The Internet doesn’t have a kind word to say about this game, so I guess it’s up to me to lead the defence force.

Tamagotchi Party On! isn’t completely rubbish. There are annoyances, yes. Having to play with four players, two of which were controlled by the CPU when my wife and I played, is a pain. Sometimes the Wiimote doesn’t quite seem to do what you’re telling it to. And it’s all a bit random – though the fact that this is the electronic equivalent of Game of Life or Snakes and Ladders means I don’t think that’s really a problem.

What you’re left with is a deeply cynical view of the political process in incredibly cute clothing. (And odd. Don’t forget odd. You can lose popularity with the voters by pissing off a library.) Play mini games, take a chance on random event squares, meet other Tamagotchis, buy things to make your home more attractive (and thus make you more popular with the voters), etc.

I bought the game for my wife on eBay for a fraction of the high street price, not expecting to enjoy it at all, yet I suggested a second game when the first was over. And it is not the best game in the world, but it’s not a bad board game to waste time with if you can get it at a budget price and have a Tamagotchi fan in the house. Whether it beats Game of Life I don’t know, not having played that one since I was ten, but it beats the living daylights out of Snakes & Ladders.