As a lifelong gamer, I’ve always taken great pleasure in introducing others to tabletop games. Whether playing miniatures games, board games, or card games, I’ve always felt driven to share my passion and hobby with others. There is nothing better than seeing the spark in someone’s eyes as they suddenly “get” a game. Not only does it mean there’s now one more person who understands and enjoys the hobby I love, it also means there’s one more person for me to play with.

Of course, parenthood has only amplified this anticipation and excitement. While my boys, at ages two and four, are still too young to command their own WARMACHINE or High Command armies, I was absolutely thrilled that this year marked the release of our newest (and my family’s favorite) Bodgers game, Zombies Keep Out.

Having worked in education before coming aboard Privateer Press, I have developed a whole slew of tricks for teaching games to younger audiences. I’m proud to say the school I worked at in the Twin Cities hosted a very popular after-school gaming club, run by another teacher and me, where we played everything—including WARMACHINE and HORDES—with kids ranging from ages eight to thirteen. In my experience, kids are far more intelligent and adaptive than adults typically give them credit for being, capable of grasping even complex concepts when they’re broken down into easier-to-understand pieces.

Zombies Keep Out was exciting to me for a number of reasons. First, both of my boys LOVE zombies. Second, with very few changes, Zombies Keep Out is perfectly accessible to my four year old. And third, unlike games “made for kids,” a qualifier which instantly seems to turn off the interest of said kids it was made for, this is a “Daddy” game, and therefore the coolest and most exciting thing in the world.

At its core, Zombies Keep Out is all about choices. What Terrible Thing do you pick? Which zombie type do you add to the board? Do you Tinker, Scrounge, or Defend on your turn?

With the exception of the Terrible Things cards and the Push the Button text, everything in Zombies Keep Out can be boiled down to very basic visual/spatial concepts. Colors are a primary language for the game, indicating the type of Zombie or the Parts you need for a specific Contraption—things that are right up a four year old’s alley.

So, how do I play Zombies Keep Out with my oldest boy? Overall, it’s pretty simple and infinitely rewarding.

1. Read the Terrible Things choices aloud to them. Then boil down the text into simple choices. “Add two Runners to the Window Columns, Add a Brute to the Door Column, or Add a Leaper to the Balcony Column,” becomes “Do you want to add two grey zombies here and here? Do you want to add a red zombie here? Or do you want to add a blue zombie here?” (Illustrating each of the options visually with pointing). Then let them pick. If they get to choose where to put the zombies in any way, let them. Also, if there is an option that can’t be done, still read it and explain it to them like normal, but then let them know why they can’t choose that one.
2. Follow the exact steps for the Bodge step of their turn. Give them all their choices in simple, illustrative language, and let them pick. (You’ll also notice the sword and gun on the table. When Defending or Pushing the Button these are used for extra dramatic effect!)
3. Rinse and repeat until the game ends.

Yes, your little ones will probably make unsound decisions that will lead to everyone’s brain being eaten in many games. But that’s actually a great outcome if you take the time to explain why you are losing the game. Not by using “you” language—“You put that zombie in a stupid spot” or “It was dumb of you to take that bite, who wants to be bitten by a zombie!?” (the answer is every four year old ever, apparently)—but by using general explanations. “Well, by putting the blue zombie there, it let him break down the barricade right away” or “Since taking a bite from the zombie, I can no longer trade parts with you.” It’s important to let them connect the dots as to why their actions led to the consequences that occurred. If you do, you’ll be amazed at how quickly even a four year old will start to pick up on good versus bad choices.

So, that’s it: my simple formula for sharing gaming passion with your kids, nieces, nephews, or whatever relation the children in your life may be.

Passing on the passion for the table,
Will