Three Great Bingo Alternatives with Added Strategy | Casual Game Revolution

Three Great Bingo Alternatives with Added Strategy

Bingo

Most people are familiar with Bingo, having learned it as a child. The excitement of drawing a random number and adding a marker to a Bingo card is commonly found in homes and classrooms, not to mention many retirement communities and casinos. Its popularity is largely due to its simplicity, being easy enough for even a young child to learn.

However, modern casual gamers will quickly get bored with this game that is one-hundred percent based on chance. With no decision-making whatsoever, there is no way to form a strategy or improve your odds of winning.

Fortunately, there are several modern games that have a similar feel but also add an element of strategy that makes them more appealing for repeated play. The fun of drawing from a bag is still there, but there are also interesting choices to make in response to the drawn item.

20 Express

In 20 Express by Blue Orange Games, one player draws a number tile from a bag. All players then write the number in one of the empty spaces in their train scorecard — once it is written, it cannot be changed. The object of the game is to write as many numbers as possible in ascending order. However, all the spaces must be filled, so by the time all 20 tiles are drawn, the series of ascending numbers will likely be broken into several segments. At the end of the game, players score points for each series of ascending numbers on their scorecard, with longer series scoring more points. With careful strategic planning, players can increase the chance of winning.

Take it Easy

In Take it Easy by Eagle-Gryphon Games, each player individually completes a hexagon-shaped board that contains spaces for 19 tiles. One player randomly draws a tile and announces it, and all players add the equivalent tile to their board, trying to connect colored lines edge to edge. After all the tiles have been drawn and placed, players score points for unbroken lines of the same color that span the full board in any direction.

Augustus

In Augustus by Hurrican Games, players start the game with 3 objectives to conquer and 7 legions. A town crier draws one of the 23 mobilization tokens from a bag and all players have the opportunity to either mobilize or move the selected legion. A joker token allows players to mobilize or move the legion of their choice. The game ends when a player has completed all 7 objectives.

If you’re tired of the same old game of Bingo, give one of these games a try. With a base mechanic that is familiar to most people, these games will be easy to teach while offering a great entry point into the amazing world of modern casual gaming.