Hits of board games. The best board games for the whole family and all ages
Game is an integral attribute of every person's life. Some people prefer team games like football and volleyball, others immerse themselves in the virtual world, and still others prefer to spend their leisure time playing board games. The advantage of such entertainment is the fact that the board gameplay is equally exciting for both children and experienced people.
Most board games, despite their apparent simplicity, force players to seriously think about their next move. Distractions, bluffs, attempts to help or, conversely, harm opponents accompany every game played. Despite hundreds of “board games” released annually, hiding behind bright covers and unexpected plot twists, some games have been and remain “classics of the genre.” That is why we decided to make a rating of the best board games in the world, considered classics.
Today, the top ten most popular board creations on the planet, suitable for players of any age, include:
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10. Alias
In Russified versions, this game, which has united millions of fans, is widely known as “ Say otherwise" or " Elias» (« Alias»).
The plot of the game is extremely simple and resembles the game " Crocodile" One of the participants in the game draws out a card with a certain set of words, pictures or puzzles and tries to show their meaning to opponents with emotions and gestures. The winner is the one who can explain as many words as possible from the card in 60 seconds.
This game is often used by psychologists and event organizers to integrate groups of people who do not know each other well.
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9. Imaginarium
On the ninth line of the ranking of world-famous board games is a game called “ Imaginarium».
In concept and gameplay, this masterpiece is similar to another bestseller " Dixit" The walking player looks at the card with the image, comes up with and describes the image with which this picture is associated. Next, the playing card is placed face down on the table, and the remaining participants in the process try to choose from their set the card that, in their opinion, most suits the leader’s description voiced above. Difficulties often arise due to the fact that the drawings on the cards are very non-standard and you need to strain your imagination in order to get as close as possible to the correct answer.
Reading time: 12 minutes
An alternative to standard soft toys in the form of figurines of princesses, superheroes, cars will be several board games for children: boys, girls or for the whole family. Such puzzles not only entertain children, but also develop many qualities that are necessary for life. A variety of boards will allow you to choose the one that your baby will definitely like.
What types of board games are there for children?
Today, there are many types of board puzzles: detective games, adventure games, economic strategies, and so on. Each type has its own specifics; they develop memory, intelligence, and teach strategic thinking. Board games are also educational in nature; with the help of them you can learn English and other foreign languages, study numbers, develop counting skills and other mathematical abilities.
The best board games for kids
Buying puzzles will not be difficult if you order board games from an online store with delivery by mail to Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian cities. You can also buy children's games in shopping centers and markets. Buy board puzzles cheaply at sales, keep an eye out for promotions and discounts. Below is a selection of the best board games based on the child’s age. Prices are average across stores, indicated in rubles.
Board games for children 4 years old
The board puzzle “Children of Carcassonne”, a simplified version of the adult board game “Carcassonne,” is very popular. During the gameplay, the kids of Carcassonne will have to catch all the released animals of this French city:
- model name: Children of Carcassonne;
- price: 990 rub.;
- characteristics: type - educational, theme - adventure, material - cardboard, wood, number of players - 2-4, game time - 20 minutes, figurine size (LxWxH) - 2x1x2.5 cm, package size - 19.5x6.5x27.5 cm, field size – 7x7 cm;
- advantages: clear rules, short game time, does not have time to get bored;
- cons: none.
The “Animal Letters” board will help your child quickly master the alphabet in a playful way, and older children will expand their vocabulary and improve their literacy:
- model name: Animal Letters;
- price: 790 rub.;
- characteristics: type - educational, theme - animals, material - cardboard, number of players - 2-5, game time - 20 minutes, box size - 18.5x11.5x4 cm, contents - 33 cards with animals, 70 cards with letters, memo with alphabet, rules;
- pros: colorful cards, suitable for both schoolchildren and preschool children;
- cons: none.
Children's board games from 5 years old
Colorful puzzles for children aged 5 years and older from the “Color Code” series will help your child understand the variety of colors in our vast world:
- model name: Color code;
- price: 1030 rub.;
- characteristics: type – logical, developmental, material – plastic, number of players – 1, contents – 18 plastic frames with images of geometric shapes, a stand for combining them, a booklet with 100 tasks with answers;
- pros: improves color perception;
- cons: the game is designed for only 1 participant.
None of the players knows when a “pie” will fly into their face! A board game for two people with a surprise effect will ensure a fun pastime:
- model name: Pie in the face;
- price: 1897 rub.;
- characteristics: type - entertaining, number of players - from 2, equipment - game catapult, launch handle, 2 twisting handles, chin lock, mask with a hole for the face, roulette with a digital panel with an arrow, sponge, instructions, additional attributes - a can of whipped cream;
- pros: children are delighted when a parent gets a “pie” in the face;
- cons: everything around is creamy.
From 7 years
Logical children's board games from 7 years old for composing words like the crossword puzzle “Scrabble. The Power of a Magnet" replenishes vocabulary, develops a child’s linguistic skills, strengthens memory, broadens his horizons:
- Model name: Erudite. Magnet strength;
- price: 950 rub.;
- characteristics: type - developmental, number of players - 2-4, material - plastic, metal, textile, equipment - plastic case with a magnetic field, 131 magnetic chips, bag for chips, 4 stands for chips, rules;
- Pros: convenient travel version of the desk with magnets;
- cons: none.
A children's version of the classic association puzzle "Crocodile" will be worthy entertainment at a child's birthday or other kids' party:
- Model name: Crocodile. Mini;
- price: 209 rub.;
- characteristics: type - logical, number of players - from 2, material - cardboard, game time - 20 minutes, box size (LxWxD) - 121x60x17 mm, contents - 45 game cards, rules;
- pros: compact colorful packaging;
- cons: small number of cards.
From 6 years
The Delissimo card board puzzle will turn your little one into a pizza delivery man and will help you easily master fractions and fractions, and will help schoolchildren repeat and reinforce this difficult topic:
- model name: Delissimo;
- price: 783 rub.;
- characteristics: type - developmental, number of players - 2-5, game time - 15-20 minutes, contents - 69 round cards with pizza, 49 cards with orders, colored rules and a hint card;
- pros: colorful board puzzle, children can easily remember fractions;
- cons: none.
Another card game option for attention is Dobble. Officially, it is designed for children aged 6 years and older, but adults will find it not as simple as at first glance:
- model name: Dobble;
- price: 970 rub.;
- characteristics: type – movable, number of players – 2-8, game time – 20-30 minutes, equipment – round box, round unique cards with images;
- pros: compact, develops reactions well;
- cons: large cards, it is difficult for a child to take in them with his eyes.
For children 8-10 years old
Featuring a unique dice-throwing pyramid in the board puzzle Camel Up! racing camels will race to the finish line. The colorful board is intended for children aged 8 years and above; it develops fine motor skills:
- model name: Camel Up!;
- price: 1790 rub.;
- characteristics: theme - animals, number of players - 2-8, game time - 20-30 minutes, box size - 296x296x67 mm, card size - 44x68 mm, equipment - playing field, cardboard Egyptian pyramid, 5 camel chips, 5 multi-colored cubes, 40 bet cards, 29 tokens, 50 cardboard coins, 20 banknote cards, rules;
- pros: gambling board for adults and children;
- Cons: the logic is a little broken.
