Just as Fun and Without the Radiation

Disclosure

I think I was around 13 or 14 when I got my first real science kit. It was a chemistry set, and included all types of vials full of liquids and powders, a tiny bunsen burner and a booklet half full of safety warnings. Not bad for the early 80’s, as earlier versions included things like uranium ore and extremely powerful acids. It’s a miracle our parents didn’t glow in the dark, much less were still able to procreate.

Scratch that mad scientist itch with Nefarious by USAopoly. Create your own WMD and employ industrial spies without worrying about hurting anyone! - SahmReviews.comWe’ve tried introducing our girls to other kits like this, and have purchased ones for electronics, robotics and even crystals, but after played with once they end up gathering dust on the shelf. One thing we do have in common is the fantasy of becoming a mad scientist. I secretly admired Simon Bar Sinister from the Underdog cartoons. My girls regularly talk about Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz (Phineas and Ferb) and Dexter from Dexter’s Laboratory. So finding Nefarious by USAopoly, a game we could play together where we ALL get to be mad scientists, was nothing less than fate.

Fortunately your goal isn’t to destroy the world, but to be the first to build enough inventions to do so. Inventions cost money, and there aren’t too many job opportunities for an aspiring evil mind. During the game you must manage your income and expenses, trying to maximize your output (in inventions) better than all of your opponents.

Scratch that mad scientist itch with Nefarious by USAopoly. Create your own WMD and employ industrial spies without worrying about hurting anyone! - SahmReviews.com

Every player (up to six) receives an identical hand of four cards, each depicting one of the action options you have on a turn. During a round, every player selects one action and places it face down in front of them. When everyone is ready, all are revealed at the same time.

Scratch that mad scientist itch with Nefarious by USAopoly. Create your own WMD and employ industrial spies without worrying about hurting anyone! - SahmReviews.com

First, you might select “Espionage” to send a spy onto one of the four corresponding spots on the board. These match the actions on your card, and on subsequent rounds if one of the scientists on either side of you plays that card, you receive $1 for each spy you have placed there times the number of players (up to two) that played it.

You can’t be expected to build something without proper research, so this is another action you might select. When you do, simply draw another card from the invention pile and add it to your hand (and receive $2 for your efforts). Choosing the “Work” option simply awards you with $4, while the “Invent” card does exactly what you think it would – pay the listed fee on one of the invent cards in your hand and complete it, taking any listed bonuses immediately.

Scratch that mad scientist itch with Nefarious by USAopoly. Create your own WMD and employ industrial spies without worrying about hurting anyone! - SahmReviews.com

On each invention is a large number printed in the lower left part of the card. These represent victory points, and the first person to amass 20 points or greater wins the game. Because everyone plays their turn simultaneously, you can expect quick games of only 20-40 minutes!

Scratch that mad scientist itch with Nefarious by USAopoly. Create your own WMD and employ industrial spies without worrying about hurting anyone! - SahmReviews.com

We love when games include options to make every game unique, and Nefarious didn’t disappoint. Included is a deck of optional “Twist” cards that are drawn from before each game begins. Two cards are used per game and they can change the master rules dramatically. They might raise the pay you receive for work, add to the amount of victory points from inventions or even prevent you from taking the same action twice in a row.

Scratch that mad scientist itch with Nefarious by USAopoly. Create your own WMD and employ industrial spies without worrying about hurting anyone! - SahmReviews.com

After playing Nefarious a number of times at home and with our local game group, we feel it will become a great filler (short) option for when our brains are tired of the longer ones. We received an early production copy which has rather thin card stock, but heard online that this has been corrected for the copies on sale now. Either way, for under $30 this is one you should probably have in your collection if you have budding scientists in your family. Don’t let the age rating of 13+ scare you away, this can be easily enjoyed by the 10+ crowd.

Find a copy on Amazon or at your local game store. And be sure to check out the HUGE library of titles available from USAopoly – I’m sure you’ll recognize many classic favorites in current themes! They’re also very active on Facebook and Twitter – you’ll certainly want to be following them so you don’t miss their latest announcements!

19 thoughts on “Just as Fun and Without the Radiation

  1. Looks like a great game. I especially like where you said that although it says 13 it would work for 10 and up. I have an 11 year old who loves science and sometimes have trouble find the right thing that is not too young or too old. This sounds like a great fit for her.

  2. This sounds like a fun game. My son is 8 and is just starting to get into games like this – where you have to think or have some strategy. He also likes science so this one sounds perfect for him!

  3. I need me a new board game. With the weather outside I think the kids went through pretty much everything and anything we have. I guess, it’s a time for upgrade and luky me, both kids are are pretty much into sciency things!

  4. This is pure awesomeness! We love Doofenshmirtz, too and board games always win with my family. Also, any way I can support science education in a fun way with my kids I am all for it!
    🙂
    Traci

  5. This looks like a great addition to our family game nights. My son is really into science so he would love this game.

  6. Love the different type a game this. We are used to playing more main stream and now branching out to new types. Look’s very fun to play and engaging to play more than a few times.

  7. This sounds like a great game for me!! My grandchildren are to young for this one but I think my nieces and nephew would really enjoy this! Thank you for the reviews, I am really enjoying the detailed information to help in choosing Christmas gifts.

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