Games people play....

Games Magazine is exactly what you'd expect to see in a publication of that title, GAMES from cover to cover. I used to subscribe to this magazine years ago. After a while, I had a change of sorts, and found I preferred a publication devoted solely to "pencil puzzles" such as crosswords, or anagram puzzles. After finding an offer in my email box for a reduced cost magazine subscription, I decided to give Games another shot.

What does GAMES look like? GAMES is a 64 page magazine which is actually printed on 2 different paper stocks. Most of the magazine, including the cover, is printed on a high quality, full color paper. There is a pencil puzzle section inserted into the center of the magazine, which is printed on a good quality paper, in black and white.

Beginning with the cover of each issue, you'll find puzzles and games of every variety. The June cover, for instance, presents a visual maze type challenge. Another feature (which I've never felt confident enough to try!) is the contest featured in each issue. In this June issue the contest is "Calculatrivia" for a prize of $1,500. Good Luck!

The center pencil puzzle section contains old favorites such as word search, cryptograms and crosswords, but also throws in a challenging and pleasing selection of variety puzzles. My favorite is the "paint by numbers" puzzle, which is a take-off on a Japanese puzzle (you can get a Gameboy version called Mario Picross.) In the paint by numbers puzzle you complete a picture by filling in squares according to the number clues given. Addictive! There are also rhyming, picture, spiral and cryptic puzzles for solvers of all abilities, although I've found these to be more challenging than in most publications!

Tell me more! In addition to all these great solving challenges, GAMES magazine reviews popular and new games of all sorts, including video, board and card games. In the June issue, there are reviews of: "Tile Chess," "Anamorphic Jigsaw Puzzle," "The Sims" and "Crazy Taxi." Finally, you'll find articles like "Making Connections" which discusses the 20th Century's greatest contribution to strategy games.

I like to read the magazine from cover to cover. I'm always on the lookout for the "fake ad" feature (a fake advertisement is placed somewhere among the real ones, and you try to spot it!) After that, it's fair game! My daughter likes to do her favorites, I do mine, and my husband will even take a stab at the crossword puzzles from time to time.

If you're looking for pencil puzzles alone, or only one type of puzzle, GAMES is probably not for you. GAMES has what you want if you're looking for challenge, variety and quality!