(Part 2) Best board games according to redditors

I’m pretty sure they did. They also made a communism version where the tag line was “because capitalism’s for winners” or something.

Edit: it’s called Monopoly Socialism, heres the Amazon page

Consider how they also made Monopoly Socialist a game which grossly misrepresents socialism, I'm guessing they don't give a fuck about representation and trying to make a "feminism bad" statement.

I made this list for /r/NintendoSwitchDeals since someone asked about games. Figured I'd share here. Most of the games I've played, I've indicated where I haven't. Bolded prices indicate lowest price on CCC according to the plug-in.

• 7 Wonders | $28.99 | 3-7 players | ~30-45 Minutes | 7.8 on BGG - This is a fantastic game to introduce people to "tableau building" and "card drafting." If you're not familiar, a tableau is the cards in front of you that are part of your "engine" going forward, usually you will add cards to it that add synergy to your strategy. Card drafting is when players have a hand of cards, choose one, and then pass to the person next to them. This game can fit up to 7 and it doesn't really bog the game down. I'm not in love with this game, but at this price I think it's a very fair offering for a game that once taught and played once, flows really nicely and makes for a great game to drink and talk while playing rather than being buried in thought about what to do.
  
  
• 7 Wonders: Duel | $17.81 | 2 Players | 20-30 Minutes | 8.1 on BGG - This is a 2 player adaptation of 7 Wonders and it's quite a great version. Instead of card drafting by passing hands, there is a "market" that opens up further as more cards are chosen in which players take turns choosing from. It offers an intense 2 player back and forth of "chicken" in a way that flows nicely and culminates in a satisfying, even if sometimes mean, ending. Often credited as one of the best 2 player games out there, especially with expansions.
  
  
  * Agricola | $32.89 | 1-4 Players | 30-150 Minutes | 8.0 on BGG - I have never played this but you can find lots of excellent discussion about this on BGG and /r/boardgames. Ultimately it's a beefier board game about managing your farm to take care of your family. Sounds thrilling right? Well apparently it really is. It's currently rated the 25th bestboard game of all-time, and is often mentioned among some of the great games out there. This is an excellent price for this game new, so if there's any interest, go watch a review of two. Deal is done.
  
  
• Carcassonne | $19.99 | 2-4 Players | ~30 Minutes | 7.4 on BGG - This is an excellent tile laying game for gamers and non-gamers alike. It's simple to teach, takes almost no time to set-up, and can easily be expanded to fit 5 players. If you end up loving this, there are many expansions for it to add depth, or silliness, whichever you prefer. This has become a staple in my circle of friends who don't really play board games because it's so approachable.
  
  
• Isle of Skye | $24.35 | 2-5 Players | 30-50 Minutes | 7.5 on BGG - I've never played this, but it's been on my list for a while as a tile laying game with more complexity than Carcassonne. I don't know much about it, but this is a great price and those with Irish heritage might love the theme. Edit: Well this is embarrassing, Isle of Skye is in Scotland, sorry for that.
  
  * Pandemic: Fall of Rome | $27.99 | 1-5 Players | 30-60 Minutes | 7.8 on BGG - This is a variation of the much beloved game Pandemic. In this variation, you and up to 4 other players are taking control of Roman armies to defend against the oncoming tribes attempting to take over a weakened Rome. You will use your unique powers and randomly drawn cards to work together with the other players in this cooperative game. If you've played base Pandemic you will know what to expect, but this version has some cool thematic changes that have many reviewers calling it the second best iteration of the Pandemic series. Dead deal.
  
  
• Patchwork | $17.84 | 2 Players | ~20 Minutes | 7.7 on BGG - This is an excellent 2 player game using spacial skills to build out your quilt in a sort of "Tetris" way. You need to manage buttons (currency) and time to efficiently build your quilt with as little empty spots as possible. It's a darling of the community and designed by the great Uwe Rosenberg. People meme about it because it's often recommended, but there's a reason why it is.
  
  
• Photosynthesis | $21.11 | 2-4 Players | 30-60 Minutes | 7.2 on BGG - I've never played this, but it's quite a nice looking game on the table. It's about growing trees while using a limited amount of sunlight - or that's how it's been described to me anyway. I've heard that this game can get pretty cutthroat, especially at higher player counts, because of how limited the board space gets.
  
  
• The Castles of Burgundy | $19.20 | 2-4 Players | 45-90 Minutes | 8.1 on BGG - One of the finest board games I've ever played in spite of the ugly art and theme of it. Visually, I find nothing about this appealing, but the gameplay is so fantastic that I fell in love with it immediately. You have 25 turns in which you are using two dice each turn which are used to make decisions on how to build out your board to gain victory points. The actions are mostly easy to understand, and you're never screwed over by a bad roll because bad rolls can be mitigated via worker resources. There is a good amount of strategic depth to it, minor "meanness" in "screwing over" opponents, and I mostly feel happy with every round - it's a rare game of satisfaction each turn. My only complaint is that the yellow tiles are all unique which turns into a lot of, "What does that one do?" which is mitigated with player aides you can find on BGG. Warning, new print coming out this year that may or may not make the art look better, but the new print will have all expansions. With that said, for $19.20 this is a no-brainer if you want something more complex than something like Catan.
  
  
• The Quest for El Dorado | $19.99 | 2-4 Players | ~45 Minutes| 7.6 on BGG - This is a great deck-building racing game to get to El Dorado first. It's simple to learn and honestly my only complaint is that the game takes up a lot of space. The map is completely variable and there are some official variants in the book, as well as many others on BGG on the files section. If you enjoy the concept of building a deck to race through the treacherous lands to get to El Dorado, this is a great game. Warning, there is a new edition coming out with new artwork, so you may want to hold off.

From the same company that also made a jab at Socialism in another version lol https://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-Monopoly-Socialism-Board-Parody/dp/B07VPRNZJB/

Collection of everything I've found below with links (I was doing this for myself, so figured I'd just post it for all.)

Specific Game Deals:

ABC Order

• Aeon's End ($24.99)
  
• Amun-Re ($29.99)
  
• Broom Service ($24.49)
  
• Forbidden Stars ($69.99)
  
• In the year of the Dragon ($32.20)
  
• Labrynth ($21.24)
  
  
• Lisboa - $49.99
  
• The Quest for El Dorado ($26.01)
  
• This War Of Mine: The Board Game - $37.99
  
• Western Express Delivery ($54.99)
  
• Lancaster ($14.82)
  
• Castles of Burgundy ($19.17)
  
  Store Deals:
  
  Sorted biggest discount to smallest
  
  
• Sirilin Game - 50% off everything
  
• Barnes & Noble - Buy one get one 50% off on their games and toys, 20% off a purchase of $50 or more online coupon good through Wednesday 11/22. Code: DAYMAKER
  
• GameStop - 30% off all board games, 25% bag discount that stacks ontop
  
• Bordlandia - 15% off on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with reduced free shipping threshold on Friday ($75) and free dice on Monday
  
• CardHaus - 10% off sitewide
  
• Mr. Dice Guy - offering 10% off all their in-stock items. Use discount code BLACKFRIDAY2017
  
• MiniatureMarket - Many items on sale
  
• CheapCheapGames - Entire Site Sale
  
  International/Local Deals:
  
  Canada
  
  
• Canada - Meeple Mart sale
  
• Canada - Geeks Stop Games having cyber Monday sale, details TBA
  
  Germany
  
  
• Germany Toys'r'us - Buy 2 Boardgames and get 50% off of the cheaper one.
  
  Regional US
  
  
• Dreamers Vault Games (locations in Minnesota around the Twin Cities) - 50% off all board games.
  
  Updates
  
  
• 11/23 11:00pm EST - Accurate to everything posted so far, double checked all sales. (Sorry for the delay, was eating Turkey)

These are real

https://www.amazon.com/Monopoly-for-Millennials-Board-Game/dp/B07K2SYDJ1


https://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-Monopoly-Socialism-Board-Parody/dp/B07VPRNZJB

Castles of Burgundy $19.20

Photosynthesis $21.11

Imhotep $20.45

Quest for El Dorado $19.99

I own all of these (plus quite a few more), and enjoy playing them regularly. Prices are approximately accurate at places like Target, walmart, Amazon, etc. Most games below can be played by up to 4-6 players (some more), but all support a minimum of two. (An important distinction, as many games require 3 or more players.)

$5-10:

• Scrabble/Monopoly are fun if you're both into the classics. For some reason, these are both almost $20 on Amazon, but I've seen them for under/around $10 each at Target/Walmart.
  
• Scrabble Slam (card game) - sets Scrabble on it's ear and adds some adrenaline.
  
• A copy of Hoyle's Rules of Games and a deck of cards.
  
• Uno - One of my favorites - An absolute staple, and works with as many people as you want, though you might want to add a second deck for more than 4-5.
  
• Phase 10 - kind of like a cross between Uno and Rummy.
  
  $10-20:
  
  Here, we start getting into some really interesting ones...
  
  
• Munchkin - One of my favorites - Like pen & paper RPGs? This makes fun of them ALL in a way only a true gamer would get. Plenty of expansions if you get bored.
  
• Guillotine - You're each executioners during the French Revolution, trying to collect the most prestigious heads.
  
• Gloom - You're each one of up to four tragedy-ridden families. Play misery-inducing cards on your family to make them as unhappy as possible before you shove them off into the hereafter, and play happy puppies and fluffy bunnies on your opponent to do the opposite.
  
• Fluxx - The rules are the cards you play. Start with 3 cards, then draw 1 and play 1 each turn. Oh, but now it's draw 3 and play 1, so you'll need to draw 2 more to catch up. Now it's draw 3 and play 5, so play 4 to catch up, except that someone played inflation, so it's draw 4 and play 6... etc.
  
• Citadels Out of the hundreds of games I've played over the years, this is the only one I've seen that claims to have "intrigue"... and really does. Play the role of various nobles, each with different abilities, to gain gold, build cities, and steal from/assassinate your opponents to prevent them from doing the same. The catch? You each play different roles each turn, and the roles are chosen part randomly, and part secretly, so that no one knows who is who until it's too late.
  
  $20-30
  
  
• Carcassone - One of my favorites - Lay down tiles to build cities, roads and farmland, and place your followers to claim them for points. Just because you lay something down doesn't mean someone else won't claim it instead, and claiming it doesn't ensure that you keep it. Lots of strategy involved, and plenty of expansions if you want to change gameplay. Good for up to 5 players, or more with expansions. Has some similarities with Settlers of Catan, to be mentioned shortly.
  
• Chez Geek, House Party Edition - You're all college kids in a dorm, trying to get the most slack points with fun/cool things to do, while reducing slack points in your opponents with annoying cards like car alarms (no sleep), the drunk friend (drinks all your slack-gaining booze), etc. The basic game is under $20, but it's worth it to buy the House Party Edition for $25, as it includes some expansions and extras.
  
• Illuminati - I haven't played this yet, but from what I've read, it's a blast. By Steve Jackson Games, the makers of Munchkin.
  
• Kill Dr. Lucky - Here's a quote from the rules: "You have hated Dr. Lucky for as long as you can remember, and you've been secretly awaiting this perfect chance to do the old man in. Maybe he destroyed your dry cleaning business; maybe you think he's the leader of the vampires. Perhaps he's the only person standing between you and the family fortune. Or maybe his cat just keeps peeing in your shrubs. Whatever your reason, its good enough to push you over the edge, and now you absolutely can't wait to take the lying old bastard down!"
  
  
  $30-50
  A bit pricier here, but some very interesting gameplay is to be found.
  
  
• Settlers of Catan - One of my favorites - no game shelf is complete without it - Build roads and settlements using the tradable resources provided by the areas around your settlements, and the roll of the dice. Note: This is not a two player game. I made an exception here because it rocks, but unfortunately you'll need a third wheel to play.
  
• Dominion - One of my favorites - I grew up with Magic: The Gathering, but disliked always having to buy new cards to be competitive. Gameplay is somewhat similar to Magic, though instead of plinking away at your opponent's health, you are gaining victory points. Also, Dominion includes all of the cards you will need for up to 4 players, and you "build" your deck (similar to Magic), by buying new cards every turn.
  
• Ticket to Ride - Build your train routes across the US (or Europe, if you get that edition) without revealing your destination, because your opponents might cut you off!
  
• Small World - Kind of like a cross between Risk and... something else. Control territory to gain gold, using various races with special abilities. Send your races into decline (continuing to own the territory until it is taken), while expanding out with your new race. Knowing when to send a race into decline makes all the difference.
  
• Red November - You're a bunch of drunken gnomes on a doomed submarine. Put out the fire by shunting the flooded compartment to the burning one, but now there are two flooded compartments and you have to pump them out while the engine has a problem and oh my god it's the kraken. INSANE gameplay, but can be stressful. This has skyrocketed in price (from $30 to $50), probably because they're about to release a revised edition, so the old one is out of print. You might want to wait a month for the new version to come out before you buy this.

$70 in Canada

Edit: 401 Games @$70

BGB @$70

That's right. Here's some price data taken from /r/lowestprice. Its more like a 20 to 30% discount witch is still pretty great

|Name|Price|Usual Price|
|----|----|----|----|
|Forbidden Island|$10.19|$14.50
|Resistance The 2nd Edition|$12|$15.50
|7 Wonders|$28|$33
|Pound-O-Dice|$16|$21
|Dixit|$20|$25
|Say Anything|$15|$19
|Dominion|$59|$74
|Flash Point Fire Rescue 2nd Edition|$24|$30
|The Walking Dead Board Game|$21|$27
|DC Comics Deck Building Game|$23|$30
|Zombicide Base Game|$54|$74
|The Castles Of Burgundy|$22|$29
|Summoner Wars Master Set|$30|$39
|Formula D|$32|41
|The Big Bang Theory: The Party Game|$17|$22
|Axis and Allies 1914 World War I Board Game|$59.39|$75
|Risk Godstorm Game|$30|$36.50
|Saint Malo Strategy Game|$20|$27

I don't know where you live, but the people I know definitely think gaming setups are expensive. That's why people buy them rarely, and invest in ones that last a long time. There are expensive hobbies out there -- skiing, hunting, equestrianism off the top of my head. But those aren't run-of-the-mill hobbies, those are expensive hobbies. Playing Mardu Vehicles is also an expensive hobby.

Let's compare Magic to similar games for its audience:

• Introductory gaming is about the same price as similar options. F2P online games cost $0 to get into, as do free 30-card decks. Light board games (part of a moderately expensive hobby) are around $10-$20, as are Planeswalker decks.
  
• Middle-of-the-road gaming is more expensive than many options, but close to board game habits. Free online games are a staple of Magic's target audience, and a moderately-serious FNM is likely to cost $30-$50 more than League of Legends. It's more on par with various popular board games. A player going for budget HS decks is also saving money compared to budget MtG decks.
  
• High-end MtG gaming is god damn expensive, especially for your target audience. $300 for Temur Aetherworks gets you most (all?) of HS's competitive field, or LotR LCG + 6 deluxe expansions + 2 saga expansions, or every major expansion for Sentinels of the Multiverse, or the Elder Scrolls series + the Mass Effect series + GTA 5 + Rocket League + Witcher 3.
  
  So if you're a new gamer, MtG is expensive compared to LoL, HS, and Clash of Clans. If you're kind of invested in gaming, Magic is similarly-priced to board games but will rotate out. If you're heavily invested in competitive gaming, Magic is a money vortex.
  
  Magic is expensive.

Uhhhh. Pandemic is a good game if you want to lose horribly. I'd recommend Forbidden Desert instead. Many similar mechanics. A lot faster. Fewer "Welp, we lose in 5 turns and there is nothing we can do to stop it" issues. And it doesn't suffer as badly from the "Table Captain" problems. It still HAS them but not as badly.

My personal recommendation for a fun competitive game that's relatively easy to learn and doesn't suffer "You fucked me over!" annoyances? 7 Wonders. Another good choice in this theme would be Ticket to Ride. This also has the benefit of actually being available at Target or Walmart, so you don't have to try and find a hobbyist store or order it online. King of Tokyo and Tsuro are both fun, easy-to-learn games as well. I've seen all of these at Barnes and Noble, so depending on what you have locally, they can be easily found.

Really? A link to a link to the product.

Just use the direct link, smile added.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005J146MI/

It’s real and by hasboro. This is a blessed time https://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-Monopoly-Socialism-Board-Parody/dp/B07VPRNZJB

It's like the board game Tsuro! But for cities :D

He has a device that analyzes his brain waves and directs the suit based on that. That's how it works in the MCU at least (when he uses the suits remotely). The technology actually exists in real life. There is a toy called Mindflex where you move a ball through a small obstacle course by using a headset that transmits brain waves, which activates air streams that move the ball up or down.

EDIT: http://www.amazon.com/Mattel-P2639-Mindflex-Game/dp/B001UEUHCG

I'm excited to see your post, because I was going to write something similar. In particular, I wanted to link to the five geek social fallacies which is all about why nerdy gamers feel obligated to include socially awkward friends at the table, even when they're disruptive. And then, I wanted to suggest that OP transition this high-anxiety friend over to a different social event, and your suggestion of board games is perfect. Board games do not require role play in which a socially awkward person bungles the social interactions. Here are some of my favorites that seem to work well with socially difficult people:

• Dominion (a deck building game -- start with 10 cards, mostly cards to buy stuff, and spend the game buying up more cards that give you extra actions or cash -- what's extremely cool is that the cards you buy are varied, so one game might feel very different from the next game).
  
• Rummikub (you gain 14 tiles and must put them down in runs of color or number -- this is great for aspergers types, because it goes at your own pace, and someone who can envision adjusting all the numbered tiles on the board/table can sometimes on a single turn get rid of tons & tons of tiles in an epic reconfiguring of... everything).
  
• Sequence (team-based card game that involves putting down cards on a game board to form lines, sorta like Connect 4, but involving teamwork, so if someone nervous doesn't want all the pressure on himself or herself, there will be teammates to help in this game).
  
• Munchkin (a joke game based upon D&D but without the social interactions... perfect).
  
• Carcassonne (a slower game that involves making "kingdoms" by placing tiles, pretty good for someone looking for low-pressure).
  
  Good luck OP!

Scythe $39.99

Forbidden Desert $20.00: http://www.amazon.com/Gamewright-415-Forbidden-Desert-Board/dp/B00B4ECHJI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395249427&sr=8-1&keywords=forbidden+desert

Hanabi $10.00: http://www.amazon.com/R-Games-RR-869-Hanabi/dp/B00CYQ9Q76/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395249451&sr=8-1&keywords=hanabi

Love Letter $10.00: http://www.amazon.com/Alderac-Entertainment-Group-5104AEG-Letter/dp/B00AGJ4HC2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395249479&sr=8-1&keywords=love+letter

I couldn't be happier with these purchases at these prices, but there's plenty of $30+$10, $20+$20, or 4x$10 configurations you can purchase as well.

See:

http://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/wiki/wsig/cheap

This is crazy exciting! My two primary sources of entertainment these days are my Nintendo Switch and board games.

For those of you who don’t know, the hobby of board gaming is absolutely exploding with popularity, thanks to some stellar designs being released over the past decade. Games like Monopoly, Risk, and even Catan to a degree are starting to show their age, while new games like Ticket to Ride, Carcassonne, Pandemic, Dominion, and even heavier games like Gloomhaven are gaining a lot of critical acclaim.

It’s because these games are stinkin’ fun. My wife and I have played our game of Carcassonne over twenty times — it’s another great way for us to spend time together. We play plenty of Super Mario Party, BotW, and Overcooked 2 together, and I would consider modern board games to be just as fun.

While I won’t discourage y’all from getting Carcassonne digitally, I have a better recommendation: buy the hard copy. Try owning a new board game and see where it takes you! There’s something about holding wooden bits and cardboard, and gathering around a non-electronic medium that is both social and enjoyable. Right now, Carcassonne is at its all-time low on Amazon for just $17.99, which is an amazing deal for anyone interested!

https://www.amazon.com/Z-Man-Games-ZM7810-Carcassonne/dp/B00NX627HW

If you have any questions about Carcassonne or board games, hit me up! I’d love to help or give recommendations :)

Ok yay! can I just recommend this ONE game that sounds like it would be so boring but is the most fun and is literally made for TWO PEOPLE?! Patchwork Game

There is a board game called Descent that does a very good tabletop RPG dungeon delve impression. It can have a DM, or they have a free app you can run on a phone or laptop that does the DM parts for you.

There is tons of expansion content, so you can spend a lot of money if you want. And even the base experience is in the $50-100 range.

My group had played the game before the app (with a human GM) and it was pretty fun, but a bit imbalanced at times. We decided then to just play d&d 5e instead.

We ran into a rut recently where no one had the time to prepare for d&d though. So we have gone back to Descent with the app GM and have been pretty happy.

