Alea is a small German board game publisher, but they've published a series of board games that have received widespread acclaim among strategy gamers. These are my picks for the best Alea games. (Some have been published in English by Rio Grande Games.)
1. Puerto Rico
Published in 2002, Puerto Rico became an immediate hit among gamers who enjoy the "family strategy" genre of games. It quickly became the top-rated game at BoardGameGeek.com, outpacing board games like Settlers of Catan and El Grande. In Puerto Rico, the players are plantation owners growing a variety of crops. The goal is to run your plantation more efficiently than your opponents.2. Wyatt Earp
Set in the Wild West, Wyatt Earp is a rummy variant that finds players trying to capture notorious outlaws like Jesse James and Billy the Kid. Related to games released under the "Mystery Rummy" moniker, Wyatt Earp was designed by Mike Fitzgerald and Richard Borg.
3. Chinatown
By negotiating with your competitors, you attempt to build thriving businesses in this board game. You'll make money no matter where you put your businesses, but you'll make more by striking good deals. If you enjoy negotiation games, pick up Chinatown. If not, it's best to avoid this one.4. Traders of Genoa
Another negotiation game, Traders of Genoa is set in Renaissance times. Players must acquire goods, fill specific orders, deliver messages, and obtain privileges if they want to win. This board game is longer than Chinatown, and is another that's best avoided unless you enjoy negotiation games.5. Hoity Toity
This game, also known as Adel Verpflichtet (which translates loosely to "By Hook or By Crook)", finds players trying to build the most valuable collection of antiques and art. In order to succeed, you must outguess your opponents -- everyone moves only after everyone has chosen their strategy for the turn.