Recent Reviews
As a board game Scrabble is pretty terrible. Much better suited to being an app. I'd rather play Boggle or any of a half dozen other word games in the meat that this one.
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Scrabble
The categories get a little old, but that's fixed easily enough with home-brewed category sets. Nevertheless, a fun party game.
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Scattergories
This game is like life. You spend all this time making a careful plan. Then you watch helplessly as nothing works out the way you expected it to.
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RoboRally
A classic game of bluffing and strategy. Unfortunately, the cost of elaborate bluffs is often greater than the benefits, so people often end up bluffing less than I'd like. Contrast with "Confusion".
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Stratego
Easily one of the best "gateway games" out there. Simple, fast turns with sufficiently deep strategy to keep veteran gamers interested.
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Ticket To Ride
The bluffiest, deductioniest, discover-your-friends-are-much-better-liars-than-you-though-iest party game there is. Short and oh so sweet. I've played 6 games back to back. This game is genius.
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The Resistance
A bidding/area control game with some fighting built in. Theme is very strong in this and the production value is great. Comes with some nice miniatures. Love the Kraken.
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Cyclades
Very short deception/bluffing game, akin to werewolf without the need for a narrator or player elimination. Great fun but only with the right people. Included expansion helps resistance.
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The Resistance
One of the more simple worker placement games. Place your workers to obtain certain resources that you trade in for huts and civilization cards. Great game for 4 - very tense at times.
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Stone Age
Definitely the game that started it all. However, the base game does get dull after 30 + plays. Make sure you have the right people to play with (those who like to bargain). Watch out for the robber!
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The Settlers of Catan
Very simple game, easy to teach. Loads of strategy here though, a veteran player will wipe the floor with you. You will want to play this one again immediately after finishing a game.
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Summoner Wars: Master Set
Great depth and strategy. Really fun to build your "engine" to achieve victory points. One of my most played games, there are so many cards it holds up to many plays.
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Race for the Galaxy
Excellent gameplay, some good card combos you can get going. The solo rules are actually satisfying too.
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Ascension: Storm of Souls
Simple enough for the kids and grandparents, and it's just plain fun. Mechanics like the ordered hand and forced play provide the challenges to work around. The 2 player rules are different but great,
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Bohnanza
Adds incredible depth to the somewhat shallow 7 Wonders. Leaders drafted before the game begins will shape your civ as you play them. This makes responding to the board state much more crucial.
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7 Wonders: Leaders
The rules leave a bit to be desired, but there is a good amount of replay value in the 8 scenarios they give you. Not for the faint of heart, give this game a try if you're into D&D grid-based combat.
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Dungeons & Dragons: The Legend of Drizzt
An excellent game that plays as well with 7 people as it does with 3. Strategy for this game will continue to evolve, even after the 20th game, as you learn what works and what doesn't.
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7 Wonders
As with all DBGs, luck plays a large role in your turns. I recommend the optional rules to add a bit more strategy. Overall, a solid game. I only wish they would innovate more in the expansions.
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Quarriors!
Deceptively simple rules, yet scope remains for a player to develop deeper strategy. The multiple boards/characters add a huge layer of replayability, and it's light enough to be gateway. Excellent!
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Kingdom Builder
One of my all time favorite games. My family members are big scrabble players so this type of game complements quite well.
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Balderdash