tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-93194792024-03-23T20:35:50.356+02:00YehudaGaming, technology, philosophy, and lifeYehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.comBlogger1817125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-77328135265760632652022-01-23T18:13:00.003+02:002022-01-25T15:43:25.669+02:00Logic Wiz Sudoku - App to Play Sudoku Variants<p><a href="https://logic-wiz.com/">Logic Wiz</a> is an app to play 16 variations of Sudoku (probably more, by now). It was recently developed by Avner and Udi, co-founders of the company Logic Wiz, for Android and iPhone. Most variants and levels are free with ad support, some require payment.</p><p>There are other apps that offer Sudoku variants (I have not played any of these), some of which have levels with the same variant ideas found in Logic Wiz. However, Avner and Udi created some original variants, and they created, handcrafted, and implemented all of the boards in each variant. The app works fine and has a nice interface, with visual hints for newbies like me. It comes in multiple languages. Eventually it is supposed to come with leader boards of some kind.</p><div style="color: black; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">IOS: <span style="display: inline; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://apps.apple.com/app/logic-wiz-sudoku/id1530683853&source=gmail&ust=1642749333456000&usg=AOvVaw0MqomwyR7Q2B1zu3vCRPvX" href="https://apps.apple.com/app/logic-wiz-sudoku/id1530683853" id="m_6156203526999863505LPNoLPOWALinkPreview" target="_blank">https://apps.apple.com/<wbr></wbr>app/<span class="il">logic</span>-wiz-sudoku/<wbr></wbr>id1530683853</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Android: <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 400;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id%3Dcom.uvmlab.usudoku&source=gmail&ust=1642749333456000&usg=AOvVaw3YWcRR8oerjqp1EHsykVeR" href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.uvmlab.usudoku" id="m_6156203526999863505LPNoLPOWALinkPreview_1" target="_blank">https://play.google.<wbr></wbr>com/store/apps/details?id=com.<wbr></wbr>uvmlab.usudoku</a></span></b></span></div>
<p></p><p><i>Note: I am not affiliated with them. They sent me a premium-enabled copy to play with. </i><br /></p>
<img border="0" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="941" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxnovX5iB19Elclrt5OB4a3NNZiJEHhZ13SMvcKnrQefrREYEC69Y13myHOIcR965MMjjuJkevgpxgG7F3ilWfygqSAVT3s8vaSNWszT3Amof4tQWg_BH2uw94vDGZ736STs7BEDUsSWlWfmXocWu6LPg3k-wJxEykW9_uzuYRL633xmw=w200-h200" width="200" />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="526" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9E2pQrivWT3re5kAjwupWnWd7PKWxMfxMp8Z0gLE1qhKNS8pCaRuZRFXX0h5nWGSBkg79hmJcA7MYiw9lL0PVGJeygWFX-McRdFo3q-HZ7Ts0vYu6QkLoL8M0QPOFWATrOCJpHK2eIfQXTKgRls-m0ma66jvl-qFNgZQ3Y7lAlAV5lyA=w200-h199" width="200" />Yehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-30131003407946128342021-11-14T22:35:00.004+02:002021-11-14T22:36:40.548+02:00Another Roundup of Social Issues in Tabletop GamesGloomhaven designers follow in the footsteps of other RPG companies in working to <a href="https://www.polygon.com/22440190/gloomhaven-frosthaven-changes-race-cololonialism-cultural-bias">remove racial and colonial assumptions</a> from their upcoming edition of Frosthaven.<br /><p>Workers at Paizo follow the footsteps of workers at other RPG companies in <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/tabletop-rpg-workers-say-their-jobs-are-no-fantasy/">raising issues</a> about excessive work hours, low pay, minority tokenism, and other abuses.</p><p>Meanwhile, some workers at Broken Token (makers of inserts) <a href="https://techraptor.net/tabletop/news/companies-cut-ties-with-broken-token-following-sexual-assault-allegations">posted and/or confirmed stories of abuse and sexual harassment</a> by the founder, leading to many manufacturers and gaming associations to stop working with him.<br /></p><p>Board games that address issues of race or gender often do so using a single idea: unequal starting positions and rewards based on your race or gender. The latest to do so are the 50th anniversary edition of <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/blacks-and-whites-board-game-race-privilege/">Blacks & Whites</a>, a Monopoly clone from the 1970s, and <a href="https://disparitytrap.net/">Disparity Trap</a>, a game where, I think, the results of the cards require you to scan QR codes to find the results (the exact rules are not on the site)</p><p><a href="https://blackprogressgame.com/products/black-progress-game">Black Progress Game</a> is a more upbeat roll and move game about the Black experience.<br /></p>Yehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-36308143592597885152020-07-22T12:00:00.002+03:002020-07-22T12:00:40.045+03:00Social Issues in Tabletop Games 3- 17 contributors left the board game news and blog site <a href="http://www.everythingboardgames.com/">Everything Board Games</a>. Read their statement <a href="https://twospartanstoo.com/2020/06/17/our-statement-on-leaving-everything-board-games/">here</a>. Essentially, the EBG owner Lake Leafty, not only failed to say anything in support of BLM, he actively refused to let anyone in the company discuss doing so publicly or on their internal forums. Leafty posted a response, posing as a victim of an attack campaign, but the post seems to have been taken down. His story is essentially that EBG is a board games site, not a political site. That always sounds so reasonable, and it always falls apart when you inevitably discover that <a href="https://popcultureuncovered.com/2020/06/19/gaming-brew-everything-board-games-and-apoliticism/">Leafty's Facebook feed is full of anti-BLM, anti-SJW, anti-leftist, etc posts</a>. So no politics unless it's his politics, apparently. Addressing systemic racism and harassment in business and culture is not politics, it's human rights. HOW you address it is politics. HT <a href="https://kotaku.com/staff-quit-after-board-game-site-refuses-to-support-bla-1844087016">Kotaku</a>.<br />
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- Speaking of victims of an attack campaign, Eric Lang, one of the few well-known Black board game designers, was suspended from Twitter. He used a serial blocker to block thousands of racist tweets aimed at him. Twitter was less than forthcoming as to why he was suspended, but he has since been unsuspended. HT <a href="https://kotaku.com/board-game-designer-eric-lang-suspended-from-twitter-1844329777">Kotaku</a>.<br />
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- Following up on <a href="https://jergames.blogspot.com/2020/07/black-lives-matter-and-me-too-and.html">previous stories and moves</a>, Wizard of the Coast <a href="https://boundingintocomics.com/2020/07/09/dungeons-dragons-adds-triggers-warnings-for-old-products/">added disclaimers</a> to various legacy content about their possible racist or insensitive content. They also claim that this is a first step, they condemn harassment of anyone pointing out their flaws, they apologize for their failures and aim to do better.<br />
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In addition, WotC <a href="https://wegotthiscovered.com/gaming/magic-gathering-ends-relationship-controversial-artist/">also cut ties</a> with MtG artist, Terese Nielsen, although a few more cards containing her artwork still are scheduled to be released in an upcoming set. The complaints from customers is of her following and retweeting many white nationalist feeds and posts, and other associations she has demonstrated.<br />
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They also <a href="https://wegotthiscovered.com/gaming/wizards-coast-bans-content-creator-sexualizing-magic-gathering/">cut ties with</a> artist Lizbeth Eden who regularly posts semi-nude pictures of herself and semi-nude artwork for magic card proxies on her private web pages, because, WotC wrote, "adult nudity and sexualized posting" content violates their terms of service for magic creators. Which got many people in an uproar, since a) Magic cards and Dungeons and Dragons feature and have always featured semi-nude women, b) the pictures are not sexually explicit, they are semi-nudes, and c) this could be interpreted as shaming women's bodies.<br />
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- WizKids and Indie Game alliance <a href="https://boundingintocomics.com/2020/06/18/wizkids-ends-business-relationship-with-game-designer-robert-burke-after-ign-writer-calls-him-a-bigot/">ended their relationship</a> with Robert Burke, after Burke posted some inflammatory anti-BLM posts on Facebook.<br />
