Jamey Stegmaier just asked people what their top 10 games are right now. I made a list that included 10 games that I would be excited to play again as soon as I have an hour or two, nine new games that I have not yet gotten to play (mostly Essen releases), and 12 perennial favorites that I will always play. Since it seems unfair to drop a 50-line post as a blog comment, I decided to make a Geek List and put the link over there!
One of my favorite Felds, and no top-10 list of mine would be complete without a Feld or two.
This is a great game, fun and lightweight when played that way, deep and challenging when played with an eye to maximizing every aspect.
This is a "know your ghost" kind of game but I really enjoy it every time. I have seen but not yet played the English reprint with different rules. I am sure we will get that one too, but they are completely different games, in my mind.
It looks like a kids' game because it's bright and cheerful, but it's deep and challenging without being prone to too much AP.
Smacks together Bohnanza and engine building in a small and tidy package.
Also, it's called ROYAL Goods. "Oh My Goods" is execrable and I will not call it that.
This game has completely different mechanics from most games we've played recently, hard without being annoying.
Invasion turns the base game on its head with a very difficult but fun co-op scenario and a whole bunch of scenarios we haven't even tried yet; there's a huge bang for the buck in this box!
My husband backed this Kickstarter and we tried it over the weekend. I hated it. A loser was required every round and it was nearly always me. Richard Garfield is all about the screwage. I will not play this game again.
I need several more replays to decide; very challenging.
Also, for a $120 game published in 2015, the artwork is awful and the component quality screams 1999. Do not buy it because you think the bits will be awesome. They are not even close.
This just arrived today and I can't wait to try it based on Rahdo's runthrough.
This arrived today. I love the theme, I love what I've seen of the game play, and I can't wait to try it. Could it unseat Orleans?
This represents going back to my roots and I can't wait to try it. It does look like it rewards quick recognition of sets, which is something I'm very good at and sometimes makes it not a good choice for my family. Arrived today.
I love every and all things Power Grid and I can't wait to try this. It's actually been a while since even the base Power Grid has hit the table, which is too bad. Arrived today.
There have been a bunch of great games from Soso in Taiwan recently, and this is one of the best ones. Challenging strategies and an ever-changing resource collection matrix mean that you have to stay focused in the moment and you can't plan the game out in advance. Prone to AP if folks can't make quick decisions, but beautifully challenging if folks agree to keep it moving.
This super-cute Japanese game got a tiny reprint run in time for Essen and I'm glad that we managed to get one. It won't be available in the US for a while, and that's a shame, because it's a fun little game that requires planning ahead, being aware of what your neighbors are doing, and not being distracted by all the options that are possible. Also, the sheep are represented by little fluff balls of wool. Cuuuuuuute!!
Played with the base game (another Soso from Taiwan), this brings multiple new strategies to what seems like a dexterity game but is so much more.
It's a shame that this Kickstarter arrived during Essen season because it's going to take longer for it to get its first play.
A cute game just republished by Cheeky Parrot of New Zealand. We haven't gotten it to the table yet, but I'm looking forward to it.
This looks super cute and it will be good to see how it plays. Another reprint from Cheeky Parrot in New Zealand.
I really like the base game and was excited when an employee at our FLGS pointed this and the Chemical Explosion expansions out to me. Insta-buy!
The first of a list of perennial favorites that I will ALWAYS play.
Interesting decisions about area control and spending money at every turn.
I love this game and secretly don't understand people who don't like it.
This will sound strange, but this is my #1 go-to medium-weight filler. It's the right game when you aren't so tired that all you can manage is No Thanks, but you're not up for a 45-minute game of anything, either.
I've heard this called "Blimp Yahtzee" and that doesn't offend me. This is not a hard game, and there is some luck involved, but it's got just enough decision-making to keep it interesting. Replayability is clearly high, since we keep doing it.