The campaign we've played so far are a little on the stock fantasy with common cliches, but there are others that might do better in that area.

Descent: Journeys in The Dark Second Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/1616611898/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_e4poybRFTX3N8

Consider X-Wing: The Miniatures Game! It's a simple, but deep tabletop game played with gorgeous little pre-painted spaceships. Check out /r/xwingtmg

I'm sure these will get buried... but

Games: Since I see a lot of board game suggestions, have to mention Power Grid. For card games Fluxx, easy to learn and drink to. Although I prefer the pothead Berkeley version, Stoner Fluxx.

Music: The Slackers, Ska Dub band from NYC. All incredibly talented musicians and they put on amazing live shows. They love to tour small venues around the world, if they visit your hometown and you like dancing check them out.

MSRP of Catan and Dominion are both $45; nice try though. I'll give you Betrayal; I didn't realize it was so cheap, especially considering how good it is. Still, Ticket to Ride: $40, Power Grid: $45 MSRP, Pandemic Legacy: $70 MSRP, (the original game is $40), and I could keep going. The notion that most board games are under $30 is flat out wrong.

This is for Christmas and your son wants to be surprised... you gotta go for something big / rare / hard to find. My key for gift giving is to get them something they want, but wouldn't spend the money on themselves. So with that in mind, consider the following:

1. 7th Continent - Late Pledge This game just finished a hugely successful campaign on Kickstarter. You can late pledge for your son and he will get a copy of the game in 5-6 months and a massive expansion 6 months after that. It's the gift the keeps on giving! Rookie Pledge is $129 + Shipping (https://the7thcontinent.seriouspoulp.com/late_pledge/).
   
   Guessing a college kid on a budget won't have spent that kinda money, but it's the perfect game for college kids... the intro game takes about 15-25 hrs to complete... College kids don't sleep or do homework, so they've got nothing but time!
   
   
2. The Gallerist or Vinhos: Deluxe Edition (links below). These are both heavier and meatier games than most of what he's got, but with Agricola, he certainly is trending toward meatier fare. The production value on these 2 games is out of this world and the games are really excellent. Again, you're looking to wow your son as opposed to just getting a bunch of games he could pick up at Target or Barnes & Nobles for cheap.
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-EAG01653-The-Gallerist/dp/B013EKAFG6
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Gryphon-Games-Vinhos-Deluxe/dp/B01M10GAMH/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1510110859&sr=1-1&keywords=vinhos+deluxe+edition
   
   
3. Mechs vs. Minions - This game was all the rage about 2 yrs ago and sold a limited print run like hotcakes. It has by FAR the best production value when compared to the cost of the game. At $75, it's clear the developers are taking a loss to produce it. The game is lots of fun and has a resetable campaign system for playing a series of games that impact one another. It's a fun co-op game that also has some loose ties to the League of Legends video game series... guessing your son either knows about the game himself or has friends who play. You can still buy it direct from Riot Games for $75 on their website (link below).
   
   https://na.merch.riotgames.com/en/other/board-games/mechs-vs-minions-wave-2.html
   
   OK, so maybe you don't agree with me and just want to get less "wow" games and opt for less expensive stuff. Here are some I'd recommend that fit in with what else he has and are really solid games:
   
   
4. Viticulture Essential Edition - https://www.amazon.com/Viticulture-Essential-Edition-Board-Game/dp/B018GRSLK4/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1510111425&sr=1-1&keywords=viticulture+essential+edition
   
   
5. Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 or Season 2 -
   https://www.amazon.com/Pandemic-Legacy-Board-Game-Red/dp/B00TQ0DXR2/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1510111465&sr=1-1&keywords=pandemic+legacy+season+1&dpID=61KfsUq70hL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
   
   https://www.coolstuffinc.com/p/246156?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=1o1&scid=scplpZMGZM7173&sc_intid=ZMGZM7173&gclid=CjwKCAiA0IXQBRA2EiwAMODil8oluqWEzLnRbAkvBGu482ZVZqRruEjXtyS1yuQmaSNFSAAjSt-kRRoCchQQAvD_BwE
   
   
6. Keyflower - https://www.amazon.com/R-D-Games-RDG00166-Keyflower/dp/B009AP8XS2
   
   
7. Scythe - https://www.amazon.com/Stonemaier-Games-STM600-Scythe-Board/dp/B01IPUGYK6/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_21_bs_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=XP1QCV9604G3XSVXRM9Z
   
   
8. Manhattan Project - https://www.amazon.com/The-Manhattan-Project-Board-Game/dp/B007GC2R6K/ref=sr_1_2?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1510111605&sr=1-2&keywords=manhattan+project
   
   
9. Secret Hitler - https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Hitler/dp/B01JKD4HYC/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1510111643&sr=1-1&keywords=secret+hitler
   
   
10. Archipelago - https://www.nobleknight.com/Product/2147481593?utm_source=boardgameprices.com&utm_medium=price-search&utm_term=archipelago
    
    This is a near mint condition version... game appears to be out of print, but it's a spectacular game!
    

I ordered the Monopoly Socialism game from Target after /u/Sir-Matilda mentioned it a few days ago and now it says it's backordered and Amazon prices have gone full retard.

I'm so sad.

Power Grid isn't listed, but is also 50% off (51% actually).

Gloom

Guillotine

Munchkin

Bohnanza

High Heel Wine Caddy (not a board game)

For two player - try Patchwork or 7 wonders Duel. Both are fairly light hearted games that can have a some strategy. Both are fairly easy to learn and both are available on amazon. You don't have to draw or write in both of these games :)

Edit: Both of these games are exclusively two player which means they are designed to be played that way.

Amazon:

Game|Sale $|Reg $|Sale %|BGG Rating
-|-|-|-|-
COH Guadalcanal|43.3|73.95|41%|8.2
Star Trek Panic|21|41.95|50%|7.1
Santorini|24.99|39.95|37%|7.7
Coal Baron|24.89|38.95|36%|7.3
Kingdomino|18.71|25.99|28%|7.4
Dragon Island|27.53|43.95|37%|6.3
Monopoly Gamer|19.79|29.99|34%|6.5
Wits and Wagers Party|22.46|29.99|25%|6.9
Dungeon Lords|73.92|91.95|20%|7.4
Forbidden Island|16.98|21.95|23%|6.8
Scythe|59.99|69.95|14%|8.2
Deception: Murder in Hong Kong|29.16|33.95|14%|7.5
Mangrovia|34.73|40.95|15%|7.2
Boss Monster|18|21.95|18%|6.3
Anomia|12.71|14.95|15%|6.6

\^Credit to jrahhali on bgg for most of these.

7 Wonders · $30

Azul · $21

Crypt · $14

Great Western Trail · $55

Lords of Waterdeep · $30

Mysterium · $40

Photosynthesis · $35

Root · $50

Scythe · $40

Secret Hitler · $35

Terraforming Mars · $49

Viticulture Essential Edition · $46

Wingspan · $55

​

Total: $500

​

Didn't really think this through lol, had to remove Skullport because I had gone over by $25. I obviously couldn't include some classics, but I tried to make it somewhat varied and accessible for everyone.

You need to try the RISK Legacy, best few weeks of board gaming I've had with my friends.

http://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-JUN118204-Risk-Legacy/dp/B005J146MI/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1373680329&sr=8-6&keywords=Risk

This is extraordinarily thorough. So thorough in fact, that you should also consider board gaming. Reading this, it just makes a lot of sense for you. I think board gaming would fit you like a glove.

1. Video games have moved away from couch co-op. You've made a great list here with a lot of solid points, but I doubt you would have ever reached your conclusion, had you considered board games. Keep Talking is certainly a good entertaining game, nothing against it. It's just, that game feels plucked like a needle out of a haystack. Like you've biopsied out a very small node from inside a large mass.

You don't really have this problem with board games. Literally every single board game in existence is designed to be played with people immediately around you. I hesitate to use the phrase "played co-operatively" simply because most board games are NOT co-operative - though there are notable exceptions like Pandemic or Ghost Stories. Both great games.

Board games use human beings as the engine the game runs on. That's not to say board games pit intellects against each other in some sort of valid competition of "who's the most smartest", but to say: humans are social machines and will surprise you with their grasp of system thinking. If I have five or six people in the room with me, I'd prefer the game that we're playing to exist in the head-space between us rather than on some electronic device.

People have come over to my house in the real world. Why not play a game with them that also exists in the real world? I can play videogames over online multiplayer until I'm blue in the face. Just last night I reinstalled Bad Company 2 and played with a few old college roommates. If I had those old friends over to my house, we'd play a board game. It seems crazy to me that someone has taken the time to drive over to your place and you set them down in front of a computer.

2. Because boardgames have always been designed around a social experience taking place in the real world, they're just better at it. This is definitely subjective. You can feel free to disagree with me all you want, but there are mechanics that I just don't see in videogames. Sure, I could load up Gremlin's Inc and replicate what is probably the best roll n' move game I've ever played, but roll n' move is a Monopoly era game genre. Board games can move past this.

You can't play Two Room's and a Boom on a machine. You can't play Bid n' Bluff games like Liar's Dice, Sheriff of Nottingham, or social deduction games like Coup or Love Letter. You can't play physical dexterity games like Jenga (still great fun btw), Flick em' Up, or Catacombs.

There are just games that play better with groups of people because they exist in the real world and make use of humans as the operating system.

3. Board games are much more open to much more people. I don't know about you, but in my experience board games are just more accessible to a wider range of people. I'm maybe going to get a round of Mario Kart out of the adults in my life that love me, but I've sat down with people over 50 and had a great time with Ticket to Ride. At family reunions I've enjoyed Dominion with young children and grandparents alike. Settlers of Catan, Blockus, and Carcassonne are all genuinely fun games I played to death with my family.

How crazy is that? I would really look forward to playing one of those games with my whole family. I can't think of even one videogame that fits that criteria.

4. Perhaps most simply, there are incredible games that just don't exist in videogame form - even though they could. Is the total conversion mod for Crusader Kings II not giving you that full heady Game of Thrones experience? Why not just play Game of Thrones. This is probably my favorite game and it's just not on computers. I can imagine a version of Cosmic Encounter played over online multiplayer, but why? It already exists in perfect form. If I want to play El Grande, or Arctic Scavengers, or Lords of Vegas - well . . . those games just don't exist as videogames.

5. Just honorable mentions. Seven Wonders. Splendor. Blueprints.


TL;DR. There are a ton of great board games out there and if you actually are struggling to think of something that you and your friends can enjoy together in the same room - maybe give it a shot rather than lament the lack of couch co-op in videogames.

the board game! Firefly: The Game

Non-mobile: X-Wing: The Miniatures Game

^That's ^why ^I'm ^here, ^I ^don't ^judge ^you. ^PM ^/u/xl0 ^if ^I'm ^causing ^any ^trouble. ^WUT?

As a matter of fact, it is.

Below is the official board game. It's pretty fun, but there is very little interaction between players during the game. It's more about racing to the finish

Firefly: The Game https://www.amazon.com/dp/0992251656/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_lqApybNV89ATN

Edit: Also, I believe you can get a digital version on Tabletop Simulator for PC from the Steam Workshop

It's pretty fun...[Firefly] (http://amzn.com/0992251656)

Testiculating - talking shit, but with more expansive arm movements.

I've been gifted exactly once, an expansion to a game I don't own yet.

[This] (http://www.amazon.com/Atlas-AG1250-Gloom/dp/158978068X/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3BUYPKWBAKDBD&coliid=I11PEJ6RA5LE4X) is a game I've been wanting for years, and [this yogurt maker] (http://www.amazon.com/Euro-Cuisine-ym100-Automatic-Yogurt/dp/B001KZM4Y4/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=S1GF0HLI3KZI&coliid=I3RTUT6FZXO9YP) is super practical.

Dixit

I agree with /u/raisedbynarcoleptic - you need a structured non-threatening activity with the kid. Start with all four of you, don't suddenly take the scared kid out alone.

Honestly, I'd wait six months before bringing up the potential for marriage. Wait until you and he have had a conversation, he's smiled at you, and he's volunteered something positive about you to his mother. Also, STOP TEACHING HIM, if you haven't already. Move him to another teacher or studio. Stop muddying those waters.

I'm a board game person, so here's what I would do:

• Buy 2-3 board games for him for Christmas for his mother to give to him.
  
  
• He and his mother play the games for a few weeks until she knows what his favorite is.
  
  
• You and your son learn that game. (or all the games!)
  
  
• You and she get all four of you together for a tournament over a few weeks with silly prizes. Out of six times, the overall winner gets five bucks and a silly hat. That sort of thing. (NOTE: Some teenagers would flat-out refuse to play cheesy board games with their parents, but it sounds like he is close to his mother and not a particularly brash kid, so you might get some buy-in.)
  
  
• Start having weekly game nights.
  
  
• After a few successful game nights, suggest playing a game that's 2p only and then have the winners play each other.
  
  
• Let the kids play against each other.
  
  
• Once that has been shown as non-threatening, suggest kids against adults - parent v. kid.
  
  
• Finally, suggest mixing it up and have you play against him. Direct interaction, but in the same room as the others.
  
  
• If that goes well, have his mother schedule a multi-hour thing on the same day that your son is busy with another friend. Ask his mother to fret and wring her hands about leaving him alone so much. Volunteer to go to a cafe with the kid and play whatever his favorite game is.
  
  
• First time alone with him! Keep it low-key. No talks about the future. No talks about family or feelings. Just stay in public and play a game together and go home. Maybe buy him some sort of mountain-of-sugar drink.
  
  And so on.
  
  The hobby doesn't have to be board games, of course, but that is the general outline of how I'd recommend handling it with a kid who literally shakes at the sight of you. Excruciating baby steps.
  
  Games I'd recommend for this:
  
  
• King of Tokyo ($33)
  
  
• Betrayal At House On The Hill ($34)
  
  
• Uno ($5ish anywhere)
  
  
• Sorry! ($12ish anywhere)
  
  
• Carcassonne (out of stock at Amazon but usually $25ish)
  
  
• Ticket To Ride (out of stock at Amazon but usually $35ish)
  
  
• Bohnanza ($14)
  
  
• Castle Panic ($22) (Has Star Trek and Zombie versions!)

• Glory to Rome Black Box ~$200
  
• Twilight Struggle $33.36
  
• Agricola $43.29
  
• Red 7 $12.99
  
• Schotten Totten $14.01
  
• Patchwork $17.73
  
• A Feast for Odin (Using Caverna Amazon pricing) $78.25
  
• Food Chain Magnate ~$100
  
• The Great Zimbabwe ~$100
  
• Ghost Stories $39.99
  
• Liberty or Death: The American Insurrection $60.81
  
• Hive: Carbon $24.15
  
• Imhotep $27.49
  
• Terra Mystica $64.95
  
• Arboretum ~$15
  
• Avignon: A Clash of Popes $12
  
• Coup $7.17
  
• Grifters ~$15
  
• Broom Service $19.59
  
  This is $885.78 total so you have $114.22 left over for shipping/additional cost etc.
  
  Would then proceed to spend the next year reacquiring all of LotR:LCG and waiting for a reprint of Indonesia.

Hey, so I don't know what your budget is, but I'm going to make a few recommendations.

Those are: Any of the D&D Board games from this list:

The Legend of Drizzt $50

Castle Ravenloft $50

Temple of Elemental Evil $45

Wrath of Ashardalon $50

Tomb of Annihilation

May seem pricey, but lemme tell you why I recommend these: they come with a shitton of minis, the minis are high quality, they come with DUNGEON TILES, they come with loot cards, they come with tokens for HP and stuff, and they can be used to play a game that has different scenarios if you're into that, though the game isn't D&D proper (though it is D&D flavored).

So here's a picture of all the minis that Wrath of Ashardalon comes with

ALL of that. That's 42 minis right there. If the box only came with minis, that would be about $1.20 a mini. You're not going to find minis of that quality that cheap pretty much anywhere else. It is an insanely good deal.

So then we have the tiles. They interlock with each other, and are compatible with tiles from all the other games I listed. [Here's a pile] (https://spalanz.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/imag3329.jpg) , here's some assembled, and that's 12 tiles. The box comes with 40.

Lemme give you a breakdown of what WoA comes with in terms of minis:

Ashardalon, Red Dragon

Bellax, Gauth

Cave Bear x3

Duergar Guard x3

Gibbering Mouther x3

Grell x3

Heskan, Dragonborn Wizard

Human Cultist x3

Keyleth, Elf Paladin

Kobold Dragonshield x3

Kraash, Orc Storm Shaman

Legion Devil x3

Margraath, Duergar Captain

Meerak, Kobold Dragonlord

Orc Archer x3

Orc Smasher x3

Otyugh

Quinn, Human Cleric

Rage Drake

Snake x3

Tarak, Half-Orc Rogue

Vistra, Dwarf Fighter

Link cause it never works correctly on mobile
https://www.amazon.com/Stonemaier-Games-STM600-Scythe-Board/dp/B01IPUGYK6

Oh it’s real alright, and it’s such a shitty misrepresentation of socialism.

Controlling gene expression is something we can do chemically already - what's "of note" to the writer of the (lay) article is the supposed brain interface. Unfortunately, all we have here is an abstraction that converts certain patterns of brainwaves to electrical signals that are used to induce some downstream biological effect. Since the brainwave capturer/interpreter seems to have no more specificity or innovation to it than almost decade-old puzzle toys that let you "control a ball with your mind" (see link below), all we have in this article is an absurdly sensational scifi headline and a proof of concept that we can use electrical signals to effect biological systems - something we already knew since we use electricity to make virtually anything happen already.

Really not a useful article at all by the Independent, though it is a great example of bad headline writing and credulous science reporting.

The actual thing the paper proves is that we can in theory control gene expression with our brains if we ever advance brain-electrical interfaces beyond caveman status. But since it doesn't actually tackle the years-old bottleneck that prevents us from doing so, it's not that exciting at all. The same thing could have been demonstrated without adding the distraction of "PSYCHIC POWER" headlines by using a battery or any power supply (we already know that we can flip switches on/off by arbitrarily interpreting brainwaves - there's nothing useful there scientifically), but it wouldn't have generated sensational headline attention for the researchers. Lots of red flags here from the researchers and journalists both.

The toy that has been doing this same "PSYCHIC CONTROL" thing for years, in case you need a gift idea for a preteen: http://www.amazon.com/Mattel-P2639-Mindflex-Game/dp/B001UEUHCG

Ok, here's my attempt to simplify & explain...

The brain constantly gives off electrical signals. With the right equipment, you can see it, capture that signal, and associate the unique pattern with certain thoughts or images.

There are kids toys that do this. One was called Mindflex

It's not mind reading, per se, as people involved in this area of research and development like to call it because calling it a computer reading minds sounds sexy to those who don't know better.

To me, this is like calling that contraption with wheels a "hoverboard." Ummm, nope.

For example, you have this sensor shower cap on and hooked up to a computer that can read the electrical impulses your brain is giving off. You are asked to think of and visualize an elephant.

The computer associates a particular and unique pattern of electrical signals your brain is giving off while thinking of an elephant with... wait for it... an elephant.

This is not new. But using an AI in the process is.

This is also why this needs to be trained.

The holy grail of this area of tech is accuracy with no training.

I tell people, "Call me when they..."

• Have a system that doesn't need training or those predefined associations and
  
  
• Can take a random person never encountered by the system before, sit them down, hook them up, and accurately read their random thoughts and display those images on a screen.

It's really good. Don't pay $70 though.

I would suggest the 2-player specific version of Agricola, Agricola All Creatures Big and Small. It's a lighter version of Agricola, specifically designed for 2 players.

You may also want to check out some Co-ops like Forbidden Desert, Pandemic, or Flashpoint: Fire Rescue ... all play well with 2 but support 4+

If you like traditional board games, try one that's a little more complex, such as:

Carcassone

Catan

Risk

No worries, people can't take the ~ 12 seconds to google something. I'm on the (honestly, horrible) boardgames subreddit, where this was posted by a redditor last year (there's a popular board game called Carcassonne).

Some other notables

Dominion Big Box for $60

Power Grid $38

Arkham Horror $38

Eldritch Horror $40

Descent Journeys in the Dark Second Edition $58

Star Wars Risk $27

Tough. Fucking. Shit.

No one gets a pass in this game. Nothing is off limits.

That's the fucking point of the game.

If you don't like it, don't play the card... Or don't play the GAME.

Or go play the family friendly version.

Unless, of course, you're saying your goal is to play a game where you can mock white people or "guys who don't call" without other groups being offended.

Heaven forbid a game called Cards AGAINST HUMANITY hurt someone's precious feewings

A few games I like that would probably fit the bill:

Spot It. Super fun game, easy to learn and quick to play. Not the deepest game but it's lots of fun for all ages and a nice quick game to play when you want something short or as a break between longer games. Good for any number of players.

