[Closed] Anyone else into quality board games?

We've got a few. Carcassonne and Hive being the favourites. Hive is especially great because we can take it camping and play on any surface.

Cougar is the man for board games

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/board-games-for-6-players

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/what-were-your-top-boardcard-games-over-the-holidays

^ that one you replied to last with another account. 😀

Yeah, love those 'German' style board games, used to play weekly, but haven't played regularly for a while... El Grande was my favourite for a long time.

The frustration of "I just need one more move" , but knowing everyone is in the same boat.

Yep, as above Carcassonne is one of the best. Don't get to play that much any more these days HOWEVER that is the no. 1 reason for getting an iPhone/iPad as there are so many quality Euro-board game apps now (for both playing against friends or against computer). The Stone Age app is particularly well done (although they need to update it or it will stop,working soon...)

There are also a lot of "co-operative" games now that replace the competitive element with teamwork (so the players either all win or lose together) which can be good fun.

^ that one you replied to last with another account

Yeah I killed that thread didn't I? 😳

Not played Carcassonne yet. I do like the games where you have a visual idea of how many victory points people have but at the end you all reveal your special cards which multiply up so someone who is in last can win! Its hard to keep quiet when you know you might be that person.

StoneAge is quite expensive as a game, but although I am getting into these board games as an antidote to the phone/tablet I might download the app anyway.

Carcassone is great.
King of Tokyo is another favourite in this house
We learnt to play Hive in a bar in France this summer and I shall get a set for home now.

Struggle for Catan is a great quick game esp for younger kids. Its relatively quick to play and easy to grasp. And offers opportunities to be v spiteful to your sibling.

Got into posh boardgames having asked on here
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/what-boardgames

King of Tokyo is another favourite in this house

I don't like it as there as so many different power up cards to collect and it gets really confusing - you have to have played the game multiple times and seen the effect of the cards to know if they are worth having or not.

If you're after something that is great fun, but a little less intense at the same time as being way more intense, the head for a Mascarade. Can even play with up to 13 players!

The Really Nasty Horse Racing Game is fantastic fun, but should only be played with good friends, as otherwise you will fall out. Family would be a risk.

It has a finite length, which is good I think, some can run forever.

you have to have played the game multiple times and seen the effect of the cards to know if they are worth having or not.

Yeah. Catan and TTR are classic "gateway" games - the ones that usually get recommended to folk coming from the usual suspects like Monopoly for the first time. Carcassonne is another, you'll not go far wrong with it.

There are a bazillion expansion for Carcassonne, which vary wildly in quality. The base game will serve you well, read reviews before you throw money at expansions.

I'll throw Small World into the mix too, that's a corker.

https://boardgamegeek.com/collection/user/UKCougar

We play Catan and Carcassonne, and also Arkham Horror for some hardcore long play co-op.

...and just bought Small World for the weekend 😆

Another really good one is Pandemic which is a co-operative board game. And whilst not technically a board game, Werewolf is very good if there is a large group of you.
And yes the Really Nasty Horse Racing Game has been the source of some "robust" discussions in our house over the years.....

Small World is excellent although IMO an example of where the app is actually better than the board game as it makes playing it literally 10x quicker (there are hundreds of little counters!) so you can get more games in & learn the strategies more effectively (there are some awesome combos!). Way cheaper too!

The only Carcassonne expansion I'd say was essential is Inns & Cathedrals as it adds massively to the strategic aspect of the game.

There is a "big box" Carcasonne package coming out next month for £70 ish which has the original game and nearly all the expansion packs in it as well.

I like Small World but haven't quite got to grips with the timing of when to go into decline so I tend to hang on too long.

The Castles of Burgundy is brilliant.

Agricola is also good but makes my brain hurt. More complicated and takes much more time to get used to but rewarding when you know how!

I highly recommend the excellent Small World 2 app for getting loads of sneaky practice in if victory is your goal!!

Have enjoyed Ticket to Ride and played Sagrada last weekend which was good.

Agricola is also good but makes my brain hurt.

There's a two-player variant called "All Creatures Big and Small" which is a great intro to the main game. It plays in like 20 mins - half an hour and is a lot of fun. Last I looked though it was out of print and changing hands for silly money.

What's the age range like on these games (realistically, not what it says on the box)?

