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Did we unearth any hidden treasures you’ve been missing out on? Let’s find out!
First, we investigate an escape room from the comfort of our own couch in UNLOCK!
Next, we are furious furry and feathered foes fighting for the fate of the forest in Root!
And lastly, we try to skim the cream of the crop from the bottom of the barrel to get the crowd stomping in Ogre Cheerleaders!
Unlock!: The House on the Hill
Designed by: Fabrice Mazza
Published by: Space Cowboys (2017)
Players: 1 – 6
Ages: 10 & up
Run time: 60 min
Unlock! is a cooperative card game inspired by escape rooms that uses a simple system which allows you to search scenes, combine objects, and solve riddles. The Box consists of cards with unique numbers on their backs, and puzzles, locks, keys, new rooms and hidden clues on their fronts. Solving the puzzle on a card or group of related cards will lead you draw new numbered cards and draw you deeper in to the adventure. throughout the game you will access a companion app that can provide clues, check codes, monitor time remaining, etc. If you get to the final objective before running out of time, the team wins. If not…..DOOM!
Root
Designed by: Cole Wehrle
Published by: Leder Games (2018)
Players: 2 – 4 (1 – 6 with Expansion)
Ages: 10 & up
Run time: 60 – 90 min
Root is a fast paced game of adventure and war. You will play as one of four factions vying to show that you are the most legitimate ruler of the vast Woodland.
Marquise de Cat wishes to exploit the vast wilderness to fuel her economic and military machine. By collecting Wood they are able to produce workshops, lumber mills, and barracks. They win by building new buildings and crafts.
The Eyrie Dynasties wish to reclaim the glory of their once-great aristocracy and take back the Woods. They must capture as much territory as possible and build roosts before they collapse back into squabbling.
The Woodland Alliance hides in the shadows, recruiting forces and hatching conspiracies. They begin slowly and spread sympathy for their cause across the woodland.
Meanwhile, the wily Vagabond plays all sides of the conflict for their own gain, while hiding a mysterious quest. Explore the board, fight other factions, and work towards achieving your hidden goal.
The stage is set for a contest of Woodland Might and Right, which faction will ultimately take root.
Ogre Cheerleaders
Published by: Paw Warrior Games (2018)
Players: 2 ish
Ages: 8 & up
Run time: 5 – 10 min
The game has one “field” — a horizontal row of cards that may be extended left or right as new cards are added. New cards are played from the player’s hands,to the field. Each card is a cheerleader with a number a suit and a special ability. There’s also a “bench”, where some cards that are removed from play will sit face-up with only the top card showing. The goal is to make matches or runs with suits or numbers. For each match or run you make during your turn you remove those cheerleader cards from the field and add them to your scoring pile. You use the special abilities of the cards to help you with that. The field grows and shrinks as cards get added and taken away during play. At the end of the game The player with the most value in their scoring pile wins.