BATTLE SHEEP

By Blue Orange Games
Price $24.99
Age 7+

This is our favorite game of the year so far. It's quite easy to learn and play, which is almost surprising given the often deep thought processes players handily employ when choosing their moves. The fun factor is very high, and the fact that it's about sheep taking over the world (all right, not the entire world, but Farmer Pat's pastures for sure) is a bonus no one can deny. Each player starts with a single tall stack of really nifty sheep chips. Players move by taking part of their own stack off the top and relocating it to another space. Every move thereafter likewise consists of subdividing and relocating a portion of one of your stacks. As to where you can move, that would be straight ahead in a line until something (another stack or the edge of the playing field) blocks you. Which means, by the way, that if you're hemmed in on all sides, no moves for you. Players alternate turns, the goal being to occupy the largest portion of the playing field once all players can no longer move. First-rate, ingenious fun. 2 to 4 players, 15 minutes per game.