Category Review: The category is board games. These are fun and engaging activities that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They require strategy, critical thinking, and social skills to play effectively. In this review, we will discuss the different aspects of each game in the list and provide our thoughts on them. CATAN Histories: Merchants of Europe - This is a classic board game that has been around for decades. It's easy to learn but difficult to master. The goal of the game is to build settlements, roads, and cities using resources like grain, wool, ore, brick, and lumber. Players must also trade with other players to acquire these resources. This game requires strategy and critical thinking as players must balance their resource production and consumption while also trying to outbuild their opponents. Overall, this is a great game for people who enjoy strategy games or want to introduce someone to the world of board games. Czech Games Codenames - This is a word association game where one player gives clues to their teammates about words on cards without saying the actual words themselves. The other players must then guess which card corresponds to the clue given by their teammate. This game requires critical thinking and communication skills as players must be able to think creatively and clearly communicate their ideas to their teammates. It's a fun game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, but it may take some time for younger players to understand the concept. Exploding Kittens Card Game - This is a card game where players draw cards from a deck until someone draws an exploding kitten and loses the game. The goal of the game is to avoid drawing the exploding kitten while also trying to eliminate other players' cards. This game requires strategy as players must balance their risk-taking with their desire to eliminate their opponents. It's a fun game that can be enjoyed by people who enjoy card games or want to introduce someone to the world of board games. Carcassonne Board Game Standard - This is another classic board game that has been around for decades. The goal of the game is to build settlements, roads, and cities using tiles with different shapes and colors. Players must also collect resources like grain, wool, ore, brick, and lumber to build their structures. This game requires strategy as players must balance their resource production and consumption while also trying to outbuild their opponents. Overall, this is a great game for people who enjoy strategy games or want to introduce someone to the world of board games. Blue Orange Games Photosynthesis Strategy Board Game - This is a new game that has been gaining popularity in recent years. The goal of the game is to grow plants using sunlight, water, and nutrients while also trying to outcompete other players for resources. Players must balance their resource production and consumption while also trying to optimize their plant growth. This game requires strategy as well as knowledge of botany and ecology. It's a fun game that can be enjoyed by people who enjoy strategy games or want to learn more about the natural world. Secret Hitler - This is a political strategy game where players take on the roles of politicians in Nazi Germany during the 1930s. The goal of the game is to pass policies and gain support from other players while also trying to avoid being labeled as a traitor or being overthrown by other players. This game requires critical thinking and communication skills as players must be able to think creatively and clearly communicate their ideas to their opponents. It's a controversial game that may not be suitable for all audiences, but it can be an interesting way to learn about history and politics. 7 Wonders: Duel - This is another classic board game that has been around for decades. The goal of the game is to build seven wonders using resources like grain, wool, ore, brick, and lumber while also trying to outbuild your opponents. Players must balance their resource production and consumption while also trying to optimize their wonder building. This game requires strategy as well as knowledge of history and architecture. It's a fun game that can be enjoyed by people who enjoy strategy games or want to learn more about the ancient world. Dead of Winter - This is a cooperative survival game where players take on the roles of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world trying to survive the winter. The goal of the game is to collect resources, build shelter, and fend off zombie attacks while also trying to complete objectives before the end of the winter season. Players must work together as a team to achieve these goals. This game requires critical thinking and communication skills as players must be able to think creatively and clearly communicate their ideas to their teammates. It's a fun game that can be enjoyed by people who enjoy cooperative games or want to learn more about survival tactics. Pandemic: Legacy Season 2 (Black Ed) - This is another classic board game that has been around for decades. The goal of the game is to stop four deadly diseases from spreading across the world while also trying to complete objectives before time runs out. Players must work together as a team to achieve these goals. This game requires strategy as well as knowledge of disease control and epidemiology. It's a fun game that can be enjoyed by people who enjoy cooperative games or want to learn more about public health. Monopoly Game of Thrones Board Game for Adults - This is a new game that has been gaining popularity in recent years. The goal of the game is to become the wealthiest player in Westeros while also trying to eliminate your opponents from the game. Players must collect resources, build properties, and charge rent to their opponents while also trying to complete objectives before time runs out. This game requires strategy as well as knowledge of Game of Thrones lore. It's a fun game that can be enjoyed by people who enjoy strategy games or want to learn more about the world of Game of Thrones. In conclusion, these are all great board games that offer different levels of challenge and entertainment. Whether you're looking for a classic game to play with friends and family or a new game to introduce someone to the world of board games, there's something here for everyone. Each game requires strategy, critical thinking, and social skills to play effectively, making them great activities for people of all ages.