Best Board Games of 2006

Designed by Bruno Faidutti and Ted Cheatham; published by Z-Man Games; 3 to 6 players; ages 12 and up; $40 (approximate)

Silk Road is all about making good deals throughout the game, positioning yourself for the final scoring. Players move across China, buying and trading goods like silk and jewels. The heart of the game is an auction each turn to determine who goes first. In each city, players choose from action tiles that give them the ability to improve their standing. Some tiles can be saved to play later, and the Grand Vizier tile allows a player to choose one type of good to be scored immediately.

More About Silk Road:

• Interview with Co-Designer Bruno Faidutti