Tips for Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Crafty Tricks

Animal Crossing: New Horizons saw release last week to rather fortuitous timing as a ray of relief amidst such an anxious world.  And with most of the world in lock-down at present, many are enjoying a deserved deep dive into this adorable escape from reality.  As a game that plays out in real time, it asks us to slow down, relax, and admire the smaller details in life.  Also as such, my review of this game will assuredly take a while yet to come.  But in the meantime, here are some tips and tricks from my first week of play that may help new island dwellers and Animal Crossing veterans alike.

Tips for Tetris 99 - Surviving the Battle Royale

Switch Online got a most unique exclusive game a while back in the form of Tetris 99 - A battle royale of 1 vs 99 other players duking it out simultaneously via the classic gameplay that is Tetris.  At first glance, this appears to be just your typical game of Tetris, tranquilly sorting falling blocks in zen-like fashion.  That is, until you're suddenly assaulted with a barrage of random blocks from the bottom of your screen.  The game unfortunately does little to inform the players of these new rules / mechanics, so if you're at a loss as to what is happening or looking for an edge to top the ranks and claim victory over the next tourney, here are some tips and tricks to help you on your way.

Tips for Code Names - Secrets to Success

Code Names is a popular party game that has broken its way into many a home, thanks in part to its ease of accessibility and multitude of various versions sure to appease any fan.  From Code Names Disney to Marvel, Harry Potter, and more, a game of Code Names is sure to be found on most game enthusiast's shelves these days.  While tactics and strategies are certain to vary depending on the specific crew of players that make one's team, there are some tips and tricks that can be generally applied across the board.  So if you're looking to give your team a leg up on the competition, see below for a few pointers in becoming an ace agent:

Tips for Pandemic - Surviving the Outbreak

As is the case with many a cooperative board game, victory is often far and few between as the brutal mechanics of the game have players frantically scrambling to stay alive.  And the viral outbreak of a game that is Pandemic is no exception.  With so many small, nuanced decisions to be made, there is always much deliberation to be found as what the proper course of action should be to contain the situation from spiraling out of control.  While there is technically no one right answer, there are a few tips and tricks to help give your team of emergency respondents that leading edge.  So with no time to waste, let's get the rundown on those tips to ensure your next game night still has vital signs come its conclusion.

(NOTE: These tips apply to the standard, base version of Pandemic, though they may also assist with some of the expansions.  For a brief overview of Pandemic and the general mechanics of the game, see previous Tabletop Tuesday post on such here)

Tips for Hollow Knight - Tricks and Secrets

As you may know from either your own play experience or reading the many glowing remarks in my recent review of Hollow Knight, the kingdom of Hallownest is a staggeringly large world to be explored, teeming with secrets and at times considerable challenges at every corner.  For those checking out the last release of free DLC, Godmaster, or who have recently picked up the game as it was just on sale last week, discoveries continue to be found by veteran and new players alike.  So I thought it would be a fun excuse to further highlight some of the many secrets found in this incredible game, while also sharing some tricks to help players persevere through its formidable halls.  For purposes of upholding the joy of uncovering some of these secrets, I will keep this relatively spoiler-free and light on some of the details, providing links to which you can further look into particular topics if desired.  With that said, let us dive into the many considered nuances of Hollow Knight:

Tips for Catan - Settling for Victory

Frequently topping the lists of top-selling and most popular board games, Settlers of Catan is a favorite among many tabletop gamers and serves as great introduction into the world of more complex Eurogames (games with more abstract components and that tend to focus on strategy rather than luck).  Part of this appeal comes from the fact that players are constantly involved in Catan, even when it isn't their turn, making trades or obtaining resources at any given moment.  Still, when playing against seasoned veterans already well versed in the various tactics of trading and building settlements, it can be a bit of a one-sided match for newcomers.  So here are a few tips and tricks to give any player, newcomer or experienced player alike, a more competitive and equal edge:

(NOTE: These tips apply to the standard, base version of Catan.  For a brief overview of Catan and the general mechanics of the game, see the previous Tabletop Tuesday post on such here)

Tips for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Double Items

It's safe to say that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a fantastic game as it takes all the components of the stellar Wii-U version and then adds even more to it.  I'll post a review highlighting its strengths and weaknesses once I've had more time with the multiplayer and new battle mode components, but in the meantime, I thought I'd discuss one of this game's new features and offer some tips and tricks for such: The Double Items.

This small change to Mario Kart 8's mechanics drastically affects the dynamics of races, creating twice as much commotion and twice as many opportunities to defend.  The meta of racing now involves many more choices to be made: When to use items?  When to go for double-item boxes vs shorter routes?  What to anticipate with opponents equipped with twice as many items as before?  All these questions are constantly on the player's mind when racing around at high speeds.  So here are some strategies I've developed while playing with this new intricate system: