The Picture Show Board Game by Asmodee

 As part of the Asmodee Blogger Board Game club this month we received one of their newest games to review “The Picture Show” – the shadow charade game. Aimed at players over the age of 7 years and for up to 8 players.

The game looks pretty fun and easy but the main issue we found was the set up and dissemble. The first time does take a little longer to start as all the “shadows” or pictures need popping out. Also, it needs 3xAAA batteries which aren’t included. It took three of us (well one adult and two children) about 5 minutes to set up.

 

Once set up though the game is pretty easy to pick up. The team separates itself up in to two. You decide before starting what colour from the 3 ideas on the paying card you’re going to choose – red, blue or green. You then have to create a shadow puppet against the screen representing the phrases or word for the others to guess. You can’t use word or hand actions just the magnetic shapes behind a screen which you move around with the help of two magnetic sticks. The shapes can move and you are allowed to use noises to help your team mates!

 

There are over 200 magnetic shapes, animals and people so you can create a story or a simple image. You can also create your own theatre with this game! They had as much creating a story to play out as they did playing the actual game and its perfect for rainy days and spot on for autumn with the duller days! We originally tried to play this when we had the heat wave this summer and struggled a lot. When we set it up though on a rainy cloudy day it was much easier to play and see the story. It was also superb to see the kids imaginations run wild and pretty funny to see how they made their phrase up on the board! Some I have no idea how their siblings guessed what on earth they were portraying!

 

The game produces an awful lot of laughs and giggles and would be a superb party game too. Its already on the list for fireworks night! While it says it’s for 7 years and over, I think if you had someone reading out the card kids much younger could play too!

 

The dissemble though was tricky – it resulted in broken nails and some strong words and in the end we have given up trying to break it all back down and have left the side pretty much made up. It would have been nice if the box was made to fit it fully assembled but it’s pretty quick to set up.

 

Overall this is a fun game and a perfect boredom buster. We’ve used in our home school to tell stories of what we’ve learned! The whole family and all ages can play this and be on a level setting. It’s really pretty good fun!

 

You can buy The Picture Show at good toy stores or pick it up at Amazon here.