Welcome to Which Game First where we boldly explore the hilariously huge world of board games. Did we unearth any hidden treasures you’ve been missing out on? Let’s find out!

First: We hope to take winning from a thought experiment to reality in Schrödinger’s CatsNext: We get to the textile markets early to become the finest tailor of the season in Rococo: Deluxe EditionLastly: We trade a big heavy ball for some nice light dice in Bowlet

Schrödinger’s Cats

Designed by: Heather O’Neill, Christopher O’Neill, Heather WilsonPublished by: 9th Level Games (2015)Players: 2 – 6Ages: 8 & upPlaying time: 10 – 30 min

Schrödinger’s Cats is a card game of strategic uncertainty. Your bluffing and deduction skills will need to be at the ready.

Players are dealt a hand of cards. There are 4 different cards: live cats, dead cats, empty boxes, and Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle (wild cards).

Players are also assigned one Cat Physicist such as Albert Felinestein, Sally Prride, or Neil deGrasse Tabby, each of them possessing a special ability to help improve their hands. These cards can only be played once per game!

In turn order, players will bid a quantity and type of card (such as 2 alive cats). The bid is a reflection of how many of those cards are in all the player’s hands. The bidding continues around and around until a player calls out “Show Us What You Got”, and then everyone reveals their hand of cards.

If the bidder wins, then the person who called them out loses one of their 2 cat lives. If the bidder comes up short, they lose one of their 2 cat lives. Any player who loses 2 cat lives is eliminated from play.

Last cat standing wins the game, and all uncertainty collapses into the particle AND the wave that is Schrödinger’s Cat.

Rococo: Deluxe Edition

Designed by: Matthias Cramer, Stefan Malz, Louis MalzPublished by: Eagle-Gryphon Games (2020)Players: 1 – 5Ages: 14 & upPlaying time: 60 – 120

Rococo: Deluxe Edition is a deck-building, resource management game in which you are the owner of a distinguished tailoring business in 1740 France, endeavoring to increase your prestige. In just a few weeks, Louis XV is hosting the final Grand Ball of the season, and everyone is clamoring for you to provide them with an elegant frock coat here, a sumptuous gown there, or even a small sum to fund the great fireworks display. 

Each turn, you play an employee card that allows you to perform a task, such as hiring a new employee for your staff, tailoring exquisite gowns and frock coats to rent or sell, or funding some of the many decorations. However, employees are not always able to perform all tasks, so you must plan carefully how you direct them, especially as each employee grants a unique bonus — including some that generate prestige.

The Grand Ball ends after seven rounds with a huge fireworks display and final scoring. You will gain prestige points for the sumptuous gowns and frock coats you have rented out to guests at the ball, certain employee bonuses, and the festive decorations you have funded. Whoever has collected the most prestige at the end of the game wins, and may loudly exclaim that Savoir Faire is Everywhere!

Bowlet

Designed by: (uncredited)Published by: The Bowlet Company (1931)

Bowlet is a dice game in which you are hitting the alleys with all the skill of a professional bowler, and at the same time, none of the skill of a professional bowler. 10 dice in all; 8 light colored dice each with 5 ...