Jondi’s 2017 10×10 Boardgame Challenge

Above and Below

Above and Below

Designer Ryan Laukat
Publisher Red Raven Games, Bard Centrum Gier, dV Giochi, Schwerkraft-Verlag
Year Published 2015
# of Players 2-4
Playing Time 90 minutes

Above and Below is an AMAZING game. The first time I played it I KNEW it would be be among my favorites! I love the storytelling aspect of the game, which helps each game feel unique and different! This is a perfect game for a 10×10 challenge! 

London Dread

London Dread

Designer Asger Johansen
Publisher Grey Fox Games
Year Published 2016
# of Players 2-4
Playing Time 90 minutes

 I bought this game at GenCon 2016 because I heard good things about it and because two people I really trust regarding board games told me it is a great game. I finally got to play it for the first time several months later and it is a really good time. It is a solid game and the story-driven mechanic promises for many future sessions of fun with this title!

Terraforming Mars

Terraforming Mars

Designer Jacob Fryxelius
Publisher FryxGames, Ghenos Games, Intrafin Games, Lavka Games, Maldito Games, etc.
Year Published 2016
# of Players 1-5
Playing Time 120 minutes

What can I say? I am a sucker for space games and I was so excited to get my hands on a copy of this game. Can’t wait to get 10 plays in!

Spurs: A Tale in the Old West

Spurs: A Tale in the Old West

Designer Sean Brown, Ole Steiness
Publisher Mr. B Games
Year Published 2014
# of Players 3-5
Playing Time 90 minutes1

 I’m not usually into Old West games, but this game is GORGEOUS! The art is beautiful and the mechanics are really unique! I’ve only gotten it to the table once since I bought it in 2014 and I included it in this Challenge because it deserves a lot more playtime. It’s a great game.

Burger Up

Burger Up

Designer Matthew Parkes
Publisher Rule & Make
Year Published 2016
# of Players 2-4
Playing Time 30 minutes

 I bought this game knowing absolutely nothing about it because one of my favorite game themes is food. When I saw this game, and the Burger of the World expansion, I fell in love with the art and since it was a food-themed games…well, I knew it needed to become a part of my collection. When I got it to the table during the holiday season, I was delighted to find out it is such a fun game to play. It won’t be hard to get 10 plays in on this one!

Scoville

Scoville

Designer Ed Marriott
Publisher Tasty Minstrel Games
Year Published 2014
# of Players 2-6
Playing Time 90 minutes

 Another food-themed game…sort of. You are growing peppers to make chili (if I remember right). It is really fun and I adore the pepper meeples. I haven’t ever met anyone who DOESN’T like this fun game and the expansion, Scoville Labs, only adds to the fun!

Takenoko

Takenoko

Designer Antoine Bauza
Publisher Bombyx, Matagot, Asmodee, Asterion Press, Bergsala Enigma, etc.
Year Published 2011
# of Players 2-4
Playing Time 45 minutes

In Takenoko, you have been entrusted with the care of a panda that was gifted to the Japanese Emperor by the Chinese Emperor by also tending to the bamboo garden. The art is adorable, as are the game pieces. I haven’t played this enough and that is why I included it in my Challenge. And now I own the giant deluxe version…so the 10 games are going to be GIANTLY EPIC!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shadows of the Past

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shadows of the Past

Designer Kevin Wilson
Publisher IDW Games, Pandasaurus Games
Year Published 2016
# of Players 2-5
Playing Time 90 minutes

 TMNT: Shadows of the Past is another story-driven game and it is A LOT of fun to play. In my humble opinion, it plays best at 5 players…4 players play the good guys (aka the Turtles or their allies) and 1 player plays as the Foot Clan. Each story has a win condition for the good guys and a win condition for the bad guys. So it is a semi-cooperative game and whether or not you successfully complete your objectives in a story WILL AFFECT the gameplay in the next story in the story arc! I have been playing as Michelangelo…because he is a Party Dude!

Police Precinct

Police Precinct

Designer Ole Steiness
Publisher Common Man Games
Year Published 2013
# of Players 1-6
Playing Time 90 minutes

This is not a theme I would usually jump at, but I am glad this game was brought to the table. I loved playing it and look forward to getting more plays in. It is ridiculously difficult to win, but the components are really great (I love the donuts) and the game is fun, even when you don’t win (which is most of the time.

Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure

Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure

Designer Paul Dennen
Publisher Dire Wolf Digital, Origames, Renegade Game Studios, Schwerkraft-Verlag
Year Published 2016
# of Players 1-4
Playing Time 60 minutes

Ok, so this wasn’t ORIGINALLY on my 10×10…but I’d been wanting the game ever since it came out and just hadn’t been able to get my soulless ginger hands on it. When I finally did and I got it to the table? Yep, I had to switch it into my 10×10, because YES! It is a great game! I love the dragon attack mechanic!

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