Great Games #AtoZChallenge

I have always loved playing games and luckily my family does too. Our current favorites are:

Monopoly Deal will feel familiar, since it's based on Monopoly. Same properties, but completely new rules. And the best part, the hands are quick - like 15 minutes! You might think you're ahead, but don't be surprised if you suddenly find yourself losing your properties and the game. Angie picked this game up very quickly when she was still 7, but it's fun for kids and adults alike. Highly recommended.

Phase 10 is a lot of fun, but will take much longer to play. You have to complete 10 different phases (hands) to win the game. You keep score after each hand, but if you're the first one to finish all of the phases, you win regardless of what your score is. The Skip cards in this game can be played against anyone, not just the person to your left, which adds to the fun. You can play two player, but the more players you have the more fun it is. Angie also picked this one up quickly at 7, and it's also not just a game for kids. Bonus, I had her keep score, which helps with her addition skills. Also highly recommended. 

What games do you and your family play? Any recommendations? We're always in the market for new games :)

Games - I love games! #AtoZChallenge

I've loved to play games since I was a small child. In fact, I learned my numbers playing cards with my Grandmother around the time I was five.

Some of my current favorite games include:

 Monopoly Deal - this is a card game based on Monopoly. My family plays it and we love it. The games are quick - 15 minutes - yet challenging and fun. We typically play three rounds at a minimum. It takes strategy, and sometimes luck, to win this game and every round is different. I highly recommend it for kids (around 7 and up) and adults alike.

Diablo III is another current favorite, along with its expansion pack Reaper of Souls. My husband and I have been playing Diablo the entire time we've known each other - first with Diablo, then Diablo II. The fact that I liked to play video games reportedly factored into his decision that "I was the one".

The first time Lenny every told me he loved me was when he snagged a Ring of Jordan right from under my nose in Diablo II. "I love you" he said when I protested. "Bullshit" I replied.

Ah love...

And a new favorite, War for the Overworld. If you played Dungeon Keeper back in the day, you will love this. I actually bought this game two years ago when it was being developed, because I liked where the developers were going with it. It's the spiritual success of the Dungeon Keeper games. I've only just started it, but I already love it. If you like building dungeons and beating up those annoying "good guys", this game is for you!

What are you favorite games? Any hidden gems you'd like to share?

D&D, how I miss thee #AtoZChallenge

I am currently "reading" (I listen to audiobooks) a very charming novel by Drew Hayes called NPCs. It's a tale about the non-player characters in D&D Games.

Four gamers start a new campaign and their characters are killed off. Four NPCs witness the death of those adventurers and take up their quest to protect their town from the wrath of their king, who would be put out of the original four never appeared at court as instructed. I recommend it, even if you've never played D&D.

It brings back memories of when I played D&D games years (and years and years) ago. Good times. If you're lucky enough to have a great GM, which I was, then playing D&D is rather like living in a novel with the ability to effect the story.

Have you ever played? I wonder if there are any online games I could join - I have dice!

W is for World of Warcraft #AtoZChallenge

I bought World of Warcraft the week it came out, almost 10 years ago now. I've been playing it on and off since. Yeah, I'm a Geeky Gamer Girl :)

What I like about WoW is that Blizzard keeps adding more content, and not just in expansions, but in patches they release throughout the year. The game has evolved as the years have gone by, and in many ways it's much easier to play now then it was when it first came out. This is by design, so that players can level up characters easier and faster, and get to the end game content. 

WoW can be played by many different types of gamers - from hardcore to casual and there are a lot of different things you can do. There's raiding for people who like organized questing, player vs. player (PVP) activities, solo questing and now pet battling. 

If you've considered playing, now's a good time to check it out. You can play the game for free up to level 20. If you'd like, shoot me an email and I'll invite you - there are perks in it for both of us :)

G is for Gaming #AtoZChallenge

I have always loved to play games, first board and card games, then video games. Here are some of my favorites:

Crazy Gin - This is a card game that's best played with 3-6 players. There are seven rounds, each with different requirements to earn points. If you like card games, you'll love this one - it's very competitive and it takes wit and cunning to win.

Sorry - Angie and I both love playing this board game and we are never sorry! Never get complacent when playing Sorry, because the game can turn quickly. Some of the biggest comebacks ever have happened in this game!

World of Warcraft - I started playing WOW the week it came out, and I've stopped playing two different times now, but it keeps sucking me back. What I like about it is that you can play it in many different ways - solo, with a group, PVP and now pet battling. They also keep adding content. What I like best is that Lenny and I can play it together - because the family that plays together, stays together :)

UNO - what's not to like? Angie and I play Classic Uno and Uno Attack regularly. Plus, I play it on my Kindle - Uno with Friends. Simple to understand, yet totally cut-throat.

Dungeon Keeper - DK 1 & 2 are two of my all time favorite video games. Sadly, they have stopped making Dungeon Keeper games - but EA Games recently released DK2 in an iPad/Kindle app, so there's hope! I also stumbled over a developer making a similar game called War for the Overworld - I donated to their KickStarter campaign and am looking forward to what they come up with.

The Sims - I've been playing the Sims on and off for years... since the franchise started. The Sims 3 is available for a steal right now, if you're interested (<$20 = game whoring prices). The Sims 4 is in development - should be interesting.

What games do you like to play?

The Lady Bug Game

Recently I bought Angie The Lady Bug Game. Here's a short review.

The game is for kids aged 3 and up. There are small pieces, which seems to be the criteria for ages under 3. (I'm here to tell you that wanting to put everything in your mouth doesn't always stop at 3, but I digress).

It's very reasonably priced and actually quite a lot of fun. The game is simple enough for kids to grasp quickly, yet interesting enough to keep everyone involved until the end. There's no reading required, once the kids learn what the cards all mean (which didn't take long at all).

I find it to be enjoyable to play, which is good because I've played it several times a day since we got it.

I highly recommend this game for young children. It teaches them basic math skills, taking turns and how to win and lose well. And best of all, it's fun to play! :)