Euphoria: Ignorance is Bliss Expansion Review

Intro

Ignorance is Bliss is a solid expansion which integrates seamlessly into the original. It is right in my sweet spot of not so overwhelming that it takes over the original, but not so light that it feels valueless. Having played a bunch of times, I would guess I choose to play Euphoria with the expansion about half the time which is my definition of a perfect expansion. Now, I would highly recommend having played the base Euphoria game or having read my original Euphoria review before continuing (it won’t make a ton of sense if you don’t!).

Istanbul Mocha and Baksheesh Board Game Review: Powerful new features revolving around…coffee!

Intro

You’ll want to read the original Istanbul review first!

Mocha and Baksheesh is one of those board game expansions which cannot, I repeat, CANNOT be ignored during the game. As I often do when first playing expansions, the first couple of games I skirted around the newness. I tested the waters with a toe here and a foot there while my wife dove in head first right off the bat…and she destroyed me. =-) Compared to the fantastic original Istanbul game, the Mocha and Baksheesh expansion ramps up the intensity, excitement, and ways to win. Here are the added components and my thoughts on each:

Istanbul Letters and Seals Board Game Review: A fantastic expansion to an already great strategy game

Intro

Wow! Letters and Seals is a terrific expansion to Istanbul. It falls in that perfect zone of replayability where it doesn’t diminish from the replay value of the original (as compared to some expansions which are so much better they virtually take over the original game) and other expansions that are only so-so (where you only play the expansion because you invested the money to buy it). It adds some really fun dynamics to an already very solid game. Here are the added components and my thoughts on each: