All posts by 5 Minutes

Best of List

Top 10 Entry Level Games

As a veteran gamer, we love to play with other veteran gamers if for no other reason than simple shared interest. Veteran gamers don’t shy away from complexity, they are as excited about the hobby as you are, it makes for a perfect match. That said as gamers we are always trying to sneak in ways to do more gaming and certainly we have all been in that position where we have a room full of people looking to be entertained that aren’t really gamers. Pulling Twilight Imperium out and introducing them to it isn’t likely to yield particularly good results and when someone suggests Monopoly I immediately have the urge to roll my eyes to the back of my head. Fortunately there are lots of really great entry level games, sometimes known as gateway games that are perfect for introducing people to the hobby without scaring them off or making them feel like they aren’t going to do very well in the game. The following top 10 list is made of such games, each one better than the last for introducing people to the wonderful hobby of designer games.

1. Small World
When I started making this list Small World was the unquestionable king of introductory games, not only because it’s very easy to teach and learn, both because it’s simple and streamlined, but because gamer or not, it’s a fantastic game in its own right. I find Small World is as popular among non-gamers, casual gamers and veteran gamers a-like. This is a game that simply caters to everyone and thanks to its cute fantasy art, very clever concept and versatility, playing as well with 2 players as it does with 3, 4 or 5, its ideal. Now I will admit that I did not review this game particularly high on boardgamegeek but it’s largely because I am a veteran gamer, I prefer to play games aimed at guys like me and Small World is really, well simple. It’s clearly not a game aimed to capture my attention and preferences, but I have never passed up the opportunity to play it and I find it hits the table a lot more often than any other light strategy game with my usual game group which is made up of largely veteran gamers. That says a lot about Small World as a game.

A game for everyone, that's all that needs to be said about why Small World is at the top of this list.
A game for everyone, that’s all that needs to be said about why Small World is at the top of this list.

2. Ticket To Ride
This list would be incomplete without Ticket to Ride on it, it is the Monopoly of our generation. Rightfully so because it is the premiere family game and it has done beer and pretzel fun without that endless slog that old school family games like Monopoly or The Game of Life had. I find more than any other game on this list, Ticket to ride is great because it requires ZERO instruction ahead of time. You can simply setup the board and the explain the game as you play which I think is a huge benefit to using this game as an introductory game. It’s also a lot more kid friendly, I have played with kids as young as 6 and it works just fine. It has an appeal to kids as well, who doesn’t love playing with miniature toy trains. Simple, fun and actually does have a bit of umpf for those who dig into the nuisances of the games potential strategies, there really is some game here below the surface that might satisfy a more gamy group. It’s a classic, it belongs on this list.

The perfect family board game night game, looks amazing, it's simple enough for kids of pretty much any age yet offers sufficient strategy and gameplay to keep veteran gamers from getting bored.
The perfect family board game night game, looks amazing, it’s simple enough for kids of pretty much any age yet offers sufficient strategy and gameplay to keep veteran gamers from getting bored.

3. Carcassonne
I think the first few games on this list I realized when I was writing it are almost kind of obvious to gamers, I would imagine that any gamer who would form a list like this would have Caraccassone on it. It’s such an obvious choice, easy to learn difficult to master it’s a game that draws you in if you have even the slightest interest in board gaming. There are various expansions for the game, but for the purposes of an introductory game the original Caraccassone is best. Though most of the expansions add only slightly more complexity so really any of them would work. Most gamers have their favorite, but for me personally, I like regular plain old Caraccassone. It’s a simple game and personally I have never felt it needed any expansions. I actually play this game quite often, It seems like every gamer I know has a copy so I think of all the games on this list, its really up there in terms of games I play regularly.

Very strategic for such a simple game and really such a classic gateway game the list would be incomplete without it.
Very strategic for such a simple game and really such a classic gateway game the list would be incomplete without it.

4. Dominion
This is probably where opinions will start to diverge. Dominion is slightly more complex than most games on this list, but it’s a game I think is very easy to grasp the rules of. Learning the strategies is another topic, it has some less than obvious ones and can take many plays to get your head around. I like Dominion as an introductory game however because it has this addictive “lets play again” nature to it. I have never introduced Dominion to any group that didn’t ultimately end up playing several games back to back. The bonus is that I love playing Dominion, so when I bring it out to casual gamers it feels more like a board game night with the guys, than an introductory game night and I really like that. I tend to stick to the core game for introductions, the rules for expansions tend to be a bit too complex for an introductory game.

