With tabletop games being produced at a tremendous rate these days, I’m always looking for board games that I may have missed the first time around. Not only are they most times less expensive, but some of these games are so good I wonder why people don’t talk about them more. Lately I’ve stumbled across a few that are surprisingly good and worth checking out. Here they are:
1) Penny Press, Asmadi Games – Designed by Robert Dijkman Dulkes and Matt Golec, Penny Press is a worker placement/area control game that has 2-4 players racing to get top stories to press before their competitors can. A unique theme matched with streamlined mechanics and surprisingly mean player interaction combine for a really great game that plays in under an hour. Highly recommended!
https://www.facebook.com/dicedropgames/photos/a.654720051232159.1073741830.626232367414261/1633764599994361/?type=3&theater
2) Corporate America, Nothing Sacred Games – Teale Fristoe designed this negotiation game for 3-6 players which captures the Full Monty of Capitalism with tongue in cheek humor and an absurd homage to the almighty dollar. Every time I’ve played this game it has been majestically fun and leaves all involved satisfied that they have made gaming great again. Check it out.
https://www.facebook.com/dicedropgames/photos/a.654720051232159.1073741830.626232367414261/1606749306029224/?type=3&theater
3) Renaissance Wars, U.S. Game Systems, Inc. – This game for 2-4 players was designed by Karen Boginski and Jody Boginski-Barbessi and layers heaps of history and theme on a tripped-out trick-taking mechanic. The game drips with design detail and even though it has a slightly high learning curve, it is quite fun and a sleeper, in my opinion. I really wish Academy Games, the historical gaming gurus, would give this game an overhaul. I think it has tremendous potential, though it is excellent as is. Find a copy if you can.
https://www.facebook.com/dicedropgames/photos/pcb.1663697510334403/1663697420334412/?type=3&theater
4) World’s Fair 1893, Renegade Games – I can’t believe I haven’t come across this game by J. Alex Kevern before. Game play pits 2-4 players staking out exhibits via area control and set collection. The historic theme, complete with carousel and unique art on each exhibit card, clothes an engine that provides great choices, little downtime between turns, and streamlined fun in under an hour. Since discovering it a few weeks ago, I’ve played it several times with different groups, and all have been impressed.
https://www.facebook.com/dicedropgames/photos/a.654720051232159.1073741830.626232367414261/1652444901459664/?type=3&theater
5) Master Of Orion, Cryptozoic – This space themed card game designed by Ekaterina Gorn and Igor Sklyuev is based on the popular computer game of yore. Despite the lack of dudes on a map and a real board of any kind, this gem captures most of the elements of civ-building in an hour or so. By the end of it, win or lose, you feel like you have created a viable space nation with its own story. Good stuff.
https://www.facebook.com/dicedropgames/photos/a.654720051232159.1073741830.626232367414261/1431788046858685/?type=3&theater
6) Cursed Court, Atlas Games – Even though this game (designed by Andrew Hanson) is relatively new, I feel like it is not getting the love it deserves. It’s an excellent game that seats up to 6 players nicely. It deftly combines betting, bluffing and hand (chip?) management to create a great gaming experience in an hour or less. It’s easy to teach as well. A sure bet.
https://www.facebook.com/dicedropgames/photos/a.654720051232159.1073741830.626232367414261/1627836937253794/?type=3&theater
7) Coldwater Crown, Bellwether Games – Designed by Brian Suhre, Coldwater Crown uses a worker placement mechanic similar to the one in Raiders of The North Sea, with players placing a marker and picking up another to perform actions with the intention of acquiring bait to catch fish. At it’s heart, it is a set collection game, but there are several layers of strategy nicely coordinated to form a tightly designed game. Coldwater Crown provides a good mixture of luck and euro style mechanics and dresses them up with a cool theme. I really enjoyed it. Add it to your tackle box.
https://www.facebook.com/dicedropgames/photos/a.654720051232159.1073741830.626232367414261/1616118485092306/?type=3&theater
Well, there you go. I hope you check out at least a few of these. I’m glad I did. Thanks for reading, and keep nerding on.
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