This particular little Euro released in 2010 to considerable acclaim picking awards like the 2010 Meeple’s Choice Awards, Swiss Gamers Award and International Gamers Award, just to name a few. It’s gotten considerably good support from Board Game Geek sitting pretty on the tail end of the top 20 but more importantly for me personally it came highly recommend by several friends as a really great, fast, yet deep strategic card game.
It’s a game that has been on my “must play” list for nearly five years, that’s quite a bit longer than I like to wait to review a game, but there are so many games these days and only so much time and wallet one can dedicate to gaming. In any case, I finally got to play it, so here is your review of 7 Wonders!
7 Wonders is a strategic card game about building Wonders of the World. In essence it’s a sort of drafting game where you go through 3 ages of ever improving cards constructed into decks representing each age. The cards of each deck in each age are distributed among the players and you effectively pick a card to play into your play area, than pass it to your neighbor. When all the cards have been played the age is over and you move on to the next age, there are three ages in the game. It’s a point scoring game and there are a wide variety of ways to score points, the winner of the game is of course the person who scores the most points at the end of the game. Each card represents some sort of advantageous building or effect, many of which give you access to the all-important resources and gold you need to build the wonders each player has in their player area chosen at random at the start of the game.
A typical player area in the third age is quite busy, but it’s actually a fairly streamlined and simple game with a good strategic depth.
There are a number of pretty interesting effects and mechanics that make up the whole of the strategic play and while the pick and pass mechanic is simple, the choices you have to make are not. Simply put, whatever you don’t choose someone else can get, while simultaneously anything you play into your own play area might later help your opponents as many buildings allow players to gain advantages based on what their neighbors have constructed. It’s essentially a tug of war, you build what you need, while trying to deny your opponents what they need and avoiding building things that could help them later on. You want to get your wonder built as quickly as possible as it typically scores you points, earns you money and sometimes has some sort of beneficial game-play effect as well as freeing you up so you can focus on building other advantageous point scoring buildings.
Points are calculated at the end of the game, hence you aren’t really 100% sure who is winning or who is going to win until the final card is played and the score tallied. Sometimes it feels like there is a bit too much going on simultaneously.
There are other mini effects in the game, for example at the end of each age there is a battle that takes place between you and your neighbors on your right and your left of you. The winner of these battles is the player who raised the bigger military (red cards with combat strength) and you gain points for each victory in increasing values as the ages go up. There are many little “quirks” of point scoring in the game which force you to think about how the game is going on the whole for everyone, so you’re not only concerning yourself about what your building but what your opponents are building and how that compares to you and each other. Most of the interaction between players comes in this form, which is to say, the interaction is pretty minimal.
Gathering resources to build Wonders is critical, but ultimatly a let down as most players will have their wonders built by the first or second age. The urgency and epicness of building a world wonder really doesn’t come through in the theme.
This game reminds me a great deal of Race for the Galaxy in that, players are all doing their own thing, but you’re keeping a close eye on what your opponents are doing because their choices can open up strategic options for you. For example a player builds a building that produces wood, so you counter by building a trade building that allows you to buy that wood from them cheaply. With access to an additional wood you might be able to complete a more difficult building later on, which in turn earns you an advantage like earning points off of certain types of cards your other neighbor played. It can get pretty tricky, decisions can be tough and even a single mistake can put you at a big disadvantage. You would think with such a simple mechanic as pick a card and pass, the game would move quickly but people get hung up on tough decisions quite frequently.
I can’t say I was blown away by the game, but card games rarely ever blow me away as the mechanics of card games are often quite toned down compared to board games and 7 Wonders is no exception. I think it’s a clever game and at about 30 to 45 minutes regardless of how many players you have it’s a pretty fast game with plenty of strategy and tough decisions to be made, all the marks of a good game. There was nothing in the game that stood out for me, either negative or positive that is worth mentioning, though I can understand it’s popularity but as I suspected (and perhaps it is the reason it took so long to get it played) it’s not really my type of game. At least it’s nothing I plan to put into my collection, though I have absolutely no objection to playing it, it’s a fine Euro.
7 Wonders is a clever game,, but it’s no Race For The Galaxy. It does make better use of Iconography which makes it easier to teach.