The goal of the board puzzle Pictomania is to draw the hidden word and guess the images of your opponents as quickly as possible. The board game develops spatial thinking and reaction speed well:
- model name: Pictomania;
- price: 1489 RUR;
- characteristics: number of players – 3-6, game time – 25-30 minutes, box size – 25x25x6 cm, contents – 6 drawing tablets, 6 washable markers, 6 sponges, 2 card stands, 6 stickers, 42 guess cards, 6 character cards, 7 number cards, 99 double-sided task cards (4 difficulty levels), 30 point tokens (+ 5 bonus), rules, tin box;
- advantages: a large number of tasks, the presence of the necessary attributes;
- cons: it only makes sense to play in a company of 3 or more people.
At 10-12 years old
A popular board game for children over 12 years old, “Munchkin,” with colored katas, will captivate your child for a long time. Participants will walk through the “dungeon”, pull out unknown creatures and either repent of it or receive treasures for it:
- model name: Munchkin;
- price: 890 rub.;
- characteristics: type - strategic, role-playing, theme - fantasy, number of players - 3-6, game time - 30 minutes, box size - 23.5x15.7x4.4 cm, card size - 5.6x8.7 cm, equipment - 168 cards, cube, rules;
- cons: complicated rules.
The world-famous board puzzle "Alias" or "Say Otherwise" version of the "Party" is created for a party of young people aged 12 years and older. It is built on associations, makes your thinking work at full capacity and at the same time have fun in the company of friends:
- Model name: Alias. Party;
- price: 1090 rub.;
- characteristics: type – associative, number of players – from 4, game time – 45 minutes, equipment – game notebook, 100 cards, cube, pencil, hourglass, rules;
- pros: clear rules;
- cons: long game time, requires at least 4 participants.
Educational board games
An exciting educational adventure game “Turtle Races” is intended for children from 4 years old. The gameplay stops when the turtle reaches the desired finish line:
- model name: Turtle racing;
- price: 990 rub.;
- characteristics: type - adventure game, theme - animals, number of players - 2-5, game time - 20 minutes, box size - 19.5x19.5x5 cm, equipment - rules, playing field, 5 wooden turtles, 52 cards, 5 tokens;
- pros: high-quality, uncomplicated board;
- cons: limited number of participants.
The goal of the "Activity" puzzle is to find the best possible way to explain the word hidden in the card to another child without saying the word itself. The game is very fun and active, recommended for ages 4 and up:
- model name: Activity;
- price: 1790 rub.;
- characteristics: type - mobile, number of players - 3-16, game time - 30 minutes, box size - 34.5x22x4.5 cm, equipment - 6 parts of the playing field, 165 cards, 2 wooden elephant chips, rules;
- pros: clear rules;
- disadvantages: the recommended age is too low, a 4-year-old child has a poor vocabulary, a small playing field.
Educational
The children's board "My First Game of Life" is a mini-version of the adult game "The Game of Life". The baby will have to live one day of his life in it! This educational game prepares your baby for the real world:
- model name: My first game of life;
- price: 990 rub.;
- characteristics: material - plastic, cardboard, number of players - 2-4, game time - 10-15 minutes, box size - 26.7x5x26.7 cm, equipment - playing field, 4 chips, 96 cards, 48 stars, rules;
- pros: high-quality performance;
- cons: gets boring quickly.
Children from about 7 years old already need to know the multiplication tables. You can quickly and efficiently acquire the skill of multiplication with the colorful tabletop puzzle “Flowerium”, which is a flower farm:
- model name: Tsvetarium;
- price: 857 rub.;
- characteristics: material - plastic, cardboard, number of players - 2-6, game time - 20-30 minutes, dimensions (HxWxD) - 18x12x4 cm, contents - 96 color cards, 30 customer cards, 5 memo cards with the multiplication table;
- pros: develops skills well;
- cons: none.
For boys
The game "Cucaracha" is based on the name of an insect - a cockroach! Girls are unlikely to be delighted with this board, but boys aged 4 years and older will also appreciate the original labyrinth of kitchen utensils and a wind-up cockroach powered by batteries:
- model name: Cucaracha;
- price: 2846 rub.;
- characteristics: type - mobile, number of players - 2-4, game time - 20-30 minutes, box size - 30x5x44 cm, equipment - game stand, playing field, 2 doors, 18 chips, 24 latches, cockroach, 2 batteries, cube , rules;
- pros: very mobile, sharpens reaction;
- cons: if you buy without a promotion, it’s a little expensive.
Boys are interested in technology, cars, trains. The board game “Ticket to Ride: Europe” is an entertaining railway adventure with original routes from Edinburgh to Constantinople. It is designed for children aged 8 years and older:
- model name: Ticket to Ride: Europe;
- price: 2990 rub.;
- characteristics: type - strategy, theme - travel, number of players - 2-5, game time - 30-60 minutes, box size - 29.8x29.8x7.1 cm, equipment - playing field, 240 plastic trailers, 15 stations, 110 lineup cards, 46 route cards, 5 wooden scoring markers, rules;
- pros: convenient storage box, excellent card quality;
- cons: high cost.
For girls
Games with Disney princess characters will captivate your little one at first sight. The Cinderella adventure game is recommended for children aged 3 years and older. It includes an illustrated playing field and other attributes of the classic adventure game:
- model name: Cinderella;
- price: 109 rub.;
- characteristics: number of players – 2-4, box size – 34x22x4 cm, material – cardboard, plastic, equipment – playing field, 4 chips, cube, rules;
- pros: high-quality performance;
- cons: none.
Another favorite cartoon of every girl is “Frozen”. Every girl will love the board game of the same name. In addition to having a pleasant time, the board develops attention and memory, suitable for girls from 5 years old:
- Model name: Frozen. Reception in Arendelle;
- price: 790 rub.;
- characteristics: type - developmental, number of players - 2-5, game time - 20 minutes, box size - 20.4x20.4x4.7 cm, contents - 18 squares with characters, 5 double-sided tablets, 10 player tokens (+ 50 winning) , rules;
- pros: colorful, simple board;
- cons: none.
For children and adults
Parents are not at all averse to playing a board game with their child, even the simplest one. Today there are special quizzes in which children confront their wise parents:
- model name: Children vs. adults;
- price: 790 rub.;
- characteristics: type – quiz, number of players – 2-4, minimum age – 12 years, game time – 20 minutes, box size – 32x23x17 cm, material – cardboard, contents – 100 cards with questions, instructions;
- pros: addicting puzzle;
- cons: none.
One of the most popular board games in the whole world, Jenga, will brighten up the leisure time of any company. The rules are very simple, the main thing is not to destroy the tower made of wooden blocks:
- model name: Jenga;
- price: 790 rub.;
- characteristics: type - quiz, number of players - from 1, minimum age - 6 years, equipment - 54 wooden blocks, sleeve for building a tower, instructions;
- pros: high-quality performance;
- cons: some of the bars may vary slightly in size.
