The Family section of Fantasy Flight Games is devoted to games that are quick to learn, and offer some valuable skills. At first glance most of these games seem simplistic in nature. Once you have driven a car, the dexterity needed to stack some penguins seems laughable. Yet once you start playing, it becomes addictive to see how well you can do. From Rattlesnake and the maddening sound of your just placed egg clashing together with another egg to Black Sheep and laying down a card, only to have your opponent lay down a card just a hair better than yours. Each game offers a wealth of strategy and tactics, but can be quickly taught to anyone. You soon find that children's hands, by way of being smaller, can place Rattlesnake eggs with dangerous accuracy. These games provide hours of entertainment, yet each take less than 30 minutes to play.
When looking for a game, look at the back of the box. Before you say "Well, duh!" there is a special graphic on the back that can help you make the decision. Down towards the bottom of the box is a small design with three images on it. The images tell you the age recommended for the game, the number of people that can play the game, and the length of time a game can go. These are all pretty important when determining what game to pick. If your group of friends is pretty small at one gathering, a game for 2-4 players can be great, giving everyone a chance to jump in and play. On the other hand, if your game group is pretty big, then looking for a game 2-8 or even bigger would be a priority. The other thing to consider is how long you have to play. If you are grabbing a game to take to work and play with some coworkers at lunch, you want to find one that is 30-45 minutes long. If the game is for your game night, then 1-2 hours can be great. Overall the theme is what is going to make the game stand out. Choose a setting that strikes you as fun. Do you want to be a matching up the animals? Or would you rather be penguins trying to stack together to avoid the chill of the snow and ice? No matter what, remember to have fun.