The Hunger Games: Training Days Strategy Game

by NECA

• From the best selling book comes the hunger Games: Training Days Strategy Game
• Coinciding with the final book in the trilogy being released this Fall
• Training Days game allows 2 - 6 players to follow in the footsteps of their favorite tributes
• High quality from WizKids / NECA
• Great gift

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 2 inches ; 1.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: 1935693115
• Item model number: 70163
• Manufacturer recommended age: 14 years and up
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106,714 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

From the best selling book comes the hunger Games: Training Days Strategy Game. Coinciding with the final book in the trilogy being released this Fall. Training Days game allows 2 - 6 players to follow in the footsteps of their favorite tributes. High quality from WizKids / NECA.

Product Description

Based on the bestselling book The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, the Training Days game allows players to choose Tributes from their favorites Districts and challenge each other to matches of wits and skills. Hunger Games includes: 18 Tribute cards 45 Challenge cards 4 Reminder cards 3 Dice 1 Approval Rating Card Effort tokens and score tracking tokens

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

127 of 130 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars The Hunger Games, the Game! (Hrm, sounds silly when I say that out loud....) August 6, 2010

By Christopher Lingel

Durability: 4.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 2.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 4.0 out of 5 stars   

So I'm wandering through my local bookstore and decide to check out the Young Adult shelves, and I stop dead in my tracks. "Seriously?" I ask myself, "No, really. Seriously? A Hunger Games board game?" But there it was. My eyes gave proof to the reality. My friends, it is true: there is a Hunger Games board game. Why does it exist? The cynic in me acknowledges that with the final book due to hit shelves later this month, the games arrival in stores (along with t-shirts and mockingjay pins) is hardly a coincidence.

If you haven't read the books, don't bother with the game. It's not for you. If you have read the books, then whether or not this *is* for you depends on how much you like the books. I consider myself to be an avid fan, yet I purchased it primarily out of curiosity. It's inexpensive as far as games go ($20) and it certainly wouldn't be the worst impulse purchase I've ever made. (That honor probably goes to a Pog collector's kit purchased when I was in 7th grade. Remember Pogs? No? Figures.)

But the game. Yes, the game.

"The Hunger Games: Training Days" itself does not involve the arena, but -- as the title suggests -- focuses on the days of training. Predicably, you assume the role of a tribute from one of the districts of Panem. The winner of the game is the one who finishes training with the most popularity with the Capitol audience. Each round, several "event" cards are turned up. These can be straightforward (Show off your knot-tying ability), to forging an alliance with another tribute (thereby gaining some of their talents), to special (opening ceremonies, the reaping). After the cards have been turned up, players will take turns bidding on the event they want. Win an event, and your favor with the capitol audience rises.... Fail to win the event, and your effort goes wasted.

Ultimately, I admit that I found there to be genuine strategy to it. There were many times when there's the "safe" play of devoting yourself to winning a single card, but...if you play things just right, it's possible to take them all. Of course, if that goes wrong, you may end up with nothing. There were some turns I spent considerable time thinking about my play. I enjoy games that make me think, and consider that to be a mark in this game's favor.

Unfortunately, there are some flaws. The tributes are not at all balanced. (Hint: You want to be the female tribute from District 12) I can understand wanting to maintain integrity with the book, but as Katniss so often mentions during her time in the arena, the Hunger Games are hardly fair. I wouldn't go so far as to call the game unfair, but it certainly isn't balanced. As an example: each tribute has certain events that they can claim automatic victory. However, some tributes (such as the female from 12) can do this for cards that are significantly more valuable than the cards other tributes are able to win.

The other flaw with the game is the font and type size on the cards. It is very difficult to read the cards from any distance greater than 12 inches. They are fine when the cards are in front of you, but since many of your decisions will be influenced by the cards that others possess, expect to spend *alot* of time asking "What does that card do?" and "Can I see that again?" Also, though the game indicates 2-6 players, try to bring 4 to your first session. That's really where the best balance appears to be.

In the end though, I enjoyed the game, and will play it again. It's a novelty item: better than some I've seen, but not the worst either.

