Episode 140Build Me Up, Buttercup!(Building Games) We just got Tiny Towns in the mail, and it is rekindling our love for games where you build something. We talked with Peter McPherson a few months ago and Andrew has been hyped to play his game! We did a live unboxing video the day we received it, and immediately played a few rounds after the kids went to bed that night. What We’ve Been Playing Besides just Tiny Towns – although we’re already trying variations here. Can’t wait to play it with the kids! Fire in the Library – Andrew had a much better time than his previous play. Press-your-luck games can be tough because they can swing wildly. It helps to realize that in this game, your odds get progressively worse as the game goes on. Discoveries: The Journals of Lewis and Clark – Andrew has played it several times now, and we haven’t even opened our own copy yet (oops!) Shadows in Kyoto – a 2 player game of hidden information. Move your spies across the board and try to capture your opponent’s “real” intelligence or force them to take your “fake” intelligence. Pyramid of Pengqueen – feels a little different as a 2 player game. The “treasure hunter” gets two penguins to move, to keep the mummy from being able to lock down on a single area. Deblockle – we played several times in a row one night. It’s quick and thinky. Wisdom of Solomon – a worker-placement / area control / resource management game with classic euro art (very utilitarian). Theme: Israel during the reign of Solomon. We started with trepidation (Bible-based games aren’t always good) but really enjoyed it. Unlock: The Formula – Anitra feels the secret is to just play for fun and don’t be stingy with hints. Anitra played some Rolling America with her special tray in the car. Looking forward to spending less time waiting in the car when summer comes. Asher beat Anitra in her favorite, Imhotep. We couldn’t be more proud. Elliot (4) is getting the hang of Kingdomino. With a little help, he beat Anitra too! Banagrams is good with kids who are fluent readers. “Everything that Scrabble should be – just about fitting words together well.” SNAP Review: Tiny Ninjas Let Anitra and Asher tell you about this two-player battle of cards and dice. Check out the post for pictures and full text. Building Games We like building things! We’re taking a lot of liberty with this idea, but centering around creating a “structure” you can see throughout the game. We asked for input and got some confusion from our listeners – we’re not really looking at engine building or deck building. Although “Engine Building: the engine builder” sounds like a fantastic idea – somebody make it! * Tiny Towns,