Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
We talked about older games last week like checkers and chess. This week we’re moving on to modern abstract games (within the last 20 years). We recommend three that grow in complexity – and add a few of our other favorites.
0:00:00 Fact for 399
399film.com (https://www.399film.com)
Sponsor Message
First Move Financial is not a credit counseling company, but they’d be happy to spend a few minutes talking to you to help you find a reputable credit counselor. Go to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers (firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers) to set up a quick chat and start taking steps to dig out of debt.
0:04:30 What We’ve Been Playing
The Castles of Burgundy
Marvel Dice Throne: X-Men (Rogue and Gambit this time)
Jekyll vs. Hyde – one of our favorites (our review (thefamilygamers.com/jekyll-vs-hyde/) )
Compile – we also love this one (our review (thefamilygamers.com/compile/) )
Ultimatch – hardest at two players! (our review (thefamilygamers.com/ultimatch/) )
Cabanga
Belratti (review below)
Grove (our preview/review (thefamilygamers.com/grove/) from its Kickstarter) – we’re working on a review for Hutan which feels similar but more involved.
Mojo (our review (thefamilygamers.com/mojo/) )
0:13:45 Community
#Backtalk
#Giveaway
0:17:55 SNAP Review – Belratti
youtu.be/fmrj4_qiPY4
0:25:30 FOR SCIENCE!
Reese’s PB&J Big Cup
0:30:20 Room to Grow: Modern Abstract Games
Our goal with Room to Grow (thefamilygamers.com/tag/room-to-grow) is to bring your kids – or your family – through a series of games that grow in complexity. Normally, we take a beginner game, an intermediate game, and an advanced game (and some honorable mentions). They offer a plan for growth for players to get comfortable with this style, and all are family-friendly.
This is part two – in part one we talked about classic abstract strategy games (thefamilygamers.com/episode-398-room-to-grow-classic-abstract/) (Tic Tac Toe, Checkers, and Chess). This time, we’re recommending modern games, which are less well-known.
We discuss again what makes an “abstract strategy game” and decide that some luck is fine but “player choices matter more than luck”.
Beginner: Drop It
Intermediate: Azul
Advanced: Shobu
0:46:30 Other Highly Recommended Abstracts
Cinco Linko (which we reviewed as OK Play)
boop
Onitama
Deblockle
Quoridor (now in a Pac-Man theme)
0:51:45 New Backtalk Question
Is there a Room to Grow series you’d like us to tackle? What kinds of games are you looking to grow through?
We talked about older games last week like checkers and chess. This week we’re moving on to modern abstract games (within the last 20 years). We recommend three that grow in complexity – and add a few of our other favorites.
0:00:00 Fact for 399
399film.com (https://www.399film.com)
Sponsor Message
First Move Financial is not a credit counseling company, but they’d be happy to spend a few minutes talking to you to help you find a reputable credit counselor. Go to firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers (firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers) to set up a quick chat and start taking steps to dig out of debt.
0:04:30 What We’ve Been Playing
The Castles of Burgundy
Marvel Dice Throne: X-Men (Rogue and Gambit this time)
Jekyll vs. Hyde – one of our favorites (our review (thefamilygamers.com/jekyll-vs-hyde/) )
Compile – we also love this one (our review (thefamilygamers.com/compile/) )
Ultimatch – hardest at two players! (our review (thefamilygamers.com/ultimatch/) )
Cabanga
Belratti (review below)
Grove (our preview/review (thefamilygamers.com/grove/) from its Kickstarter) – we’re working on a review for Hutan which feels similar but more involved.
Mojo (our review (thefamilygamers.com/mojo/) )
0:13:45 Community
#Backtalk
#Giveaway
0:17:55 SNAP Review – Belratti
youtu.be/fmrj4_qiPY4
0:25:30 FOR SCIENCE!
Reese’s PB&J Big Cup
0:30:20 Room to Grow: Modern Abstract Games
Our goal with Room to Grow (thefamilygamers.com/tag/room-to-grow) is to bring your kids – or your family – through a series of games that grow in complexity. Normally, we take a beginner game, an intermediate game, and an advanced game (and some honorable mentions). They offer a plan for growth for players to get comfortable with this style, and all are family-friendly.
This is part two – in part one we talked about classic abstract strategy games (thefamilygamers.com/episode-398-room-to-grow-classic-abstract/) (Tic Tac Toe, Checkers, and Chess). This time, we’re recommending modern games, which are less well-known.
We discuss again what makes an “abstract strategy game” and decide that some luck is fine but “player choices matter more than luck”.
Beginner: Drop It
Intermediate: Azul
Advanced: Shobu
0:46:30 Other Highly Recommended Abstracts
Cinco Linko (which we reviewed as OK Play)
boop
Onitama
Deblockle
Quoridor (now in a Pac-Man theme)
0:51:45 New Backtalk Question
Is there a Room to Grow series you’d like us to tackle? What kinds of games are you looking to grow through?
