Blog search

Mouse Carousel and Kids of Carcassonne

I got some new children's games to try out. Couple of them were instant hits (Zoowaboo doesn't look like it's really hot with two, so it's still waiting) with Nooa. Mouse Carousel has six tubes and seven mice with different...

Posted by Mikko on December 1, 2009 5:30 AM

Ghost Stories and Steam over Holland

I'm a wee bit late, since everybody played Ghost Stories back in Helcon last year, but I got it now as the Finnish version was published and we got it on the table today with Johanna - and got...

Posted by Mikko on October 4, 2009 7:44 PM

Dominion with Johanna

Dominion is officially a great game. I just played a game with Johanna - we haven't played any games in a long time. She enjoyed Dominion enough to say she wants to play it again, which is rare. It's...

Posted by Mikko on December 21, 2008 6:32 PM

Archeology with Johanna

Johanna wanted to play a game while Nooa is taking a nap (he's a good sleeper, sleeping easily two hours). We had talked about trying Thebes, so that's what we did. The theme is attractive (always important) and the...

Posted by Mikko on March 8, 2008 1:18 PM

Settlers of Catan Junior

I tried Settlers of Catan Junior with Johanna yesterday. The game is a simplified version of Catan with an age recommendation of 6+. It has all the basic elements of Catan: production rolls, trading and building. Everything is just...

Posted by Mikko on February 5, 2008 11:40 AM

Christmas Agricola

I must've been pretty nice, since Santa brought me Cuba (befriending game store owners helps). Haven't tried yet, but the game looks drop dead gorgeous. Mechanisms seem sound as well. Should be fun, might be one of those "nice, but...

Posted by Mikko on December 25, 2007 7:18 PM

First games of Portobello Market

I've now played Portobello Market twice, both two-player games with Johanna. She likes it, and so do I, to some extent. Portobello Market--> It's a pretty game, but what do you expect from Michael Menzel? The man knows his trade....

Posted by Mikko on July 8, 2007 3:05 PM

Zooloretto with two

I got a review copy of Zooloretto, latest entry to the Coloretto family. It's out now in Finnish (with Swedish, Norwegian and Danish rules included). The box was bigger than I expected, a full Kosmos-size box. Cute panda! Zooloretto Coloretto-->...

Posted by Mikko on May 12, 2007 9:07 PM

Die Säulen der Erde first thoughts

Played a game of Die Säulen der Erde with Johanna yesterday, while the baby was sleeping. It was reasonably enjoyable. Nothing special - I've rated the game as 8 right now. As many of you have heard, there's more than...

Posted by Mikko on October 30, 2006 8:52 AM

Da Vinci's Challenge

I played Da Vinci's Challenge with Johanna yesterday. She hated it, and I didn't like it much better. Basically it's a simple abstract game, where pieces are laid on a board with a Flower of Life pattern. Da Vinci's Challenge-->...

Posted by Mikko on October 16, 2006 12:28 PM

Quick touch with Pentago

I played Pentago, the Finnish game of the year, yesterday with Johanna. My darling wife was amazed when she heard that was the winner. She may not be a hardcore gamer, but she isn't clueless either! The game sucks, simply...

Posted by Mikko on October 13, 2006 12:36 PM

Celtica

I got a review copy of Celtica, the much-dismissed game from Kramer and Kiesling. I don't get the really bad ratings; the game has an average of 5.2 now, I'd expect something above 6 (like the 6.4 for That's Life!...

Posted by Mikko on October 12, 2006 9:45 AM

Nacht der Magier

I played a game of Nacht der Magier with Johanna yesterday. We played in light; it was nice to see the game worked well without the darkness effect. It's better in the dark, but fine in light. Thus, a review...

Posted by Mikko on August 3, 2006 11:19 AM

Mice and a cat

I got this year's Marektoy children's games lineup. It's a nice bunch of games from Drei Magier and Selecta, mostly. Selecta games impressed me: like Haba, Selecta is a producer of wooden toys and the games have great components. I...

Posted by Mikko on August 2, 2006 7:09 AM

Ghost Olympics

I finally got around and played Schloss Schlotterstein with Johanna. We dove straight in for the Ghost Olympics, a spooky five-event competition. Schloss Schlotterstein--> First up was Haunting Balls, where you must collect mysterious metal balls. I won that event,...

Posted by Mikko on May 23, 2006 6:16 PM

A new favourite

Verflixxt is the new household favourite around here. I played it yesterday with Johanna and it was already our fourth game in a relatively short time. She won - I think she's won three out of four or so, she's...

Posted by Mikko on April 13, 2006 9:10 AM

Entering Blue Moon

I got my first taste of Blue Moon yesterday. I got my set, and just had to give it a go. I've been somewhat interested in the game for a while now, and when I saw it sold at the...

Posted by Mikko on November 16, 2005 8:26 AM

Phantom Rummy with Johanna

I wanted to see how Johanna liked Phantom Rummy, so we played a game. It wasn't quite a success - we aborted after three rounds when Johanna was leading 8-4. Phantom Rummy--> I wasn't quite sure she'd like the game...

Posted by Mikko on November 12, 2005 4:34 PM

Antike and Heckmeck

I tried Antike with Johanna. It's certainly not the best two-player game, but it was fun and I got some practise with the mechanics so it'll be easier for me to teach in Helcon this weekend. Antike--> So, yeah, it...

Posted by Mikko on October 24, 2005 8:41 AM

Two-player Caylus

Last night Johanna, in celebration of her birthday, wanted to play something. Something new, that wasn't too quick or too long - now that's a task! I chose Caylus, as I thought she could like it. It should also be...

Posted by Mikko on October 20, 2005 10:37 AM