Board games for the whole family

Can you catch fish with stencils? And how does Hedgehog save himself from the fox? There are answers to board games that were nominated for "Game of the Year" and "Children's Game of the Year" in 2020. "Speedy Roll" has now made it.

Berlin (dpa / tmn) - In times of Corona more games are unpacked at home. Anyone looking for new ideas can fall back on the titles that were shortlisted for the "Game of the Year" and "Children's Game of the Year" awards.

"Speedy Roll" has now won the title. But there are other exciting games for the whole family among the competitors.

"Speedy Roll"

Together with a cute illustration, a beautiful story and a child-friendly mixture of excitement, action and skill, "Speedy Roll" has now been named "Children's Game of the Year". The winner is suitable for children from the age of four and has been published by Piatnik Verlag. It can be played in a cooperative or competitive variant, i.e. with or against each other. This is about the hedgehog running away from the fox and trying to escape to his house as quickly as possible. Mushrooms, leaves and apples are laid out on the table. To move forward, a lint ball is rolled over these parts.

If the matching parts have stuck to the ball, the hedgehog can be pulled forward on the variable game board. To do this, the fox moves two spaces forward on each turn and thus always comes dangerously close to the hedgehog. The game is suitable for one to four children and is also fun for older people with a more difficult rolling variant.

"Photo Fish"

"Photo Fish" from Logis Verlag was also nominated in the "Children's Game of the Year" area. It is a game for two to four players, ages four and up. Here it is important to look closely. Because each player receives a tableau on which many differently colored fish are depicted. This tableau represents his aquarium. Two cubes now determine which fish are to be searched for in your own aquarium and captured with a photo frame template.

If you were able to frame the fish you were looking for with the template, you will receive a large part to assemble a fish. The goal is to be the first to have a fish that is as long as the aquarium. Since there are different templates that make searching easier or harder, younger and older players can play well together.

"We are the robots"

The small card game "We are the Robots" from the Nuremberg Playing Card Publishing House (NSV) is also one of the nominated children's games. It is suitable for two to six players and children from the age of five. The aim of the game is to correctly estimate speeds. A map is clearly displayed for everyone on which a path is drawn. Various objects are on the way.

The active player now draws a card that determines how quickly they can move to a specific item. The other players are only informed whether he does it quickly, normally or slowly. With a short beep, the player now runs this route to the specified object. The players now have to assess which object "has stopped".

A fast game where you get a good feel for your teammates - and how you rate them.

"My City"

The game "My City" from Kosmos Verlag is more for families with children from the age of ten. It was nominated for "Game of the Year" and is made for two to four players. The game is a so-called legacy game. This means that the game is played over several rounds, in which the rules and game elements change again and again. The game evolves from round to round. In the case of "My City" there are eight chapters with three rounds each.

The aim of the game is to build a city with certain building parts on the game board. The game board is glued and painted. If you want to use the game permanently, you can use the back of the game board as an "Eternal Game" - an advantage in corona times. The legacy game must always be played with the same players, ideal for fixed family groups.

"Nova Luna"

The game "Nova Luna", which was published by Edition Spielwiese and Pegasus, is also designed for families with children from 8 years. It is an abstract placement game in which you have to skillfully select tiles that can be easily combined with each other when laying out. There are small tasks noted on the tile that need to be completed.

Sometimes two specific colors have to lie next to each other, sometimes a row of three of the same color has to be created. If it is your turn, you can choose a tile from the next three cards. It is not allowed to ponder for too long which is the best card - otherwise the game will lose its flow. The game with simple and clear rules is made for one to four players. Soloists also have fun here.

"Pictures"

The game "Pictures" from PS Verlag was also nominated in the category "Game of the Year". The creative streak of the teammates is required here. 16 picture cards are laid out in a square on the table. Each player draws a card face down, which determines which image he needs to focus on. He is now assigned a material with which he must, if possible, add the picture so that the other players can see which picture it is.

The materials are very different. Sometimes you get two cords, sometimes a few building blocks, sometimes a few sticks and pebbles in order to represent the particular picture as well as possible. Now it is advised. The material is changed with each lap. A very varied game in which you have to focus well on one aspect of the picture card. It is suitable for families with children from the age of eight.

Games:

"Foto Fish", author Michael Kallauch, Logis Verlag, for 2 to 4 players, from 4 years, entry: easy, playing time 15 to 20 minutes, price: approx. 22 euros, distribution: Pegasus Spiele

"Speedy Roll", author Urtis Šulinskas, publisher Lifestyle Boardgames / Piatnik, for 1 to 4 players, from 4 years, entry: middle, playing time approx. 20 minutes, price: approx. 27 euros

"We are the robots", author Reinhard Staupe, Nürnberger Spielkarten Verlag (NSV), for 2 to 6 players, from 5 years, entry: medium, playing time approx. 15 minutes, price: approx. 10 euros

"My City", author Reiner Knizia, Kosmos Verlag, for 2 to 4 players, ages 10+, starting: medium, playing time approx. 30 minutes, price: approx. 35 euros

"Nova Luna", author Uwe Rosenberg and Corné van Moorsel, Verlag Edition Spielwiese / Pegasus Spiele, for 1 to 4 players, ages 8 and up, entry level: medium, playing time approx. 30 minutes, price: approx. 25 euros

"Pictures", author Daniela and Christian Stöhr, PD-Verlag, for 3 to 5 players, ages 8+, entry: easy, playing time approx. 30 minutes, price: approx. 40 euros

Pegasus