Theme: Betting and bidding, based on the series "The Hunger Games" Players: 3-6 Playtime: 45-90min Suggested Player Age: 10 and up
Serious Face: 5/10 There are some very serious decisions that you have to make during this game, there places to play that will affect the rest of the game for you. But overall I would say that this game is not very serious. There is a good amount of laughter, poking fun, and smack-talk involved in this game. Player Interaction: 8/10 In this game you don't interact with the players directly, but there is a good amount of bidding, betting, stealing, ganging up, and feuds to be had in this game. There is enough player interaction for almost any gamer. Strateejery: 6/10 There is strategy, but there is also so much luck. I would consider myself a pretty good strategy board gamer, and I have lost in this game by way too much, too many times. It matters where you play, what you bet, but what you roll also makes or breaks the game, hands down. Feeling Lucky: 9/10 There is a large amount of luck involved in rolling the highest number when you need it the most, and that could be the difference between winning and losing. I know it has mattered in our games every single time. Teachability: 8/10 Very simple to teach, quick to explain, easy to learn, and overall fun to have new players try it out. I love teaching this game. How Hard Can It Be: 7/10 Really not that hard, but there is a learning curve of sorts. You need to learn how to bid, what to bid on, and what's the best type of card. After you learn these things, the gameplay is simple and fun. Looking Pretty: 8/10 Good components, good attention to detail, good theme game production and rules. Everything about the production is good, not great, but good.
In the Grand Scheme of Things: The Hunger Games is a lot like gambling in some ways, you bid on certain items, you roll the dice, you either win or you lose, that's it. It is fun, it is easy, and my friends and I love playing it. Is it for the hardcore gamer? No. It is for the gamer who likes lighter board games with lots of luck, a little bit of strategy, and a lot of secret bidding involved.
Set
Theme: Matching sets Players: 1-99 Playtime: 15-30min Suggested Player Age: 10 and up
Serious Face: 7/10 I would not say that Set is particularly serious, nor would I say it is light-hearted. I don't laugh the whole game, but neither do I scowl with brain-shattering intensity the entire time. I concentrate, I look at the cards, I find a set, I call it out. Simple and fun. Player Interaction: 1/10 This game is about finding sets of cards that match each other and meet certain criteria. The winner is the player who finds more sets, that's it. The only player interaction is saying "set" before your opponent. Strateejery: 0/10 There is no strategy to this game. None. Feeling Lucky: 0/10 There is also no luck to this game. At all. Teachability: 4/10 Set is difficult to teach because it is so hard to explain what is and is not a set. Players will learn better by playing it and asking "Is this a set? Why?", than by you trying to explain it to them. It's hard to teach, but once you get the hang of it, it is easy. How Hard Can It Be: 8/10 This game has a high difficulty level not because it takes forever to learn it, once you play it once or twice you understand it. It is difficult because it is a race against your opponent and you have to train your brain to see things that you aren't usually looking for. Fairly easy to play, hard to master. Looking Pretty: 5/10 The cards are nice, the box is sturdy, the cards are durable. The art is plain and bold. That's all you need to know.
In the Grand Scheme of Things: This is easily one of my favorite games of all time. I love playing set when I have 10 minutes free or I can duel with a friend for hours. My brain just happens to see the patterns fairly easily and that means that I frustrate other people that do not see the sets, but that is all part of the game. If you love quick games that have no luck factor and are brain-busters than you will love Set.