowing that they are a one-time use. One of my favorite parts of this game is the fact that abilities do not have to be used immediately when played. So maybe I want to go early in the round so I play a low-value card. I can hang onto that special ability until I am ready to play it – I am not forced to use it until I decide to. This adds to the strategy because it allows you to choose when to use cards for maximum benefit, potentially even using multiple abilities in a row to get the desired result. Be warned though, this game could be a little AP-inducing as it gets into later rounds and you have to be more focused with your strategy. Not that the game necessarily halts altogether, but be ready for a little downtime as all players consider their options at the top of a round.
The components of Shelfie Stacker are excellent. The Big Shelf and Shelf of Shame boards are nice and thick dual-layered cardboard that really keep the dice in place. The dice themselves are fun colors, clear to read, and easy to manipulate. The artwork on all the cards is unique and fun, and the rulebook is clear and concise. So all in all, Shelfie Stacker gets an A+ from me with regards to production quality.
Obviously, as you saw in my graphic at the top of this review, Shelfie Stacker gets nothing but praise from me. The theme might not be one that appeals to everyone (especially non-gamers), but the gameplay is super solid and engaging. Every game is unique and strategically challenging, and it really puts you to the test mentally. If you’re in the market for something with a light and fun theme, but that really packs a punch with serious gameplay, I would highly recommend Shelfie Stacker. Then, of course, when you get it you have to decide where to put it on your shelf. The eternal struggle of gamers! Purple Phoenix Games awards this one the coveted Golden Feather Award! That’s right – I think this is a contender for my Top 10! Ooh, what if I put my Top 10 all together on my shelf……
Disclaimer: I do not intend to rehash the entire rulebook in this review, but rather provide an overview of the rules and gameplay. For a more in-depth look, check out the game at your FLGS or directly from the publisher. -L
Shelfie Stacker is a game of dice drafting and hand management in which players are trying to create the most prestigious board game shelf in the group. Players will be drafting dice, manipulating them with special abilities, and placing them on their Big Shelf in an effort to amass the most points by the end of 7 rounds. To setup for the game, each player receives a Big Shelf, Shelf of Shame, and Character Cards in their chosen color. Of the 16 Character Cards, you will select 8 with which to play this game, and return the others to the box. Place the Delivery Boxes in the center of the table (1 per player, plus 1 more), and place the dice into the dice bag. Randomly select 1 Sidekick, First to Claim, and End of Game cards and place them face-up in view of all players. The game is now ready to begin!
The game is played over a series of 7 rounds, each broken down into 5 phases. The first phase is to fill the Delivery Boxes. To do so, one player will draw and place 3 dice from the dice bag onto each Delivery Box. The dice don’t need to be rolled, but the drawing player shouldn’t change the faces in any way when placing. In the next phase, all players will select a Character Card to play. This will determine the turn order for the round. The Character Cards are numbered 1-16 (you only use 8 total cards in a game though), and each provide a special one-time ability for use in the game. Players select their Character Card in secret, and then will simultaneously reveal them. Starting with the player who played the lowest-value Character Card, each player will select one of the available Delivery Boxes as their own.
Once you have a Delivery Box, you will then start placing the dice in your Big Shelf! You must place all of your dice, following the placement rules (detailed in the rulebook). During this phase of the round is when most Character Card abilities will be used. These are one-time abilities to be used throughout the game, and allow you to manipulate your dice in various ways. One super important note is that the Character abilities do not need to be used on the same round in which they are played! So I could play a card for its number value (securing my spot in the turn order), but not use its ability until a later round. This really gives you the opportunity to strategize and potentially chain abilities together for maximum results! Once an ability has been used, it is discarded from the game and cannot be used again.
