GEM (Preview)

(7/10 Stars)

GEM

Designed by Chris Handy

Published by Perplext

2 to 4 Players

15 Minutes

Bidding, Card/Resource Management

Featured Kickstarter

GEM is just one of the microgames in the Game O Pack series published by Perplext and designed by Chris Handy. All the games in the series are amazingly created to be the size of a pack of gum and this "gem" really packs a strategic punch! I am really impressed with the small size and yet the utility of the cards. The artwork is simple and works well with the simple game play. The game is a bidding game where players bid for gems. Players then reinvest in their own gems to gain more bidding power, but the game is all about balance. Only gems that have been invested in will score you points at the end of the game. You can find a great instructional video produced by Perplext teaching the rules underneath my review video. You can check out the Kickstarter page for more information on GEM and the other games in the series. Such a great little strategic game and that is How Lou Sees It.

How Lou Sees It: GEM Preview


Instructional Video

Bite Sized Sushi

Sushi Go!

Designed by Phil Walker-Harding

Published by Gamewright

2 to 5 Players

15 Minutes

A Card Drafting Game with Set Collecting

Great Artwork, Simple, Quick, and Fun

Card drafting set collecting card game that is fun for both young and old. The mechanics and rules of the game are really simple allowing kids to completely understand and enjoy the game quickly while the game provides enough enjoyment that adults will be asking for seconds too! The game is as simple as choose a card from your hand and reveal that card at the same time as the other players reveal their card. You add that card to your play area and pass the remaining cards to the player to your left and play all over again. You continue until all the cards have been played - score that round and play another. Save room for pudding as that is the only card that stays from round to round and isn't scored until after the third and final round.

Easy to teach and play this is a great family or light card game for all ages. I like the playful artwork and the utility of the cards. 7 Wonders may be another game you have heard about - it uses the same card drafting mechanic of choosing a card and then passing the remaining cards to another player. This game mechanic provides a lot of strategy in such a simple idea. Do you take what you need now? Is there another Sashimi card out there and I should take one in hopes of getting 2 more? Wait...if I don't take the pudding card the next player will and they will make me have the least. The game is like its artwork - simple, clean, and fun. I highly recommend it with 7/10 Stars and that is How Lou Sees It!

I was provided a review copy of Sushi Go! by Gamewright free of charge. This has no impact on my review of the game. Please check out my other reviews and follow me on Twitter (@landonsquire)!

Love Letter: Legend of the Five Rings

Love Letter

Designed by Seiji Kanai

Published by AEG

2 to 4 Players

20 Minute Play Time

I recently received the Legend of the Five Rings version of Love Letter. You can see my review of the game Love Letter here. I am unfamiliar really with AEG's Legend of the Five Rings, but I will say that I enjoy this version. It really isn't too different from other versions - it really just comes down to the artwork on the cards and this version provides some really great artwork and good utility and that is How Lou Sees It.