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Any suggestions for good strategy games that require multi-level thinking, foresight, and an understanding of mechanics but are also quick to learn? I generally haven't played many board games with friend because I can't get any of my friends to take more than 5 minutes to learn something so things like Cards Against Humanity are the go to.

I'd love it if I could find a game that can be explained in 5 minutes pregame and won't require heavy rules or gameplay reminders in game, but also has some complex strategy. The best example I can think of for a game like this would be Risk, but I assume there have to be others (would be nice if they can be played in 45-90 minutes as well).

apparently the tabletop simulator on steam is quite good

i'm sure you'll get lots of recs

splendor

i *hate* splendor though

or catan obv

Notre Dame is a great game that can be explained quickly but has strategy for them to discover and they can play multiple times and try different tactics

Prolly best to wait until 2017 when they print the 10 year anniversary if you can't find it used easily because it's out of print until then

I really like Ingenious.

Orleans is available as a heavier game that isn't hard to explain

I like Snowdonia for a gateway game, though...not hard to explain

Maybe Medici if you think they'd like an auction game; very quick to learn but it's all auction so not as much depth or variety in it

Fluxx is simple to explain but is tactics much more than strategy

Hanabi easy to explain and quick to play but hard to win if they suck at deduction

Paris Connection is easy to explain in 3 minutes but may fit the bill for everyone

Code 777 would be good if they like deduction, actually

(Not the foresight or strategy part though)

Concordia is pretty easy to explain. The whole rule book is just one large sheet of paper folded in half but there is reasonably deep strategy

Hanabi on Boardgamearena

7 wonders on Brettspielwelt (only 3-5 players)

Acquire here acquire dot tlstyer.com

Catan on playcatan

Have played all of these a lot to the point where I felt I couldn't improve by much more. Except Acquire, the top players on that site destroy me.

Have played Castles of Burgundy a couple times now with the wife and one or both of our kids (age 13 and 11), once while having read the rules wrong in a rather important way.

I think I like it? Seems to be about as much luck as I normally tolerate in games, but even at that you do have some control. Play is simple enough for even the youngest to understand (I wouldn't go a LOT younger though). Fairly long setup and teardown time what with the zillion different types of tiles that have to separated just so after the game, which is something I personally don't enjoy much in a game.

It's in the rotation for us, but for me is below both Lords of Waterdeep and Ticket to Ride in our "games the kids can play" list.

Yep, a good option and pretty accessible to people but some depth and fun to play

Good intro to having to make tough choices as well as making choices that also benefit others

A great suggestion. Simple to teach/play with much more subtlety than apparent at first blush.

Yup, we have played Vinhos Deluxe (and reviewed it as well). We have one of the prototypes of Vital's Lisboa en route to us as well.

FCM is amazing, but unforgiving. Won the Golden Elephant Award for the best heavy game of 2015!

An odd one that I played on an annual game weekend is Legacy: the Testament of Duke de Crecy. I can't say I specifically recommend it, but it was fun enough the one time we played it?

Also, I think we decided to order Scythe for the family gift to ourselves for Christmas. I'll report back in a month or so.

Scythe is fun

Also, I played Bruxelles 1893 again last night and I love that game so much

It was supposed to get a reprint in 2016 but I don't see anywhere selling it so not sure what happened

It's a bunch of mechanics thrown together but it works really well

I'm not into art, it's just a coincidence that 2 of my favorite games (this and the gallerist) are art themed games

So was Vinhos good? I'm considering adding it to the Lisboa Kickstarter. If you have a website where you write reviews let me know and I'll check it out.


I've brought FCM to a few game meetings but people keep saying "love it, but that's too heavy for today, next time"

I may just have to play it online to get my fix

We did enjoy it. A lot (the original and no reason to NOT get the revamped version, esp if you're having problems getting people to play heavier games. The 2016 version is ideal then, even if we're not huge fans of that ruleset).

Heavy Cardboard

Thanks, I enjoyed the podcast

It looks like I'm gonna get Vinhos Deluxe then.

What about Kanban? Have you played that and how does it compare to his other games?

Reviewed that as well. Forget the episode though. It's a featured review though.

Found it with Google: https://heavycardboard.com/2014/12/1...ve-revolution/

I must say I'm glad you didn't just say "it's good, buy it" because i enjoyed listening to the podcast about it

It's not part of the Kickstarter so I may just buy it this month as a Xmas present to myself

Just purchased terra mystica because of all the hype. Looks a little overwhelming.

Most heavy games look more complex than they actually are once you start playing them (in terms of mechanics to play it, not necessarily in terms of depth of how to play well)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...bH8ucvHMy0/pub

Basic guide I found that may help ground you with some strategic pointers to start and then evolve from there