Summer might well finally be here! To celebrate (on if in the UK commiserate) we offer two great card games for the family to enjoy over the next month! Card games of the past have always been easy for families to get involved in. My own love nothing more than a few hands in the summer haze. With a deck of 52 cards the usual go to or UNO a close second. Thanks in part to the growth of gaming, now we have loads to choose from!
First up is ALLEGRA
2-6 PLAYERS (BEST 4-6)/ 30 Mins / 9+
THE GAME
Imagine a game were you need the least to have the most and win. Well that is ALLEGRA in a nutshell. Players have a 4×4 set of cards numbered between -1 and 11 in front of them (all face down). You reveal any two cards in this area, then the round begins. On a turn, you either draw the top card of the deck and reveal it, or draw the top card of the discard pile. Take from the discard pile and swap that card with any card in your area. Discarding the replaced card. There are rules concerning the other players and their control over your and there right hand side cards which are best explained by the great Board Game Geek https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/316407/allegra) Player with the lowest score (like Golf) wins!
REVIEW
Time length and complexity is key to this game. It takes some time and so this will help with the kids and families on wet days or long ones. Its complexity is far more adult than suggested, mainly due to its mechanics (So we have upped the suggested age to 9 but 10 or secondary school age is more sensible.) What ALLEGRA does well is co operation. Players have to consider supporting others and so if you are ubermensch and competitive, you might find it hard to swallow.
SCORE 7.5/10
https://coiledspring.co.uk/product/allegra/
HULA-HOO
2-6 Players (2-4 best)/ 15 mins / 6+
GAME
A world hula hooping championships is a big deal right? Well the animals are all ready to show off and you can help them! The goal of the game is simple enough. Get rid of all of your cards; or make all other players drop out (“drop their hoop”). Each player starts with five cards in hand and five in front of them. On a turn, they can choose to play one of their open cards in front or from hand. The first player plays any card and demands “higher” or “lower” to the next player. A player can follow this, or play the same card as the other player. Then everyone has to match this. A player who cannot play drops their hoop and is out of the round. The player with the most points at the end of the game will be crowned the hula champ! To know more of the rules see https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/328859/hula-hoo
REVIEW
We lowered the age for play of HULA-HOO. Its a game that reads quite complex in the above (if you see the BGG rules they are far more complex) but it plays really easily. This is its great boon. Well this and the lovely colour schemes and character images. All add up to a delightful family fun game, which is neither taxing nor long lasting. For some in the family, that might be a bug bear but for us, it was heavenly!
