Zombie Teenz Evolution, By Scorpion Masque - REVIEW

Nature / Type:             Board game 

Rating:                        ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:     8 year-old ++ 

Who would love this:  Kids who love cooperative game with exciting background story! 

We are BIG fans of Zombie Kidz Evolution - so imagine our excitement when we received the brand new Zombie Teenz Evolution - Scorpion Masque ! This time, a new group of brave Teenz must defend their town against invading zombies - It’s chaotic. It’s cooperative. It’s ridiculously fun! Thank you Let's Play Games for providing a copy. 

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) Collect 4 Crates + Battle Zombie Hordes To Win

Instead of locking gates like in Zombie Kidz Evolution, players now travel around the town square collecting supply crates from surrounding buildings and returning them to the central base - all while battling zombie hordes. Collect 4 crates before the town is completely overrun and you win! Each turn, you roll the dice to see where zombies appear. A zombie pops up in the sewer or shamble forward toward the nearest building. If they enter a building, it becomes “overrun.” Place an overrun tile on it, and that horde leapfrogs clockwise to the next building, continuing until it finds an empty one. If the white die shows a ?, you draw an event card - and most of them are bad (all zombies advance… more zombies emerge… chaos everywhere!). Players get two actions per turn: move, attack, or transfer a crate. But here’s my favourite twist - moving crates requires teamwork - You must hand a crate to another player or receive one from them. 

(2) Brain Stickers To Track Progress + Secret Envelopes

Every game (win or lose) earns you a brain sticker in the rulebook to progress toward opening secret envelopes. Achievements unlock trophies, badges, and comic panels that expand the story. Who doesn’t love stickers?! 

(3) Legacy Style Game - New Powers/ Characters/ Rules/ Plot Twists

As a legacy-style game, certain milestones let you open numbered envelopes revealing new powers, characters, rules, and plot twists (some helpful… some not!). Without spoiling too much — there’s even a dog that can move independently and attack zombies. Opening envelopes becomes almost more exciting than the game itself!

(4) Fantastic Components - Foldable Board + Amazing Artwork

The components are fantastic. The foldable board is sturdy, the artwork is bright and bold, and the standees are full of personality. I love the diverse heroes - including a Teenz in a wheelchair - all equipped with awesome zombie-fighting gear. It’s got classic zombie-movie vibes, but in a kid-friendly, giggle-worthy way. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

Find your local game stores here: https://www.localgamestores.com.au/

Check out more reviews of Scorpion Masque games here: 

• Mooki Island, By Scorpion Masque 
• Mia London and the Case of the 625 Scoundrels, By Scorpion Masque
• Zombie Kidz Evolution, By Scorpion Masque

Enjoy the video: 

Cauldron Quest, By Peaceable Kingdom - REVIEW

 

Nature / Type:             Board game 

Rating:                        ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️    

Recommended age:    6 year-old ++ 

Who would love this:  Kids that love cooperative games, especially one with cool magic theme! 

Cauldron Quest from Peaceable Kingdom is a remarkable cooperative game. I mean, who doesn’t love the idea of thwarting an evil plot with spell-breaking potion, and saving a kingdom as a team? Thank you VR Distribution for the fabulous recommendation! 

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) Cooperative Game With Great Mix Of Skill & Chance 

I love a game with a great mix of skill and chance! In Cauldron Quest, players work together to discover hidden ingredients and move them to the cauldron at the center of the board, before all your 6 paths are obstructed. To set up, pick 3 “must-have” ingredient tokens and place them on the cauldron, and randomly arrange the 6 potion bottles at the starting spaces with the ingredient image face-down. On each turn, players roll the Action Dice to determine the next action - moving potion bottles closer to the cauldron, move evil Wizard Hat along its track (which may have the adverse effect of blocking your path or sending your potion back to the start), place path blocker on a path, or roll the Magic Dice. The Magic Dice give you special advantages which are pivotal to complete the mission. 

