While collecting the Rivals Editions, a Hasbro game called Pictureka came up. Turns out, this 2006 game by designers Glenn D’Hondt, Arne Lauwers, and Sylvia Meert, two of which also did the artwork, fits the profile of what I am researching. It has multiple versions, including a card game, a Kube game (not dice), and even a few Intellectual Properties thrown in for good measure.

What struck me was, I had never heard of this game, and it is almost 20 years old, and I did not recognize the box art once I looked into it.

In Pictureka, you and your opponents race to find things in the very busy tiles that make up the board. The game’s tagline is: Find it Fast! Find it First! I procured both the original game and the Rivals Edition, to see what I had been missing.

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I cannot remember exactly how I heard of Sub Search, a 1973 Milton Bradley release by an uncredited designer and artist. I am sure it was some book I was reading that talked about games that are similar to Battleship. Anyway, when I looked into it, Sub Search looked like a 3D take on the beloved classic. Battleship is a staple in my family. We even have a travel version or road trips. I scoured the internet, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to pull the trigger. Then, my game dealer (like a drug dealer, but not as unhealthy or illegal) got a copy, and I couldn’t resist.
Oddly, it sat unplayed for months. After Edward and I played through the entire Rivals Edition series, we needed a break from the classics. Yet, Sub Search, in its overly large box, stared at us until we gave in.

In Sub Search, you and your rival naval commander are trying to rid the other of their fleet of either the boats or the subs to claim victory in the seas. Launch torpedoes, drop depth charges, and place your mine on your quest for ocean superiority.

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Edward and I have continued our quest to play all the Rivals Editions. This time, we sat down to solve the famous murder of Mr. Boddy, with Clue: Rivals Edition. There are few changes from the original game. Some for the two-player rework, some for…no apparent reason.

In Clue: Rivals Edition, you and your Rival are trying to solve the same mystery that has been happening for close to 80 years. Mr. Boddy has invited six people over to his mansion, and one of them has killed him. As usual, you must figure out who did it, with which of the six weapons, and at which of the seven locations in the one room. It sounds weird, but let’s see how it went.

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