In January, my husband and I decided our family needed more unplugged family time. Since we have an extensive board game collection, we decided to focus on a different board game each week of 2018.
Each month, I’m planning to review these games here on the blog. Here are our February games of the week.
Disclosure: The following links are affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.
Doodle Dice
We’ve had this game for years, and it’s so much fun.
The game consists six dice, a cup for storing them in, and a bunch of cards. Each dice has six different shapes:
- Squiggle
- Dash
- Arch
- Dot
- Slant
- Face
The cards are divided into six colors. Orange cards require one shape, red two, and so on, all the way up to purple cards, which have six shapes.
Here’s a picture to help explain it better:
At the start of the game, you put one of each color card face up on the table. The rest of the cards are shuffled and make the draw pile.
On your turn, you draw a card and flip it face up. Then you roll the dice. You can keep any of the dice you rolled. Any you don’t want, you put back in the cup. You can roll three times on your turn.
Your goal is to roll the dice to create the doodle on one of the cards showing on the table.
Whoever gets a card of each color first is the winner.
What I Like About this Game
This game is very kid friendly. Even if the younger kids couldn’t handle completely playing on their own, they could help roll the dice and look for matches.
There’s also a ton of variety. It’s amazing how many doodles you can create from six basic shapes!
What I Don’t Like About this Game
I’m not very good at it! It’s very much a spatial sense game, and that’s never been my highest form of intelligence. Some people (like my husband) can just see how the dice go together to create the picture without having to stop and actually put them together. Other people (like me) can’t.
But, it’s important to work on building spatial skills. And, it really is a fun game!
Stratego 
Jayme picked Stratego for her second pick of the year. My memories of this game go way back to middle school when it was very popular in the library during lunch (along with Mastermind…).
This is a two player game that’s best suited for about second grade and beyond. We played several times throughout the week, matching up different people.
The goal of Stratego is to capture your opponent’s flag. Each player sets up their battlefield with a cast of characters, traps, and the flag. Here’s one side of the board, all set up and ready to play. You can see the flag near the lower left-hand corner.
We have the Fire and Ice version released several years ago, which introduces a few extra rules. The different characters have unique abilities, adding twists to the game. But, since this one is now $50 on Amazon, I’d recommend just going with the original.
Players take turns moving. When they attack, they simply announce the strength of their piece (a number from 2-10). The other player announces the strength of the attacked piece. Whichever number is higher wins the battle. If they are equal, it’s a draw and both pieces are removed from play.
You continue advancing until one person’s army captures the other person’s flag. Or until one person no longer has any moveable pieces.
What I Like About This Game
I enjoy the strategy this game requires. You have to be careful not to block yourself in when you set it up. You also need to have a variety of pieces up front, because if you stick all your low numbers up there the other player can just plow through you.
And the nostalgia of this game makes it extra fun.
What I Don’t Like About This Game
I actually don’t like the Fire and Ice variations. It’s turned it into a wizard/dragon battle, and in my opinion, it wasn’t needed.
Jenga 
Jeff was supposed to pick this week, but he (and most everyone else) was sick. So, I decided to pick a game that was low-key. I also wanted one the little kids could play with creatively to help keep them entertained while the rest of us vegged on the couch.
Jenga to the rescue!
The goal of Jenga is to not knock over the tower. Players take turns removing a block and stacking them on top.
If the tower topples on your turn, you lose. Then you set it up and try again.
What I Like About this Game
It’s simple! And the pieces are versatile. My kids had so much fun building with them. They made shapes, letters, towers, roads, and so many things.
I really think they used the pieces for hours during this week, and have continued to play with them since then.
What I Don’t Like About This Game
It takes time to set up. Especially when you buy the game at a thrift store like we did and it’s missing the plastic stacker piece. When you don’t start with a square tower, the game doesn’t last nearly as long.
Thankfully we found a cardboard box we could use to shore it up once we built it, which helped.
Oh, and I can’t forget. When the tower falls, it’s loud. And when you’re sick and have a headache, that’s not a great combination.
Mille Bornes 
Jeffrey picked Mille Bornes as his second selection. I played this one with my family growing up.
Except, we didn’t play it the way the rules are written. So, I had to relearn it. Which can be harder than just learning it correctly the first time.
Your goal is to be the first person to complete a trip of 1000 miles. As you play, other players try to keep you from playing miles by giving you hazards. These include:
- Flat tires
- Stop lights
- Out of gas
- Accidents
- Speed limits
Each hazard has a corresponding remedy:
- Spare tires
- Green light
- Gasoline
- Repairs
- End of speed limit signs
There are also four safety cards that are purple. If you play one of these, other players can no longer give you the corresponding hazard.
On your turn, you draw a card and play a card.
At the end of the game, you add up points for miles completed, safeties played, and a couple of other things. The ultimate goal is to be the first to 5,000 points. But, so far we’ve just played one round and let the winner be whoever had the most points at the end of the round.
This is our current game of the week, and I think we’ll play a full game with multiple rounds on Saturday. That way the kids see that aspect of it.
What I Like About This Game
I like the strategy of this game. You have to balance playing hazards on other players with playing miles for yourself. And, there’s a safe trip bonus if you don’t use a 200 mile card. Which means you have to decide early on if you want that bonus or not.
What I Don’t Like About This Game
The scoring confuses me, and the included book isn’t much help. Thankfully there are some decent YouTube videos on how to play, which really helped us get it figured out!
Everyone’s Favorite Game from February
No one had to think very long when I asked them what their favorite games were this month. Here’s what the players said:
- Ellie: Mille Bornes
- Sydney: Doodle Dice
- Brynna: Jenga
- Jeffrey: Stratego
- Jayme: Stratego
- Me: Doodle Dice (even though I don’t usually win!)
- Bryan: Mille Bornes
But, none of these games have taken the number one spot for our family pick. Our all-time favorite game for 2017 so far is:
We play that one about once a week, and are planning to pick up another variation soon.
Looking Forward to March Games of the Week
Unplugged family time has been a great addition to our daily routines. It’s bringing us closer together, and making memories!
https://maggiesmilk.com/
I’m looking forward to seeing what games everyone picks in March.
