Nanuk

Nanuk was highly suggested by some friends. I needing a "filler game" (filler = quick and simple game under 30 minutes) picked this one up in hopes it could fill that need.When I received it, the components were very nice (I love the round tokens too).However, the cards could of been thicker with a texture to the finish, but they'll suffice.The art is perfect. It speaks of native art from Alaska and the colors are muted, much like a snow storm.The game play is fast and fun. The rules suggest you yell out phrases with "gusto". I am guessing they want you to do this to really get into the roll? However, I like the simplicity of the game too. Generally the game mechanics are solid and plays well.The only problem is this; I rarely have 5 or more people to play with. The box suggest playing with no less than 5 and so this game sits on my shelf never seeing the light of day. I don't understand why games don't have a 2+ variant, because I wouldn't of bought it if I was more careful to know that.Make sure you have a group of 5+, otherwise you'll never play it.Good luck and happy gaming!

This game has some depth to it, but it's mostly a conversational/bluffing game. Which means it's as easy to play in a family setting as it is with buddies over beers. The premise of the game is always fun to explain to people, and it's a great game if you're the type of person who likes to introduce friends or family to new gaming experiences, especially if they shy away from anything they perceive as being "too complicated" or "too nerdy". Steve Jackson games rocks!

Oh, Nanuk. Why are you so disliked? Is it because some gamers can’t separate Steve Jackson Games from Munchkin? Are you then destined to just be “okay” because your cousin is so polarizing? No. I will stand up for you AND your other cousin Revolution! (review coming)! You are a good game. Repeat after me, “I am a good game.” Good. 🙂Nanuk, technically, is a polar bear. The same found on the cover of the game box. He is attempting to nom on an Inuit hunter. But worry not, in this game Nanuk does not eat people. Just the animals that have been hunted by the people to be brought back to the village as a result of your pig-headed boasting. Oh, you say you can bring back 17 fish in three days? I say you’re doomed.I do not want to get in a habit of explaining games in my reviews, but I feel like Nanuk could benefit from it, so I will be quickly paraphrasing.In Nanuk play goes around the table where each player must increase either the number of animals (and you can change the animal type) or the number of days of “the Hunt.” Example, I increase the current boast from three deer in one day to four birds in one day. Once a player no longer thinks the combination of animals and days will a successful hunt make, they must flip over their voting token to the doomed side. The last player to have upped the ante is the Hunt Leader and the naysayer is the, idk, Doom Leader I think. Then everyone evaluates the animal and Inuksuk (the awesome humanoid stone statue) cards to determine if they should join the Hunt or Doom team, flipping their voting token thusly. Every player then must contribute at least one card from their hand that will be shuffled together as the results of the Hunt. Should the boast parameters be met between the cards contributed and cards drawn from the deck (equal to the number of days boasted) the Hunt team wins and spoils are split among the team members. If not, the Doom team wins the spoils. At the end of the game you are hoping to have amassed sets and pairs of animals to score the most VP. There are a couple other rules that I will leave you to discover, but that is the… meat… of them.I received my copy of Nanuk cheaply from a BGG auction many years ago. I was not sure exactly what to expect of it, but I was diggin the cover art. Once we played it, and played it again, and more, I began to love it more and more. It’s not a long game, the rules are relatively simple, and it is very much a social game. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a “party game” because that term just has different connotations to me, but it will play 5-8 players quite comfortably. Many times I have a group of 6 or more and this always delivers. Please give this one a try and I know you will enjoy it.Someday we will start making lists and such, and this will go on my list of favorite games that support a larger play count. That said, Purple Phoenix Games gives this one a 12 / 18.

Every time we pull out this game with new friends, their faces are full of skepticism. After the first season is complete, everyone wants to keep playing. A great game to play with a group people who may not know each other well! (We've played with more than the recommended maximum -- it worked fine!)

This is a good, fun game. It's good for larger families or big groups. I took it to a game night at church, and it was thoroughly enjoyed. It is easy to learn and something different to play.

This turned out to be a really fun game and quite different from many of the games my friends and family typically play. "Choosing sides" made for great marketing tactics on each side to convince others to join them.

Some of the most fun I have had with a bunch of 30 year olds like myself just goofing off.

Good party game, fun to observe different reaction and behaviors of different people. Read instruction closely as we played it wrong first time.