Dixit. A storytelling game. Each turn one of you is the "storyteller" and tells a short story (one word to a sentence) about it. Everyone else picks a card from their hand that they think fits the story. The cards are mixed up and everyone guesses which one the Storyteller had. The interesting scoring mechanic is the storyteller only gets points if some people don't guess right. If everyone or no one guesses right, the storyteller gets no points and everyone else gets points. Plus, if it's not your turn but someone votes for your card, you get points. The cards can be somewhat crazy and surreal but are definitely safe for a 9 year old. The game is a fun casual game.

Ticket to Ride. Fun game where you lay out train routes. You can block people's routes and you will be angry at whoever does that to you. Only takes 5 people though.

Tsuro. Another somewhat shorter game. You take turns laying tiles and moving your Dragon along the path they create trying to stay on the board. Near the end of the game it gets hectic and you might end up knocking each other off.

TransAmerica. A train game like Ticket to Ride but faster and a little less complex. Rounds go quickly and it has an interesting scoring mechanic. Each round you lose points if you don't connect to your cities and the game ends when someone is at zero. The winner is whoever lost the least points.

7 Wonders. A fun game that involves playing cards that you draw from a hand you pass around. Takes up to 7 people but might be slightly too complex for the 9 year old.

Shadow Hunters. A hidden roles game where you will be on teams but you won't know who's on your team. Throughout the game you try to figure that out and it can get very competitive. Again might be slightly too complex for the 9 year old but maybe not.

Castle Panic. This game is slightly different because it is a cooperative game. All of you play against the game itself to try and defend your castle and defeat all the monsters. It's a pretty fun game.

There are a ton of other good games but I'll stop for now since I've probably listed too many as it is. Two things I'd recommend to try to find new games that your family might like beyond these. First, see if there's a board game store near you. A lot of them will have board game libraries where you can go in and try out the games at no charge. Most (in my experience) are pretty friendly to newer players. Second, check out TableTop. It's a show hosted by Wil Wheaton where he explains games and then plays through them. My wife and I used it as a good way to see new games that we might be interested in without having to buy them sight unseen, since boardgames can be expensive. The demo part of the show has sold us on a bunch of games (several of which are listed above). Hope this helps and enjoy the family game nights.

I would suggest Tsuro since the only pieces are the tiles and the little wooden guys, and it's a fun, straightforward game.

There's also Chinese Checkers which is similar to the one you described, where you move the marbles around.

Also, there's Labyrinth, which has cards, but you only use them for reference and mostly just move the tiles.

Finally, when I was little, my grandpa made me a card stand like this to hold cards, that might work for your grandpa too.

https://www.amazon.com/Gamewright-415-Forbidden-Desert-Board/dp/B00B4ECHJI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511461601&sr=8-1&keywords=forbidden+desert

Or just get it off Amazon for that same price any day.

Congrats /u/crimsonjella!!

CoverON® Hard Slim Design Case for LG G2 ATT TMobile Sprint - with Cover Removal Pry Tool - Black Mustache $2.30

Gloom $20.99

PLR Studio Series .43x High Definition Wide Angle Lens With Macro Attachment + PLR Studio Series 2.2X High Definition Telephoto Lens Travel Kit For The Canon Digital EOS Rebel SL1 (100D), T5i (700D), T4i (650D), T3 (1100D), T3i (600D), T1i (500D), T2i (550D), XSI (450D), XS (1000D), XTI (400D), XT (350D), 1D C, 60D, 60Da, 50D, 40D, 30D, 20D, 10D, 5D, 1D X, 1D, 5D Mark 2, 5D Mark 3, 7D, 6D Digital SLR Cameras Which Has Any Of These (18-55mm, 75-300mm, 50mm 1.4 , 55-200) Canon Lenses $24.99

PLR Optics 58MM +1 +2 +4 +10 Close-Up Macro Filter Set with Pouch For The Canon Digital EOS Rebel SL1 (100D), T5i (700D), T4i (650D), T3 (1100D), T3i (600D), T1i (500D), T2i (550D), XSI (450D), XS (1000D), XTI (400D), XT (350D), 60D, 60Da, 1D C, 50D, 40D, 30D, 20D, 10D, 5D, 1D X, 1D, 5D Mark 2, 5D Mark 3, 7D, 6D SLR Cameras Which Has Any Of These (18-55mm, 75-300mm, 50mm 1.4 , 55-200) Canon Lenses $13.99

Squeezy Freezy Instant Slushy Maker As Seen On TV Ships in random colors $15.45

Energizer CHP4WB4 Recharge Smart AA/AAA Charger with 4 AA NiMH Batteries $17.09

EZOPower Extra Long 6ft Purple Micro-USB 2in1 Sync and Charge USB Data Cable for Samsung, HTC, LG and Other Smartphone $2.99

For a grand total of $97.80

Depends on what you want to paint and how much you consider cheap.

Reaper's Bones will no doubt get mentioned a few times. They're very inexpensive compared to most figures. They're also cast out of PVC and have some quirks to them. They're good to practice on and there's a range of subjects so you're likely to find something that you like.

I frequently recommend picking up a higher end boardgame instead. Stuff like Zombicide, Descent, or Imperial Assault will get you 36 to 71 figures at less than two dollars each.

That said, if you aren't buying models from Games Workshop or one of the other premium game producers, like Wyrd or SodaPop, You can probably find something you like for a reasonable price. Did you have anything in particular in mind?

I recommend buying the version (may be the only version around these days) that includes The River mini-expansion. Like this one from Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Z-Man-Games-ZM7810-Carcassonne/dp/B00NX627HW/

Only after you've played that a bunch should you consider any of the many expansions.

There's been five released so far (ordered below oldest to newest):

• Wrath of Ashardalon
  
• Castle Ravenloft
  
• Legend of Drizzt
  
• Temple of Elemental Evil
  
• Tomb of Annihilation
  
  They are each designed to be cooperative adventures where there is no DM but instead all of the monsters are designed to run themselves according to a set of rules outlined on monster cards corresponding to each creature (Note if you buy one, keep the two decks of cards separate until told to combine them in the adventure book -- this is not clear in the rules). The players face off against different scenarios in an adventure book which prescribes what monsters and tiles to use or set-aside and then they generate a random dungeon through drawing dungeon tiles from the stack as they explore.
  
  They can of course be played on their own and are a moderately enjoyable (some even have one of their adventures that is suitable as single-player). Though I own all of them I've only played Elemental Evil, but I hear that they experience improves with each one released.
  
  They can also be lots of use for a budding DM; there lots of useful stuff in them that can be borrowed or raided.
  
  

  Useful D&D Elements
  

  
  

• Dungeon Tiles that interlock allowing for quick and easy custom dungeons. Ashardalon, Ravenloft, and Elemental Evil have pretty standard stonework dungeons, but Drizzt has nice cavern tiles, and Annihilation has jungle and vine choked corridors. EE also has 6 or so tiles with a micro-scale town on one side of each, making a quick and dirty town map super easy.
  
• Lots of figures, about 40-45 in each set, ranging from 'Small' to (in some sets) 'Huge.' All of them are sized correctly to match other official D&D figures, the plastic is pretty durable. They are highly detailed and quite suitable for painting. They're also rather useful if you are running the official 5e campaign that corresponds to the setting/theme for each game (e.g. Tyranny of Dragons = Ashardalon, etc. [SKT has no Adventure System game]).
  
• A ton of cardboard tokens, varying by set, for doors, treasure, chests, traps, additional NPCs or creatures
  
  But there's also downsides:
  
  
• Many tiles have an assortment of icons or the occasional words on them, Elemental Evil is the worst offender here with lots of random icons that might make your players scratch their heads at the normal D&D table.
  
• Many more tokens than you will have use for. I have started to use the hard cardboard tokens as bases for off-brand figures that need things to stand on, just glue it on, paint black over the cardboard printing -- voila!
  
• Several of the figures may be bent from being packaged and packed in there -- curved spears, flaccid swords, leaning creatures. I have not found a good way to rectify this.
  
• The scenario book and monster cards are mostly useless if you are getting one only for parts and pieces useful in your normal D&D game.
  
• The tiles do not promote the building of many really large rooms or corridors, there is no "inside corner" to make L-shaped rooms or wide hallways. Furthermore, the fully open 4x4 tiles are extremely rare (with tiles from 6 complete games I have less than a half-dozen), making really large rooms difficult -- they usually just become really long rooms.

Easy there Bernie... J/K

You can practice at home with Monopoly: Socialism Edition
https://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-Monopoly-Socialism-Board-Parody/dp/B07VPRNZJB

Monopoly is making parodies of itself and cashing in.

The Socialist edition came out and there is a Monopoly for Millenials edition too.
https://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-Monopoly-Socialism-Board-Parody/dp/B07VPRNZJB

Probably others as well. This is more of the same.

https://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-Monopoly-Socialism-Board-Parody/dp/B07VPRNZJB

The difference is that it makes fun of socialism and seems pretty punishing with the rules

Carcassonne
http://www.amazon.com/Z-Man-Games-81006ZMG-Carcassonne-Board/dp/B00NX627HW/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1449692961&sr=1-1&keywords=carcassonne

The D&D Adventure System Board Games (Temple of Elemental Evil, Wrath of A., Legend of D.) cost about 50 dollars on amazon and come with ~40 unpainted miniatures each. It's a great price per mini and several are large as well. If you want more specific sets of monster types then the Dungeon Command Boardgames run for about 30 to 40 dollars and have 12 painted figures. For instance Heart of Cormyr has classic models like dwarf, elf, halfling, mage, dragon, etc. Blood of Gruumsh would have goblins, orcs, etc. If you actually care about the games themselves then they also include cards so the figures can be used in the Adventure System games.

I bought a DND board game a while back. They come with a lot of plastic minis. Here is one for example: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00TLRT3YC/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1481404101&sr=8-2&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=dnd+board+game&dpPl=1&dpID=51cbkOB21VL&ref=plSrch

Then you can make your own modular dungeon pieces if you are crafty. I created a set. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pd7gd8rP7Xo

They are fast and cheap to create and look amazing. If you want full combat emersion you can get that at under 100 bucks with the modular pieces and plastic pawns from one dungeon game

Amazon has it for about a buck more, so it's probably cheaper there given that gas costs money.

(Going off current Amazon prices)

• Tanto Cuore - $40
  
• Power Grid - $32
  
• Lost Cities - $18
  
• Japanese Mahjongg set - $52
  
• Dominant Species - $61
  
• Pandemic - $28
  
• Ticket to Ride (Europe) - $40
  
• Carcassone: The River 2 - $7
  
• Carcassone: King and Scout - $6
  
  Total: $284. Could throw in something else I'm sure.

It's not on the sale page but Power Grid is currently $22

EDIT: Dead/sold out

Measuring brain activity would be done with an EEG (electroencephalogram). This is done with electrodes placed on the scalp and feed through an amplifier to a program on a computer that can read the "brain waves." If you want people to "quiet their mind," you are looking for a change from beta activity to alpha activity in their brain waves (unless you want them to go to sleep). You will want to read up on neurofeedback to see what people are doing in this area.

Google around for DIY EEG devices. I have no idea how well they work, but people are out there playing around and making EEGs at home. Here is a guy that hacked an EEG toy. This product went out of business, so I don't know if you could pick up a head band cheap and hack it.

If you are still at the university, you may want to ask around in the biology or physiology department (maybe even psychology). They may have an amplifier system used for class labs that you can borrow that can do EEG (I have one sitting in my office collecting dust). Examples would be Biopac or PowerLab. These would not be cheap to buy yourself, but like I said, there could be a spare one laying around in a supply closet in the teaching labs.

My list would include a variation of games

Code Names - $16

Sushi Go - $10

7 Wonders - $26

Tsuro - $19

Castles of Burgundy - $27

Total: $98

Explanations:

First, I want to preface these selections: our play group varies in size from week to week with anywhere from 4-10 players averaging 5-6. So, we often get caught "splitting the party." That's fine at times, but sometimes, we all want to jump in on one game together because splitting up feels bad man^TM since we're all there to socialize in addition to playing games.

As such, I wanted to include games that ran the gamut and for the most part games that scaled well from 2-X players.

First, Code Names. Now, we've played this game so many times, we actually purchased the expansion Code Names Deep Cover which is a fun variant which adds tons of more playability. This is the go-to "party" game as, for our group, Cards Against Humanity has grown a bit stale. At least it hits the table much less frequently than in years past. Code Names is easy to teach, easy to understand and difficult enough for some of your more entrenched board gamers. In general, I find this a great starter to transition from your Milton Bradley games everyone knows (and hates) into board games that offer sustenance.

Secondly, I offer Sushi Go (cheating a bit here as you'll probably have to buy a couple copies for larger groups or just get Sushi Go Party). Sushi Go is our groups go-to game to introduce games that use a drafting mechanic and to teach that board games can be cute, fun, and delightful while also requiring strategy, maths, and a bit of hope (our group tends to dislike dice-rolling games so for the most part, we stick to games where we can mostly "control" our own fates - YMMV). This game is super quick, so you don't get bogged down at the table for hours. I feel for new board gamers, quicker games are a MUST as many people may not be able to handle the length many of our Beloveds require.

7 Wonders comes next. We tend to introduce this game right after Sushi Go as the mechanics are super similar and the newer players feel like they already know what's going on for the most part. There will be questions, there will be some confusion and oversight, but this game follows easily and feels like a natural step up from Sushi Go and gets players right into the mix of heartier board games. Oh, and I could personally play 7 Wonders every week, especially with all the options offered through the expansions Cities, Leaders, and Tower. The interchangeability of these expansions has kept this game on our table long past many others and continues to bring it back. Again though, YMMV as we all have different tastes.

Tsuro, our board game palatte cleanser. This is another quick game which offers a lot of replayabiliity with minimal rules learning. Aside from those positives, the artwork is what sent this board game over the top for me. I am mesmerized by the board, the tiles, and the pieces each time we open this. This game offers a quick break between your heavier meeple-laiden board games so even after we've surpassed "newb" status, we often come back to this.

Castles of Burgundy I included as a final game because ultimately, we need a game with a strong theme and wonderful mechanics which offer replayability from a more traditional Euro point of view. This game really surprised me. I loved it the first time we played it, and though it may not hit the table but once every other month due to time constraints, it always feels like reuniting with an old friend. It offers a setup for further Euro games and sets the scene on what's really out there in weightier board games. I know there could be other games that fit this description, but at the price, this game is amazing for what it offers.

And that's the list. I know there are many criticisms of these games and I don't devalue those. All my favorites have points in them where they fall a little flat at times, or don't elicit the enjoyment I thought they might, but many times, it's usually my perception and frame of mind. I can often come back months later with renewed enjoyment for them, so trust me, I know there are imperfections; I just choose to ignore them for the post. These games, while some may take a bit longer to learn, offer a great springboard into board games and offer the new player a slow wade into the pool without feeling too slow or drab as one might feel with something like Settlers of Catan. Will I stand by this opinion in 5 or 10 years? We'll see.

If you like this game, I recommend Tsuro. It's a board game that is almost identical to this flash game. It has won a handful of awards and is short, easy to teach, and awesome. I can even play it with in-laws who are pretty board game averse. It can handle up to eight players though the most I've ever played with was six. More players can be an absolute blast.

It's even pretty inexpensive so it might make a good wish list item as the holidays are approaching, etc.

I don't mean to hawk stuff. I'm completely unaffiliated with the game and I'm not linking an Amazon resale or anything like that. I just was surprised that nobody had pointed this out for people yet and thought that I might try to help you all find a nice little ~$20 gift idea. Come to think of it...

• Minimalist direct link
  
• Direct Link with affiliate tag donating to Child's Play
  
• Direct Link with affiliate tag donating to Mercy Corps

I really enjoy Clue. If you're looking for something more intense, my favorite game right now is Forbidden Desert, which is a cooperative game (everybody wins or everybody loses) and very challenging.

Skull

Buy whatever games you want, I own CAH and Munchkin too and I do not care if anyone hates a game I enjoy.

Recommended Essential Games:

• $28 Carcassonne
  
  
• $34 King of Tokyo
  
• $35 Las Vegas
  
• $39 Ticket to Ride
  
  Recommended Social Deduction Games:
  
  
• $14 Bang! The Dice Game
  
• $17 The Resistance
  
• $22 Sheriff of Notingham
  

Oooh, I looooove board games. From what you're describing I feel like Ticket to Ride could work really well; there are a good amount of instructions but they're pretty easy to follow along with (it's mostly for scoring purposes).

For something way more light/fun, there's also Sushi Go! or Love Letter -- they're both card-based games that look deceptively simple but are never played the same way twice. My wildcard choice would be Carcassonne, which is definitely more of a hard sell -- you build a Medieval French town with picture tiles -- but I promise is really, really fun. Again, the scoring is where it gets slightly more complicated, and it can be intimidating-looking, but the game is really fantastic. Lots of strategy and luck needed, and it's a really unique experience.

Whatever this is for sounds like it'll be a lot of fun!

FYI, folks. My wife may not be happy with me... but I just impulse bought it. Oops.


Pretty good sale on right now at Amazon.

[Camelcamelcamel] (https://camelcamelcamel.com/Lords-Waterdeep-Dungeons-Dragons-Board/product/0786959916?context=search) says it's slightly below average, but it definitely has been lower. I picked my copy up for $27 a couple years ago. The $50 price tag is MSRP which Amazon rarely every sells games at. So while they advertise it as a discounted price, it really is just an everyday price.

Firefly the game

It's really fun to play

• Arkham Horror Board Game. You can play solo if you're a masochist, but it should be played in groups of three or more. It is an excellent game, and I highly recommend it for any Lovecraft fans.
  
  
• Yosegi Puzzle Box. Made in Hakone, Japan. I love these things. Keep in mind they come in different sizes and step counts when you're shopping for one.
  
  
• Cthulhu Ski Mask. Because who isn't complete without your favorite tentacled-god hat?

There are a lot of hidden deals, just filter the games section by 25% off or more and look through the list. Here are all the notable ones:

$39.66 http://www.amazon.ca/Fantasy-Flight-Games-Chaos-World/dp/1589946510/

$40.12 http://www.amazon.ca/Rio-Grande-Games-Roll-Galaxy/dp/B00OYUZRIW/

$28.74 http://www.amazon.ca/Stronghold-Games-1002SG-Core-Worlds/dp/B0060K9W94/

$18.56 http://www.amazon.ca/The-Distribution-Solutions-Hive-Pocket/dp/B0079L0EKY/

$30.88 http://www.amazon.ca/Queen-Games-QUG60941-Edo/dp/B00720PO0W/

$24.76 http://www.amazon.ca/AEG-Doomtown-Reloaded-Base-Set/dp/B00LWDWZDY/

$22.03 http://www.amazon.ca/Magic-Gathering-Arena-Planeswalkers-Game/dp/B00ZR2U1N2/

$60.46 http://www.amazon.ca/Rio-Grande-Games-RGG-425/dp/B003Y737CO/

$37.98 http://www.amazon.ca/Fantasy-Flight-Games-Arkham-Horror/dp/1589942108/

$40.02 http://www.amazon.ca/Fantasy-Flight-Games-Eldritch-Horror/dp/1616617667/

$58.33 http://www.amazon.ca/Fantasy-Flight-Games-Descent-Journeys/dp/1616611898/

$27.97 http://www.amazon.ca/STAR-WARS-GM-Risk-Game/dp/B00ZR2TVLA/

$47.53 http://www.amazon.ca/Rio-Grande-Games--Galaxy-Trucker/dp/B000XLU8H6/

$64.67 http://www.amazon.ca/Mayfair-MFG-3501-Caverna-Farmers/dp/B00G3FV2TO/

I believe you mean Arkham Horror, a boardgame?

Arkham Horror https://www.amazon.com/dp/1589942108/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_bfFIwb1HPB7RA

Although there's an Arkham Asylum video game, it's not clear if it has a coop option.

First, I'd recommend that you keep the box and all of the components in good condition, so you can consider re-selling it once you're done with it. The Red Box seems to be out of print and is selling for far above its $20 MSRP, and if you can recoup some of the money you spent on it to buy some resources that will have more lasting value, it might be worth it (depending on how highly you value your time), since you will have little use for most of the contents of the box once you're through with the initial adventure.

Or, if it's not too late, you may want to cancel your order. The Starter Set is a relatively gentle introduction to D&D, but not necessarily the best one and certainly not the cheapest.

To prepare, you might want to read, and have everyone else read, the quick start rules. You can also have the players choose pre-generated characters from that document and print off the corresponding character sheets. The Red Box method of character creation involves running through a solo "choose-your-own-adventure" book, which you might not want to do 3 or 4 times in succession for each of your players. Note that the the quick start rules uses slightly different versions of the character classes presented in the Red Box, but the characters/systems are compatible.

