It's $100 and seems fun in limited play; will try out with some adults soon to get a better verdict

Good for kids, not sure I'd get it just for myself

Zackshalackintheackackpack, win again!

Are any of you in to the Escape Room craze that's sweeping the world right now? I've done a few and they are a ton of fun. I came across some board game versions recently and I'm thinking about getting on. Any experience with the game play of these?

https://www.amazon.com/Spin-Master-G...op?ie=UTF8#Ask

https://www.amazon.com/Escape-Room-S.../dp/B01BX4G62W

Splendor and Patchwork are good games that you can give your kids a head start. Try winning Splendor when you start at -3 and try winning Patchwork when you start at square two of the board.

played Articulate and Charge Large for the first time this Christmas.

Charge Large is just like Monopoly except it doesn't end in such a drawn out way and Articulate is really fun (although I'm sure everybody already knows that)

I just played Bruges for the first time tonight

I enjoyed it; I'm thinking I'd prolly like most/all of Stefan Feld's games

Also played Oracle of Delphi this past weekend; I think I like Notre Dame and Bruges better, but I'm not as big on movement in games I don't think...it was good and had the colored dice mechanic like Bruges, but just wasn't quite as good

Btw, Paris Connection was back to $12.70 on Amazon again; it's usually $50

Great game to get gamers and non-gamers into...a steal at $12.70 though I prolly wouldn't buy at $50

You do need 3+ for it

https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Games-6.../dp/B004JELEIA

It was in stock at that price last week then gone then back again and currently gone but could come back again since it seems to keep doing that

Bruges is way better with the canal expansion imo. Otherwise canals are way underpowered.

Yeah we didn't do expansion because one experienced and 2 new players

I ended with 56 points:
1 canal fulfilled on last turn for 6 point statue+3 bonus
Canal and prestige tiles turned over early
5 people each worth 3 points on my 6 houses
10 points from cards on play (4 for dropping 4 trials, 3 for dropping 3 trials and 3 points)
Ended on like 3 prestige

Teacher had 45ish and other newbie had like 30


I took advantage of some 5/6 dice to get lots of money and then did the $9 people for the 3 points + instant effect

He had all the expansions: canals and pets are the two he showed me after that I remember; we did use some of the actual cards from expansion in the game that didn't use new pieces

Thanks for the idea; I ordered the second because it's only $10 and has good reviews...may be a bit on the easy side but whatever; I may play it with a friend this weekend and will post review when I do

Awesome, let us know how it goes. I like the key/timer setup of the first one and the fact that it has four different "rooms" but the second one looks like a great buy based on the reviews and price.

The Colonists is big, long, and fantastic

Thanks; it's now on my list of games to play when I get a chance

Played a couple of games of Cabo over the xmas break: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabo_(game)


It's a really cool card game with some memory stuff (usually not a fan of that). I'm convinced the game has very deep strategy. Got some strategic poker playing juices flowing, I was trying to figure out some good strategies all night, that was fun. Highly recommended and cheap
If I was still teaching card game AI this game might become the next reference game for the course (replacing an Iraninan trick taking game). I think I might implement as an AI/DSL testbed regardless

• Ghost Stories (GOAT?!)
• Friday (small, fun, travels well, inexpensive)
• Robinson Crusoe (Adventures on a Cursed Island)...most thematic, longish setup but great game
• COIN series for seriously beefy "war game" stuff. I highly recommend "Liberty or Death" cause MURCA **** yeah (or I suppose you could play the Brits or French...counting Indians and Revolutionary folks as MURCA :P). Long to set up, takes time to play but AMAZING game(s)

Eldritch Horror also solos well (I prefer it over AH as it's more streamlined)

Thanks, I'll check those out

Tramways...Age of Steam meets Small City. Only 1 play so far, but seems pretty slick and good!

I got Catan and Exploding Kittens for Christmas. the Catan board is cheap, especially the border pieces. I can't connect them with all the middle squares inside.

I've had Hansa Teutonica on my shelf for years and had never played it until recently. It's pretty awesome.

The wikipedia page for boardgame geek has been reduced by 90%. Before it contained the full lists of games of the year as chosen by them and a lot more info

My daughter is addicted to dominion so we play it constantly, which is good


My copies of The Gallerist (w/all KS extras) and Vinhos Deluxe came in today; unfortunately I can't open them today since it's the National Championship, but I should get to break them out this week

Got Dominion (2nd edition base game) for my birthday, I've been enjoying the first few plays and trying to figure out what works. From what I understand the strategies, once figured out, aren't very diverse?

Also ordered Hero Realms, a reimplementation of Star Realms, which has me pretty excited. I only played Star Realms on the app which was addictive and fun, but I thought the expansions available on the app kind of sucked. Hero Realms have five hero packs you can buy in addition to the base game that gives each player unique abilities and flavor that seem cool (video).

Well there is the gold standard; just get money every time and ignore action cards and it'll win faster than most strategies...but then I find fun in trying to figure out better strategies using the action cards

But once you figure out the best action combos, a lot of cards go unused because they are dominated by others, but then just don't include those in the next game, etc


Hero Realms seems pretty cool; I don't care a ton about theming but seems more fun to play as various types of heroes than different colored ships

Dominion works much better with expansions (after you realize hoarding gold is the main game strategy)