We play a few basic board and card games at home with the kids. "Pigs In Pants" can be surprisingly strategic 😀
But my eldest is 7 so it might be time to move onto something more involved (She has played and enjoyed Monopoly).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/the-Settlers-of-Catan-Junior/dp/B007N0KZ64

"Realistically" is subjective. You could have a particularly bright six-year old or a particularly dim eight-year old.

After reading about it on here,we bought Shadows in the Woods to give as presents. Really nice wee game that everyone (all ages) enjoyed.
[url= https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1070/waldschattenspiel ]Shadows In the Woods[/url]

Just had bought for me for my birthday Ticket To Ride Europe and the UK/USA Expansion pack to go with it. Good game which novices can enjoy.

+1 for Ticket to Ride for whole family enjoyment. Although my little brother takes it a little too seriously 🙂

Norway / Scandinavia version is good for a quick game.

There are essentially two ways to play TTR.

You can have a "gentlemen's agreement" where you agree not to intentionally block opponents' routes, which is generally best when playing with family / spouses; or you can play in "complete bastard" mode. (-:

If you're into games and are thinking about getting one I recommend watching Wil Wheaton's 'tabletop' youtube programme:

[url= http://geekandsundry.com/shows/tabletop/ ]http://geekandsundry.com/shows/tabletop/[/url]

You get a good idea of the game and how it plays. The 'Cards Against Humanity' of course was a *smidgin* rude.

or you can play in "complete bastard" mode. (-:

That should be in the instructions...... 😆

What's the age range like on these games (realistically, not what it says on the box)?

We play a few basic board and card games at home with the kids. "Pigs In Pants" can be surprisingly strategic
But my eldest is 7 so it might be time to move onto something more involved (She has played and enjoyed Monopoly).

I would have thought if they can do well at Monopoly something like TTR would be a good game to try.

What's the age range like on these games (realistically, not what it says on the box)?
We play a few basic board and card games at home with the kids. "Pigs In Pants" can be surprisingly strategic
But my eldest is 7 so it might be time to move onto something more involved (She has played and enjoyed Monopoly).

I would have thought if they can do well at Monopoly something like TTR would be a good game to try.

I found the only barrier with TTR is ability to read, we play a watered down version with our 5 year old where each player marks the start/end of a long route with a station and play the game with the routes visible to everyone. He gets all the mechanics but because he can't read we can't keep the routes secret - he loves going through the motions, but it's not really a game.

Carcassone is pretty good with kids, played it with my son since before he was 5 and he's pretty good at it now.

Other ones we play are Takenoko which is a bit more complicated, but again doesn't require any reading and Tsuro which is very simple, but quick and good fun.

Excellent thanks. Didn't know there was a Catan Junior. That and Carcassonne sound like good possibilities.

HNEFATAFL
Or viking chess as its often called.

I designed a board and will post later as a pdf if any wants to print in out.

Also, a roman version which is also great.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/58162507@N07/33949119793/

Didn't know there was a Catan Junior.

I can't remember the name offhand, but there's a "my first Catan" version for even younger children too. Catan Kids or Kids of Catan maybe?

EDIT: https://www.catan.com/game/kids-catan

Start 'em young; first hit's free, kiddies.

And this one..

Ludus Latrunculorum

Carcassonne, Ticket To Ride and King of Tokyo are all good - I'd also add Forbidden Island to the list, it's a cooperative game which is differently interesting.

Also, not a board game but Exploding Kittens is great.

Memoir '44 is good fun for "playing soldiers".

I'd also add Forbidden Island to the list, it's a cooperative game which is differently interesting.

If you like FI I'd recommend taking a look at Pandemic. They are loosely the same game mechanic, and I preferred Pandemic out of the two.

7 Wonders is great. Don't get any of the unofficial expansions, they take a lean, well balanced game and **** it. Powergrid is another one well worth checking out

There's 2 board games called London. One is a typical kiddy game, to avoid, the other is a brilliant city-builder, one of the best games I've ever played.

but tbh I'm probably happiest with ticket to ride, catan, powergrid- I like an actual board.

Memoir '44 is good fun for "playing soldiers".

I've got a mate who designs board games, I'll nudge him for info.
He sent me a pic from a board game cafe in Ghent last week, complete with Belgian beers on tap; you lot would like him! 🙂

X-Wing

[img] [/img]

Pew Pew Pew

What self respecting male nerd wouldn't love it?