It has quality components and it does avoid some of the designer pacing problems many such card games have, it’s clear the impact of the streamlining movement in board and card games has been used to good effect here. There was much more that could have been added to the game that would have been unnecessary, it’s focused and to the point and that’s what you want out of a solid Euro card game. In fact I found that the expansions seemed to be mostly unnecessary burdens on the game, for example the Leaders expansion added another type of deck that is used in the game and while interesting and certainly not overwhelming, It really didn’t alter the game a whole lot. It just added “one more thing”. I suppose for fans of the game this would make for a good expansion, but I didn’t really see any reason for its addition, it didn’t improve the game in any meaningful way.
It’s become common practice now to use heavy iconography in card games and 7 wonders makes good use of this approach, in fact, having mentioned Race For The Galaxy as a comparison this game had a lot of the same sort of complexities mechanically but the Iconography made it a lot easier to understand than in Race for the Galaxy, which really helped the game a great deal. It’s less of a bear to teach than Race as a result.
The art style is rather bland, in particular given the subject matter which offers a great opportunity to really embellish. I’m not entirely sure the theme came through particularly strong in the mechanics and it got little help from the art, so to me it felt more like a point scoring game with clever mechanics rather than a game about building wonders of the world. In fact the only thing that gives you the impression of “wonders” are the stock player boards with the actual wonder your building, the only place where the art rose out of acceptable into the pretty. Had they taken the opportunity to use the same attention to the art on the cards, you might have squeezed more thematic presence at least visually into the game.
The art style is not terrible, but largely as invisible as the theme in this game.
I can only conclude that like many Euro games, I like it enough to not have any objection to playing it but it’s nothing I feel the urge to add to my collection. It’s certainly not as clever as Race For The Galaxy which remains one of the few Euro card games in my collection, but it certainly is a lot easier to teach and learn.
This next list is going to be all about HYPE! This list is comprised of games or expansions I’m super excited about in 2015. All of these games are already in a playable form, some even have imminent release dates, others are reprints. Get psyched!
1. Star Wars Armada
There is absolutely no question that Fantasy Flight Games is on fire right now and Star Wars Armada is just another “holy shit I can’t believe it” product that adds to their already extensive library of awesomeness. Star Wars Armada despite just being eye poppingly awesome looking is already being described as one of the “best games ever made” by those who played it at different conventions and trade shows. That is a bold statement considering the company Armada keeps like Star Wars X-Wing and Imperial Assault.
Before the game even hits stores the expansions for Star Wars Armada have been announced. FFG has also confirmed an extension on the Star Wars license which will allow them to include material from the upcoming movies!
Star Wars Armada is a miniatures game, though the word “Miniature” might not be entirely appropriate as some of the ships are quite large. Like Star Wars X-Wing it is a game of space combat using the “flight system”, though the existing flight system of X-Wing has been adapted to include a unique flight tool which is used to maneuver the large ships in Armada. It’s a dice game as was X-Wing and includes a variety of cards presumably equipment, pilots and stuff like that. While it seems to have a lot of similarities with Star Wars X-Wing, the word on the street is that it’s a very different game, which is good, because X-Wing is a dog fighting game and dog fighting Star Destroyers would not make much sense. It’s also a much longer gamer, most estimates put it at around 2.5-3 hours, so quite epic in scale and commitment. I think the biggest concern people have about Armada is the price point, its … well let’s just say it, super expensive. A single box set does not appear to be enough to really get the full flavor of the game (as was the case with X-Wing) so we can expect to spend several hundred dollars on a satisfactory collection. This might hold Armada back from being embraced whole heartedly by the community but for me personally, I mailed them my credit card to save time. Yeah… it’s like that.
2. Forbidden Stars (Warhammer 40k)
The 40k franchise has been gaining success while failing miserably simultaneously. It’s miniatures business run by Games workshop reported some of the worse loses in the companies history triggering mass layoffs recently, which included mass drop in share prices and scaring the hell out of fans as they watch a beloved franchise failing. The good news is that while the miniatures lines are doing badly, 40k board and card games are going through something of a renaissance and one upcoming game in particular is building a lot of hype, Forbidden Stars.
