Gamewright Releases Sleeping Queens 2: The Rescue!
The original Sleeping Queens from Gamewright is one of the family games that has truly stood the test of time. In fact, I’m not sure there’s a single other game in our collection that has had the same staying appeal as that classic card game about waking up those quirky queens.
Our son is 10 now, and we’ve been playing tons of board games since he was a toddler. And I can say with authority that there are only a few games he’s been playing since before his 6-year-old sister was even born that he’s still excited to play with us to this day. Sleeping Queens belongs to that elite group of games - and now his sister has had plenty of time to fall in love with it as well. Somehow this simple card game has become a top shelf family go-to.
So, like many other game-playing families out there, the announcement of a sequel was very exciting for us. We’ve become accustomed to sequels in movies and video games and books - but it’s not too often that a beloved board game or card game gets that special treatment. But, I have to admit, if you were going to give a sequel to any card game out there, Sleeping Queens was the ideal candidate. I knew pretty much the moment it was announced that it would one day be our Game of the Month - and that’s exactly what’s happened this month!
Ever since we opened our new store in Fayetteville, AR, I’ve been able to see that excitement for Sleeping Queens 2: The Rescue! with my own eyes. Out of all the family games on our store shelves, Sleeping Queens 2 has gotten the most reactions by far. People have shown interest and curiosity in our other board games as they browse - but only Sleeping Queens 2 has elicited actual, audible excitement. The love for the original obviously spreads far and wide.
Why Do We Love Sleeping Queens 2?
I’ve always enjoyed that the original was easy to play - with kids being able to handle it much earlier than the 8+ recommended age. And we’ve always enjoyed the quirky art. And I suppose it must be mentioned that the little bit of math practice the game gives you is an added bonus as well.
And I’m happy to report that the sequel maintains all of those same reasons to love it, while still differentiating itself enough to stand alone. My 6-year-old was able to play with me, so I think the 8+ age recommendation is once again a bit of an overestimation. In fact, in our first play through, my daughter beat me head to head fair and square - and I didn’t help her with a single math problem.
And I have to point out that every single time she built an addition problem by herself, her face lit up in an exuberant and proud smile. This game quickly proved itself to be a confidence builder for my young one - and that’s beautiful to see and experience. It’s a true pleasure to see moments that click like that - moments where you get to use knowledge in a practical scenario and a game of skill - and for us this was one of those unforgettable moments that warmed my heart.
But, speaking of the math problems, there is one significant difference about Sleeping Queens 2 that I like quite a bit - it allows for multiplication and division this time. In the original, only addition is mentioned in the rules - so I think it’s a nice change to allow for different types of math equations. It allows for a bit more strategy - and a bit more math practice as well.
There are also special knight tokens that rotate around the board and add special powers - and one of those powers is the ability to add or subtract 1 from any of your number cards - allowing for even more creativity in your math equations. But, interestingly enough, even though I used multiplication and made better use of the knight’s power - my daughter still beat me only using addition equations.
Players still live and die by the whims of the die they roll at the beginning of every turn - and rolling a 3 and drawing 3 cards is a very big advantage that can quickly level the playing fields. There are also lots of special cards you can draw that can allow you to swap cards with opponents, or dig through the discard pile for what you need. So, at the end of the day, Sleeping Queens 2 is once again a family game with a nice balance of skill and luck that seemingly provides equal chances for players of all ages to win.
How is Sleeping Queens 2 Different from the Original?
The first question people ask about Sleeping Queens 2 is how it’s different than the original. Thematically, the quickest and easiest answer is that this time around, the queens are rescuing the kings. All of the kings have found themselves in a predicament of sorts, and the queens need to be paired with a matching companion to rescue a king.
The game is still called Sleeping Queens, though, so sometimes the queens have to be put to sleep. Sleeping Willow cards that are drawn put all of your queens to sleep, and they can’t be used to rescue a king until you roll a dragon or play two matching number cards to wake them up.
The aforementioned math equations that you build with your number cards are used to purchase a rescue companion - with cute names like Shrew Driver and Duck Tape - and if they have a matching symbol with one of your queens, you can turn them in together to rescue a king.
Another difference is that there’s no need to keep your hand secret. Special cards must be played immediately after drawing them from the draw pile, so there’s no reason to keep your cards hidden. Instead, you lay them face up in front of you - in an area known as your realm.
And the final major difference between the two games comes from the standing knight tokens that rotate around the board. At any given time, each player will have a different power activated. Perhaps they’ll be protected from the Sleeping Willow, or maybe they’ll be allowed to draw 1 more card than the number rolled. These knights not only bolster the cuteness factor and presentation, they also significantly add to the unpredictability of any given play through.
Do You Need Sleeping Queens 2 If You Have the Original?
The next most common question I hear about a sequel like Sleeping Queens 2 is whether it’s different enough to justify owning both games. I think the answer is unequivocally yes. Not only is it a cute idea to allow the tables to turn and let the queens rescue the kings, but the gameplay is also the perfect combination of familiar and new.
Sleeping Queens 2: The Rescue! is definitely a step up in complexity as well. For me, this is another reason it makes for a great sequel, because it provides a game in the same universe that you can grow with. Not only does it add multiplication and division as possibility, but there are undoubtedly a few new rules and complexities thrown into the mix as well.
Although, that being said, I still think you don’t need to worry too much about the 8+ age recommendation. And I really can’t wrap my head around the 8+ age recommendation of the original. If I had to label them, I think I would put 5+ on the original and 7+ on Sleeping Queens 2. And I attribute that to the fact that my 6-year-old beat me fair and square without using the new multiplication rule at all. At this point I’ve just resigned myself to never beat anyone in my family at a board game ever again.
Were you one of the fans out there excited about the announcement of this sequel? Have you played it yet? Let us know in the comments!
