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00:00:00 – 00:25:46
The YouTube video delves into the discussion of various small box games recommended by Alex Radcliffe. The video covers a range of games such as Love Letter, Ghost of Christmas, Radlands, Friday, Herbaceous, No Thanks, Colorado, Cockroach Poker Royal, Werewolf, That's Pretty Clever, The Crew: Mission Deep Sea, Tranquility, Hanamikoji, and Airliner C. Each game offers unique gameplay mechanics, strategic depth, and engaging experiences for players. The focus is on tactical decision-making, strategic play, and understanding opponents' moves to succeed in these diverse board games. Overall, the video emphasizes the diversity and quality of small box games suitable for different player preferences and occasions.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, Alex Radcliffe introduces the concept of discussing the best small games he owns, originally intending to narrow it down to 10 but now includes more than that. He mentions that Zombicide is only present on the table due to storage convenience. The focus shifts to exploring a collection of small games that fit into a Zombicide box, emphasizing the quality and affordability of these games. He briefly mentions Button Shy games but indicates they will be discussed in detail separately. Alex lists some Button Shy games he owns, favoring Skulls of Sedbimy as his top choice and briefly mentions other games like Circle the Wagons, Sprawlopolis, Rove, and Food Chain Island, noting they will be explored further in a separate video.
00:03:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses a print and play version of Love Letter, mentioning it’s a concise game with various versions available. The speaker explains the basic idea of Love Letter and its gameplay. They then transition to reviewing “Ghost of Christmas,” a recent addition to their small box collection of games. The speaker praises Ghost of Christmas as a fantastic trick-taking game that plays well with three and four players, offering a unique twist on the genre. They highlight the game’s accessibility, strategic elements, and overall enjoyment, making it one of their new favorite small box games. The speaker also mentions their criteria for selecting games for their small box collection, excluding larger games like Seven Wonders Duel.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses two board games: “Radlands” and “Friday.” “Radlands” is a two-player game that involves tactical planning and card-playing to take down opponents’ bases. It offers variety, strategic decisions, and unique abilities for starter bases. The speaker finds it a new favorite in their collection. Moving on to “Friday,” it is a solo deck-building game where players aim to survive escalating threats and defeat pirates for points. The speaker praises “Friday” for its enduring appeal and engaging gameplay.
00:09:00
In this segment of the video, the content creator talks about two games: Herbaceous and No Thanks. Herbaceous Pocket Edition by Pencil First Games is a game where players try to pot herbs and strategize to gather herbs efficiently before opponents do. The game offers the most control and tension at two or three players. No Thanks is a game of push-your-luck mechanics where players aim to collect cards with the lowest possible score, trying to avoid accumulating points. Players have to decide whether to take the card or pass, with chips representing negative points. The fun comes from strategically avoiding high-value cards and manipulating other players to accumulate negative points. Additionally, the video introduces Colorado by Rio Grande Games, another push-your-luck game where players compete to gather cards of the right colors.
00:12:00
In this segment of the video, the focus is on two board games: Colorado and Cockroach Poker Royal. Colorado involves strategic card play where players must balance setting up rows beneficial to them while deterring opponents. Cockroach Poker Royal is a bluffing game where players try to deceive others about the cards they hold, aiming not to be the one with four identical cards in front of them. The game escalates as players build their hands, creating a fun atmosphere of deception and laughter. Additionally, the video briefly mentions One Night Ultimate Werewolf Daybreak as a party game best enjoyed with five to six players but accommodating up to seven.
00:15:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses a game called Werewolf, which involves players having hidden roles and engaging in deception. The werewolves in the game are the antagonists trying to avoid being executed by villagers. The objective for players is to figure out their role and team while navigating the lies and truths revealed during the gameplay. The speaker also briefly mentions a game called That’s Pretty Clever, which involves rolling dice and strategically assigning them to different tracks to score points efficiently. This game offers different experiences based on the player’s decisions and strategies.
00:18:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses two board games – “The Crew: Mission Deep Sea” and “Tranquility.”
“The Crew: Mission Deep Sea” is a trick-taking cooperative card game that offers more nuanced missions and interesting choices compared to the base version of The Crew. Players must work together with limited communication and challenging objectives to win the game.
“Tranquility” is a cooperative card-laying game where players need to place cards in ascending order while being mindful of discarding cards as they play. The game’s difficulty increases with expansion modules, requiring players to be precise in their card placements and mindful of each other’s moves without direct communication.
00:21:00
In this segment of the video, the narrator discusses two featured games: Hanamikoji and Airliner C.
Hanamikoji is described as a favorite two-player head-to-head game involving a strategic tug-of-war over geishas. Players aim to score four geishas or a certain point threshold before their opponent. The game employs an “I cut, you choose” mechanic through four action tiles, where players manipulate cards to outwit their opponent by making decisions based on incomplete information.
Airliner C, specifically the Critters at War version, is highlighted as a cute two-player game where each player manages six out of the total 18 cards in play. The game involves strategic decision-making in three theaters of war (air, land, and sea) to win rounds by securing two out of three lanes. The narrator emphasizes the importance of understanding all 18 cards and anticipating opponents’ moves in this engaging and tactical game.
00:24:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the strategy in a game where losing fewer points or withdrawing strategically is crucial. By withdrawing earlier in the game, you can prevent your opponent from gaining more points. The key to success lies in making tactical decisions, predicting your opponent’s moves, and knowing when to withdraw or devote resources effectively. Players who constantly devote all their resources may end up losing. The speaker also mentions narrowing down the best games that fit in a Zombicide box, emphasizing the importance of tactical gameplay and decision-making in such games.