9 Giant Games For People with Money to Burn

Conspicuous consumption is hot

I have 29 drafts that I have failed to finish. In an effort to end my creative constipation, I’m publishing a list of expensive-ass games because why not? I don’t mean rare out-of-print games. I mean big-for-the-sake-of-big games that were made to stay out of the reach of the masses.

Vinhos Deluxe

• Core Game: $100
• All Expansions: +$50

An economic game about wheeling and dealing in Portugal’s wine industry. Players take 1 of 9 actions each turn: build vineyards, hire farmers, etc. Play lasts 13 turns. Whoever has the most victory points at the end, wins. Of the many euro games about making wine, Vinhos Deluxe is the most on the nose. Probably because it’s the most expensive.

The Gallerist

• Core Game: $100
• Price for All Expansions: +$52

It’s fitting that a game about the art scene is neither small nor cheap. This beast is beautiful, huge, and heavy in the mechanical sense. The economic and speculation aspects fit the art gallery theme…