Lairs

Lairs is one of those little games that does not need to be taken overly seriously for everyone to have a great time. It felt like Battleship to me, except that instead of hunting ships, I am hunting dungeons full of monsters and loot — and that change alone makes it far more distinctive.

Each player secretly builds their own dungeon behind a screen. It is a simple but effective idea: you prepare your creation without the other player knowing what awaits them, and the game immediately gains that little tension of hidden information.

Then we move on to the attack: with paper and pencil, each player runs through the other player's creation. That is where Lairs finds its enjoyable interaction, as you try to discover what your opponent has set up and make your way through their dungeon. Its mechanisms feel fresh and distinctive without weighing down what is otherwise a quick two-player game.

This is not a game for deep strategic contemplation; it is a game for having a good time. Quick, enjoyable, and very clever in its central idea, I wholeheartedly recommend it — especially if you want something light that leaves room for surprises and smiles.