The addictive nature of Dominion paired with its simple and streamlined gameplay makes it ideal as a gateway game.
The addictive nature of Dominion paired with its simple and streamlined gameplay makes it ideal as a gateway game.

5. Railways Of The World
This game lands on a slightly more complex level than the others, but I have had a lot of great results introducing it to non-gamers and getting them excited about the hobby. I find that sometimes, non-gamers are a bit put off by the “fantasy” or “kids” like art of most introductory games. After all most non-gamers have played more complex games anyway like RISK, Chess, Stratego and things of that nature. Just because someone is a non-gamer, doesn’t mean there stupid and I think that’s why Railways of the World is such a great introductory game. It kind of takes the players more seriously, yet is really no more complex than any other game on this list to teach. It has the benefit of looking amazing on the table, which is a really great treat for people who don’t ordinarily play games because it has this “wow” effect. It also has this thing where it looks complicated but isn’t, I find that non-gamers pick the strategy up really quickly and do quite well even in their first game and by the end of it do the classic gamer thing “I should have done X or Y”. A clear indication that they where into the game and are thinking about how they will do it next time, exactly what you want when introducing someone to gaming.

A meaningful relatively deep strategic game that is easy to teach and learn. The fact that it looks amazing on the table is just a bonus.
A meaningful relatively deep strategic game that is easy to teach and learn. The fact that it looks amazing on the table is just a bonus.

6. Cosmic Encounters
I was hesitant to add this to the list because while it’s a fairly simple game, it does have a science-fiction theme, it can get a little mean and some of the specific races can make the game a bit complex. Still I find that when people come over to my house, see my game collection, Cosmic Encounters gets that “what’s this” query from non-gamers. There is a draw to it, perhaps it’s the art but I have pulled it off the shelf by request from non-gamers more often than I have pulled it off myself as an introductory game. Cosmic Encounters does have that social negotiation element to it and people seem to like that, even though I would have not guessed that. I always imagine that non-gamers want to avoid confrontational games but quite to the contrary, I often get the comment from non-gamers or casual gamers that they want to play something with more interaction, which might explain why RISK is often requested. While familiar, I think people like games like RISK because it’s a confrontation game so there is something to it. Cosmic Encounters is a really great game, I love playing it with my own gaming groups so if it’s requested and there is interest in the science-fiction theme, there certainly is no reason not to use it as a gateway game. It is after all very easy to teach and grasp, so it’s not the complexity that would be a turn off. You just have to feel the room because that confrontation element can get quite nasty in Cosmic Encounters.

I was a bit hesitant to add this one to the list. It's a science-fiction game, it looks complicated and it can be kind of mean in the negotiation element of the game. It is however easy to teach/learn and it's on the list because it gets requested by visitors to my gaming dungeon. I think there are more science-fiction fans out there than people realize.
I was a bit hesitant to add this one to the list. It’s a science-fiction game, it looks complicated and it can be kind of mean in the negotiation element of the game. It is however easy to teach/learn and it’s on the list because it gets requested by visitors to my gaming dungeon. I think there are more science-fiction fans out there than people realize.

7. King of Tokyo
Simple games like Yahtzee are often requested and my eyes immediately roll to the back of my head. For the love of god if you want to roll dice there are far better games than Yahtzee to do it with. King of Tokyo is a perfect example. A very simple, dice chucking game that is actually fun and has a great theme that everyone can get behind as well. It’s a really great game for kids as well, in fact, this is the premiere “family game night” game because as parents we often want to let our kids win but don’t give them the impression that we are letting them win and as strange as it sounds, King of Tokyo is fun to play even if you intentionally throwing the game. There are lots of big moments and take those moments, plenty of gotcha’s and I have found that it really hits that almost party game level in terms of board games. Great, simple, dice chucking fun, perfect for those dinner parties when you’re trying to entertain guests with something other than boring conversations about politics.

A far better alternative to boring classic dice chuckers like Yahtzee. To answer your question, yes, it's as much fun as it looks.
A far better alternative to boring classic dice chuckers like Yahtzee. To answer your question, yes, it’s as much fun as it looks.

