It turns out that the American gaming industry has been basically a monopoly for a long time: Hasbro owns Parker Brothers and Milton Bradley, as well as Avalon Hill. Which explains why American games have been pretty much the same old thing over and over, with slight differences from game to game, and nothing special aesthetically. Roll the dice, move a token, do something, wait until it's your turn again. Meanwhile, Germany has lots of independent game companies, and prizes awarded yearly for game design. So there's been a wonderful creative output of games in Europe ... and most Americans don't know about it. There is an article about this by Todd Neller: https://gamesurplus.com/site/about_neller.cfm

So there are a lot of great games out there, many released in the last 10-15 years. Games with a shorter playing time (Monopoly? Risk? Who wants to take the whole afternoon to play one game?), games that engage the non-active players (if it's your turn, you are the "active" player) instead of sitting around waiting for your turn. Which of these new games will you like? That depends on you, and your fellow gamers.

In general, I think about these criteria:

• how long will it take to play? (generally I prefer an hour or less)
• how many players? (does it *really* work for 2, or is it best as a 3 player, or is it okay for 2-6 players ...)
• how themed is it? (I prefer weakly themed games, including abstract strategy games)
  • I don't like "war" games, or games with miniatures, or role playing games.
• will my pals want to play?
• will it make me laugh?

The items in the lists below are roughly in order of my current preference.

2 or more players

• Category 5 [bgg, funagain, publisher] - A card game with its own deck that plays terrifically. There are a number of rows in the center. A round consists of everyone playing one card at once, face down. All played cards are then revealed; the numerical value ordering determines the order of placement into the rows. There are a few rules about allowable card placement into the rows, and you are trying to avoid taking rows of cards, which can't get longer than x cards. Every time I introduce someone to this, s/he looks skeptical during the explanation of the rules, but at the end of the first, second, third games, s/he wants to play it "one more time."
• Alhambra [bgg, funagain, publisher] - An excellently balanced combination tile laying, card playing, money game. You are trying to build the best Alhambra, where best refers to having the most tiles of each of 7 different types, and having the longest contiguous outer wall. You get tiles by buying them -- prices are in four different currencies. You get money by choosing to pick money (as opposed to buying a tile, or moving your tiles).
• Metro [bgg, funagain, publisher] - excellent tile laying game with a subway theme. Pricey, but really good: nice board, nice components, nice design. It's elegant and amusing, and the subway tracks get almost incestuous very quickly.
• Ticket to Ride [bgg, funagain, publisher] - A super rail laying / path planning game. Excellent play, nice components.
  • Ticket to Ride Europe [bgg, funagain, publisher] - a standalone new version that's supposed to be even better, as they did some tweaking. Buy this one instead of the other, I'd say.
• Ingenious [bgg, funagain, publisher] - a wonderful abstract strategy game for 1-4 players. Colorful and different.
• Oltremare [bgg, funagain, publisher] - this is a great cross between cards and and resource management, sort of. However, the original Mind the Move edition's board is too small, as are the little disks with the icon stickers. Wait for the Rio Grande edition, which is supposed to have a bigger board.
• Cartagena [bgg, funagain, publisher] - a race game without dice. Surprisingly simple, and it's quick as well. Simple enough for kids. Also, there's a variant provided that is less luck based.
• San Juan [bgg, funagain, publisher] - wonderful card / resource management game based on the more complex but extremely popular Puerto Rico, which I haven't yet played (2005-09-19).
• Loco [bgg, funagain, publisher] - a light, very quick game (5-10 minutes). Bet you can't play just once!.
• The Very Clever Little Pipe Game [bgg, funagain, publisher] – great pipe laying game, super cheap (made by a company called Cheapass Games). Works well for 2; I think it also works well for 4, but not 3, however I haven't had the pleasure.
• Set [bgg, funagain, publisher] – a classic newish card game with its own special deck; make sets of three (colors, shape, fill, number) cards such that for each characteristic, the three cards are all the same or all different. That is, color must be all the same, or all different; shape must be all the same, or all different. This was a big hit when I brought it to Argentina (no language barrier!)
• Citadels[bgg, funagain, publisher] - A quirky fun game. Each round, players choose from 8 different characters (each of which has a special power) and try to build towers of different types, some of which have special properties. I suspect it's a blast with 4 or 5 players, but I haven't yet had the pleasure of more than 3.
• Kingdoms [bgg, funagain, publisher] - An unusual tile laying game, in which you are striving to maximize your own point values and minimize your opponents point values on a limited grid.

