The Once Upon a Time card game, like Enchanted Forest, has been around for several years, first released in 1996. I have had many teachers and families tell me that they have enjoyed this game over the years. It's the one I've had the most feedback for so I didn't want to neglect it during my postings about games and toys with fairy tale themes this month. This game is for older children and up. It generally doesn't easily adapt well for the pre-reading set.
Here's the official description:
Once Upon A Time is a game in which the players create a story together, using cards that show typical elements from fairy tales. One player is the Storyteller, and creates a story using the ingredients on her cards. She tries to guide the plot towards her own ending. The other players try to use cards to interrupt her and become the new Storyteller. The winner is the first player to play out all her cards and end with her Happy Ever After card.
There are also two expansion packs, one with additional themes that are called "dark" by the producer, Atlas Games, but not generally considered as such by players. Several have complained that the elements aren't dark enough and expect different elements but still like having more cards to use all the same.
There is also a "draw your own" pack for those who like matching sets but want to add their own elements to the game.
Once Upon a Time: Dark Tales
Once Upon a Time: Create-Your-Own Storytelling Cards
Love love love love love this game. It's wonderful not only as a game with multiple players but as a way to jog your own creative story-telling thoughts; I've flipped through the deck during write-a-thons, played by drawing one card a time from the deck and including that element next into the story, and done a "five minute" story picking one element from each category and whipping them into a short fairytale. It's tons of fun to add layers to as well--we used to do the "college" version (the boys' dorm got to count for the "ruins" card). I even gave each of my bridesmaids a personalized deck of the create-your-own, filling them with inside jokes and the like. (Yes, that is how sadly obsessed I am.) In all, just a really versatile, enjoyable game for multiple ages, boys and girls alike. Thank you for bringing it to people's attention!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like so much fun! I love board & card games. Have you ever played Shadows over Camelot? http://www.amazon.com/Days-Wonder-Shadows-Over-Camelot/dp/B000809O54/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1258853222&sr=8-1
ReplyDeleteNot exactly Fairy Tale, but it's really a lot of fun!