Things in Rings is a 2-6+ player party game that stretches your mind by connecting the dots in a Venn diagram. The objective is to shed your hand of five “Things” cards before other players, all at the discretion of the “knower.” The Venn diagram is comprised of three categories: Word, Context, and Attribute. One player takes on the role of the “knower,” drawing a set of three cards that match each of the categories. Only the knower knows all and judges accordingly!

Gameplay and Design

Category cards vary in difficulty, marked with 1-3 stars (three being the most difficult). The knower seeds the rings by placing up to three “Things” cards in any of the spaces within the Venn diagram, which include both individual and overlapping category spaces. There is also a “None” space for cards that don’t fit any of the categories, which can be just as insightful for players! These seeded cards act as breadcrumbs, guiding players as they attempt to connect the dots.

Each player places one card from their hand into the space where they think it fits in the big picture. The knower decides if the card correctly fits based on their exclusive knowledge of the categories. If the card is incorrect, the…

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Not So Neighborly is a 2-4 player party game that lets players live out the fantasy of terrorizing their neighbors over petty grievances—like putting the garbage bins too close to the driveway. The goal is simple: play cards to score 10 points while dodging dog poop, casual arson, and general pettiness. On each turn, a player either plays or draws a card, and then passes the turn to the next player.

The Cards and Gameplay

Scoring cards represent various neighborhood buildings, each worth 1-3 points. Along the way, players might draw mundane action cards, which allow them to skip an opponent’s turn, steal cards, or force discards. Then, there are the attack cards, the real chaos-makers. If you don’t enjoy “take-that” mechanics or prefer not to alienate your family before the next holiday gathering, I suggest you stop reading now and pick up Machi Koro instead. It’s likely to provide a far more enjoyable experience.

Attack cards are instant turmoil, designed to raze a neighbor’s carefully built plans. Imagine: just as a player envisions a serene neighborhood, they smell smoke—because their house is on fire. Or perhaps they wake up to find someone (or something) has left an unpleasant surprise on their porch, negating the ongoing power of…

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