Inexpensive board games
Often, the cheapest board games are card games or classic adventure games. Inexpensive desktop puzzle “Step puzzle Mini - Surprise” is a set of 24 boxes with puzzles that children love to collect:
- model name: Step puzzle Mini - Surprise;
- price: 35 rub.;
- characteristics: type - puzzles, number of players - from 1, minimum age - 5 years, contents - 24 boxes with puzzles, a large box, rules;
- pros: original appearance;
- cons: the pictures get boring quickly.
You can cheaply buy children's dominoes, lotto or chess with your favorite characters, for example, from the cartoon "Tom and Jerry". They not only entertain, but also develop logical thinking and train memory:
- model name: Tom and Jerry Domino;
- price: 35 rub.;
- characteristics: type – logical, number of players – from 2, minimum age – 3 years, material – plastic, package size – 19x6x2 cm, domino size – 50x25 mm, set – 28 dominoes, rules;
- pros: high-quality performance;
- cons: not interesting for children over 5 years old.
How to choose board games for children
To choose the perfect board game for kids, there are a few key things to consider:
- Age. Each board has a recommended minimum age. For safety reasons, do not purchase the set if your child has not completed it.
- Type. Determine what it is for: having fun or learning something new, developing a skill.
- Subject. Choose puzzles whose themes will be of interest to your child. In cases of educational desktops, this will help to better perceive information.
- Number of players. The minimum and maximum number of possible participants should be taken into account.
- Material of manufacture. The set must be of high quality, without a strong chemical smell, sharp objects, etc., so that children do not harm their health.
Family comfort consists of many traditions, nuances and preferences. One of the best ways to unite parents and children is to spend time together playing some exciting game. Board games provide an opportunity to immerse yourself in a world of adventure, excitement, thought and fantasy. This is an ideal opportunity to brighten up the evening and get an unforgettable, vibrant experience.
Puzzled by the question: “Which is the best game to buy?” You need to determine your selection criteria. Listed below are points that you should pay attention to before purchasing.
- Age. On any game packaging there is information about the age group for which it is suitable. If you have a small child, then you should not miss this aspect, since an overly complex game may be incomprehensible to the child. Quite the opposite, older children will not appreciate games that are too simplified, because they will not be interested in them. It is advisable to choose games that are age-appropriate.
- Purpose. Board games are incredibly diverse and have different specifics, for example, there are games for single use, some for two players, and some for the whole family. In addition, gaming options may be divided by gender: for boys and girls. Although, of course, here it is worth focusing on the child’s preferences, since there are girls who are interested in military or automotive themes, and there are boys who do not refuse animal or doll games.
- Variety. Games can be divided into intellectual, gambling, communicative or testing physical abilities. Strategic or logical games can be classified as intellectual entertainment. Gambling options are designed for Mother Fortune, aka luck. Communicative types of entertainment help overcome embarrassment and establish close contacts. Well, physical options provide an opportunity to demonstrate dexterity, speed of reaction and attentiveness.
Regarding how much such entertainment costs, a variety of tabletop sets will be available for any budget.
Rating of the best board games for the whole family that have become classics
Imaginarium
This exciting game is perfect for having fun with friends or sitting with your family. For children over 12 years old, the game is quite understandable, but if you have younger children, then there are more simplified versions of Imaginarium, marked childhood. This type of entertainment will be understandable for children 4-5 years old. The Imaginarium gives you the opportunity to develop your imagination, and at the same time there will be plenty of excitement, since victory counts for points, and everyone wants to become a winner. Players are immersed in a world of associations and it is very pleasant for close people to tune in to each other’s wavelength and get closer through fantasies.
The average price is 1,450 rubles, but there are also more budget versions.
Advantages:
- Helps develop imagination;
- Allows you to think creatively;
- Suitable for creative individuals.
Flaws:
- Price;
- Some pictures are too dark.
Monopoly
If you are looking for popular game models, then pay attention to Monopoly. This exciting economic strategy is no less captivating than virtual toys. The bottom line is that you must remain the only player who does not go bankrupt. In addition, it is interesting for an ordinary person to feel like a banker who freely disposes of property and can hit a huge jackpot. This game is perfect for a group of friends, although it can also be played for two people if desired. Suitable for children from 8 years old. There are many options for Monopoly, and if you are thinking: “Which one is better to buy?”, then it is better to give preference to the more expensive options, since the cards are larger and the set is of better quality.
The cost is about 1500 rubles.
Advantages:
- Suitable for a company of 2 to 6 people;
- Entertaining;
- Develops logic.
Flaws:
- Price;
- It takes a lot of time.
Colonizers
Another amazing economic strategy is Colonizers. This game is somewhat reminiscent of Monopoly. Colonizers appeared thanks to the German Klaus Teuber, that is, this strategy can be purchased from the best German manufacturers, or can be found among domestic brands. You will need 3 or 4 players to participate. According to the rules, they are colonists who landed on a desert island. There they need to create a settlement, develop it to the maximum, and in the end, the winner is the one who receives 10 victory points. Moves are made by throwing dice.
You can buy it for 2000 rubles.
Advantages:
- Gambling and lively;
- Strategic thinking;
- Forms communication skills.
Flaws:
- Price;
- Limit to 4 people.
Munchkin is suitable for a group of friends who are ready for role-playing games and transformations. This board card game plunges you into a wild world of fantasy and requires you to shed the veil of decency, as you will have to be cunning, trick the leaders, support weak players for selfish purposes, and all for the sake of your own victory. When playing Munchkin, you will have to forget about pity and sympathy for the enemy, you need to be dominated only by the arguments of benefit. The goal is to reach the maximum level, and along the way there will be magical moments reminiscent of Tolkien's whimsical world.
The price is about 1000 rubles, depending on the manufacturer and variation of the game.
Advantages:
- Captures from the first minutes;
- Flight of Fantasies;
- Unlimited player limit.
Flaws:
- You can quarrel;
- Not suitable for 2 people.
This entertainment is suitable for a group of 2 to 4 people. The point of the lesson is to form words on a special board, which is divided into 225 squares. Scrabble is very similar to Scrabble, in that it allows you to train your brain and expand your vocabulary. At the beginning, players are given 7 chips and need to make up words. The end occurs when one of the players runs out of all the chips (they can be in their hands or on the playing field). Scoring will determine the winner. Scrabble is suitable for adults and children. Children can be as young as 6-7 years old if they already know the letters and have no problems forming words.
- You can buy it for 1700 rubles.
Advantages:
Actively trains brain activity;
- Allows family members to unite;
- Expands vocabulary.
Flaws:
- We'll have to count the points;
- Expensive.
The bestseller is the Russian analogue of Scrabble - a well-known Scrabble related to linguistic entertainment. The meaning of Scrabble is the same as in Scrabble, the difference is that there are more chips, which means the number of players can be increased to 5 or 6. Guessing words is very similar to crosswords, victory will depend on knowledge. Whoever hits the biggest jackpot of points wins. Erudite will help pass the time on the road, help parents teach their child fresh vocabulary, and in general is a non-boring pastime.
You can buy it for 700 rubles.
Advantages:
- More affordable than Scrabble;
- Allows you to develop brain activity.
