Hey PI – Fans,
Last month, The Guardian published an interview with Tim Clare, award winning author, upon the release of his newest book, “The Game Changers: How Playing Games Changed the World and Can Change You Too”.
In his interview, Tim talks about being diagnosed with autism as an adult, how he felt board games have helped him connect with people throughout is childhood and early adulthood, leaving boardgames behind to try and be more ‘normal’, before finally rediscovering his love of board games again as an adult. You can read his full interview here.
Tim has also revealed his top five games, and in a similar vein, we would like to reveal our top five picks of games over here at PI, as well as our pick for best new local game!
Best quiz game: Really Loud Librarians
Have you ever felt that you’ve collected lots of useless knowledge over the years? Then Really Loud Librarians is the game for you! Think fast, not hard, in this merciless word-shouting board game. Start by drawing a category card. Your team will then shout words from that category that begins with the letter on the race track. Move along the track every time you get a word right, and race against your opponents to win.
Best Monopoly alternative: Machi Koro
You’ve just been elected the Mayor of Machi Koro! Unfortunately, the citizens have some pretty big demands: jobs, a theme park, a couple of cheese factories, and maybe even a radio tower. A though proposition since the city currently consists of a wheat field, a bakery, and a single die. Armed only with your trusty die and a dream, you must grow Machi Koro into the largest city in the region. Start by collecting income from developments, build public works, and steal from your neighbour’s coffers. Just make sure they aren’t doing the same to you!
Best card game: Here to Slay
When you think of card games, the first games that come to mind are probably games like Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, or even Magic: The Gathering. Here To Slay offers a lightweight version of the TCG experience. In this game, you’ll assemble a full party of heroes to slay dangerous monsters while working to avoid the sabotage of your foes. The game also includes items you can equip to your heroes, 1V1 challenge cards, and roll modifiers to tip the odds in your favor. The first player to slay three monsters or assemble a full party wins the game!
Best cosy game: Wingspan
You are bird enthusiasts—researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, and collectors—seeking to discover and attract the best birds to your network of wildlife preserves. Each bird extends a chain of powerful combinations in one of your habitats. Gain food tokens, lay eggs, and draw from hundreds of unique bird cards and play them to earn points! The winner is the player with the most points after 4 rounds.
Best couples game: Codenames Duet
A cooperative game of clue giving, word association, and deduction, where both players work together to identify your agents among those on the table. Collectively, you need to reveal all fifteen agents, without revealing an assassin, before the time runes out to win the game. Codenames Duet is also fully expandable and compatible with any other set of Codenames!
Best new local game: Next Station
Taking heavy inspiration from the game of Uno, Next Station is also a game where you win by playing all the cards in your hand. However, instead of numbers and colours, your cards consists of MRT Stations and Lines. Play station cards that are on the same line, and hop over to another line using interchange stations. Be wary, for there are also cards with effects, almost as bad as bringing a durian onto the MRT during peak hour.
