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Fun Tabletop Games?

Mr. Ghost asks: "My friends and I have recently been in the market for a good new boardgame or other tabletop game. We have worked through the gamut of games like Axis & Allies, Supremacy, and War! Age of Imperialism. More recently we have been playing tile based games like Carcasonne and Settlers of Catan. I am looking for some suggestions on some new games we could get into."

12 of 583 comments (clear)

  1. Go, really by gninnor · · Score: 5, Informative

    If you havent tried go, then I think it is about time to. It has a great handicap system for new players, yet allows people to improve over a life time.

    1. Re:Go, really by nkh · · Score: 5, Funny

      Go is a very good game and I agree with what you said but for more than two players, you'll have to paint your stones in different colors than the boring white/black (I suggest red, green, yellow and blue ;)

  2. I like Risk by RadioactivePorpoise · · Score: 5, Funny

    Risk is the type of game that rises above the board when you're playing among other adults. What starts out as a game of pieces and movement generally becomes one of political intrigue, making alliances, and casting doubt upon other alliances. We've reached the point where everyone has to go to the porch for a smoke break at the same time because no one feels comfortable about what strategies might be birthed behind their backs...

    1. Re:I like Risk by puusism · · Score: 5, Interesting

      If you like Risk (or LotR Risk), you might want to check out my Risk probability calculator. You may even find that you should adjust your tactics. :-)

      --
      - Ismo
  3. Puerto Rico by Fledsbo · · Score: 5, Informative

    Check the top rated games at BoardGameGeek. My personal favourite is Puerto Rico.

  4. Settlers Expansions by hivebrain · · Score: 5, Informative

    If you like Settlers (and who doesn't?), you should pick up the expansions: Seafarers of Catan adds ships, a new resource type and a bunch of different board layout options. Cities & Knights of Catan ads so much it's like a whole different game. Also, check out the game Puerto Rico. Lots of Catan players migrated to it when it was released a few years ago.

  5. Re:Warhammer by seeken · · Score: 5, Insightful

    if by commitment, you mean set up your direct deposit to go to Games Workshop's bank acount rather than your own.

    If you live anywhere near Lancaster, PA, you can get your game on at Cold Wars from April 8-10. Run by the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society, but there is also fansasy/sci-fi gaming.

    --

    Surfing the net and other cliches...
    (Who Meta-Meta-Moderates the Meta-Moderators?)
  6. Age of Renaissance by Sweetshark · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Age of Renaissance is even better. Its like a improved version of Civilisation.
    http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/26

  7. Looney Labs by OpenYourEyes · · Score: 5, Informative

    Looney Labs (and their weekly blog) make some excellent games that might fit your audience. They are perhaps best known for their card game Fluxx (my personal favorite), but also have a number of other games which are more board-game like.

    The one that sounds most similar to what you're looking for is Chrononauts, the card game of time travel, which involves a time line that you build and control on the table. It also has an "Early American" version.

    As already noted, they make the Icehouse pyramids which are most noted for games like Zendo and Ice Towers, but are also used for quite a few others.

    Enjoy!

  8. Days of Wonder, Blogs, and BoardGameGeek by Obiwan+Kenobi · · Score: 5, Informative

    I've written on these guys before, but let me do so again in a more straightforward manner:

    Buy everything you see here. I assure that you will NOT be disappointed.

    Days of Wonder is a great company who takes brilliant designs the world over and shares them with a geek-like audience. Me and my wife love Mystery of the Abbey. Think of it like a really interesting, deep version of Clue. No candlesticks, no ridiculous characters, and it actually has -strategy- incorporated, and everyone who has played it loves it immediately.

    And no, I'm not even getting paid to say that (though of course, it would be nice).

    You can also read some (tabletop) gaming blogs:

    - BoardGamePlayer.com
    - BoardGames-To-Go
    - Chris Farrell's Gaming Blog
    - Jeffro @ Mindsay

    Lastly, I'd like to say that me and my wife's favorite non-boardgame is Bang!, an easy-to-learn great mechanic-filled game that anyone over the age of 7 will adore.

    Oh, and of course, get all the recommendations you can handle over at the always fantastic BoardGameGeek.com.

    Have fun!

    Evan
    CCGBlog.com - CCG Design, Theory, and Commentary

  9. Good discussion on this last December by Chazmati · · Score: 5, Informative

    See here. To save you the time, here's a list of stuff I found from that story, games that sounded interesting or worth checking out.

    First, I decided I should really get into Go. Some links from that Slashdot story: here, The Second Book of Go here, here, here, here, and here.

    Other games:
    Apples to Apples - got this for my cousin, they liked it.
    Settlers of Catan - got this for myself, very nice game, try a local hobby shop or here or try Amazon.com

    Others: Puerto Rico (Similar to Settlers of Catan), Lord of the Rings board game was mentioned, Kill Dr. Lucky, Deadwood, Give me the Brain, Lightspeed Games, Fluxx is fun, very random and quirky.

    There's more! Mind Trap
    Munchkin , Heroscape, Ticket to Ride, Mystery of the Abbey, Memoir '44, Queen's Necklace at Days of Wonder, Bang!, Betrayal at House on the Hill, Articulate
    Killer Bunnies (and Quest for the Magic Carrot), Illuminati , Acquire .

    Some other reviews/top game lists here:
    here
    here
    here

    Happy gaming!

  10. Re:civilization by Lord+Satri · · Score: 5, Informative
    Civilization (Avalon Hill) is really the only boardgame I'll play with my limited time redirected to games (with some Go). Here's why:

    - Almost no luck at all involved, yes this is important
    - It is not exponential: the more you lose, the more the game mechanics makes you win, the more you win, the more the game makes you lose. So you have to be wise in balancing your civilization and adapt yourself to other player's styles
    -You can win without fighting, playing peacefully, you can win through religion, of course you can with with force, etc. There is plenty ways to manage your civilization and they can all be good.

    Only cons is that it is a long game, 7-10 hours. It almost can't be found anymore. Like another poster said, Civ Adv is 200$+ on eBay!!

    Also: bu sure to play Civilization Advanced, since the "advanced" fixes important flaws of the game and is way improved. ...happy gaming ! :-)