Flaws:
- Small parts are easy to spill
Activities
The purpose of Activity is to reduce the degree of tension in the company, if its members are unfamiliar, this will be a wonderful way to stir up everyone, ignite a spark of friendliness and fun. From 3 to 16 people can participate. If there are many participants, then there is a division into teams, but if there are only 3, then it’s every man for himself. The essence of the Activity is simple; you only need to provide an explanation of the dropped word within 1 minute of the allotted time. You will have to explain in one of three ways indicated on the field: words (but without the same root words), gestures (silently) or using a drawing. The player who reaches the finish line first wins. The game is designed to create fun, so it is suitable even for a drunk company.
Prices vary from 300 rubles to over 2000 rubles, depending on the content.
Advantages:
- For any company;
- Cheerful;
- There are budget options;
- Various tasks.
Flaws:
- Not suitable for two.
If you want to feel like a pirate, then you will definitely like the “Jackal” set. The search for treasure will give you a whole volley of adrenaline, because everyone will want to collect as many coins as possible. While searching for gold, unexpected dangers will await the pirates, such as a treacherous crocodile, a terrible cannibal or provocative rum. The fun and gambling action is very addictive and it is not surprising that “Jackal” gets its place of honor in the ranking of quality board games. You can play together or increase the number of players up to 4.
You can buy “Jackal” for 1100 rubles.
Advantages:
- Simple rules;
- Infects with a good mood;
Flaws:
- There are few surprise cards.
Probably everyone has ever played lotto. This creation does not age and always remains relevant, because it is suitable for both adults and children 2-3 years old (children's types of lotto). In lotto it is easy to check how much Lady Fortune favors you, in addition, the game develops attentiveness and reaction. You can play solely for the sake of winning status, or you can place money bets. The set includes barrels, cards and chips.
The average price is 500 rubles.
Advantages:
- Suitable for any company;
- Gambling;
- Checks luck;
- Budget.
Flaws:
- If you play for large sums, then there may be a minus.
For a couple in love, an excellent option to refresh their relationship would be to get acquainted with a desktop product from Mosigra called “For You”. The essence is somewhat non-standard, and it may take about a month. “For You” contains 15 cards with romantic tasks for each half. The cards, by their very nature, are intended to diversify love relationships, ignite new sparks, open new facets, and teach how to make pleasant surprises. There are tasks that are easy, for example, holding a tea ceremony, but there are also those that require courage, as it is suggested to jump on a parachute or a hot air balloon.
“For You” is on sale for 590 rubles.
Advantages:
- For a couple in love;
- Allows you to add romance and novelty to the relationship;
- Interesting tasks.
Flaws:
- Some cards are too extreme or expensive to perform.
If a large company has gathered, then “Mafia” can be an excellent leisure option. The purpose of this entertainment is to cleanse the civilian population of criminals. Everyone gets the role that will be on the card that is drawn. As a result, you can turn into a safe civilian, become a mafioso, a commissioner and a leader. The process is divided into “day” and “night”. Night is the time for mafia atrocities, and during the day the unfortunate residents learn that someone has died and try to identify the villains. “Mafia” is extremely captivating, teaches you how to get into character and gives you the skills of excellent bluffing, because no one wants to be exposed ahead of time.
The price of the sets varies from 400 and 2000 rubles, depending on the configuration.
Advantages:
- Fascinating;
- Psychological component;
- Gives you the opportunity to get to know your friends from a new side.
Flaws:
- It’s sad to be out in the front row and be an observer.
What board game did you like best?
Good news - since your childhood with the constant lotto, checkers, chess and card fool, many relevant, exciting board games - for every taste - have rapidly burst into our lives.
A board game is a universal entertainment because it works in any weather conditions. What is a modern family board game? This is a game that will be equally interesting to both parents and children, while its rules are simple and understandable to the child.
In what ways can adults and children compete on equal terms?
Of course, in the dice rolls of the game Monopoly!
One of the oldest family board games. The history of its creation goes back to 1934, at the height of the American Great Depression. Since then, the game, in which players roll dice to move around the playing field, buy up plots of real estate and try to ruin their competitors, has remained consistently popular among family audiences. And it’s clear why - throwing a dice does not require great analytical skills, and a child can be as lucky as adults. The bidding process, when the winner is not yet obvious, is really exciting and exciting, and the goal - to accumulate gaming millions and ruin your rivals - seems quite achievable.
The game certainly has its shortcomings, which is not surprising given its advanced age. The first drawback follows from its own advantage - the cube does not figure out who is the strong player and who is the weak one. And if this is a plus for entering the game, then for a player who has dozens of games behind him, this is already a minus.
The second drawback is the length. Very often, after a leader has appeared in the game, the remaining players retain the illusion that they have a chance to win back. And in order to ruin competitors to zero, the leader may need more than one hour of playing time.
We move from long games to very fast games.
Dobble, Drum, Wild Jungle, Seth, Panic Lab
In games for attentiveness and reaction, children, as a rule, are even more successful than adults. So this type of game is perfect for family games. The general idea is simple - to see something before others and to grab it.
The most popular game in this genre in Ukraine today is undoubtedly Dobble. Round cards with bright pictures in a compact tin box immediately attract attention, and it will not be easy to tear a child or adult away from the game.
It would seem, what would be easier - to find a pair of identical drawings on two cards? But the drawings are bright, multi-directional and simply escape the eye! And there are rivals around you who can see the correct pair before you. The result is a lot of drive, fun and adrenaline.
Dixit
The unique game mechanics of associations made the board game Dixit one of the most popular all over the world. Children will definitely not play this game without adults, however, thanks to the original design, psychological component and low conflict, it is great for family leisure, from the age of 8-10 up to and including grandparents. You have a deck of cards with beautiful surreal designs. The player comes up with an association for one of the cards, and the rest try to guess the hidden card. In recent years, the game has confidently become No. 1 in Ukraine at parties, family game rooms and psychological trainings.
Alias
Family of games Alias a striking example of how a popular game for youth audiences migrated to a family format. In Alias, the player draws a word card and must explain as many words as possible to their teammate very quickly. An important limitation: you cannot use cognate words and pantomime.
The more words explained, the further your team's piece advances. It’s fun, dynamic, and also useful for children. An important caveat is that not every Alias game is equally useful for a family evening. Alias Party- definitely not your option. Alias. Say otherwise– Suitable for adults and children over 10 years old. Well, for playing with children 7-8 - a specially created version of the game Alias. Family.
Scrabble/Scrabble
Another game in which we deal with words is the world-famous “old man” Scrabble. A crossword-like game in which players assemble words from letters on the playing field and receive points for this, it is interesting for both adults and children. And there is also an additional function - vocabulary expansion.
What is it Erudite? Yes, the same Scrabble that was released in the USSR under a different name, so as not to bother with copyrights.
Carcassonne
One of the most popular games all over the world - Carcassonne. It will definitely not leave parents indifferent and will be understandable to a child already at 8-9 years old. Players create a whole world out of cardboard squares with different types of terrain (tiles).
Tiles are laid out according to the domino principle: road to road, field to field, city to city. Since the player has many options on where to place a tile, you have to decide where it can be most beneficial for gaining victory points. The game is low-conflict - players almost cannot directly interfere with each other, which is why it has gained popularity as a calm and at the same time exciting family game. And the many additions and variations that have already been created on the basis of Carcassonne and continue to appear only confirm its relevance.
