The combination of designer Stephen Sauer and publisher Deck Hand Games is really impressing this writer.
It’s not that this week’s review game, Boil & Bubble, or the previously covered The Dig are going to make anyone’s list of all-time great games, but they both do something neat within the small arena of 18-card games.
In both cases, Sauer does something that several designers working within the confines of 18 cards do, and that is to make each card double-sided, effectively expanding what he can achieve by doubling the card count to 36.
Sauer then expands his game design space further by adding a standard 52-card deck into the mix. This really increases the footprint of each game.
As for Boil & Bubble specifically, it is a better overall game experience than The Dig. That is perhaps in part, at least for The Meeple Guild, because it has a significant trick-taking flavour, and we tend to enjoy such games.
In Boil & Bubble, players are witches placing ingredient cards into their personal scoring cauldron throughout the game.
Every round, players bid on and win spell cards that are used to score their stored ingredients. This is where the trick-taking flavour really comes through.
It’s a pretty straightforward set of rules, but there are decisions to be made, as the highest card is not always the best card, and some cards are ones you really do not want. Choices, in this case, are a good thing.
If you want a light filler that is somewhat “thinky” yet still fun, Boil & Bubble is a fine choice, and it’s a near must to pull out each October if it’s in your collection.
You can find Deck Hand Games on Facebook.
About Author
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
FOR 18 CARDS, THIS ONE SURPRISES IN A POSITIVE WAY
The combination of designer Stephen Sauer and publisher Deck Hand Games is really impressing this writer.
It’s not that this week’s review game, Boil & Bubble, or the previously covered The Dig are going to make anyone’s list of all-time great games, but they both do something neat within the small arena of 18-card games.
In both cases, Sauer does something that several designers working within the confines of 18 cards do, and that is to make each card double-sided, effectively expanding what he can achieve by doubling the card count to 36.
Sauer then expands his game design space further by adding a standard 52-card deck into the mix. This really increases the footprint of each game.
As for Boil & Bubble specifically, it is a better overall game experience than The Dig. That is perhaps in part, at least for The Meeple Guild, because it has a significant trick-taking flavour, and we tend to enjoy such games.
In Boil & Bubble, players are witches placing ingredient cards into their personal scoring cauldron throughout the game.
Every round, players bid on and win spell cards that are used to score their stored ingredients. This is where the trick-taking flavour really comes through.
It’s a pretty straightforward set of rules, but there are decisions to be made, as the highest card is not always the best card, and some cards are ones you really do not want. Choices, in this case, are a good thing.
If you want a light filler that is somewhat “thinky” yet still fun, Boil & Bubble is a fine choice, and it’s a near must to pull out each October if it’s in your collection.
You can find Deck Hand Games on Facebook.
About Author
Calvin Daniels
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
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