(2) Magic Dice - Apply Your Mathematics Skills To Gain Advantage

Our favourite’s part of the game is Magic Dice rolling (3 rolling chances each time) - this is where we make the most meaningful decisions, whilst applying our mathematics skills. Players must decide which “spell” would confer the greatest advantage at that point. If you want to reveal the hidden ingredient of a bottle, you need even numbers on 3 dice. 3 odd numbers give us the power to swap locations of 2 potion bottles, and you get to move a bottle 6 spaces with a dice combination adding up to 12. We love the interesting choices! Players also get to decide collectively when to use a spell breaker to remove one path blocker during the game. 

(3) Refreshing & Magical Artwork With COOL Theme! 

We love the COOL theme of evil Wizard and potion-brewing. The artwork is very fun with a touch of mysterious and magical feel. The board is in a unique circular shape, and the ingredient selections are the “wizard’s classics” (rotten egg, eye of newt, poison mushroom - anyone?). The components are solid, the board is foldable, and everything looks well-constructed and wonderfully done. We LOVE it! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.gamesworldsa.com.au/products/cauldron-quest (Australia) 

https://www.gamesmen.com.au/cauldron-quest-board-game (Australia) 

Check out more Peaceable Kingdom games here: 

• Acorn Soup - The Tasty Counting Game, By Peaceable Kingdom
• Stone Soup, By Peaceable Kingdom
• Jump Jump Joey, By Peaceable Kingdom
• The Happy Marshmallow Game, By Peaceable Kingdom

Enjoy the video: 

Stone Soup, By Peaceable Kingdom - REVIEW

Nature / Type:             Board Game 

Rating:                        ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️    

Recommended age:    5 year-old ++ 

Who would love this:  Kids who love memory/ matching / cooperative games 

Remember the heartwarming story that teaches us the value of sharing - how a little scrap and garnish can make a huge difference and create a pot of nourishing soup for all to share? We’re so glad that we now have a board game inspired by this beautiful story - check out Stone Soup from Peaceable Kingdom (thank you VR Distribution for providing a copy!). 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Match Ingredients To Cook-Up Pot Of Delicious Soup 

In this game, players work as a team to cook up a pot of delicious soup with matching ingredients. To set up, place all ingredient/ magic stone/ fire-out cards face-down on the game board. Like a usual matching game, each player flips 2 cards over. When 2 ingredient cards match, place them into the “pot”. If they don’t match, flip them both over. However, there’s a twist: if a fire-out card is flipped, it will be placed on the fire area of the board. If all 10 fire-out cards are placed on fire spaces, then the game is over (BUT - there is a special “magic stone” card we can use once to flip a fire-out card face down). If the players can match up all 12 ingredients before the fire goes out, we win together! 

(2) Cooperative Game For 2-6 Players 

I LOVE the cooperative nature of this game (which goes into the very heart of the Stone Soup story!). The kids discussed, spoke-up, yelled-out, pointed frantically, and worked collaboratively as a TEAM throughout the play. The game can be played by 2 to 6 players. This is a great game to develop memory and social skills! 

(3) A Game With A Meaningful Theme 

Each ingredient card has clear, easily distinguishable illustrations on it, together with the printed name of the ingredient. I love the great variety of ingredients included (Tomato, Carrot, Onion, Potato, Peas, Pasta, Celery, Mushrooms, Beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Salt & Pepper). There is also a double-sided sheet with “A Tale Of Stone Soup” - the classic folk story that brought so much joy to people around the globe for generations. This is an excellent game to improve reading skill for our little people! 

(4) Environmental-Friendly Game Components 

 The game components are made with ecologically responsible FSC-certified paper and printed with soy-based ink. The rules are printed on the inside cover of the box lid. 

Love it! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Enjoy the video! 

