Published at 1:25 am. Updated at 9:00 a.m.
Awakening of the Dragonborn
Young fans of fantastic stories, rejoice: Quebec publisher Gladius has thought of you with a game that combines witchcraft, goblins and fire-breathing reptiles! Quebecer Thomas Wilson came up with the idea of a magical universe in which dragons are threatened with extinction. To ensure the survival of the species, the player heroes must carry a dragon egg through four kingdoms filled with evil creatures…
The heroes must fight these villains with dice, navigate a course full of pitfalls, but also collect treasures and magical items that will help them in their mission. The winner ? He will be the first in the BloodDragons series…
The fantastic theme is brilliantly implemented in this very well thought out game and is perfect for introducing young people to the mechanics of dice battles. Please note: Two children's novels set in this universe have already been published. The publisher promises us that more will follow.
Number of players: 2 to 4 Age: from 8 years
Duration: between 30 and 60 minutes
Price: $50
Stephanie Morin, La Presse
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Zero to 1000
Zero to 1000
The Masked Scorpion takes the successful zero to 100 formula, but multiplies the scale by 10 and adds a few variations. We once again estimate the value of the question written on one of our hand cards in order to get as close as possible to the target value in the middle of the table. When all players have selected their card, the results are revealed and the player with the lowest guess must draw a new card. If a player only has one card left in their hand at the end, they win.
However, the power cards are different from those from zero to 100, especially the one where you can play two question cards by adding or subtracting their value.
“It's really fun and the questions aren't easy,” emphasizes our test chef during a hunting trip in the fall. It's quick, easy, effective, the kind of appetizer game you can play before tackling a big game.” We also learn a lot by playing Zero at 1000, which is certainly more difficult than its little brother Zero at 100. “The challenge is greater because we don’t know large numbers that well,” our photographer colleague rightly points out. We quickly lose the scale of large numbers. » It's actually easy to miss the target!
Number of players: 2 to 12 Age: from 12 years
Duration: 15 minutes
Price: $20
Pierre-Marc Durivage, La Presse
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
In Darwin's footsteps
In Darwin's footsteps
Charles Darwin needs help writing his famous work “The Origin of Species”. How can I help him? By gathering information about rarely visited continents during his voyage aboard the Beagle. Each player must collect species, cleverly classify them in their Naturalist Notebook, and post various theories in the hope of being crowned the winner.
A game with a very (very) successful look and easy-to-learn rules where you can learn and have fun at the same time. An appendix included in the box offers some anecdotes about the various animals in the game and Darwin's legendary journey around the globe. A feast for the eyes and neurons of naturalists of all ages.
Number of players: 2 to 5 Age: from 8 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Price: $50
Stephanie Morin, La Presse
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
The Dixit board game is now available in a Disney tribute version.
Dixit Disney
Many people are familiar with the mechanics of the game of Dixit, in which you must match an often impressionistic image with a word thrown by an opponent. Which card causes the most fear? The trip ? High age ? The game has stood the test of time: more than 12 million copies have been sold since its launch in 2008.
What's special about this version? It takes place in the wonderful world of Disney. Well-known characters can be seen in the pictures, not just children. Think of Peter Pan, Snow White, Pocahontas or Belle. For the occasion, the game pieces have taken on fun and colorful shapes, and the game board matches.
In short, we are not reinventing the concept (why change a winning formula?), but by choosing characters familiar to children, it will undoubtedly make it easier for them to discover the game. A great introduction to a game that still deserves to be known.
Number of players: 3 to 6 Age: from 8 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Price: $55
Stephanie Morin, La Presse
The professional's choice
PHOTO LIBELLUD
Obscurio
Obscurio
Although the two L'Expédition branches specialize in trading card games Magic and Pokémon, they also stand out for offering extensive libraries of board games available for customers to play on site for free. “We also organize Dungeons and Dragons evenings, we hold card tournaments every evening, you can find the full activity schedule on the websites of our Montreal and Greenfield Park branches,” owner Guillaume Garant tells us. Rousseau, who opened his first store eight years ago in Plaza Saint-Hubert.
Just in time for Christmas, he suggests we play Obscurio, a community game in which players must escape a cursed library despite the machinations of a traitor within their ranks. “It’s not always easy to find games where you can play without compromise with people of different profiles,” he rightly emphasizes. With Obscurio you don't have to reduce the level of play, even if you play with children or grandparents. It is truly a communication game that anyone can play without restrictions. »
Obscurio is an image communication game that integrates the mechanics of the popular Loup-Garou by Thiercellieux. Players play characters with different abilities, there is a game master who reveals clues and monitors the traitor's turn. In each round, players must find at least one exit door to progress. The fewer correct answers they have, the more opportunities the traitor has to set traps. “As long as there is a player who knows the game well and can take care of the setup, it is very easy to play,” explains Guillaume Garant-Rousseau. And you can easily play multiple games. »
Number of players: 2 to 8 Age: from 10 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Price: $70
Pierre-Marc Durivage, La Presse