Board Game Spotlight where we take a brief look at games that have come across our table. Today we're taking a look at Before There Were Stars from Smirk and Laughter Games.
Before There Were Stars from Smirk and Laughter Games
Players: 3-6
Playing Time: 40-60 minutes
Age: 10+
Designer: Alex Cutler, Matt Fantastic, Alexander Wilkinson
Artist: Marthy Angue, Lisa Falzon
Publisher: Smirk and Laughter Games.
This game is all about playing cards, telling stories, and sharing in the experience. Players will roll dice, draft star constellation cards. Then players will go around telling stories that go with the constellations that they have collected. After all, stories have been told players get to secretly place scoring stones into the other players scoring bags. Play goes through several rounds building constellations into your story library. Once 4 rounds have passed final scoring takes place. The player who earns the most points wins. Though the game is more about enjoying the stories told amongst each other.
This game has been a great addition to my library. It says it plays 3-6 but the story building concepts can be played with 1 or 2 players. Just eliminating the scorekeeping aspect and have fun telling the story.
The artwork on the cards is well crafted. Each constellation is thematic and imaginative. With 80 constellation cards and 2 versions of stories to be told the game has a wide range of possibilities. My 9-year-old was even able to craft an interesting and funny story with the game.
More information can be found at Smirk and Laughter Games’ website at https://www.smirkandlaughter.com/
And board game geek’s site https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/243780/there-were-stars
Joe DeMarco a single father, freelance writer, game designer, quality assurance software tester, and business analyst. I am a big-time gamer, and really enjoy checking out all kinds of games available. Putting my curiosity to the app store I find random games to check out.
If you have a game you'd like me to review, contact me and let us see how we can work together.
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