The choice of whether to pick this up depends entirely on your level of fandom. Really, you probably made the decision the moment you realized the game existed. I will say this though -- if you're thinking about picking this up, get it soon, as I can't imagine this game will be in print for very long. If you do pick it up, well then....good luck, and may the odds ever be in your favor! Read more ›

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hunger Games fans will love this game! August 17, 2010

By J. Gonyeau

Durability: 4.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 4.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

WizKids Games has a proud history of producing board games (Tsuro, Oshi) that are a lot of fun and involve strategy without being complicated or inaccessible to the average player. In that tradition, The Hunger Games: Training Days lives up to its predecessors marvelously!

I had the opportunity to play this game at GenCon and I have to say that I enjoyed it very much! I found the premise to be very interesting, the mechanics very accessible, the strategy surprisingly complex (without being complicated), and the gameplay exciting.

Having not read the books, I was concerned I would be lost during gameplay. Fortunately, the game is so well designed that both fans and those who have not read the series (like me) will find themselves engrossed in scoring allies, winning events, and increasing their Approval Ratings through all three "Training Days".

This game made me think without it being too lofty or complicated, and that is the benchmark of an enjoyable game that I will play over and over again.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hunger Games- strategic entertainment August 17, 2010

By EmmaG

Durability: 4.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 4.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

The Hunger Games- Training Days is an exciting strategic experience. Each player plays a tribute from a different district and competes in all sorts of challenges from weight lifting to eye-catching attire! It's very simple to learn the rules, but as the training days progress and characters begin to gain special abilities, attributes, and allies, things become very interesting. There are elements of chance for sure, but it's all about playing to your strengths and your opponents weaknesses. It's simple enough for older kids to play, but the game can become complex enough to challenge the most skilled adult gamers. The game is more fun with many players, and is an all around good time whether you are familiar with the books or not!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not without faults, but a worthwhile game for fans July 22, 2011

By Bruce Munro Ludders

Durability: 2.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 3.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 3.0 out of 5 stars   

I bought this game to play with my family, the members of which are also big "Hunger Games" fans. This game is fun and I am pleased I decided to purchase it, but is not without its disappointments.

First and foremost, I was really upset that they didn't include tribute (player) cards from every district. Tributes from Districts 5, 6, and 9, are not included in the game. Personally I found this frustrating because I want to learn more about the Districts that were not heavily involved in the plot of the book series (namely 5, 6, and 9). But more so, I paid $25 for this game -- I want all 12 Districts represented! Obviously, though, they're not, but I suppose this is not a big deal as there are 9 other districts to choose from.

On top of that, all the pieces are made of a thick cardboard that can easily become frayed or bent if not cared for properly (my player cards actually arrived a little curved in the box). This isn't a big deal as the readers of the series are likely old enough to know how to care for bendable board games, but nonetheless this is something to be aware of before purchasing.

I was a little annoyed at the balance (or in this case, lack thereof) between the tributes from different Districts. I suppose this reflects the reality of the Hunger Games -- tributes from Career Districts, for example, have many advantages over other Tributes -- but in the game it makes it a lot less fun for those stuck playing as a weak tribute. But also, some of the stats don't make sense. Naturally the tributes from District 1 and 11 are really powerful, while tributes from less plotline-important Districts such as 8 are weak and don't have any great special abilities to make up for their lack of power.... Another example: in the books, Katniss often mentions how District 12 tributes are very disadvantaged in the Games compared to other tributes, yet in the board game both tributes from 12 are very powerful.

Overall this game is fun, and its setup is interesting. It's very much an intellectual game; in order to win you must be able to predict what the other players will do by dissecting their strategy. It is very easy for one district (granted, the more powerful ones like 12 and 1) to become overpowered, but if each player plays as a tribute from a powerful District and you limit the number of Special Event cards one player can have, the balance between characters remains fair and keeps the play interesting. If you're not sure whether to get it or not, I say go for it, just be sure to take those two steps I mentioned to ensure fun and fair gameplay. Read more ›