exactly 2 players

Stuff in the previous list (2 or more players) plus:

• Hive [bgg, funagain, publisher] – expensive, but it’s a REALLY good game. A cross between chess and tile laying, but faster, and more fun. Each player gets 11 bugs on wooden hexes. There is no board other than that created by piece placement; each kind of bug moves a different way. The goal is to completely surround your opponent's queen bee. The game is short (maybe 20 minutes), easy to learn, pleasing to look at and to play with. And no, I don't like bugs.
• Al Cabohne [bgg, funagain, publisher] - a two player version of Bohnanza: standalone, does not require Bohnanza. The "bean mafia" is a dummy player and makes it interesting. We keep coming back to when we're looking to play a game for two; there's also a decent solitaire version.
• Mancala [bgg, funagain, publisher] - a very old game, but a good one. Place stones in the fourteen cups (following the stringent rule about how that can be done) so that you capture the most stones. It has gotten boring, even after many, many playings.
• Balloon Cup [bgg, funagain, publisher] - a sweet, light game. Pun intended.
• Fjords [bgg, funagain, publisher] - Tres cool. Tile laying in phase one, and sort of go like in phase two. Not as replayable as I had hoped, though.
• Abalone [bgg, funagain, publisher] – a clean, clever abstract game; sort of a cross between chinese checkers and sumo wrestling. You are trying to push your opponents marbles off the edge of the board. My interest can wax and wane as a game progress, though.

more than 2 players

Stuff in the first list (2 or more players) plus:

• Settlers of Catan [bgg, funagain, publisher] - the best known of these games, and perhaps the game that started it all. The mechanic is basically resource management; The board is comprised of hexagonal cardboard tiles dealt out for each game, combined with numerical markers (for dice rolled land production) dealt out each game, so the board is different every time you play. A dice roll matches numbers on tiles, determiniing which tiles (land types) produce what for whom at every turn. Lively trading and scarcity issues make this game interesting for all participating. The game has terrific checks and balances so the early front runner is often not the winner.
• Seafarers of Catan [bgg, funagain, publisher] - this is an expansion set I like, which creates multiple islands instead of a single island. It requires the basic Settlers: it is not a standalone game. (Note: I don't like the Knights and Cities expansion. Too fiddly, and makes the game too long.
• Bohnanza [bgg, funagain, publisher] – bean farming! Special card deck with fun graphics, fun game. There's a decent variant for 2 players, but it's more fun with more players. There is also a special version, "Al Cabohne," for two players, as well as a variety of expansions. Very unusual mechanics in this card game: you are not allowed to change the order of cards in your hand.
• Coloretto [bgg, funagain, publisher] – These cards are full of cameleons changing color. Try to collect cards so you can change color ... but not too much: there's a penalty for having too many colors. Actually, if you want to play this one with 2 people, you can have a "dummy" and it works out pretty well.
• You’re Bluffing [bgg, funagain, publisher] – barnyard animal auctioning! Two special card decks: one of animals, one of money. No change is made, so you may have to pay a lot more than you've bid, if you don't have change. An excellent excuse to make animal noises. "What am I bid for this here fine specimen of a cow?" "moo."
• TransAmerica [bgg, funagain, publisher] – railroad networks across America -- a little simpler than Ticket to Ride, so perhaps more suitable for children. Let's not forget that train games are a great way to teach geography, too.
• Trumpet [bgg, funagain, publisher] – a great, light trick taking game. I've had a blast playing this with 3-4 other people; lots of laughter. Anyone lagging behind gets to say "wait for me! wait for me!". Unfortunately, not in print. :-(

word games

• Buyword [bgg, funagain, publisher] - a word game that may appeal to people that don't like word games. Essentially, each round, all players choose whether or not to "buy" the letters they drew from the bag. They cost more if there are a lot of them, or if they are difficult to use. You "sell" words to earn money - words with lots of difficult to use letters and/or long words scroe the highest. But unlike Scrabble, you don't need to interlock your word with any other words: its just a word. No timer.
• Boggle [bgg, funagain, publisher] - an oldy but goody. Trace out words from a 4 x 4 grid of letters within the allotted time.
• Scrabble It ain't bad, for an old warhorse.

for children

Plenty of "adult" games work just fine for children, of course; The following might be especially appealing to kids because of their theme, mechanism, strategy and/or graphics. Many game sites/stores, including most of those I list below, display suggested age range when it's provided by the manufacturer. Additionally, there are suggestions for kid/family games at many of the online stores. And here's another list of mine comprised of games that might especially appeal to children: http://www.funagain.com/control/viewShoppingList?shoppingListId=10419 . I don't need to mention that many games exercise skills such as math, geography, etc. -- the brain you stretch may be your own!