My happy farm
Ukrainian developers also have something to boast about in the family format. My happy farm- these are several animals for each player that need to be fed. The better you feed your pets, the more points it will give you at the end of the game. But first you need to purchase seeds, then sow them, then harvest them, and only then give part of the harvest for food.
And every turn you have to decide which of the available actions to choose right now, not forgetting to look at your neighbors while you are busy on your farm, so that, if possible, you can disturb them a little.
The game is designed fun and beautifully, so it is unlikely to leave your children indifferent. And the process of feeding animals, when an additional part of the body is added to the animal, and it gradually turns from a rabbit into a long dachshund or from a sheep into a sheep caterpillar, invariably brings a smile.
At the same time, the gameplay is by no means primitive and is guaranteed to captivate even adult players.
Uno, Svintus
If as a child you played bridge with an ordinary deck of cards, then the game Uno you already know. Yes, this is a special deck for this game. The goal of the game is to discard all cards from your hand according to suit or value. The game has different special cards - skipping a move, changing the direction of a move, changing suits, etc., which not only add variety to the game, but also make you think about how to use cards more effectively - save them for later use or quickly discard them to reduce penalty points in end of the game.
It’s especially exciting to remember to shout “Uno!” when you discard the penultimate card. If you forgot, drag two free throws from the deck. It’s elementary, but many people forget to do this at a time when victory is already so close :)
Svintus– a popular variation on the Uno theme. Several changes to the rules made the gameplay more fun and dynamic. At the same time, it is worth keeping in mind the “viciously piggy” design - the base game Svintus is intended primarily for youth and teenage audiences. And for playing with children of preschool and primary school age, the “kinder” Young Pig is better suited.
Colonizers (Catan)
Unlike the “old lady” Monopoly, which by misunderstanding is called “economic”, it is precisely Colonizers are the best economic game for family audiences. And although Colonizers does not have the usual banknotes, the game features a constant exchange of one resource for another, and the exchange rate depends both on constant conditions - the presence or absence of special cities for the player, and on the changing supply and demand for one or another type of resource. In general, in this game you will have to exchange one for the other, and both at once for a third, to develop your settlement on the island.
However, as in Monopoly, dice in Colonizers also play an important role - it is the results of dice rolls that determine which territories will bring resources to players this turn. So everyone who loves throwing dice (and which child doesn’t love this? :) will be happy.
The successful combination of the randomness factor and the possibilities for choosing a strategy allows us to call it one of the best economic family games for parents and children aged 10 years and older.
Ticket to Ride
And in this beautiful and atmospheric game we have to lay railway routes. The game is not economic, but rather logistical. During the game, we will receive points both for laying routes between neighboring cities and for completing secret tasks to connect cities that are distant from each other.
A magnificent playing field, a lot of plastic carriages, multi-colored cards of carriages and routes - all this is made in the retro style of the early twentieth century, and immediately sets a cozy and slightly fairy-tale mood. An additional bonus is that we learn geography.
Get your child hooked on board games, and he won't have any money left for other drugs;)
Every year (or almost every year) on my blog I talk about the best games of the past year. I usually do this based on my tastes and opinions, but this year I decided to keep it simple. I’m not Tom Wasel, no one sends me popular and hot new products so that I can be aware of absolutely all the new products, so I don’t really want to express opinions about games, judging only by other people’s opinions. Let's make it simple - go to the main desktop site - Board Game Geek (BGG), and based on international opinion we will draw our conclusions. Today is January 5 (when I start writing a note), and this is what I do - I go to BGG, enter 2016 in the search for games, sort the list by rating and look at the top twenty.
Of course, on January 6 or 7, the numbers in the overall rating and place in the top may change, so don’t judge too harshly if something on BGG changes while I’m finishing the article.
Let's start the review from 20th place (the place in the general ranking according to the BGG is indicated in brackets).
20 (466). Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu
Last year and the year before that, the topic was very popular in the tabletop world. Pandemics . Probably on a wave of success Pandemic Legacy publishing house Z-Man started riveting games from the same series, but in a different setting. The most successful game was the version about good old Cthulhu.
The game is based on the same Pandemic Matt Leacock - players wander around the map and, instead of finding a cure for diseases, close the opened portals to the other world. There are not many differences in the game from the original - portals; shoggoths passing through portals and bringing about the awakening of Cthulhu; Sanity tokens, the loss of which leads to the loss of player actions; Navigating around the map has been greatly simplified.
Judging by the impressions of the players who wrote reviews, the game turned out to be easier than the original Pandemics. There seems to be a Cthulhu theme, but it is not clearly expressed, it seems interesting to play, but we expected more from the game.
Honestly, ranking 20th for this game confuses me. Essentially this is a simplified Pandemic for lovers of Lovecraft's myths, but a deep dive into the topic did not work out. It’s good that at least there are shoggoths in addition to the cultists.
The game is designed nicely. This is probably the only reason why I could buy this game, but I’m unlikely to ever do it, because it’s better Pandemics maybe just Pandemic . The Cthulhu theme is just fun and can brighten up a few evenings. Visually everything is cool and even very cool, but the gameplay is still simple.
19 (463). Imhotep
Who would have thought that such a simple toy would take 19th place. I wrote about it when I was reviewing games that were about to be shown at JenCon. Even then, there were good reviews about the game on BGG, but commentators on my blog said that they didn’t see anything interesting in Imhotep . In fact, the board game does not pretend to be a mind-blowing hardcore game; it is such a simple and unpretentious Eurogame about the construction of Egypt.
The gameplay is very simple. On his turn, the player chooses one action from: take a stone, place a stone on a ship, play a blue market card, or send the ship, if it is filled with his own or someone else’s stones, to one of the areas with goodies. Dispatch of the ship is the most important task of the game. Those. Everything seems simple, but tasteful. It seems to me that this is why board gamers all over the world fell in love with the game. It’s not difficult, but there is a zest, and that’s the main thing.
Compared to other top games of 2016 Imhotep It looks a little pale, but I can believe that the game got 19th place for a reason. I wouldn't buy a board game, but I would definitely play it.
18 (454). Mare Nostrum: Empires
"Sometimes they come back." Recently, it has become fashionable to remember old games, blow off the dust from them, redraw the art, modernize the rules and release a new edition. ABOUT Mare Nostrum Few people remembered, but as soon as it was re-released, a wave of praise immediately began, because games of this kind appear infrequently now.
This is a civilization game where players build their empires. In it you need to engage in trade, build wonders of the world, develop an army, and expand political influence to nearby territories.
IMHO, this is an amateur game. Try now to get teenagers to sit at the computer Age of Empires , for example, which smells of mold. Our Tsiva, Marenostrum, is naked. There is no Cthulhu there, the minions are not CMON’s, there is no smell of superheroes in the game, but the worst thing is that everything was not drawn by Vincent Dutre. The game is designed purely for civilian geeks who sometimes like to develop their empires. That's why some younger players call the game a little dry, but the taste of 2003 is still felt, no matter how you look at it.