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- Meanwhile, in the video game world, Ubisoft seems to be the <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-21/ubisoft-sexual-misconduct-scandal-harassment-sexism-and-abuse">epicenter and primary example</a> of a toxic sexual harassment culture.Yehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-20106125241053089392020-07-07T18:21:00.001+03:002020-07-07T18:21:51.712+03:00 Black Lives Matter (and Me Too) and Tabletop Games 2Following up on <a href="https://jergames.blogspot.com/2020/06/black-lives-matter-and-tabletop-games.html">last month's post</a> about diversity in gaming, here are some additional items from the last few weeks:<br />
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- Wizard of the Coast: First, they have responded to the issue regarding inherently evil races in Dungeons and Dragons (such as dark elves) by reviewing and changing future products to enable all members of all races to choose their own morality. See their <a href="https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/diversity-and-dnd">press release</a>. This may not be enough; game design freelancer <a href="https://www.tor.com/2020/07/06/wizards-of-the-coast-freelancer-quits-due-to-hostile-work-environment/">Orion D. Black just resigned</a>, claiming that the Wizards press release does not address real issues of racism within the company structure; his statement is <a href="https://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sra9pq">here</a>. Second, they have <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/statement-regarding-noah-bradley-2020-06-22">cut ties with Magic artist Noah Bradley</a>, who has long and often been accused of severe sexual harassment, after Noah himself posted a lengthy acknowledgement and apology on the topic.<br />
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- Cards Against Humanity: <a href="https://www.polygon.com/2020/6/23/21300435/cards-against-humanity-max-temkin-report">Former employees accused the company and one of its co-founders</a> of a toxic work environment and sexual harassment. The co-founder, Max Temkin, has stepped down. Considering the line of games and materials this company produces, this is no surprise to me. <a href="https://www.cardsagainsthumanity.com/statement/">Statement from the company</a>. The <a href="https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/akzkmj/cards-against-humanity-workers-are-unionizing">workers are now unionizing</a>.<br />
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- A huge list of accusations about sexual assault, rape, and harassment <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/23/style/women-gaming-streaming-harassment-sexism-twitch.html">was made last month</a> regarding various video game personalities, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/25/21303185/twitch-sexual-harassment-assault-permanent-bans-streamers">especially streamers</a>. Video game publishers also must address <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2020/06/16/video-game-companies-vow-fight-racism-their-communities-offer-few-details/">a long history of racism in games and by players</a>.Yehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-91650276030631256442020-06-16T14:25:00.002+03:002020-06-16T14:25:07.889+03:00To the Best of Our Knowledge on Board GamesPodcast To the Best of Our Knowledge reposts last year's episode about board games, propaganda (Juden Raus, The Grizzled), crushing competition (Chess), and fake history (Mahjong).<br />
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Listen here:<br />
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<audio controls="controls" height="40" preload="none" width="300"><source src="http://podcast.wpr.org/tbk/tbk200613a.mp3" type="audio/mpeg"></source>Your browser does not support HTML5 audio. Please update your browser to hear this media content.</audio>Yehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-29885494656149910042020-06-11T22:47:00.001+03:002020-06-12T00:43:44.867+03:00Black Lives Matter and Tabletop GamesI support everything that black people and allies are saying right now and have been saying for centuries (except for the few who say things that are anti-Israel or antisemitic). Change is a long time coming and hopefully permanent changes will eventually (and soon) make all people equally welcome, equally safe, have equal opportunities, and be equally empowered and protected in all areas of society. Black lives damn well matter.<br />
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Board gamers tend to be a bit less toxic than players of some of the other gaming cultures, such as video games, roleplaying games, and collectible card games. These latter cultures notoriously attract vocal racists, sexists, homophobes, etc etc. "Gamergate" is all I have to say about that. Board gamers tend to be more gender-mixed, more family-friendly, and older (but not as old as miniature war-gamers and the like).</div>
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Unfortunately, like every subculture, the board game culture is set within the real world, and so there is plenty of racism, sexism etc in it (it's just not generally a seething wretchedness, like it is in video games or certain sports). The more fanatic the gamers, the more racist, etc they tend to be. Fanatics don't want anything messing with their hobby, especially when the messers point out problems with their privilege. In my casual estimation, there is a tendency toward racism among certain hardcore game fanatics on BoardGameGeek, and probably other, similar websites.</div>
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As for the game designers and publishers, there are plenty of tone-deaf tabletop games (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_video_games">and of course video games</a>), steeped in white privilege. Last year, for example, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/01/style/board-games-cancel-culture.html">a board game called Scramble for Africa was canceled</a> after complaints that it presented the colonization and pillage of Africa as a means of obtaining points. It even used events, such as causing local "uprisings", as a game mechanic to further your position, without addressing the native population and the effects that the colonization had on the continent. Similar complaints have been leveled at any conquest game, including such abstracts as Catan; not because Catan represents a particular oppression, but because the very act of conquering and transforming a supposedly uninhabited territory is a kind of whitewashing.</div>
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Plenty of other games have whitewashing problems, such as the well-loved Puerto Rico (with brown "colonists" working in the plantations of San Juan) and Endeavor (where slavery cards are a cheap tool for points, and freeing the slaves is another one).</div>
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As I mentioned, collectible card games attracts some real bigots, probably because the same population that plays it tend to play video games. As a result, there is a dearth of black Magic players. Wizards of the Coast was taken to task, not only for not doing enough to address the racism of its conventions and game groups, but for its unsafe work environment and even the artwork on its cards. After Zalem Beg, a former editor-in-chief for major Magic: The Gathering retailer and several other top sites, recently wrote <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RDhVZ4x_Zf1abOpGfEGMI4xtYMA7AghCN5uWIfJRa6c/preview?pru=AAABcsiGwUY*KOV3Ut7YtSxkiy7PeGCAcQ">a scathing attack on the company's culture</a> as well as some of its cards and web site choices, yesterday Wizards finally responded by <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/depictions-racism-magic-2020-06-10">banning some old cards and racist artwork</a>.</div>
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I know that TSR and then Wizards of the Coast also had <a href="https://kotaku.com/dungeons-dragons-stumbles-with-its-revision-of-the-ga-1819657235">a history of racist portrayals and/or exclusion of minorities</a> in their Dungeons and Dragons products, and I know that they have included more minorities, with less stereotypes, in some artwork in recent years, but they still have a ways to go. Some people object to the very idea of D&D as a cultural appropriation and glorification of killing the "other", and others to how <a href="https://archive.md/xeqnI">orcs seem to represent the other in a racist way</a> (a problem that they say originated from Tolkein).</div>
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In April, world Chess champion Magnus Carlsen marked a U.N. international campaign against racism by <a href="https://apnews.com/184386cc09be6c69535919402a13fa3f">playing a game of Chess where the black pieces moved first</a>. In Chess, both sides play with the exact same pieces, just different colors (sometimes not even black and white), and every other classic abstract game, including Checkers and Go, has the black pieces moving first. Meanwhile, the Chess world, like every other world of fanatic hobbyists, is pretty white, for the various reasons you might expect, including lack of, or thwarted, opportunities and microaggressions in Chess groups and culture.</div>
