Diving into Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics was a joy. The package is a comprehensive collection of 51 games. While some of them are quite basic, the package offers an educational and fun approach into the history of board games throughout across the globe. It kind of took me back to the Wii console days where we would sit and play through Nintendo’s weird and wonderful selection of sports games. However, this time its bunch of boars games that had us slouched over the Nintendo Switch screen.
While it is hard to argue that Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics is a must-have for all Switch owners, fans of board games and especially family-oriented games will love this. From its fantastic presentation to its polished educational tutorials, there’s a lot of love been put into the game. You have your well-known favourites such as Texas Hold ‘Em and Chess. These are fun and easy to pick up and play. With that being said, the real magic is in the discovery of new games like the Japanese Hanafuda.
Throughout my time with the game, I would often launch a game and then suddenly remember seeing it somewhere in a movie of film. To be able to launch it and learn how to play it was wonderful. Every game is backed with a fantastic soundtrack and that fills you with a great feeling while challenging your partner to a game of Four-in-a-row. It also helps that almost every game feels as if it has been built from the ground up for the Switch. The great use of hardware makes the smaller details such as the rumbling of the Joy-Con while tossing the dice add to the experience.
Most games can also be played with the touch screen so no matter if you’re playing docked or handheld, it works. This adds to the overall accessibility of the game too as mostly everyone can touch a screen while using a controller can be tough for those who don’t play video games often. The same goes for the tutorials which often arrive during the weirdest games. When I say “weird” I mean the ones I had never heard about before. We then have the Assist Mode that helps by explaining some game’s mechanics such as where to move in Chess and why. While you play, you also learn even if you are somewhat adept in a specific game.
It all fits into Nintendo’s loving design traits and oozes personality. There’s also a range of rewards for playing games such as new avatar pieces for set games. This makes jumping from game to game always rewarding if not overwhelming at times.
Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics is all about its multiplayer and Clubhouse Games has done a great job making it easy to approach every game. Some games allow 4 players to use one Joy-Con breaking the restrictions when it comes to hardware ownership. Players can also share the game across Nintendo Switch consoles without owning the game thanks to the “Guest Pass” version of the game which can be downloaded from the eShop. No matter the game, there’s always a way to play it without being restricted due to you now owning or having the software or hardware. It is a great way to experience this collection.
As for the game variety, there’s a lot to love here. From the hardcore board games like Shogi to the well-known like Blackjack. There’s also some great arcade game like Team Tanks, Darts, Golf and even a Piano game. The variety is surely not lacking here at all.
Verdict
The real magic here is how Clubhouse Games managed to deliver such a great variety of games on the hardware without any of them feeling gimmicky. The game turns your Switch into a superb board game platform and while some of them may be a little “out there” they are all polished and presented in a great way. I learnt how to play games I had never heard of and for me, that is enough for the asking price.
This Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics review was based on a code sent to us by Nintendo
Available On: Nintendo Switch | Release Date: 5 June 2020 | Price: R729
