New York Zoo

Quick Takes:  1-5 players    30-60 minutes   Ages 8+   Level 1 (easy to learn, easy to play and FUN!)

From critically acclaimed board game designer Uwe Rosenberg (also known for Agricola and Patchwork), this cute zoo themed game is very straightforward to play and has beautifully designed pieces, making it a great new addition to family board game night. In the game, players construct zoos by building enclosures, introducing new animals and raising offspring. The winner is the first person to cover all the construction space on their zoo board. It's that simple!

You start out with your own zoo board and two animals. On your turn, move the elephant token on the center board to determine whether you get an enclosure tile or two new zoo animals (two by two, just like Noah's Ark!). As turns go by, the elephant token might also land on breeding spaces, multiplying your animals as long as you have two-of-a-kind on a tile. As you fill up your enclosures with animals, you move them off your board and get an attraction tile. Fill up your zoo with enclosures and attraction tiles to win.

As a bonus, it has flamingo meeples (wooden tokens). Who doesn't want to play a game with flamingo pieces? If flamingos aren't your thing, try one of these on for size: kangaroos, arctic foxes, or penguins. The animal meeples really make this game special.