Source: Buffalo Games
Exclusive
Time to run interference and get these football-themed games.
It’s well known across the nation that football is America’s favorite pastime. Whether you’re watching the game at a sports bar or watching the action live at the stadium, no other game fosters a strong sense of community and energizes audiences nationwide.
During football season, many viewers watch and cheer for their favorite NFL team with every hike, pass, and touchdown. From the Kickoff Game to the Super Bowl, sports fans support the league by watching the game and grabbing all kinds of merchandise, including apparel, collectibles, and home decor.
Before the first game, fans can kick off their own football matches and expand their merch collections with the latest additions from Buffalo Games. Punt your game nights to new heights with rounds of NFL Showdown or tackle retro gaming with Tecmo Bowl: The Card Game.
Ahead of football season, Buffalo Games spoke with The Toy Insider about NFL Showdown, Tecmo Bowl: The Card Game, and how families can bond by playing these touchdown-worthy games.
Players become the coach and call the plays in NFL Showdown. | Source: Buffalo Games
The retro 8-bit game returns in the fast-paced card game. | Source: Buffalo Games
PI
Why did the company expand its portfolio with football-themed games?
BG
Football is ubiquitous. There are so many personalities that go beyond the sport, which opens up the audience to new people viewing as well. It’s not just watching the Super Bowl for commercials or the halftime show — people are really engaging with the game on so many different levels. Plus, it’s a really great sport with a ton of viewership.
Players can play as their favorite NFL team. | Source: Buffalo Games
PI
What aspects of American football can fans expect in “NFL Showdown”?
BG
If people know how to play football, they can see how the game of football translates exactly into a board game. We boil it [NFL Showdown] down to the core essential four downs, explain what a ‘first down’ means for those who don’t know, and focus on these rules with little to no reading.
We also wanted to have something fun and kind of whimsical. Football has a lot of throwing and catching, so we brought some of that into the board with the NFL Flicker Kicker, which adds a different element of skill and action to the game.
PI
What is gameplay like for NFL Showdown? How long is each round?
BG
We have all the logos [and teams] on the board and the box so everyone can play as their favorite team. There are different types of team cards that will tap into the different strengths that some of the teams may have. Everything is purely visual as well. It’s vaguely like a ‘rock-paper-scissors’ type approach of something that’s somewhat familiar, but still gives players plenty of choice.
The game is quick and snappy enough for gameplay that’s no more than 15 or 20 minutes. It’s not a huge, chunky game that’s going to take hours and be on your table for days. It’s quick enough for players to set up, play as their favorite teams, have special bonuses for those teams, and see who wins before starting another game.
The card game features retro art inspired by the 8-bit game. | Source: Buffalo Games
Players can pick from 12 retro-inspired teams. | Source: Buffalo Games
PI
What parts of the original ‘Tecmo Bowl’ can players see in the card game?
BG
We had to create everything from the ground up, including tracking down the license and creators. When they didn’t have any assets, we made our own in the style of the original 8-bit, 16-bit game. We spent a lot of time in front of the old NES system, to see how the players looked, how they lined up, and even the cutscenes that players would see during the game. Playing and testing the game echoed how special Tecmo Bowl was and how important it was to bring something back that was so close and dear to many people.
PI
What do you want game night players and football fans to take away from these games?
BG
We hope everyone can feel like they are part of these special moments and are building some of their character through play.
With NFL Showdown, we want the game to connect people and bring them together over a shared love of the sport or gaming. This game can hopefully connect different generations and create memorable moments among players.
For Tecmo Bowl, we hope it brings back the feeling of being a kid and playing the game again. Players can take a break from reality and all the stress of life by engaging with a brand that means something to people who were growing up with it. This game can help link the generation gaps between players and help them have fun in a tabletop way.
About the author
Taylor Battle
Taylor is an assistant editor at The Toy Insider, The Pop Insider, and The Toy Book. Between reading fantasy novels and re-watching Disney classics, she can be found building houses in The Sims 4. Taylor is passionate about creating and is always looking to try new things.