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Same goes for other games with single-minded devotees, such as Scrabble. Speaking of Scrabble, years ago some people <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/tournament-scrabble-dictionary-contains-more-hundred-slurs-180962839/">objected</a> to racist terms being in the Scrabble dictionary (it took years before these terms were even labeled as offensive in the dictionary); they were removed, but remain valid for tournament play on <a href="http://www.seattlescrabble.org/expurg.php">a special sheet</a> handed out to tournament players, and you can still play them online if you select the tournament dictionary.</div>
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Tom Vasel recently interviewed designer Eric Lang to get his take on being black in the board game community. Eric Lang is a notable and successful game designer, unfortunately one of the few who are black.</div>
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The Game Manufacturers Association who run the Origins convention <a href="https://www.kotaku.co.uk/2020/06/11/board-gamings-industry-body-refuses-to-say-a-word-about-black-lives-mattering">was taken to task for NOT saying anything</a> about black lives matter. As a result, Eric Lang and many other invited speakers pulled out of the convention. Yesterday, GAMA finally <a href="https://www.facebook.com/originsgamefair/posts/3343035985749041">put out a statement about black lives matter</a> and canceled the event. People continue to take them to task for canceling the event as if it had been their decision, and not the result of their previous lack of statement.</div>
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And of course, on the flip side, people can create tabletop games that teach about racism and how we can deal with it. Not that many, exist, however.</div>
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<li><a href="https://kesakivelstudios.org/road-to-racial-justice">Road to Racial Justice</a></li>
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<li><a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/119506/freedom-underground-railroad">Freedom: The Underground Railroad 2012</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.eirasismille.fi/sisalto/racism-24-board-game">Racism 24</a></li>
<li>Um, any others?</li>
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Yehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-90724638799597483512020-03-29T14:11:00.003+03:002020-03-29T14:11:55.044+03:00Board Games in the Time of CoronaIf you are lucky (?) enough to be stuck at home with other people, and they are willing, then board games are a good way to connect, if the rest of the time everyone is on their own electronic devices (as it is in my house).<br />
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Game nights and game day is out of the question, but nearly every game we might want to play, including Tichu, has a free online version, some with better interfaces, and some with worse. Check them out before inviting others to play, and then use your usual game group communication platform to organize session times.<br />
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I tried playing Codenames via Zoom (I didn't know about the <a href="https://www.horsepaste.com/">online version</a> at the time). This did not work well for me, since there was an issue with focusing our camera on the board and with lag times between the various video participants. If you have less lag time in your area, you may experience better results.<br />
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YehudaYehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-84803701975924893392020-03-26T14:48:00.000+02:002020-03-26T14:51:59.900+02:005 Awesome Online Games You Must Try<i>The following is a guest post.</i><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 260px; overflow: hidden; width: 562px;"><img height="260" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/768AmhsggPjBByj47GV_o5Adhvjo25KFRe4S8EfrDgcp1J9aOoTuS1fZKat_j6obbrHkHAI2SncQMhMdgQMc7KvqLzWJq3B-V1qpHGWXReyDxrQp5jpNM6-NViq8Ys3cZ-Ql5P8" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="562" /></span></span></div>
<br /><br />There are many games online, ranging from good to bad and therefore fun and not fun. But there are games that stand above the rest. Games that have people coming back for years or even decades. Games that are so fun that they’re considered classics.<br /><br /> Not that you shouldn’t explore yourself on what games to play, but, if that task seems too daunting or you need a place to start, this is it. Chances are you’ve heard of most if not all of the following games, and there’s a good reason for that. They’re fun. Many people believe such and therefore it is likely that you will also think so.<br /><br /> Many games are considered classics and if you’re ever bored or unsure of what to play, then classics should be a goto. If you don’t know what classics to refer to then look no further for the classics that you seek include solitaire, jigsaw puzzles, sudoku, mahjong, and crosswords; while these apply in real life as well, this refers to online for infinite play.<br />
<br /> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Solitaire</span><br /><br /> As the above may suggest, the first game you must try is <a href="https://www.arkadium.com/free-online-games/solitaire/">online solitaire</a>. Solitaire is a game of multiple names, two of which being, Patience, or card solitaire. In general, solitaire is a term used for single-player games of concentration and skill involving a set layout of a certain item, which could be tiles, cards, stones, etc. Which is why it can be called card solitaire.<br /><br />Each game of solitaire acts as a puzzle, every card is laid out in a specific position so as to randomize each solution, which could be in your favor, or not. As said, each card is laid out specifically in a layout, to solve the puzzle you have to sort the cards and conform to the specific rules of the game, whichever it may be. It’s a fun puzzle game that is certainly satisfying to beat.<br />
<br /> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Jigsaw Puzzles</span><br />
<br /> There’s a very high chance that if you know any game on this list, it’s actual jigsaw puzzles. And if you do know about them then you probably also know that to play jigsaw puzzles you had to buy the different sets and couldn’t do other images unless you bought that specific set, well, no more. The era of online fixes that issue.<br /><br /> Thanks to it being online you can do puzzles with any website given image, some even let you choose your own image as well as your difficulty. If achieving a certain goal and also being able to see it right before your eyes is something you desire, then jigsaw is your best bet. Truly a game that will never disappear, and therefore, you should play it.<br /><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Sudoku</span></h2>
The game that used to be known as Number Place is as the original name would entail. You are given a grid of 3x3 squares and within those squares, there are 3x3 other squares (boxes). In each square, there is a given amount of numbers within those boxes and the empty boxes are the ones you insert puzzles to complete the square.<br /><br /> You complete the puzzle by having every box within the puzzles filled in with a number. This seems easy at first since you might just be thinking you can repeat numbers, but that’s where the rules come in. In each square there can only be a singular number of 1-9, this also applies to rows and columns, no number can repeat vertically, horizontally, or… boxically. <br /><br /> For a game that contains many numbers, <a href="https://www.learn-sudoku.com/sudoku-requires-no-math.html">you don’t actually need to know any math</a> so don’t let that frighten you. Sudoku is a game loved by many for many years ever since it was popularized in the late 1980s.<br /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 347px; overflow: hidden; width: 347px;"><img height="347" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/7IQ-OtFRLayWVrV2aanEkiQ8xUQAhILoZO3K_wA6O73NQ0MtJRaL4_JRN4mSKfV2IWc3Jf8ib6jYp1lquK6SPbQi2W4UkJWetUA2UgFdV3IEkc2WWCeYiHA1EYQc_WYrOQDKHOk" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="347" /></span></span><br />
<h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Mahjong</span></h2>