Forbidden Stars is an epic sized war game ready to trade paint with FFG classics like Twilight Imperium 3rd edition.
We already got great games like Relic, Space Hulk: Death Angel not to mention the living card game conquest which has already proven that FFG can make 40k work, but Forbidden Stars is looking to top all those by a mile as it fully commits to the 40k universe with an asymmetrical design that puts the unique factions of the Warhammer 40k universe under a microscope.
Forbidden Stars is a straight up war game using the very clever command token system we saw in games like StarCraft and Games of Thrones, as well as unique card systems and a big focus on asymmetrical gameplay giving each of the factions in the game a very unique and distinct feel, not to mention opening it up for plenty of expansions. The game was recently played at the Gama Trade Show and is being reported as “awesome” building the excitement for me
This game may prove once and for all that the problem with Warhammer 40k is that it’s an awesome franchise burdened by a shitty company (Games Workshop) that writes shitty rules for games (The Warhammer 40k miniatures game). Under the right company and the right rule systems, the 40k universe is a uniquely epic game world upon which many great games can be built and Forbidden Stars appears to be the next installment that will prove that, again. The game is slated to be released at the end of the summer 2015… exciting!
3. Fire and Axe (Reprint)
Generally reprints aren’t something I get too excited for, but the truth is that Fire and Axe is one of those very underrated games that went out of print under the radar and only a lucky few where able to get their hands on it. It’s actually a fantastic game and with the update to components treatment and art style it’s getting perhaps it will get the attention it needs to rise out of obscurity.
Its getting a face lift with improved art and components, but according to the developer they are not touching the rules, they are perfect as they are!
I had the pleasure of playing Fire and Axe a few years ago and fell in love with the game instantly, but was not ever able to secure my own copy. It’s a game that is fantastically thematic, though its worth saying that the theme is less about “Viking combat” and more about “Viking life”. You raid, you trade, you settle and compete to raise wealth (victory points and gold). Still the game has atmosphere and many unique mechanics that just fit really well into this unique Viking theme. I really loved it and was hugely disappointed that I was unable to secure a copy, now with the reprint you get bet your bottom dollar I WILL have it. This game would easily make it into my top 10 list if I owned (and was able to play it) but as is the case quite often with gamers and games, you play with who and what you have. My friends have never played this game say they are not aware of what they are missing out on, something I fully intend to remedy in the near future.
If I had made a wish list of games I hope would be reprinted Fire and Axe would have been number one on that list. See… wishes sometimes do come true!
4. Imperial Assault
Imperial Assault has already been released and it is an amazing game that blends the experience and great gameplay of Descent with the thematic and charismatic Star Wars universe. A match made in heaven, one that can only get better with expansions and expansions is exactly what we are getting. In fact, FFG’s roll-out for Imperial Assault in 2015 looks to be the most well thought out and biggest one of any game they have ever put out. There is so much coming down the pipe Imperial Assault that if your already a fan of the game, you better start thinking about taking that second job.
With the paint not even dry on the release, FFG is already “assaulting” us with expanded material that doubles up the amount of miniatures, cards and awesomeness available for the game!
The list is long and distinguished and the Imperial Assault expansions that have already been announced, of which there are many, is just a small taste of what is coming. More importantly however is the fact that FFG has kept quite a few things about Imperial Assault under raps right up to the imminent release so there is no telling what treasures they have in development. Rumors abound, but one thing is true regardless of what is coming, if you’re a fan of Star Wars Imperial Assault, you are about to have an amazing gaming year. It is the year of Imperial Assault.
5. Mage Knight Expansions (Reprint)
Like Fire and Axe, Mage Knight is a game that came and went rather quickly and it’s a huge disappointment that a game sitting in the top ten on boardgame geek, in particular one as awesome as Mage Knight is out of print! I have been waiting impatiently for a reprint for far too long and having it played it only twice was just enough to wet my appetite.
Is Mage Knight awsome? I know don’t know, does a bear shit in the woods? Is the pope catholic?