Achilles v Hector Game

[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4253/34250701064_4f91fa639a_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4253/34250701064_4f91fa639a_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/UbBN9G ]Achilles v Hector Game[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/58162507@N07/ ]SGMTB[/url], on Flickr

My version of Viking Chess (Board Anyway)

[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4271/33949119703_28c7a87ab3_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4271/33949119703_28c7a87ab3_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/THY7w4 ]Hnefatafl the Ancient Viking Board Game[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/58162507@N07/ ]SGMTB[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4193/33949119793_d1aae6063b_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4193/33949119793_d1aae6063b_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/THY7xB ]Hnefatafl the Ancient Viking Board Game[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/58162507@N07/ ]SGMTB[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4199/33949119393_50c00b2d93_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4199/33949119393_50c00b2d93_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/THY7qH ]Hnefatafl the Ancient Viking Board Game[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/58162507@N07/ ]SGMTB[/url], on Flickr

Got some great games over christmas; Exploding Kittens is brilliant (We have the 'safe' version so the kids can play) and we got the boy a copy of Rhino Hero which is a really fun quick tower building game.

Anyone else have any new ones?

Small World is excellent although IMO an example of where the app is actually better than the board game as it makes playing it literally 10x quicker

I played the Carcassone board game on my phone and it made up my mind not to buy it!

I have recently played Powergrid a couple of times and love it, might buy it soon if no-one buys it for me!

I was given Cornwall (the board game, not the county) for Christmas, and Machi Koro which is brilliant.

Got a Days Of Wonder board game off a flea market recently for £4 called Pirates Cove, not played it yet.

I like an actual board.

Me too - Machi koro is brilliant though even though it doesn't have a board.

I think Pandemic is my favourite co-op game out there at the moment, and there’s a decent version of Pandemic on the iPad.

Exploding kittens came to our house this Christmas too -mucho fun

Check out Rhino Hero

This Christmas, I have mostly been drubbed at Spot It! by a four year old.

Bananagrams is excellent, non turn based crossword grid building.
Better than it sounds, unless you're dyslexic, in which case Quirkle is superb - perfect for slightly older kids and pissed adults.

We got Carcassonne for Christmas and have played about 5-6 games a day since. Also got Castles of Burgundy last year which was great and also Takenoko which was only bought cause it has Panda's in it...exploding Kittens went down a treat too.

Next on the list is Ticket to Ride and maybe some expansions for Carcassonne.

we've been playing a lot of ticket to ride this Christmas, and thanks to a classifieds acquisition, the boys and I are just about to start Level 2 story of Dungeons & Dragons.

Exlpoding kittens arrived this Christmas too.

Achilles v Hector looks a simple set up, I must track down the gameplay instructions and make up a board.

I really like Quirkle. Imagine Scrabble with colours and shapes and you’re there. It’s easy to play and doesn’t drag on.

This is amazing:

maybe some expansions for Carcassonne.

A word to the wise, not all Carcassonne expansions are equal. Some are pretty much essential, some are shameless cash-grabs. Look at reviews on BGG (or ask me!) before parting with money.

Actually, here:

https://boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/Carcassonne_series

I'd consider Inns & Cathedrals to be essential, we never play without it. Traders & Builders is popular. The Tower and The Catapult are utterly pointless.

Best place to buy them from Cougar? The prices seem to vary so much.

Was this one of you lot? 😀

“GET IN THE BRIG YOU PRICK!

Just like that, I saw my route to victory: deflecting any accusation of treachery by projecting it on to the smartest person in the room. Reader, I Trumped him. Pip became increasingly frustrated. The angrier he became, the more I could portray him as a dangerously unhinged robot. I’m fairly sure that at one point I shouted “DEFINE LOVE, YOU HEARTLESS MACHINE” at him.

Eventually, the game reached an endpoint. I went full Trump, chanting “Lock Him Up!” at Pip, and the other players obliged. Despite his protestations, Pip was thrown in the brig and I took control of the ship, piloting it almost immediately into the sun, to the horror of the other players. Words were exchanged. Small plastic icons were thrown. Pip stormed out with the other guests and I basked in my glory.

It was only in the morning that I considered that maybe I had gone too far

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/dec/29/board-game-new-years-eve-battlestar-galactica 😆

Best place to buy them from Cougar? The prices seem to vary so much.

