“Shadows in the Woods” is the English version of the German board game Waldschattenspiel, an absolutely beautiful and extremely fun game for two or more kids and one adult. The kids play “dwarfs” who need to hide in a “woods” (a board with 3D trees made from slotted heavy card). The adult plays using a burning tea-light as his token. You play in a dark room, and the kids and adult take turns moving, with the adult turning away while the kids strategize and move. If the grownup manages to move the tea-light so that it casts a light on one of the kids’ tokens, the token is frozen and must be unfrozen with a visit from another kid. The kids try to consolidate all the dwarfs (wooden pawns that come with pointy bits of felt for you to glue on as hats) behind one tree, while the adult tries to prevent it. It’s a game of whispers and giggles in the dark, with the added delight of a real flaming candle in the middle of the table. I’ve played it with kids as young as four, and it’s great fun.
Alas, there doesn’t appear to be a US importer, though the title is listed on Amazon UK.
Kraul Toys Shadows in the Woods – Deluxe