Board Games
(Table Top Games)
I love board games. I didn't really discover high quality board games until my mid 30s, however when I was in middle school and high school I made a lot of board games on my own. They are often some combo of more social, and thoughtful than video games. They also are lighter, less involved, less subjective and cheesy than role playing games (like D&D) can potentially be. There are many different themes, mechanics, and styles of play. If you still think of board games as Monopoly or Catan, there is a whole world waiting out there of way better and different games. I like video games a lot, I like D&D a lot with the right people...but I love board games.
LIke most boardgamers , I own a lot of games. So Here is my list of boardgames I own and have liked enough to play more than a few times, maybe even A LOT...in no particular order:
Hornet Leader, Rallyman, Ghost Stories, Pandemic, Pandemic Legacy Season 1, Lost Cities, Jaipur, Samurai Sword, For Sale, 7 Wonders, 7 Wonders Duel, Lords of Waterdeep, Xia: Legends of a Drift System, Tumbling Dice, Gloomhaven, Cthulhu Wars, Star Wars Rebellion (barely makes the list because of player count), Smallworld, The Cave, Race for the Galaxy, Dixit, Mysterium, Splendor, Suburbia, Wingspan, Survive, Stone Age, King of Tokyo, Cash n Guns, Space Cadets, Formula D, Arcadia Quest, Arcadia Quest: Beyond the Grave, Galaxy Trucker, Power Grid, Jamaica.
As I said I own a lot more games than this: but some I don't play because I just don't have enough time, some because I don't have a regular 2nd person to play long, deep two player games with anymore, and some I don't play because the I want to play games the people in my regular gaming group would like. Other games I don't play, because I just liked something better. Finally, some games I don't play because while they are on my shelf I just haven't gotten to them yet, such at Pandemic Season 2, Twilight Struggle, etc...
Here are some notable games to me for reasons given
The game I bought at a game store in Santa Barbara with my wife to get me into production board games in my later 30s. Great 2 player game. Simple to play, neat theme, good mechanics, and good production value. This opened up a new hobby that I have spend a lot of money and time on...and I love it.
This is a game my wife and I play and while she mostly beats me with her superior spatial intelligence, there's enough luck involved that I always have a chance. Cool tiles and production value. It's a very popular game with gamers and for good reasons. One of the games I have played the most.
This has been my favorite game for a long time...I think I have a new one now...but Ghost Stories will always have a very special place in my heart. It's very hard and be prepared to lose a lot. However, with great challenge comes great victories. It's the only game I have ever played that made me and my wife jump up and down while hugging during a last second win. The theme is 100% me: Taoist Monks with different assorted powers each game defending a randomly set up village against different demons coming to possess the town. Great, no amazing, art and mechanics. I love this game. It's the only game I have a poster of in my office, a small one, but still the only one.
This is a game that I almost called my favorite game...so many times, replacing Ghost Stories. So cool, with the customizable space ships, the random map, the missions, exploration, fighting, NPCs, trading and all the other combos of ways to victory. Just such a great game. Too bad, it's so hard to get now for people who would like a copy. Plays 3-5, but I think 3-4 is the way to go.
Cthulhu Wars. A good game, thematic and asymmetrical. Cool minis, but way too big for the map. Not the best game ever, but quite good and if you're a fan of Lovecraft and board games like I am, you'll probably like this. Finally, playing after school with a bunch of cool students one day a week, week after week, a few years ago was one of the best ongoing gaming experiences I've had. Thanks guys!
Gloomhaven. For a long time highest rated board game on Board Game Geek, and for good reason. Wow. So big, so complex, so fun and engaging. There are so many options, changes, characters, scenarios, storylines. This game has taken over a full year to play through. The best, biggest game ever. My favorite game, easily.