A game that was<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahjong"> developed in China during the Qing dynasty,</a> Mahjong, is a popular game to this day worldwide. Mahjong is a game of tiles that involves skill, strategy, and just a bit of luck. Commonly the game is played with four people but there are variants for three. The game is set with 144 tiles with Chinese characters and symbols being written on them.<br /><br /> Each player is given 12 tiles, with each turn the players can draw or discard tiles until they have completed a legal hand using the 14th drawn tile to form melds also known as sets as well as a pair, which is known as an eye. The game can also be won with special sets. Which this being online, there should be no shortage of opponents which can include A.I.<br />
<br /> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Crosswords</span><br />
<br /> A need to play by any sense of the word, crosswords are word puzzles and word search games that take place within a square. The goal of the game is to form words or phrases using the white boxes based on sentences, references, or clues given which pertain to a certain square number. The clues and such are also labeled as being either vertical or horizontal.<br /><br /> The square also contains black or shaded areas that are meant to separate boxes which essentially separate words to make it easier to distinguish the correct answer. The way to complete the puzzle if by filling in each set of boxes with the correct word or phrases. The bonus with this being online is there there will be no shortage of crosswords or topics to choose from.<br />
<br /> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 435px; overflow: hidden; width: 435px;"><img height="435" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/bfcK0OrQsvAWyALH3dwtgTeWJ1ByVqRTaH1dDco_AbBDr_-bb0BH1_rsVNgxZn6pu2VaZMPoN1mI2AFZRN0Lu1wk-19rbiX46HqHiJMqmM7VXBK84MoabNRpkeAKCWB_vWPbWEM" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="435" /></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Must-Play Games</span></h2>
As previously said, there are many games out there both in the real world and online. With online, however, there’s no shortage of anything for any of these games which means that you can endlessly play without worrying about paywalls; paywalls being the requirement to buy more sets of puzzles to enjoy said puzzle.<br /><br /> To recap, what you must play include solitaire, the card game, jigsaw puzzles, the puzzle piece game, sudoku, the number placement game, mahjong, the tile game, and finally crosswords which is essentially the word placement game. Each of these games is beloved by many and definitely should be a place to start or go if you’re ever wondering what to play.Yehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-38054765364262776092019-12-09T01:08:00.000+02:002019-12-09T01:08:35.231+02:00The Case of Turner Prize: Are Too Many Ties Devaluing the Concept of Competition?<a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/08/entertainment/turner-prize-winners-losers-scli-gbr-intl/index.html">CNN reports</a> on the winners of this year's Turner Prize, an annual prize presented to a British visual artist. All of the finalists asked to be given the prize jointly, as a group, and so all of the contenders "won" in a competition in which no one lost.<br />
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This, combined with what some people see as a pattern in recent years, has irked some people. These people see this "tie" and equate it with the concept of spoiled Millennials who get "participation trophies" or prizes for trying. What has happened to cutthroat competition and actual winning.<br />
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<b>The Arguments For and Against</b><br />
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The arguments against the Turner prize tie, in this case, are that the refusal to announce a single winner is indicative of snowflakes, who can't handle being losers. That too many winners devalues the concept of winning, and of competition in general. And that it lacks drama.<br />
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The arguments in favor are rather specific to this event. The artists decided that their works were complementary, rather than competitive, and did not feel that a competition was the right way to judge them. That felt that they had already "won" by having reached the shortlist for the prize. Alex Farquharson, the director of the Tate Britain gallery which organizes the prize, argues that times have changed and that competition may not be the right format to judge these kinds of works, anymore. Andrew Russeth, a writer for the Daily Mail, writes "This notion of having artists compete in public and one walk away the winner feels a little demeaning and unpleasant."<br />
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<b>Some Points to Consider</b><br />
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As for the arguments against, it is important to divide up those activities in which competition really brings out the most effort and the best results versus those in which we have stuck absolute competitions because we were too boring or lazy to provide a better framework. The Olympics doesn't have a single winner, because we don't make the downhill skier compete against the figure skater; the disciplines and forms are too different to compare. So maybe, when it comes to art competitions with very loose frameworks, it is silly to compare different kinds of entries in different subjects, and with different intents. Maybe the Turner Prize is overdue for a restructure.<br />
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When it comes to "participation trophies", there are two hands here. On the one hand, participation trophies are not just a Millennial issue; that is lazy, biased journalism, and the usual "look down at the next generation" attitude of Boomers who have suddenly publicized a concept that has existed for generations. Everyone who joins the army (and doesn't screw up too badly) gets stripes and awards during and after service. Everyone who shows up for work gets paid, and often gets bonuses, even if they aren't the number one worker. Even the specific concept of participation trophies is <a href="https://slate.com/culture/2019/04/participation-trophy-history-world-war-i.html">a century old</a>.<br />
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On the other hand, participation trophies are not "everyone gets a trophy". They are, unless severely mishandled, a reward for having put in effort. In the same event, different people, i.e. winners, get specific prizes, while everyone who at least put in effort gets the participation trophy. The recipients of these trophies are not morons, and they know that trophies for winning and trophies for participation have different values. But studies show that encouraging effort is better motivation than acknowledging talent. When you tell someone they have won, they stop trying; when you tell someone that they are smart, they often find a way to not be, act, or appear smart. When you tell someone that you see their hard work and you think it is worthwhile, they may end up trying harder, and, sometimes, they may eventually win or get smarter.<br />
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However, announcing the Turner Prize as a tie is lazy; if you set up a competition, you should not change the rules in the middle when you realize that the competition was the wrong format. They should have, originally, defined better categories that were more conductive to direct competition, or they should have defined goals for which prizes could be given to all, or a list, of people who met these goals. But, since they didn't, they should have awarded a winner and let the artists figure out how to deal with this.<br />
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Competition is not inherently evil. It brings out efforts and results that would not happen without it. When mishandled, it can bring out people too focused on the goal; they might even short circuit the permitted methods to get to that goal. Winning, when handled well, can be a goal or a stepping stone to more effort. Losing, when handled well, is not something to be afraid of. Competition against others should always be, in parallel, competition against ourselves. And for that, a job well done results in a self-award that does not require any external acknowledgement.Yehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-26917900627639330982019-11-18T08:47:00.001+02:002019-11-18T08:47:41.363+02:002019 Holiday Gift Guide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyE49LIFpWLKB_2uEhW1zPbgnsSm-JmZOQ7Boxr5vWM29YYrIUxkVbxWTlisp7jFWQVajNbAWp4yHB_OThFuN-b1qH8IbFffEqWCEL47mtNTAi-wjkLZ6-2k1bUmQGMMFu240/s1600/2019_gift_guide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyE49LIFpWLKB_2uEhW1zPbgnsSm-JmZOQ7Boxr5vWM29YYrIUxkVbxWTlisp7jFWQVajNbAWp4yHB_OThFuN-b1qH8IbFffEqWCEL47mtNTAi-wjkLZ6-2k1bUmQGMMFu240/s1600/2019_gift_guide.jpg" /></a></div>
This guide includes games for young and old, for every gender, generation, temperament, and culture.
