Review -- 10 DAYS

Some games spawn sequels in droves and the '10 Days In …' franchise is one of those.
The latest offering is 10 Days in the Americas, a 2010 release from Out of the Box Publishing, which follows earlier incarnations such as 10 Days in Africa, Asia and Europe.
"Players use country and transportation tiles to chart a course across the America. The first player to complete a 10-day journey, where each day connects to the next day, is the winner," explained the rule sheet.
Now if the starter objectives of the game don't excite you, it's with good cause. The game is a tad hoohum folks, which is a bit surprising given how they have re-created the theme repeatedly. You would expect you'd retread a winner, not a sort of middle-of-the-road, play only on occasion type of game.
Components wise 10 Days … is solid. The wooden tile holders are actually more than you would expect of the game, and are the sort of game accessory you will find useful in other games which don't prove a convenient way to hold tiles and/or cards.
Of course if tile holders are a highlight it does say something about the game too.
The rest of the bits, board, tiles are well-made too, so this game should last.
Designed by Alan R. Moon and Aaron Weissblum 10 Days accommodates two-to-four players, and at least plays rather quickly, about half-an-hour.
The game is unusual in that what appears the game board is actually only a geographic guide.
The game actually plays by simply drawing tiles and hoping to make connections for a 10-day trip. It's pretty much the luck of the draw and grows sort of tedious rather quickly if you like to think during a game.
Now if you want to talk the weather, or fate of your favourite sports team as you game then 10 Days … has greater merit.

-- Review appeared in Yorkton This Week newspaper June 15, 2011 - Yorkton, SK. Canada