February 2024

Welcome board game fans!  This month we muse on the unifying power of board games and how gateway games like Ticket to Ride: Europe can help nurture shared experiences.  We also bring you a report back on our trip to The Ludoquist in Croydon and a review of the game we finally had a chance to play for the first time: A feast for Odin as well as a review a review of a recent family  game added to our rental library Camel Up: Off Season, the second installment in the popular Camel Up series.

Board games are just the Ticket (to Ride)

One of the fascinating aspects of board games is their ability to serve as an escape from the complexities of daily life. When a group gathers around the right board game, the focus shifts from individual differences to the shared enjoyment of the game. Few activities allow people from all walks of life to set aside potential social awkwardness and personal differences in the name of a shared experience of fun.  

Gateway games, such as "Ticket to Ride: Europe" are great at this because they’re easy to pick up and can be enjoyed by novices and seasoned players alike.   As players get to embark on a railway adventure, aiming to connect cities across various regions of Europe they can’t help by leaving their troubles and differences behind for a short while.

In a world often marked by difficulties and where differences often seem to divide us, it’s good to know that when we gather around the game table, barriers that often divide us dissolve, paving the way for shared experiences, laughter, and the forging of connections that extend beyond the game itself.  

So, next time you find yourself in an awkward social setting, consider breaking the ice with a good board game.  You might be surprised by the transformative power it holds.

Review:

A FEAST FOR ODIN

Uwe Rosenberg

1-4 Players

120 minutes

Played @ The Ludoquist,  Croydon

My Board Game Library set its resolutions for a year of exploring more board game titles and bringing our customers news of the most interesting, enjoyable and original plays.   This year, in addition to playing games “back at base” our plan is to go on the road and discover board game cafes and other venues where you can play old favourites and uncover new gems that may lie hidden on the shelves.

This month we visited one of our favourite Friday evening places to play,  The Ludoquist in Croydon.   Our evening was set to be enjoyable with their impressive selection of games from the old classics to some new releases. The atmosphere is always  one of fun and the friendly staff, good food and drinks make for a excellent afternoon or evening out for groups of all ages.  

A quick browse of the shelves led us to Feast for Odin, a game that had peaked our interest some months back but which we’d not yet been able to play.

A Feast for Odin is worker placement / tile placement game which has you in charge of a Viking village.  You’ll be gathering food, exploring islands, constructing buildings, raising livestock, building ships and more in your quest to grow your income, score the most points and cover up nasty negative-scoring spaces on your player mat.  

… and that’s for starters.  

The game has perhaps the biggest choice of actions we’ve ever encountered on a board game, but don’t let this intimidate you - at any point the actions available are constrained by the resoruces, viking workers and cards you have so the decision space is manageable, while having all the possible options displayed on the board allows you to plan a path to victory based on strategies other players are taking.    This multi-strategy approach keeps the game interesting and makes the winner less easy to predict.

The rule book is easy to follow and the colour contrast on the board makes it easy to see the different elements. The game comes with good quality components but there are many, many little pieces which may make it unsuitable for younger players.

My Boardgame Library Scores our night at the Ludoquist playing A Feast For Odin an 8 out of 10 stars -  both venue and game are highly recommended!

(A Feast For Odin is available to buy from our online shop.)

Last month we advised on unavoidable changes to postage fees following the 2023 increase in Royal Mail’s parcel shipping fees.  

We were able to hold our postage fees fixed throughout 2023 but have had to implement new pricing for this year.  

The small games shipping is now £3.45 and for larger parcels this is £6.50 which will be reflected on our web site check out screen.   As a result of the postage increase the cost of our subscription packages has also been adjusted.

Please see our web site for updated terms of service.  

Thanks a million for your understanding and ongoing support!