The Happy Marshmallow Game, By Peaceable Kingdom - REVIEW

Nature / Type:             Game for toddlers 

Rating:                        ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️    

Recommended age:    2 year-old ++ 

Who would love this:  Parents looking for creative, developmental / learning games for toddlers 

This “The Happy Marshmallow Game” from Peaceable Kingdom is designed for “2-year-old” - or so I thought, until I tested it out with my 5 year-old. We laughed so much playing with these pretend sweet treats, incorporating the components into our invented games. We’re loving it, thank you VR Distribution for providing this. 

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) A Marshmallow Game To Boost Fine Motor & Social Skills

This is a wonderful toy to boost fine motor skills, learn color matching and counting, practise social skills such as following instructions and taking turns. Using the 2 marshmallow roasting sticks and 12 marshmallows (in pairs for 6 colours) - our little player draws one of the 12 marshmallow cards, finds the right marshmallow that matches the illustration, and threads it on the roasting stick. Each roasting stick can hold up to 4 (to 5) marshmallows on it. Kids can play it solo or cooperatively with a friend to get their 2 campfire sticks ready for a delicious snack! All the components are chunky and designed for little hands. We love the engaging and eye-catching marshmallow theme for a fantastic playtime! 

(2) One Toy - Multiple Ways To Play

The instructions include other ways to play: The 12 Marshmallow cards are perfect for a travel-friendly classic matching / memory game (flip 2 cards face-up one at a time to match a pair); we can build a marshmallow tower with the lightweight pieces, or play “magic wand” with the sticks. We also invented a few more games for my older kids including “Guess The Colours”, and “Order Your Marshmallow” game using the cards as “menu” - which we thoroughly enjoyed! 

(3) Marshmallows With Faces & Cute Expressions

The marshmallow are soft to touch but solid enough to slot into the sticks easily. I really love that each of the marshmallow has a “face” on it with a slightly different expression for each of the 6 designs. I love the sweet, mellow tone of the colours that gives a calm and soothing feel. 

(4) Pretend Campfire & Helpful Parent Guide 

The set also includes 2 pretend flame pieces that can be connected as a “campfire” to enhance the play experience! The included parent guide sets out some useful tips on how to play with a 2 year-old and helpful information about developmental skills from multiple aspects for kids of 24-36 months. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.thecoffeeapple.com.au/products/the-happy-marshmallow-game (Australia) 

https://www.boardgamemaster.com.au/products/the-happy-marshmallow-game (Australia) 

Enjoy the video!

Cluck, Cluck! The Fox! - Pocket Game, By Londji - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:            Board game for kids 

Rating:                       ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️  

Recommended age:   4 - 8 year-old 

Who would love this: Kids that love cooperative games 

Londji makes the most beautiful games. Gorgeously illustrated and creatively designed, Londji games are created for kids and kids-at-heart who love a touch of magic. Today, I would love to share about “Cluck, Cluck! The Fox! - Pocket Game” (thank you Antipoda Co for providing a copy). 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Mission-Driven: Work Together To Save The Eggs & Chickens

This is a smaller, pocket-version of the “Cluck, Cluck! The Fox” game. I love the mission-driven theme: players work together as an awesome dream team to save the eggs and chicken before the sneaky fox arrives. To set up the game: place 4 egg tokens in each of the 6 “nests”, and slot in a chicken (6 in total) at the side of each nest to protect the eggs. The fox is placed at the starting point of a winding road (that leads to the henhouse where the precious eggs and chickens are placed). Players take turn to roll the dice and perform the indicated action. When the dice shows a single egg, player collects an egg from one of the nests and moves it into an “egg box”. If 2 eggs are shown, player removes 2 eggs from a same nest (not from two different nests). When a “chicken” is rolled, we “save” a chicken when the nest it is guarding is empty (ie if all the eggs had been collected). When a fox is rolled, the crafty fox moves one space forward on the path towards the coop. 

(2) Straightforward Game For Young Kids 

I love how straightforward, non-overthinking this game is - which is quite perfect for kids of the age of around four-year-old ++. But, the game is more than just pure luck. To win this game, our young players need a combination of counting skills, rules-following, decision-making, cooperative work, and a small hint of strategy/ tactical moves. 

