Family fun is a lovely to have over the Xmas season. Sometimes though it can be hard to find something that covers every single member of the family unit. Well never fear SPOTS is here!
SPOTS
AGE 6 + / PLAYERS 1-4 (best 4) / Time 25 mins for 4
THE GAME
Spots is as easy and as fun as you could want for a family. The idea is simply enough. Players have doggy cards in front of them with certain skills on offer, a kennel beside, with a treat bone and next to them dogs. Theses doggies are patiently outside, looking to have their spots matched and that is done by dice.
All sounds too simple? Well a really good play through can be found here. https://boardgamegeek.com/video/436995/spots/spots-how-play-board-game-arena-bga-teach
THE REVIEW
Now the reason for the longer than normal review here (you know we usually aim for 500 words max) is that we wanted to note something. The box suggests that SPOTS is a game for players aged 10+. This is simply due to the companies duty of care and is a guide. We found that an 8 year old and a 6 year old played it well enough. They might have found the option cards a little complex at the start but once grasped they excelled. Game age ranges have you often in a quandary. You have three kids aged 10, 8 and 6. You want a game that will draw them in and find this. Its 10+ and that covers 1 of them. Maybe two at a stretch. Never fear. We find that if you play the game via test or via friends/ game clubs, that the games show you how complex they are and if they translate to an audience.
SPOTS is a lovely little game that can while away a few hours (if played as a best of say). It is a casual push your luck game. Players are tasked with rolling and placing dice onto dog cards. Simple enough. Dice not able to place are buried in the dog house and if they score over 7, then they are forced to clear all dice and start again. Complete 6 dogs and you win! It really is that simple.
Now I cant emphasis this enough. We have had some suggest that we need to be specific about complexity. We are a mid level game reviewer. We try to cover all manner of games and also offer a spread for readers. The game is not for those looking for heavy, weighed gameplay or content that can be expanded and grown past or over. It offer a game that can be carried on holidays, wet weekends and for families in the cold nights. It wants the players to get involved but not over commit to it.