You will not immediately need to create your own group adventure, as one is included with the Starter Set.

Also, as an alternative to the Starter Set, /u/Dracoprimus posted a bunch of links to free adventures. You can also choose to run one of these adventures after you finish with the Red Box.

However, neither those those links nor the Red Box will not give you the resources needed to build your own characters or advance them past level 2, nor do they contain the info a DM needs to create his own campaign, or extensively modify an existing one. For that, I recommend getting the following resources (buying some of the books used may yield a good savings):

• Heroes of the Fallen Lands (alternatives/supplements: Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms, the 4e Player's Handbook)
  
• The 4e Dungeon Master's Guide (alternative/supplement: the 4e Rules Compendium)
  
• The Monster Vault (buy a new or like-new copy so you can be sure you get all of the included components)
  
  With those three products, you have everything you need to run a level 1-30 campaign. A D&D Insider subscription can substitute for those resources to a large extent, and supplement them with tons of content, but it's most useful as a convenience and reference. I would still recommend getting the core books even if your group has a DDI sub.
  
  On top of that, a few game aids are nice to have:
  
  
• A blank, reusable flip-mat, like the Paizo basic flip-mat, plus some dry- or wet-erase markers.
  
• Alternatively, a 1" gridded easel pad, which you can probably get at an office supply store.
  
• Enough dice for everyone. Bulk dice like Chessex Pound O' Dice can be a good way to go.
  
• Tokens or character markers. The Monster Vault and Starter Set include some. You can make your own, buy miniatures or products that come with miniatures, like the Descent board game or the Legend of Drizzt, or WotC's Dungeon Command games.

Yeah, I'll come forward. That was me. I'm unsubscribing from this sub because it's just referral link spam. Yes, I see that juggernaut posted that he/she would post links to Amazon when they drop below CSI's price... but these are completely typical prices. I joined this sub to find special deals. Not just beef up someone's wallet by seeing a ton of links to prices that right in line with what they typically sell at on Amazon.

Here are some examples:

• Dixit -- Juggernaut posted a referral link advertising $23.46. CamelCamelCamel says that not only is that right in line with the average for the past six months but it's actually higher than most sale prices. Avg price on Amazon: $22.74.
  
• Eclipse -- Juggernaut posted for $62.58. Average price in past year on Amazon: $60.56.
  
• Descent -- What a great deal from Juggernaut at $53.92!!! That's saving 32 cents over the average price on Amazon! Wow!
  
• Seasons -- Juggernaut posted a link for it at $32.95. And that's pretty much exactly in line with its price for the entire past year of $34.15.
  
  I don't see a single Amazon link from Juggernaut that is more than $5 off the average price and most are within a dollar, and sometimes even more expensive than average.
  
  If you all want to subscribe to this sub and pad juggernaut's wallet, be my guest. I'm unsubscribing.

It starts with $30 and some how blows up to way more in a very short time

• Bohnanza
  
• Munchkins
  
• Set
  
• Fluxx
  
• Guillotine
  
• Bang
  
• Dixit (maybe takes up a bit more space?)
  
  And y'know. Cards Against Humanity, or maybe the more PC Apples to Apples...

We have that version... and it's original Dixit but the International Rules edition.

The box looks almost exactly like what I guess is standard Dixit, but the board is definitely one where part of the box is what you travel around.

For those who are not sure they are into games:

• Sushi Go! (Awesome filler and intro game. Do not pay more than $10 for it. Amazon's price is not good for this right now. Coolstuffinc.com has it for $8.49)
  
• Takenoko Plays 4 people. Find the Tabletop episode of this being played on youtube. That's what got me to buy it and it's gold baby.
  
• Dixit (You can Dixit Journeys which is basically Dixit 2 for $12 at Target clearance right now.)
  
• Coconuts
  
  I have NEVER had someone who claims to "hate boardgames" find they disliked these games. Excellent for both adults and elementary school kids. These are my go-to games to rope people into board games. Have not had a failure yet.
  
  If you want heavier, say the word. These are all light-midweight games. Takenoko and Sushi Go have the most staying power. Don't miss out on Coconuts. Seriously.

So ... there are a lot of different Dungeons and Dragons. There's the tabletop game which started it all (pen and paper and dice - you can read about its long and storied history here).

There's a ton of video games from various eras ranging from I think the late 80s, early 90s to present day, including Dungeons and Dragons Online (don't know if that's still up or not).

You can go to GOG.com and find a lot of D&D computer games (and there have been console releases of some of them); Neverwinter Nights and Baldur's Gate are a couple of the D&D computer games.

There also have been several D&D board games to choose from.

So ... as to what you need to start playing, it depends which one!

Lords of Waterdeep

We also used both of the expansions boards from the [Scoundrels of Skullport](
http://www.amazon.com/Lords-Waterdeep-Scoundrels-Skullport-Expansion/dp/0786964502).


To see gameplay, check out the Tabletop episode.

The Rules PDF is also free online if you'd like to see it.

Wow. I'm surprised to see so many mixed reviews on this game.

I absolutely love it. Granted, I'm a die-hard Firefly fan, but it really is incredible. It's so incredibly well connected to the show (you can tell the designers are also hardcore Firefly fans). There are a lot of thematic elements that bring the flavor of the show into the game (Misbehaving, Hard Burn, Crazy Ivan, "Solid Reputation" being a few that I can name off of the top of my head). If you are also a fan of the show, you will eat up every single reference that comes up in the game.

The only downsides that I see to the game are that it's time consuming and it takes up a lot of space. I have a small kitchen table in my apartment, so I usually have to break out a folding table to make enough space to play on. My friends have a 72" X 40" size table, and it's pretty tight, but we can fit on that table pretty well for the most part.

I noticed in another of your comments that you mentioned price was a factor. I found two sites that have it for a fairly good price:

Amazon

Cool Stuff Inc

If you are a fan of the show, I would absolutely recommend it.

Ah that is the actual game? It was listed under books :p
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Firefly-the-Game/dp/0992251656/
I might also check in with my local game store to see when they can get it on pre-order :)

Thanks! :)

Guillotine is fantastic. My friends always ask for that one at game night :)

Timeline has become a new favorite to pull out in-between longer games. We're all in our mid-twenties and enjoy trying to remember our high school history and science classes but I think this would be a good game for Redditors that are looking for games to play with their kids as well. There are a few alternate decks--you can mix and match; they're not true "expansions." Bonus: it comes in a very attractive, small, metal tin and is very portable!

Citadels is another card game that can be played with 2-7 players (though it's honestly better with at least 4). First person to build up their medieval-themed city ends the game, however, all players then count points for their city landmarks (so the biggest city is not necessarily the winning city.) It gets a little madcap as you change "profession" (each with their own special ability) every round but I really enjoy it.

For the Redditor with a darker sense of humor, get Gloom ! The creator actually came up with the idea for the game because his wife didn't like being "mean" to other players in games. In this game, you have 4 spooky families that you literally have to kill with kindness! It's quirky and another one that gets asked for fairly frequently at game nights. It's best with 4 players but there are expansion packs available to gain new families and fit more players in.

Wits and Wagers is a trivia game that isn't, where everyone gets a white board and a marker and has to write either a number or date according to the trivia question on the card (how many feet tall is the Statue of Liberty, etc.) Then you arrange the boards and bet with chips on which one you think is correct--the closest answer wins, everyone is dealt chips, and it goes on for 7 rounds in total. Highly recommended!

As someone who looks forward to having the occasional quiet night in with my boyfriend, I find that there are a lot of games that say they can be 2 player but aren't actually any good with any fewer than 3 or 4 players. Lost Cities is a very good 2 player only game where you're playing as much against yourself as the other player. The Amazon reviews are all more or less indifferent or negative so I had put off buying it but after playing it during a visit with a friend, I knew I had to have it. Mr. Jack , though pricier at $30.47 is another very good 2 player only game of cat and mouse. (I haven't tried the pocket version, which is less expensive, but it seems to have favorable reviews.)

OP has a great list so I hope it's "the more the merrier" with my additions (not trying to step on any toes!)

Combine your interests then. There are storytelling card games out there. Two spring to mind:

Once upon a time: http://www.amazon.com/Atlas-AG1250-Once-Upon-Time/dp/1887801006

Gloom: http://www.amazon.com/Atlas-AG1001-Gloom/dp/158978068X/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1342715477&sr=1-1&keywords=gloom

If your kids wind up liking the storytelling, head into role playing. If they like strategy games and the physical presence of the cards, move into MtG.

A few things to consider.

Dark Souls asked for £80 ($106 today) as the price for their game through kickstarter compared to the $45 for Combat Ready. It's a more expensive, premium product, hence the models etc. They have to include something to justify that cost, even more mass market games such as Arkham Horror use cardboard cutouts as game pieces while charging £46 ($61.50) so it's not a bad price at all. Especially when you look at games such as Xia: Legends of a Drift System which is £89 ($119) for a game with plastic models and metal coins.

The $250,000 goal considers the number of units they need to produce to make it worthwhile at the price they're charging. Things are cheaper when produced in bulk, this is commonly known. If everyone who backs the RT kickstarter buys the base game for $45, they will be producing 5555 units (Ignoring KS fees) They could have set the goal lower, but may have had to charge more per unit to achieve this.

If a DM runs a published adventure, the world and monsters therein are built for them.

Otherwise, there are a number of good board games out there that can be played in a few hours, many fantasy-themed. The downside is that roleplaying is often reduced or not present at all. Let me recommend a couple:

https://www.amazon.com/Wizards-Coast-A78490000-Dungeon-Fantasy/dp/078696555X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485215054&sr=8-1&keywords=dungeon+board+game

https://www.amazon.com/Betrayal-At-House-Hill-2nd/dp/B003HC9734

https://www.amazon.com/Fantasy-Flight-Games-DJ01-Descent/dp/1616611898

What did you just do, buy 4 starter sets and the 2 big ships from wave 2?

If purchased new from Amazon, that would only be 158.94 before tax, but would include free shipping if purchased with Amazon Prime. You're STARTING the bidding for your used set $40 higher than the retail price, and then charging an additional $15 dollars for shipping on top of that.

Amazon.com Listings, (if you don't believe me):

• Starter Set $29.65 x 4 = $118.60
  
• Millennium Falcon $20.48
  
• Slave 1 $19.86
  
  ==================================
  
  
• Pre-Tax Total, brand new from Amazon: $158.94
  
  -----------------------------------
  Your asking price for used pieces should at least be somewhat lower than the price they could be purchased brand new.
  
  
  

Do your guests already like board games? I love them but in my experience getting people to learn new rules is like pulling teeth, especially when it's out of a rule book. Unless your guests are well-seeded with experienced/enthusiastic gamers who are willing to teach the rules, I'd stick with games that people probably know or have rules for kids. Scrabble, Monopoly, checkers/chess/go, Chutes and Ladders, Sorry, Candyland and decks of cards (perhaps with chips). I would also consider party games like Balderdash, Taboo, Cranium, Charades, Fishbowl, Telephone Pictionary which are really fun in groups. Maybe you could designate a charismatic friend as a "Master of Games" or something to form groups and get the ball rolling on the pen-and-paper games.

If you have a geekier group that likes more modern/European board games, there are a few games I think are totally worth a try. I'd look into: Red Dragon Inn (my FH says it might be too complicated but I think it's approachable), Ticket to Ride, Carcassonne, Dixit (I haven't played this but my FH says it's like Apples to Apples with pictures), Castle Panic and Fluxx in all its many varieties. Settlers of Catan is a bit more complicated but people are more likely to be familiar with it. It might not be great for newbies but I can't pass up the opportunity to plug Pandemic which is a fantastic cooperative game.

ZMan Games - Carcassonne Board Game https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NX627HW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_sEl-AbYHD75HR

Carcassonne - $19.99

From here I believe.

The MTG Arena of the Planeswalkers board games, if you can get them cheap enough, are a fantastic value for a bunch of minis. I got 2 copies of all three games (really like 2.5 games because one is much smaller) for less than $50 at one point. Mostly humanoid minis, but some interesting models. And the planeswalkers come painted. They don't seem to be on sale on Amazon right now, but if you shop around, I imagine you'll be able to find these cheap somewhere.

Similarly, the D&D Adventure board games often go on sale and are pretty fantastic deal for the quantity, variety, and quality of minis you get. I think the Elemental Evil one is the best as it gives you the 4 elementals, an ettin, and a young black dragon (in addition to all the humanoid sized minis). If you can get it cheap somewhere, it's great! The Castle Ravenloft version is probably the second best, in my option.

Finally, if you're really wanting to dive deep, you could look at 3D printing. It's not the most economical route (unless you're planning on having a huge collection), but it's an entire hobby in itself that supports your other hobby! Great for custom minis, terrain pieces, and having the exact mons you need for next week's game. The Anycubic Photon is an absolute beast of a little resin printer that often goes on sale (I wouldn't be surprised if you can get it for sub $300 on Black Friday) that will give amazing detail with little effort/trouble, and the Ender 3 is a very cheap filament printer that seems to preform really reliably for the price (I do not own this machine, so I'm only speaking based on what I've seen others say). What's cool about the 3D printing route is that just about any monster you can think of as a free model available somewhere online, because the TTRPG 3d printing community is so active!

I hope that helps! Best of luck!

EDIT: changed the link for the Anycubic Photon. Looks like it's $260 on the AC website right now. This is a fantastic price for this machine. A newer alternative is the Elegoo Mars. Hearing fantastic things about it for about the same price.

Hey guys, glad to see a thread was started. I'm the potential DM. To give you a bit of background, I've done mostly DnD 2e and Robotech RPG, although I did a bit of 3e back in college. I've been reading up on all the new editions and tools (map generators? character rollers? loot generators? YES PLZ) so this sounds like fun. I think that 5e (current version) would ultimately be the version to settle on since the reviews say its a bit more polished than 3e or Pathfinders.

Another option to start with may be one of the adventure stories that require no DM since they tend to be faster paced (60 minute games) and easier for novices to pick up. Another advantage of starting with an adventure story is that it comes with a ton of minis that can be used interchangeably with the other sets so you can customize some cool campaigns afterwards. Here's an example of one of the adventure series: http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Temple-Elemental-Evil/dp/B00TLRT3YC

Lemme know what y'all think

Since nobody else posted a link: https://smile.amazon.com/Stonemaier-Games-STM600-Scythe-Board/dp/B01IPUGYK6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487254604&sr=8-1&keywords=scythe

Sold by a 3rd party, it's available to purchase but backordered until the 24th.

The other day I saw Monopoly Socialism Edition, since when did Monopoly just become memes for boomers?

> Tell me this is real. Please.

Seems like, though priced very capitalistically:

https://www.amazon.ca/Hasbro-Monopoly-Socialism-Board-Parody/dp/B07VPRNZJB

The liberals are pissed off about the Socialist version that came out last month. Turns out there's some redpills coming out of Hasbro!

Here are a couple of options I have been enjoying:

Betrayal

Small World

Power Grid

Dominion

Most of these are slightly out of your price range, but you get what you pay for. If you are willing to spend slightly more, you open up a whole new world of possibilities.

If you do want to stick to cheaper options, Fluxx or Exploding Kittens is always a good, fun choice.

Games like Apples to Apples are always fun for parties.

Oh boy, do I have some news for you:
http://www.amazon.com/Apples-Party-Box-Combinations-Edition/dp/B00112CHCK

was a week ago, but since i didn't post then, I'll post it now.

picked up one of these at a thrift store: http://www.amazon.com/Mattel-P2639-Mindflex-Game/dp/B001UEUHCG

Box is opened, but taped down hard so I didn't verify content sin the store (and for 2.50 I don't think I need to)

with the holidays I haven't tested it out, but I'm excited to play with it then sell it.

I also got a box of Settler of Cataan that had this inside: http://www.amazon.com/Mayfair-Games-Replacement-Settlers-Alliance/dp/B000HN8KJ8/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1451324268&sr=1-1&keywords=catan+replacement

It's very confusing because it doesn't seem like replacement cards should sell for more than the game, and then of course it's also confusing that this copy of the game doesn't have the original cards just the replacements...

I picked up Rivals For Catan for my wife who really likesSettlers of Catan, and we LOVE IT. It scratches the Catan itch but is two players.

You can pick it up from Amazon for about £17

Edit: Also, we love Castles of Burgundy, which fits your range.

There are a lot of good options. I enjoy all of these with 2 players, and all except 7 Wonders Duel scale well with more players. Just pick 3 that are close in price to maximize the deal.

Castles of Burgundy $29

Dominion $30

7 Wonders Duel $24

San Juan $26

Carcassonne $21

Lowest ever, Amazon deal of the day! https://camelcamelcamel.com/Ravensburger-81243-Castles-Burgundy/product/B005UWYK22

This was the first board game I played in over a decade. I really enjoyed it, and even though I wound up being the big bad and the rest of the group knew how to kill me, it was still a lot of fun.

Another game similar to betrayal we played recently was forbidden desert this game is entirely co-op however so a little bit different, but still fun.

I thought it was out already? Forbidden Desert is showing up on Amazon UK as purchasable for delivery by Saturday. Is the US release behind the EU one by a month?

But you are literally saying the exact same thing xTheOOBx was saying other than "I don't agree".

If the game is well stocked, it is significantly cheaper than local stores. If it isn't well stocked, it is only a little bit cheaper than your local stores. The only exception is MayFair games, where they have a cap on their retail discount.

And for what it is worth:

BGG Top 10

1. 26% Off
   
   
2. OOP/BPR
   
   
3. 35% Off
   
   
4. 31% Off
   
   
5. 27% Off
   
   
6. 25% Off
   
   
7. 37% Off
   
   
8. 28% Off
   
   
9. 32% Off
   
   
10. 23% Off
    
    
    Some other games I just stumbled across.
    
    24% Off,
    31% Off, 34% Off
    
    It looks like when I said "frequently between 30% and 40%, I was pretty damn close. It's okay to want to support the local game stores, as we all have said, they provide something more than just the game. I visit the same exact stores you do, and I know "not that much cheaper" is down right false. Buying games online is almost a buy 2-3 get 1 free - and that's not considering any significant sale.

30 bucks is a bit of an awkward number. Thematic games tend to be pricier as well. Here are some recommendations off the top of my head, some end up a couple bucks over 30:

Death Angel

[Red November] (http://www.amazon.com/Fantasy-Flight-Games-SL08-November/dp/1616610638/ref=pd_sim_t_60)

[Eminent Domain] (http://www.amazon.com/Tasty-Minstrel-Games-1005TTT-Eminent/dp/0984155856/ref=pd_sim_t_57)

[Infiltration] (http://www.amazon.com/Fantasy-Flight-Games-VA79-Infiltration/dp/1616613963/ref=pd_sim_t_17)

[Power Grid] (http://www.amazon.com/Rio-Grande-Games-RGG240-Power/dp/B0007YDBLE/ref=pd_sim_t_7)

[Flash Point] (http://www.amazon.com/Indie-Boards-Cards-PSI-IBCFPF1/dp/B005YXFW1U/ref=pd_sim_t_9)

[7 Wonders] (http://www.amazon.com/Asmodee-SEV-EN01ASM-7-Wonders-Game/dp/B0043KJW5M/ref=pd_sim_t_6)

I too recommend allocating a couple extra dollars if it means getting a game you really want. Anyway, hope this helps :)

1.) These postcards are mostly grey. And black and white. And they are also good for grey days. :)

2.) This is The Dead Weather's debut album. A good one. (jack white <3 <3 <3)

3.) As you will see on the track listing, the eponymous The White Stripes album has TWO songs on it that relate to food: "Sugar Never Tasted So Good" and "One More Cup of Coffee". Plus, the cover has the traditional swirly mints of The White Stripes. (Also, this one reminded me that I don't have Neutral Milk Hotel's first album on my list! So thanks for that.)

4.) The postcard books are for my friends. I send postcards to them. This TOTALLY counts. Especially the David Choe ones since David Choe is amazing. And I know that my friends like his art.

5.) If there is ANY chance that you have not read Sabriel, you need too. Really, really, really.

6.) This was on my list, but was removed after the lovely /u/scrumtrelescent sent it to me! And heads are definitely not related to hair, because heads can be bald. And the biggest annoyance about these things is that they sometimes get stuck in your hair. So it's really an advantage if you have no hair. :)

7.) This postcard book is actually titled "Wicked Witches and Creepy Cats", so there are lots of cats in it. If you look inside, you will see a cat dancing with an owl, an awesome dress covered in cat faces, and a very cute cat in a pumpkin. Also some truly scary cartoonish cats. Avoid the one in the bowtie. shudder

8.) I really don't need another dress, but this one is so cute!

