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Heard of Glory to Rome? Of course you have. Its publisher Cambridge Games Factory? Probably. They've been getting significant press here on BGG recently, mainly in connection with concerns about a French publisher marketing a game as an edition of Glory to Rome when it apparently doesn't have the rights to do so.
Glory to Rome is certainly the game that has made Cambridge Games Factory's name in the gaming industry, so it doesn't surprise me to see the publisher acting to protect their interests. It's an outstanding card game, one of my own personal favourites, and worthy of high praise.
Want to know more? See my full review on Glory to Rome:  Is this the game that Race for the Galaxy wanted to be?
But there is a whole lot more to Cambridge Games Factory than just Glory to Rome. The distinctive and unassuming plastic clam-shell case that housed Glory to Rome and subsequently became a Cambridge signature item, has given birth to several other products. In fact, in 2011 they have released several other card games in this packaging. So which new games are they, and what are they like? Let's find out, and help give this company some positive press for some of its up and coming games.
Barons (2011)
Barons is arguably the hottest new product from Cambridge, and easily my favourite of these new titles. I wouldn't quite call it a "new" Glory to Rome - even though it's from the same publisher, and also part of their "Extreme Strategy" lineup. While it's more card-game goodness from the same company that brought us Glory to Rome, it's slightly lighter in complexity and style. The mechanics are quite different from both games, but cards still have multiple uses, and when played as buildings they will give you ongoing abilities and benefits.
The basic concept is that players are building up their personal barony by playing lands (which allow you to draw new cards by taxation) and buildings (which have special abilities), and there's interaction with other baronies by using knights. Cards are used as lands/buildings/actions/knights, but are also used as `money' (by discarding) in order to `pay' for the cards that are put into play.
There are four different coloured decks that are shared by the players, and each deck has unique cards with its own feel. There are certainly different strategies to explore, by building around certain cards or colours. It also has the advantage of scaling well as a two-player game, and plays quite quickly - so you can play a couple of games back-to-back.
I've played Barons well over a dozen times so far, and am very impressed and itching to play more often. Bear in mind: 1. don't expect it to be like Glory to Rome (it's lighter, and different); 2. don't judge it too quickly after just one or two plays (there's more strategy and tactics going on than meets the eye!). With those provisos, I can recommend this one very highly as a great light-medium weight strategy card game, that has the potential to please both gamers and non-gamers alike!
Want to know more? See my full review on Barons: Introducing Glory to Rome's younger brother - and easily one of the best strategy card games of 2011!
North Pole (2011)
In North Pole, players are penguins from the South Pole. While on vacation, these penguins decide to amuse themselves with a race from Base Camp to the North Pole, with the first to make it there and back being the winner.
The game uses cards for two purposes - first of all to denote the landscape on which the game is played, but also for a set collection mechanic which determines penguin movement. The basic flow of play is that players take turns to play cards from their hand in order to move, and then at the end of their turn they draw two new cards. Different kinds of movement include Waddle, Snow Shoe, Sled, and Dog Sled, which are distinguished by different combinations of cards and their relationship to the location card your penguin is moving to. You can also use Blizzards to cause havoc on your opponents' plans, or Repair the Ice to fix holes in the ice.
North Pole features charming artwork and solid gameplay that will especially amuse children. Yet there are enough decisions about which cards to collect and play that the adults can enjoy it too. As such, it's ideally suited as a family game that is more than just a matter of luck-of-the-draw, and the race theme really helps add appeal.
Want to know more? See my full review on North Pole: Of course the family loves it - you get to race penguins!
Hot Potato (2011)
Hot Potato is a very light card game that's fun for families and children.
The theme is exactly as one might expect: you're passing "hot potato" cards around the table. If you are passed a "hot potato", you'll need Action cards to pass it left or right, because as everyone knows, if you're caught holding the hot potato you suffer a "burn"! You can also add Seasonings which increase the burns and do other crazy stuff. Some expansion cards are also included which add new twists.
It's a simple concept, and the theme translates very well to the gameplay. Overall this is a fantastic kid-friendly theme that's very original, plays quickly and easily, and works well!
Want to know more? See my full review on Hot Potato: Hey quick, pass it on, it's another hot card game from Cambridge Games Factory!
Disclaimer: Cambridge Games Factory played no part whatsoever in the writing of this blog article. They did not request this article, did not edit it, did not approve it, and in fact had absolutely no advance knowledge that it would even exist. One of the objectives of this blog is to group together good games that I've reviewed and can recommend, briefly introduce them, and so put them on the radar of folks who might not be familiar with them. As such, CGF did not establish any contract with me to write this article, nor have I broken any contract with them by writing it. But I sure do like some of their games!
Join the discussion: Have you tried any of Cambridge Games Factory's games other than Glory to Rome? If so, what did you think? Of the above titles, which sounds the most appealing to you, and why?
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