(3) Travel-Easy, Pocket Game Version 

This is a pocket game in travel-easy, minimalist format, yet it retains the playfulness of the original game. Londji games are designed and manufactured in Spain. The components are made from sustainably sourced / FSC paper and recycled cardboard, printed with vegetable ink. The set also comes with a cotton bag for easy storage of small items. Londji is a brand that takes pride of its sustainability mission. They are “toys with soul” indeed, where every details is taken care of. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

Antipoda Co (Australia) 

Check out my reviews on other Londji games: 

• Climb The Mountain, By Londji 
• Win Win Winter, By Londji 
• Postman Observation, By Londji 
• "Where Is The Cheese?" Pocket Version, By Londji 
• Save The Cat, By Londji 

Enjoy the video! 

Fluffy Valley, By LOKI - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:            Board game for kids  

Rating:                       ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:   6 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Young board-gamers, especially those that enjoy cooperative games! 

LOKI makes spectacularly CUTE board games - complete with amazing artwork, creative use of game box, and incredibly adorable components. Thank you VR Distribution for providing Fluffy Valley - this is officially our latest most-demanded board game by the kids! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Cooperative Game - Mission To Get Ready For Winter! 

We love a game with an important “mission” to accomplish! Fluffy Valley is a cooperative game where our little people work together in a team, helping a colony of hardworking prairie dogs to get their burrow ready for the harsh cold winter. The aim is to gather sufficient resources and fill-out the reserve (honey, berry, hay); but be warned: you have only 9 rounds to do that before winter kicks in (the season board is keeping tracked of it). In the process, you will meet weasels, foxes, badgers, and eagles - trying to sabotage and hinder our resources-collection progress by taking prairie dogs away from work, stealing resources, and blocking the holes. 

(2) Interesting Decision-Making & Strategic Options 

lt’s GREAT to see a board game for young kids equips with interesting decision-making options. In each round, we move the prairie dog figurines into other unoccupied holes face-down; each of the hole brings different special effects - draws a shrub token (and get either a ripe berry or a spoiled one), get a hay token, take a chance with Tunnel token, exchange a hay for a beaver upgrade, take an action twice using the River’s power, remove a weasel by seeking help from Piper the Viper, exchange spoiled berries with Roger the Hedgehog, or slide a resource token into the burrow. The actions are complex, but also comes naturally once we start playing with it. I love the fun strategy in a game full of choices and chance! 

(3) Awesome Components & Ingeniuos Game Box Conversion 

Loki is a true expert in converting a seemingly ordinary-looking game box into part of the game. Place the Prairie board on top of the plastic inserts, and the box will instantly transform into an adorable game setting with harvest table, token slot with slide to the burrow, holes with special effects - oh and I just can’t resist the cuteness of the prairie dog figurines, peeking out from the holes with their cheekiest, playful look! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://starfishstore.com.au/products/loki-fluffy-valley (Australia) 

Check out my other reviews on LOKI games: 

• Kraken Attack, By LOKI 
• Detective Charlie, By LOKI 
• Carla Caramel, By LOKI 

Enjoy the video! 

Be Herd, By Bailey Brothers Boardgames - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:           Board Game 

Rating:                      ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:   14 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Older kids/ adults who enjoy stress-free, cooperative games 

Looking for an ice-breaker / “get to know each other better” game for a stress-free evenings? Look no further. Allow me to introduce this joyful game by Bailey Brothers Boardgames - “Be Herd”! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Cooperative Game - Get To Know One Another In A FUN Way!

This is a cooperative game that generates endless laughter and conversations. A fairly straightforward game - Each player takes turn to be the “Leader of the Herd”, draws 4 cards, and fixes a “Target” (an estimate of the number of players who will guess the “right” answer). All the players simultaneously vote for the card that best describes the Leader of the Herd by casting a cube of matching colour. Next, players get to build a “Herd Tower” together using the Herd Animal blocks / Snake blocks (depending on the actual number of players who has voted in the same way as the “Leader”). For example, in one game, my team was asked to vote amongst 4 values that best describes “yours truly” - Strength, Frugality, Optimism, Persuasiveness. (And if you want to know, everyone - including myself - voted for “Optimism”, unanimously). Since we had hit the “target”, we got to place a Herd Animal block and remove all annoying Snake blocks from the tower. The higher the tower, the stronger the herd! 

