Game Daze Tucson Mall Employee Recommendation, September 2011

Scott -

Small World is a terrific war and strategy game, similar to Risk, that is set in a fantasy world. The goal of the game is to expand the territory your “tribe” lives on, and gather victory coins. However, the world is too small to allow all people to live on it, so you have to conquer others’ nations.

The first thing I loved about Small World was how the tribes/armies are customizable. In other words, there are interlocking character cards that can be put together in different combinations. One character card might say “Seafaring” and another “Skeletons.” Put them together and you get the combined abilities of Seafaring Skeletons.

The rules initially appear complex, but once learned the gameplay is intense, fast and simple. After all players are familiar with the rules, a typical game lasts about an hour. However, despite the fast pace of the game, nearly everything relies on strategic planning. I appreciate strategy more than luck, so this aspect impressed me.

Overall, Small World is one of those deep, yet purely fun games that you will want to play again and again. I would not recommend the game for younger children, due to its initial complexity, but I think many different types of people would find it enjoyable.

Game Daze Tucson Mall Employee Recommendation, September 2011

Nathaniel -

This is a unique territory strategy game in which you are racing against your opponent to get the most victory points. You both start off by choosing a fantastical race that will have a random power attached at the beginning of the game to boost the randomness and re-playability. It has a Risk like feel in that you have to have enough of your race to take over a territory but, you don’t win by controlling the entire board nor are you subject to the fate of lucky dice rolls. All that matters is having the most victory points at the end of the game.

Depending on the number of players (2-5) you might use any one of the four game boards (2 double sided) included in the box. I like how easy this game is to pick up and get addicted to and would recommend this to anyone who likes or doesn’t like Risk, Axis and Allies, or any other game that involves quick thinking, adaptability and an ever changing territorial strategy. Average game play is around 45 min. to an hour for a two-player game. With everything you get in the box and the possibilities with the 4 expansions available, this is definitely worth the money you put down on it.