8. Pandemic
Pandemic takes on a pretty unusual topic for a board game (viral outbreak) in which players cooperate in an effort to stop a global catastrophe. Not exactly what I would call an easy concept to sell to new players. It might almost be too much from a theme perspective alone, but there is no denying Pandemic’s streamlined, easy to learn design which fits perfect on this list as an introductory game. More importantly, in terms of “gamer games” that work well with non-gamers it’s ideal because it’s purely cooperative, so no one suffers at the hands of more experienced players. It’s a game where the actions of players have a lot of impact, but since your cooperating it’s not strange or insulting to offer advice and talk strategies at the table. The subject matter might work to your benefit as well as non-gamers tend to get put off by the “fantasy” element of most board games, where Pandemic is really kind of a “this could actually happen” type of subject matter which might register with more serious people who see board gaming as “play time for kids”. This game is oddly enough family friendly as well, as everyone at the table is working together, promoting a kind of team spirit thing, though perhaps children shouldn’t be too young. I often wish there was a Pandemic game with a lighter theme, but what Pandemic does best is provide a very challenging gaming experience without overwhelming you with rules so it really is a great introductory game. You just need to feel he room and make sure the subject matter is appropriate.

The subject matter might be a turn off for some, but I find there are certain groups of people who don't mind playing a board game as long as they don't have to be a Wizard or a space marine which excludes a lot of board games. Be selective, but for the right group it's a perfect game.
The subject matter might be a turn off for some, but I find there are certain groups of people who don’t mind playing a board game as long as they don’t have to be a Wizard or a space marine which excludes a lot of board games. Be selective, but for the right group it’s a perfect game.

9. Kingdoms
I have always loved this game for its extremely easy to teach and learn rules, while simultaneously being immensely deep strategically. It’s a pretty fast game too boot which is always a consideration for introductory games and many games on this list might be a bit too long for some introductions. Kingdoms is a really great game in particular when dealing with “casual gamers” rather than non-gamers. Casual gamers are generally people who do sometimes play games or might have played games in the past like RISK or Stratego for example, it has that same simplicity, yet offers some depth and mastery that can be attractive to casual gamers. It’s easily one of my favorite short games, in fact, after you play it once and have explained the rules, it’s practically a filler game. Really solid design, versatile in the sense that it’s as much a gamers game as an introductory game and I find once I introduce it to group, they tend to want to replay it which again, is always a great sign that it’s having the desired effect. Highly recommend it In general for everyone, but in particular as an introductory game.

A simple game with a lot of depth. This one will have people thinking, its less "fun fun" as a game so it caters more to non-gamers who are interested in strategy as opposed to a dinner party "lets have some laughs" type of gaming. You have to feel the room.
A simple game with a lot of depth. This one will have people thinking, its less “fun fun” as a game so it caters more to non-gamers who are interested in strategy as opposed to a dinner party “lets have some laughs” type of gaming. You have to feel the room.

10. Lords of Waterdeep
Lords of Waterdeep has been mentioned on this blog a number of times and once again I have to put it on a list of games you should be pulling out. I realize I have a strange infatuation with this game, but it really does belong on this list though I will admit it’s really a “taking the next step” kind of game mostly because of its theme. This is a very simple game, in fact, I typically don’t teach it prior to playing but rather teach it during play, it’s that simple. The game has a lot of depth beneath the surface, but this really only comes through once you start and the depth is not complexity of the rules but of potential strategies. Really the only strike against it for this list is its fantasy theme which I find is kind of a turn off for a lot of non-gamers who want to avoid the “nerdy” element of board gaming as its often perceived. It really functions better as a game that you introduce once you have people’s attention and interest and they are over that awkward self-conscious stage where they feel they are being judged on how they spend their free time. It really has that spark as a game that triggers the gamer in all of us, once you get someone to play this game, the door really swings pretty wide in what you can introduce next so while its lowest on this list, it’s definitely to be considered an introductory game for all intense and purposes.

This is a "next step" type of game, though D&D is a familiar theme and I have found people have a tendency to want to play games in familiar territory. Simple enough to teach on the fly however makes this a strong entry at the end of this list.
This is a “next step” type of game, though D&D is a familiar theme and I have found people have a tendency to want to play games in familiar territory. Simple enough to teach on the fly however makes this a strong entry at the end of this list.
Best of List

Top 5 Popular Games You Can Skip

I have completed my top 10 best games, now I’m going to have a look at some of the games that are in the top spots on Boardgamegeek that I actually don’t like. In fact, most of the games on this list I simply avoid playing whenever possible or play games that use similar mechanics to better effect (games that have been replaced by better games). I kept it to 5 though I could have easily done a top 20, but the games on this list are either just terrible games, boring games or should have been far more than they are.

