mythology

3 Wishes is a party/family game for 3-5 players that plays in 3-5 minutes. With simple rules, this memory, intuition and bluffing game is as much about playing the game as it is about playing the other players. A poker face will go a long way – well, not too long, since the game may last only three minutes – and it will also serve you well as a fast and fun memory training.

A not-so-nice-but-not-too-evil genie appears as if from nowhere (someone, somewhere probably did rub a lamp) and pitches the crowd against one another, granting the most astute player no fewer than three wishes — but not all wishes come true, and only the player with the right balance between super powers, benefits for the world, and selfish gifts will be enter the good graces of the genie.

In more detail, each player has a hand of three cards, with two extra cards face down in the middle of the gaming table. On their turn, each player can either peak at a card or swap cards with other players or the common pool on the table, aiming to get three different type of wish cards. Once that happens, someone calls for the end of the game and all players reveal their hands and compare wish cards to determine the winner.

Ra is an auction and set-collection game with an Ancient Egyptian theme. Each turn players are able to purchase lots of tiles with their bidding tiles (suns). Once a player has used up his or her suns, the other players continue until they do likewise, which may set up a situation with a single uncontested player bidding on tiles before the end of the round occurs. Tension builds because the round may end before all players have had a chance to win their three lots for the epoch. The various tiles either give immediate points, prevent negative points for not having certain types at the end of the round (epoch), or give points after the final round. The game lasts for three "epochs" (rounds). The game offers a short learning curve, and experienced players find it both fast-moving and a quick play.

From the Box:
The game spans 1500 years of Egyptian history in less than an hour!
The players seek to expand their power and fame and there are many ways to accomplish this: Influencing Pharaohs, Building monuments, Farming on the Nile, Paying homage to the Gods, Advancing the technology and culture of the people. Ra is an auction and set collecting game where players may choose to take risks for great rewards or... And all this is for the glory of the Sun God Ra!

Grimoire is the French word for "spellbook", and smart use of your spellbook – more specifically, the spells within said book – will determine whether you succeed in this game.

Each turn in Grimoire starts by revealing several cards on the game board; each card has either a victory point (VP) value or is a character with a particular way to earn VPs at the end of the game. Once these cards are revealed, each player secretly chooses which spell to cast in his spellbook by placing a bookmark on the appropriate page. Everyone then reveals which spell they chose, with the spells going off in order from weakest (those with the lowest numbers) to strongest. Some weak spells nerf stronger ones, and the order in which players choose cards from the display can be flipped topsy-turvy depending on who plays which spells.

In the One Draw and Z-Man versions, the game ends as soon as one player has collected either ten character cards or ten treasure cards; in the Schmidt Spiele version, the game ends after a fixed number of rounds. All players then tally their points, and the player with the highest score wins.

Differences between the versions:

As noted above, the game ending conditions differ in the 2012 Schmidt Spiele version.
The Z-Man Games and Schmidt Spiele versions of Grimoire accommodate five players, while the original One Draw release allows only 2-4 players.
The Schmidt Spiele version contains four new character cards and two new treasure cards, includes hardcover books instead of softcover, changes two spells, and uses a more elaborate game board that depicts the spells and allows players to mark the spells chosen with small figures to track who has played what.

Ancient Balinese legend describes a host of powerful spirits who help poor rice farmers achieve success. These farmers have long used a sophisticated irrigation system to organize rice cultivation by integrating religious devotion and social responsibility with traditional farming methods. Even modern farmers seek to placate the spirit world in their quest to produce an abundant harvest.

In Spirits of the Rice Paddy, players must compete with fellow rice farmers to construct and tend rice paddies. Oxen can build walls and remove large rocks. Ducks can be employed to eat harmful pests and fertilize the fledgling crops. Weeds must be kept at bay. Most importantly, water must be conserved and released with the greatest of care. With a little luck, all that back-breaking labor will pay off in the end. The good news is that the spirits are eager to assist, granting many special abilities, blessings, and magic. The farmer who produces the most rice over seven rounds wins the game.

From the publisher's website (Refers to the First Edition titled "King of the Beasts"):

A Royal Card Game by Reiner Knizia
The mythological animals are battling to see who is the ultimate King of the Beasts. The dragon is the largest, the kraken is the strongest, the unicorn is the most enchanting, and the manticore and the gryphon are powerful in their own rights. Even the tiny fire salamander wants to be King! But who will win the most votes?

Gain as many points as possible by nominating animals to be King, while still keeping some of the cards for your score pile. Once an animal becomes King, points are awarded - the player with the most points wins!