Board Game Review from 7yo Owen: Toy Battle

"Toy battle is fun"

Owen liked the Troops, the board selection and the card draw mechanics. This sums up the experience for many players! Toy Battle has quickly become a favourite for kids thanks to its quick turns, colourful components, and engaging strategy that’s easy to pick up. The game encourages creative tactics and rewards smart choices—perfect for younger players who enjoy thinking a few moves ahead.

"Except when you lose."

Owen sometimes finds it tricky to win, in part because his mum is quite a schemer and often uses the right pieces to get her way to his HQ! Like many strategy games, there’s a learning curve, and part of the fun is getting better each time you play. It’s nice that Toy battle is a quick game, which makes getting in another round pretty easy.

"The best terrain for blue is Caribbean Sea"

This is because the red has only one HQ but Blue has two, which lets you attack down a path they are not on! Terrain placement and bonuses can make or break your turn, and Toy Battle rewards knowing your map. The Caribbean Sea region is a favorite —especially for Blue players looking for strong positioning early on.

"The troops are good"

The best troops in Owen's opinion are Hook (because he can be placed outside the placement rules, pretty cool) Skulky (Because he lets you pick up two toys! Resources and pushing the front line, good deal!), XB20 (because he can make your opponent discard a good troop!) and Jumbo (because when you place him down a troop adjacent gets discarded! A good way to break enemy lines.) 

"Here is the best tip only pick up when you need to."

If you pick up your opponent gets an advantage, because you get less placements on the board! So being careful about when you do is an excellent strategic tip! A lot of Toy Battle’s charm lies in its deceptively simple mechanics—waiting to pick up units or cards until the perfect moment often means the difference between victory and defeat. 

"Tip for your First game I suggest playing without special base effects."

Wise advice for new players. I can also recommend disabling base effects for your first few rounds—this helps new players learn the core gameplay without being overwhelmed. Simpler setups make the game more welcoming and give everyone a chance to learn the ropes.