9.) So...I don't have movies on my list that I have seen before. I actually only have this one. BUT. I can save this. This is a Studio Ghibli film. And Studio Ghibli films are awesome. (Spirited Away is my favorite movie <3) So...my argument is, everyone should watch every Studio Ghibli movie at least once in their life because they're so great. Which is why I want it! :)

10.) When zombies attack, it is important to be able to run quickly. No one could run faster than someone wearing SUPERMAN SNEAKERS!! I mean, he's faster than a speeding bullet!

11.) My biggest current goal is to make new friends, since I'm moving to a new city (eek! yay!). Board games always help with friends! This would definitely help me out.

12.) I'm going to interpret "pesky Add-On items" as anything that a company encourages you to purchase after an initial purchase of an item. Instead of what you really meant. So you should probably just ignore this one. BUT. An expansion to Munchkin would be so fun! Even if you don't really need it at all... <3

13.) I wouldn't call this my dream item, but it is the most expensive item on my list. This NES game for a number of reasons. First, it's a GREAT game. Second, I think it's funny having an amazingly expensive item on my list. Thirdly, what if someone actually bought me the "new" one? That would be Amazing.

14.) (I love the edit-I always just knew what size a breadbox was from playing 20 questions with my mom...) So. I don't really have large items on this list so much. BUT. [Fabric] (http://www.amazon.com/Aviary-Sparrows-Cavern-Black-Fabric/dp/B004VNVE7A/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=NO029QAH2C2U&coliid=IEEZTV09MV12V), while perhaps being able to fold up into something smaller than a bread box, could also wrap around the bread box. This must count for something. It's already 42" across, so that's wider than a bread box...Plus, what if you just purchased 100 yards of it? Then it wouldn't fit inside...

15.) My dad has one of these and it is so useful. I want one too! I'm pretty sure it's smaller than a golfball. It's possible that it's longer than one, but if you smushed it into little pieces, the total volume would definitely be less than that of a golfball. :P

16.) If I ordered this now, it would be brand new when I recieved it in September, and new books just smell SO GOOD!

17.) I love Rio Grande games, so I really want to try Power Grid. Plus, if you worked at an electrical company, your boss might even think you were just hard at work on some new electrical line, soooo it's definitely safe for work. (hehehe)

18.) Since I'm starting grad school this year in a new city, far from my undergrad friends, I need chocolate to help me when I'm sad and lonely! (Another good way to make friends, too!)

19.) This summer, the only thing I've been doing is making things. I really want to get into making hats (for some reason), so I've been rather obsessed with finding sinamay-it would be so useful to have the forms already made too...

20.) Purchasing this item gives you TWELVE Toblerone bars (you get two of the beautiful 6-pack boxes that you see pictured. That's ELEVEN MORE than usual!!! I can't explain the amazingness of this any better.

BONUS ITEMS

Anything that has my real name on it: Hm. Will have to do more research. :)

Made in Oregon: While perhaps not recorded or manufactured in Oregon, as The Decemberists are from Portland, OR, these songs were certainly composed there!

fear cuts deeper than swords

I introduced my daughter (6) to Monopoly last year, and though she got into the game, she didn't quite grasp the whole ruthless, cuthroat nature of the game, and kept trying to give me money. I was eventually able to convince her that while sweet, it wasn't necessary, and she got caught up in buying property and building houses. Thanks to a few lucky rolls, and landing on free parking (I always have the rule that taxes and fines go into that pot), she was able to become a property magnate and kick my butt. I wasn't letting her win, and she certainly wasn't cheating (I don't think it's cheating if you keep trying to GIVE money away), but she won. I was impressed that she was able to do that, and has done it several times since then. She's figuring out the sneakier side of it, too :)



Since she loves playing board games with me, I think this would be good for us. I've never played, but have heard good things about it. I don't know about shipping costs, so it's under $31.

I'm still a kid at heart!

Apples to Apples relates to /u/Sp3cia1k because she is the Apple of your eye :D

Happy bithday /u/Sp3cia1k!!! Hope it's a great one, almost as great as you!

Apples to Apples is always a fun game. :)

Good point! Apples to Apples is definitely much more family-friendly, or friendly in general. It's also $22. Totally depends on the personalities of the players!

Weird - the same Party Box on Amazon says it has over 1000 cards, and specifies, "756 Red Apple Cards, 252 Green Apple Cards".

But the Mattel Party Box says "with 504 green and red cards; the green cards have 2 clues per card, the red cards have 1 clue per card."

I'd shop around a bit more, because if you can get 1000 that's better, right? This ToysRUs version says 1000 cards and it's at the same low prices as the other one, but this Target one says more than 500 cards in the top left corner of the box.

Have you ever played the game Apples to Apples? I have never played it with high school age students. But I've played with a group of friends. Also, my friend uses it with middle schoolers and I play it with my elementary students.

http://www.amazon.com/Apples-Party-Box-Hilarious-Comparisons/dp/B00112CHCK

Apples to Apples $18.95. It's a great game she needs it. On her Bomb List... I'm guessing

I think Apples to Apples and Apples to Apples Junior would be good additions, but the list looks great! :)

oh my god the walking dead is my life! i love apples to apples! heres my handwriting <3 http://i.imgur.com/w2nxcQC.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/Apples-Party-Box-Hilarious-Comparisons/dp/B00112CHCK/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1367530663&sr=1-1&keywords=apples+to+apples

Look, Jim! A handwritten message!

Favorite card game is totally Apples to Apples. I'm even making door decs for my residents that look like Apples to Apples cards!

I've never played that version, so I have no idea, sorry. But I looked at the Amazon reviews to get an idea, it sounds like you pick the worst answer instead of the best, and the player with that card loses a point instead of winning one. The original actually has better reviews, and is less expensive, so it is what I would go for.

(edit for clarification)

Yep. A few years back a kids toy came out called mindflex where you control a small ball, propelled and lifted by air current, through small hoops using a EEG headband.

Here's a nice overview of the other options for EEG to Arduino - http://www.frontiernerds.com/brain-hack

MindFlex
We sell it at my store.

Most of our board game collection is based around what my wife and I play with our daughter. However, when my in-laws come into town we do find that some specific games work better than others with them.

• Qwirkle
  
• the Hare and the Tortoise
  
• Tsuro
  
  Oddly, in our case, Sushi Go didn't work well. I think the drafting game play made sense, but we couldn't get them past the theme (such as it is).

Get Bit

Tsuro

Walk the Plank

Bang! the Dice Game

Munchkin

all good options

/u/r2d8 getinfo

The board game I enjoy is Tsuro. It's so fun and you don't have to think about what you're doing until the end of the game. VERY easy to pick up

Don't waste your time on that, if you've got the time and cash for that you should try out Twilight Imperium, which usually takes around 12 hours.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wIWMjD2lwA

There's also Eclipse, which is a much better space civilization game.

http://www.shutupandsitdown.com/blog/post/review-eclipse/

(Amusingly, I find the actual Civilization board game adaptation to be quite mediocre. It's rather faithful to a few of the mechanics, though.)

(Below is a rough recollection of the new rules.)

And even if you want to play stupid Risk, buy the Legacy version - it fixes the rules so that winning involves completing three objectives.

The game has five factions, if I recall correctly?

At the end of each game, the winning factions gets to permanently name a faction, granting them a permanent boost in future games. The losers get to name cities on the board.

Additionally, after certain conditions are met (i.e., use too many nuclear missiles) there are sealed compartments in the box that are to be opened (and others, destroyed permanently) that permanently add new rules to the game, stickers to be placed inside the rulebook outlining the mechanical consequences of your actions.

http://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-JUN118204-Risk-Legacy/dp/B005J146MI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410140130&sr=8-1&keywords=risk+legacy

The creator of the, "Legacy", series is making a spiritual successor soon.

I absolutely hate how boring the civilian's perception of board game are, (largely thanks to Hasbro, although they did create some of the originals) when
there's a massive, massive largely unknown world of modern board gaming that is just so much fun to participate in.

The website ShutUpandSitDown contains quite a few reviews and videos of this largely ignored space.

Hey! I think this is the cheapest on my list, I had other things that were cheaper but they increased in price :( I'm not even sure what I'd do with rosemary, I don't usually use it in my cooking lol.

I'm not going to lie, I think what I want the MOST on my list is this! I'm a sucker for board games, and Risk has always been a favorite of mine. I love boardgames because you actually get to interact face to face with your friends and it reminds me of a time long long ago where people spent time talking and hanging out with friends instead of playing games, watching tv, or updating facebook statuses on their phone while talking to you. I have a group of friends that gets together once a week and we either go do trivia, board games, or just hang out and I think we'd love to play this sometime.

This one is interesting because it has different rules, and the board changes between games. It's unique in the sense that decisions from previous games influence the next game and some things are permanent. From what I understand, to play it you need the same group of people each game and the board is only good for one play through as you need to either cut out or rearrange the board. Also there are some ominous envelopes that have to remain sealed until the instructions tell you to open them. I just don't know why board games are so expensive :(

OK rambling over!

Don't think I forgot that you are the spicy lover! Might I suggest adding this to your wishlist? It's super tasty and used in almost any Korean spicy recipe. Or add this one as it's only $7 more and has 6x the quantity :)

Anyway, thanks for the contest Aveline!

Go check out Risk Legacy, we got two games of it in the course of 3 hours, with a large chunk of the first game being setup.

The board and the races played change permanently, everytime the game is played. Options during and after the game allow for permanent -1 or +1 to the highest roll in a territory, permanent cities to be founded, the winner gets the ability to name any unnamed continent, among other things.

There are additions to the game that are applied when the something specific happens in a game, which could be anything from extra race perks to new rules being added (there are blank spots in the rule book and stickers that will go over those spots when they are unlocked). Ex:

• A race is eliminated from the board
  
• In one round, someone places 30 troops on the board and has a missle
  
• Three missles are used in one game
  
  Risk Legacy
  
  Edit: since I completely missed the point of the thread, the way you make that happen is to ally with some of the other players to wipe said player from a different section of the map. Either that or make it a house rule.

> is it worth $70?

Nah. If you can snag it for ~40 I'd say sure.

Cute little game, some interesting twists and turns... just be sure everyone is mindful of how quickly one player can become the runaway leader and you'll have a lot of fun. :)

https://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-JUN118204-Risk-Legacy-Game/dp/B005J146MI

So I don't know if this counts as British culture, but my two British friends and I and another American friend played this game all the time when we were at school. Its such a fun game and I certainly miss playing with them.

Also, have ALWAYS wanted to see a soccer (football!) game in Europe but have not had the chance yet.

Lastly, for those who don't know what OP is talking about http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCJ5uBA3DU4

Risk Legacy. It's amazing. It's very similar to normal risk except each game builds on to the next one. Decide to nuke a city in game 3? Holy crap that same city is super important to your army in game 7. Best to play with the same people every time. I really want to get a group together to play it once a week till it's done. Amazing concept.

Price History

• Isle of Skye Board Game   ^PureLink
  ReviewMeta: ★★★★✮ 4.7/5 from 89 valid reviews
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• Patchwork Board Game   ^PureLink
  ReviewMeta: ★★★★✮ 4.6/5 from 336 valid reviews
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• Ravensburger 81243 The Castles Of Burgundy   ^PureLink
  ReviewMeta: ★★★★✮ 4.6/5 from 420 valid reviews
  CamelCamelCamel - [Info] │ Keepa - [Info]
  
• Ravensburger the Quest for El Dorado Family Game   ^PureLink
  ReviewMeta: ★★★★✮ 4.7/5 from 11 valid reviews
  CamelCamelCamel - [Info] │ Keepa - [Info]
  
• BLUE ORANGE GAMES Photosynthesis Strategy Board Game   ^PureLink
  ReviewMeta: ★★★★✮ 4.6/5 from 206 valid reviews
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• 7 Wonders Duel Board Game   ^PureLink
  ReviewMeta: ★★★★✮ 4.7/5 from 191 valid reviews Warning - Has potentially fake reviews
  CamelCamelCamel - [Info] │ Keepa - [Info]
  
• 7 Wonders   ^PureLink
  ReviewMeta: ★★★★✮ 4.5/5 from 1191 valid reviews
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It's on sale...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005UWYK22/ref=cm_sw_r_em_awd_4bX3wbYJTA0W8

Edit: deal is dead

Amazon has castles of burgundy on sale for $19.17. thinking about getting it since it sounds like my favorite game Catan.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005UWYK22/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511246607&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=castles+of+burgundy&dpPl=1&dpID=51mP2aJfyxL&ref=plSrch

inoffensive link

Its not on your list of considerations but should be, Castles of Burgundy . Great engine building, lots of strategy though it can run a bit long with 5 players. I had a chance to play this at FLGS game-night and loved it. If you enjoy Puerto Rico, you really enjoy this.

If you're interested in getting your wife to try games, try something you can both play together cooperatively. I've had good luck with Forbidden Island which is an amazing game for its price. Basically, you're all (or both) running around an island that is gradually sinking into the sea, trying to recover the four legendary treasures and meet up back at the helicopter before the entire island sinks. Maybe move on to Forbidden Desert after a while, which is a little more complicated, or its even more complicated older brother, Pandemic.

Some of the more popular choices on this thread are listed below for you.

Ticket to Ride

King of Tokyo

Forbiden Desert and Forbidden Island

Takenoko

Dixit

Ticket to Ride: Europe

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Days-of-Wonder-DOW-7202/dp/B000809OAO

Hanabi +1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Games-Hanabi-Card-Game/dp/B00CYQ9Q76

Timeline: Inventions +1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asmodee-ASMCARCH01UK-Timeline-Inventions/dp/B00L9GJ34I

Ingenious

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sophisticated-Games-SOP31602-Ingenious-Strategy/dp/B000F46CWQ/

Forbidden Desert +1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gamewright-415-Forbidden-Desert-Game/dp/B00B4ECHJI

Scotland Yard

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ravensburger-26646-Scotland-Yard-Game/dp/B00LGWRTS2/

Cutthroat Caverns is a fun semi co-op dungeon crawling card game and supports 5 players. - It says 14 and up, but I've played it with 10yr olds before. The 8yr old may need a little help with it.

Forbidden Island only goes up to 4 players, but Forbidden Dessert goes up to 5. - Box says 10+ but it's fully co-op and an 8yr old could totally do it.

King of Tokyo plays up to 6 and is a lot of fun. There's a slightly more advanced King of New York as well, but I actually prefer KoT and it's super accessible to kids and adults.

You could try a dexterity game like Flick 'm Up which plays up to 10 people. It's a fun game and the kids would probably really like it. It's a bit on the pricey side, but the component quality is great.

Also, check out /r/boardgames if you need more suggestions.

Provided poker-style bluffing fits your definition of deception, Skull & Roses is a game perfect for bars because you can play it using beermats. Though not technically a drinking game, I will do my best to add drinks within the following rules:

1. Everyone take four beermats/coasters. Mark one as your Skull - you could draw a skull on it, but it could just as easily be an X or a black spot or a dick or whatever. The other three coasters are your Roses.
   
   
2. Start of round: Everyone put one of their beermats down in front of them on the table (marked/unmarked side down). Take a communal swig to celebrate the beginning of the round.
   
   
3. On your turn, either 1) PLACE another of your beermats on top of the last one you placed (& take a swig), or 2) BID a number of Roses you think you can flip.
   
   
4. Once someone BIDS, no one is allowed to PLACE any more coasters. Either BID more Roses than the player before you, or CALL their bid.
   
   
5. If your bid is called, you must flip all of the beermats in front of you (i.e. the ones you've played) first; after that, you can choose the top beermat of anyone's pile to flip. So if I have two coasters in front of me, and I get called on a bid of four, I have to flip my two coasters to reveal Roses, then choose the next two from the top coasters of all players' stacks.
   
   
6. If you successfully reveal the number of Roses you bid, without hitting a Skull, you get one point and whomever called you out has to chug down half their drink. If, at any point you reveal, a Skull from your own pile, chug half your drink and choose a beermat to lose. If you reveal a Skull from someone else's pile, chug half your drink and lose a random beermat.
   
   
7. Whether the attempt is successful or not, everyone takes back all the coasters in front of them, puts one back to set up for the next round, and do the whole thing again! Game ends at 2 points or when you can't drink any more.
   
   There's a commecially-produced version with nice skull & rose coasters, but it's currently out of print and therefore riotously expensive. The good news is, you can play with index cards, sticky notes, scrap paper, beermats, playing cards (red for roses, black for skulls)... anything, really.
   
   

They are actually pretty cool. Check out this blog.

Kind of related, I love this sugar skull bluffing game.

https://www.amazon.com/Asmodee-SKR01-Skull/dp/B00GYDLY8E

Also known as Skull & Roses

I usually lean towards less deep games for a game night, unless everyone there is 100% hardcore gamer. I think the BB card game would be best with a bunch of friends who know the IP.
Off-theme, but I usually recommend the game Skull or King of Tokyo. They're both great, whether the group is new to tabletop games or wants something lively with a competitive edge.

I want to nominate /u/LaLocaChristina because she is always gifting other people and even has her wishlist go to gifts for others. However I found this game on her other wishlist and I think she needs something for her to enjoy herself.

Apples to Apples, Dixit, Jungle Speed, Pictionary, Anomia, SET, Loaded Questions, and Jenga are a few that come to mind where the adults wouldn't necessarily have an advantage over the kids. Also Fluxx and We Didn't Playtest This are both hilarious card games that would be perfect for kids in that age range, but I have a blast playing them with other adults on a regular basis too; Spaceteam looks like another good one but I haven't personally played it. If you're looking for more involved strategy games, Ticket to Ride and Carcassone would be fine for that age, just require more of a learning curve. Cranium and Quelf are silly games that involve a variety of tasks (drawing, acting, singing, trivia, etc) and although they're supposedly aimed at adults, kids love them too (just skip cards that are too hard; or you could also consider the kids' versions of both games, Cranium Cadoo and Quelf Jr.). Uno (or Crazy Eights with a regular deck of cards) is always a classic, and you can always play charades or the category game!

edited to add: not sure about a good choose your own adventure story, but Mad Libs are always fun!

That's actually the basis for the board game Lords of Waterdeep, which is an amazing game.

A great resource management game, Lords of Waterdeep! Created by Wizards of the Coast you attempt to gain as many points as possible by the end of a mere six turns. I recommend getting the Scoundrels of Skullport expansion with it as well as it adds some major strategic changes to the game to make it interesting.

http://www.amazon.com/Lords-Waterdeep-Dungeons-Dragons-Board/dp/0786959916

http://www.amazon.com/Lords-Waterdeep-Scoundrels-Skullport-Expansion/dp/0786964502/ref=pd_bxgy_21_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=186R4YJDRGN7CDT282ZH

There's actually a good amount of fun games for under $40 on Amazon that I would suggest looking at.

• Pandemic | $28
  
• Catan | $30
  
• Dominion | $30
  
• 7 Wonders | $31
  
• Love Letter | $8
  
• Coup | $8
  
• Sushi Go | $10
  
• Lord of Waterdeep | $37
  
• Betrayal at House on the Hill | $34
  
• Ticket to Ride | $31
  
  These are all pretty popular games and I think they give you a good start into the different genre's of modern board games.

Just a heads up, Amazon has this for around $32.00: Lords of Waterdeep: A Dungeons & Dragons Board Game

Lords of Waterdeep won an Origin Award last year for best board game.

You can even see the creators (Rodney and Pete) play with some other WotC employees (1) here and (2) here.

My two cents is that this would be a perfect gift: It's received great reviews. It has available two expansion packs to change up the game play so you'll get more mileage out of your purchase. And if your DM is like most DMs he loves the game and loves D&D and freaking every now and then wouldn't mind just being a player! : )

This allows you and he to play together with or without friends. Hey, speaking of...why not throw him a surprise costume party? Get him one of those Burger King crowns and dub him Lord _____ of Waterdeep for the evening! Then when he opens his present he can actually PLAY a Lord of Waterdeep.

It's $31.49 today which is a good price with no shipping already but it was $28.92 in my gold box since I had in my wish list I guess.

I'll bring a dessert, self saucing chocolate pudding with raspberry coulis and to drink, lemon & lime mineral water.
Although I might have to make it at your house, I don't think the pudding would last the 27 hour transit time from Australia to America...(Also, could you pick me up from the airport around 6? I can throw in some petrol money for the inconvenience...)

Lana is always appropriate for any dinner with friends, and National Anthem is my favourite right now.

As a Browncoat it's mandatory I bring the Firefly board game I've never played it and this is as good a time as ever!

I don't know our lovely host Junigole, and I can't be rude and not ask how they're doing and get to know them!

Firefly game 3-5 players and it is a pretty long intense game

>"It is also for sale on Amazon for $26.10 with free prime shipping." - /u/jhturbo

(No need to delete your post dude, it's fine. I made that mistake as well when I looked)

That's for the expansion: Firefly - Pirates And Bounty Hunters - Expansion $26.10 with Amazon Prime. The regular board game is Firefly: the Game $41.29 with Amazon Prime. There's another expansion, Firefly: the Game - Breakin Atmo: Game Booster Expansion Set $10.35 with Amazon Prime.

