Review: Mystic Market from ThinkFun

Mystic Market Afternoon
Photo-A-Day 2.0 #00234

We received a free copy of the new ThinkFun game, Mystic Market to review. The opinions are our own.

It was a hot day so we decided to gather the whole family into our bedroom and enjoy the air conditioning. We set up Mystic Market and I read out the directions so we all learned how to play. The game play is a bit challenging at first but we all picked it up pretty quickly, including Andrew who is 7. the game is rated for ages 10 and up. There is a good bit of strategy and timing to this game. There is also a lot of luck.

In the marketplace you can buy special ingredients to make potions. You earn money from either selling ingredients or using potions that you have crafted. The value of each ingredient shifts throughout the game. You may be gathering a specific ingredient because it is the highest vale but when it is your turn the value may have changed because the player before you caused a shift in the prices. Things are not certain in this game. they constantly change. That is part of the fun. You may make a killing selling one item but you may also lose all your money chasing the wrong thing.

Then there are the potions. You can craft potions to help you get ahead and to thwart the other players. Some potions even get you more money.

Mystic Market

I chose this game because of the magical aspect of it. Eva and Andrew are both into Harry Potter and Percy Jackson so fantasy and magic are on their minds. I also liked the way it sneaks in learning about commodities. You could definitely use this game to start a conversation about the stock market and more.

Mystic Market
Craft Your Fortune!

Mystic Market is an exciting fast-paced card game where players buy and sell magical Potion-making Ingredients. The unique Value Track ensures that the Ingredients’ values will be constantly shifting, so only the shrewdest of traders will prevail.

Type: Card Games Family Games Logic Games New Games
Skill: Logic and Problem Solving
Age: 10 and Up
Players: 2 to 4 Players
Features:

  • Value Track
  • 6 Ingredient Vials
  • 66 Ingredient Cards
  • 20 Potion Cards
  • 6 Supply Shift Cards
  • 4 Reference Cards
  • 75 Coins

MSRP: $17.99 – You can purchase Mystic Market through our Amazon.com affiliate link.

Back to School Shopping

Back to School Shopping
Photo-A-Day 2.0 #00233

It is that time once again to pile everyone into the car and go to Target to get Back-To-School supplies. While this is often a frustrating event. For example why do teachers ask you to get markers and crayons in numbers that they are no longer packaged! Have they strolled through a Target in the past 5 years? I think that was the last time I eve say a package of 8 markers or crayons. I’d be fine to just get the kids the big pack of crayons but nope, can’t do that. Ugh. So we get the next closest number to what was requested.

I am glad that we do not have to get a lot of clothes for school. The uniform thing really helps in that way. Just some shoes and maybe a few other things but it wasn’t too crazy a shopping trip overall. The kids got everything on their lists and maybe a few extras but most was under control.