The good news is however since Mage Knight is about to get an expansion in the near future, the word on the street is that Wizkids are going to be reprinting the game and rumor further has it that they may be working on a revised edition that will upgrade the components and art. Now it’s all rumor at this point (other than the expansion which was announced and is set to release). Given that the last print sold out in about 20 days (according to the Wizkids website), rumor or not, the odds of Wizkids putting out a reprint are quite good.
Mage Knight is a unique adventure game that takes things to a much higher level of complexity than something like Descent or Talisman and adds a number of layers of strategic depth that suck you into its bodaciously thematic game world. I put this game last on the list because its imminent reprint in 2015 has not been confirmed, but if Mage Knight is not reprinted this year it would be unquestionably idiotic of Wizkids to miss the opportunity, stockholders would be right to complain because it’s like printing money. Expect an reprint announcement any time!
I’m having fun with lists so I thought I would continue it with this next little gem, the top 5 games that where almost great. These are games that where innovative, creative or otherwise on the brink of something amazing but botched it in some way like poor application of mechanics, balance, theme or something to the effect. These are games I want to love, I wish were great, but just came up short and we just have to accept that they missed the mark.
1. Starcraft The Board Game
When fantasy flight announced a new coffin sized epic scale board game based on the Starcraft franchise to say that the hype was overwhelming is an understatement. In fact there are still many that insist that this game is great (the I spent too much money not to like it effect) but, by all reputable accounts Starcraft the board game was a failure. It went out of print and has since been removed from the Fantasy Flight Games website which means there are no future re-prints planned.
Like a sail boat the most exciting times with Starcraft is the day you buy it and the day you sell it.
Starcraft had everything going for it. Two of the best designers in the business in my opinion, particularly well known for making amazing big board games (Corey Konieczka & Christian T. Petersen). It had a beloved and well known franchise which was begging for a great board game interpretation and it had a company with a reputation for creating amazing big board games with some of the best components money can buy. It was really a perfect marriage, the stars where aligned, it really wasn’t a question of whether or not I would be dropping the dough on this game, it was just a question of how quickly we could get our hands on it. With promotion and hype in full gear the game lands and with held breath we dove deep into the world of Starcraft the board game.
The result. While having some very clever mechanics, amazing components and superb art, Starcraft the board game was a complete dud. Unbalanced with an all but broken card combat and a stiflingly small game map, whatever potential greatness was put into the game it was killed by a clear shortage of play testing. Perhaps Fantasy Flight just got over confident, perhaps there was pressure from the licensee, who knows, but the game just sucked. Some claim that the expansion solved a lot of the problems of the game and I believe that is partially true, with the expansion the game is “playable”. Still of all the games that used the combat card mechanic FFG was putting into their games during this period which was a burden to other games FFG as well, Starcraft was the unquestionable king of disappointments and rightfully earns its number one spot as one of the biggest “should have been great” duds among games on this list.
2. Rune Wars
The fantasy world on which Fantasy Flight Games has based a number of games was exciting and different. We had become familiar with many of it’s personalities, monstrosities and legends in games like Runebound, Battle Lore and Descent, but Rune Wars represented the first time we were able to play in this world on a more global scale. Rune Wars was another coffin sized board game that used a very clever role-selection like mechanic, had amazing miniatures and art and again Corey Konieczka. He’s a great designer and it clearly shows, because despite its short comings, Runewars had a lot of potential. Like Starcraft it had that damned combat card mechanic and it just burdened this game unfortunatly. More than that however one of the factions in the game (The Elves) was completely and utterly broken, something that should have been fixed in testing. With house rules and if you could look beyond the card combat mechanic, Runewars had a lot going for it, but the combination of the two short comings overwhelmed the game. It was so close, that it actually pained me to cull it from my collection but the reality was no one ever wanted to play it out of fear of being stuck with the Elves. We tried a few house rules that made them more manageable but in the end even with fixed Elves the combat mechanic was just bad.
The Elf faction should have never been approved for release, this was clearly a play test failure.
Unlike Starcraft however Runewars was not abandoned and got a revised edition with some rules updates that did improve the game somewhat. The Elves remain the least favorite faction however still considered by many to be completely underpowered (myself included) and card combat mechanic is still there of course which is the worst part of the game in my humble opinion.
