Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Play

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Screenwise Verdict

This is what a good family board game looks like in 2025. It's fast, it's cooperative, it doesn't overstay its welcome, and it actually teaches useful life skills (making decisions under pressure, communicating efficiently, managing stress).

The 5-minute timer is genius—when you lose, you're not stuck in a 90-minute slog. You just shuffle up and try again. The cooperative nature means nobody gets eliminated or left behind, and the real-time chaos creates genuine excitement without creating bad blood between players.

It's not the most imaginative or deep game—you're essentially playing cards to match symbols under time pressure—but it does what it does really well. The BGG rating of 6.9 is solid (not spectacular, but very good), and with 22,000+ people owning it and a 4.8 Amazon rating, it's clearly resonating with families.

If your kids handle time pressure well and you want something that gets everyone talking and laughing (and occasionally yelling in a good way), this is a keeper.

Age Fit

Best for ages 8-14 as a family game, though the 8+ rating is spot-on. Younger kids can participate with help, but the reading speed and quick thinking required make it tough for under-7s. Teens and adults genuinely enjoy it, making it a solid family game night choice that doesn't feel like you're just humoring the kids.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

88

Cooperative gameplay that requires communication and teamwork to succeed. The frantic 5-minute timer creates excitement without toxicity—players win or lose together. Fantasy combat is abstract card-based mechanics, not graphic. Parent reviews highlight it brings families together with lots of laughs and encourages problem-solving as a team.

Imaginative

76

Fantasy dungeon-crawling theme with varied monsters and bosses to defeat. Real-time cooperative play requires quick strategic thinking and adaptation. However, it's a deck-based game with fixed challenges rather than open-ended creativity—you're working within the system rather than building something new. The imagination comes from the frantic collaborative problem-solving, not from creative expression.

Safe

92

Board games don't get much safer than this. Cooperative mechanics mean no player elimination or hurt feelings from direct conflict. Fantasy combat is entirely abstract (playing cards to defeat challenges). No gambling mechanics, no mature themes in artwork. The real-time pressure could frustrate younger kids, but that's a feature not a bug—it teaches stress management in a controlled, safe environment.

Enriching

81

Excellent for developing quick decision-making, communication skills, and collaborative problem-solving under time pressure. BGG complexity of 1.12 means it's accessible but still requires strategic thinking. Players must assess challenges at a glance and coordinate resources efficiently. The 5-minute rounds make it perfect for teaching kids to handle pressure without overwhelming them. Replayability is strong with multiple difficulty levels and bosses.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Pure cooperative chaos that forces kids (and adults) to communicate quickly and work as a team
5-minute rounds mean even when you lose, you can immediately try again without a huge time commitment
Teaches valuable skills: quick decision-making, resource management, and staying calm under pressure
Easy to learn (complexity 1.12/5) but genuinely engaging for adults too—this isn't just a 'kids game'
Multiple difficulty levels and bosses provide real progression and replayability

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What to Watch For

The real-time pressure can be stressful for kids who need more processing time or get anxious with timers
Younger kids (under 8) might struggle with the pace and card-reading speed required
Some families might find the frantic shouting overwhelming rather than fun—know your household's chaos tolerance

Conversation Starters

"What was our best moment of teamwork? When did we really nail the communication?"
"Which boss is the hardest? What strategy should we try next time?"
"How do you decide which card to play when everything is happening so fast?"
"Is it better to save our special abilities or use them right away?"

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