Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics (2020)

L'héritier de 42 jeux indémodables sorti sur Nintendo DS. J'ai remarqué que l'ambiance graphique ressemblait à Game Builder Garage, c'est cool que Nintendo essaie de maintenir une cohérence entre ses productions maisons.

Le concept est sympa, que l'on soit fan ou pas, les jeux casu ont existé et existeront toujours sur console. La switch a été pensée pour être nomade et multijoueurs donc ce n'était pas déconnant d'y sortir une compilation de jeux de société ! A titre personnel, j'ai acheté 51 worldwide games à l'occasion d'un voyage en train avec ma mère par exemple.

La sélection de jeu est étrange: deux variantes du solitaires, deux variantes du shogi, tank en solo et en équipe comptant pour deux jeux différents... et à coté il manque de gros classiques, le baccarat, le backgammon, le jeu de l'oie, serpent et échelles, loto...

Le tout reste varié mais manque de cohérence.

Pour moi, le plus gros défaut du titre est le manque de mode campagne. Tous les jeux sont débloqués d'office au contraire de 42 jeux indémodables, c'est un parti pris qui se défend. En revanche 51 world wide classics souffre d'un réel manque de mode challenge, pas de collectable à récupérer en jouant, rien. Je suis tombée sur le deck de carte mario uniquement parce que j'ai vu un screen sur ce site...

Bref, un jeu qui restera installé uniquement pour jouer aux cartes dans le train.

I, one day, hope to complete my series of mini reviews on every game in Clubhouse Games, but until then, I don't think it is right to let my thoughts on such a beautiful game go unspoken.

I love this game.

I saw recently that I put 65 hours into this game. That's rarified air for me. The only games I have that I've played more on Switch are

• Animal Crossing
• Breath O' the Wild
• Smash Bros
• Mario Kart
• Gungeon (of the Enter variety)

Those are all games I adore. And maybe "Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics" sounds inappropriate in the mouth when uttered next to "Smash Bros", but the opposite is true when "Smash Bros" is uttered next to "Chess"- a game included in Clubhouse Games. It's all ridiculous. Like what you like. Just because Half-Life is supposed to be legendary doesn't mean you can't enjoy Dadish more. That's just tastes baby.

I don't care if this is a freako thing to say- Clubhouse Games is a masterpiece. There are so many perfectly designed games in this collection that even if you don't love Chess or Checkers or Othello or Mancala, there are still 47 games for you to love- many of which are exquisite.

Do I love every game in this collection? Heck no! Sorry is included in this (Ludo for my non-American friends), and Sorry can eat my boiled poo. But that doesn't stop my 5 out of 5 star review of Clubhouse Games because there are also beautiful moments like Hanafuda and Riichi Mahjong and President and Shogi.

I know I like to goof around on this site (Earlier today I said that Donkey Kong Country Freeze has the best story in video games), but I'm not goofing. I love Clubhouse Games, and I think you would too.

I was able to leave my dislike for board game aside and actually gave an honest look at all the games in this collection. And I really enjoyed my time! I'm actually interested in going back to a couple of them (specially Renegade), but this kind of entertainment isn't really for me. The only reason I won't delete it from my Switch its because it'll be great for family reunions (when the quaratine is finally over and I'm able to see my family again).

You can read my review in spanish here.

Best part of the game? Sound design. Dice colliding against wood sound magnificent.

Review 3/51

My Other Clubhouse Reviews.

Yacht Dice (Yahtzee)

A friend of mine in college (Karl) ran a weekly lunch where he would play Yahtzee with people. I thought it was one big troll. I planned to never go.

Then I walked by and saw him setting up for Yahtzee. I got invited to the Yahtzee table. Why not? I thought. I could roll some dice while I eat a chicken sandwich.

That lunch was thrilling. Yahtzee provided the excitement of Poker without the chips or cards. Every roll or hold is a bet. A bet that can be adjusted on each roll. You have to admit defeat sometimes. Put a zero down next to your ones rather than accepting a five next to your fives. The high of getting a Yahtzee is equivalent to revealing a royal flush. There is tons of chance in the dice roll, but also a lot of strategy.

The only place here where the Clubhouse version falters is it limitations on players. Let me throw an enormous Yahtzee party! I want to beat all my friends, not just one.

• Recreate-ability: 2/5
• Chance-O-Meter: 3/5
• Photo Bomb Family: N
• Final Score: 4/5

Review 2/51

My Other Clubhouse Reviews.

Dots and Boxes

I don't like Dots and Boxes. The strategies are basically nonexistent until the final handful of moves. Then the strategy has the depth of "Eenie Meenie Miney Mo". Unlike Mancala, this game reveals why it was dropped in grade school. It is shallower than the kiddie pool, and it is equally unfit for adults.

• Recreate-ability: 5/5
• Chance-O-Meter: 0/5
• Photo Bomb Family: N
• Final Score: 1/5

Now to begin the arduous task of reviewing Clubhouse Games, which is really 51 "classic" games. So of course, any real review will include a review for all 51 games. Let's begin.

Review 1/51

My Other Clubhouse Reviews.

Mancala

The only downside to this version of the game is that it is virtual and you can't throw the marbles at your opponent. I recommend keeping some real marbles at your side so you can recreate the real game.

Mancala is a classic. I don't really know why I stopped playing this in grade school. It features the much lauded "simple to learn, impossible to master" gameplay that so many tabletop games strive for.

I may be gushing over a game that you feel you matured beyond, but it is that good.

• Recreate-ability (How easy it is to recreate at home): 4/5
• Chance-O-Meter (how much hidden information/luck plays in): 0/5
• Photo Bomb Family: Y
• Final Score: 5/5