Six Cool Table Top Games
Ranked #9,700 in Hobbies, Games & Toys, #129,440 overall
Fun Games to Play with Family and Friends
After you've had a few people over for a meal, and everyone is feeling mellow, you need a great way to finish a great evening. Entertaining them is easy if you pull out one of these tabletop games. This lens tells about my six top games for entertaining.
Have you tried any of the award-winning table games known as "family strategy games", "designer games", "German-style games" or "Euro games"? They are interesting and fun, not too easy or silly. Generally each of these themed games has a story-line and all of the game moves make sense in the context of the story and setting.
Scoring well depends more on your planning and strategy than on luck, but winning the game is not the main point of playing it. How you manage your resources and opportunities is what makes them really interesting. There are no teams. No one gets eliminated. You play alongside each other, but each player builds their own progress depending on choices that they decide to make. This is why you can play the same game over and over again and not get tired of it. In fact, these cool games can become addicting games! In a good way, of course.
Have you tried any of the award-winning table games known as "family strategy games", "designer games", "German-style games" or "Euro games"? They are interesting and fun, not too easy or silly. Generally each of these themed games has a story-line and all of the game moves make sense in the context of the story and setting.
Scoring well depends more on your planning and strategy than on luck, but winning the game is not the main point of playing it. How you manage your resources and opportunities is what makes them really interesting. There are no teams. No one gets eliminated. You play alongside each other, but each player builds their own progress depending on choices that they decide to make. This is why you can play the same game over and over again and not get tired of it. In fact, these cool games can become addicting games! In a good way, of course.
What makes these games fun to play?
Here is what I look for:
- you can learn and enjoy playing the game in one sitting
- the game takes from thirty minutes to two hours, with a definite ending caused by the game itself
- there are no boring wait times for other players' turns
- strategy is involved, and each time you play you can try a different approach
- players who don't plan ahead can still enjoy themselves
- you play alongside each other, rather than against each other
- no one loses their turn or is eliminated
- being mean to other players does not make the game got better
- you don't really know who is going to win until the final scoring
These awesome games make great presents
Give a gift that keep on giving
I see it this way. If you give someone a movie, they may watch it a few times. If friends are over, no one interacts much while it is on. BUT ... if you give someone a tabletop eurogame, they can have years of entertainment value from it. At the end of the visit, time has flown, everyone feels that they have really enjoyed each others' company, and they all hope you will invite them back to do again another day.
If you are going to stay with someone for a vacation, one of these games make an excellent thank you gift. You can have the pleasure of introducing them to some new fun and maybe even let them in on some of your favorite strategies. You will have no worries about what to do if the time drags or you can't find enough to talk about. and after you'll gone, they will remember you fondly every time they bring the game out for an evening's entertainment.
Bonus - expansion packs make great additions for future gift-giving. Give the game one year, and just when they think they have mastered it, throw in some complications with an expansion pack or two. The game takes on a whole new twist, but still has the familiar feeling of an old friend.
If you are going to stay with someone for a vacation, one of these games make an excellent thank you gift. You can have the pleasure of introducing them to some new fun and maybe even let them in on some of your favorite strategies. You will have no worries about what to do if the time drags or you can't find enough to talk about. and after you'll gone, they will remember you fondly every time they bring the game out for an evening's entertainment.
Bonus - expansion packs make great additions for future gift-giving. Give the game one year, and just when they think they have mastered it, throw in some complications with an expansion pack or two. The game takes on a whole new twist, but still has the familiar feeling of an old friend.
Gameplay descriptions
If you would like to know more about how these entertaining games are played, check out the following articles on Wikipedia. Then scroll down to read about my six recommendations. Find out why they are my favorites and could be yours too.
- Gameplay for Puerto Rico
- In this article you can read a brief description of how Puerto Rico is played, as well as some strategy, a couple of balancing fixes, and an expansion.
- Gameplay for Alhambra
- This article describes the basic board game of Alhambra as well as all the expansion packs that are available.
- Gameplay for Carcassonne
- In this article you will find the basic gameplay plus lists of expansion packs, mini expansion packs, compilations and spinoffs for Carcassonne, including the computer game for iphone, ipad, smartphone, Xbox and Nintendo.
- Gameplay for Ticket to Ride
- Here you will read about the gameplay for the original board game, plus expansions, spinoffs as well as computer, iphone and ipad game versions, and the Xbox video game.
GAMES, GAMES, GAMES
Which eurogames should I buy?
The most fun games - here are my six favorites. Scroll down to read about them and see why you'll like them too.
Puerto Rico
For 3 - 5 players
Eurogame fans have given Puerto Rico great reviews, and no wonder. It is really interesting. You start with three doubloons, one plantation and your wits. Soon you are building processing plants, warehouses, trading goods for money or shipping goods for points. As your prosperity increases, you can begin to buy the coveted bonus tiles. Each turn is full of possibilities! Even the other players' turns will give you opportunities to increase your property and wealth. There are no boring moments.
Because there are no dice, your play is all about strategy. I am still trying to figure out my best approach. I think up a brilliant plan and lose? What's with that? Now I have to play again, and see where I went wrong. No dice means there's no luck involved. It's all about the strategy. Infinite replay value. Puerto Rico has been chosen Best Strategy Game in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands and the USA. Well-deserved in my opinion.
