Abstract Strategy

Doom and Bloom SURVIVAL!

Doom and Bloom SURVIVAL! is a board game for 2-4 players. It takes place in a post-pandemic world where there are few survivors. Your mission is to have your character accumulate supplies like food, fuel, weapons, and medical kits, as well as scout locations that may serve as a haven in which to start over.

You start off in once-peaceful center city, now controlled by raiders out to get what you have. There are plenty of resources out there, but you have to get to them and survive various encounters and attacks to reach towns that have potential as safe havens. You’ll have to plan your route to include spots that have the assets you’ll need to stockpile. Some of these spots are controlled by raiders, and you’ll have to survive attacks to gain the items you need.

Once you’ve scouted locations, you’ll have to return to center city for your family and more supplies. You then pick a location as your final destination. If you can get there with the required supplies and survivors before anyone else, you win the game.

The game dynamic revolves around the management of assets while you are traveling to your destinations. You'll be tempted to use them to gain an edge in an encounter, but you have to stockpile them to be able to win the game. Different gameplay styles and a unique route traveled in each game, coupled with game-changing Bonus cards, make Doom and Bloom SURVIVAL! a fun and challenging game. It is easy to learn but has multiple levels of complexity. Originally tailored to survival enthusiasts that wanted a real survival scenario (no zombies), gametesting has shown us that the game has appeal to all gamers.

Website: http://survivalboardgame.com/

Space Checkers

Space Checkers adapts traditional checkers to the 3rd dimension. Instead of 12 men on an 8x8 square, each side has 8 men on a 4x4x4 cube. The adaptation is straight-forward: Black sets up near the south lower edge and can only move north and up; Red sets up near the north upper edge and can only move south and down. Captures and crowning are 3D analogs to the 2D case.

Rather than having 4 large levels, the board is split into 4 towers of 2x2 portions. This allows one to more easily reach the pieces at the interiors of each level, without interfering with the visualization of the complete cube.

Coin Age

Coin Age is a microgame for two players that's played with a single card and pocket change. Players take turns placing coins on a map to control spaces, outmaneuver their opponent, and score victory points.

Coin Age uses an innovative "coin slap" mechanism to determine available actions. On a player's turn, he takes one of each of his remaining types of coins in hand (one quarter, one nickel, one penny, and one dime), shakes them up, then slaps them on the table. Based on the number of coins that match his "side", he can then either place coins on the map, move previously placed coins to an adjacent space, or remove them altogether. When placing coins, players may also place their coins on top of the opponent's coins if their size/rank is smaller, so while a quarter will give you the most victory points at the end of the game, it has the highest probability of being covered by your opponent.

Coin Age is a quick-playing area control game with lots of player interaction and a bit of push-your-luck gameplay.

Burgoo

It's autumn again and time to make the burgoo! Burgoo is a community-made stew made from savory meats and vegetables. In the game, your goal is to add all of your ingredients to the stew and be the one who sampled it the most!

Each player in Burgoo starts the game with a line of twelve ingredients (two of each of the six types) and one ingredient of each type in his hand. The object of the game is get rid of your ingredients on the table and have the most ingredients in your hand at the end. On a players turn he can "sample the stew" by taking an ingredient, split one of his ingredient lines, or cause ingredients to be added to the stew.

Crocodile Pool Party

The crocodiles are loose in the luxurious hotel swimming pool! Just seconds ago, the vacationers were enjoying the cool water of the pool, but what is that? A crocodile has just entered the pool - and now there is one less swimmer! Wow! Theres another croc - and another - and another. As the number of crocs in the water increases, the number of swimmers drops! But, the crocs hunt not only the hapless swimmers, but also other crocodiles. Thus, all in the pool strive to save themselves! The player who brings the most swimmers and crocs to the safety of the end of the pool, will win the game!

For ages 8+.

Crocodile Pool Party is part of the Kosmos two-player series.