A super game for the little ones

In Camel up is a fun dice race of camels, where players can bet on the winner (winner of a stage or overall winner). It does not play every player his camel, but the dice come randomly from a pyramid. Especially funny it is when the camels move on piggyback on each other. Money and a Desert or. Oasis map provide a higher level of ambition than in small snail pace. Were it not for a few technical flaws (cube pyramid does not always work, elastics tear ever) I would give full 5 stars for the game for children of primary school age.

But what is it? Camel up has indeed honored not as a child's play, but as a game of the year. It is therefore not recommended for small children, but also for families with older children and for adults rounds. From this point of Camel up is, however, a complete miscast. Depends but the whole game solely by the luck of the dice from. I can hardly imagine that a 14 year-old youth has fun pulling camel figures to dice in the circle (of adults apart). But for precisely this group Camel up is explicitly recommended by the Game of the Year jury. Perhaps it is good indeed as a party game, but since there are far better alternatives.

Camel up thus joins the long series of flops in the game of the year. Once games like Settlers of Catan, El Grande or Tikal were awarded. Great Family Games, where families and adults had fun. Games with this award could be bought blindly. However, the last good game of the year is already many years ago (Dominion 2009). Since the claim from year to year decreases. Apparently no longer trusts the jury today's family as dice or drawing cards.

But what to do if you are looking for a sensible family game? My advice: Take the connoisseur Game of the Year Istanbul. As a connoisseur game, so as a game for experienced players, it is totally overrated, but Istanbul is a great family game. Easy to understand (but not trivial) rules, good mix of luck, tactics and strategy, a playing time of just under an hour and as a holiday theme as game theme. Istanbul has all what a family game needs.

My rating for Camel up: 4 stars as children's, Zero stars as a family game yields an average 2 star. I hope I manage to hold one or the other godfather of this game to bring his 15-year-old godfather. I am aware that many will disagree, and would be pleased if you not only make a negative click, but also your thoughts in the comment.