Helping Santa Load the Sleigh — One Wrestling Match at a Time!
Featured in our Christmas Gift Guide Wishlist for Wrestling Fans, Birthday Gift Guide for Teens, and #HomeschoolingWithBoardGames series.
When I was homeschooling Charlie back in the day — and no, Buttercup, that wasn’t when the dinosaurs roamed the face of the earth, no matter what Charlie tells you — we used board games as part of our homeschool lessons According to Charlie, dinosaurs didn’t roam the earth when he was little. They were only around when David and I was growing up! LOL
You can find those post by using Hashtag #HomeschoolingwithBoardGames. When I was teaching Charlie and Suzzane one of my favorite things about homeschooling was finding ways to make learning fun. We didn’t always need textbooks, worksheets, or a desk. Sometimes the best lessons happened around the kitchen table with a board game. Those are memories I’ll always treasure.
That’s why I’m excited to introduce you to Rowdy Partners from Capstone Games, which is a Strategy Card Game for 2- 4 players and it is a wrestling-themed game that has me thinking about those homeschooling days and how much fun Charlie and I had together.
Only this time, Charlie is 19, and I have a feeling this game is going to be right up his alley! Back in the day Charlie would eat, sleep and dream of wrestlers, wrestling matches and games and at times I believe he still does. Just look in his closet at all the Wrestlers he has collected through the years.
Now, Buttercup, when I first looked at the Rowdy Partners box, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was looking at. Which was half the fun of opening the box which we haven’t done yet. On the box is a wrestling ring, what looks like a dinosaur, and another critter with some pretty big red eyes.
I don’t know what all these characters are supposed to be, but I do know one thing. Charlie’s going to be over the moon with this game! The game takes place in Dusty Gulch, a Wild West town where disagreements aren’t settled with six-shooters. Oh no! They’re settled in the Rowdy Ring!
And apparently, one suplex at a time! If you don’t know what a suplex is, just ask Charlie. He’ll be more than happy to explain it. But Buttercup, you’d better grab yourself a drink and get comfortable, because once that boy starts talking about wrestling, he isn’t going to stop anytime soon. Trust me on that one!
Rowdy Partners is a team trick-taking game where players work together to defeat their opponents in a wrestling match. When I first heard the words trick-taking, I thought we might be heading to a rodeo. LOL! I was ready to bring on the Cowboys LOL But that’s not what we’re doing.
Instead, players compete through a series of rounds, with each round consisting of eight tricks. The goal is to work with your partner to drain your opponents’ health through calculated strikes, sneaky counters, and carefully planned moves. Players can swap wrestlers during the match, unleash signature moves, and collect Pop to gain an advantage.
Now, I can already see one little problem coming. If Charlie likes his wrestler, he’s not going to want to swap! So I don’t know how we’re going to handle that one, Buttercup. The first team to pin one of its opponents wins the match. And something tells me that if Charlie wins, we’re going to hear about it for the rest of the evening.
Rowdy Partners Game Details
Publisher: Capstone Games Game Designers: Jason Hager and Darren Reckner, designers of Fuego Illustrations: Amelia Sales
Recommended Age: 14 years and older Players: 2–4
Playing Time: Approximately 30–45 minutes Price: $34.99
Game Type: Team trick-taking wrestling game
Objective: Work with your partner, use wrestling moves and strategy, and become the first team to pin an opponent.
One feature I especially appreciate is that Rowdy Partners includes special Headliner rules for games with fewer than four players. Which will be perfect when it’s just Charlie and I. Under these rules, a single player can act as a one-person team with a Manager and play two cards per trick.
That means Charlie and I could sit down together without having to round up David and Bradley every time we decide we want to play this game. Although something tells me they’re going to want to get involved! If there home and that is fine because they can play and I can go read my book.
When Charlie was younger, we used board games to practice reading, math, following directions, problem-solving, and taking turns. And what I loved most was that he didn’t always realize he was learning. He was simply having fun with Mom. Which is why I liked to think outside the box when #Homeschooling Charlie.
Now, Rowdy Partners is recommended for ages 14 and older, so it wouldn’t have been appropriate when Charlie first started homeschooling. But that’s okay. He’s 19 now, and this game reminds me that learning doesn’t stop just because our children grow up.
If you’re homeschooling #teenagers, why not create a lesson plan around wrestling before sitting down to play? You could study the history of professional wrestling, learn wrestling terminology, research famous wrestlers, or discuss teamwork and strategy which is a #teachingmoment.
Students could even create their own wrestling characters, write their backstories, and design a championship tournament. Then, after completing their lessons, they could step into the Rowdy Ring and enjoy the game. I think Charlie would have loved an assignment like that when he was homeschooling. And knowing him, he probably would have wanted to turn it into an entire wrestling unit!
Something else I like about Rowdy Partners is the estimated playing time. At approximately 30 to 45 minutes, it sounds manageable for an evening of family fun. You could put on some music, grab your favorite snacks, and enjoy a match or two and no, one would have time to become bored.
Or you could have your favorite sitcom playing quietly in the background. Although I have a feeling Charlie would rather have wrestling on television! Can you imagine? Wrestling on television, wrestling on the kitchen table, and Charlie explaining every single move to everyone.
I can already picture him challenging David and Bradley. And I’m not sure who would be more competitive! Of course, we’ll have to wait until after Christmas to find out how our family actually enjoys the game. Although this could be fun to play while waiting for #Thanksgiving dinner to be prepared as well.
