Wouter & Ymke 
In Forever Home, players step into the shoes of dedicated caregivers at a local animal shelter, working diligently to train dogs and help them find the homes they deserve. The objective is simple yet heartwarming: to earn reputation points by successfully training the dogs using training cards, matching them with the suitable homes represented by home cards, and meeting various challenges to secure commendations from the shelter.
👥 1-5 players, ages 8+
⌛ Playing time: 20-45 minutes
📝 Designers: Lottie & Jack Hazell
🎨 Artwork: Dann May, Dominique Vassie
🏢 Publisher: Birdwood Games (Review copy provided)
https://birdwoodgames.com/
On each turn, players can perform two out of three possible actions, and they can choose to repeat one if it aligns with their strategy. The actions include selecting a dog from the central area to be placed in your shelter grid, picking a training card from the central pool to aid in your training endeavors, or moving a dog within your shelter grid to better align with your strategy.
🐾 As you train these dogs, utilizing training cards to guide and monitor their progress becomes vital. These cards, which display varying patterns and stipulate the number of dogs assigned to a home as well as the reputation points garnered, play an essential role in getting the dogs ready for their future adoption.
🏡 As players advance in their mission, the home cards come into play. These cards symbolize potential families and homes eagerly waiting to adopt a furry companion. Matching a dog with a home isn’t just about completion but about ensuring the prerequisites of the home card are met. This ensures a happy match and garners valuable reputation points for the player.
🥇 But there’s more than just training and rehoming at play. The shelter, keen on ensuring the best for its dogs, introduces commendations — a series of challenges for players to target. From training specific types of dogs to rehoming them in various settings, these commendations add some competition and push players to diversify their approach.
⏳ The end of the game is triggered when a player completes seven training cards, with gameplay continuing until all players have an equal number of turns before wrapping up. Winning isn’t just about quick completion but about strategy, with scores being tallied based on the reputation points earned from successful training, commendations, and effective rehoming.
🐩 For those who master the basic gameplay and seek a heightened challenge, Forever Home also offers an advanced version, introducing a more intricate shelter grid on the back of the player boards.
In Forever Home, a family game designed by Lottie and Jack Hazell and published by Birdwood Games, players immerse themselves in the nurturing role of caregivers at a dog shelter. Following up on their previous success with Dog Park, they stick to the lovable dog theme, this time focusing on the rehabilitative journey of stray dogs finding their forever homes. Suitable for 1 to 5 players aged eight and above, the game is set to hit retail stores on the 22nd of September.
📘 The rulebook is straightforward and concise, making it easy to learn and teach, which is a boon for family settings where the players may range from youngsters to adults. This simplicity encourages players to quickly immerse themselves in the gameplay, characterized by its abstract nature. At the core of this light family game are tile placement, set collection, and open drafting mechanics, where every turn forms a piece of a larger, charming puzzle. Players are encouraged to balance and strategize their moves, focusing on placing dogs in their shelters and acquiring suitable training cards to garner the most reputation points.
⏳ Despite a stated playtime ranging from 20 to 45 minutes, most gaming sessions wrap up in under half an hour, marking Forever Home as a convenient choice for a quick yet fulfilling gaming experience. The gameplay leans towards individual strategy development and board management, offering limited but meaningful interactions between players. The friendly competition introduced through the drafting and the pursuit of commendations keeps players engaged as they strive to achieve varied objectives as the game progresses.
🐾 For those looking for a bit more challenge, the game offers an advanced shelter option. This not only caters to seasoned players but also enhances the game’s longevity and appeal. It presents a more intricate grid on the flip side of player boards, which introduces special skill spaces that bring additional strategic approaches, keeping the gameplay fresh and interesting in subsequent plays.
🎨 Adding to the game’s charm is the heartwarming artwork crafted by Dann May and Dominique Vassie. The visual elements blend seamlessly with the theme, featuring delightful dog illustrations and patterns that are captivating and fun to explore. The standout dog meeples add to the game’s visual appeal and enhance the overall thematic feel.
🏡 Forever Home is a gentle yet engaging pattern-building game that perfectly aligns with family-friendly gaming nights. Its short gameplay time and relaxing nature make it an excellent choice for unwinding after a bustling day or enjoying a peaceful weekend morning with the family. As a touching journey into the world of dog rescue and recovery, it brings smiles and light-hearted competition for players of all ages.
📝 Note: A review copy of this game was provided by Birdwood Games, for which we’d like to extend our gratitude.
