(from our private collection)
I’m often asked for family game ideas, especially in the lead-up to school holidays and social gatherings. This is when we seem to have the most time for games, especially the extra time it can take to learn new ones. However, it is really hard for me to whittle down my absolute faves, so this time, I have delegated it to the spawnlings +3 for Intelligence. Today, I’m starting with EG Zaltu and her Top 7 games from our own private collection. These are the games she enjoys playing. These are the games Zaltu asks to play with us. And even though they are chosen from our private shelves, I guarantee you each of these games does not spend a lot of time there. They are more often found on the table, the bedroom floor, a picnic blanket… Yep, they are played A LOT.
Zaltu’s Top 7 Games for Kids Like Her (10yo)
Aethermon: Collect
Suitable for 1-4 players, and even though the box says 14 years and older, younger kids will be able to play, too! Players move the shared group token either horizontally or vertically around a grid of cards. The goal is to collect the various Aethermon characters, creating sets/families as you go. You can play cooperatively or competitively, bending the rules with additional Artefact cards or creating rules with various elements. Aethermon: Collect is a great introduction to a larger RPG in development as we speak. You can find out more on their website here. You can also read my full review here.
Yum Cha
This one is so brand new, you can only buy it from their website. But trust me when I say, it is worth it! This cute little card game suits two to six players from 7 years and older. The goal is to collect sets of Yum Cha from the window, plus a pair of tea cups to complete your meal. The mechanic is a simple ‘pick one up; put one down’ as players take turns drawing cards or taking from the discard pile. A little bit of luck, a little bit of strategy, and a lot of Paying More Attention to Your Cards. You can buy Yum Cha here.
Ecosystem and Ecosystem: Coral Reef
I think Zaltu is cheating by putting these two together, but I’ll allow it. Coral Reef is a recent addition to our family collection and is already well-loved. Fans of tabletop games may know the original Ecosystem, an open card-drafting game where players place the cards in a grid to build their own ecosystem. The key to the game is biodiversity, with each card depicting an essential animal or habitat within the ecosystem. Ecosystem: Coral Reef is a new version of the game that changes the setting from European forest/meadows to the reefs of our tropical oceans. It has the same clever mechanics and gorgeous illustrations, with a new twist to focus on the Food Web in our ecosystem. You can read my full review here.
Poetry for Neanderthals
Add this to the cart when you buy Mantis. And in all honesty, this is a game that should be given to lawyers everywhere. It’s a family-friendly party game played in teams of two, where players have to guess the word while their teammate is only allowed to give single-syllable clues. For example: You. Must. Speak. In. One. Sound. Words. And if you happen to use more than one syllable, there is an inflatable club to remind you of the rules. Now, I’m not usually one for violence, but there is a lot of fun to be had with this game.
Travel Bug (Australia Edition)
The most recent review on the Evil Genius Mum website has been requested for play no less than six (6) times over the past two (2) weeks. It’s the next best thing to travelling around Australia, and a lot cheaper! Travel Bug is ideal for 2-6 players, aged 6 years and older. It is a longer-style game as you collect travel cards to move around the map of Australia. At each destination, you may collect souvenirs, which give you points at the end of the game. Some of the destinations are a bit tricky, and you may have to trade with your fellow players to gain the right tickets. The game gives a real sense of distance for Australia, and I love the souvenir idea. Great to play if you’re travelling around Australia. Even better to soothe the itch when you’re not!
Busy Beaks
This game was very popular with Zaltu and her school friends during our Bird Week activities (read the full review here). It’s a card drawing and set-collecting game. Players can collect cards from the deck or the table, building sets with the same flock to score points. Each of the birds has its own art and its own character, shared through the special bonus moves for each bird. Bonus points: every purchase donates money to BirdLife Australia and 1% For The Planet, so it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Scribbly Gum
We found this game at Powerhouse Late game night (always a fun night out). It’s so beautiful in its simplicity, and yet it stands out as something unique and distinctly Australian. Each player has a map with a little grub ready to hunt for food, water, and leaves. Each card drawn from the short deck gives a direction, and players can choose how they navigate their little grub around the tree. Shuffle the deck, and you have a new game to play! This one is easy to adapt for car trips and also suits the classroom. You can find out more about it on the official website here.
Holidays are Made for Gaming
This is Zaltu’s list of faves, and I’m sure there are plenty more to add. Nefarious is already working on his list of Best Games for Teens, while Sinister is thinking about the Best Games to Take to Parties.
School holidays are perfect for catching up on our gaming pile. We never aim to fill our holidays and yet it seems to naturally happen. There’ll be plenty of adventure and a bit of catch-up on our arty hobbies. And EG Dad has already requested a beach-fix every 48 hours. Totally doable in the morning, followed by some family game time in the afternoon. Fortunately, we have a good stockpile to work through. But, as always, if you have any suggestions, please share them in the comments.
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