Because there are no dice, your play is all about strategy. I am still trying to figure out my best approach. I think up a brilliant plan and lose? What's with that? Now I have to play again, and see where I went wrong. No dice means there's no luck involved. It's all about the strategy. Infinite replay value. Puerto Rico has been chosen Best Strategy Game in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands and the USA. Well-deserved in my opinion.
Alhambra
For 2 - 6 players
This tile-laying tabletop game is my current favorite. Every time I play, the results are completely different. Should I take money? Should I build? Who will win? Who knows - that's the beauty of it. We recently played with six people and two had never seen it before, but they caught on fast, had a lot of fun (and did not come in last!)
This tile-laying tabletop game is my current favorite. Every time I play, the results are completely different. Should I take money? Should I build? Who will win? Who knows - that's the beauty of it. We recently played with six people and two had never seen it before, but they caught on fast, had a lot of fun (and did not come in last!)
Stone Age
Brand new in 2011!
For 2 - 4 players
I got this game for Christmas it's a winner! Four of us read the rules and played it in the afternoon just to get the hang of it. As with most games, actual play is easier than reading the instructions. There are lots of options and choices to make - this keeps the replay value high. We liked Stone Age so much on first try that we played it again at the end of the evening, and set up another date to rematch a few days later. It is definitely an addicting game.
Later in the holiday, my husband and I played and found that this is a great two-person game. There are a few limits that you don't have in a four-person game, but you still get more opportunities to make the moves that gain you points.
I got this game for Christmas it's a winner! Four of us read the rules and played it in the afternoon just to get the hang of it. As with most games, actual play is easier than reading the instructions. There are lots of options and choices to make - this keeps the replay value high. We liked Stone Age so much on first try that we played it again at the end of the evening, and set up another date to rematch a few days later. It is definitely an addicting game.
Later in the holiday, my husband and I played and found that this is a great two-person game. There are a few limits that you don't have in a four-person game, but you still get more opportunities to make the moves that gain you points.
Kingburg
from Fantasy Flight Games
For 2 to 5 players
Kingsburg is a family strategy game that anyone age ten or more can play and enjoy it. Your job as a governor is to gain victory points, decide how to build up the kingdom and gain help from the advisors of the king's court. You have five years to accomplish your goals while fighting off the kingdoms enemies in battle. If you paid too much attention to building and too little attention to your army, you could be in trouble! One of the great things about this game is that you aren't pitted against other players. Winning will depend on your wise choices, skill, and a little luck with the dice throws.
Kingsburg is a family strategy game that anyone age ten or more can play and enjoy it. Your job as a governor is to gain victory points, decide how to build up the kingdom and gain help from the advisors of the king's court. You have five years to accomplish your goals while fighting off the kingdoms enemies in battle. If you paid too much attention to building and too little attention to your army, you could be in trouble! One of the great things about this game is that you aren't pitted against other players. Winning will depend on your wise choices, skill, and a little luck with the dice throws.
Ticket to Ride
For 2 to 5 players.
The first and most basic game is Ticket to Ride. It has over 250 five-star customer reviews on Amazon. You play on a map of the United States and have seven days to be the player who visits the most cities. Everyone has a lot of fun and gets a dose of geography as a side benefit.. Children as young as 8 years old can learn and enjoy this cool game. There are 225 train cars - think carefully about where you will place them! Longer routes give you more points, but can you get to your destination in time? Terrific replay value!
The first and most basic game is Ticket to Ride. It has over 250 five-star customer reviews on Amazon. You play on a map of the United States and have seven days to be the player who visits the most cities. Everyone has a lot of fun and gets a dose of geography as a side benefit.. Children as young as 8 years old can learn and enjoy this cool game. There are 225 train cars - think carefully about where you will place them! Longer routes give you more points, but can you get to your destination in time? Terrific replay value!
Carcasonne
For 2 to 5 players
This is the first eurogame I played, thanks to my kids. I was hooked right away. I wanted to keep playing to see how must better I could do the next time. I even wanted to sit and piece the tiles by myself because they are so lovely and intricate, and the combinations seemed endless. I have started adding expansion packs. I have also given this game as a gift several times.
This is the first eurogame I played, thanks to my kids. I was hooked right away. I wanted to keep playing to see how must better I could do the next time. I even wanted to sit and piece the tiles by myself because they are so lovely and intricate, and the combinations seemed endless. I have started adding expansion packs. I have also given this game as a gift several times.
Are my favorites your favorites?
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by Art_Aspirations
Entertaining has taken on a whole new dimension for me since I was introduced to these friendly, German-style designer games. They are gorgeous to loo... more »
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A Great Fathers' Day Present
Puerto Rico LTD Anniversary Edition
Amazon Price: $84.95 (as of 05/31/2012)
Puerto Rico is a fascinating table game, and this deluxe limited edition is stunning. It includes both expansion sets and the gameplay for 2, as well as the original game for 3 to 5. I love it, and you will too.
Dominion
Dominion
Amazon Price: $27.19 (as of 05/31/2012)
It took a long time to convince my husband that he likes to play games. This is the one that tipped the scale.
Chess Set
Grand Street Maple/Walnut Tournament Chess Set
Amazon Price: $79.99 (as of 05/31/2012)
If you are still craving more strategy games!
