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Some card games feel made for a lazy Saturday afternoon of casual games and low-key fun. Nuts about Mutts is one such game, calling to mind the nostalgia of several classic card games while still managing to stand on its own two feet (or rather its own four paws) as a fun, light, family-friendly game.

After forty-two hours of gaming, five games were selected from sixty-three competing games to win this year’s Mensa Select award.

I hate paper money.  Not American greenbacks, but rather the pink-backs, white-backs, blue-backs or whatever color money it is that comes with a particular game.  Inevitably, it gets bent, torn or mutilated.  Maybe all of the above.  Then, you are playing a great game with one of the major components in nasty shape.  I am talking about the aesthetics of playing a game.  Casual gaming with friends and family ought to be a great experience, not just competition.  Having nice components is like having great glassware — always using the same paper money for a great game is like always drinking wine from the red Solo cup.

Doctor Panic has been released, the Mensa Select winners have been announced, and Fireside Games is hosting a Munchkin Panic giveaway.

There’s a little bit of everything this month, from pure strategy set around Greek gods, to press-your-luck dice games about racing to the Antarctic.

Pretzel Games has announced Junk Art, three new games are available for pre-order from IELLO, and Fireside Games has released Here, Kitty, Kitty!

The orchestra has a troublesome artiste in its midst and the manager wants him out! But this isn’t easy when everyone’s roles keep being switched and everything is muddled.

This 4 to 8 player game of bluffing and social deduction is seeking your support on Kickstarter and is connected with The People's Orchestra, a charity that works to help children into orchestras who otherwise could not afford to take part. It’s for a good cause, but is the game fun too?

The Spring 2016 issue of Casual Game Insider is now in stock and available for sale! Choose between our print and digital editions.