I'm interested in the board game myself. I wouldn't buy it, but I would play someone else's copy. I honestly admit that I am not very familiar with civilization games, so I would be happy to draw a conclusion based on this game.
Oldfags like the game, newfags are in thought.
17 (425). Secret Hitler
For me this is a mystery game. I previously heard that a PnP version of a certain party game about Hitler appeared on the Internet. Some people wrote that they printed out the game, tried to play and it seemed like Secret Hitler I liked it. It seemed to me that this board game would remain in a version freely floating around the Internet, but it was published with the help of crowdfunding. To be honest, the 17th place of this game surprised me a little, because this modest party game managed to bypass many large projects that were required to be in the top 20.
The gameplay of SH is reminiscent of Resistance (or Avalon , as stated on BGG, but did not play this game). At the beginning of the game, players are secretly divided into 2 teams - fascists and liberals. Like in Mafia, at the beginning of the game all players close their eyes, and then the fascists open them, getting to know each other. Next, in each round there will be elections for the President and First Secretary. This stage of elections is very similar to the formation of teams in Resistance . Players vote for and against, after which positions are confirmed or new elections are held if the majority did not support the candidates. Next comes an interesting element that I haven't seen in other games. The President draws 3 law cards from the deck. Actually, both liberal and fascist laws can be found there. He puts one law aside, and gives the other two to the Secretary, who must choose one of the laws and lay it out in the open. What happens next is that the Secretary and the President must try to prove that they voted correctly, that they were simply unlucky when the cards were dealt if a fascist law was passed (for example, 3 fascist cards fell out). The task of the fascists is to collect 6 fascist laws, the liberals - 6 liberal laws.
It seems that the gameplay is kind of simple, but I like it Resistance , then I would also play in SH. But all the same, IMHO, for such a party game the game got a bit high in ratings. It seems to me that later she will give up her position.
But in general, what I liked most about reading in reviews of the game was what people in other countries thought about Hitler. Many are shocked that the game is dedicated to a bloody dictator. One girl devoted most of her review to describing her life in Russia. She talked about what she saw on the streets of this country on the Fuhrer’s birthday. I'm afraid that even if someone in Russia wants to publish this game, they will have difficulties with its name...
I should also note that I like the stylish design of the game. If it were not for the ill-fated Adik, some GaGa could well have localized the game.
16 (417). 51st State: Master Set
Perhaps Mr. Trzewiczek managed to enter the same water twice. Imperial Settlers should have been a worthy replacement New Era , but it turned out something casual. At the same time, sales of the game were quite high, board gamers praised the board game on their Internet and were happy that they got what they wanted. New 51st State should have been a good replacement for the old one, but the game was heavily criticized in RuNet, so 16th place in the list of the best games according to BGG seems somehow strange to me. There is probably a big difference in the perception of board games between English-speaking and Russian-speaking players.
Trzewiczek simplified the old ideas, redrew the art and presented the old product as a new game. And it works - people like it, they give the game high marks, which means that Ignacy is doing everything right.
A game about card-based city construction, in which the card can be used in three different ways. The game includes both old maps from the original game and maps from expansions.
They say that those who played New Era , they will no longer be jailed for other card games in this series. But if you want something simpler and more beautiful, then Master Set is very good.
15 (399). Cry Havoc
And again, Mr. Ignacy, hello! Although Trzewiczek himself did not take part in the development of the game, he released it. Tom Wasel did an excellent advertisement for the game in the summer, saying that it was the main contender for the game of the year.
For me, Havok Edge is an interesting project. I admit, I'm a sucker for board games with dudes on the map. In this game, everything seems to be done just for me - I need to collect resources, buy upgrades for the army, hire new fighters and beat opponents for fat spots on the field. What confuses me a little is the asymmetry of the factions. This seems to be good, since the game appears before us in all its diversity, but on the other hand, I often hear that one faction is stronger, then another, or even completely, that it’s not interesting to play with two or three... Indeed, it's a little sad if the game is really skewed in one direction.
I might even agree with the place of this game. Visually, it doesn’t cause any complaints, it looks delicious, although there doesn’t seem to be anything very new in the game. I am glad to see that in the era of filler and party games, someone is trying to make big toys. True, I doubt that CH will stay in the top for a long time...
14 (378). Millennium Blades
Oh, I’m so ashamed, but I don’t even know what kind of game this is. Several times I heard requests to Gaga to localize the game Millennium Blades , but what kind of game this is, I have no idea. I'll study it right now...
Well, what I want to tell you is that the project is interesting! MB is a CCG game simulator. Those. not the CCG itself, but the game of those who play the CCG. Plus, in addition, we have anime art and funny humor. The box with the game contains many, many cards, from which players form their starting decks, then they play one tournament, receive money as prizes, which they spend on buying boosters and singles, which are collected from the cards in the box. Then a new tournament is played, and again at the end of it everyone buys something. Those who have spent many years playing collectible card games remember very well the thrill of opening booster packs and forming new decks for the next tournament. Judging by the reviews, MB simulates all this perfectly.
Don't delude yourself that the tournament part of the game boasts cool gameplay that can be compared with card giants like Mtg. In tournaments, you simply play card properties to gain points, which lead the player to victory.
Among the disadvantages, the following is noted: preparing for the game takes a lot of time, shuffling a mountain of cards is inconvenient, one game lasts from 2 to 3 hours.
Well, this is very interesting, and now I also want this game to be released GaGa Games . They have been cooperating with the publisher for a long time Level 99 Games (from a distance Pixel Tactics , for example), so there is hope that they can also release a card simulator. True, it will cost much more than PT, and this is important in our difficult economic times.
By the way, I found a good review of the game on Tesera.
13 (377). Dead of Winter: The Long Night
I once longed to acquire Dead of Winter , but when it was localized, I suddenly wanted something. I look at the picture from the add-on box, and I don’t want to mess with it even more =) Some too scary zombies there...
It’s not surprising that a stand-alone addition to one of the most successful games of recent years is in the top, no. Of course, loyal board gamers will buy an addition to their favorite game. They just say that independence did not benefit the addition. I've heard the opinion that if you play one additional game, there is a feeling that something is missing. If you play along with the base, then not all the extras are interesting, but only part of it, so there is a feeling that you overpaid for the game. But there is also an opinion that this edition turned out to be cooler than the first, so it is recommended to take Long Night if we do not have a database.
Also, recently on Teser I very often see questions related to the rules of this add-on, which raises doubts about a well-written rulebook.
The players felt the same as in the base - a group of people trying to survive in the face of a massive influx of zombies. Yes, the cards in this game are different, the characters are different, but the feelings are the same. Surely those who really liked the base were also satisfied with the additional features.
Friends, who played? How are your impressions?
It seems to me that this add-on will be the last in the zombie series. Previously, the authors of the game promised that they would continue to make similar games with intersections, but with a different theme. Zombies are no longer as popular as they used to be. It's time to change something.
12 (287). Sushi Go Party!
I also knew almost nothing about this game before writing this article. No I don't mean the game Sushi Go . I know almost everything about her. But what kind of “party” this is, I have no idea.