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Whatever you do, and whatever you celebrate, there is no better way to spend a Christmas, Hanukkah, or what have you than together with friends, family, and neighbors with a warm cup of (fair trade) cocoa and a stack of casual board and/or card games.<br />
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Remember that the most valuable gift you can give is time. <i>Don't just give your loved ones a game; play it with them.</i> Find or start a local game group and join or form a community.<br />
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I hope you enjoy the guide. Remember: the holidays are not only for sharing the warmth with family and friends, but also for sharing with those who have no one else to share with them. Give to your local shelters, hospitals, and so on, because that's the gift that keeps on giving.<br />
<table border="1"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlH7ou9wzfJV_zIsNqsj2aHLVV6cunZj6dCRXg_wLqJ-gxOF3nMM8y8J3T9aEhRdp7qPkJhGm3fKc6M1XSLKmE8CtOqliopPze4ZykXFMWRakMmhdu975QntUtwJkCls1WEc/s320/antike_ii.jpg" width="320" />
</td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/antike-ii?_pos=1&_sid=e43d4f59d&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Antike II</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 6 players<br />
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Risk is a long game of laying low, with player elimination and just too much in the luck department; this game (and its predecessor but very rare and expensive Antike) is the perfect evolution to, and replacement for, Risk.<br />
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It plays quicker, there's dice-less conflict, no one gets to lay low watching while others fight, and - excepting truly poor play - everyone has a chance for most of the game. There's also a lot more to the game than just conflict, but the rules are short and elegant.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZofgCr2FwmXxUt66Am6nkPM6QkbY4JfqCOy55mq63Sk75EoCXRYGbZoBV_5io_Kz1gi-UONv2MhvMJh1ugU41w3Id69QQXEcwNz9KjP4SV2TcqGk-FA9E5AglwfERkHbW76Y/s1600/azul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1215" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZofgCr2FwmXxUt66Am6nkPM6QkbY4JfqCOy55mq63Sk75EoCXRYGbZoBV_5io_Kz1gi-UONv2MhvMJh1ugU41w3Id69QQXEcwNz9KjP4SV2TcqGk-FA9E5AglwfERkHbW76Y/s320/azul.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>
<br /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/azul?_pos=1&_sid=406ccd241&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Azul</a> is a new game with gorgeous components and simple game play: take all of the tiles of one color from one mat or from the center and try to fit them into the right rows at the right time.<br />
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Easy enough. The tricky part is scoring rows and columns of connected tiles. This new version, Azul Stained Glass, ups the fun by eliminating a few rules and adding a half dozen additional tactical options without adding much more complexity.<br />
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Simple to explain and easy to get going, and it looks so nice.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="473" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaRZMVgq2dK_qdeJJp4s8GfBmslk0CYAhi-6jVso-BJb8eNjhAoX9QD0j2CX8gaIQrCi2vjk-FWNL8_5b0xCZgHi3mAhPK5EVhJwco985ZxV8hzJQpeY__ZIyCnRXGGwqUPU/s320/backgammon.jpeg" width="287" /></td>
<td valign="top">Backgammon: Ages 6+, 2 players<br />
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Backgammon is a classic game that can be enjoyed by children and parents alike. While there is a large amount of luck in the game, there are also many meaningful decisions, which makes this a good stepping stone to future games with more challenge, such as Checkers or Chess.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mv2QCHFoZU6JCwFSyxELpVCnGcaLrtt5yW1V9vx7ylOgi1O76AoeX3pLVR87hEPewG3O2kpKxcIJR08ZyfUJZtwsQu5_3QxtYoeHrigc7xbSzZzULz0avdQ_pS1wuAECZD8/s320/boggle.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/big-boggle?_pos=1&_sid=3395e9e62&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Boggle</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 10 players<br />
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Boggle is a word game, whose simple rules - find all the words you can within three minutes - make it a game that is both fun and quick. Adults can play with kids by restricting the adults to have to find words of four or five letters.<br />
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The pictured version is a little quieter and less bulky than the old boxy version, and comes with a built-in electronic timer.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FIjOE-uZs22w_VKVj7GzAX2bKm_F737IQ-UZ2GPbFIosEBRSfeXUddWZlF7XeSBIRUxQ01Q7DbVd6EMzG_s_q7za-vKJgjJ6SeRlVkaSgo9sMvqtda6_8NS1kB5wl9MzKKE/s320/carcassonne.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/carcassonne?_pos=1&_sid=6e6449cf3&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Carcassonne</a>, variants, and expansions: Ages 10+, 2 to 5 players<br />
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Carcassonne is a bit more complex than some of the other games here, but the beautiful pieces and the fun game play are worth the time to learn. Pick a piece from the pile, rotate and place it so that it fits on the board (like dominoes), and then optionally place one of your pieces on that tile. There are several ways to score, some of which occur during the game and some of which only at the end of the game.<br />
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There are some more rules than that, but not too many more. The game play is engaging enough to make you want to play it more than once in a single sitting.<br />
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There are dozens of versions to the game, and some of the versions have several expansions.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVLuYNvux7A2BuU3M2DbmNIR-1tMP3g-5M6So9wK3Nzn2EGRyYEywNXCpY3PcU0fZgDGAIfCry4Khqip0SI8-5kWr2V9boqZJpUGpojR2Y2-_kec5vwmIWDz1heF0_OcLo2s/s320/catan.jpg" width="259" />
</td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/catan?_pos=2&_sid=1af25f87c&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Catan</a>: Ages 8+, 3 to 4 players<br />
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This game, formerly known as The Settlers of Catan, and Ticket to Ride, are the perfect adult games for beginning gamers.<br />
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All you need to do is collect ten points through building settlements and cities, connecting roads, adding developments and trading with your fellow players. A unique board that changes each time you play, constant interaction even when it's not your turn, and a great balance of luck versus strategy makes this The Game to acquire if you still think that board games are only for kids.</td></tr>
<tr><td><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD50PNV3pYAW2liBt1pwf5adPgeod80GxC7kvstyLusSfp0ShWL1S-HX1SnQs2RRow_91Nm9SEBVu7F-UMt2HGZnx7rpppnFElGmC0fqdKQv6C5lNVyGXrJSeAEto_509If8g/s320/chess.jpg" width="320" />
</td>