At any point during a round, a player may be able to claim the First to Claim or Sidekick cards, which provide end-game points. The first player to create the depicted pattern on the First to Claim card takes and keeps it for the end of the game. The Sidekick, however, won’t necessarily remain with one player. For example, I may have the most blue dice now and claim the Sidekick, but if in a later round you have more blue dice than me, you can steal it from me! If you are unable to place any/all of your dice on your Big Shelf. they will be placed on your Shelf of Shame *womp womp* and any dice there earn negative points in final scoring. When everyone has finished placing their dice, you prepare for the next round. The Delivery Boxes are returned to the center, and the game is ready to move to the next round.
After the 7th round, the game ends and final scoring takes place. Players can earn points in several ways: if columns get to a certain height, points per pip on the highest die of each column, bonus cards (First to Claim, Sidekick, and End of Game), and you lose 2 points for every die in your Shelf of Shame. Points are totaled and the player with the highest score is the winner!
Putting aside the humor and the theme, Shelfie Stacker is actually a very solid game. The premise is simple (manipulate and place dice) but the actual execution is more strategic than I first thought. The placement rules alone create quite a challenge. The first couple of rounds really determine your success in later rounds. If you don’t set yourself up early in the game with a good strategy, it could all come crashing down as the game progresses. Couple that with the Character Card abilities, and the strategy is elevated once more. You have to decide when to use which abilities, knowing that they are a one-time use. One of my favorite parts of this game is the fact that abilities do not have to be used immediately when played. So maybe I want to go early in the round so I play a low-value card. I can hang onto that special ability until I am ready to play it – I am not forced to use it until I decide to. This adds to the strategy because it allows you to choose when to use cards for maximum benefit, potentially even using multiple abilities in a row to get the desired result. Be warned though, this game could be a little AP-inducing as it gets into later rounds and you have to be more focused with your strategy. Not that the game necessarily halts altogether, but be ready for a little downtime as all players consider their options at the top of a round.
The components of Shelfie Stacker are excellent. The Big Shelf and Shelf of Shame boards are nice and thick dual-layered cardboard that really keep the dice in place. The dice themselves are fun colors, clear to read, and easy to manipulate. The artwork on all the cards is unique and fun, and the rulebook is clear and concise. So all in all, Shelfie Stacker gets an A+ from me with regards to production quality.
Obviously, as you saw in my graphic at the top of this review, Shelfie Stacker gets nothing but praise from me. The theme might not be one that appeals to everyone (especially non-gamers), but the gameplay is super solid and engaging. Every game is unique and strategically challenging, and it really puts you to the test mentally. If you’re in the market for something with a light and fun theme, but that really packs a punch with serious gameplay, I would highly recommend Shelfie Stacker. Then, of course, when you get it you have to decide where to put it on your shelf. The eternal struggle of gamers! Purple Phoenix Games awards this one the coveted Golden Feather Award! That’s right – I think this is a contender for my Top 10! Ooh, what if I put my Top 10 all together on my shelf……
Backgammon Live #1 Board Games
Games and Entertainment
App
***Play the best FREE backgammon game with Backgammon Live!*** Test your skills against people from...
Purple Phoenix Games (2266 KP) rated Odin's Ravens (second edition) in Tabletop Games
Sep 8, 2021
Getting the group together for game nights has always been a struggle – especially now (at time of writing) in this Covid world. So finding good games for 1-2 players has become a priority for me recently. Enter Odin’s Ravens, a 2-player race across the world. Does this game soar to meet my expectations, or does it fall flat in the end? Keep reading to find out.
Odin’s Ravens is a light game of strategy and hand management in which 2 players are racing to be the first of Odin’s ravens (duh) to travel around the world. To setup the game, shuffle the land cards and place a line of 16 cards directly between the two players. Land cards are divided into two halves, each depicting a different landscape. This line of Land cards acts as the route around the world for both Ravens. Players choose one end to be the start/finish lines, and place their Raven meeple on their corresponding side of the starting Land card. During play, the Ravens will travel down their side of the Land cards, and will switch to the opponent’s side for the flight back to the finish. Each player receives a set of 25 Flight cards and 8 Loki cards, to be shuffled and kept separate from each other. Both players then draws 5 cards into their hand, in any combination of Flight and Loki cards. Choose a starting player, and the game is ready to begin!