As it turned out, Sushi Go Party is an updated version of the old game. The most important change is that the game has expanded. If the usual “sushi” had only 8 dishes, then in the party version there were significantly more of them, so players were able to create their own menu before the start of the game. It turns out that the new version is the old version with a “+” sign. Plus the usual Sushi Go The reason is that the box is smaller and the game unfolds faster. As for me, Party is preferable to purchase if someone still doesn’t have this game.
Sushi Go is a simple game with draft mechanics. Players pass cards around, collect sets of them and score victory points. This is a really great game for beginners who are new to board games. For a filler, the game climbed quite high in the ratings.
And I also really want Game expert localized this board... It's cute!
11 (225). Codenames: Pictures
And there is nothing surprising with this game either. “Pictures” is a continuation of last year’s sensational spy word game. This is the same Codenames, only not text, but illustrated. Words were replaced by abstract pictures, to which you can come up with many interesting associations.
Although in fact it cannot be said for sure that Pictures are as cool as the original game. It's a matter of taste. Some people like to come up with associations for words, others for pictures. Someone said after purchasing the game that they Pictures I liked it better, but someone complained that they bought into the hype in vain.
In any case, Russian-speaking board gamers will have the opportunity to test the coolness of the game for themselves, since it will be published in 2017 GaGa Games . I admit, I would be curious to look at this tabletop, because Codenames I liked it.
10 (223). Quadropolis
Well, now we've reached the top 10, things are getting more interesting.
Probably, first of all, this game is remembered not for its theme and gameplay, but for the name of its author. Quadropolis - a city building game. Players will have to select tiles of buildings and structures and place them on their tablet. Each tile built brings bonuses to the player, and in this regard Qudropolis can be compared with what has long been known to everyone Suburbia .
As for me, this is another good family from Days of Wonder . As you know, this publisher only releases games that it is 100% confident in, so you shouldn’t expect any tricks from DoW. However, I didn't notice any revolutionary gameplay in Q. A good game, yes, but I won't run to the store to buy it. In my opinion, 10th place for this game is a little too high.
9 (218). Captain Sonar
Captain Sonar is an advanced Sea Battle. The players are divided into two teams (ideally, each team should have 4 players) and distribute the roles that they will have to play.
One player moves the submarine across the playing field, another searches for the enemy submarine, the third monitors the performance of the boat, and the fourth launches torpedoes at the enemy. They say that the gameplay is very fun, but it’s still worth admitting that not everyone can find 8 people for a full-fledged game.
It seems to me that the game primarily captivates with its unusualness, which is why it is in 9th place. Talking about Captain Sonar , we can’t say that this is just another game about building a city, destroying monsters in a dungeon, or conquering space. That's why board gamers are intrigued by what this game offers. It’s not every year that you are offered the opportunity to control a submarine in real time. I myself would be very happy to play someone else’s copy, but I wouldn’t take it for myself =) I simply don’t have 8 people for a game, so I don’t see the point in spending money on it.
An unusual game, an interesting experiment to complicate the rules of classic Sea Battle.
8 (104). Arkham Horror: The Card Game
To replace the closed LCD Call of Cthulhu a new game has arrived from a series of games based on the myths of Lovecraft. This is also a live card game, but unlike CoC it is cooperative.
The spirit of the game is similar to another cooperative LCD - Lord of the Rings . Card AH invites players to complete multiple adventures using personalized investigator decks. The base can be played with two people (or three if you buy another base box). Players' decks contain cards that enhance the players' abilities, but there are also those that weaken these abilities. And only a competent approach to interaction will lead players to victory.
It was probably to be expected that the game would reach the top 10 for 2016, because usually all new FFG LCDs are in high demand at first, which then gradually decreases. Card AH turned out again, like any other LCD, not without its drawbacks. As usual, there are few components in the box, no organizer, a lot of randomness, little variability, no bag of chaos from which to pull tokens, etc. etc. Those. in the core set we are again offered a demo game, after playing which we will understand whether it is worth further spending money on it.
7 (95). Great Western Trail
What are you, Pfister, doing to us... Probably, after all, the regiment of brilliant authors has arrived (although Pasha Medvedev denies this in every possible way :)), because in recent years Alexander Pfister’s games have been occupying top places. Last year it was noisy Mombasa , and in this one his new game about transporting cows in the Wild West setting quietly climbed to the top.
I noticed this toy when it was shown at the largest American exhibition. Then people who bought the game spoke funny things about it - no one expected anything special from it, and then suddenly the board game turned out to be very useful and interesting.
GWT is a Eurogame about points with everything that implies. Players need to transport cows from point A to point B using deckbuilding mechanics. To do this more efficiently, players hire different assistants and use the properties of buildings encountered along the way. I haven't seen any frankly bad reviews about the game. The game is either highly praised or called simply good, which you easily agree to play if someone offers it. The best part about this whole story is that, completely unexpectedly, the Russian publishing house Star announced the localization of the game. The board game will be released this spring, and without any crowdfunding, which has set teeth on edge. And this will be my first game in the collection Stars =) I'm really looking forward to GWT in Russian.
6 (69). A Feast for Odin
Before you start doing A Feast for Odin , Uwe Rosenberg practiced on a little game for two called Patchwork . Although, if you think about it, then Caverna , Agricola And Field of Arle he also trained because A Feast for Odin is a symbiosis of all these games.
AFfO is a game for gamers. For serious gamers, and not those who only occasionally indulge in board games, and then preferably no more than one hour. Rosenberg immediately dumps on the players' heads more than 60 options for actions that they can perform on their turn.
At the beginning of the game, all players have a bunch of negative points that need to be covered with useful items that either give positive VPs or some kind of bonus to the set of coins, cards or something else. The player thinks about what is more important to him: gaining bonuses or getting rid of minuses.
WITH Patchwork I met him last fall, and this game managed to captivate me. I'm very intrigued by the fact that AFfO is a big hardcore Patchwork . The 6th place in the game doesn’t bother me one bit, because... Rosenberg is an eminent author, beloved by many, and even this game combines several of his best games. I would love to play this board game myself. And how great it is that Russian publishing houses do not stand aside and periodically buy the rights to localize world hits. A Feast for Odin the publishing house promised us to publish Hobby World .
5 (49). Mechs vs. Minions
Friends, I absolutely don’t know what to tell you about this game... I heard something about it while reading Tesera, but I had absolutely no idea that this game jumped to 5th place in the ranking.
Somehow the game is related to a computer game League of Legends (similar to DOTA). Because I’m not familiar with LoL, so I can’t say for sure what was taken from a computer game (it seems like the heroes were taken from LoL). In MvM, players use mechs to fight against minions, and they do it cooperatively.
