The Big Bang Theory Fact or Fiction Trivia Game, fan edition

We all like watching Big Bang Theory. Sam and I have seen all twelve seasons, and we're currently in the middle of a re-watch with Finn. But I don't think we can be considered Super Fans, and I know none of us has an eidetic memory. As a result, these trivia questions were Too Hard. Even if there's a chance we have a combined IQ of 360, there are too many BBT facts that just can't be retrieved from the recesses of our memories. 

This game would have worked much better for us if the questions had multiple choice answers! As it's decidedly not multiple choice, I suggested getting rid of this game, but Finn was strongly against that idea. So my next suggestion was to give lots of hints (which we basically did this time around, but we could make it official next time) except Sam was strongly against that idea, basically saying "where's the fun in that?" Then Finn suggested that we could each have a super power while playing. His ideas (one person can keep asking until they get it right, one person can have two turns every time...) may not be the ones we go with, but maybe the general idea does have some merit. Anyway, if we do ever play this game again, it will only be with modifications (because the only other option is to watch all the episodes about a half dozen more times, and THAT'S not gonna happen--I mean, sure, we like BBT, but there are other things in life). 

Friends Trivia Game

Another week, another Friends game. This one (obviously) is a trivia game. It has a fun, tricksy little way of keeping score, but really it would be just as much fun (or maybe more so) without that. And it would certainly be more fun without the Charades option, which we ditched halfway through. 

I won (no surprise there, since I practically have every episode memorized). What was a surprise was that I didn’t know all the answers! Only most of them. 

I think the best iteration of this game would be for travel (just asking and answering the questions, no scorekeeping or Charades). It would be a great way to pass the time on a long car trip. 

SORRY!

It was a lovely day today: sunny, balmy, just a light breeze. I didn't get to spend much of it outdoors, but then we had the great idea of doing Game Night on the patio!

SORRY! is a game that I played as a kid, but that was a while ago; I had to refresh my memory on the rules. Plus, this version has Fire power and Ice freeze, which didn't exist in the 70s. At first glance, gameplay seemed too complicated; this game is quite similar to Trouble, just not as simple. But in the end, I'm pretty sure the extra complexity made it more fun. Everyone enjoyed this one! It's a bit cutthroat at times, but everyone was a good sport. 

Risk: Halo Wars

This is a looooong game. Like, way worse than Monopoly, even. I mean, just the setup takes forever--Game Night was practically over before we had all the pieces in position. (I'm sure the fact that we are Risk noobs did not help.) Plus, we never found a good (read: fast or efficient) system to count up the number of troops we could deploy at the beginning of each turn, which slowed down gameplay. We ended up leaving the board out on our kitchen table and continued play over four days. (Or was it five??)

Unfortunately, Finn loved this game. I have a feeling I will be forced to play it again in the future. 

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza

This is a fast, fun card game that is pretty new to us. I actually got it for Sam as a stocking stuffer a year or two ago, but for whatever reason we never played it. Then Finn got another set as a birthday gift this year. He and his friends played it at his party, so that was our introduction to it, and we played it for the first time tonight. 

Each card has a cute, simple picture on it: either a taco, a cat, a goat, a wedge of cheese, a slice of pizza . . . or a gorilla, a groundhog, or a narwhal. The deck is dealt out to all the players, then everyone takes turns laying cards in the middle. As you lay a card down, you say the next name in the title sequence, and if what you say matches the picture on the card, you slap the pile as fast as you can. If someone lays down one of the three "special" cards, you have to do a particular action or motion first, then slap the pile. Last one to slap the pile takes the pile, and the object is to get rid of all your cards, so you don't want to be the last one to slap the pile. 

We laughed a lot as we played this, and we all enjoyed it, so we'll definitely be keeping it. (Although I think we don't need two decks. Unless . . . should we combine them?? I don't know, that would make for a really long game.)

Also, I'm not sure how often I'll want to play this game. My hands hurt. 

Clue

Here’s a game that needs no introduction. Surely everyone is familiar with this murder mystery guessing game. I mean, how many board games have spawned their own feature-length movie? (Actually, now that I've asked the question, I'm curious about the answer . . . but that's probably another blog post for another day.)

