Game Review: Apples to Apples and Blokus

I love games.  Not mind games, but the traditional old fashioned fun kind of games.   Growing up with three sisters was fun as we got older (me in high school, older sisters in college).  We spent some nights playing scrabble or rummy 500.  We'd play games for hours.  A lot of iced tea, some snacks and a whole lotta competition.  Now ten years later we don't get to do it as often, but now that their kids are getting older, it is a bit easier.  Over the next few weeks, I will write about a game or two that we have played over the years and my favorites and maybe you'll start playing too.

The first featured game is Apples to Apples by Out of the Box Publishing but Mattel took it over.  In 1999 Mensa International awarded this game one of their 5 annual game awards.  The game is designed for more than 4 people. Everyone is dealt some red cards (depends on how many are playing).  Every round there is a reader, that reader selects a green apple card.  The green cards have a verb written on them.  The green card is read out loud and each of the other players look through the red apple cards, which are nouns, and pick one that is the best fit.  The reader then shuffles the submitted nouns and then reads them out loud.  He picks out the red card he likes the most. It is very subjective..and it is best to know things about the other people.  Once the reader selects the best card, the green apple card is given to the person that submitted it.  The goal of the game is to get x number of green cards.  

This game is also made in a junior version (it is a green box) with words/people the younger kids will know.  We have played this game so many times, and love it.  The directions say it is played for 30-60 minutes, but depending on the level of fun and the people...it can go longer if you want it to. There are also a few variations you can try too.  It is a great travel game also since you don't need a board or pieces or dice or anything, just the cards. 



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 The second game for today is Blokus.  This is my absolute favorite game.  I saw it in a special game store in 2004 and thought my Dad would love it.  I was right!  I bought the Trigon version (which in my opinion is better than the square).  So how it works...it is easily played with 3 or 4 people.  Each player gets the same shaped tiles but in a different color.  The play goes clockwise and on each turn you place a shaped piece on the board - the piece needs to touch the tip of another one of your pieces.  A tip...not a side.  The object is to get all your pieces to fit.  You accumulate points (which are bad) with how many sub-shaped piece there is (not an actual piece, but how big that piece is).   Blockus was invented by a guy named Bernard Tavitian who is highly educated.  This game won a bunch of awards including the 2003 Mensa award.  The game is fabulous, and the more you play the more strategy you develop.  Depending on who you play with, the game changes.    My nieces and nephews really like this challenging game too.  It is fun for people of all ages.

Many people I have recommended these games to have loved them, and I know you will to.  So now go out and buy these games and have fun!