<td><a href="https://funagain.com/products/wooden-chess?_pos=1&_sid=d9f7e8967&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Chess </a>/ <a href="https://funagain.com/products/xiangqi-chinese-chess?_pos=1&_sid=aaec4148d&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Xiangqi </a>/ Shogi: Ages 6+, 2 players<br />
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These three games, Chess, XiangQi (Chinese Chess), and Shogi (Japanese Chess), are all top-tier 2-player games that can occupy a curious mind for an entire lifetime. They also have wide followings, so learning the game is learning a language that will admit you to a culture of fellow players around the world.<br />
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Board and piece prices range from inexpensive to very expensive, and Chess pieces come in many different themes.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmpMoRJO9uZk94hGjP077QZAvWvWGdQBS-qAglTv7pWB-yXVVHTgdOwcmNz8ZNV_j_hO448ZgEiTJS-8ReNDtUdEms7tTCzadm2hvCU5l1VsIdfIDJA1AFtGFvmWyFYzGA9M/s320/chinese_checkers.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/wooden-chinese-checkers?_pos=1&_sid=81feacdc2&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Chinese Checkers</a>: Ages 6+, 2 to 6 players<br />
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Another great abstract, and a pretty one if you find one with nice marbles. The rules are simple: move or jump your pieces from one side to the other. Finding chains of jumps is a thrill for all ages.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="594" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8R5_b_NTcPgDd6f3rU4MHv4sfoZSdc_ewuodtq5mYg8BQONBx0TvckJi9D49pgWCRJidm6Bszio7VUTvZqh73-sCK8raM-W-m4u3N4hNiz5wm7a3_U8rLQexeuNwXpzYfNg/s320/crokinole.jpeg" width="320" />
</td><td valign="top">Carrom / Crokinole / Nok-Hockey / Air Hockey / Billiards / Foosball, etc.: Ages 6+, 2 players<br />
<br />
Carrom is the most played tabletop game in India. Like Billiards, the object is to knock pieces off the table area, which you do by flicking wooden disks with your fingers. I picked up Crokinole a few years ago, and it is a constant hit with my girlfriend, family, and friends.<br />
<br />
All kinetic tabletop games, from snooker to billiards to foosball, are loved by players of all ages.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2KlHW4kH5fcwYEyraOvPmQYFMLwfO9WoewgokxFxzAHPVlCXkdPCX349qvc4iG7lvmwdxoKTvxNNYMu-cZesp0MgoN9pdDJwH60uS97tUyem708NWwc0Gqg7rIieARtU7x8/s320/playing_cards.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/kingdom-of-a-new-world-playing-cards-blue?_pos=1&_sid=63c1e7f04&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Cards</a>: Ages 3+, 1 to any number of players<br />
<br />
Decks of cards, whether they are the well known Western type with 52 cards in 4 suits, or special European or Asian decks, are a great starting point for any number of wonderful games, including Bridge, Hearts, Skat, Cribbage, Pinochle, Oh Hell, Bullsh*t, Durak, President, Spades, Solitaire, and many others.<br />
<br />
Check out <a href="http://www.pagat.com/">Pagat.com</a> for the rules to these games and to thousands of others.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3SfGZq2r32usiYjtQuGo3PzqsmE2Kr8ruO3q3M0helmdgHj5gSMENEM_kOq3dOR1DCfrYD1LMJvw0xAmkNTlpmbdPmw5FzPN-XITpiFJzfG5kupEuJLydxApHAozQJKJHnc/s320/codenames.jpg" width="222" />
</td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/codenames?_pos=1&_sid=eedb45dfa&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Codenames</a>: Ages 10+, 4-10 players<br />
<br />
Codenames is a new, fun game that uses words in an unusual way. Two teams, the clue givers alternate trying to give one word clues that match as many of their team's cards as possible. You must find a word that matches multiple other words, but not any of your opponent's words or the assassin's word. It's mindbending, and the game is infinitely replayable.<br />
<br />
A great game for non-gamers and gamers alike.<br />
If you are just two people, try the new <a href="https://funagain.com/products/codenames-duet?_pos=3&_sid=eedb45dfa&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">two-player version</a>.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiym1X9rkse2MCi22kMaM3Pwi4eUSc3ouGrzjDeYdrS-Os71NKx8DDOFEu1t-eWMHQMRzJLzXv-gY0QmqM9rSTqAI3IjiAii33guBmeLrHVFXxKQPxskFM-wvtKrIfdkdUwP3g/s320/dixit.jpg" width="320" />
</td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/dixit?_pos=1&_sid=6d647c077&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Dixit</a>: Ages 10+, 3-6 (12) players<br />
<br />
Dixit is an incredible game, especially for non-gamers. It is loved as a creative exercise: pick a card and give a word, phrase, song, dance, or any other clue to describe it, but not too perfectly. The other players try to play cards that also match your clue. You only get points if some people guess which was your card and some people don't.<br />
<br />
The fun is in the creativity of the clues, and I've yet to see a game where even the most stodgy non-gamer doesn't have fun.<br />
<br />
There are now several expansions, which are all good. This game, like many others, was inspired by <a href="https://funagain.com/products/apples-to-apples-party-box?_pos=2&_sid=acaaae6f8&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Apples to Apples</a>, another nifty game for the casual non-gamers who walk among us.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6uAHZWeKBiKVDU1nxT2DGF7-VS9RhfToYNMoJkpHxOsUWPfB2QlISS9s8KrAXtu3yNZm-UktgZk_h8Sh2xCCMhxxlBA69m2DRgeBS2UOTEokP9I0SuVET4sMWhcJbA3VzQY/s1600/frankenstein.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6uAHZWeKBiKVDU1nxT2DGF7-VS9RhfToYNMoJkpHxOsUWPfB2QlISS9s8KrAXtu3yNZm-UktgZk_h8Sh2xCCMhxxlBA69m2DRgeBS2UOTEokP9I0SuVET4sMWhcJbA3VzQY/s1600/frankenstein.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/frankenstein?_pos=1&_sid=8c71ddd60&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Frankenstein</a>: Ages 6+, 2 to 4 players<br />
<br />
A little plug for my own game. This is a simple set-collection auction game with a monster theme. It fits in well with the other games on the list: easy to learn, quick to play, lots of replayability. The theme may not be appropriate for all ages, but most kids today should feel comfortable playing it.<br />
<br />
Of course, I may be biased, since I designed it.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOJX68W9iNM3dx3nD4ctaqMxUSQK5nSk1cN29m81NmFkVpQ3sKRfvpGvRTPwwOLryyaZ2JKR4fsBn6vs2ZydAsXbkUHftjQiECVAd7zpuFLFETiS5r0E3s_Ow-yD5kbqcOK4/s320/froggy_boogie.jpg" /></td><td valign="top">Froggy Boogie: Ages 3-9, 2 to 4 players<br />
<br />
Froggy Boogie is a brilliant game to frustrate grownups and please younger children. All you have to do is remember where the picture of the fly is, under the left eye or the right eye? The dice have only colors - no counting necessary. It's a perfect first game.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-rHMAklHdgkYV2-ijw2mt5PD6Je4fusTH7KHce3vuE8YGjymuxsBUQTWj11QyjuzoQ1CSWce7FRNLHDd-5EBFEYsFH8PtbqCKw_TYiJXjR-9cybDDiqBqB8H9R2Mb4PxMeo/s320/go_board.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/pente-deluxe?_pos=1&_sid=a4d47627d&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Go</a> / <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=015583&affil=YEHU">Pente</a>: Ages 6+, 2 players<br />
<br />