(2) 240 Cards & 8 Categories 

I love the insightful questions! The 240 cards are divided into 8 categories - “Bucket List”, “Character”, “Acts”, “Fears” and more. The game is targeting audience of 14 year-old and above, but I think they work for younger kids as well (as long as we first “filter away” the naughtier and complex questions). My 7 year-old’s favourite category is the “Bucket List” - it has fun selections like “drive the world’s fastest supercar”, “climb Everest”, and “Skydive”. I love the “Profession” group - it makes me want to re-evaluate my career choice - “Art Appraiser”, “Crane Operator”, “Makeup Artist- Theatrical”, “Forensic Psychologist” - how cool are they! 

(3) 18 Wooden Herd Animals Building Blocks 

I love the 18 wooden Herd Animals building blocks with puzzle base - colourful, vibrant, durable, and they make such awesome balancing game on their own. I am also really impressed with the adorable animals artwork. Super cute and irresistible! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.m-g.com.au/product/be-herd/ (Australia) 

https://www.baileybros.com.au/be-herd (Website) 

Enjoy the video! 

Mysterium Kids, By Libellud & Space Cow - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:           Board game for kids 

Rating:                      ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:   6 year-old ++ 

Who would love this: Kids who love detective games, especially one with cute Halloween-feel theme 

If you are looking for a not-too-spooky game for Halloween with an adorable concept, look no further! “Mysterium Kids - Captain Echo’s Treasure” by Libellud and Space Cow is an amazing choice for kids that would guarantee loads of laughter and overflowing of creativity. Thank you VR Distribution for another fantastic recommendation. 

Why I love ❤️ it: 

(1) Adorable "Treasure Hunt" Game With Cute Haunted Mansion Story  

This game is a HUGE success in our family. Both of my kids (7 and 4-year-old) LOVE it. I love the cute story that goes with the game. So legend has it that this mysterious old mansion is home to a fabulous treasure. Our young adventurers decided to spend a night at the haunted house for a “chilling” treasure hunt, guided by the ghost of Captain Echo who communicates with the “eerie” sound of a tambourine-lookalike instrument. And that, sets the backdrop of this fun detective game. Each player rotates the role as the silent “ghost”, giving clues to the Noise Card by producing sound using only the handheld drum. The story and concept is captivating and unlike anything that we had ever seen before.

(2) Unique Sound Clues Using Tambourine Instrument 

The most prominent twist of this game is, undoubtedly, the sound-based clue system using the drum. I was pleasantly surprised with the variety of creative ways that the kids can use to “replicate” the various sounds correspond to the 78 Noise Cards: Could it be a cat scratching the wall? Cornflakes pouring onto a bowl? The sound of teeth-brushing? Bubble popping? Or paper-ripping? It was hilarious to watch the kids scratch the drum’s surface, knock on it gently, bang on it loudly, tap on it repeatedly, and many more! 

(3) Double-Sided Board For Different Difficulty Levels 

The Manor Board is double-sided - “Calm Nights” for beginner level, and “Stormy Nights” for the more experienced young players. Sometimes, players have to make and guess 2 different noises in a turn. I love the easy-to-learn structure that makes the game accessible to younger players, and the subtle complexity that makes it appealing to older kids. I love that this is a cooperative game where all players work together as a team to decipher clues. 

(4) Great & Fun Components 

The components are great, and the artwork of this game is adorable and charming! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.gameology.com.au/products/mysterium-kids-captain-echos-treasure (Australia) 

https://www.gamesworld.com.au/product/mysterium-kids-captain-echos-treasure/ (Australia) 

Enjoy the video!  

