Board games and card games in which players vote on the outcome provide a unique experience. Here are the best of these voting games.
1. Quo Vadis?
Designed by Reiner Knizia; published by Mayfair Games; 3 to 5 players; ages 12 and up.Who can best influence outcomes in the Roman Senate? The answer to that question will determine the winner of this game. You try to maneuver your politicians through the committee structure and into the best positions. But along the way, you have to help other players because you need them to help you win the all-important prestige points.
2. Werewolf / Mafia
Designed by Dimitry Davidoff; public domain game; 8 or more players; ages 8 and up.This is a public domain game, great for large groups. Two players are the werewolves (or hitmen in the version known as Mafia), and the rest of the players are trying to discover who they are and kill them before it's too late. Votes are taken each round to see who lives and who dies. The fun factor seems to grow for Werewolf the later into the night it gets played.
3. Democrazy
Designed by Bruno Faidutti; published by Descartes Editeur; 4 to 10 players; ages 12 and up.The rules can change throughout this game, but only if enough players support a particular proposal. Democrazy is perhaps best described as a wild ride, and some people won't like it because there's too much chaos. But if you and your friends enjoy light games that are more about the experience than the substance, consider Democrazy.
4. The Big Idea
Designed by James Ernest; published by Cheapass Games; 3 to 6 players; ages 10 and up.You challenge in this game is to combine adjectives and nouns (e.g. "evil pants") and then convince other players to invest in (or vote for) your products. Meanwhile, you have to invest your venture capital wisely in order to accumulate wealth. The Big Idea brings plenty of laughs and incorporates just enough strategy to keep it interesting. Adding new cards to the deck is pretty easy, too.
5. Nomic
Designed by Peter Suber; self-published; 2 to 10 players; ages 10 and up.Subtitled "a game of self-amendment," Nomic is another game of constantly changing rules. Invented in 1982, Nomic gives players a set of immutable rules (which essentially cover how to change the rules) and a set of mutable rules. And then they go to it. Email and computer versions are available, and you can also play face to face.