Ahhh, game night over here as well! Firefly with the extension packs this time.

If you are into board games, I have the Firefly game that I bought recently and have not had the chance to try out. http://www.amazon.com/Gale-Force-9-GF9-FIRE001-Firefly/dp/0992251656

This is the official boardgame. It is massive and complex, but once you get the hang of it, it is a fantastic game. The expansions add a loy too (pirates and bounty adds player interaction for instance) and there is even a single player campaign that is still fun (good for learning the quirks of the gamr before bringing it to new players. https://www.amazon.com/Gale-Force-9-GF9-FIRE001-Firefly/dp/0992251656

I don't even... I just... I... OMG... That is adorbz. I feel guilty entering because I have a me-sized Jayne hat, but I see so many uses for an itty bitty one!

You definitely need the new board game on your list..

Edit: They can't take my yarn from me!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1936685329/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1409533760&sr=8-1
or
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0992251656?cache=97b81e51454980b7e4baf48ce90d7f30&pi=SX200_QL40&qid=1409539147&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1

It reminds me of this game: Gloom.

http://www.amazon.com/Atlas-AG1001-Gloom/dp/158978068X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321806101&sr=8-1

• The Resistance
  
  
• Forbidden Island
  
  
• Carcassonne
  
  
• Gloom
  
  

Play on, player

Gloom https://www.amazon.com/dp/158978068X/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Xj3dvb0PCPTMK

I LOVE this game. So much fun. Makes your put on your thinking cap and creativity jacket. Less about who has the most point, but how can make up the best story with the cards they have been dealt. Best. Game. Ever.

Thank you for the contest!

Steve Jackson games are cool. I'd also recommend trying games that don't have a ton of rules and pieces to keep track of since it can seem a bit overwhelming to grasp and then explain to your friends. The following games are ones that I've found to be super awesome:

Oh my god! There's an axe in my head!

Betrayal at House on the Hill (two editions, both out of print so if you find one, get it!)

Arkham Horror - This one is a little more involved but still pretty simple to learn

$100? Arkham Horror is $45 on amazon right now...

yupe, they draw super heavily from Lovecraft stuff. they're kind of like an adventure game where the goal is to stop the awakening of an Ancient One and your game character wonders around the board having events at different locations. the events will be little cards that are like tiny little short stories that explain what happens to your character while he's there. and eventually you end up going to the outer plane zones like the City of R'lyeh.

and when i talk about the core arkham horror, i'm talking about this game:

http://www.amazon.com/Fantasy-Flight-Games-VA09-Arkham/dp/1589942108/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332898683&sr=8-1

this is the one to start with and then get the expansions later on if it seems like something that interests you.

I would second the idea for board game nights. My friends and I love playing board games. Not like Monopoly, but more involved games like:

• Settlers of Catan
  
  
• Arkham Horror
  
  
• Starcraft: The Board Game
  
  
• Last Night on Earth: The Zombie Game
  
  
• Most any game from Fantasy Flight Games

Arkham Horror

Mage Knight

Twilight Imperium

Arcadia Quest

Dead of Winter

Robinson Crusoe

Game of Thrones

Rampage

Above and Below

Have fun :9

Disclaimer: I provided amazon links to show they are under $100. I use Amazon Smile and support the Dane County EMS Honor Guard (a group of volunteers who serve at the funerals of EMS and fire workers in my area) - but feel free to choose whatever charity you feel is worthy.

XCOM The Boardgame? Vintage game series that may have a degree of nostalgia, decent art, up to 4 player cooperative game, decent complexity.

Descent as a dungeon crawl themed arena pit fighting race game for 2-5 (1 evil player vs the rest)? The Road to Legend app has pure cooperative campaigns to play.

Defenders of the Realm as a cooperative siege defense game where you have 4 generals closing in on a city and your heroes must work together to drive them off?

Shadows of Brimstone as a weird west dungeon crawler, pure cooperative. What monsters you get depends on what set you get, and you can expand is.

D&D Board Games as cooperative dungeon crawling in one of the well established worlds of D&D.

These are a few you can look into that might work. I'm sure there are others who have better ideas, as not all my suggestions have gorgeous art or are super complex.

I'm in the 40+ yr old category buy my interests are different - games I really enjoy at this count are the GMT COIN series, Splotter games (not in your budget except for their one not too successful game), Sierra Madre Games (heavy more science based games - the rules are a challenge to get through for most, but they offer some of the meatiest game play in my collection), and civ game called 7 Ages. All of these take a few hours to play and are quite a commitment not only learning the rules but learning to play - and they are incredible experiences. I used to like WoW, comics, videogames, and so on; but my passion was originally tabletop rpgs and now is board gaming - these titles really make up the core of my collection.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention Eldritch Horror as an awesome cooperative epic adventure game - a handful of investigators trying to solve 3 mysteries and prevent an ancient Lovecraftian horror from awakening? That one might work also.

Descent is a fun fantasy game that mostly fits that bill, might be pushing the time, space, and budget concerns all by just a hair though.

How about something like this?

Someone mentioned Ironsworn, but Mythic is another RPG option for solo play. Descent is a dungeon crawler boardgame that can be done solo.

​

I haven't tried any of these but they are mentioned as options for solo play frequently on Reddit.

I recommend going the boardgame route. There's plenty of miniatures boardgames out there that get you a decent selection of minis for a reasonable price, plus the option to play another game. I'm more a sci-fi guy, but here are some fantasy options (no particular order):

Dungeons and Dragons boardgame

Generic fantasy: here or here

Steampunk fantasy

Chibi style if you are into that.

Other somewhat cartoony style

Can't find it on Amazon? http://www.amazon.com/Fantasy-Flight-Games-DJ01-Descent/dp/1616611898/

The DnD Board Games are fantastic, I own them all. Another crawler you might like is Descent. https://amzn.com/1616611898

Okay big confession coming up. I unfortunately have actually on ever seen one Ghibli movie all the way through (Princess Mononoke), but not cause I don't enjoy them! I'm just so darn busy all the time! But Howl's is absolutely at the top of my list to watch!

Now as for things to recommend, for shows on Netflix I recommend everybody to watch "Luther" (the best detective show I think I'ver ever seen) and for something a little more raunchy but hilarious "The League" even if you're not into sports you can certainly enjoy this show.

For books I was going to recommend Chris Hardwick's "The Nerdist Way" but lo-and behold you already had it on your wishlist! So I'm going to recommend the book's of two other podcasters I love: first off, the delightful Kevin Smith book "Tough Sh*t: Life Advice from a Fat, Lazy Slob Who Did Good, it's not as self-help-y as "The Nerdist Way" but still has self-help elements coated with Kev's style of humor. Second are the books of comedian DC Pierson, first is the modern sci-fi book "The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To" and the harry potter/narnia spoof fantasy of "Crap Kingdom". Both books are totally awesome and I highly recommend checking em out!

And finally I couldn't help but notice you seem to be, like my best friend and I, a big 'ol Star Wars fan. Now I don't know if you are a board game fan at all but I do recommend checking out the "X-wing miniatures game" it's super easy to play and learn and it's just FUN. And if you're nervous about getting something like this without having even tried it, here's a video of Wil Wheaton playing it with Seth Green and Seth's wife.

And yeah that's it, so I hope your day get's better and MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOUUUUUUUUU!

Edit: seek your fortune.

If you can't find it local, the Core set is on Amazon for $29.

The Falcon and Slave 1 should come back around to store soon i hope. They've been out of stock for months now. The FF website says Q1 2015 for a reprint of them.

Also at lower prices (Deal of the day):

$16.80 (Millennium Falcon) https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-X-Wing-Millennium-Expansion/dp/1616615354

$18.99 (TFA core set) https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Awakens-X-Wing-Miniatures/dp/B014TKHEPA

$8.98 (Tie Advanced)https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-X-Wing-Advanced-Expansion/dp/1616613807/

$11.29 (HWK-290) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1616617047/

Not deal of the day

$13.37 (Proctectorate Star Fighter) https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-X-Wing-Protectorate-Starfighter/dp/B01GPELASU/

$24.98 (Original Core Set)https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-X-Wing-Miniatures-Game/dp/1616613769/

I am trying to decide between purchasing Dixit ($21.23 on Amazon at link below) and Chameleon ($23.96 at link below). I have played Chameleon and loved it, but haven't gotten to try Dixit yet. Our gaming group is usually 5-7 people.

​

https://www.amazon.com/Asmodee-DX01US-Dixit/dp/2914849656

https://www.amazon.com/The-Chameleon-Board-Game/dp/B074MVW4NQ

I like to go on a long run to make myself feel better. Something about running through a great place late in the day makes everything better.

Dixit if I end up winnning!

What makes me feel better

And this, this, this, this, this, this, this, and this. Although the prices are outrageous at Amazon CA, you'd be much better off buying from a US retailer and shipping internationally.

Fun, thanks for hosting the scavenger hunt!

1. Something Blue: These journals are so beautiful, and I just thought I would start the scavenger hunt out with something simple and beautiful. Is that too corny of a reason to put them on here?
   
2. Summer: Summer reminds me that I will soon be in a place with sun constantly radiating down and burning my retinas. We're all gonna need some sunglasses.
   
3. Unusual Food-Related Item: Kawaii Squishies are super cute, smell like freshly baked bread (or cream soda), and are shaped like foods! I had a lot of wiggle room with this category, and while I have tons of things about food in my WLs, I just think these are great to pass out to stressed friends, as well.
   
4. Gift Someone Else: A Bidet for the Fiancé Kind of a silly one, but my fiancé loves bidets. I've always wanted to get him one, and so this is my ultimate "I love you" gift for him. I actually thought about getting it for him and calling it his engagement ring, in response to the one he just got me. Do you think it would make him laugh?
   
5. Book!: The book Lab Girl by Hope Jahren has gotten a lot of great press, and it seems very relevant to any woman in a demanding science-related field. I think it would be an interesting, and hopefully inspiring, read.
   
6. Less Than a 1$: Somehow this shampoo brush is only $.01? Is that real?
   
7. Related to Dogs: I haven't owned a dog since my family's golden retriever, Max. He was such a wonderful light in our house, and I think about him a lot. I know that GSD are really smart, so I figured I'd put something a smart-alecky GSD owner might have on here. ;)
   
8. Not Useful, But Awesome: I really love oracle cards. I find that they sort of get me past challenges that maybe I'm too stubborn to see for myself. I think they are a good psychological tool, but I also know most people would find them less than useful. Therefore, they are mostly just awesome, and I want them.
   
9. Great Movie: I get some flak for it, but my favorite movie of all time is Coraline. I think it is just so thought-provoking and the animation is beautiful. It really has a special place in my heart.
   
10. Zombies Attack!: Weirdly enough, I am in the process of creating an emergency plan and some bugout bags for my fiancé and I. It's more of a hobby than worry, but I always thought a couple of these matches would come in handy when the hammer drops.
    
11. Life Goals: This one might require a little explanation. So, I just quit my career as an archaeologist to become a creative writer, and my fiancé just quit his archaeology career to become an illustrator. Together we are writing some children's books, creating a comic book series, and hosting a podcast. It has come to our attention that these endeavors require social media presence (something neither of us are very good at). Through our bumbling around, we've found that our pictures are turning out less-than-great for social media, and the problem is lighting. I think this lightbox really neat for anyone who wants to make their pictures look professional on social media.
    
12. Add-Ons: Makeup Remover Cloths These are so useful, I thought about even adding them to the Zombie Apocalypse part of the Scavenger Hunt! I sometimes forget to take care of my skin. So I started leaving one of these by my nightstand just for those times when I'm too lazy (or drunk) to take my makeup off. They are lifesavers!
    
13. Fandom Related: Adventure Time, come on grab your friends.... No explanation needed really. AT is amazing, and I'm sad the series is ending, but we will always have the comics!
    
14. Ridiculously Priced: Okay, let's chat. This watch is over $200,000 and has 4 reveiws? 4 people bought this? Why?! If I was that rich, I'd hole up in my cool-ass movie theater and eat caviar all day. Who needs a watch for that?
    
15. Shark or Unicorn: This unicorn color-changing light is on my wishlist. I want it so badly, but have no idea where I would put it. The bathroom maybe? It has to be somewhere that won't get in the way of all my other unicorn stuff. I like when people just happily stop upon a unicorn in the apartment. When they're peeing is a good time, right?
    
16. Smells Great: These candles are the scents of a coffee shop and so I know everyone in my house would feel warm and welcome right when they walk in once they are lit. These are actually three of my favorite scents, so you can probably tell that I have a slight coffee-related addiction.
    
17. Toy: Dixit is an amazing game. Like...I don't know how to describe it. A bunch of cards with illustrations on them need to be described by the players, and then everyone votes on which description they like the best (blindly vote). It's just a wonderful game for inspiration, and you can make it as complicated or as simple as you'd like. I really enjoy playing it with both my friends and family.
    
18. Helpful for Writers: An Imaginative Workbook! I think one of the biggest things writers forget how to do is play! We spend so much time in our universe, trying to make it perfect, that sometimes we forget to just let go and have our imaginations run wild. I think workbooks like the one I just linked are perfect for when writer's block hits, or when we need a pick-me-up to remember why we started writing in the first place.
    
19. Current Obsession: My current obsession has become learning how to play the ukulele. I heard on a couple of podcasts that it really boosted some people's happiness, especially if they loved music, but didn't feel like they had the time to learn to play a new instrument. I have been borrowing my neighbor's, but since I am moving soon, I've decided to purchase one from Amazon. They have tons of ukuleles on there, weirdly.
    
20. Makes You Laugh: As a person who loves Wes Anderson films this coffee table book always makes me laugh.
    
    Edit: Finished! I love scavenger hunts; it always reminds me what a weirdo I am.

I'm gonna guess high and go $52.50.

Under $10

Under $25

Under $50

Thank you for the contest!

Amazon is where we get all of our board games.

If you do like it, it's even better in person :)

https://www.amazon.com/Mayfair-Games-MFG3505-Patchwork-Board/dp/B00RCCAPPE

For those with Amazon Prime, Amazon currently has Patchwork for $22.48. http://www.amazon.com/Mayfair-Games-MFG3505-Patchwork-Board/dp/B00RCCAPPE

When I checked the shipping rate for CardHaus to me, it would have added $7.75 for USPS Priority 2 Day shipping, making the total $24.74, pre tax.

Okay, since he's big on socks, maybe he'll like Patchwork.

https://www.amazon.com/Mayfair-Games-MFG3505-Patchwork-Board/dp/B00RCCAPPE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522290681&sr=8-1&keywords=patchwork

Also for people who like CAH, I'd always suggest Dixit or Fantastic Storytelling.

You could try [Patchwork] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mayfair-Games-Patchwork-Game-Multi-Colour/dp/B00RCCAPPE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452693449&sr=8-1&keywords=patchwork+board+game) (gave you a UK link). It sounds like you might enjoy it!

[BoardGameGeek link] (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/163412/patchwork)

Patchwork is a 2 person game that is easy to learn but surprisingly tricky to master. It is also quick to play, so you can fit in a game here and there easily.

I see that you're into video games, so maybe you're interested in dungeons and dragons. These are the board games that I've played with just my husband, as well as a group of 4-5 people.

Temple of Elemental Evil

Wrath of Ashardalon

The way it works, is you have a stack of dungeon tiles. On each person's turn they place a new tile if they explore the edge of the one they're currently on. On each tile there are monster symbols, which you then draw a monster card and place the corresponding monster on the tile. You control the monster. I'll explain that in a minute. Each tile has a white or black arrow. Black arrow means you draw an encounter card. Encounter cards can be anything from "An Earthquake happens on your tile, roll a d20 (included in the game box), +10 to hit," to "You lose 100 gold or take 2 damage".

Each player picks their damage skills (there are cards that have the skills written out). Each player also has a MAX HP and an AC (armor class, mostly around 14-16).

There are a lot of rules, little things to understand, but once you go through it and read it it becomes second nature. As far as I'm aware there are a lot of youtube videos explaining, as well as I'd be able to help if you needed it.

The gist of this game is you and buddies go through a dungeon following a story but the dungeon is different every time.

You're referring to the board games?

Neither.

I don't think they're particularly good compared to playing plain ol' D&D, but Amazon has them rated pretty well so maybe I'm just a picky dickhead. Then again, for around the same amount of money you can get Betrayal at House on the Hill and I think it's got a lot more replayability if you're looking for boardgames.

Also you can get them much cheaper. Even in Europe you can get it cheaper.

If you can get it at a good price, the minis might be worth it if you enjoy collecting/painting them. They didn't strike me as particularly great minis, but they might paint up well.

Flashpoint would be my biggest recommendation. Each player is a firefighter and you are trying to save people before a building burns down. I don't think I've ever wanted to play Pandemic since getting this.

If you like fantasy settings, Temple of Elemental Evil is the latest in a series of D&D games where players each take the role of a hero, and work through a scenario. In addition to what comes in the box, there are a ton of fan-made scenarios here

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00TLRT3YC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525554129&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=temple+of+elemental+evil+board+game

The Dungeons & Dragons board games are a really great and efficient way to get the Miniatures needed for different campaigns. I'm running princes of the Apocalypse right now and I'm so glad that I bought it. It's worth buying even if just for the Miniatures alone.

In this set you get three figures of each of the Cults that are straight out of the campaign book, 3 gnolls, 3 ghouls, 3 hobgoblins, one of each Elemental, and some other stuff.

Other than that you honestly just need about three or four of the things that are in the Random Encounters list. For example ankhegs, orcs, Bandits, Pirates, bugbears, different kinds of beasties, probably some skeletons and zombies would be good, etc. Honestly the Random Encounters are just whatever you want them to be so pick which monsters sound fun.

That would be enough to get started and then you could just add to it as you progress. Don't worry about buying it all up front.

Scythe 39.99$

https://www.amazon.com/Stonemaier-Games-STM600-Scythe-Board/dp/B01IPUGYK6/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3MTNA8Q00TIH8&keywords=scythe&qid=1563217898&s=gateway&sprefix=scyth%2Caps%2C293&sr=8-3

https://smile.amazon.com/Stonemaier-Games-Scythe/dp/B01IPUGYK6

I played this game for the first time just a few weeks ago. It's not bad. My favorite parts are the art and the setting. The gameplay LOOKS like worker-placement meets Risk, but it's not. I haven't played enough to give a solid review on the gameplay.

The setting gives a REALLY strong sense of war fatigue on a pseudo-European continent that can barely fight after years of devastating war.

looks good.

Check out Scythe: https://www.amazon.com/Stonemaier-Games-STM600-Scythe-Board/dp/B01IPUGYK6

I'm pretty sure he was involved with Scythe

This game is set in the same world as the board game called Scythe, which is a fantastic game!!!

https://www.socialismgame.com/

I think this might be a similar game. Maybe I’m not looking in the right places but cant find hasbro’s version.

Edit: Hasbro Monopoly Socialism Board Game Parody Adult Party Game https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VPRNZJB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wSiyDbQEWC8Z9

Crazy escalation to jump from Catan to Terraforming Mars.

Carcassonne (picture here) is a great game. Easy setup, easy tear down, and consistently fun. I highly recommend the Z-Man edition of the game the other commenter mentioned. Carcassonne has expansions that you can add after you’d played the game for a while. But the vanilla version is great at two players.

A couple of additional suggestions - since I don't really like Castles of Burgundy, and I haven't played 7 Wonders Duel.

Just because it's so small, cheap, and still a great game, you should get Mint Works. Kickstarter campaign just finished, and you should still be able to get a copy here. Quick, plays up to 4, and has real strategy. A similar idea is Eight Minute Empires Legends - a small, quick game with real strategy.


Bigger, deeper games - I'm a big fan of Isle of Skye. It's a bit Carcasonne-y, in that you're building an interlocking territory, but it adds a bidding mechanic for the tiles, plus different victory conditions every game.

Five Tribes has been good, but I don't know how it'd work with 2.

If you're looking for a two player game, especially if you're cutthroat people, get Patchwork. If a more abstract strategy game is OK, I've very much enjoyed Hive.

Thanks!

Okay, so I am a huge board game advocate and I will always, ALWAYS, offer up a board game solution whenever the chance arises to do so. Your dilemma is one that can definitely be addressed with the proper games. As such, I have a few very engaging, fun, and easy to learn two-player games for you:

First up is Patchwork by my favorite board game designer, Uwe Rosenberg. It's a game about collecting cloth patches and adding them to a patchwork quilt. If you enjoyed the video game Tetris and liked the spatial puzzle aspect of it, you'll love this game.

