Yum Cha, By Quokka Games - REVIEW

Nature / Type:             Card game 

Rating:                        ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:     7 year-old ++ 

Who would love this:  Strategy games + Dim Sum/ Yum Cha lovers

I’m IN LOVE with this game!!! There are so many things that really hit the right spots for the Asian in me – and the game itself is just spot-on! Thank you Quokka Games ! Guys – you need to check out Yum Cha!

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) Form A Complete 11-Card Hand To Win

The game contains a collection of cards depicting various dishes you might find at Dim Sum, a Chinese brunch meal usually paired with tea. Players aim to collect sets of cards and be the first to shout “Yum Cha!” to end the round. Each round starts with 10 cards per player, with the rest placed in a facedown deck. Players take turns drawing from the deck or from discard pile, then discarding a card to the centre. A complete hand requires 3 sets (eg small, medium, large, dessert) of 3 non-duplicate dim sum, and a pair of identical tea cards. Some sets score more (special, super, or top sets). A round ends when a player forms a complete 11-card hand. The rest of players score zero unless they hold takeaway cards, which allow completed set to count. After 4 rounds, the highest scorer wins.

(2) Learn About Yum Cha Dishes - Images + Names

The cards feature images and names of each dish - how many can you recognise? Beyond classics like Pork Dumpling, Prawn Dumpling, BBQ Pork Bun, Egg Tart, and Mango Pudding, the game introduces authentic favourites like Taro Puff, Turnip Cake, Sesame Ball, Chive Dumpling, and yes… Chicken Feet! You’ll also discover teas like Dragon Well, Iron Goddess, and Longevity Eyebrow.

(3) English + Traditional Chinese With Pin Yin & Cantonese Pronunciation!

But…. to really order like a pro, you’ve got to say it in the “right” language! Each card includes English, Traditional Chinese characters, Pin Yin (Mandarin), and Cantonese pronunciation (jyutping). I’ve never seen my kids so excited to call out dishes in Mandarin: “I got a Cha Shao Bao!”, “Discarding Chang Fen”, “Thanks for the Nai Huang Bao!” Honestly, it almost made me tear up. And the best part? The winner gets the “Pay the Bill” (Mai Dan) card! It might sound odd, but it reflects the hilarious Chinese tradition of fighting to pay the bill - the kids giggled non-stop when I explained it.

(4) Compact Card Game With Adorable Food Characters

Compact, portable, and beautifully designed with adorable food characters- each with a cheeky smile! Simply incredible! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://quokkagames.com/products/yum-cha?variant=58432714604625

Enjoy the video! 

Splendor Kids, By Asmodee - REVIEW

Nature / Type:             Board Game 

Rating:                        ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

  

Recommended age:     6 year-old ++ 

Who would love this:  Parents looking for a "sweet spot" in games - something simple but challenging enough for kids and adults

Our kids (6 and 9) are at that stage where we’re constantly searching for the sweet spot in games - challenging enough to keep them engaged and feeling in control, but simple enough that both can play without getting lost in rules overload. Splendor Kids from Asmodee Australia hits that balance perfectly.

Why I love ❤️ it? 

(1) Simple Rules & Fun For All

Simple rules – easy to learn, fun for all! Each player picks a colour and a meeple to represent them. The goal? Travel through the kingdom, passing towns and villages by paying resources to move up the board and reach the castle. On your turn, you do one of two things: Take resources (three different, two of the same, or one gold coin as a wild card), or pay resources to move. As players move, they land on villages or cities. Villages let you take an extra turn (great for grabbing more resources), while cities award city tokens - permanent resources that stay with you all game. Once used, they flip face-down until you reach another city, where they’re refreshed and ready to use again.

(2) Strategy & Decision-Making

While it looks straightforward, the resources are finite, forces players to watch what others are doing and adjust their plans. There’s far more strategy here than you’d expect from a kids’ game - which resources to collect, which path to choose, village or city? Plenty of thinking for little gamers!

(3) Smart Central Boards Design - Double-Sided & Removable Section

The central boards are double-sided, and you can even shorten the game by removing a section entirely - perfect for first-time players or quicker sessions. There’s also an advanced mode that introduces additional village tokens, like Treasure (a wild card), Drought (forces players to discard down to five resources), and the Kind-Hearted Thief, who makes the active player give a resource to another player. More choices, more interaction, more fun!

(4) Excellent Components Quality

The component quality is excellent! I love that the stickers on the tray act as a quick visual guide for kids, quickly showing how many resources to use per player count. The box insert and the treasure chest–shaped storage are genuinely delightful! The four meeples with are full of personality, each with unique shapes, colours, and looks!

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.goodgames.com.au/products/splendor-kids

Enjoy the video! 

Cannibal Eyes, by Recent Toys

Nature / Type:             Board Game 

Rating:                        ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️  

Recommended age:     8 year-old ++ 

Who would love this:  Anyone who loves abstract games with a hint of "scary" elements 

Ever played a scary game where you shuffle colourful skulls around and chomp on your enemies’ eyeballs? Nope? Neither had I – until Cannibal Eyes from Recent Toys rolled onto my table. The rule is simple: the more eyes you collect, the more powerful you become. It’s a brilliantly bonkers name wrapped in a slightly goofy “scary” theme that’s absolutely perfect for Halloween. Thank you Divisible by Zero for providing a copy. 

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) Abstract Game - Move A Skull, Devour An Eye

An abstract game - the aim is simple: manoeuvre your skulls so their mouths line up next to your opponents’ eyes… and devour them. First player to digest four eyes wins. Setup follows the player count (2 players = 4 skulls each; 3 players = 3 skulls each, etc.). On your turn, you must perform 2 actions involving 2 different skulls. You can: Move a skull two spaces horizontally or vertically (no moving backwards – which makes fleeing deliciously tricky)/ Rotate a skull around its chin into a free adjacent space / “Eat” an eye if your mouth is next to it (free action) / “Digest” an eye by moving it from your skull’s mouth to your eye-rack on the board edge (this costs one action). Tactical twist: if you eat the last eye of an opponent’s skull while it still has one sitting in its mouth, you claim both – and the one in the mouth is instantly digested! Skulls that lose all their eyes are eliminated, so positioning is everything.

(2) Attack, Escape, Or Secure Your Snack! 

This game is strategic but not brain-melting – Kids can grasp the rules quickly, but there’s plenty of delicious tension. With only two actions per turn – and each involving different skulls – you’re constantly torn between attacking, escaping, or securing your snack by digesting it. Every move telegraphs intent, giving opponents the chance to sabotage your feast.

(3) Halloween, Goofy Vibes

Love the scary Halloween vibes – Goofy, slightly gross, and hilariously theatrical. There’s even an optional rule: after seizing an eye, you may make the most revolting swallowing noise you can manage. Family game night has never sounded so disturbing.

(4) Colourful Components

Components – Big, bold, colourful skulls that demand attention on the table. It’s not an everyday filler, but it’s definitely a standout seasonal gem.

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.cowtrees.au/educational-toys/715-cannibal-eyes.html

Check out more reviews on games from Recent Toys: 

• Passtah, By Recent Toys
• Spin & Trap, By Recent Toys

Enjoy the video!