Shadows: Amsterdam

Shadows: Amsterdam is a real-time, picture-based communication game that's a ton of fun, especially with a larger group. I've played it with both 4 and 6 players, and I think it's best with a bigger group because there's more back and forth between teammates trying to decipher the clues.

The core of the game is pretty simple: two teams of detectives race to find three pieces of evidence and get back to their client before the other team does. One player on each team is the Intelligence Officer, who can't speak to their detectives but must use picture cards to give them clues about where to go. The detectives then try to figure out which space on the board the Intelligence Officer is pointing to.

The art style is really cool, and it reminds me a little of Zootopia – lots of anthropomorphic animals in interesting settings. The game is also well-made, with sturdy components and a lot of detail in the map tiles and picture cards.

One of the things that makes this game so interesting is that the map tiles are double-sided, and you only use 6 of the 7 available, meaning there's a ton of variety in setup. Add in the fact that you can also use different clue maps, and you're guaranteed to have a different game every time.

I do agree with some of the reviews that the game is best with more than 2 players, and 4 or 6 seems ideal. The two-player mode feels a little chaotic, but the multi-player game is a real blast. It's a great game for those who like Codenames or Mysterium, and I think it’s a fun way to get people who aren't big into board games engaged.