Cape May

We had Plants vs Zombies; now we have Birds vs the Bogeyman. Cape May has me balancing property magnates with collectors taking photographs of rare birds—yes, exactly as it sounds. Whoever came up with that theme must have been boiling mushrooms, but at least the result looks very nice on the table, with production that makes a strong first impression.

At its core, it is a particularly light action-selection and area-majority game. I choose actions in order to develop my builder side, while also chasing the opportunities offered by photographing rare birds.

Interaction mainly comes from competing for areas and from who manages to establish the lead in them. It is not something that especially pressured or confused us: the game is cohesive in the way it plays, and its balance feels quite well worked out.

For more relaxed groups, or for those occasions when Scrabble or Monopoly might otherwise come out, Cape May is a very respectable choice. I enjoyed playing it and appreciated its good production, but it is not for our group. We had a good time; I just do not think any of us would ever ask for it to come back out.