Shortly before the holidays we had another great night of gaming. Dozens of titles were out for us to introduce to new players. Before sharing some games with you in today's show we start on the broader topic of education that will come up frequently in future episodes. We specifically address the life skill of learning how to learn. Every game we play is a puzzle that encourages all of us to stretch our minds and becomes an exercise in skills we use every day of our lives.

We start our highlights with another cooperative game called The Lord of the Rings by Fantasy Flight Games and based off the Lord of the Rings trilogy. You work as a team and absolutely must work together to beat the game. By discussing strategy across the table it is easy for new players to participate with experienced players. The recommended ages for this game are 12 and up.

We then turn our attention to a storytelling game called Once Upon a Time by Atlas Games. Everyone at the table takes turns building a fairy tail from the cards in their hand and tries to twist it to reach their own ending. It has a competitive element but plays best when the emphasis is more on telling a good story.

We have also been playing The Market of Alturien by Mayfair Games. As many as six families compete for the best market locations and take turns moving customers around the board. As you would expect, money is the real driver in this game. The right decisions and a little bit of luck will put the money in your pocket you need to win the game. This one is an easy fit for ages 10 and up.