On a typical game turn, you will play as many cards from your hand as you want, either Flight cards, Loki cards, or combinations of the two. Flight cards allow you to move your raven down the path. In order to move your raven, you must play a Flight card that matches the landscape of the next Land card on your path. (Ex. if the next space is a Forest, you must play a Forest Flight card). If you have no Flight cards in hand that match the next card on your path, then you may discard any two flight cards of the same type to move forward one space. Loki cards allow you to perform Trickery actions, which alter the flight paths of both players. Some actions include rotating Land cards, moving ravens forward/backward a number of spaces, swapping Land cards, etc. It is important to note that once a Loki card has been played, it is removed from the game entirely – you only have 8 Loki cards total, so use them wisely! After you have played all the cards you wish on your turn, you will then draw 3 cards (in any combination of Flight/Loki cards), and end your turn. You may never have more than 7 cards in hand. Play continues in this fashion until one player has reached the end of their flight path – resulting in victory!
Seems simple enough, right? Well, it is and it isn’t. The overall gameplay itself is simplistic – draw and play cards to move your raven towards victory. The implementation of Loki cards adds a strategic twist to the game that keeps each player on their toes. Flight cards alone leave you at the mercy of the luck of the draw, but Loki cards give players a little more control over their game strategy. They provide ways to alter the flight path to benefit yourself or inhibit your opponent at various points throughout the game. Add in the fact that each player only has 8 Loki cards total, and that ups the strategy as well . You only have a finite amount of trickery to pull, so you have to be sure to use it at the perfect time. Was your opponent able to counteract your attempted trickery, or did you execute it perfectly for them to fall into your trap?
The components of this game are pretty standard and straightforward. The cards are good quality and are easy to manipulate, and the wooden raven meeples are big and chunky. Nice and simple! The artwork of the game, although clear and effective, is pretty basic and leaves much to be desired. It is clear in the way that it is easy to identify each type of landscape and determine the actions of Loki cards, but overall it feels a little too simplistic and not as immersive as it could be.
Odin’s Ravens is a decent 2-player game, although not my favorite. If I needed something simple, light, and relatively fast for 2 players, it is definitely one that I would pull off the shelf. But I have other 2-player games that I would rather play instead. Will it stay in my collection forever? Hard to say, but for the time being it has a spot on my shelves. If you are looking for something that is relatively simple, but has opportunities for strategy, check out Odin’s Ravens. Purple Phoenix Games gives this one a flighty 13 / 18 – you just gotta keep your eye on that Loki…
Odin’s Ravens is a light game of strategy and hand management in which 2 players are racing to be the first of Odin’s ravens (duh) to travel around the world. To setup the game, shuffle the land cards and place a line of 16 cards directly between the two players. Land cards are divided into two halves, each depicting a different landscape. This line of Land cards acts as the route around the world for both Ravens. Players choose one end to be the start/finish lines, and place their Raven meeple on their corresponding side of the starting Land card. During play, the Ravens will travel down their side of the Land cards, and will switch to the opponent’s side for the flight back to the finish. Each player receives a set of 25 Flight cards and 8 Loki cards, to be shuffled and kept separate from each other. Both players then draws 5 cards into their hand, in any combination of Flight and Loki cards. Choose a starting player, and the game is ready to begin!