1. Agricola
When Agricola hit board game geek and rose through the ranks like a cannon I was rather confused, I hadn’t played it, but how does a game about one of the dullest subjects on gods green earth become one of the most popular board games on board game geek? Naturally my curiosity peeked when it hit the number 2 spot, I had to find out and so of course, I did. Several times to be certain of my forming opinion, which now I’m 100% certain on. Hands down, one of the dumbest and most boring games I have ever played, in fact, of all the games on this list, this is the one I can’t name even a single redeeming quality it has. It’s mechanics are dry, virtually nothing creative or profound about the game, it completely lacks player interaction, it’s rules are confusing and unnecessarily over complicated and it boasts some pretty ugly art work with text so small on the cards even with perfect 20/20 vision you have to strain to read overly elaborate language used to define what cards can do.

Its every bit as boring as it sounds, don't believe the hype. For a far better game about farming try Caverna, but if you value money, skip games about farming all together.
Its every bit as boring as it sounds, don’t believe the hype. For a far better game about farming try Caverna, but if you value money, skip games about farming all together.

 

It’s just bad all around and to add the poop cherry on top its stupidly expensive begging the question where the developer/publisher sunk the money? It’s popularity baffles me unlike any other game, though it’s hype was thankfully short lived at least in my circles. There was a burst of “let’s play Agricola” which I suffered through but after a few plays with any group it simply died. I haven’t seen it played in over a year anywhere and wasn’t ever able to find a victim to pawn it off onto. In the end I gave it away with a reluctant recipient who I convinced by using the classic phrase “Just take it, it’s free!”. Avoid the temptation, it’s as stupid as it sounds.

2. Terra Mystica
Another pointless Euro cube pusher following in the footstep of the themeless Euro drones that basically boil down to solving unnecessarily complicated math problems is Terra Mystica. It’s a game of cube management pure and simple and if that sounds boring, it’s worth mentioning that’s it’s not even a particularly good cube pusher. Games like Russian Railroads which follow in the same style of theme-lessnes and mathematics is as least creative and carry’s pretty decent strategic depth.

This over hyped cube pusher will put you to sleep. Bring a calculator.
This over hyped cube pusher will put you to sleep. Bring a calculator.

Terra Mystica is just painful to play, I don’t understand why these games are made and how in the world they become so popular, but it makes me think that people are just completely ignorant to some of the amazing games out there they could be playing instead. I will grant Terra Mystica that it’s premise is at least more interesting than Agricola, but given that there is virtually no connection between premise and actual mechanics, it’s only a slight nudge below Agricola in the “why the hell would anyone play this crap” category. So bad, so not worth your time or money.

3. Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico has some redeeming qualities as an interesting example of role selection mechanics and it does boast some relatively strategic play that can hold your attention but its popularity is confusing. It’s rather stale, has a boring theme and has some severely broken balance issue that once discovered creates a game split between the players that do know and those that don’t know how to break it.

It was clever for its time, but its time has come and gone. For today's standards it simply doesn't live up.
It was clever for its time, but its time has come and gone. For today’s standards it simply doesn’t live up.

It’s a puzzle with a solution and I hate that type of thing in games. Puerto Rico is a good example of games that have aged really badly, back in the day it was an ok game and we played it, but for today’s standard it’s not even remotely acceptable as a designer game. It’s time has come and gone, there are far better and more balanced Euro’s on the market today.

4. Eclipse
When it was first released it’s most common comparison was to Twilight Imperium 3rd edition, in fact it was often referred to as TI3 junior. A small, more compact version of Twilight Imperium that could be played in half the time. As a huge TI3 fan, this was exciting news and the designers comments regarding his inspiration (Master of Orion) further fueled the hype as the next big science fiction opera. The first time I played it I thought to myself, ok, it’s not a terrible game, but it is in no way, shape or form anything even in the ball park of TI3, in fact to say so was insulting. This game has more in common with games on this list (Agricola and Terra Mystica) than it has to do with TI3.

You might say if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck its a duck, but I assure you, the appearance is a lie. This is not an epic space opera, its a game that has more to do with games like Agricola than it has to do with classics like TI3.
You might say if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck its a duck, but I assure you, the appearance is a lie. This is not an epic space opera, its a game that has more to do with games like Agricola than it has to do with classics like TI3.

After 2 or 3 games of Eclipse you start to see a pattern emerge as well, as is the case with so many Euro’s. It’s frankly a boring game with a nice theme and in a sense it was the theme that intrigued me to play the game several times before I realized that I just wasn’t having any fun.

Eclipse lacks everything that makes space opera games fun. There is no economics to speak off, there is very little interaction between players, diplomacy in particular is pointless since player actions are so predictable and like most Euro games that are cube happy it’s basically a mathematical puzzle and not a particularly hard one to solve. It’s one of those games where in any given situation there are many choices available to you, but one very clear, very obvious one that is far superior. It’s almost like you’re on rails, taking actions that you very clearly must take. I don’t think it’s a terrible game, in fact, I actually don’t mind playing it unlike many games on this list but it’s far too long even though it plays half the time of TI3 for what you get out of it. Today it’s even less attractive given that there are new games in this genre that have been added that are far better than this one.

