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I bought Niagara on a whim recently. I wanted something that I could use as filler on games night and also play with non-gamers like my family. I thought Niagara would fill this niche on novelty value alone.
One of the things that made me pick Niagara was the components. You don't get a huge amount in the box for the price but all the components are excellent. Not only do you get nice wooden canoes and translucent plastic gems, you also get to create a 3D waterfall by placing the board on top of the upturned box. It’s a very colourful and well put together game that should pique the curiosity of non-gamers. In fact, the guys I play with are all in their mid-late 20s and we all love watching canoes fall off the end of the board, it's got broad appeal.
Niagara is a simple pick up and deliver game with elements of hand management. The aim is to paddle your canoe up and down the river collecting gems and returning them to shore without falling over the waterfall. Players pick their moves simultaneously and in secret, then reveal them one at a time when they are played. This is one of those games where you carefully plan your turn down to the last detail and then watch it all go hilariously wrong time after time.
I played this game with 3 players and it was tremendous fun. It was easy to pick up and had enough direct competition to keep the game close and allow plenty of opportunities to steal each others gems. However if you have passive players it's easy to let victory slip away to somebody else because nobody is paying attention. I've found that in several games my group has played solitaire up until the point they've realised that somebody else is about to win and then things suddenly get frantic in the last couple of turns. The best games are when all players are actively interferring with one another from the start. This is definitely a game that gets better the more players you have. With only 2 players there wouldn’t be anywhere near enough competition to keep things interesting.
Niagara is a solid game that is well worth a look if you’re after something quirky and lightweight. It's a little pricey perhaps for something so light but well worth it if your players are hungry for new filler or if you want to break away from the family game night doldrums.
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Markus
Germany
Kaiserslautern
So this is my new overtext ? Hmmm...
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If you like Niagara you should try to get your hands on the expansion. It spices the game up a little bit and you get two additional boats for a 6th player. It's a bit pricey though when not buying it second hand.
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john f stup
United States
damascus
Maryland
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what other game has a moving waterfall!!
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Donald Dennis
United States
Pawleys Island
South Carolina
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There is an expansion that adds more positions? I did not know that.
How doe sit fit in the box?
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