So I guess Marnie has the Movie critiques for us and I will cover board games. Since Tracey's recent request was one of many I received from family and friends this year, I thought I would put together a little buying guide. Why do I love board games so much? Well, in an age of internet movies and video games we have really become too isolated from each other. These games are fun, scratch the same itch for me as most computer games I play, and bring the family together several times a week for interactive time. So yes, I am a big proponent of the hobby and will always try to sell you on it:-) Just for the record, I still love movies and some video games, but spend much less time with those...oh, and zero broadcast TV in our house. So here is a board game gift guide, click on the name for a descriptive link. The page linked is on a site called boardgamegeek (BGG) which is probably the best online database ever created. Within that page, you can get links to buy, ebay auctions currently, or buy from other users in the BGG marketplace. Also, any rule questions, images, and reviews are readily available from the page. I will try to categorize them, but the ones with asterisks fit a wider range of play possibilities, i.e. more players. Yes, it is huge but I will probably never do this again, so consider it a permanent reference:-) Part II covering family games and games for adults coming soon!:

Games for couples after the kids go to bed:

Less than 30 minutes:



Lost Cities: A short card game with an Indiana Jones type theme which is really about maximizing points on your side through sequencing as many cards as possible. A risk-reward mechanic and some gotcha between the players makes this entertaining for couples.






Balloon Cup: Brooke and I have played this once but really enjoy it. It is highly interactive, in that you can really screw up the other player's plans to collect colored cubes by playing appropriate cards.






Hive: An abstract game like chess. This is a nice one because it is made of thick ceramic tiles which you can play with anywhere and not worry about lost or stained pieces. No board. Plays quickly at breakfast.










Dominion*: A fun card game where you start out with 10 cards in your deck. Over the game you acquire cards to customize your ever-growing deck (your "dominion") which you try to develop into the most efficient "machine" to gather points. Plays well with 3-4 as well.









30 minutes to 1 hour:


Agricola*: This game is more complex than the others, until you learn it. You are essentially building the best farm possible. Yes, I am recommending a farm-building game for fun. It is actually currently rated as the number one game in the world by board gamers and Brooke loves it.








Carcassone*: This is a tile laying game that is very popular. I feel it plays best with 2 but can be fun with 3-4. The more players you get, it just gets harder to plan a strategy. This one has a ton of expansions which become necessary for fun after you learn the basic game. I recommend Inns and Cathedrals, and Traders and Builders.








Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries: A new version of the popular train route game which works well for 2 players.










Mr. Jack: A 2 player deduction game (like Clue) in which it is fun to try to outwit each other.












Wasabi*: Plays great from 2-4 players. Try to build your Sushi recipes by placing the correct ingredients before the board fills up with the tiles.











Games to play with your older kid (2 player)

1-2 hours

Memoir 44: This a great system to start with wargaming. Simple and attractive. As a bonus it lets Dads still play with army men and tanks.










Heroscape*: Ultimate geeky fun. You will have to hide this from your friends but there is a load of fun packed in this game for you and your kids. Very good and simple system and one of the very best American "board" games. Wal-Mart carries this.










Manoeuvre: The best introductory wargame out there. Brooke even enjoys this game.











Wings of War (with miniatures)*: A game of WWI air combat. Getting the miniatures really adds to the fun. You play cards to maneuver your airplanes to get the right shot. A game of angles played right on the table; no game board.








Battleball: More "smear the queer" than football, this game is a blast that plays quickly with very attractive game pieces. Not in print so ebay or the BGG marketplace are the only places to find it.










Games to play with your older kids (3-4 player)

1-2 hours

Formula D: I am a huge fan of racing games and this is my favorite. This is the only one I am including in this list. Using an innovative die system where each gear is represented by a different size dice, players race their team of cars around tracks that require different "speeds" depending on the corner.







Colossal Arena: Yes, I plan on teaching this to Isaac when I get up to Washington:-) In this card game you place bets on different monsters and then play cards to get your bets to be the last ones standing. The earlier you bet, the more points you receive, but the monster also becomes a favored target for elimination by the other players. Really enjoyable with 3-4 players.






Chicago Express: There are a ton of train games in the board game world. I personally think this is the best. Excellent for teaching older kids economic principles like capital, growth, investment, risk, controlling interest etc. All those things Marnie loves. But, really, this is fun.








Fairy Tale: This card game was designed in Japan. The name is a bit of a put-off, at least for me but the gameplay is superb. One of those games that is easy to learn but hard to master.










Fire and Axe: I have not played this game and I do not own it. However, somebody I trust has really enjoyed this game with his kids.











Galaxy Trucker: In this game you race to build spaceships with tiles and then try to make the journey safely to the end while trying to end up with the most points. Chaotic fun.










Pandemic: This is a cooperative game like "Shadows over Camelot" which some of you have played with me. In this one you work together to cure diseases that are spreading throughout the globe. Only supports up to 4 players but really is fun to try to beat the game together.








Ghost Stories: Another cooperative game that is even harder to beat. The artwork is a clever haunted-asia theme.











Iliade: I have had this card game for a while and is one of my favorites with 3 or more. It is one of those games where everyone has wanted to keep playing again and again. Card games like this are nice because they are generally quick to setup, don't take much space, and play quickly. This one plays in less than 30 minutes but you will probably stick around for another game.












Nexus Ops: Much better than Risk. Plays faster. A blast with 3 players. This is one game everyone with kids should try. The neon figures are pretty cool too.









Have Fun!

Mike