• Aquarius [bgg, funagain, publisher] - a card game that has some similarity to dominoes (only more colorful and much more fun). It's possible to help a player along without it being obvious, too. I have a solitaire version on my computer with 4 robot opponents, and it's hard to win, so don't write this one off as a trivial children's game. At the same time, with fewer opponents it's not too tough for kids.
• Wooly Bully [bgg, funagain, publisher] – tile laying to make corrals of colored sheep, keeping wolves at bay. Actually, I like this one a fair bit as an adult; it's a giggle fest for me. I love saying "dee flip, dee floop" in a Swedish Chef voice as I flip my tiles back and forth, looking for the perfect match.
• Set [bgg, funagain, publisher] – works very well for mixed age groups that include kids. A classic newish card game with its own special deck; make sets of three (colors, shape, fill, number) cards such that for each characteristic, the three cards are all the same or all different. That is, color must be the all the same, or all different; shape must be all the same, or all different.
• Bohnanza [bgg, funagain, publisher] – bean farming! works extremely well for mixed age groups that include kids. Special card deck with fun graphics, fun game. Probably too complex for very young children, but may allow surreptitious help.
• Coloretto [bgg, funagain, publisher] – These cards are full of cameleons changing color. Try to collect cards so you can change color ... but not too much: there's a penalty for having too many colors. Simple rules, simple concept, engaging, fun.
• Cartagena [bgg, funagain, publisher] - a race game without dice. Surprisingly simple, and it's quick as well. Simple enough for kids. Also, there's a variant provided that is less luck based.
• You’re Bluffing [bgg, funagain, publisher] – barnyard animal auctioning! Two special card decks: one of animals, one of money. No change is made, so you may have to pay a lot more than you've bid, if you don't have change. An excellent excuse to make animal noises. "What am I bid for this here fine specimen of a cow?" "moo."
• Category 5 [bgg, funagain, publisher] - A card game with its own deck that plays terrifically. Great for advanced counting practice. There are a number of rows in the center. A round consists of everyone playing one card at once, face down. All played cards are then revealed; the numerical value ordering determines the order of placement into the rows. There are a few rules about allowable card placement into the rows, and you are trying to avoid taking rows of cards, which can't get longer than x cards. Every time I introduce someone to this, s/he looks skeptical during the explanation of the rules, but at the end of the first, second, third games, s/he wants to play it "one more time."
• The Very Clever Little Pipe Game [bgg, funagain, publisher] – simple enough for kids to play, though intricate strategy might be tough. Flimsy pieces, but very inexpensive to replace. A little dull looking for kids, as it's black and white.

party games

• Pictionary [bgg, funagain, publisher] - esp the one with the die for extra challenges
• Cluzzle - haven't played this yet, but it looks fun and is getting super reviews.
• Cranium - also haven't played this yet ... waiting for the right gathering. I suspect it will trump Pictionary as my party game of choice.

Where Can I Learn More?

These are the sites I check out, generally:

• http://www.boardgamegeek.com - the place to get information about games, variants, expansions, rule clarifications, etc. It an extensive site that I'm still learning my way around. It provides a mechanism to trade games with other geeks out there. I'm "geekette", should you want to find me on this site. This site has "geeklists", which is a great way to look for "great two player games" or "light tile laying games" or "games I play with my non-gaming spouse" and so on.
• http://www.funagain.com - an extensive site, with a lot of helpful copy, even on games it doesn't stock. Also a store, albeit not the least expensive.
• http://www.bouldergames.com - some copy. Also a fine store.

Here are my favorite on-line game stores, as of November 2004. Pay attention not only to the price of the game, but to the shipping costs, as they can vary widely.

• http://www.bouldergames.com - good prices, some copy
• http://www.fairplaygames.com - good prices, less copy
• http://boardsandbits.com - good prices, flat rate shipping
• http://Gamefest.com
• http://www.funagain.com - higher prices, great copy

• http://www.germangames.com - Canadian, so expensive shipping, also has some good copy
• http://www.thoughthammer.com
• http://timewellspent.org
• http://GameSurplus.com

You can always peruse boardgamegeek for forums and other postings about game stores, or any other game related topic.

Naomi's favorite games.   Last updated September 19, 2005.