5. Sid Meier’s Civilization
It pains me to bash this game both because it’s published by my favorite board game maker Fantasy Flight Games and its designer Kevin Wilson who has made some wonderful games both big and small including Android, Arkham Horror and even one of my favorite silver line mini games Arena Maximus. When I first heard that FFG was making a board game version of Civilization I was giddy with excitement, in particular given that the other attempt by Eagle Games (Civilization the board game) wasn’t particularly good either. Sid Meier’s Civilization is full of great ideas but just poorly executed. It just doesn’t feel right, in particular combat which is so dull, made during the weird period when FFG was really into card based combat mechanics, a concept that ruined Rune Wars and Starcraft.

It looks amazing and you may be tempted, but all the dazzle in the world cannot save this games short comings. It's just not the civilization game your looking for.
It looks amazing and you may be tempted, but all the dazzle in the world cannot save this games short comings. It’s just not the civilization game your looking for.

It’s a long game and while it has that fantastic FFG component quality, art and solid theme it just isn’t that much fun to play. The first couple of games we played I thought it was ok, but the combat mechanic in particular really ruined it for me. It looks great, but is not worth your time, I think Kevin Wilson missed a great opportunity on this one.

Board Game Reviews

Galaxy Trucker by Czech Games Edition 2007

Designer: Vlaada Chvátil

A long time ago there was a really bad movie called Space Truckers, it’s something of a cult classic now, but when I first heard about Galaxy Truckers the board game it instantly reminded me of that movie. In Galaxy Truckers players must construct space worthy ships using whatever spare components they can find and traverse the dangerous galaxy in hopes of delivering cargo to the other side of the galaxy. It’s a humorous, timed game that borders on being more a funny party game than anything you might take seriously. In fact, I’m not entirely sure there is any strategy to it at all, it’s really one of those games that is just for shits and giggles. You build your ship and hope it doesn’t fall apart on you before it reaches the goal line.

The game is broken down into two main phases. The construction phase and the flight phase. During the construction phase players are presented with individual gameboards, outlines of the ship they are going to build and a pile of tiles representing the many random components they can use to build their ships. Components include things like engines, weapons, shields, batteries, cabin quarters, cargo space and things of that nature. Spacy sounding stuff.

When a construction round begins players must as quickly as possible build there ship because a sand timer can be flipped over and started at any time by any player. Hence the faster you can build your ship the more pressure you can put on the other players. Once the timer is flipped and the time runs out the construction is immediately over.

If it wasn't for the timer constructing a functional ship would be easy, but since anyone can flip the sand timer at any time, you have to work fast.
If it wasn’t for the timer constructing a functional ship would be easy, but since anyone can flip the sand timer at any time, you have to work fast.

Constructing a functional ship under pressure is a lot harder than it sounds because each component has different types of connectors and you must construct the ship by fitting these different connectors to each other. There are three types of connectors and the square tiles have 4 sides, some sides don’t have any connectors at all. Now during the construction phase you can only grab one tile at a time, but you can grab as many as you like. Each time you want to pick up a new tile you must put the other one down, which in turn makes it available to other players. Hence the more tiles you don’t use the easier you make it for the other players to construct a functional ship. So the trick is to build quickly, efficiently and with as many of the components as you pick up.

Each component has a different function, batteries for example allow you to power different parts of your ships like shields, weapons and engines. You need crew to survive the flight so the more crew cabins you have the better. You need cargo space so that you can collect cargo so that you can earn money (the player with the most money at the end of the round wins). In essence you need a fast ship, well armed, with plenty of crew, well defended by shields with lots of cargo space. It’s a lot harder than it sounds, in fact, most of the time you end up with a half-cocked, lop sided mess that is barely space worthy.

There are three rounds in the game, the player with the most money at the end wins. Each round has you building a bigger ship.
There are three rounds in the game, the player with the most money at the end wins. Each round has you building a bigger ship.

Once everyone has constructed their ships its time for the race to begin. During the flight phase players will be using a deck of cards representing different hazards along their flight. Each turn a card is flipped over and players must deal with whatever horrific things space throws as them. This might be asteroids, pirates, abandoned stations, trade planets, events like disease outbreaks and all manner of things all designed to blow you out of your sky. You can use your weapons and shields to protect yourself, race to the front using your engines and pick up cargo with your cargo bays.

