1. Ticket to Ride
Image courtesy of Days of Wonder
Ticket to Ride is an absolutely top-notch game with broad appeal to gamers and families. It plays in less than an hour and providing a lot of depth without being complicated. Players must make a variety of strategic and tactical choices, giving it considerable replay value. Players compete to build railroads across the United States and Canada, both developing their own plans and disrupting the plans of others.
2. Settlers of Catan
Image courtesy of Mayfair Games
More than any other single game, Settlers of Catan was responsible for the growth of a new generation of "designer" games in the U.S. On the uncharted island of Catan, players work to obtain the resources they need to build roads, towns and cities. A variable game board, a good mix of luck and skill, and strong player interaction all combine to make it a classic.
3. Carcassonne
Photo courtesy of Rio Grande Games
Players take turns laying tiles to add roads, farms, cloisters and cities in this award-winning game. Great for 2 to 4 players, with scoring that always seems to come down to the very end, Carcassonne is going to get played a lot for years to come.
4. Zooloretto
Image courtesy of Rio Grande Games
In Zooloretto, players compete to build the best zoo while everyone acquires animals from the same supply. At the start of the game, each player chooses a zoo with three enclosures (one each with room for 4, 5 and 6 animals). A fourth enclosure can be purchased as well, and each zoo also has a barn and space for vending areas. Each enclosure can only be filled with a single type of animal; animals which don't fit into an enclosure must be placed in the barn and will count as negative points if they remain there when the game ends. Zooloretto finds players making an interesting decision on almost every turn, and I highly recommend it.
5. Liar's Dice / Call My Bluff
Designed by Richard Borg, published by various companies. For 2 to 6 players, ages 8 and up.One of my favorite games, Liar's Dice (also known as Call My Bluff or just Bluff) goes in and out of print. Each player rolls five dice and keeps the result secret from other players. They then take turns bidding on the total results. (e.g. "There are seven 4s." or "I say there are nine 2s.") Great fun with good friends.
6. Elfenland
Designed by Alan R. Moon, published by Rio Grande Games. For 2 to 6 players, ages 10 and up.Each player is an elf who must visit as many cities as possible before the game ends. Crossing various terrains with a variety of transportation modes (including trollwagons, dragons, and giant pigs) makes it more difficult than it may sound. And your opponents can leave obstacles in your way.
7. Scotland Yard
Designed by Manfred Burggraf, Werner Schlegel, Dorothy Garrels, Fritz Ifland, Werner Scheerer and Wolf Hoermann, published by Ravensburger and Milton Bradley. For 3 to 6 players, ages 10 and up.One player is Mr. X; the others are detectives trying to capture him. Mr. X moves secretly through London via cab, bus and subway, showing himself only every now and then. Scotland Yard is terrific for two players but also works with more.