Beyond Chess, Checkers, or XiangQi is the absolute perfect game of Go (aka Weiqi); it's so popular, there are twenty-four hour television stations dedicated to it, an anime series based on it, and it's considered one of the four arts of the Chinese scholar.<br />
<br />
It really is that good, and the rules are easy, too. Best of all, a built-in handicap system allows two people of any skill levels to enjoy a challenging game against each other.<br />
<br />
You should play with the nicest board you can afford.<br />
<br />
Pente, a game of getting five stones in a row, can be played on the same board. The rules are just as easy as Go, and while the game has much less depth, it is also a little less intimidating to new players.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrdhCmynwc9zQF1vjpwXMrSMQCykbavHOopq5CpG21FlOfGfgeVmkJ76ACXCHlgznJVjV5fmjoFTck3WBZy3nnz-m-THoo34jgIe4L2_-TR-4z0vnY3-SRbMenFAEJxLnR6Y/s320/jungle_speed.jpg" /></td><td valign="top">Jungle Speed: Ages 8+, 3 to 8 players<br />
<br />
There are several games of speed reaction / pattern recognition on the market; I chose this one because of the components. Players flip cards in turn and grab for the totem in the middle as soon as two matching cards are revealed. Don't play with friends who have sharp nails or finger jewelry.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja36RqrShbKN3dYMMxiWb3AFnziCF2Ra46UT8RMuvGTy0CJ_CID1b4Zu1yoV-pH75kyLLzHETpEbxkTHwFFssX6U-DDOIJXR3DYeiKJOgqU_5h3RFujxKTmd1b834AcBn_axo/s1600/mtg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja36RqrShbKN3dYMMxiWb3AFnziCF2Ra46UT8RMuvGTy0CJ_CID1b4Zu1yoV-pH75kyLLzHETpEbxkTHwFFssX6U-DDOIJXR3DYeiKJOgqU_5h3RFujxKTmd1b834AcBn_axo/s320/mtg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/mtg-war-of-the-spark-booster-box?_pos=8&_sid=5ffd7b079&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Magic the Gathering</a>: Ages 8+, 2 players<br />
<br />
After two decades, Magic is still The Bomb when it comes to collectible card games, although Yu-Gi-Oh sells more cards. These are not easy games to learn, but quick start guides can get you off the ground fairly quickly, and then you have months and years of challenging game play ahead of you.<br />
<br />
Don't get sucked into having to buy endless amounts of boosters; to play the game outside of a tournament, you only need a few hundred common cards which can be picked up for a penny each on various sites.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJWKB4Qiw8-cqvsiPC13vlEYtJ-EPsvyoAVhC67EmtUK3I350b5vzjLUd1FGHdov80jNiDsAZdrUI83HL_6inKXHTI4tvRRaSBtHCfNo6JemeaJY39MN1Bt_XyT5v2a8uuYY/s320/mancala.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/mancala-22-in-walnut-stained?_pos=1&_sid=1a269bb9a&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Mancala</a>: Ages 5+, 2 players<br />
<br />
This is widely known around the world under various names (e.g. Oware), and the national game of many African countries.<br />
<br />
The rules are easy: pick up all the seeds in one of your bowls and place one in each bowl around the table. If you land on an empty space on your side, you win the seed and any seeds opposite.<br />
<br />
There are a few more rules, but that's about it. It takes a few games to get up to speed; early victories tend to be lopsided. Once you get the hang of it, you can play several, quick, challenging games in succession.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbBzo5D1HTqr5-ZVxTP5kN4fMK8eoorA1onQNxah977fhEwTQNIidflGFr_UkDspHr_eCSKcQp7kMnOJzXLJMq7P_qvAUi1jn5ZCOc8_43p2a2inuZMMahUYR9HB44wzVVcI/s1600/memory.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbBzo5D1HTqr5-ZVxTP5kN4fMK8eoorA1onQNxah977fhEwTQNIidflGFr_UkDspHr_eCSKcQp7kMnOJzXLJMq7P_qvAUi1jn5ZCOc8_43p2a2inuZMMahUYR9HB44wzVVcI/s320/memory.jpg" /></a></td><td valign="top">Memory: Ages 3 to 12, 2 to 5 players<br />
<br />
This is a first game for kids and adults, and a great game for it, because kids get the hang of it very quickly and adults find it a real challenge without having to pretend. All you need are one or two decks of cards, but an infinite number of these games are sold with various different pictures and themes.<br />
<br />
You can play with more than 5 players, but I wouldn't recommend it.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0eHGrb1XpBjT-R6iDnJD-VQi0zHsXI8Gg2c2k-RdpjodJNI8jCvVjo3_9JciMQ-DB7D8QSaA_jyjOzCIojOhIPXZuZjiRhnQ_UVESzlB_NvNkM1gxuwmEHEWRZf_xKB7v3s/s320/nefarious.jpg" width="313" />
</td><td valign="top">Nefarious: Ages 8+, 2 to 6 players<br />
<br />
This is a game of mad scientists that is great for 2 to 6 players, and doesn't sacrifice speed with more players. Each round, you select one of four actions. collect money from any neighbors who selected actions that your minions are invested in, perform your action, and then check to see if you won. The actions are: invest minions, play cards, take cards, or take money.<br />
<br />
The cards are fun and the game is quick and replayable, because, in each game, you play with some random twists that make that game's experience unique.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEjrTsxVAiJ4i8W2muA2MSQbJRwDJFHEZSlQHQS9L15CsOhF27uwM_4-ZxCNodhF3bz1GHS-STI8RjMLRd52aeqoGNiFRD_n3EbGDkLhIvLXGAvi0OlL4Alr91uwF1BUQp3g/s320/no_thanks.jpg" /></td><td valign="top">No Thanks: Ages 7+, 3 to 5 players<br />
<br />
This is an easy to learn and addictive little card game. A card is flipped up, and you either take the card and any tokens on it or place one of your tokens on it and pass it to the next player. Cards are bad, and tokens are good. But runs of cards only penalize you for the lowest valued card.<br />
<br />
A simple and fun game.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIad7MDFWhQeJkvVwE7gHtE1RsTZRlaoPANJR6cYj09JIGR2TRI-_WFsVYFjEZVAL-eGYLFk3z-dG4SCjqpoQtafztIFXF5jcOeM2HwLgToa5RmjbYBghQeyalSp5z9lNKzE/s320/pandemic.jpg" width="232" />
</td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/pandemic?_pos=1&_sid=576064a63&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Pandemic</a> / <a href="https://funagain.com/products/pandemic-legacy-season-1?_pos=9&_sid=576064a63&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Pandemic Legacy</a><br />
<br />
Cooperative games used to be either very boring, very childish, or very hippy. A new breed of cooperative games are nail-bitingly challenging and fun.<br />
<br />
Pandemic is a cooperative game of saving the world from disease. Other cooperative games include Lord of the Rings, Shadows Over Camelot, and the much simpler <a href="https://funagain.com/products/forbidden-island?_pos=1&_sid=328ee21f3&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Forbidden Island</a>.<br />
<br />
The new Pandemic Legacy (like Risk Legacy, mentioned above), is a version that plays out: each time you play the world is permanently changed with stickers and torn cards; after dozens of plays, the game is over.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSedYf3F5vTz0xahWAi1aTmc_9lWBFQmfoznHlSbo2ZILiPkxkoPq9uF97AwyS2fdUea98f9wc91yn2uXIn9Z8xqQlw_hs143LyI2tBAEqJDzgIBwnYlkMXQyYpZbC-ft53s/s1600/poker_set.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="1500" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSedYf3F5vTz0xahWAi1aTmc_9lWBFQmfoznHlSbo2ZILiPkxkoPq9uF97AwyS2fdUea98f9wc91yn2uXIn9Z8xqQlw_hs143LyI2tBAEqJDzgIBwnYlkMXQyYpZbC-ft53s/s320/poker_set.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</td><td valign="top">Poker: Ages 6+, 2 to any number of players<br />
