Tag Archives: kids games

My Top Five Kid Games… A Decade Ago

Back in the first decade of this century (c. 2009), I published a list of my top 100 kid games… and while I’d quibble with some of my choices now, I think the extensive writing I did on the state … Continue reading

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Matt Carlson: Gen Con 2018 – Parties and Kids

It’s Indianapolis, and 60,000 people have come and gone, which must mean GenCon 2018 is finally over.  Once again, I had the privilege to prowl the aisles in search of hidden gems (or the obvious ones that I somehow miss.) … Continue reading

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Review of Blend Off!

Blend Off! is a real time game in which all players are frantically rolling dice to collect fruit, blending smoothies, and filling orders to earn gold stars. Makes total sense, right? To best understand the theme and mechanisms of the game, it’s important to know the backstory. Here it is as told in the rules…

Blend it Like Becca — a small-town smoothie shop sensation! It’s been a slow night. Becca the shop owner, Kevin the runner boy, and the Master Mixers – including you! – have started closing up shop. One minute before close, the door swings open. Outside, you see parked school buses and a line of people all the way to the street corner! The high school girls’ volleyball tournament has just gotten out, and everyone is craving a smoothie for the ride home. Becca cuts a deal: whoever blends the most smoothies tonight gets free smoothies for a month! The Blend Off has begun, and only one can win. There’s just one problem: Kevin. Skittish at best on normal days, he flies into a frenzy, grabbing fruit for you from the fridge at random. Take the fruit Kevin brings, complete the orders Becca calls back, and blend your way to victory!

In the game, players represent the Master Mixers who are competing to blend the most smoothies. Each Master Mixer rolls a Fruit Die representing Kevin\ and the random fruits he retrieves from the refrigerator. The deck of Blender Cards represents Becca who is continuously calling out smoothie orders to be filled. Unlike many games, there are no individual turns. Players are all playing and taking actions simultaneously until the game ends (when Becca is out of orders). The player that earned the most gold stars from blending smoothies is the winner. Continue reading

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GenCon 2016 Mega Rundown – Kids Games

I was able to attend GenCon for a couple days this year.  As a gamer with children (and a writer for GamerDad.com) I have a special place in my heart for games I can play with my kids.  The following … Continue reading

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Matt Carlson: The Return of the Fantasy RPGs

Last time I talked about role playing games, it was a discussion of Dungeons and Dragons, including the rereleases of many old retro versions of the game and adventures as well as the upcoming revision of the game entitled “D&D … Continue reading

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Matt Carlson: GenCon 2013 – The Kitchen Sink

Despite the focus on boardgaming by our particular interest group, GenCon has a very broad range of events present.  In fact, by my estimation, GenCon is an even bigger RPG (role playing game) convention than a boardgame one.  Companies bringing … Continue reading

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