- Dice City
Set in the kingdom of Rolldovia, Dice City is a dice-crafting game where players represent influential families competing to build the next capital. Through resource management, army recruitment, and wonder construction, players strategise to claim victory.
Pros: Unique dice-crafting mechanic allows for personalised strategies, engaging city-building theme, tactical decisions influenced by dice outcomes.
Cons: The luck-driven nature of dice may lead to frustration for some players, less direct player interaction.
2. Acquire
Acquire (1963) is a classic economic strategy game where players invest in and merge businesses. Acquiring wealth through smart stock decisions is key to success.
Pros: Timeless gameplay with a balance of strategy and negotiation, the satisfaction of building corporate empires, dynamic as companies grow and merge.
Cons: Higher complexity may be challenging for new players, relies on a fair amount of player interaction.
3. Underwater Cities
Underwater Cities is a sci-fi strategy game where players develop underwater metropolises. Balancing resources and infrastructure, players aim to thrive in a futuristic aquatic world.
Pros: Engaging theme with stunning artwork, strategic depth in city-building, variable player powers add replayability.
Cons: The complexity may be overwhelming for newcomers, limited direct player interaction.
4. Container: 10th Anniversary Jumbo Edition
In Container, players engage in economic simulation by building, trading, and shipping goods. This anniversary edition introduces larger components and a unique production and shipping mechanic.
Pros: Unique economic mechanics with a focus on player-driven economy, the jumbo edition enhances component visibility.
Cons: Limited player interaction might make it less engaging for some, complexity could be a barrier.
5. Gaia Project
A spiritual successor to Terra Mystica, Gaia Project is a complex space-themed strategy game. Players, representing unique alien species, expand their territories, engage in terraforming, and vie for cosmic dominance.
Pros: Deep strategic gameplay with diverse alien species, high replayability due to variable board setup and factions.
Cons: Steeper learning curve, longer playtime, less thematic immersion for some players.
6. Cashflow 101 or 202
Cashflow, designed by Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad, Poor Dad), is a financial education game that simulates real-life money management. Players navigate the Rat Race, making financial decisions, investments, and facing challenges. There is also a kids version available.
Pros: Educational value for financial literacy, strategic financial planning, different gameplay for various player counts.
Cons: May feel too focused on financial concepts for casual players, less emphasis on direct player interaction. Overpriced for what it is, and the roll and move mechanism is outdated. Not that good a game, but at least it has some educational value.
7. Terraforming Mars
Terraforming Mars is a complex strategy game where players corporations collaborate to transform Mars into a habitable planet. Competing for terraforming milestones and awards is key.
Pros: Deep strategy with a thematic immersion in Martian development, asymmetric corporations add variety, extensive card combos for varied gameplay.
Cons: Steeper learning curve, long playtime, card text may require frequent rulebook references and too much luck based on card draws.
8. Ticket to Ride
Ticket to Ride is a railway-themed board game where players collect train cards to claim railway routes between cities. Simple mechanics make it accessible for all ages.
Pros: Quick gameplay, family-friendly with easy-to-understand rules, various map editions offer diverse experiences. Good choice of various versions to choose from with different maps.
Cons: Limited direct player interaction, luck-based card drawing might frustrate some players. Experienced gamers may find this too straightforward.
9. Settlers of Catan (Catan)
Catan (1995) is a classic strategic board game where players settle and develop territories, trade resources, and aim for victory points. Renowned for accessible yet deep gameplay for new players, fostering negotiation and resource management.
Pros: Easy to learn with modular board replayability, strategic negotiation and resource management, and interactive trading mechanics.
Cons: Initial setup time, and reliance on dice can be divisive. Trading challenges as some players may refuse.
10. Lords of Vegas
In Lords of Vegas, players become ambitious developers, aiming to build and profit from the most extravagant casinos. Utilising dice, players strategically construct, rearrange, and gamble their way to victory, investing wisely in development companies and strategically placing skilled workers (dice) in control of lucrative establishments.
Pros: Accessible worker placement mechanics, thematic integration with casino development, optional expansions for added content.
Cons: Thematic disconnect for some players, and competitive for worker spots may lead to limited choices.
11. Suburbia
Playing Suburbia alone or with friends, you’ll turn a small neighbourhood into something much bigger.
Pros: Hexagonal tiles for dynamic city-building, family-friendly with simple rules, strategic depth with adjacency scoring.
Cons: Dependent on tile draws, spatial awareness needed, may not appeal to those seeking intense player interaction.
12. Machi Koro
Machi Koro is a fast-paced game where you’re the mayor of the city, solving problems, developing attractions, and stealing money.
Pros: Quick gameplay with city-building mechanics, player interaction through shared dice rolls, light-hearted and accessible.
Cons: Relies on luck with dice rolls, less strategic depth for seasoned gamers.
13. Concordia
Concordia takes elements of Century Spice Road and adds a deeper and meatier experience, focusing on developing the Roman Empire.
Pros: Strategic depth with action card mechanics, variable player strategies, streamlined gameplay.
Cons: Moderate learning curve, less thematic immersion for some players.
14. Chinatown
Set in New York during the 1960s, Chinatown is an economic board game emphasising negotiation and business development.
Pros: Heavy social interaction with negotiation focus, high replayability with variable setups, tense real-time trading rounds.
Cons: May be hectic with real-time trading, limited turns can feel restrictive.
15. Pay Day
Overview: Pay Day (1975) is a financial board game where players manage money from one Pay Day to the next, covering bills and making astute financial decisions.
Pros: Shorter playtime, financial decision-making, family-friendly with easy-to-understand mechanics.
Cons: Too basic for experienced players, luck-based events may impact outcomes. Not a good game and lacks any strategic gameplay, however, I’d rather play this over Monopoly given its much shorter game play.
16. For Sale
For Sale (1997) is an auction game with two rounds: bidding for properties and then using acquired properties to bid for valuable cards.
Pros: Quick auctions, simple mechanics suitable for all ages, adaptable for different player counts.
Cons: Luck in card draws, less thematic immersion, limited strategic depth.
17. Steam Park
Steam Park is a steampunk-themed game where players build and manage their own robot theme park, focusing on dice-rolling and resource management.
Pros: Engaging theme with vibrant art, accessible mechanics for all ages, simultaneous dice-rolling adds pace.
Cons: Reliance on luck with dice, simplicity for some players, may lack strategic depth.
18. Q.E.
Q.E. (Quantitative Easing) is a unique auction game where players use a dry erase board to write any amount for bidding, adding an economic twist.
Pros: Creative bidding mechanics with economic strategy, replayability with varied player approaches.
Cons: Steep learning curve for new players, potential for unbalanced bids may affect game balance.
19. Archaeology: The New Expedition
Archaeology: The New Expedition is a card game focusing on treasure hunting and relic selling, with players aiming to build valuable sets.
Pros: Quick gameplay with set collection mechanics, portable for on-the-go play.
Cons: Luck-dependent card draws, limited player interaction, simplicity may not appeal to all.
20. Monopoly Deal
Monopoly Deal is a fast-paced card game where players collect property sets and utilise action cards to disrupt opponents. This is known as the Monopoly killer.
Pros: Quick gameplay with variety in action cards, family-friendly with easy-to-understand rules.
Cons: Basic for experienced players, luck-based card draws, may lack the depth of traditional board games, but better than standard Monopoly.
— — — — — — — -
Check out the Board Game Bonkers YouTube Channel for great board game content: youtube.com/@boardgamebonkers
