Cheeky Monkey - Gryphon Bookshelf Edition

The Gryphon Games Bookshelf series is all about games that are easily learned, fun to play, and ideal for families and non-gamers, while still being games that offer more decisions than many luck-based titles. It includes favourites like For Sale, High Society, Incan Gold, Botswana, Wyatt Earp, and more, and now consists of over 20 titles. I was very pleased when I heard that Cheeky Monkey is one of the newest members of this series, because it's a game I was already very familiar with, and is a fun family game.OVERVIEWThe instructions open up to a single double sided sheet of card, and are easily learned, with no rule changes from previous editions. In turns players are drawing animal tokens from a bag, increasing their stash of animals. But if you press your luck too far and draw an animal matching one you've already drawn that turn, you lose everything you've gained that turn. There are also ways to steal tokens from other players, and to get bonuses at the end of the game for being the player with the most tokens of a particular animal.COMPONENTSThe new edition comes in a box matching the size and shape of all the other games in the Gryphon Games Bookshelf series. It's very portable, solid, and I just love the playful artwork, which captures the theme of the game very nicely.All the tokens in the game are made out of thick cardboard, and show the same image on both sides. There are eight different animals altogether: an Elephant, Walrus, Giraffe, Zebra, Kangaroo, Wild Pig, Wild Dog, and Monkey. Most importantly, the animal tokens are stackable, so the cardboard works fine. The drawstring cloth bag from which you'll be taking out the tokens on your turn is brightly coloured in yellow, which helps enhance the playful feel of the game.IMPRESSIONSMy opinion of the game hasn't really changed over the years. It's an excellent family game with a big kid-appeal due to the bright colours, the animals, and the simple rules. The absence of any written text also makes it easily accessible to young children, for whom some simplified rules have been included if you find them necessary. Press-your-luck games nearly always prove to be fun for families and non-gamers, and this one is no exception. Yet there's also a few interesting elements that add to the interaction, especially the ability to steal animals from the top of your opponents' pile.This game is a perfect fit for the Gryphon Games Bookshelf series, and totally fits the market that this series is geared towards, with a style of game that is quick, fun, attractive, and perfect for families and non-gamers. The game has already had more than one edition in the past, and while each version has its strengths and weaknesses, there's no doubt that this one does the job just fine. It fits nicely inside the box, has a bright and cheerful look, and should prove durable.RECOMENDATIONSo is the new edition of Cheeky Monkey for you? If you already own a previous edition of this game, then you already know its strengths, and there's no need to get this new edition, unless you absolutely have to have it in the Gryphon Games Bookshelf series box. I'm just glad to see this entertaining family game stay in print, and hope that having it as part of the Gryphon Games Bookshelf series will help more people discover the fun that can be had with Cheeky Monkey!