The 12 days of gaming christmas

Firstly, I am so, so sorry that I have only managed to get this post up now, although I have a mostly legitimate reason. On Saturday I was completely brain-dead (schools has just kicked out for christmas), on Sunday I was at relatives and on Monday I was ill and I am still suffering from it. So hopefully this revised edition of an ancient christmas carol will make up for the wait (and it better do, I spent all morning researching this) and satisfy your gaming christmas song needs.

On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Forbidden Island

On the second day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
2 Oddball Aeronaut sets
and Forbidden Island

On the third day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
3 smallworld versions
2 Oddball Aeronaut sets
and Forbidden Island

On the fourth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
4 campaigns for the One Ring
3 smallworld versions
2 Oddball Aeronaut sets
and Forbidden Island

On the fifth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
4 campaigns for Frostgrave
4 campaigns for the One Ring
3 smallworld versions
2 Oddball Aeronaut sets
and Forbidden Island

On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
6 discworld games
4 campaigns for Frostgrave
4 campaigns for the One Ring
3 smallworld versions
2 Oddball Aeronaut sets
and Forbidden Island

On the seventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
7 editions of Call of Cthulhu
6 discworld games
4 campaigns for Frostgrave
4 campaigns for the One Ring
3 smallworld versions
2 Oddball Aeronauts
and Forbidden Island

On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
11 versions of ticket to ride
7 editions of Call of Cthulhu
6 discworld games
4 campaigns for Frostgrave
4 campaigns for the One Ring
3 smallworld versions
2 Oddball Aeronauts
and Forbidden Island

On the ninth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
17 expansions for Settlers of Catan
11 versions of ticket to ride
7 editions of Call of Cthulhu
6 discworld games
4 campaigns for Frostgrave
4 campaigns for the One Ring
3 smallworld versions
2 Oddball Aeronauts
and Forbidden Island

On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
18 Magic the Gathering duel decks
17 expansions for Settlers of Catan
11 versions of ticket to ride
7 editions of Call of Cthulhu
6 discworld games
4 campaigns for Frostgrave
4 campaigns for the One Ring
3 smallworld versions
2 Oddball Aeronauts
and Forbidden Island

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
27 types of Risk
18 Magic the Gathering duel decks
17 expansions for Settlers of Catan
11 versions of ticket to ride
7 editions of Call of Cthulhu
6 discworld games
4 campaigns for Frostgrave
4 campaigns for the One Ring
3 smallworld versions
2 Oddball Aeronauts
and Forbidden Island

On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
1298 different types of Monopoly
27 types of Risk
18 Magic the Gathering duel decks
17 expansions for Settlers of Catan
11 versions of ticket to ride
7 editions of Call of Cthulhu
6 discworld games
4 campaigns for Frostgrave
4 campaigns for the One Ring
3 smallworld versions
2 Oddball Aeronauts
and Forbidden Island

So there you have it, my new and improved version of the 12 days of Christmas and if you haven't guessed already, the numbers are the amount of types of that product (although I bet that that monopoly figure has gone up by the time you read this)! Now there is only one more thing for me to say… MERRY CHRISTMAS!

My top 5 games (+ highly recommended) part 2

As the festive season approaches many of you will be frantically scrambling about for presents for your loved ones and family. So to help I have compiled a list of my top five games (plus highly recommended) which you can buy to fill those last minute present slots. This is part two of two blogs I have been doing and so if you want to see the first post go here. 

3rd place goes to… Snake Oil

Snake Oil is a crazily funny game, where you have to try and sell crazy products to customers that could be anything from ninjas to cheerleaders. This is a game that you can play with anyone and this would be a great game to play with non-gamer relatives. The lack of rules make this game a really easy to pick up and teach so everyone, however brain dead you are. If you want to see a full review of this then you can go here to see it.

2nd place goes to…Sushi Go

Sushi Go is a game where you have to collect an array of delicious sushi to eat, but the thing is the conveyer belt of the food is moving. Do you grab the last maki roll but risk forfeiting that tempura because the hand of cards you pick from you pass to player on your left each turn? I can't believe I haven't reviewed this game yet, because it is one of the greatest games ever. The rules are simple and logical making teaching it a breeze yet you can get some serious depth out of it after your first couple of games. The artwork is also amazing and all of these reasons together make this game a must have.

And finally 1st place goes to…Ticket to Ride!

This is a time tested classic released in 2004 (when I was but a tiny tot, learning my way through this crazy world) and it has been given many awards since, including the much sought after Spiel des Jahres. In it you are playing as train lords, trying to build routes through the ever crowded train lines to claim transportation victory. Ticket to Ride is one of the most exciting games ever, the cramped board means you have to rush for routes, often competing with your fellow players to get the last slots. The play time is long enough for you to get your teeth into, but short enough to make accessible to anyone, making it a go to introductory game. Overall this is an amazing game and many people I am sure agree with me that this deserves top spot.

So there you have it, my top games ever, and I hope that this list satisfies those last minute gift needs. 

My top 5 games(+ highly recommended) part 1

As this year draws to a close and all you people are scrambling around searching for christmas presents I feel like the time is right to do a list of my all time favourite games this year. This blog I will award highly recommended, 5th place and 4th place to three lucky winners with the next following up with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. So without further ado, let the prize giving commence.

The award for highly recommended goes to… Celestia

Celestia is a really fun game that I reviewed here. In it you are travellers trying to get the most exotic

gifts by travelling to different islands, the further the island the better the reward. However to do so you have to guess at whether the captain has the right equipment to confront the challenges in the journeys from one island to the other, and if you believe not, then abandon ship and collect your prize. I really enjoy the looks of this game and I have always wanted to get to the fifteen point island in this game       (although I never have). Also the way you have to read the captains face to see if they have the right equipment is really fun and secures this game highly recommended.

                                 5th place goes to…Takenoko

Takenoko is a game where you have to make a giant bamboo garden for a panda (called Tony in our house). I reviewed this game a while ago in the history of this blog and so my writing is a little bit rusty but if you aren't put off by that fact the you can find that review here. Takenoko tactical enough for you to think about strategies, but it isn't to much to take in. It is a really pretty game, with the stackable bamboo that will grow through out your game under the loving care of the gardener (who we call Frank). All of this combines together to make a really nice easy going game that definitely deserves the 5th spot.

4th place goes to… Tokiado

Tokiado is another orientally themed game where you are travellers, walking down the Tokaido road that connects Edo and Kyoto in Japan. It has some amazing artwork and a tranquil feeling that makes it a really nice game to play. Along with that it has some really innovative mechanics, like the person who is at the behind everyone else on the road gets to take their turn, and if their still behind everyone they get another one, meaning that if you leap to far ahead in the game, your points score will be highly impinged. I reviewed this game here if you want to look at it in a bit more detail.   

So thats it for now, but remember to come back next week to see what games are at the top of the pile.