So everyone knows about Clue. But what would this blog be without useless, extraneous information? I've got to describe gameplay for you. Clue is a game that takes place in a sumptuous mansion peopled by an eclectic cast of characters. But their host, Mr Boddy, has been found murdered. And it’s up to you to figure out whodunnit, and in which grand room, and with what commonplace but dangerous household object. Everyone starts with a series of clues and has to make deductions with the help of their opponents, with the object of narrowing it down to the person, place and thing that are hidden in the Confidential File. 

Verdict: Finn summed it up quite well when he said, “It's obvious we are definitely going to keep this one. Everyone loves it!”

Cranium

I regret to inform you that Sam hated this game. Which is especially unfortunate, because I have always loved this game. One of his complaints about it was something I think makes it great fun: this game takes little bits from all kinds of other games (like charades, Pictionary, and “name that tune").

We had to get a bit creative with gameplay, having only three players. It would have been less confusing with at least four (two teams of two), but we made it work. 

Another drawback was playing with a child who doesn't know all the necessary pop culture. He's heard of James Bond, but doesn't know how to act like him. He knows the tune for Take Me Out to the Ballgame, but thinks it's actually something about . . . going to the bathroom? And he didn't know what a convent was (even after I explained it to him). 

So I would say this is still one of my favorite games, and I really enjoy playing it, but it should be reserved for a group of at least three other adults . . . none of which are Sam, I guess? Unless he either changes his mind or forgets about his experience with it this evening.

Verdict: I would never want to get rid of this game, I like it so much. Not sure when I'll ever play it, though.

Chutes and Ladders

This is one of those children's games (apparently with Snakes instead of Chutes in the UK?) that is all luck and no skill and really only fun for the very young. You basically spin a spinner and move the number of steps indicated. Sometimes you get to jump ahead (by climbing a ladder) and sometimes you fall behind (by sliding down a chute), but the ultimate goal is to hope you get to the end before the other players. (I say "hope" because in this game, hope or hope not, there is no try. There's nothing you can actually do in order to win.) Sam and I were pretty bored by gameplay, but Finn loved it. 

Theoretically you can also learn morals or values from this game. At the bottom of each ladder, a good choice is depicted, and at the top you see a reward. At the top of each chute, a bad choice is depicted, and at the bottom you see its consequence. As we played, we learned not to be greedy and eat too many apples, or we would get a tummy ache.

Verdict: I like this specific game because it comes in a cute tin. And it's nice to have an alternative to Candyland (which is a relatively equivalent game, but with colors instead of numbers) to play with the grandlings. Or better yet, for Finn to play with the grandlings.

SceneIt! Friends edition

I don't know how many years we've had this game, but we had literally never played it until now. Like, we actually peeled shrink-wrap off the box in order to play. I'm not sure why we'd left it so long, since we all love Friends. (I mean, doesn't everyone?) 

Obviously a trivia game about a TV show would not be very fun for someone who has never seen that show, or someone who doesn't like that show (if such a person exists). But for those who know and love a TV show, a trivia game about it sounds like a great idea. The only problem here is that the thing that makes this game the most unique (you play on your TV, using a DVD, which is fun because the game includes video clips from the show) is also probably the worst thing about it, because the transitions bog it down and make it feel more slow-paced than it should. 

Verdict: Finn enjoyed this game the most, and didn't want to stop playing. Sam enjoyed it less, but still had fun. Will we ever play it again? I don't know. We have a totally separate Friends trivia game that is played using cards only, and I would probably reach for that first.

I won, by the way. My cousin Lori would not be surprised. 

Guess in 10 Marvel

Very similar to the previous game, but instead of guessing animals (which was relatively easy), you're supposed to guess Marvel characters. Finn loved this and was a master at it. But it was not much fun for me or Sam because we don't know the characters at all. I mean, we know Spider-Man. Everyone knows Spider-Man. But beyond that we were pretty lost. 

Verdict: We'll keep it for Finn. But I hope I never have to play it again. 

Kids Scavenger Hunt 3 Pack!

We did the At Home pack (#1). All of the suggested items to find were easily accessible (which can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how much of a challenge you want). It involved a lot of running all over the house and shouting, and it's kind of difficult to determine a winner, but it was mildly fun. 

Verdict: it's more of a little kid's game, but we will keep it to play with the grandlings.