Next, we have Jaipur. This is a game about acquiring and trading goods. It's a set collection and bluffing game. You've got a hand full of cards and you can trade them for goods from a common display of cards that both players can see. The goal is to get a handful of the same goods and trade them in for victory point tokens. The bigger the handful you trade in for tokens, the bigger the stack of tokens you get to keep and the more bonus points you'll receive. However, the cards that you trade in might be exactly the cards your opponent is after, so you've got to be smart! It's an excellent game and I love, LOVE, LOVE playing it.

Last up is Lost Cities. In this game you're going on expeditions by playing cards in numeric order to a tableau. However, expeditions cost money, so if you don't play enough cards or you play the wrong cards, you could wind up costing yourself a lot of points. Hanging onto useless cards can clog up your hand, but you might also deny your opponent the cards that they critically need to keep themselves in the black instead of the red. It's a very well designed game and plays pretty fast. Like I mentioned earlier, my wife loves it and you probably would, too.

These are three small box board games that you need in your life. If you don't rush out and buy them then, at the very least, you should definitely add them to your wishlist! =)

We don't have time at the moment, but we used to play quite a lot.

Our favorites were:

• Legends of Andor - There are many different games from the series, basically it's a co-op fantasy game.
  
• Patchwork - We liked that because there isn't a lot of setup time. A nice little versus game.
  
• Targi - Also a versus game with a bit more setup time and a bit more depth.

I'm currently showing Price: $22.50 + $5.49 shipping

http://smile.amazon.com/Mayfair-Games-MFG3505-Patchwork-Board/dp/B00RCCAPPE/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1450298461&sr=1-1&keywords=patchwork

Our favorites right now are:

7 Wonders Duel Board Game https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014DMSTXK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_8lLKzb6MK34FN

Lost Cities - The Card Game https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T0GY9CK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_nnLKzbVETFBFB

Patchwork Board Game https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RCCAPPE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_KnLKzbEV591RK

And

Alhambra Board Game https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0045K9YXA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_LoLKzbMC2GPFR

I want to throw the actual D&D tabletop games into the mix, they're super fun, don't require a DM, and have the potential to spark a gateway into deeper roleplaying.

Temple of Elemental Evil (https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Temple-Elemental-Evil/dp/B00TLRT3YC/) is my personal favorite.

D&D board games are your friend.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/WizKids-Temple-Elemental-Evil-Board/dp/B00TLRT3YC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463063414&sr=8-1&keywords=d%26d+board+game

Box contains 40 minis @ ~£1 per mini + freebie board game.

It is awesome!!!

It also gives you some nice hero mini's that look great painted up. Its also fun to play with your gaming group if people can not make it for a full session of DnD.

Other games that have a pretty nice selection of mini's, both hero's and monsters are Descent (Which also has mini expansions with 4 heros and 3 lots of various monsters) and also Blood Rage and Dungeon Saga. Likewise they play as fun games by themselves!

Here are some links:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616611898/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0786955708/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616618396/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (This is my favorite Descent pack because the hero's are nice and the Ogres and Trolls are SO cheap for mini's their size, and they look nice. I use the trolls as hill giants)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BPQE24C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/161661837X/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (Another descent pack that has nice mini's. The Windgo's look terrifying painted! )

https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Temple-Elemental-Evil/dp/B00TLRT3YC/ref=pd_yo_rr_psims_t_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=48RVXNXYZ3145ZAVR81A (I was not super impressed with the mini's but some, like the dragon, were good, and they have a good selection of elementals. The game its self is ok.)

https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Temple-Elemental-Evil/dp/B00TLRT3YC


https://www.amazon.com/Wizards-Coast-5511558-Dungeons-Dragons/dp/0786955708/ref=pd_bxgy_21_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0786955708&pd_rd_r=V24WQ1M5WNJ1NA7GWS1W&pd_rd_w=Cjh8S&pd_rd_wg=1wB1P&psc=1&refRID=V24WQ1M5WNJ1NA7GWS1W
games like these

I thought D&D: Legend of Drizzt was fun. There's no windspeed or line of sight kind of stuff, and I think if you buy other games similar to this one, like D&D: Temple of Elemental Evil, you can combine the cards/tokens/characters to make the playthroughs more interesting.

As per amazon:

• Designed for 1 to 5 players
  
  
• Features multiple scenarios, challenging quests and cooperative game play
  
  
• Contains: 42 heroes and monsters, 13 sheets of interlocking cardstock dungeons tiles, 200 encounter and treasure cards, scenario book, and 20-sided die
  
  
• Rulebook and scenario books
  
  
• 20-sided die
  
  The Descent game mentioned by u/lordfeint32 looks similar to the D&D game too. I bet it would be really fun as well.

https://www.amazon.com/Stonemaier-Games-STM600-Scythe-Board/dp/B01IPUGYK6/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=scythe&qid=1563220836&s=gateway&sr=8

same price on amazon too

So, based on what you've said, I think I'm gonna have to be that guy and suggest Scythe. This game is pretty new and has been hyped to infinity and beyond and has won a whole bunch of people's choice and critic's awards. I personally am not a fan of it based on personal taste, but I genuinely think it fits pretty much exactly what you're looking for.

It has a military theme but it's still very accessible because combat is not really the focus of the game and there are several viable paths to victory. You strive to expand your influence on the board, which lets you harvest resources, which give you a "collect" feeling. The game may seem simple at first but apparently there is a lot of strategy involved once you dig deeper. You can make deals and form alliances. At its core, it's an engine builder, meaning you start off with an economy that you can customize and make more efficient over time to give you a sense of progression. Plays best with 4 people and lasts about 90 minutes with experienced players.

Overall I think it fits the bill pretty perfectly. It's $55 at CoolStuffInc, $55 at MiniatureMarket, and $75 on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Stonemaier-Games-STM600-Scythe-Board/dp/B01IPUGYK6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503179168&sr=8-1&keywords=scythe


Do you not have amazon in your country?

Ima na amazonu za 50$ samo trenutno, ako uspijem naći link preko mobitela bacim edit.
Edit: mislim da je to ovo, ne znam je li ima čak jeftinije za nabaviti https://www.amazon.com/Stonemaier-Games-STM600-Scythe-Board/dp/B01IPUGYK6

Na /r/boardgames se često spomene scythe pa se isplati tamo otići i potražiti recenzije (ili na Board games geek)

s američkog amazona je preporuka ne naručivati zbog carina, u HR u Carta Magici igra dođe oko 650 kn , a na britanskom amazonu je cijena nekih 100 kn niža
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stonemaier-Games-STM600-Scythe-Board/dp/B01IPUGYK6/ref=sr_1_1?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1522332628&sr=1-1&keywords=scythe&dpID=513-lrmjs2L&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Link? It's showing up fine for me, and at a pretty good price too! Here's what I see.

Other sellers are selling it, but sold by amazon.com is exclusive to prime members:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B01IPUGYK6

I don't think Scythe is on the Amazon sale. In fact that price is above normal.

https://camelcamelcamel.com/Stonemaier-Games-STM600-Scythe-Board/product/B01IPUGYK6

We ordered one tonight. The reviews on Amazon are so low. We need to band together and write good reviews. Hasbro Monopoly Socialism Board Game Parody Adult Party Game https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VPRNZJB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_GxlyDb4N3PJ43

Buy it here lads

https://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-Monopoly-Socialism-Board-Parody/dp/B07VPRNZJB/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=socialism+monopoly+game&qid=1568430706&sprefix=socalism+m&sr=8-1

82$ ;-;

But only one was taken off the shelves at Target.

And now costs four times what Ms. Monopoly does due to scarcity.

People with PCOS who are too fat to defend themselves or run away are fun to abuse. I like to take a spoon, heat it up until it's glowing hot, then place it on the skin while they're asleep. The reaction when they wake up after the 25th time of being burned by a redhot piece of metal is amazing. You can literally piecemeal their mental stability down to complete insanity, then leave them in their own homes helpless and alone. :DDDDDDDDDD

Snapshots:

1. With the dust settled Amazon's Soci... - archive.org, archive.today
   
   
   
   I am just a simple bot, not a moderator of this subreddit | bot subreddit | contact the maintainers

I strongly recommend Stone Age. I honestly have yet to meet someone who hasn't enjoyed it, and it only takes ~70-80 minutes tops to play.

Also, you may want to check out Power Grid if you're into paper money and auctions and buying property. It's like Monopoly but without dice and with a much heavier emphasis on auctions, which enables planning and strategy.

Depending on where you live, you might want to look for a Half Price Books near by. They usually have some good buys there, especially brand new copies of games that publishers are phasing out. I just got Power Struggle (Z-man games) there for $8, brand new.

Also, sign up for Amazon prime (if you are student, you can get free six months) if you want it fast and go with:

Power Grid

The Speicherstadt

LoTR: Board Game although this can be found much cheaper, including shipping, on eBay.

You may also want to head over to Barnes and Noble and check their clearance section. You can always get lucky and find some of their boardgames in there at 50% off.

Needs more Power Grid

Quick question, I'm looking to order the game and expansions on Amazon right now:

Will Power Grid Deluxe work as well with the expansions as the Original Power Grid?

Saw your list of board games, and it reminded me to add Power Grid to my list. Have you ever played Power Grid? I only learned about it recently on a trip, and it's fun, in line with the quality of Catan, Puerto Rico, and Agricola.

No worse than one with out dirty words like this one

I would like this because I have no internet (I am connecting off a distant neighbor) so when we do connect we get disconnected often. I connect at 2.0Mbps. I haven't been able to afford cable or sattelite tv of any kind and in my small town we have no basic channels. So my kids watch VHS tapes over and over again. I think this board game would be fun for The kids and myself. It would be something fun to do for Christmas :D http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00112CHCK/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&qid=1324076949&sr=1-18&condition=new

Wait, so you're telling me that games like the Mindflex is actually real? They read alpha/beta brainwaves?
http://www.amazon.com/Mattel-P2639-Mindflex-Game/dp/B001UEUHCG

I was debating this with my gf, telling her that there's not way a $60 game could actually read brainwaves. I thought the whole thing was just programmed to move up and down randomly.

I think this is great, not only because it's ridiculous, but because it kinda makes fun of motion (and to a degree touch-screen gesture) controls for computers and other devices.

The ways in which we interact with computers, from the invention of the mouse to today, has been designed with the mouse and keyboard in mind. For that reason, those two devices are the most efficient and convenient way to interact and navigate through modern GUIs. While touchscreens, motion gestures, and voice recognition may be "cool" and feel like the future, they're rarely, if ever, a better way to interact with a computer than our good ol' keyboard-mouse pair.

I believe things will stay this way for the foreseeable future. Perhaps when mind control becomes as accurate and fine-tuned as the mouse and keyboard (and not just a novelty), we'll see a change in the way computers are controlled. But for now, I'd like to sit stationary in this desk chair and keep my oily fingers off my nice widescreen monitor.

Mindflex

No that was mindflex released in 2009. Same game different controlls. The Harry Potter version I remember playing in kindergarten so maybe late 2001, early 2002, used knobs and levers so it was a lot easier

heres the link

https://www.amazon.com/Mattel-P2639-Mindflex-Game/dp/B001UEUHCG?keywords=the+mindflex&qid=1536706541&sr=8-1&ref=sr_1_1

There is a board game: http://www.amazon.com/Mattel-P2639-Mindflex-Game/dp/B001UEUHCG

Looking online, the keyword you're going to want to use is "neurogaming" and it appears to be in development, but there's nothing major I recognize. From what I know about these sorts of things from documentaries about medicine and the like, with practice you can certainly learn to control these quite well. They can be used for people with severe physical disabilities to move a cursor, for instance. Some of the reviews for the board game above are very negative because people found the process of learning to be too difficult. The problem is basically that what has to change is you - you have to build the mass of neurons in that part of the brain to control the device, the device does not point at some part of the brain you're already using to imagine what you want it to do.

Mindflex Game https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UEUHCG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_R49TBbKFTC91N

meh close enought

Use the force

This one is a lot more fun

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UEUHCG

Oh, not as portable as a card game, but Tsuro is super easy, yet captivating.
https://www.amazon.com/Calliope-Tsuro-Family-Strategy-Board/dp/B002SQBB3O

Here's what I'd do if I had to rebuild a collection from scratch for $1k trying to have a wide variety of play styles:

7 Wonders $32.99
Agricola $45.79
Battlestar Galactica $39.97
Carcassonne $30.02
Carcassonne Inns & Cathedrals$15.71
Dixit $22.65
Dominion Big Box $69.18 Prosperity is one of the best expansions; Alchemy is not, but you're pretty much getting it for free in this set.
Eclipse $61.49 It wouldn't be a board game library without a 4X game, and I think Eclipse is the best currently.
Eldritch Horror $40.47 - I love Arkham Horror, but Eldritch streamlines a lot of the fiddly rules of the original.
Formula D [$41.96] (http://www.amazon.com/Asmodee-FDUSASM-Formula-D/dp/2914849648/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1395757676&sr=1-1&keywords=formula+d)
Gloom $17.98
Guillotine $13.52
King of Tokyo $30.19
Love Letter $9.34
Memoir 44 $47.43
No Thanks! $9.98
Pandemic $31.65
Power Grid $32.27
Puerto Rico [$31.20] (http://www.amazon.com/Rio-Grande-Games-195RGG-Puerto/dp/B00008URUT/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395756360&sr=8-1&keywords=puerto+rico)
Race for the Galaxy $24.11
Resistance, The $17.99
Roborally $37.49
Settlers of Catan $37.99
Telestrations $19.99 Awesome and funny party game. My friends and I eventually tire of Apples to Apples or Cards Against Humanity, but seldom do so with this.
Ticket to Ride $37.24
Ticket to Ride 1910 Expansion $18.21
Tsuro $24.22
Twilight Struggle $49.98
Village $35.47
Wits & Wagers $19.99

That comes up to $946.47; room for a couple more expansions or another game.

As I said, already, for the top 10 games you can probably get a good deal online. But, stray from that and the deals aren't as big. My gaming habits tend more towards casual, family and friend style games, which may also make a difference.

Forbidden Island - 16%

Gloom expansion - 15%

Say Anything - 12%

Munchkin - 16%

Tsuro - 19%

MLP Trading Card Game - 9%

Bananagrams - 21%

Scrabble - 15%

Apples to Apples - 0%

Oz Fluxx - 23%

Those are the last 10 games I bought. The biggest percentage is 23%, and that was only a $3 difference. The biggest dollar difference was $5. For differences that small, i'll buy local. It supports the local guy and I get it now, not several days to a week from now.

Also, the reason I don't agree with the original statement is because (as is shown in my personal examples) the online prices aren't that much less for the games I have purchased lately. And, I have never called in to any of the local stores and found that they do not have something in stock that isn't also out of stock online. So, I also disagree with the assertion that they cannot compete for item availability.

Again, I use the bookstore analogy. Sure, I may be able to get a better deal for a book online, but it's not going to stop my from heading to Powells. And, except for the most obscure of titles, i'll probably find a copy of it at Powells.

HAPPY CAKE DAY!!!! I hope that it has been faboo and awesome for you!

Here is my item or this one if you wish, it's purple!!

Thanks for the contest!

Edit: I just saw that today is my cake day too! Yay for us!

• King of Tokyo
  
  
• Smash Up
  
  
• Forbidden Island
  
  
• Tsuro
  
  
• Room 25
  
  All five of these games should meet your criteria quite nicely. I think all of them, except for Room 25, have also been featured on Wil Wheaton's Table Top, if you wanna check out what the gameplay actually looks and feels like.

My daughter absolutely loves playing Tsuro.

Elephant barber.

I'm getting into board games in a big way and I've been wanting this one as it looks like fun! Tsuro: The Game of the Path by Calliope Games http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002SQBB3O/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_unxTtb12CXK7G

Thanks for the contest!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002SQBB3O/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_p6MODb4SWVV78

This was fun :)

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11 (this one is reaching... it organizes... lunch?)

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Bonus - hmmmm, this?

Risk Godstorm is pretty awesome looking. It's played on an ancient-ish map of the world, and includes Atlantis and the Underworld has continents. It has a few different game play elements too.

My husband really enjoyed Risk Legacy, but that sort of necessitates you play with a set group of people. It mostly plays similarly to regular Risk but incorporates different rules that carry from game to came - you open envelopes that contain new rules, or strike old ones, in different replays or after certain things happen in a game. Choices made the first time you play make gameplay different in subsequent games.

It's currently on sale for $51 at Amazon, which isn't much cheaper, but there ya go.

Occasionally they have actual deals. Also for smaller orders it can make senses when you factor in shipping costs and delivery times.

For example you could get Risk Legacy or Galaxy Trucker right now for less than most other retailers or Sushi Go for a couple bucks more than Greatboardgames but free two day shipping w/ Prime.

Non referral link https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005J146MI/

You need to play Risk Legacy.

Long story short (but I'm sure I'll ramble) is that this is a board game with spoilers and achievements. It is easily the best board game purchase I've made, and you can see the types of games I play by looking at my wishlist (I also own Puerto Rico, Settlers, Power Grid, Ticket to Ride, Twilight Striggle, etc). Make sure you read a NON-SPOILER review if you decide to research.

If you love Risk, or even only kinda like Risk, get this game. The most important thing to note is that games are definitely shorter than regular Rish, as there are different win conditions.

It has an ever changing board. During each game and after each game, the board permanently changes. The winner signs the board with a permanenet marker and gets a permanent buff for himself in future games. Stickers are placed on the board buffing and debuffing territories permanently. You will throw components away. There are 5 factions, each with their own special abilities.

And there are packets. These are your achievements. One says "Do not open until someone has signed the board for the second time." So once someone wins their second game, you open that packet. There are new rules, new stickers, new components, etc. in these packets.

Sometimes things are very unexpected. Sometimes things are terrible. It is an amazing experience.

__

Thanks for the contest! If I happen to win, I'd like the Les Mis movie off the "Wife Things" list.

It's... not out of print?

Not sure what you mean here.

Terra Mystica is somewhat similar but slightly more complicated: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/120677/terra-mystica

Five Tribes is great because it plays 2 people as well as 3 or 4: http://www.daysofwonder.com/five-tribes/en/

Castles of Burgundy also does 2-4 really well: http://www.amazon.com/Ravensburger-81243-The-Castles-Burgundy/dp/B005UWYK22

Every once in a while Castles of Burgundy drops to $19.99 on Amazon. Source

In 2013, US dollars were exchanged to canadian dollars almost 1 to 1 (0.94). Today, a canadian dollar is worth 70 cents. So Troyes went up from 35 dollars to 45?

It was also highly anticipated reprint in the middle of a boom of interest in boardgaming we are having right now, so the first wave was sold at a high price. Looking at a UK pricetracker you can see both how anticipated it was before the reprint and how the price right now is far from stable, being 35 pounds in february and 60 right now.
Android netrunner, if anything, seems to have gone down in prices for the UK at least, and the UK and american amazon usually track each other pretty well. Castles from Burgundy is stable for the last five years, Jamaica is falling.

It seems like it's either a canadian problem or maybe you were really good at picking prices when they were low back in 2013 and now you are comparing them to randomly chosen prices now?

Forbidden Desert comes out tomorrow. It looks like it's going to be an improved Forbidden Island.

I have been wanting this game, Forbidden Desert. I have the game's predecessor, Forbidden Island, and it is one of my favorites!

A random thing about me....I'm taller than the average female and male! I tower over pretty much everyone I know; I'm 6 feet tall.

Elephant Barber

https://www.amazon.com/Gamewright-415-Forbidden-Desert-Board/dp/B00B4ECHJI


2 to 5 players.

it literally says it on the box.

[Defeating the Dwarfinator] http://www.flickr.com/photos/100212244@N08/9585370412/

All hail how Revmama defeated the mighty Dwarfinator and kept the universe free from slobber and dirty diapers! Thrice this morning did he scour the earth with his foul dirty bombs. Thrice did Revmama rip away and dispose of them and again make the tri-state area free of his filth.

HAIL AND KILL

http://www.amazon.com/Gamewright-415-Forbidden-Desert-Board/dp/B00B4ECHJI/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1XZIRN0LC58RN&coliid=I10Y7IHB46PFGJ

Oh cool, I'm gonna ... oh.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00B4ECHJI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494046315&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=forbidden+desert&dpPl=1&dpID=51BbDQqpiWL&ref=plSrch

Looks like Amazon just got some back in stock for 19.99 + 4.99 shipping.

Skull Board Game https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GYDLY8E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_qwEYxb6165BMC

EDIT: And its back up to 39.99.

How many players are you looking for? I love these exact types of games so I won't try to repeat any answers.

I recently got Piñata and have been enjoying it. 2 players, plays fairly quick (~30 min). Good mix of luck and strategy.

Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small is a fantastic 2 player game in a little box. All the fun of Agricola in a fraction of the time.