If you read the reviews on BGG, you can conclude that 70-80% of these reviews are devoted to how the game looks and how much it costs. I admit, at first I didn’t believe it myself, but when I watched the unboxing video, my eyes grew wider and wider and faith began to appear. The box is huge and costs $75. It seems like a hefty price for a board game, and there's nothing out of the ordinary about it. But when I saw the happy owner of the game open the box and show a tray with minions, I simply said, “Well, ok.” The cradle was removed, and there... A new set of mines. Well, I thought, this is already cool. But there was another lodgement below! And then I said - wow! But he was not the last! And all this costs $75? How??? How can such a game, which can safely be called deluxe, cost only 75 bucks? Is this a joke or what? Honestly, in our cruel and unfair world, it is considered the norm to drive down the price for a minimum of components and say that everyone does this, and you are overpaying for the idea, not the game. In the case of MvM, we can safely say that you are paying for a game that you can touch and be satisfied with. Everything inside the box would cost many times more in another publisher. Therefore, everyone who bought this board considers it necessary first of all to tell you that even if you don’t really like the game itself, you will still be satisfied with it, because the minions in it are simply the coolest. 4 hero figures are completely painted for you.
As for the gameplay, this is a game in which events develop according to scenarios. Each scenario generates a level, places for minions to spawn, and poses a challenge for the players. Player actions are programmable. First, players draft cards (and they are limited in time by the hourglass), and then lay them out on the action order board. You can choose an action that is useful for you, but it will be completely useless for the other player, so you have to cooperate so that everyone has a good time.
Probably, the gameplay will surprise those who want Ameritrash from minek, but it’s not here. It's basically just a programmable co-op where you have to constantly kill minions, but they can't kill you. This is a puzzle game that needs to be solved through teamwork. Some board gamers wrote that not all scenarios have a hardcore level of difficulty, that sometimes the tasks are very simple, but... But mink, gentlemen! Oh, these minks, tokens, fields with a glossy shine and a gorgeous boss figurine. And how much awaits us ahead!..
I'm at a crossroads regarding this game. On the one hand, its gameplay does not attract me much, on the other hand, the cost of the board is great, and I don’t mind spending money on such a game. Americans, and other people around the world, rejoice at the game and give it 10 marks. That's why it's in 5th place. I guess that's fair.
Unfortunately, nothing has been heard about the localization of this game.
4 (36). Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
It feels like heavy artillery has launched. Where are the fillers, where are the gateways that were at the top of the list? That's right, they don't exist. What fillers could be in the top 5? Only hardcore! And only Cthulhu.
In 2016, FFG pleased us with the second edition of the game called Mansion of Madness , which I avoided due to the requirement of having an overlord at the table. I didn’t like that some of the players played as monsters and knew the essence of the scenario, while other players played the roles of detectives. If I had bought the game, I suspect that I would never have played as detectives, so I didn’t really look into the game.
In the new version of MoM, the monsters are played by artificial intelligence, which easily fits on your device (or even on a computer or laptop). Now all players can calmly search for clues in the cursed estate, encounter dangers and run away from them, losing the remnants of their sanity.
In my opinion, this is all cool. Cool, but expensive. On Coolstaff the game costs 85 bucks, and this is not exactly a price that you certainly wouldn’t mind for such a cool game. Moreover, after purchasing the base you will have to purchase numerous add-ons. But can a high price affect a place in the top? Maybe, of course, but not so much that the game slides into the first or second hundred. MoM is good, you can’t help but love it. The problem with the overlord was solved, and quite well, it seems to me. I completely agree with the 4th place of the game. It’s just a pity that nothing has been heard about its localization (and it’s unlikely that there ever will be).
3 (22). Terraforming Mars
Last year, many games about Mars were invented, but the most interesting of them came from Jacob Fryxelius, who developed Terraforming Mars .
Although, to be honest, the reviews I most often hear about the game are that it’s not a super-duper game, but it’s good. And then bam - and third place for “just a good game”... I really really want to test the game for myself to say for sure whether it is worthy of third place.
On the other hand, if you compare this game with Mechs vs Minions , in which everything is cheap, but visually very beautiful, then TM cannot boast of anything like that. I would rather believe the gray Cinderella than the golden King. If a game is in third place and doesn’t shine with gold, then it clearly takes the cake with its gameplay, and that’s what we need. TM won the hearts of board gamers with its honesty.
What about the gameplay? We buy maps with which we make Mars more suitable for human life. We increase the amount of oxygen, manipulate water and solar energy, build buildings, get victory points. The Internet is replete with detailed analyzes of the game, so I won’t dwell on it.
Soon all Russian-speaking board gamers will have the opportunity to try TM and draw their own conclusion, since Games Shop localizes this game. This is a great trend that I hope will continue this year.
2 (6). Scythe
The second place of honor is occupied by a game about an alternative Europe, which has been “hyping” in the desktop environment to the fullest for more than two years.
First, the prototype of the game was shown at JenCon, after which the Internet was filled with excitement about the art for the game. What you see now on the box was drawn a long time ago. " Here, peasants work in the field against the backdrop of warring mechanisms! Wow! This is fantastic!“- that’s what everyone said admiringly.
The art didn’t touch me one bit. And then I was even more disappointed when I found out that instead of hardcore Ameritrash about robots, they prepared us with a Eurogame that actively skews towards Ameritrash. However, my skepticism was not supported by the huge number of board players who voted for the game with rubles and 10s on BGG. I can only throw up my hands - second place, so second, but it’s not very interesting to me. Although... Maybe after a flood of Russian-language copies of the game pours into the CIS, when people start writing and filming reviews, maybe I’ll find something interesting in the game, and maybe I’ll even run to the store, waving money in the wind, in the hope of the fact that the game has not yet been put on the shelves.
Maybe this really is a nugget, but my desktop vision has simply dropped to a critical point, which is why I don’t notice its value.
It is pleasantly pleasing to know that the second place in the top will also be Russified. The publishing house is responsible for this Crowd Games .
1 (5). Star Wars: Rebellion
Soooo - and the winner was the publishing house Fantasy Flight Games with their game based on the Star Wars universe. Who would have thought... I couldn't, because I'm not a fan of Star Wars. But all the fans who played Rebellion , they said it was a really cool game, and I believe them.
I really really want to talk with delight about how cool the stormtroopers are in the game, what powerful rebels, what Organs, Vaders and Skywalkers, but I’m a layman in this and therefore I won’t be able to convey the whole palette of colors that are full of reviews on BGG.
More than 150 miniatures - yes, that's cool. 2 to 4 players is good. A big, big box is cool. Asymmetrical gameplay is great. 69 reviews on BGG - simply superb.
I don’t know if there were Star Wars board games of the same level before? So that these are not miniatures with a ruler, but a real board game, with a playing field and tokens. Imperial Assault unless... But precisely from Rebellion feels like a full-fledged game that conveys the fragrant scent of the franchise. Probably, if I were a fan of the universe, I would immediately take Rebellion. I think I wouldn’t mind playing this board game even now, since it doesn’t require complete knowledge of the universe. Tea is not a quiz...
It may not be unusual for a great Star Wars game to come out on top. Universe has many fans all over the globe, and they easily pushed the game to the top of Olympus with high ratings. And we can only hope that HW will be able to complete all the documents and publish this best game of 2016 in Russian.
Afterword
While the article was being written, several games managed to change places (but not at all critically) - Quadropolis swapped places with Codenames: Pictures , A Millennium Blades castled with Cry Havoc . Of course, games will continue to change places as board gamers continue to rate games and move them up and down the scale.
I'd also like to highlight a few games that didn't make the top 20, but have a chance to make it in the near future.
Inis (499th place on BGG) - this game will be localized soon Games Shop