There are several expansions for the game which adds to the chaos but might over complicate the game. I prefer the simple base version but there is an anniversary edition that puts a couple of the expansions into a single box.
There are several expansions for the game which adds to the chaos but might over complicate the game. I prefer the simple base version but there is an anniversary edition that puts a couple of the expansions into a single box.

During your flight your ship is going to get hit by all manner of things (guns, asteroids etc..). As it does, pieces of your ship will break off (components). In order to complete the race your ship must survive, reach its destination and have at least one crew member when you get there. Largely the flight phase is kind of out of your hands, most of the things just “happen” to you and you can only hope that you did a good enough job during the construction phase that your ship will survive the hazards.

Galaxy Trucker is actually a pretty hilarious game, you naturally want to make sure the people who are going to play it with are in the right mood. If you’re looking for a serious strategy game, this isn’t it. This is a game you play for the sheer fun of it, almost like you would a dexterity game or a party game. This game has a lot of really great moments between the race to construct your ship and the race to the finish line. It falls in the same line as games like Formula D or Robo-Rally, the sort of thing you play just to have some laughs.

I really like this one, in fact, I was quite surprised how much praise it given it’s rather silly and random nature. Most of my gaming groups are at least semiserious and very few silly games hit the table, but this one has crept into our consciousness. It’s a very family friendly, really a great family board game night in a box.

Highly recommended if you want to break up the seriousness in your gaming group with a bit of silly fun.

Board Game Reviews

Kingsburg By Fantasy Flight Games 2007

Designers: Andrea Chiarvesio & Luca Iennaco

Euro games are hit and miss with me, that’s no secret if you read this blog, but I had heard about Kingsburg repeatedly from a number of sources, each more reputable than the next that Kingsburg was a really great game. I took the plunge this month, so here is your review.

Kingsburg is a game in which players take on the roles of governors who must gather resources, construct buildings and protect their investment. Most of the elements of this are fairly abstract, this is a very Euro game and largely handled through an interesting take on the worker placement mechanic.

It's a very pretty game and while busy, very clear, a trademark of Fantasy Flight Games organization and quality.
It’s a very pretty game and while busy, very clear, a trademark of Fantasy Flight Games organization and quality.

In Kingsburg, the game is broken down into 5 years, during which you have different seasons in which to act. Various events transpire but you are largely doing worker placement to gain resources and then constructing advantageous buildings all while scoring points. The worker placement mechanic is represented by 18 of members of the kings court (including the king and queen herself). During each season players will roll 3 (sometimes more) six sided dice and use those dice to purchase the favor of one or more of the members of the kings court. Doing so, earns you the benefit of that noblemen and of course as all worker placement games, blocks other players from claiming that spot.

For example if you roll a 3, 5 and 6, you could secure a higher member of the court for the full amount 14, or you could split the dice up and take several lower positions perhaps a 6 and 8 (3+5). The various buildings you construct during later phases can allow you to manipulate the dice results, there are ways to get additional dice and various other benefits all forming a pretty wide variety of strategies for this ultimately pretty simple worker placement game. There are other elements including raising armies to face the threat that comes at the end of each winter, ways to manipulate turn order and a few other little moving parts.

What you construct defines what sort of strategies will open themselves up to you. There are plenty of different ways to approach the game which is great for replay-ability.
What you construct defines what sort of strategies will open themselves up to you. There are plenty of different ways to approach the game which is great for replay-ability.

Ultimately though like most worker placement games it’s all about smart use of your workers, resource management and finding openings to score points since naturally the player with the most points at the end of the year wins the game.

I’ve got a few worker placement games under my belt now, including my favorite, Lords of Waterdeep. I really think Kingsburg stands out compared to most of the worker placement games I have played thanks to interesting inclusion of the dice into the mix, the many ways you manipulate the games positions and I in particular liked the fact that there was a lot more player interaction (which lacks in a lot of worker placement games). The board is really tight, in particular in a 4 or 5 player game so there is pretty stiff competition and the games are very clutch.

While the worker placement mechanic is driven by dice, it also drives the turn order while offering ample ways to mitigate dice rolls. It has randomness but you would have to be pretty unlucky consistently for it to have any impact.
While the worker placement mechanic is driven by dice, the dice also drives the turn order while the game offers ample ways to mitigate dice rolls. It has randomness but you would have to be pretty unlucky consistently for it to have any impact.

I’m not sure that the game did a particular great job of presenting the theme, though the theme itself is pretty vague. I think Kingsburg art helped it a great deal to make it aesthetically pleasing and the game board itself is incredibly functional with easy to read iconography.

