Our journalist from the “Ludothèque” of “L’Hebdo” has scoured the stands of the Cannes International Games Festival to find some playful gems to discover with friends or family. It’s your turn to play!
Les Secrets de Warden Keene
Fresh off an As d’Or award for Toy Battle, Paolo Mori also made waves on the Croisette with another game created with Silvano Sorrentino (Now!). The endless queues of festival-goers hoping to try it out were a sight to see. This new game, which has little in common with the friendly toy battles of Toy Battle, unfolds entirely in a cemetery.
With the help of the former groundskeeper’s notebook, freshly discovered, you will wander the aisles and solve a series of puzzles to uncover all the secrets of the small community of Spoon River (a tribute to the collection of the same name by American poet Edgar Lee Masters). Without explicit rules, you can only rely on your powers of observation and deduction to progress. An unclassifiable and fascinating gaming experience, a must-try!
By Paolo Mori and Silvano Sorrentino, Bombyx, €22.50. Ages 10 and up, 1-4 players
Trucs en Stock
Do you know Venn diagrams, those mathematical graphs made up of interlocking circles? In Trucs en Stock, you will build a diagram on the table and then try to correctly place the “tricks” represented on your cards (objects, animals, buildings). Only one player knows the precise rules governing the placement of object cards on each circle (“Heavier than a chair”, “Ends with a silent consonant”, “Usually found at work”), and they attempt to guide the others with clues. Not so easy! With its refreshing originality and the absurd situations it creates, Trucs en Stock could become the new standard for party games based on idea associations.
By Peter C. Hayward, Allplay/Matagot, €14.50. Available for pre-order, early April release. Ages 8 and up, 2-10 players
Restart
“In the middle of the table, the blue line catches my eye. It ends with a 4, and I have the 6, 7, and 8, which I can place in one go. But what if I placed the 16 instead, which would close the line forcing other players to get rid of their blue tiles, even if it means sacrificing my weaker tiles? Unless my neighbor has a scissors tile, allowing them to remove the last placed tile” Restart relies on a rapid sequence of decisions where you play for yourself and try to corner your opponents. It’s simple, it’s wicked, it reveals and it invites insults around the table. Nothing revolutionary, but a lot of fun. Shall we start again?
By Younsu Hwang, Lautapelit.fi/Iello, €26.90. Ages 7 and up, 2-4 players
Trait Cool
Being among the three finalists for the prestigious Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) award, handed out in Essen, Germany last October, came as a surprise to many observers. Trait Cool, formerly known as Krakel Orakel, is finally available in France, and it can now be said: it rightfully earned its spot. Based on a familiar concept (guessing a word by drawing it), it adds a twist that changes everything: you can only draw following randomly dotted lines on your personal board. This means that your creations will look nothing like what they’re supposed to, whether you’re a virtuoso artist or perfectly clumsy. You’ll need a lot of imagination to decode others’ works. It’s hilarious, and we want more!
By 7 Bazis, Bankiiiz Éditions, €22.50. Ages 10 and up, 2-8 players
Soupçons
In Soupçons, players must work together to transform “Night” cards in the middle of the table into “Day” cards. But among them, some have another mission: to get rid of all these cards except one “Night” card. Each turn, a player offers a face-down card to another player, announcing its value (lying is not only allowed but encouraged!). It is up to the player to accept (or not) and apply its effect. The subtlety lies in the “Serpent” cards, which determine who the traitors are and can also be exchanged in the same way. Players cannot rely on anyone’s loyalty. Expect alliances and betrayals, lies and bluffs, negotiations and manipulation. Your loved ones will love hating you.
By Emely, Inka, Lukas, and Markus Brand, Edition Spielweise, €10.90. Available for pre-order, early April release. Ages 8 and up, 3-6 players
