- twilight struggle (heavy): intense asymmetrical duel game in a historical setting (cold war). the gold standard of two-player games for me. complex ruleset but it's relatively easy to teach since none of the rules feel arbitrary. the digital version is fantastic with period-appropriate music, sound effects and graphical theme
- scythe (medium-heavy): a game with mechs where combat is a last resort? more likely than you'd think! another game that i appreciate for having a lot of complexity while being reasonably teachable (technically there are only 4 actions to choose from each turn)
- clank! (medium-light): one of my most played games due to its simplicity and high fun factor. it's a deck-building game with a board and the combination works really well. bonus points for the lack of meanness: few of the cards cause direct detriment to other players
- star realms (medium-light): another game i play a LOT. really fast deck-builder with a wonderfully streamlined ruleset. might have the best digital version of any board game i know (the hard AI is my nemesis but there's also casual and ranked multiplayer)
- citadels (medium-light): this is a mean, mean game that we played a lot with friends because we're mean, mean people. involves a lot of bluffing and seeing through other people's bluffs due to the hidden player powers that change hands every turn
- the resistance/avalon (light): another game with a lot of bluffing and social deduction. this time the game revolves around hidden identities, mafia/werewolf style. the original resistance and the avalon versions are both great, the latter adds some new elements
- sushi go party (light): what if sushi go had more cards to choose from? it's more of the same quick, casual fun with some extra variety (you only use 8 card types per game though so it doesn't get too chaotic)
- codenames (light): this one just has to be the best party game out there. nothing brings out more in-jokes and old memories than a hint only your friends would ever get right
- terraforming mars (medium-heavy): a tough engine builder where things take a while to get started but once the engines are up and running, chaining up actions becomes really satisfying. not the easiest game to teach due to multiple scoring conditions and the number of bits and pieces but gameplay is very streamlined once things are set up and explained
- everdell (medium): a relatively new (2019) game that manages to condense both engine building and worker placement into a family-friendly package without dumbing it down too much. not the most complex game on either front, but it's quite elegant and playable even in a family setting (and also, really damn pretty)
- robinson crusoe - adventures on the cursed island (heavy): one of the heaviest games among my favorites, this cooperative game about staying alive on a desert island is my favorite board game implementation of the "survival" mechanic. you are likely to die multiple times before you achieve your objective for the first time. great for coop if everyone's willing to face the rulebook but also a lovely solo game
- lords of waterdeep (medium): a dungeons and dragons board game that is less about either dungeons or dragons and more about gaining influence as one of the titular lords of the city of waterdeep. one of the best implementations of "pure" worker placement out there, with a lot of intrigue and cutthroat action. the skullport expansion is highly recommended for the variety it adds to the game
- architects of the west kingdom (medium): another great worker placement game that expertly balances competition with cooperation. you get to decide the amount of intrigue and treachery you involve yourself in, thanks to a clever morality mechanic that affects endgame scoring
- for sale! (light): a light and quick game with a real estate sale theme that works well for every setting: as a filler game between two heavier games or as something to fill out a whole evening with friends or family. the rules are simple and the artstyle is fun, making this a hit with kids too
- ganz schön clever/that's pretty clever! (light): probably the best classic "roll and write" style game available, proving that all you need for a fun time are some colorful dice and a scoring sheet. just as enjoyable solo as it is with friends
- welcome to... (light): an interesting take on the roll and write formula, with a deck of cards taking the place of the dice. slightly more complex rules than most games in the genre but still teachable in 5 minutes. technically playable with up to 99 players but i'm not sure how they're supposed to sit around the cards at the same time
- patchwork (light): a simple two-player abstract game with a beautiful theme and an interesting turn mechanic that prevents runaway winners and keeps the game exciting until the end
- 7 wonders duel (medium-light): 7 wonders duel succeeds at adapting the mechanics of the original 7 wonders into a gripping two-player experience, replacing the card passing with a shared tableau players take their cards from. the rules are deceptively simple for how much depth this game offers, in no small part thanks to the three different win conditions players can achieve
- wingspan (medium-light): part engine builder, part table ornament, wingspan is just as enjoyable as it is beautiful. the simple and streamlined ruleset makes this bird-collecting experience a great introductory foray into the world of engine-building games. particularly recommended for anyone interested in birdwatching
- imperial settlers (medium): an asymmetric engine builder that sees players building tiny but efficient empires, imperial settlers succeeds at keeping its playable empires balanced enough to feel perfectly fair. while you can attack other players, the emphasis is on building your own empire, making this a good choice for players looking for a relatively peaceful experience. if you enjoy everdell, you're bound to like this onee (and vice versa)
apr 7 2020 ∞
apr 7 2020 +
apr 7 2020 +