The Kosmos 2 player series all come in fairly small boxes. Look at Jambo (which I believe is now called Asante).

The Gryphon Games bookshelf series is another series of small, good games. Though of them I've only played (and love) Incan Gold. Like I said, I haven't played the others but I hear Roll Through the Ages and For $ale are the other 2 that are worth getting.

Lost Legacy is the spiritual successor to Love Letter. Might be worth checking out.

My picks for things people have already said:

Skull is awesome! I think a reprint may be on the way, so don't pay more than $15 for it. If you can get your hands on it though, it's an awesome game.

Asmodee Skull https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GYDLY8E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_yyDKBbXTYHDZV

https://www.amazon.fr/Asmodee-SKR01N-Skull-Cartes-Argent/dp/B00GYDLY8E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497805198&sr=8-1&keywords=skull+jeu

Amazon France, don't know if that is any good for you - but it is widely available.

I'm just going to hijack the thread and say what a great party game this is. I was at a party a few weeks ago with a fairly diverse crowd. I brought a few games with me with the thought of maybe suggesting one depending on the mood of the crowd (I didn't know many people, it the first time I hung with this group). After awhile the party was rolling, people were laughing and my wife suggested Skull would probably be fun. So I brought it out. No one else at the party had played before but if was quick to teach and we spent the next hour or hour and and a half howling with laughter. People floated in and out. The host caught me the next day and said he thought he needed to get a copy. #success :)

I do kind of wish the Asmodee version included enough cards for eight people as six is sometimes not enough for a party game. Maybe I just need to buy a second copy or, to OPs point, just make a custom edition.

(And yes, the other option is to just use playing cards but I think the art adds something to the gameplay).

As far as worker placement, I should have added a caveat in original post that I acknowledge that workerplacement games are not normally direct and that I don't expect that.

Im getting hannabi once it goes back onto prime.

Im getting love letter

Skull: Okay, so as the dice tower reviewer of it said, 24$ seems kinda steep for what it accomplishes, and its only up to 6 players, and the only time i want an easy party game is normally when I have 7+ people, so I'd need to get more than 1 set a of this version. If it came as a 12 person version i'd get it in a heart beat though. Also I question my need for more simple, small person party games after I already have resistance, and soon love letter and hannabi.

Jungle Speed: This one just doesn't interest me, even with the rather silly video, I prefer actual spoons more :D

And last but not least, Stone Age: Stone age intrigues me, the price is a bit pushy, but i expect that since it is a "big" game (like catan and eclipse). I like how it looks though! It looks like it'd fill that niche. But i've also been looking at lords of waterdeep, which flavor I like a bit more. Do you have a preference between the two?

Short: Skull (2-6 players)
Long(er): 7 Wonders (3-7 players)
Co-Op: Pandemic: Iberia (2-5 players)
(Note: Z-Man is the English version and looks to be cheaper. I believe Devir does the localization for Spain.)

I guess that it'd be okay if they brought their own games, but you should warn them about possible damage. Accidents happen.

I thought of two other games for you:

• Monikers
  
• Skull
  
  I heard about both games from Shut Up & Sit Down and I think both are really good party games (people can drop in and drop out) and I think it might work for the couch game or for a party bluffing game.
  
  I wish you the best. Wish I was related to you so I could come play. :)
  
  Congrats again!

You can get this version on uk amazon. No idea what the cots to deliver wpuld be though.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00GYDLY8E/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1459306882&sr=1-2&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=skull&dpPl=1&dpID=61UoT2GdWyL&ref=plSrch

Also on Amazon.de

https://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/B00GYDLY8E/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1497811471&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=skull+game&dpPl=1&dpID=61Pka4ust5L&ref=plSrch

Here we go:

Sushi Go amazon link

Cost: $11 Remaining: $89

Love Letter amazon link

Cost: $8 Remaining: $81

Settlers of Catan amazon link

Cost: $38 Remaining: $43

King of Tokyo amazon link

Cost: $27 Remaining: $16

Forbidden Island amazon link

Cost: $14 Remaining: $2

This is how I'd do it.

Alternately you could try Carcassonne amazon link in place of Catan and then Pandemic amazon link in place of Forbidden Island. Which I think puts you a bit over the $100 mark. Other games you might look at Ticket to Ride.

Also on ...
Preorder on [Fun Again] (https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=025452) where it says they will ship it out right away

Amazon

Minatures Market

Barnes and Noble

and probably your local FLGS

Awful lot of cool stuff spam hits Reddit. Its getting a bit old.

Welcome to the hobby!

Lords of Waterdeep is a very good fantasy-themed board game to start with. It is set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe and uses a game mechanic called "worker placement". Amazon currently has it for about $34.

Dominion is a very popular "deck-building" game that plays with cards only (i.e. no board). It has a loose fantasy-ish theme, but it will be a good introduction to the world of modern gaming. Another deck builder with a more conventional fantasy theme is Ascension: Deckbuilding Game. [Amazon has Dominion for about $29.]
(http://smile.amazon.com/Rio-Grande-Games-RGG370-Dominion/dp/B001JQY6K4/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1464598805&sr=1-1&keywords=dominion)

And yes, while not fantasy, Pandemic is one of the greatest cooperative board games ever made (my opinion of course). Definitely worth getting. Amazon has this for about $24.

Happy gaming!

/u/r2d8 getinfo long

I have been enjoying Smash Up with my wife lately, but you could also go with something more like Pandemic instead. There is always Star Realms and Dominion too. I hear good things about Lord of Waterdeep with the Scoundrels of Skullport expansion for wife/husband play, but I have not played myself yet.

I think you might like Lords of Waterdeep.

https://www.amazon.com/Lords-Waterdeep-Dungeons-Dragons-Board/dp/0786959916/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1486998938&sr=1-1&keywords=lords+of+waterdeep

Here is the mobile version of your link

It's honestly surprising that you don't have the Firefly board game on your wishlist. It's an absolutely amazing game, and truly feels like you are in the show. I enjoy it immensely, and I think you will too.

Link

Here are some links for the product in the above comment for different countries:

Link: Firefly board game

• UK: amazon.co.uk
  
• Spain: amazon.es
  
• France: amazon.fr
  
• Germany: amazon.de
  
• Japan: amazon.co.jp
  
• Canada: amazon.ca
  
• Italy: amazon.it
  
  
  This bot is currently in testing so let me know what you think by voting (or commenting).

Given you like scifi, and if you happen to like Firefly, there's a Firefly RPG and a tabletop Firefly: The Game.

I see it all the time in my local Target, though I don't see it online.

Here's an Amazon link

Well, if you look at the Amazon listing, 90% of the reviews are 4 star or higher. I've played it with a dozen people or so, not all Firefly fans, and the game is extremely well received.

http://www.amazon.com/Gale-Force-9-GF9-FIRE001-Firefly/dp/0992251656/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452689045&sr=8-1&keywords=firefly+the+board+game

As far as how it relates to other games, it gives you a huge amount of freedom. The best way I can describe it is that it's a free roaming board game. You have end goals that you work toward, but how you get there is 100% up to you. You can go anywhere, talk to anyone, buy anything, arrange your crew and equip them however you wish.

Full disclosure, the first time you play won't be a 'real' game. The rule book is daunting the first time you look through it, but that's mainly due to how you have to set the board and your ships up. After a few turns, everything makes sense and it's actually a ridiculously easy game to play.

Firefly the game

Price history on Amazon is here. Note: CSI has it for $32.99 if you're already bundling an order.

Oh man, there's a lot of stuff you can get him that fits the bill.

Maybe the Pac-Man shot glasses, Nun Bowling!, Gloom boardgame (dark humor and very fun), the Man Cave Laws poster, a Doctor Who mug, or a mighty wallet with prints he'd like. I could go on!

My favorite gaming memory is probably my first D&D campaign. It's not a kid game, but you said tabletop counts! It was just a really fun experience learning about this whole new gaming world--I'd never played tabletop games before of any kind. I think I made a bard, and I ended up being super useful in this campaign because we needed to suck up to a lot of people. My bard spent like 90% of every day singing and trying to convince NPCs to do stuff, and it was fun to be useful.

I'm still a kid at heart!

There aren't many games on my WL as most games we want are super expensive, but Super Mario Galaxy would be great, or this Gloom game looks pretty fun. Or Wii Music, my brother kept my copy when I moved. In summary, surprise me out of these options if I win because these are the only games on my list (I made it easy, no searching!).

boardgames/cardgames:

I recommend Gloom, castle panic, Munchkin (though if he's into boardgames and card games he might already have these)

Edit: also smallworld, settlers,

Here are some of the games my Movie Night/Board Games group loves:

• Last Night on Earth
  
• Gloom
  
• Once Upon a Time
  
• A Touch of Evil
  
• Ticket to Ride Europe
  
• And my Personal Favorite: Betrayal at House on the Hill
  

HAPPY HAPPY CAKE DAY!

1. ---
   
2. ---
   
3. No book is currently higher on my want list.
   
4. ---
   
5. Not just an animal.
   
6. Purple and poignant.
   
7. A game for misanthropes.
   
8. A guilty pleasure, albeit one I don't get to partake in too often.
   
9. This tool allows near instant face to face communication.
   
10. This may be from my childhood but its still a part of my life to this day.
    
11. Now hear me out on this one: in order to use this item your organizational skill have to be off the charts.
    
12. I got to live music events and write reviews on them, and writing is one of my three biggest hobbies.
    
13. Not sure it gets nerdier...
    
14. Few things are more natural than hair.
    
15. The Great Old One.
    
16. Something I'd wear all the time.
    
17. A lot of people of people tell me this is funny. I've only played once, and only online.
    
18. ---
    
19. ---
    
20. As a writer, gamer and aspiring video/sound editor, this is the ultimate dream item on my wishlist.
    
    BONUS. Off your High Priority wishlist, the thing that sticks out the most to me, because I'm a war buff, was THIS. Though peronsally, I'd probably grab THIS above the rest.

I recently had the opportunity to play this game and it is SO FUN. I highly recommend it!

That being said, I want Jessica to make me a hat! A bear hat! It's so adorbs I can't even control myself. :)

GLOOM sounds like it might be a good fit for your group - It's a storytelling card game about who can make their victorian family the most miserable, before they kill them off. You get to tell silly baloney stories about the cards you and other people are playing, and it's like improv co-op storytelling. With points, and a winner.

edit: Link

I took a break from school for a bit; I decided to go back this year. Good luck in your own studies!

flabbergasted

Edit: I totally didn't add a WL item--whoops! Gloom

Hmmm... this is pretty cool: Schumacher XP400 Instant Portable Power Source

And this looks incredibly fun (in an evil way): Gloom

It's on sale (33% also) on the United States Amazon site as well. I noticed that a majority of their board games are about $10 off. I just started gaming so I'm not sure if this is normal.

You could go all in with an awesome collection of Cards Against Humanity!

It requires you to have a pretty twisted sense of humor but it's a ton of fun with friends.

You could check out Firefly the Game.

If you're a fan of the space opera, this is one of the more enjoyable games I've ever played.

If you really don't mind blowing 300 bucks, there's the Star Wars X-Wing miniatures game!

You take control of a spacecraft in the Star Wars universe and each game is like an episode of a Star Wars tv show, with a clear goal and twists and turns along the way as you try and accomplish that goal. The miniatures can get pricey but 300 bucks would get you started on a pretty sweet collection if you buy the smaller ships.

300 bucks would also get you started with the world's greatest trading card game: Magic the Gathering!

This classic card game has been around for over 20 years, features thousands upon thousands of cards to select from and, just like chess, takes 10 minutes to learn and a lifetime to master. For 300 bucks you could both have a gaming mat, plenty of dice, a kick-ass card collection and more than enough to start building multiple decks. Heck, you can just go and buy pre-made decks from a plethora of websites. Check out Youtube for suggestions on what formats you might enjoy, but kitchen table Magic the Gathering is VERY satisfying for two people.

Of course, if you really want an epic adventure, you could check out the bigger, meaner, older cousin of Magic the Gathering, and maybe the most infamous table top game in the world: Dungeons and Dragons!

A little more effort than most, but hugely rewarding if you have a colorful imagination and don't mind some simple math (most games requre SOME math, just look at Monopoly), and you have decades of books to explore, and many are available for pretty cheap from both used book stores and your local library (hopefully). This is a hobby that lasts for the rest of your life.

Like Dungeons and Dragons but want a more easy and accessible game to start out? How about [Muchkin!] (http://www.amazon.com/Steve-Jackson-Games-1483SJG-Munchkin/dp/B004U7JJWE/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1462113434&sr=1-1&keywords=munchkin)

We're talking dungeons...dragons...knights in shining armor and a LOT of fun. It's a good start for tabletop gaming.

Of course, Tabletop gaming is pretty extensive when it comes to choices. Here are a few more to check out:

The Game of the Century: Settlers of Catan

Spooky fun with Arkham Horror!

Big Adventures: Small Heroes... Mice and Mystics!

Survive the Zombie Apocalypse with Dead of Winter!

Of course, like Levar Burton says, you don't have to take my word for it. Here is the awesome Wil Wheaton's Youtube series, Tabletop! He plays with his friends so you don't have to! This series is amazing at helping to decide which tabletop game might be best for your playing needs.

Need a little help deciding if Magic the Gathering is right for you? How about Spellslingers on Youtube! Game Guru Day[9] plays Magic with his friends. Not only is this a super easy way to learn the game, it's a lot of fun to watch.

Need a little help understanding Dungeons and Dragons? Give Critical Role on Youtube a listen!

Luckily, you happened upon a time where tabletop games are going stronger than ever so...good luck!

Arkham Horror is one of my favorite board games. Co-op, lasts a couple hours, fun plot, great to play with several people who like to have fun. I know it can be found at local game shops, and even Barnes and Noble.

Send happy birthday wishes from me!

Before we dive into this can I ask you about that Veggie strainer? Because I'm all about making food at home. Any dishes you look forward to making with it?

I'm guessing 63.35


Under Ten

Less than 25

Less than fiddy

Arkham Horror and a few of its expansions.

arkham horror

Talisman is a super epic fantasy board game. I own it and several of the expansion packs. It's super easy to pick up and play even with people who aren't stereotypically into this sort of game however it is still interesting enough to keep the attention of even the most hard core fantasy board game players.

Also Arkham Horror is freaking kick ass. Way more complicated but super fun.

Hm... I'm not sure what to do about transitioning into a Fallout RPG system. I'll share with you what's worked for me to acquaint new-comers to tabletop games:

• Buy one of these: One, Two, Three, maybe Four
  
  
• Schedule a "game night" where your group just picks up and plays one of those games. Work together to understand the rules and the process and gauge the how much fun everyone has doing these sort of games.
  
  
• After a few games nights, ask your friends if they're interested in trying something a little less pre-made. Buy this and upgrade your game night.
  
  
• After a few sessions of that, if all goes well and the general consensus is positive, expand your game night to your desired game system.

It could be I missed the boat, but I'm not seeing that the current discounts are much more than the "usual".

Price history for Base

Either way, thanks for pointing out that amazon.ca has a pretty nice selection of Arkham expansions :)

Dunno if you still want something like that, but maybe Descent: Journeys in the Dark can be your thing?

Here's an Amazon link. It's 58$ now, but it was 49$ 3 weeks ago when I bought it. Totally worth it. Also comes with some stand-up doors and some terrain. Plus you also get the game which is a pretty badass dungeon delve ( ain't DND... But still)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1616611898/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484932473&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=descent+board+game&dpPl=1&dpID=61TwR%2BE2rIL&ref=plSrch

Decently long strategic style games. Arkham horror and small world were by far our favorite. Although we have a lot of time to some game with tiles that played a bit like D&D. I think it was called descent. Yep that's it.

I think Decent might be more what you are looking for.

It's made by Fantasy Flight Games. Here is a link to their page about it.

https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/x-wing/

I don't know what country you live in or if Amazon ships to your location, but that's where I generally buy my stuff. There are 2 core sets (one with characters from the original trilogy and one with characters from The Force Awakens) and you can start with either of those.

https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-X-Wing-Miniatures-Game/dp/1616613769/ref=sr_1_2?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1485545240&sr=1-2&keywords=star+wars+x+wing

Technically you can play with only the core set but I'd recommend a couple of the expansions as well. Be careful though it's a bit of a rabbit hole once you get started. There is way too much available for any sane person to handle. This game is tons of fun. Here are a couple of links to the initial expansions I'd recommend as well.

https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-X-Wing-Rebel-Expansion/dp/1616619112/ref=pd_sim_21_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1616619112&pd_rd_r=0C6W74SHHJ2HC69M8WCW&pd_rd_w=TcWGx&pd_rd_wg=jztQw&psc=1&refRID=0C6W74SHHJ2HC69M8WCW

https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-X-Wing-Imperial-Expansion/dp/B019HWSRZQ/ref=sr_1_25?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1485545524&sr=1-25&keywords=star+wars+x+wing+expansion

You could totally start playing this game http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-X-Wing-Miniatures-Game/dp/1616613769 at massive scale.

Here you go.

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-X-Wing-Miniatures-Game/dp/1616613769/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411245898&sr=8-1&keywords=xwing

Check the prices of http://amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-X-Wing-Miniatures-Game/dp/1616613769/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407251124&sr=8-1&keywords=Star+Wars+X-wing%3A

$30, see how much shipping is to Spain.

Amazon has great stock for this game. €39.95 + €3.99 shipping for the Core Box. Why doesn't everybody check Amazon first? :D

You can get it for £25.52 shipped on Amazon UK, and it is 29 in my FLGS.

Do you know if there's a big difference between the TFA core set and the regular core set?

£25.42 on Amazon with free shipping. You may find it cheaper elsewhere.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1616613769/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d8_i2?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1NM7N07CC285ECRCE6X4&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=455344027&pf_rd_i=468294

The X-Wing core set is heavily discounted right now on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616613769/

This looks really fun to play if you love Star Wars!

Side note: I went to Connect Comic-Con and this guy had amazing Star Wars posters. I got the Endor one and I bought my sister the Boba Fett. They were really nice quality.

This one: http://www.amazon.com/Asmodee-DX01US-Dixit/dp/2914849656/.

My group of friends likes games with numbers and are not the creative type so it sees no play.

WOWOWOW thank you so much for hosting this contest! This is getting me pumped. I literally just started working out at home yesterday, and while I'm beat right now, I really enjoyed it! =D Made me realize how little supplies I have at home though, haha.

1. Here is my fitness wishlist!
   
   
2. Dixit is a super fun and beautifully illustrated board game. Here's a YouTube video of some gameplay. Someone I know got this game and I played it with a group of friends. I can vouch for it's fun-ness!
   
   
3. Hi there! Thanks again for the contest!! =D

I don't have any of the listed games you want for trade, but I do have Dixit.

It's a great family game but didnt gain any momentum in my group. BGG page. We have only played it twice, it's in mint condition.

Would you be open to a 1:1 for Pandemic Iberia?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Dixit-Board-Game/897441174

https://www.amazon.com/Asmodee-DIX01-Dixit/dp/2914849656

Pretty much the cheapest price for Dixit on Amazon in history. I picked up a copy.

http://camelcamelcamel.com/Asmodee-DX01US-Dixit/product/2914849656?context=browse

• Quest for El Dorado for $19.99
  
  
• Patchwork for $17.84
  
  
• Agricolo for $32.89
  
  
• 7 Wonders for $28.99
  
  
• Photosynthesis for $21.11
  
  
• Isle of Skye for $24.35
  
  or just go look at https://www.reddit.com/r/Boardgamedeals/

Monopoly is just a crappy board game altogether. It's based entirely on luck instead of strategy. I'm on mobile so give me a second to find a game that is far superior.

Edit: here

1. https://www.amazon.com/Mattel-P2639-Mindflex-Game/dp/B001UEUHCG
   
   
2. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/related?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0105225
   
   
3. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114558/
   
   also, please keep in mind, the first EEG machine was completed in 1924. ninety-three years of R&D. think for a second. the first computer was completed in 1946. we figured out that forwards time travel was possible in 1919.
   
   let all that sink in, folks.

Citadels, Tsuro, and 7 Wonders might be good for you guys to try.

Citadels is a game that can handle 2-8 players, and the structure of the game is rather different, making for more replayability, for differing numbers of players. http://amzn.com/158994030X

Tsuro is a simple but fun game (and the guys that make it are good people). http://amzn.com/B002SQBB3O

7 Wonders is a nice balance between strategy, complexity, and ease of play. It can seem complex at first play, but it doesn't take long to figure out and is a lot of fun. http://amzn.com/B0043KJW5M

There are already lot of games available that uses just your brain as controller Throw trucks Mindflex

You can even Control an iPhone using your brain

Brain controlled prosthesis as good as one finger typing

World of warcraft controlled using EEG

VR games + BCI + augmented reality is the future. And its closer than you think