Amazon? eBay?

https://www.bgextras.co.uk/
https://www.gameslore.co.uk/
http://www.boardgameguru.co.uk/

... off the top of my head. Or support your Local Games Shop. (-:

Definitely support your local shop. We have IQ Games in Huddersfield and they are great, they do a board games night every fortnight which is free and you can use a whole range of their library of games free too.

Plus there prices are the same as the internet mostly too - recently they had a birthday promo with 10% off and it was cheaper than anywhere on the internet.

Missus got Gloom for her Christmas which is pretty fun. Also retrieved Solarquest from her folks loft ('86 rules) which is good, imagine Monopoly in space but you need fuel to move.

We also got Forbidden Desert a few weeks back, now that's hard...

Supporting local is all well and good unless they can't or won't order what you want in (usually because the distributor wants a silly minimum order) in which case I'll either look further afield or just get form Amazon. Charity shops are good for the occasional gem.

Must be 20 years plus since last game but just had two great games of Masterpience - the art auction game

Simple but great fun

Gloom is great but you have to spin a good story. I do like it but it becomes X-rated when I play.

My mate from back home over down by there (Llangollen area) pops over frequently and we go to a great game cafe called Ludorati in Nottingham where they have a wall full of games to play and discounted purchases. I got my mate "King Domino" for Christmas which won 'Spiel der Jahre' 2017.

We played Elder Signs last time - it is better on the iPad; far too much to keep in your head for each turn.

BTW have we reached 'peak Cthulu' yet? It's everywhere!

Interesting thread this, i think will be getting carcassonne and really nasty horse racing game.

Will go along with cards against humanity and the perennial evil game of uno

Pandemic is great, love zombicide (co-op zombie survival) if you like exploding kittens, then you will adore bears vs babies (it comes in a hairy box, oooerr misses) death wish is very good. Chaos marauders is brilliant, play huge ammounts of munchkin in the house with mini taz as well, also dungeon petz (resource and planning game whilst raising dragons and feeding them goblinz for extra points to sell them to collectors)

Tazzy - I played pandemic and was looking forward to it but it left me cold - need to try it again but I couldn’t see the point - I want to win something!

Pandemic's really dependent on the group, the co-op can quickly become "do what we tell you". Not too convinced tbh

Wow, geek central. Cards against humanity is about the limit of my intelligence/patience level and soon get bored with that.

Walk past what used to be a trendy student bar on the way to the neanderthal pre-football pub and it's now a 'games bar'. I look through the window and have an irrational desire to go in and slap the 3/4 jean wearing, cardigan flouting, flowers in the hair, pretentious lefty saps who are pretending to have fun into reality. But then they probably think I'm a prick too

Interesting thread this, i think will be getting carcassonne and really nasty horse racing game.

I played Carcassonne on my phone as I was thinking of buying it but I was put off by the phone experience. I have been told it is quite difference when playing the card game but it does depend on who you play it with - I have been warned that some of the expansions are completely pointless too, but some are worth getting and do add to the game a great deal.

It's not a card game.

I discussed the expansions earlier on this page:
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/anyone-else-into-quality-board-games/page/2#post-8932755

Coming from a pure Monopoly only for virgin here... but love the look of some of those games.

10 minutes from me there is a board gaming cafe and I've often looked through the window with interest.

Trouble is, I'm not that sociable these days and walking in a place like that and trying to figure out how to get involved actually scares me a little! Lol

Not as confident as I once we buy just don't like computer games anymore and the social side really attracts me to these games.

Think I'll make it a Spring "mission" to get involved.

If it's any help, it's probably populated by nerds who are almost certainly more socially awkward than you are. (-:

Where are you geographically?

We have a weekly board gaming session.

Most popular games at the moment:

Champions of Midguard
Barenpark
Mission Red Planet
King of Tokyo
Kingdomino
Blood Rage!
7 Wonders
Century Spice Road
Chaos in the Old World
Evolution, Climate

I also play some solo games, Lord of the rings, the card game and Arkham Horror, the card game.

Haven't played any for years. The last I played would have been Risk.

Cougar - Moderator
If it's any help, it's probably populated by nerds who are almost certainly more socially awkward than you are. (-:

Where are you geographically?

More to do with the time I pass by but seems to be a fair few family groups in there?

I'm in Medway, Kent.

Bugger.

Cougar - Moderator
Bugger.

You'll have to elaborate? 😀

I'm guessing you mean you are up north mate? 🙂

I'm in Cambridge and am willing to travel to hold your hand for expenses plus maybe a foot rub. 😉