Pass The Party Food, By Joey Games - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:           Cute board game with Australian party food theme

Rating:                      ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:   7 year-old ++ (or younger) 

Who would love this: Kids who enjoy cooperative game with hint of strategy + party food! 

 I’m a fan of Joey Games . They are fun and easy to learn, and I love the Australian-theme connection. “Pass The Party Food” is one of the few board games at our house that our two kids (4 and 7 year-old) get to play together, and I’m really pleased to see another engaging game that fits into this age-range. 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Cute Cooperative Game With Easy-To-Learn Rules 

“Pass The Party Food” is a cooperative game with straightforward strategy. The objective is to collect complete sets of foods (5 of each, or 4 of a same type) to advance forward on the score board. To set up, each player gets a “play board” with images of party foods arranged in horizontal and vertical rows. On each turn, a player draws 3 random food tiles from a drawstring bag, distributes the tiles (keep 1, pass 1 to the player on the left, and the last 1 to the player on the right/ to be discarded - depending on number of players). Players work collaboratively to race against Ziggy to prevent the mischievous dog from catching up with any player on the score board. There are also Swap Tokens, Take Tokens, and “Lucky Dip” (for a special bonus draw) that give a little twist to the game. I love that the game really maximises the “teamwork” aspect - not only do the players need to think about how to gather their own complete sets, they must also take tactical moves to help other players to score during each turn! 

(2) Delicious Australian Party Food Theme 

I adore the cute and nostalgic Australian party foods theme! Fairy Breads and chewy snakes are big favourites in our parties, and we love spongy chocolate lamingtons. The kids are very curious about pikelets and the Hundreds and thousands biscuits. We love how “delicious” this game is and that hint of retro look! 

(3) Delightful Artwork + Environmental-Friendly Components 

The artwork is delightful, and the components are well-made. The player boards, food tiles, score board and other thick cardboard components were made using sustainably managed materials (FSC certified paper and cardboard), and the pawns are made of quality wooden material. 

Whilst this game might not excite a grown-up too much (given how straightforward the gameplay is), it’s definitely a hit with the kids in the right age bracket. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://joeygames.com.au/passthepartyfood

Check out my reviews on other Joey Games: 

• Busy Beaks, by Joey Games 
• Scribbly Gum, by Joey Games 

Enjoy the video! 

Race to the Treasure, By Peaceable Kingdom - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:           Cooperative board game for young kids 

Rating:                      ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:   5 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Kids around 5 year-old - this is a great first game for young kids to train up cooperation /teamwork 

There is something satisfying about creating paths and watching multiple roads extending longer and branching out to different directions. Peaceable Kingdom has a fun little game called “Race to the Treasure” that combines the magic of path-building with the theme of ogre and treasure. Thank you Leisure Learning for providing this for a review. 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Cute Game For Kids With Adorable Themes (Treasure & Ogres)

This is a simple game with easy rules. First, throw the dice and determine the position of the 4 keys and Ogre Snack. Next, players take turn to flip a tile over from the draw pile. The tile would either reveal an ogre, or a section of road (which may comes in the form of a straight road, L-turn or T-intersection). The aim is to form a continuous path (each tile connecting to a road of another tile) to collect 3 keys, and then rush to the treasure before the ogre does (ie before 8 or 9 ogre tiles are being flipped over)! An Ogre Snack gives us the power to remove an ogre tile from the red ogre track (and reduces the speed of the ogre to reach its destination). 

(2) Cooperative Game - Win Or Lose Together 

This is a cooperative game - everyone win or lose together. Players work collaboratively to come up with the best plan to defeat the ogre. This is a great game to learn cooperation - an awesome skill for young kids (as well as for the grown-ups!). 

(3) Set Up The Board Using Grid System 

I also like that the game board uses grid system to mark the locations of the tiles. To set up the game, we throw the two dice (one with letters A-F and one with numbers 1-6) to decide the starting “squares” that the keys and snack would be placed. I get to show the kids how to identify the intersected spots by looking at the horizontal and vertical axes. It was a great way to teach and talk about map-reading using grid. 