I’m not entirely sure I can say I love Kingsburg, I think it’s a fine game, but it has not dethroned Lords of Waterdeep for me. It’s a pretty quick game and I like that and unlike Lords of Waterdeep, it plays quite well with just 3 players. My understanding is that the expansions is well worth getting though I’m not sure I like the base game enough to actually pick it up. I don’t have any particular beef with it, but like many Euro designs, Kingsburg lands in a kind of neutral area for me. It’s got a great spin on an already established mechanic, its production quality is high and I find it appeals a lot more to kids thanks to this art style and randomness of the dice mechanic. I think given the option I would still rather play Lords of Waterdeep but Kingsburg is not an altogether shabby alternative, though it certainly didn’t blow me away.

Gaming Articles

Games That Get Better With Time

One thing I can say about board games is that I like most of them at first. The truth is that board gaming as a hobby is actually less about the games for me and more about spending time with friends. It’s a social occasion, which is why I have never enjoyed playing games online (I have tried many times). The experience is just not the same.

That said however I do find that over time, most games I tire off. In fact, despite having played hundreds of games over the years, my actual collection is quite thin. I don’t hold onto games I don’t have an itching desire to play and the result is that there is a tremendous amount of culling of the collection that happens.

There are some games however that have made it into my collection and have proven themselves to have lasting power, some for over decades. Today I will talk a bit about some of these great old school games that, even though they didn’t make my top ten lists, I would never get rid of. It’s not so much that they are amazing games by today’s standards, though they are good in their own way, but it’s that they have a certain element to them that just makes them keepers for me.

Ikusa (Formally known as Milton Bradly’s Shogun or Samurai Swords)

This 1980’s classic has been in my collection since I started gaming nearly 30 years ago. It’s a game that hasn’t aged particularly well in light of modern mechanics and is often referred to as “RISK like” which has its own negative connotations to gamers. It’s a long game and it can be a bit mean given the potential for player elimination, but I still love it for its purity as a classic war game.

While many gamers consider dice chuckers like RISK to be beneath them, to me Ikusa has sufficient "extra's" to make it a quality strategic game. The fact that it looks amazing on the table is just a cherry on top.
While many gamers consider dice chuckers like RISK to be beneath them, to me Ikusa has sufficient “extra’s” to make it a quality strategic game. The fact that it looks amazing on the table is just a cherry on top.

There are many war games made today but very few of them go for the pure war mechanic. Most are filled with card play, overly complicated, have various euro style abstractions, some even go the gimmick route and while I like many of these games, classic RISK style dice chucker war games still appeal to me. I grew up on games like Fortress America, Axis and Allies and Ikusa.

Ikusa is actually seriously underrated as a board game even for today’s standards. It is a dice chucker for certain, but it has a pretty considerable depth to strategies that can be employed and there is far more to it than simply building units and fighting, there is a kind of sequence of events that transpires. First there is this war preparation period, the consolidation of troops, the choosing of battlefields, the defining of borders and alliances. In the second part of the game all hell breaks loose, pure chaotic war, when players make all of their big moves. Than in the final rounds there is that last man standing period where players get clever and try to push the limitations of their forces and prepare for the end game. The climatic finish usually comes in the form of two or three contending players fighting out a couple of critical make it or break battles that define the winner. It’s always clutch in the end and though usually a couple of players lose the war much earlier, there are always two or three contenders for the win in the final rounds.

The game can stagnate in the sense that these “periods” in the game can get pretty extensive, but it’s a war game made for gamers who are accustomed to 4 to 5 hour games. Faulting it for taking a long time is like faulting golf for being played over 18 holes instead of a more manageable 5. It’s part of the game and you kind of embrace it or don’t play it.

Ikusa has never disappointed me, it’s always fun to play and just easy enough to teach to anyone. While its mechanics have aged a great deal in comparison to some modern improvements in war games it still holds up quite well in my opinion and remains one of my favorite games to pull out for that pure war game itch. I actually love many of the old Milton Bradly classics but games like Axis and Allies and Fortress America are really two player games, Ikusa is the only one in that group that works well with multiple players and yes, it’s a far better alternative to RISK.

Ticket To Ride
I have never played a game of Ticket to Ride I didn’t enjoy. Despite its simplicity and casual nature, it’s one of those games that just finds its way to the table out of convenience. It’s so easy to teach, it’s very kid/family friendly and really requires very little of your attention so it makes for a good beer and pretzels, not too serious type of board game night. While light on the theme, it’s clearly a game about trains which I think is a topic that has always appealed to me.

