January 2010 New Specialty Toys — Board Games

Baffle! consists of a 5 x 5 grid of 25 squares on the game board, plus 25 game pieces in five shapes and colors. The player strategically places and removes pieces to accomplish the goal of each particular game. In Baffle! Classic, he must end up with a configuration in which each row, column and diagonal has a piece of each shape and a piece of each color.
— At the Play House Toy Store in Durham, N.C., this game is a best seller, Owner Donna Frederick told TDmonthly in late November 2009.

Whirled Peas® engages two teams in five challenges where everybody plays every turn. The object of the game is to earn and steal peas and be the winning team to fill its "PeaPod©". At the center of the game is the "PeaKing©" Spinner. He is the brand ambassador and symbolizes the party game atmosphere inherent in Whirled Peas. "The best part about Whirled Peas® is that sales will support our giving-based business model and help us build and grow our foundation, 'The Peas Project©'" Kevin Werntz, president of Peas-Corp, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 13, 2010.

In this expansion, players still attempt to complete their Destination Tickets, claim routes, and block each other on the map, but rather than draw and collect Train cards, they roll five custom Train dice each turn. Depending on the outcome they can re-roll some or all, then use the dice to claim routes on the board, grab route Tokens for future use, or draw more Destination Tickets. "The Ticket to Ride: Dice Expansion makes for a shorter but just as intense Ticket to Ride game. It can be incorporated into any of the Ticket to Ride series games, and revitalizes them with elements of luck and strategy," Elizabeth Case, marketing assistant at Days of Wonder, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2001.

Triagonal comes in a sturdy Eco-Box and includes seven game-playing options with 204 gaming pieces that may also be used to create colorful geometric designs and tessellations, aided by 40 "Get You Started" images free online. There's also an additional five new game options owners can download for free online. Some of the main games played with Triagonal include ones similar to Squares, Connect 4 and Left Center Right, as well as solo, four-player and prediction games. Triagonal received a 2008 Major FUN Thinking Award and a 2008 Dr.Toy Best Picks New Product Award. Launch date: December 25, 2006.

Scopa is a centuries old Italian card game of memory, strategy, and skill. Easy to learn, a challenge to master. Included in this set is an authentic set of imported Italian cards, a classic game board, and full instructions on how to play Scopa. Also included is a booklet with instructions on how to play other classic Italian Card Games. The Scopa playingboard features an attractive design with card values printed in each corner for players' reference. The Italian playing cards features 4 suits; and can be used for up to three separate Italian games.

In the board game, sworn enemies Black Xiacons and Red Xiacons must battle each other in order to take the other's bunker while each protecting their own. The game comes with red and black "casino looking" dice and a gameboard that provides the battlefield for play.

The KenKen board game takes the fun of solving the popular puzzles and puts in a board game. To play, players take turns trying to fill in sections of the KenKen puzzle. The person who fills in the most of the squares at the end of the round wins. Contains over 100 changeable puzzles of varying sizes and difficulty levels.

Sort it Out! is a game of putting things in order, from Australia. It's designed as a great icebreaker for groups of new friends and a battle of wits for old; it is a fast-paced game where knowing just a little about something can help a player win everything. "Sort it Out! offers a new approach to trivia, making it more interactive and better for all levels. Because players are asked to arrange information instead of supply facts, they have a greater chance of scoring points even by guessing or using logic. Every turn involves every player, so there are no pauses between turns to repel energetic player," Maddie Oatman of University Games told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

In 164 BCE, Judah Maccabee led his Maccabean army to liberate the land of Israel and reclaim the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. But the Maccabees did not have enough oil to light the menorahs to rededicate the Temple. Now players must lead a band of Maccabees and acquire enough oil to light the new eight-stemmed menorah called a Chanukiah. But beware, there are still remnants of the Seleucid Empire’s army roaming the lands trying to thwart these efforts. This board game is made in the USA and turns the basic game of dreidel into an adventure. The entire game is in English and Hebrew, so it serves as a tool for learning Hebrew. Launch date: September 2009.

Every time a player passes Go, he builds and watches a city come to life. Players choose what to build and compete as they collect rent like traditional Monopoly.  It features 80 3-D buildings and includes a game board, six movers, 22 District cards, 25 Chance cards, six Reminder cards, one Rent Dodge card, two dice, one money pack, one trading unit and instructions. It requires 2 AAA batteries (not included) and is for two to six players.

This Playzzle™ game has you build a puzzle and then play the game. Join Bromly and Cotica as they journey through the Amazon. Learn the names of exotic animals that live in the Amazon. The first to reach the ocean wins.

This Playzzle™ game has you build a puzzle and then play the game. African Adventure takes you on a journey with the game's characters Bromley and Cotica. Players will travel through the jungle and learn about the animals that live there. The first player to arrive at the Pyramids wins.

Stinky Smells the Skunk™ is on the loose with his stinky Smellorator! In P.U! The Guessing Game of Smells™, players race around a large exciting board full of good, bad and mystery smells. Whose nose knows best? Be the first to cross the finish line and stop Stinky from polluting and ruining the town fair. For 2 to 8 players. Winner of the National Parenting Center 2009 Seal of Approval.

The game where players make up hysterical new lyrics to popular hit music. Are you witty enough to write a song about fast food, homework, doing the laundry or perhaps rabid squirrels? A good sense of humor is better than a great singing voice when you play Smash or Trash. Put your creativity to the test as you compete for top praise from the critics (other players) who will declare each song you write to be a Smash hit or just plain Trash.