Do you like light games with some decisions and a little luck or deep strategic gaming requiring a lot of thought.

It is difficult buying a new game if you have never played it before, so I have tried to come up with a rating guide that will help you decide if this is a game you would enjoy. I have tried to be unbiased in my comments (after all I am selling these games), and try to focus on objective observations, rather than make subjective comments.

Theme
A game that has a strong theme will rate high. e.g. if it is a city building game do you actually feel like you are building a city.

Components
What are the bits inside the box like, and how much do you get. Are they well made? A high rating usually indicates a more expensive game.

Attitude
A high rating indicates the game has humour. Or content that is not mainstream. This refers to humour in the game (i.e. funny subject matter) not humour generated by player interaction as compared to party game. Because humour is entirely subjective a high rating can also indicate that the game may cause offence to some people.

Tension
Does the game generate alot of excitment or is it slower paced and thoughtfull.

Complexity
Does it take long to learn the rules, is it an easy game to teach. A high rating indicates that it is less suitable for younger children.

Strategy
Do you have control of your strategy or are your plans continually thwarted by random events or the role of a dice. A high or low rating doesn't reflect the quality of the game play, but if you are frustrated by games with luck or random events, you'd probably prefer games with a higher rating.

Education
A high rating indicates that the game has good educational value.

Number of Players
A higher rating indicates the game plays well with the full range of recommended players.

Conflict
How much conflict is in the game, and to what extent can you do damage to other players. A high score usually means it's a war game.

Personal Comments
Just that, my personal comments. These are my own opinions, which others will probably disagree with, but I will try to be objective as possible.

Tim Tripp
Pixelpark Ltd