Ticket to Ride is a simple game, doorway game that is perfect for introducing people to the hobby of board gaming. It's theme is attractive and strategies immediately apparent.
Ticket to Ride is a simple game, doorway game that is perfect for introducing people to the hobby of board gaming. It’s theme is attractive and strategies immediately apparent.

Despite this casual nature though the game has some mini depth, there is actually quite a few strategic options and if analyzed a little closer can actually get people involved on a higher than normal casual game level. It’s a doorway game one I played a decade ago and fully expect to still play a decade from now, it’s a staple game.

The Great Dalmuti

Simple trick taking card games like the Great Dalmuti are ideal for camping trips.
Simple trick taking card games like the Great Dalmuti are ideal for camping trips or as fillers.  It’s ability to handle larger amounts of players can allow it do double as a small after dinner party game.

A very simple trick taking card game it is THE game that goes into a backpack on any road trip, camping trip or anywhere else where I might find myself with a group of bored friends wanting to relax and pass the time. There are many such games out there but The Great Dalmuti is definitively a social game and plays as well with 4 players as it does with 8 players. It has this addictive nature to it, I’ve never introduced it to any group who ended up only playing it once, it always gets repeated plays and over the years I have had to replace my copy 3 times because of wear and tear. Great, simple game, an old stand-by classic.

REX (Formally DUNE)
A long time ago when I first got into board gaming on a bit higher level there was a game based on the beloved franchise DUNE (called not surprisingly DUNE). It’s a quasi-war game, though it plays more like chess where multiple players fight to control of the thematic spice planet. Each player had unique and very different special powers depending on which house they represented. With immense replay ability, great strategic depth and a lot of intrigue, negotiation and surprises, its one of those games that I vividly remember playing.

REX is a really deep game, but relatively simple to teach. It's not really a war game, but there is plenty of conflict via intrigue, diplomacy and bluffing.
REX is a really deep game, but relatively simple to teach. It’s not really a war game, but there is plenty of conflict via intrigue, diplomacy and bluffing.

When the game was reprinted using the Twilight Imperium Franchise I naturally jumped on the opportunity to revisit it and while a bit different than Dune, REX is just as good and carries the game thematically just as well as the old classic.

REX is relatively easy to teach, but it is definitively a gamers game, in fact, I find most people either absolutely love it, or absolutely despise it. It can be a rather infuriating game because there is so many things to consider and the human element has such an enormous impact on the outcome of the game. It’s a purely strategic game with no luck element and is perhaps one of the most balanced games I have ever played. Absolutely fantastic and the truth is that if I had the opportunity to play it more often it would very likely creep it’s way to my top 10 list. If you find a likeminded group who appreciates intrigue games, REX can be a beautiful thing.

Illuminati
Steve Jackson is a notorious game designer, notorious because his games are always very different than anything that has come before it. Whether it’s GURPS and its focus on realism, Munchkin which pokes fun at other games or Illuminati, quite possibly one of the meanest and infuriating games you will ever love to play.

A cult classic, a pain to teach and kind of mean, its one of those games I love to play with people who already know how to play and love it to. Teaching it to new players is a real bitch.
Not a game I play often, definitely a “gamers” game-

Illuminati no doubt deserves far more praise from me than I give it, but the truth is that I haven’t played it for years. It’s main drawback is that Illuminati is a bit mathi and it’s a bit difficult to teach. Those two flaws however when overcome like a lot of great complex games, results in a fantastic gaming experience. It’s pure brutality, but it’s so well balanced and so fun to watch people squirm. It’s one of those games where you have “I can’t believe you just did that” moments.

It’s in the same category as Race For The Galaxy for me and see’s little play for the same reason, I love playing it, but hate teaching people how to play it. It’s been in my collection for over a decade, built into its gameplay are nostalgic memories of friends from years ago I miss very much. A game I never see myself getting rid of.

Carcassonne

There are many expansions for this game, but for me personally the simplicity and elegance of the base game makes this a perfect warm up game. I'm always happy to play it, though I would be hard pressed to give you a good reason, its just fun.
There are many expansions for this game, but for me personally the simplicity and elegance of the base game makes this a perfect warm up game. I’m always happy to play it, though I would be hard pressed to give you a good reason, its just fun.

I don’t know why this game lingers as it does, it’s really kind of simplistic and while the expansions (of which there are many) add a lot of variety, I rarely ever play anything but the base game. I suppose it’s got that “Monopoly” thing where it’s a game everyone knows, requires little explanation and is quick to play. I don’t love it but always enjoy playing it, there is no denying its appeal as a simple, quick game.