[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.