Recent Reviews
I own the first edition, but I'm assuming here that it's fairly similar. I really like it - the only downside is that it takes so long to play.
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A Game of Thrones: The Board Game, 2nd Edition
Remarkably deep for a game with such abstract mechanics. It somehow keeps invested in the atmosphere.
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Acquire
A solitaire crossword building race. It's a fun, light, fast-paced family word game that doesn't favor extensive vocabularies as much as games like Scrabble or Boggle.
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Bananagrams
This is one of the games that got me into hobby gaming. Beware adding too many expansions, it makes the game too long for what it is. Randomly removing X tiles face down at the start works ok.
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Carcassonne
If it wasn't for The Resistance, I'd say it was the best game per cubic inch around, as it is, it'll have to settle for a second. Great mind game.
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Citadels
Draw 5, play a card, buy a card, discard, repeat. The game is that simple, but there's tons of subtlety. It created the deck building genre and with its expansions is still arguably one of the best.
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Dominion
This game can literally be explained in three sentences that a six year old can understand, yet it's strategically interesting. I prefer it with the full 4 players. Great game for non-gamer types.
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Blokus
Beautiful game with rich theme, but is too long with too much fiddly bookkeeping and not enough fiero or challenge to make it worth it. The expansions add challenge, but it shouldn't take $100+.
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Arkham Horror
A medium-weight game that plays 7 in 45 minutes? With tons of subtlety, variability, and direct and indirect interaction, it fills a unique niche in my collection.
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7 Wonders
A simple fun game, with great thematic elements. The clear card mechanic I find great. And the story telling makes it a funny group game, I suggest not skipping it.
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Gloom
A really great hidden bad guy /Co-op game. It does an amazing job at creating the tension and flavor of the show. But you don't need to be a fan to enjoy the game, but it does help.
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Battlestar Galactica
It's not just that luck plays a big part, it's just much more of a tactical game than a strategic one. It's too complex for casual play but not deep enough for hardcore play. It's an uneasy middle.
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Race for the Galaxy
This game is very hard to teach to others, and for that I very rarely get to play. When I am able to, though, I enjoy the mechanics and the deep thought that goes into each move.
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Race for the Galaxy
This is my favorite gateway game, along with Ticket to Ride, and still fun even with veteran players, as well. My only complaint is that often times the random setup will create an impossible game.
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Pandemic
Along with Citadels, this is one of my favorite 2 player games. The more players, the more casual the feel, and I recommend that you play with a 3 tile hand, to add depth. This is a true classic.
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Carcassonne
If you can't get into the theme, this is a flop. That being said, this game is hilarious and unique, and a pure joy with the right crowd. Slap your ship together, and laugh as it is blown to pieces!
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Galaxy Trucker
This game will make you think, cry, and cheer, all while scraping by as a farming family in the 18th century. I will never say no to a game, and love to teach this to gamers and non-gamers alike.
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Agricola
This is an exceptional game! The board and components are beautiful, it really feels like the Houses of Westeros fighting for the Iron Throne - requiring backstabbing, and manipulation to succeed.
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A Game of Thrones: The Board Game, 2nd Edition
My favorite 2 player game. Absolutely brilliant with 2 or 3 players, but the luck factor and the downtime between turns quickly gets out of hand with more than that.
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Citadels
Beautiful components, easy rules, and quick playtime make this an idea filler/family game. It won't get to my table often, due to its simplicity, but it fills a niche for the right groups.
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Tsuro