On a typical game turn, you will play as many cards from your hand as you want, either Flight cards, Loki cards, or combinations of the two. Flight cards allow you to move your raven down the path. In order to move your raven, you must play a Flight card that matches the landscape of the next Land card on your path. (Ex. if the next space is a Forest, you must play a Forest Flight card). If you have no Flight cards in hand that match the next card on your path, then you may discard any two flight cards of the same type to move forward one space. Loki cards allow you to perform Trickery actions, which alter the flight paths of both players. Some actions include rotating Land cards, moving ravens forward/backward a number of spaces, swapping Land cards, etc. It is important to note that once a Loki card has been played, it is removed from the game entirely – you only have 8 Loki cards total, so use them wisely! After you have played all the cards you wish on your turn, you will then draw 3 cards (in any combination of Flight/Loki cards), and end your turn. You may never have more than 7 cards in hand. Play continues in this fashion until one player has reached the end of their flight path – resulting in victory!
Seems simple enough, right? Well, it is and it isn’t. The overall gameplay itself is simplistic – draw and play cards to move your raven towards victory. The implementation of Loki cards adds a strategic twist to the game that keeps each player on their toes. Flight cards alone leave you at the mercy of the luck of the draw, but Loki cards give players a little more control over their game strategy. They provide ways to alter the flight path to benefit yourself or inhibit your opponent at various points throughout the game. Add in the fact that each player only has 8 Loki cards total, and that ups the strategy as well . You only have a finite amount of trickery to pull, so you have to be sure to use it at the perfect time. Was your opponent able to counteract your attempted trickery, or did you execute it perfectly for them to fall into your trap?
The components of this game are pretty standard and straightforward. The cards are good quality and are easy to manipulate, and the wooden raven meeples are big and chunky. Nice and simple! The artwork of the game, although clear and effective, is pretty basic and leaves much to be desired. It is clear in the way that it is easy to identify each type of landscape and determine the actions of Loki cards, but overall it feels a little too simplistic and not as immersive as it could be.
Odin’s Ravens is a decent 2-player game, although not my favorite. If I needed something simple, light, and relatively fast for 2 players, it is definitely one that I would pull off the shelf. But I have other 2-player games that I would rather play instead. Will it stay in my collection forever? Hard to say, but for the time being it has a spot on my shelves. If you are looking for something that is relatively simple, but has opportunities for strategy, check out Odin’s Ravens. Purple Phoenix Games gives this one a flighty 13 / 18 – you just gotta keep your eye on that Loki…
Entertainment Editor (1988 KP) rated Santorini in Tabletop Games
Mar 7, 2018
Santorini rocks as a 2-player board game!
Many years ago I was lucky enough to have my wife come along with me on a business trip to Greece. It was the first time either of us had been to Greece and we looked forward to seeing many sites over a few extra days after the business event ended.
One of the things we really wanted to do was to visit one of the Greek Isles. At the top of my list was Santorini
Unfortunately, with the limited time we had, we could only make it to one island — Mykonos. Don’t get me wrong, we loved visiting Mykonos. I just wish we could have seen more. And ever since then I’ve longed for a visit to Santorini.
Well, playing the Santorini board game by Roxley Game Laboratory has only whetted my appetite to visit the popular Greek Isle even more!
I’ll tell you straight out that the game is fantastic!
Reviewer: Trent
See the full review here: http://www.theboardgamefamily.com/2017/04/santorini-board-game-review/
One of the things we really wanted to do was to visit one of the Greek Isles. At the top of my list was Santorini
Unfortunately, with the limited time we had, we could only make it to one island — Mykonos. Don’t get me wrong, we loved visiting Mykonos. I just wish we could have seen more. And ever since then I’ve longed for a visit to Santorini.
Well, playing the Santorini board game by Roxley Game Laboratory has only whetted my appetite to visit the popular Greek Isle even more!
I’ll tell you straight out that the game is fantastic!
Reviewer: Trent
See the full review here: http://www.theboardgamefamily.com/2017/04/santorini-board-game-review/
Big Jock: The Real Jock Wallace
Book
Jock Wallace wasn't just one of Scotland's outstanding football managers - he was a legend. A...
1966: My World Cup Story
Bobby Charlton and Bernard Hill
Book
In 1966 England won the World Cup at Wembley. Sir Bobby Charlton, England's greatest ever player,...