February 2011 Notable Toys — Card Games

From the best-selling book comes The Hunger Games: Training Days Strategy Game. Training Days allows 2-6 players to follow in the footsteps of their favorite Tributes as they compete in the days leading up to the arena. Includes 18 Tribute Cards representing the female and male Tributes from 9 districts, a deck of 45 Challenge cards featuring: 24 Events, 8 Special Events, 10 Alliances, and 3 End of Day cards. Plus, Effort Tokens for each District, Approval Rating Score Board, and 6-sided dice.

These 3-D trading cards by the makers of the popular Bakugan feature animation and graphics effects on each card. Each pack comes with Character, Monster, and Attack cards to ensure that you can play right out of the pack. The easiest way to expand your collection and discover new powers.

Scatter the bug cards all over the table or floor.  Players race to capture the bugs by covering each Bug Card with a matching Leaf Card—It's a wild scramble to find each bug. The first player to cover all of the matching Bug Cards wins. 2-6 players. Launch date: September 2011.

First, a crazy definition is read to the group by the "Wordmeister." Next, players must grab three random word cubes and create a new word to fit the definition. Each new word is read out loud, and the "Wordmeister" picks the best one. The player whose words are chosen the most wins. 3-7 players. Launch date: March 2011.
Awards: TDmonthly Top Toy Award, June 2011
— Why it won: Fauxabulary is a great game for large groups. It's similar to Apples to Apples, but creating new words out of different word-parts encourages kids to think creatively, and have fun with letters. It combines the silly group fun of Apples to Apples with the fast-paced scramble to create and find words like Scrabble or Boggle, and is reasonably priced relative to similar party games.

Players form words with the letters in their hand. They add a letter, build a new word, and capture their opponent's word, all in one turn. Players score points and earn 'royalties' for words of all one color. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins. "Gameplay allows players to capture cards to build bigger, better words," Lynn Araujo, communications director for U.S. Games Systems, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2008.
Awards: A Games 100 Selection (2008, 2009, 2010)

Laughter and fun is what Love It! Hate It! is all about. A person reads a scenario card out loud and waits for their friends to secretly reveal what they think that person would love and hate. The answers, like the questions, can be real-life, to silly, to down-right bizarre. For 3-6 Players.

Can players name a movie with 2 sequels? How about a music group with 3 members? Players test their numbers know-all in this fast-playing “name it to claim it” party game. Draw a category card and then fill in the blank with the number rolled. The first person to name something that fits is smarter than the average Joe. Contents include 200 cards, Custom die, and Rules of play. Requires 2 or more players. Estimated game time is 15 minutes.

Who would win a pie eating contest: Marilyn Monroe or Albert Einstein? Players can settle this and other timeless debates in this hilarious party game of improbable celebrity matchups. Players draw cards and then convince the judge why thier character would win a randomly chosen event. The person who gets the most votes wins the game. Contents include 200 cards, Sand timer, and Rules of play. For three or more players; playing time is approximately 15 minutes.

This card game that casts players in a contest to build the mightiest Gub colony. Player seek wisdom from The Esteemed Elder or take shelter from a Toad Rider as they fend off a myriad of traps, lures, and other surprising events. Victory lies down an ever-changing path and no one is safe until the final card falls. Contents include  70 cards and Rules of play. For 2-6 players; game time is approximately 20 minutes.

Swim along with Swirly Shirley, Betsy Bubbles, Rip Rider, and a colorful cast of undersea characters as you try to collect the most seashell cards. Watch out for sneaky waves and icky seaweed along the way. Most of all - don’t get caught holding the sea monster at the end of the game. This card game was invented by 8 year old Emily Ehlers.

It's a bidding and headhunting game. A card game where one bids to hire the best people with a limited amount of money they have in hand. The player who manages to gather the 12 best people and meets the designated tasks shall be the winner.

Each deck of cards can be used for a variety of games. Cards range from Ace to King in the four suits of Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts and Spades. Most decks also include two jokers that are used as wild cards for some games and eliminated for others. Cards are used for games for one or more players, sometimes individually and sometimes on teams.