(4) Environmental-Friendly Components - A 100% GREEN Game 

This game is also 100% green, made using soy-based inks and FSC paper. I also love the cute artwork, relatively sturdy components, and good quality wooden dice. The durable paper envelope (as opposed to the usual plastic packaging) for storing of components is a nice eco-friendly touch.

This is an awesome game to introduce to young kids, but probably not so much for older kids or seasoned gamers. 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.leisurelearning.com.au/race-to-the-treasure (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Sprawlopolis, By Button Shy / Even Toys and Games - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Wallet card game  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  8 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Anyone who enjoys strategy games - solo or play cooperatively. 

It’s easy to underestimate a game like Sprawlopolis by Button Shy - it’s small-sized, nothing too glamorous, with no fancy game components. I LOVE it when a game surprises me with its unassuming cleverness! This game has fast becoming one of my personal favourites. Thank you Even Toys and Games - this is fantastic! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) 18 Cards Strategy Game  

I love how Sprawlopolis made a really cool solo/ cooperative game out of just 18 cards. Each of the cards contains a city map with 4 quadrants of zones (blue for commercial, grey for industrial, green for park, orange for residential), and 1 or 2 roads. On the reverse side of the cards, each has an objective (for example, card “2” gives us 1 point for each row / column with 3 park blocks in it; card “15” gives us 2 points when a residential block is adjacent to 2 or more industrial blocks etc). To play this game, players randomly select 3 cards to set the scoring objective. Now each player takes turn to strategically position the remaining 15 cards horizontally, by either laying them adjacent to another card, or overlap a card partially with another. Once the cards are laid out, tally the points by adding up the points for each of the largest zones, deduct points based on the number of roads, then factor in points from the objective cards. The team won together if the point is higher than the total target numbers in the objective cards. 

(2) No Two Games Are The Same - Wide Combinations Of Variables! 

I love how the game creates large combinations of variables by using just 18 cards - We need to formulate new strategy each round depending on the 3 objective cards being drawn. I also love that this game can be played solitarily, or with 2 or more players cooperatively. 

(3) Includes 6 Sets Of "Expansion Cards" To Spice Up The Game 

And if that’s not enough, this version also includes 6 sets of “expansion cards” to spice up the game - including cards with “Wrecktar” monster, Construction Zone, Point of Interest, Beach Expansion, Interstate Expansion, Roadwork Expansion etc. Each expansion card changes the scoring conditions, and will surely scale up the level of difficulties of the game! 

(4) Awesome Travel Game 

This game is light weight, compact, travel-friendly. I can’t ask for a better micro-game! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.mindgamesbrisbane.com/product/sprawlopolis/ (Australia) 

https://games-toys-specials.com.au/games-toys.asp?i=102469 (Australia)

https://www.m-g.com.au/product/sprawlopolis/ (Australia) 

https://www.gamesworldsa.com.au/products/sprawlopolis (Australia) 

https://www.gamesworldbrisbane.com.au/sprawlopolis (Australia) 

https://www.presentsofmind.com.au/game/sprawlopolis/ (Australia) 

https://vaultgames.com.au/products/sprawlopolis (Australia) 

Enjoy the video! 

Kraken Attack, by LOKI - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Family board game  

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Recommended age:  7 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Kids who love board games - especially one with COOL pirate theme & strategy elements

Oh the JOY whenever we discovered a fabulous board game that makes us want to do a celebratory dance! Kraken Attack by LOKI checks ✅ all the boxes of what our family loves! Thank you VR Distribution - another amazing recommendation!

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Board Game With A BIG Mission - Defend Your Ship Against Kraken Attack! 

