Casual Game Crowdfunding: Emus, French Fries, and Microgames Galore

Emu Ranchers (App Sauce Labs) – This casual card game is produced by an app design studio crossing over into tabletop games (a move we have seen before). This is to be applauded, since these studios bring with them a lot of game design and production talent, as well as existing fans who may be new to tabletop games. In this game, players try to collect sets of emus of the same color, while attempting to block their opponents from doing so. What makes the game unique is that each card has two different colors to choose from, allowing it to be used in different sets. This game has great artwork, an endearing theme, and a good presentation.

Seekers: Treasure Hunt (Jeffrey Hsu) – In Seekers: Treasure Hunt, players traverse the board trying to locate a hidden buried treasure. Each player controls 2 different archeologists, each with its own special ability. Players must reach each of 4 different "eye stones" on the board to gain information about where the treasure is hidden. The exact location of the buried treasure is known only after reaching all 4 eye stones. The first player to reach the buried treasure and dig it up wins. This is a solid casual game that we recently had the chance to review and it was very fun!

Hold Your Breath! (Mayday Games) – We have really enjoyed Walk the Plank!, which is a prequel to Get Bit! by MayDay Games. Hold Your Breath! is now the third and final installment in the Get Bit! trilogy. In this game, the stupid pirates who were pushed off of the ship (Walk the Plank!) and who escaped the man-eating shark (Get Bit!) have now challenged each other to see who can hold his or her breath the longest. Players play cards to dive as deep as they dare, then return back to the surface, all while trying to impede one another's progress. The player who dives the deepest and also makes it back to the surface wins.

Coin Age (Tasty Minstrel Games) – This microgame consists of 1 card and requires a handful of change. Players take turns slapping coins on the table, then placing them on the map to control spaces, outmaneuver their opponent, and score victory points. For such a small and inexpensive game, it has gotten an amazing amount of support. The presentation is also very impressive (and funny).

Where Art Thou, Romeo? (Crash Games) – Another microgame, this time consisting of 5 cards, Where Art Thou, Romeo? puts players in the roles of characters from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Juliet is trying to find her beloved Romeo from among the other players, each of whom can choose one of two roles on his or her card. Depending on the role, players will either want to try to convince Juliet that they are or aren't Romeo, or perhaps point out which of the other players they believe is Romeo.

Elevenses (Adventureland Games) – Elevenses, also a microgame, is about trying to serve the finest morning teas. Players play tea cards of different values that also have a special action that must be carried out when the card is played. Cards of a lower value have a stronger power than cards with a higher value. The cards are played to a specific position on the table, and for most cards, the player retrieves the card that was previously in its position (requiring careful planning).

These French Fries Are Terrible Hot Dogs (Shawn Pierre) – In this party game, one person acts as the judge, who draws a card and places it face up. This card is the target card (e.g., "Hot Dogs"). The other players then play a card face down and take turns trying to convince the judge that their card is the target card by sharing true information about the object on their card. For instance, if the player's card were "French Fries," he might say that his card is often found at fast food restaurants and it's great with ketchup or chili (which is also true of hot dogs). The judge chooses the best pitch and everyone but the judge and the winner of the round draws a new card.

Bigfootses (Wilbur Massie) – The name of this casual card game is inspired by a debate over what the plural of the word "bigfoot" is. Bigfoots? Bigfeet? No, bigfootses! In the game, players venture into the woods with plenty of equipment in search of Bigfoot, aliens, Yeti, the Loch Ness Monster, the chupacabra, and many other lengendary creatures. Events, actions, and modifier cards serve to spice up the game play along the way.