Thanksgiving Family Fun!

 Pressman Toy has teamed up with global learning company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, for the third installment of The Oregon Trail game series, The Oregon Trail: Journey to Willamette Valley. Based on the classic PC game, this Target exclusive board game will be hitting shelves this fall. Pioneers must gather their supplies and family members as they embark on the voyage from Independence, MO to Willamette Valley.

Unlike the cooperative nature of its original games, The Oregon Trail Card Game and The Oregon Trail: Hunt for Food, the newest game will be a competitive strategy board game with every wagon out for themselves. In addition, the new game is tile-based as players ford the trail, discovering a multitude of pathways with each gameplay. With 2 to 4 players, ages 14 and up, The Oregon Trail: Journey to Willamette Valley will require strategy and luck as players race and search for their fortune in the West.

This next one is a fun one for children ages 7+. It is a fast-paced game which is great for those with short attention spans! Boom, Bang, Gold is an exciting game with plenty of action in which speed and a good eye are important. The person who manages to collect the most nuggets in their gold chest at the end of the day wins the fast-paced hunt for gold.On a turn, everyone throws their dynamite sticks into the gold mine at the same time, then they all search (using only one hand) to remove face-up tiles from the mine and place the tiles on their personal shelf. If you spot a special tile with bat, rat, snake, or ghost, call “Watch out!” so that everyone else must place their hands on their head and call out “Help!” before continuing to play. When no more face-up tiles remain, the round ends. Retails for $29.99.

Find out more at http://www.habausa.com/boom-bang-gold/

I love these next two from Pressman Toy!

Want to test your code breaking skills? Mastermind is the game for you! Family members will take turns being the Codemaker and Codebreaker. The Codemaker sets a secret code, then the Codebreaker must use their smarts to unlock it.  For 2 players, ages 8 and up. I love that this is a challenging and fun game! You can find it at Amazon.com, Walmart and Barnes & Noble.

I think children will love playing this next one! Hydro Strike was a watery blast in the 80’s and is here to make a splash in 2018! Be prepared to get wet….unless you are the winner! In this head-to-head pinball game, you’ll need fast flipping fingers to shoot the ball into your opponent’s goal.  Score and your opponent will get sprayed in the face with water!  Since a sprayer is aimed at both players, strike quick when you play, or you’ll get the spray!  The first player to score 5 times wins. You can find at Amazon.com and Target. Recommended for ages 7+.

Here are some favorites from Blue Orange! 

Blue Lagoon, designed by Reiner Knizia, requires smart placement and anticipation to win. The area control and set collection game is won through the accumulation of points by collecting resources and settling on the islands. This one is a lot of fun!

 Suggested Age: 8 and up

         MSRP: $29.99

 

Scarabya is a tile-laying puzzle game designed by Bruno Cathala and Ludovic Maublanc, that includes unique gameplay and intricate components. By positioning pentomino tiles on individual boards, players create excavation zones of 1 to 4 squares that contain scarabs. The scarabs are then worth the size of the zone they are in.

Suggested Age: 8 and up

MSRP: $29.99

Age of Giants was an expected hit following the fame of Kingdomino, Spiels des Jahres winner in 2017. The expansion, to be played with Kingdomino or Queendomino, adds new challenges, brings a new level of player interaction, and includes a domino dispenser tower. It also allows for a fifth player to join.

Suggested Age: 8 and up

    MSRP: $19.99