Episode 154Player Interaction

We talk about player interaction this week. What games will encourage your family to really connect or collaborate? Andrew (and Anitra) also try Mexican hawthorne pulp, “for science!”

What We’ve Been Playing

We’re going camping with a large group of people. Lots of opportunity for games! We’re looking forward to using Order of Invention for a larger group, from our sponsor, Breaking Games.

Draftosaurus – we are big fans, and we’ll have a review for you very soon.

Ticket to Ride New York

Mystery of the Temples

Animo – recently rediscovered by our kids (remember when we talked to the creators?)

Mystery of the Temples from Deepwater Games.

Slide Quest

Drop It

Kingdomino

Get the MacGuffin

Most Wanted

Dogs of War – do you want to be a mercenary?

Senshi

The Hearmees – listen to infer what shape was drawn! Tough for a 5-year-old but doable.

I Have a Train to Catch – train race with pickup & delivery

Penny Rails

Spaceteam

Bang! The Dice Game (with one of the same guys Andrew played with at Dice Tower Con)

Backtalk

Doug asks us about teachers using boardgames in the classroom. We have some anecdotal evidence (like our interview with Liz), but we’d also be interested to find more hard data. Our guess? Boardgames are moving in a similar direction to videogames, so hopefully there will be more research soon. Also check out the forum called Games in the Classroom on Board Game Geek.

Thanks for the Apple Podcasts review, too!

For Science!

Andrew (and Anitra! and even Claire!) eat Mexican hawthorn pulp coated with chili powder.

Want more gross/weird foods “for science”? Send your weird food to:

The Family GamersPO Box 528Auburn MA 01501

Interaction

Don Aranda asks: “What are some family games that really demand a lot of interaction between players (not necessarily in a take that way)?”

Interacting with our family members is a big part of why we play games! Let’s start with categories and work our way down to more unique games that encourage interaction.

Trick Taking

Trick-taking games (like Pikoko). You’re limited by what’s in your hand, but you need to play a mind game of what other people (might) have.

Guessing Games

Guessing games require you to talk to each other or give clues in specific ways (examples: Concept, Dixit, Hearmees, Mysterium, Detective Club) Codenames would fall into this arena,