Bears vs Babies
Overall Rating: 7/10
Age: 10+
GLAM Age Range: 8-Adult
Number of Players: 2-5
Playing Time: 20 min
Publisher: Exploding Kittens LLC
Complexity: Medium
Available At: Amazon.com
Quick Take: The concept is fun, and it's not as gross as you would think for something that comes in a furry box and has this title. I don't have to hide this game from my kids. Nothing pictured here is worse than Captain Underpants so let that be your guide. Given the choice, I think I prefer Exploding Kittens, but my 6 year old son has been obsessed with this game for the past couple months because building monsters is fun. Although it's embarrassing when your child enthusiastically tells his 1st grade class the name of his new favorite game. If you love Exploding Kittens and want something on the next stage, this is a good choice. Also, note it may take a bit longer than 20 minutes to play your first time around.
How to Play: Bless the makers of this game, they have a video link so you can watch the rules. If you get the game, watch the video and it makes things much easier (it's seven minutes long, but it's worth it). The basic gist is that the babies are the bad guys and you're supposed to build the best monsters possible in order to "attack" baby armies. As you play the game, a pile of baby cards forms on different colors in the center of the board/playmat. You draw cards to build ridiculous looking monsters with different powers and point values. You are trying to have higher point values than your opponents and you score points by choosing to attack (and defeat) the baby cards in the middle if you have the highest monster point value going up against the baby cards. The numbers on the baby cards go towards your final score, and whoever has the highest number of points from defeated babies after all of the cards have been drawn is the winner.
Variations: They have a bonus rule in the back of the rule booklet with a special Armageddon attack for the end of the game, which is an opportunity to gather a few more points. Expansion packs are available as well if you deeply and truly love this game and can't get enough.
Similar Games To Check Out: Exploding Kittens, Codenames, Unstable Unicorns