iPhone: Board Games !!! Review

 The equivalent to your local Walgreens board game mega pack

• Game: Board Games !!! (v1.0.2)
  
• Developer: Samir
• Price (at time of review): Free
• Release Date: 10/1/2009

Board Games !!! is a collection of nine different board games including checkers, chess, and othello.  The board games are either hit or miss in functionality and the difficulty level is very inconsistent. The production value is very low and it really shows when you dive head first into the game.

One of the biggest problems with Board Games !!! is that the controls aren’t always as responsive as one would want, making these simple games frustrating. Chess can be particularly annoying and may fill you with the desire to throw your iPhone into a bundle of pillows (safety first). The AI is rather inconsistent and while some games feature a rather challenging experience, others are embarrassingly easy; the blitzkrieg strategy should never work in a chess game.

Board Games !!! is a single-player only game, so don’t expect to be able to play your friends over wi-fi or Bluetooth. I wouldn’t consider the lack of multi-player to be an issue if the AI was consistently challenging or adjustable, but due to its inconsistent play, the lack of multi-player is a big letdown. The game is also very ugly in certain situations, showing outlines that really stick out and give the game an unprofessional feel.

With all that being said, the game is free and may satisfy some board game enthusiasts, but there are many better options available in the app store.  There’s no reason not to try it out when it costs you nothing (except for your time), just don’t expect to be blown away by Board Games !!!.