Holiday Gift Guide 2012

"It's that time of year, when the world falls in love..." It's also that time of year when gift-giving is not only encouraged but expected. And as expected as giving gifts is, what is even more expected--at least in the world of gaming blogs--is the ubiquitous holiday gift guide. Here's our unique take on it, from the hearths of a theme-loving Wolf, a mechanism-loving Farmer, and an eclectic Kinderspieler. And if after reading this you still don't know what to buy for someone on your list, leave us a comment. We give recommendations to order.

(And if you want to see how the list has changed over time, here is the list for 2011. And check out our guide to stocking stuffers as well.)

A Sophisticated CCG (A Review of Jambo)

Walking into the village on a pleasant, sunny day, you cheerily greet other passers-by with a smile and friendly, “Jambo!” (hello). You’re a simple trader, minding your own biashara (business), just trying to support your mke (wife) and watoto (kids). Buying hariri (silk) and manyoya (hides) at modest prices and selling them for higher sums, perhaps you’ll even earn a little extra to buy that shiny, new mkuki (spear) you always wanted. It is a concept as old as ustaarabu (civilization) itself. Is that too much to ask? But no, apparently the life of a simple trader is not so simple after all. That mbaya mtu (bad man) across the square has to go and send his tembo (elephant) rampaging over to upturn and trample your soko kusimama (market stand). What a maana mtu (jerk *loosely translated)! Well, how about you send your fisi (hyena) over to cause some mischief of your own. That’ll show him! Turns out, this trading business sure can be kata-koo (cut-throat).