500 Games - 1 Year - Game #16 - Monster 12

 

 ‘Monster 12’ is one of the games in the Kosmos ‘Open and Play’ series and the latest game to be included in my  ‘500 Games in 1 Year’ series. And to give you a sneak peak at what is coming in the review….this is an utterly fantastic family dice game!

 

‘Monster 12’ is a dice and card based, push your luck, game in which your aim is to capture Monster Cards by rolling the dice you need. Essentially, each monster has its own colour and there are three colours of dice each turn. Players roll three dice every time and are aiming to roll the dice with a higher number than the amount of eyes the monster on the cards have. So for example, the pink monster has one eye on most cards, if you chose a pink dice and roll above one, you add it to the card and that monster is captured. There are only ever three cards in play at any one time and as long as you capture one monster from any one card your turn keeps going. As soon as you can’t place a dice on a card, play passes to the next person.

 

Hence, the base of each turn is you making the decision on which colour combination of dice is best to throw to ensure you can keep capturing monsters and keep playing.

 

However, the push your luck element comes soon into play. Every card has between 1 and 4 monsters. Only when ALL monsters on the card are captured can you take the card, earning the number of points for however many monsters are on the card. So, as soon as you fill a card you have a decision to make….take the points and end your turn, or keep rolling and try and earn more points with the risk being if you then can’t add a dice, play will pass to your opponent who essentially can take some free points!

 

And that is Monsters 12…..playing this with my partner and our 4 year old is some of the most fun we have had gaming in 2024. The game moves at a frantic level, the gamble elements always produces fun moments and with games based with a large % of dice roll luck, it gives everyone a chance to win and keeps kids engaged for longer.

 

This is a superb game for adults and little ones alike. Children as young as 3-4 can easily play this as long as they can count to 6, there will be no issues.

 

I just love it when a new game is brough to the table and you know instantly its going to provide family fun for months if not years to come. When I draw up lists of ‘Best Family Games’ and ‘Top 2 Player Titles’ etc this is certainly going to feature!

 

Highly recommended and well worth a look!