Modern board/card games

[Fastpedeller]

We got 221b Baker Street - great game, and a step up in difficulty from Cluedo!

[Krikkit]

We played a great card game over xmas with some other nerd friends - Marvel Legendary. Nice, complex play, and lovely sets to boot.

[Alex]

One Night Ultimate Werewolf is great fun and very quick (although you won't be able to stop playing).

We've also got Pandemic and Ticket to Ride which are both highly praised, but we haven't played them yet, so I can't comment.

[ecsrobin]

Recently I've got into games away from the odd monopoly and so on at Christmas.

Currently have:

Linkee - great for big groups
Exploding kittens - a real laugh
Ticket to ride (and UK/Pensylvania expansion map and 1910 cards expansion) so addictive I urge anyone to buy this game it really is that good everyone that's played it wants to buy it. The expansions also add new rules and cards which can be quite complex.
Carcassonne - sat at home after seeing it on amazon for £15 will have a game this week.

I should add some old classics I enjoy:

Scotland Yard
The great game of Britain.

[Tonsko]

We have Ticket to Ride Europe. Great fun.

[GetCarter]

I don't mean this to sound dismissive, but do any of you folk play traditional skill games for money?

(Poker/Bridge)

If not, are these new games played for money. or just for fun?

[Sway]

I just play for fun with the family and any friends we have over.

I think Ticket to Ride and Carcassonne are similar - build the board as you go and use your resources effectively to gain the most points?

[DoubleSix]

Tonsko said:

We have Ticket to Ride Europe. Great fun.

Does it work with just two players?

[shirt]

GetCarter said:

I don't mean this to sound dismissive, but do any of you folk play traditional skill games for money?

(Poker/Bridge)

If not, are these new games played for money. or just for fun?

uno you keep playing for revenge!

[Watchman]

Uno: old game but new to my family. My kids thrash me because they don't feel the guilt I do when I have to lay a +2 or +4 on someone else.

Dobble: another one my kids seem to be able to thrash me at.

[Tonsko]

DoubleSix said:

Does it work with just two players?

Yes, perfectly.

@Sway - Carcassonne, you do actually build the board, as the pieces are jigsaw'd. TTR, you have a traditional board that you fold out with marked out routes that you claim depending on your target routes.

Edited by Tonsko on Monday 15th February 21:38

[Sway]

Tonsko said:

@Sway - Carcassonne, you do actually build the board, as the pieces are jigsaw'd. TTR, you have a traditional board that you fold out with marked out routes that you claim depending on your target routes.

Edited by Tonsko on Monday 15th February 21:38

As, it is different then. Not jigsaw pieces, but each turn involves placing a board tile in a spot that 'works' according to the design. You've then got a limited number of pieces you can claim different types of landscape with, but usually have to complete the feature (such as a road or castle) to score the points).

I like it, as it's effectively a sophisticated version of dominoes.

[Tonsko]

Yeh, sorry. I have it, but wanted to just illustrate the difference between it and TTR.

[Sway]

Ah, cheers.

TTR was recommended by the chap in the shop - think that'll be next (or Catan, or Pandemic...).

[Steve Evil]

You'll struggle to get hold of it, as it's sold-out almost everywhere and due for a reprint shortly, but if you can find it, Pandemic: Legacy is absolutely fantastic. Regular old Pandemic is a co-op game where four of you work together to cure four diseases across the world before they get out of hand. Really quite tricky at first, but you soon learn that planning several steps ahead is key. The Legacy format mixes things up even more, in that it plays out like a TV series, you play over a 'year' each game being a month (that you get a second chance at if you muck-up) each game changes the board permanently though, you'll stick stickers on the board, meaning that certain cities start rioting and become harder to keep in check, you'll tear up cards, open up secret compartments in the game box filled with mystery goodies, uncover all sorts of conspiracies as the world goes to pot and basically wonder what the hell you're doing with a board game. It is definitely one you've got to experience, we're about 3/4 of the way through the season, as they're calling it and it's the most fun I've ever had with a board game.

This site is worth a browse for all sorts of board and card game reviews:

http://www.shutupandsitdown.com/

[Tonsko]

Catan is 3 player minimum, I don't think you can adapt it for 2 very well so that it's fun.

SUASD is a great site, Matt Lees, Log et. al. Rab Florence on RPS has a good column too (Cardboard Children).

Edited by Tonsko on Tuesday 16th February 10:21

[StevieBee]

'Spit it Out' is currently on our favourites list.

[SpielBoy]

Ages since I last posted on Pistonheads - then I spot a topic dear to heart - Boardgames :-)

As has been said earlier on this thread there has been sea change on boardgames over the past 10 years - though I would say it probably started with the publication of Settlers of Catan over 20 Years ago.

Though perhaps you wouldn't realise it by what tends to get stocked in shops like WH Smith - who continue to mostly stock infinite variations of Monopoly and various TV show tie ins ...

If you were to go into the German equivalent of WH Smith you would find a large variety of quality games - about the only British chain I can think of that stocks quality games is Waterstones - though there are specialist shops if you know where to look (Orcs Nest near Cambridge Circus in London comes to mind).

As with all these things there are different types of games (Family, War, Strategy etc) - if you are looking for recommendations of family games that might be fun to play the best place to start would be the German Game of the Year awards (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiel_des_Jahres)

If you are looking for more details reviews and opinion try https://boardgamegeek.com/ (Could well be described as Pistonheads for Boardgamers)

And if you really want to get a feel for boardgames you could try attending UK Games Expo in June https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/

Or may try search out a local gaming group/club ... they are around :-)

Though as has been said earlier in this thread there are some fanatastic games out there

Ticket to Ride https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/9209/ticket-ri...

- A great gateway family game - connecting cities and building routes (outside the base American Continent map there are a good few other map to choose from - though the Europe or American maps would be the best to start with)

Carcassonne https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/822/carcassonn...

- Another classic gateway family game - tile laying where you build cities, roads & fields and gain points from have control of said by placing your 'Meeples' (ie Men) on the ever growing map

Colt Express https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/158899/colt-ex...

- This Years German Game of the Year - you play one 6 'Bandits' attempting to rob passengers (and each other) on a train in the old west as you Shoot, Punch and rob you way to victory - all just great silly fun!!

Or if you want something more intellectual stretching you could try :-

The Voyages of Marco Polo https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/171623/voyages...

- Play Marco Polo (or one of the other available traders/explorers) as you attempt to acquire goods, complete trade deals, set up trading house and travel across Asia on your way to victory - much more of a gamers game (Personally I think it is probably the best gamers game of the past year)

Caverna: Cave Farmers https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/102794/caverna...

- Play Dwarves as you dig you mines, farm your fields, gain loot from adventuring and grow you family - the box ways a ton and it is quite expensive - but who woulnm't want to so those things!!

You could also try viewing some of Wil Wheaton's Tabletop games demonstration videos http://geekandsundry.com/shows/tabletop/

I have been boardgaming as a hobby for longer than I care to remember - and the reason that I enjoy it is that I like the social interaction of sitting down for an evening with friends and family whilst at the same time getting a little bit intellectual stimulation - all from just playing a game :-)

Anyway good luck - and as Wil Wheaton says 'Play More Games!!'

[SunsetZed]

I'm quite enjoying Formula D, new tracks can be found online and printed out (or bought for extortionate prices!) as well to extend it's life.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asmodee-FDUSASM-Formula-D/...

[Kenty]

Labyrinth is superb, game for 7-80year olds.