Let the Games Begin!

Addictions and Obsessions are funny things; whether it be diving head first into a new book series (i.e. Twilight), eating my favorite pizza, or playing a new game, I can fall pretty hard for these things. This year, I discovered four new games this year that I'm crazy for.

1) My latest craze is Flood-it (available on facebook and iGoogle for me). The idea is to make the board turn all one color by clicking on a color bubble touching the one you're on. You always start in the upper right, so the green could turn either yellow or blue. If we picked blue, then you could turn your new connected line into green or purple. You have 25 moves to win the small board. Its addictive. My top score is 21 so far.
2) A few months ago I discovered Farmville on facebook after my friends kept inviting me to be their "neighbors". People send you animals and decorations for your farm, you make a profit off of the crops you grow and animals you raise, all to buy more stuff. I'm on level 21, with $83K in the bank. I only got into it b/c my friend Kate and my MIL also play, but now it is kind of a nuisance. I think I'm giving this one up for the holidays.

3) I discovered cryptograms toward the beginning of the year while playing one in the newspaper while on vacation. I LOVE them. They really make me think. I'm only good at the easy ones so far, some I can complete in under 1 minute. They can be frustratingly difficult to get through the pattern if you start off with a wrong letter assumption, but I do enjoy winning them.

4) The best group game I was introduced to (and subsequently had to own) is Apples to Apples. Everyone gets a set of 7 (depending on the number of people) cards to compete with and everyone takes turns being the "judge". The judge turns over the category card (i.e. "Hot"). All other players play a card (i.e. "Brad Pitt" or "Chili Peppers" or "Summer" or "Potato") that they think could match. The judge, not knowing who threw down what, picks their favorite and that player gets a point. Then the next person takes a turn being a judge. Its entertaining for all our friends and family, and can get quite competitive by playing the cards you think THAT person would agree with. If the person really HATED Brad Pitt, then the others would have a better chance at winning. I can't wait to play it again with another large group of people.