New Games (?) for History Buffs

     Well, Hello There! Yes, you're right it's been quite a while since the last Histocrats post about games and gaming. Almost four years, in fact. Why? Well, I was never the Histocrat with the gaming expertise. And there are a couple of reasons for that.

    1. I don't have any friends.

    2. Maybe partially or wholely due to #1, whenever I'm faced with games that have books of rules and dozens of pieces, my brain shuts down. I just can't. Even card and domino games lose me, too many numbers, too many rules, too many things to remember. I also don't like games that go on for hours or days. Unfortunately, it seems that many games that would seem, at first glance, enjoyable to history buffs like me usually have rule books and lots and lots of tokens and pieces.

    I actually used games in my classroom, like the Oregon Trail card game, but I basically let the students figure it out on their own. I do have a firm grasp on the Timeline card games, which I also used, but they're pretty simple, cut and dry chronology.

    I reached out to the creator of a game called Franklin's Fortune a few months ago to be the subject of one of our "7 Questions" blogs ( https://chattingwiththehistocrats.blogspot.com/2022/07/7-questions-with-shane-newell-historian.html ), and he graciously offered to send me a copy of the game. When I received it, it looked great, and the reviews online are awesome, but I was overwhelmed, and haven't played yet. But I'm sure it's awesome, and I highly recommend that you give it a try.

    While in a Barnes and Noble the other day, I found some other games based on history that looked interesting and might even be accessible to someone like me.

    

    

    I know the Donner Dinner Party has been out for a while, but it looks like fun. History and cannibalism: how can it miss?  

• Who will avoid becoming tonight’s dinner and make it off the mountain alive? And who are the suspicious scoundrels hungry for human flesh?
• A fast-paced game of social deduction in which cannibals and pioneers face off in a fight for survival
• A party game that's rowdy, outrageous, and full of playful deception
• Ages 12 and up, 4-10 players
• Includes game board and 62 identity (Pioneers, Cannibals, and more!) and playing cards

    Then I saw these historically based games, all created by Facade Games.

• THE WILD WEST: It’s 1876 in Deadwood, a town in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The gold rush is on in this lawless town, and only those with the sharpest wit and quickest gun will win the gold.
• LAST ONE STANDING: Team up at the Bella Union Saloon, Gem Theater, or Grand Central hotel. The team with the most gold-filled safes makes the final showdown, and the teammate who shoots best wins all.
• GREAT GAME: This high quality card & dice game is a unique strategic & social deduction game. This game is perfect for any party, family activity, or game night group. It’s fun for teens and adults.
• WESTERN BANDITS: This original 1800s game is for 2-9 players and lasts 20-40 minutes. For ages 14 years old and older. Teenagers and adults can gather around for fun betrayal, fights, and robbing.
• CONTENTS: faux book box (magnetic closure), 9 wood star pawns, 3 wood platforms, 10 engraved dice, 50 playing cards, 9 character cards, 25 safe cards (includes Mystery Safe expansion), linen bag

• SET YOUR SAILS: become a pirate and deceive your friends at game night with Tortuga 1667. This board game is a unique strategy and social deduction game.
• ALL HANDS ON DECK: plunder treasure using cards, strategy, deceit, and a bit of luck. Take this game to any party, family activity, or game night group and see what fun you have.
• PIRATES BEWARE: this original game is for 2-9 players and lasts 20-40 minutes. Players must be 14 years old or older, so tweens, teens, and adults can gather for interesting intrigue and façade.
• BEHOLD THE TREASURE: this high quality game comes in a magnetically-closing faux book box with a simple design. Everyone plays as one of 9 pirates with character illustrations and biographies.
• CONTENTS: includes 75 cards, 1 rubber playing mat (disguised as a treasure map), 9 wood pawns, 8 wood treasure tokens, 1 wood explosion token, 1 cloth bag, 1 rulebook (with character biographies)

• The Hunt Is On: In Salem 1692, the witch hunt is heating up. Who is friend and who is foe? Where are the witches hiding? This card game is a unique strategic and social deduction game.
• Flying Accusations: Accuse your friends of witchcraft using cards, strategy, deceit, and a bit of luck. Take this game to any party, family activity, or game night group and see what fun you have.
• Dark Magic: This original game is for 4-12 players and lasts 20-40 minutes. Players must be 14 years old or older, so tweens, teens, and adults can gather around for interesting intrigue and façade.
• She’s A Witch: This high quality game comes in a magnetically-closing faux book box with a simple design. Play as one of 15 villagers from the old Salem town with character illustrations and bios.
• Contnents: 1 magnetic faux book box, 128 cards, 1 wooden gavel token, 1 thirty-second black sand hourglass, 1 rulebook (includes biographies). For ages 14 and up.

BRISTOL 1350: The dreaded Black Death has descended upon Bristol and you need to escape! To win, be on the first cart out of town while avoiding players who are secretly infected with the plague.

SOLO & PARTY GAME MODES: Bristol 1350 is a light strategy and social deduction game for 1-9 players ages 13 years and older. Learn in 10 minutes and play in 20-40 minutes. Includes solo play mode.

CONTENTS: 1 magnetic book box, 9 character cards, 27 remedy cards, 28 symptom cards, 3 miniature carts, 1 linen pouch, 1 rulebook, 9 wood pawns, 1 rubber playing map, 6 custom apple/rat dice.

FAST PACED GAME: Avoid those with the Black Plague (or try to infect others if you already have it!) in this medieval themed game of racing and deceit. Game includes quick turns with full-group interaction.

GAMEPLAY: Begin in 1 of 3 carts & try to be the first out of town. If anyone on your cart has the plague when you finish, you die! Play until an all-healthy cart crosses or everyone has the plague.