This year, I’m planning something a little different for Charlie. I’m putting together a throwback birthday celebration inspired by the games and activities he enjoyed when he was younger. Only now, I’m choosing things that fit the young man he’s become. And Rowdy Partners seems like a perfect addition.
Charlie’s birthday is December 19th, so this game is going into our Birthday Gift Guide for Teens as well as our Christmas Gift Guide Wishlist for Wrestling Fans. It’s also a fun idea for a wrestling-themed gift basket. Which is something both Charlie and David would like.
You could include the game, favorite snacks, a special drink, and even a homemade wrestling championship certificate. Imagine letting the winner choose the next family game night! Although I’m not sure I want Charlie or even David to have that much power. LOL
After learning about Rowdy Partners, I decided to spend some time exploring the Capstone Games website. And Buttercup, I think I found another place for Santa to do some Christmas shopping! One of the things I appreciated was finding a video about the game Rowdy Partners David and Charlie can watch before playing the game.
You can learn more about the game through their website and YouTube, which I think is helpful when you’re trying to decide whether a new game would be right for your family. They also offer a newsletter where families can sign up for news and special offers. And if you’re interested in becoming a retailer, they have information about wholesale opportunities.
Now, Buttercup, I don’t need another business! I’m already busy enough with GreatfulMoments.com, our Christmas Gift Guides, and everything else going on around here. LOL But I thought it was nice that they offered those opportunities. Just incase something changes in my business I have a back-up plan. LOL
As I continued browsing the Capstone Games website, I discovered that they have a whole lot more than Rowdy Partners. They have family games, strategy games, bundles, upcoming releases, and different game collections. I noticed the Iron Rail series, Pagan: Fate of Roanoke, and games from the Terra Mystica universe.
I even spotted a Pawn Scout Wooden Frog Promo. And you know how I feel about frogs! I also noticed Rising Cultures, which looks like something David might enjoy exploring. Charlie, of course, is getting Rowdy Partners. But here’s the thing, Buttercup. There are seven pages of games to explore!
I’m not going to sit here and go through every single one of them. That’s your job! LOL! I will say that if your family enjoys board games, you might want to set aside some time to browse the website together. You never know what you might discover and its never to early to start a new letter to #SantaClaus.
Something else I discovered is that Capstone Games offers gift cards. And I think that’s a wonderful Christmas gift idea. Sometimes you know someone loves board games, but you aren’t sure which games they already own or which ones they’d enjoy most. That’s where a gift card comes in handy.
Santa could slip a Capstone Games gift card into someone’s Christmas stocking and let them choose something special. Maybe they’re interested in wrestling games, strategy games, or something the entire family can enjoy together. And don’t forget to check out the bundle deals while you’re shopping!
Now, before I go any further, I need to tell you something. We haven’t opened Rowdy Partners or played the game yet! I’ve tucked it away in my Christmas closet because I’m saving it for Charlie. And there’s a reason I’m hiding things! David keeps snagging everything that comes into the house!
If I’m not careful, Charlie isn’t going to have any birthday presents or Christmas presents left to unwrap. And David? Well, Buttercup, he’s going to end up on Santa’s naughty list! We can’t have that when he’s supposed to be helping Santa and me load the sleigh this Christmas. LOL!
So, for now, Rowdy Partners is staying safely tucked away until it’s time for Charlie to unwrap his surprise. I can’t wait to see his reaction when he discovers that there’s a wrestling game waiting for him. And I especially can’t wait to see whether he challenges David and Bradley to a match. Although I might have to remind David that he can’t open everything before Christmas!
Santa, I’m giving you a little warning. You’d better leave families enough time to explore the Capstone Games website before you start loading that sleigh! Between Rowdy Partners, family games, strategy games, bundles, and gift cards, there’s plenty to look at. And Buttercup, when Santa and I get started loading that sleigh, we ain’t stopping!
I think Rowdy Partners is going to be a fun addition to Charlie’s birthday and our family game nights. It’s also a wonderful reminder of those homeschooling days when a board game could turn an ordinary afternoon into something special. Charlie may be 19 now, but that doesn’t mean we’ve outgrown playing games together.
And if he decides to challenge David and Bradley to a wrestling match in the Rowdy Ring? I’m grabbing a drink, finding myself a comfortable chair, and watching the action. Because one thing I know for certain: When Charlie starts talking about wrestling, that boy isn’t stopping anytime soon!
We will be back after Christmas with a full review but for now, Rowdy Partners is part of our Christmas Gift Guide Wishlist and Birthday Gift Guide. We haven’t played it yet, so I’m not going to tell you how much fun it is or how easy it is to learn until we’ve had the chance to experience it ourselves.
After Christmas, we’ll return with our family’s thoughts, including Charlie’s reaction, what we thought about the rules, and whether Rowdy Partners earns a place in our regular family game nights. Who knows? We might even find out whether David can redeem himself and get off Santa’s naughty list! LOL Which I don’t think will happen. LOL What do you think?
Have you ever used board games for homeschooling? And do you have a wrestling fan in your family who would enjoy finding Rowdy Partners under the Christmas tree? We’d love to hear about your favorite family game night memories!
Disclosure: We received Rowdy Partners from Capstone Games in exchange for an honest review. We have not opened or played the game yet. This article is a holiday gift guide preview, and we’ll share our hands-on experience after Christmas. Any affiliate links may earn us a commission at no additional cost to you.
#HomeschoolingWithBoardGames #RowdyPartners #CapstoneGames #ChristmasGiftGuide2026 #WrestlingFans #FamilyGameNight #BirthdayGiftIdeas #GreatfulMoments
Grateful • Thankful • Blessed
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Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