I want to love Runewars I really do but it’s just one of those games that sits on the shelf and never gets played because when it’s time to pull out a big fantasy war game there are just much better options available (some of them from fantasy flight games) and it’s just hard to justify it. So close, but yet so far away.
3. Letter’s From White Chapel
I feel like I’m picking on Fantasy Flight Games with this list as all but one of the games on this list are published by FFG. Perhaps its expectations, they are after all, the unquestionable king of amazing game publication hence held to a higher standard. Letter’s From White Chapel however does not deserve an excuse, it is, simply put, a terrible game and it’s shocking considering that it’s mechanics are pulled directly from one of the best games ever made (Fury of Dracula). I don’t understand why they would create a sub-par version of an amazing game they could have just reprinted, which notably a shockingly large amount of gamers are begging for. Perhaps it was a licensing issue or something, but the magic of Fury of Dracula simply does not exist in Letters From White Chapel. Which is odd, given that chasing Jack the Ripper is as awesome thematically as chasing after Dracula.
This addition is as stupid as it is boring, if I want to fill out paper work I will file my taxes not play board games.
Letter’s to White Chapel is a watered down yet oddly more rules heavy version of Fury of Dracula, missing some of the most interesting elements and streamlined mechanics that made Fury great, while including convoluted rules and utterly stupid ideas (like adding a pencil and notepad) to the game. Fury of Dracula was a seamless, streamlined gem that was both dynamic and exciting at every stage. Letter’s From White Chapel feels more like doing homework on a Saturday night.
I don’t know why they messed with a good thing, but what should have been a new exciting version of Fury of Dracula with an amazingly appropriate theme like Jack The Ripper has been turned into what I considered one of the worst games in FFG’s library of games. The fact that it is visually butt ugly just adds insult to injury, as this is one area, good game or bad, FFG always get’s right and they dropped the ball on this on top of everything else. If anyone tells you “it’s like Fury Of Dracula”, immediately dragon punch them, this is NOT at all like Fury of Dracula and to utter those words is heresy.
4. Eclipse
Eclipse already made it to my list of top 5 list of games you can skip, but it makes this list as well because while it’s certainly a game not worth your time, it really should have been. Eclipse is a game which fringes on greatness as it side swipes its thematic potential and sells out to Euro-bore roots. Let this be a lesson to all Euro game designers, if you’re going to make a game in a genre of games that already has amazingly thematically rich games, you WILL be compared and judged on that comparison. Eclipse looks amazing, it sounds amazing and when you sit down to play it, you get that sense of “oh my god, this will be amazing”. Than the game step by step misses the opportunities to turn great mechanics into thematic gameplay. It’s a shorter game than Twilight Imperium and yes, thank you, that is a really great, but 3 hours of gaming is 3 hours of gaming, you have to make it worth my time.
It looks amazing on the table, if only the play was as exciting as the image.
Eclipse is a dull game and really while the theme is clearly present, it’s so thinly done, the game never really feels like an epic space opera, but instead feels more like Agricola in space. I always look forward to adding new science-fiction games to my collection and I really thought Eclipse was going to make it, but while it has all the appetizers of a great game, the meal is empty and superficial. It is far better to play a six hour game of Twilight Imperium, than to suffer through three hours of Eclipse. There is just no reason to play it and really it was so close, just a bit more American thematic design influence in this game and it would have been amazing.
5. Sid Meier’s Civilization
Another FFG game and another game from the top 5 games you can skip, it was one I was hesitant to put on this list since I have already said my peace, but the truth is that, this one was a real disappointment to me because of its great potential which should have been very easy to tap into. So much so that I sometimes play it despite its flaws because I so badly want it to be good. Like most of the games on this list, it had so much going for it that it really should have resulted in an amazing game, but like Runewars and Starcraft it was utterly ruined by the combat card mechanic. It should have been less so than any other game on this list because in Civilization combat is not the main goal. Unfortunatly every game of Civilization I have ever played has resulted in a very un-climatic military victory and I have yet to play it where everyone at the table didn’t utter these words.
No amount of wishful thinking is going to make this game good, no matter how much we want it to be.
“Really great game except for that combat mechanic, that’s just stupid”. – Everyone (all the time).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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’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.
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’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.
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