Hoyle: Official Book of Games - Volume 3

After the lackluster Hoyle Volume 2, Sierra returns to the formula that made Hoyle Volume 1 a classic in this third entry in the series.

Instead of popular card games, Hoyle Volume 3 offers 6 popular parlor games: checkers, backgammon, yacht, dominoes, snakes & ladders, and pachisi (another name for parcheesi). There are good news and bad news that come with this. The good news is that Sierra's game characters are back-- you can now play backgammon against Larry Laffer, or dominoes against Laura Bow. All the board games and characters are well-rendered, and as always, there are on-line rules for every game.

The bad news is that Hoyle Volume 3 isn't quite as fun to play as Hoyle Volume 1. There are fewer opponents to choose from (although a few of them, e.g. Jones and Mother Goose, are new), and their friendly chatter is not as frequent or as humorous as before. Besides, the included board games also vary greatly in quality-- snakes & ladders and checkers, for example, are downright boring, while backgammon and pachisi are a lot of fun.

The bottom line, then, is that Hoyle Volume 3 is a mixed bag-- it's a disappointment to fans of Hoyle Volume 1, although it does retain some of the qualities that makes that game a classic. Recommended only for anyone who are new to these parlor games.

Review By HOTUD