I love a game with “important” mission that makes us feel like we’re part of a BIG adventure. Our crew of little buccaneers work together to defend their ship against the tentacles and Kraken monster! First, position the pirates at 4 quadrants of the ship, each guarded by two ship’s rails. Throughout the game, players roll the dice and watch the 8 tentacle figures moved closer to the ship, ready to tear away the wall and slam a hole to the ship. But fear NOT, our pirates are all gear-up for a battle; On each turn, players choose one of two face-up cards that allows them to launch a mixture of attacks (saber, pistol, cannon, wild) or repair a hole. “Funny face” on a card angers the Kraken and causes the aggressive creature to move closer towards the ship, until it eventually unleashes its full wrath and makes its way to the ship board. This will bring the dice total to six! The game ends when the ship suffers damage of 4 holes, or when players manage to place 3 attack tokens on the Kraken figurine. 

(2) Cooperative Game With A Mix Of Skills & Chance 

I love that this is a cooperative game that excites both kids and adults. There is a good mixture of luck (eg if you roll a dice with “eye” icon, every tentacles of matching colour move forward) AND strategy (players to decide which mode of attack to use and in what sequence). We love the “special abilities” of each pirate - for example, Samuel can ignore the unlucky “Eye” icon on the dice, Billy can fire a Cannon and push back all tentacles in Cannon zone on the same side of board etc. We also love elevating the challenge with “Whirlpool” tokens that can send the Tentacles and Kraken quicker to the ship. 

(3) Awesome Components, COOL Artwork, & Amazing Storage Box 

The components and the storage box are awesome! The tentacles are whimsical, the Kraken is pure glorious, the ship’s rails are sturdy and fun, the wooden pirate tokens are adorable. I love the quality and the engaging artworks! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

https://www.kidstuff.com.au/products/loki-kraken-attack

https://www.gamesworld.com.au/product/kraken-attack/

Check out more reviews on LOKI games here: 

• Detective Charlie, By LOKI 
• Carla Caramel, By LOKI 

Enjoy the video! 

Rolly Poly, By Math For Love - REVIEW

Nature/ Type:          Counting game for young kids 

Rating:                     ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Recommended age:  4 year-old ++   

Who would love this: Kids who love number and counting games (with a lots of Actions!) 

Our four-year-old is at that adorable developmental stage - she has BIG imagination, enjoys silly games, and loves counting things at any time of the day! Divisible by Zero sent us this brand new game called “Rolly Poly” by Math For Love, and oh, what I can say? Action-packed, cute and entertaining, full of laughter, simply awesome! 

Why I love ❤️ this game: 

(1) Count, Play, Laugh - Get ready to move and be active - cause that’s what “Rolly Poly” is about! First, set up the counters in numerical orders (from 1 to 6); shuffle the deck, roll the die, pick a card, and perform the required action as many times as the number shown on the die (eg clapped 6 times). The set includes 36 “action cards” - some can be completed individually, some are to be done collectively as a team. The kids hugged, bowed, did some “star jumps”, gave each other high-fives, hopped (or attempted to hop) on one foot, took many “big steps”, made themselves dizzy with some spins, and named many types of food. Once a task is completed, put the action card under the corresponding number counter. The game ends (and everybody wins) when we “scored” and covered every counter. I love the cooperative nature of this game, and how young kids can learn counting through so much happy laughter, high energy and JOY! 

(2) Add-On Cards For Advanced Play - And when your kids are ready for something more challenging, pull out the “advanced play” cards and spice up the game with some adding-up exercises. Pick an add-on card (+1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6); this time, roll a die, pick a card, and perform the required action as many times as the number shown on the die plus the “add-on” number (eg, if the add-on number is +3, and you roll a “6”, you do the action 9 times instead of 6). 

(3) Super Cute Components (Especially The Giant Plush Die) - My personal favourite part of this game is the bright orange, soft and squeezable, giant plush die. It’s fun to throw it around, roll it everywhere, or simply just squash it. (4) I also love the wooden number counters, the thick cardboard components, and the creatively-designed storage box with the game steps printed and illustrated on four sides of it. The quality of components is good, and the design is playful and fun! 

# gifted in exchange for review 

Where to buy this: 

toys2learn (Australia) 

Enjoy the video!