<br />
Playing for money is not a good habit, but a nice set of poker chips and some decks of cards is a great way to spend an evening. There are countless poker games, too.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQV9GZBrR9rY2vv_DEY6gzi7wC21eB5WUGlXLGAjq0RUIys1UeIf-k8-SceQoDwlNPVdMyuaYboIZf0_DC7VcuHd392s3oIbytVfJKRGZuPkMEHDtKDtPM5h4TJ-aF1SIno1Y/s320/scrabble.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/scrabble-new-classic?_pos=3&_sid=c0ddcefaf&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Scrabble</a>: Ages 8+, 2 (or 2 to 4) players.<br />
<br />
Scrabble purists will tell you that you should only play with 2 players and a Chess clock, but for casual purposes it can be played with up to four. It is The word game, and for a good reason.<br />
<br />
My favorite way to play is to ditch the board and just play Anagrams: turn over tiles, and first to call a word gets it. A similar, recommended game is <a href="https://funagain.com/products/bananagrams?_pos=1&_sid=e86d7a485&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Bananagrams</a>, where players race to create their own crossword boards.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSd7hGf4v7Ev7pSapju8oKEc6GN-Lii17iXhIy7WasTieSlzchE9E2-HYGDXO2i1Dd9Z9veYCT3uVxHPYsemMHLCZOmo8_Vsrm8O2amqEWtA0KGFYkm3-t9AqNFeFWlnyhGk/s320/set.jpg" /></td><td valign="top">Set: Ages 6+, 2 to 10 players<br />
<br />
Those who don't have it won't enjoy it. For those who do, it hits just the right spot in the brain. All you have to do is call out matches when you see them, but the matches have to match or not match in all four characteristics.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFuoTsC_WOyAhN8vYNHXMKYVW358JlRISZXQoY5amdjsDwaoW76F2ONo0Ejgpz7GAtfTjN3PqjlI9EYQAwat9Mo-KO8uc16z6wRgVAsHCGM001epJNpVmFcqrWMZMbSxUUt8/s320/stratego.jpg" /></td><td valign="top">Stratego: Ages 6 to 15, 2 players<br />
<br />
By the time I was in my teens, I had outgrown this, but it remains a seminal game for early players, a great introductory war game with all the basic elements: strategy, tactics, and bluffing. Avoid the electronic ones; they break and they're noisy.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="442" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_L79VM1SD6Lity7aVC9s-7u0xhO6deVB-oKiKrUSMmGUHjWqJ6rj_bEr0_xb7mo98Ehxd2SxbHkDeqmQ-Ly8EEm_2ifk5LDNftbLIsWndKq15K-SOcpCwcdlMnd0fkG_PSA/s320/splendor.jpg" width="208" />
</td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/splendor?_pos=2&_sid=14b351c2e&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Splendor</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 5 players<br />
<br />
The new game on this list, this is a little resource management game of taking jewels and buying trade routes (i.e. cards). The components and decisions are few and pretty, and there are a few options for strategy, but they are well balanced, making this a tight game every time.<br />
<br />
Very simple to understand, challenging to win.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="437" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdqAz8VfhXRRvEvA6fzIFpTx4jYJZXBnPefU4dESblplhhuI56uqxYLKPHnXOomPQQSbxEtI1nvcrfYHTgdA8r9A3EEgQ2gWYpiI8wLnjKjmnywDuNpJlsBu4NNe7RvlIozk/s320/sushi_go_party.jpeg" width="244" />
</td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/sushi-go-party?_pos=2&_sid=6dcd93120&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Sushi Go Party</a> - This is a lighter, friendlier version of a game I dropped from this list (<a href="https://funagain.com/products/7-wonders?_pos=1&_sid=ee78c4117&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">7 Wonders</a>).<br />
<br />
Sushi Go is a drafting game: everyone has a hand of cards. Pick one to play and pass the rest. Repeat until the game is over. At the end of each round and at the end of the game, score some of your cards based on the combinations you acquired and played during the round(s).<br />
<br />
The party box gives you enough decks to play thousands of times with different combinations, keeping the challenge ever fresh. 7 Wonders has more complex scoring, busier cards, and an historical theme, but it's pretty much the same concept.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRPJlv3FhcRvXkz7woq0R2-KpfWRxNY290iZsxGZ9lT9xW7Q-vROu5w4yWx9D6oGhd6FkZFVXrPXl5ZClaevW8SoOMfoJnsCf4z5AJBAPvgPjd485ZzJyVWPExvRay4vNS6w/s320/ticket_to_ride.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/ticket-to-ride?_pos=1&_sid=363c7d537&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Ticket To Ride</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 5 players<br />
<br />
Many of my fellow bloggers think that this, rather than Catan, is The Game. I used to disagree, but I think I have come around. New players will find this a great intro game, with lots of choices and great game play.<br />
<br />
There are several editions of the game, and the 1910 expansion is recommended.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQh8NOZcstGhdBW8C_j8JIaxma_ktdnCNRGZVcCpKFN4FGFtGkjXpoKVcDHaImi0LdmIpDsl4QV4MFNR6kTjJWnMWbz5zKNnjXUtmISFWYF_SwbxrX7f9OktvQzhkqqjfHcw/s320/tichu.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/tichu?_pos=1&_sid=f5f7b8345&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Tichu</a>: Ages 8+, 4 players<br />
<br />
A partnership "ladder" game, similar to the game President (sometimes known by its crude name). It's similar, but the addition of a few special cards, a partnership, and passing elevate this to a perfect game for two couples. This is THE card game in gamer circles, and it's not at all complicated.
</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oWrXsvWxmNdDZTCfcrGhKL-VhLks3FH0w-8LMJfPMdrqhnD8uIv48LF0HoinH2RzBbAaNIDOMjrZimBr7TL7yyfAP-7_XWv0n8ENNfKhwtiJlceO-5y1J_T2b-9fgdMKCOs/s320/times_up.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/times-up?_pos=1&_sid=73d7f752c&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Time's Up</a>: Ages 8+, 4 to 10 players<br />
<br />
This consistently ranks as the number one party game on all of my fellow bloggers' lists. It's the number one ranked party game on Board Game Geek. Which says something.<br />
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It plays a lot like the parlor game Celebrities. </td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ntEXheBY7lEaJJHeX9qa-vBNg-hiFwjw7WnHGNsup8lg-3rj2fI4W1zyc1G0THfaNx0SC13-JJcnoE6DlS7CyJEZz3gwF_Q_DedbSWAgx9DvQVfQIdTx_9VUvtoaQcp0qJw/s320/uno.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/uno-card-game?_pos=1&_sid=83777baeb&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Uno</a>: Ages 6 to 12, 2 to 8 players<br />
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This could be a child's second game, after Memory, and before moving on to real games. There's not much in the way of thinking involved, but its simple rules, portability, and quick play make it an ideal game for younger kids in almost any situation.<br />
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Just be sure to move up to better games when the kids are ready.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIVicVtyssF-gsAdN1YHNn-443Llg_H2lTzhg2Rzin73tjQldwMtJXlsypppL12X6hMS_f6NQ-P2qpoCEvJ3WnMT7L_KoUQS0sp6hX4eVaYzIc6gkjhh0y6dIwnX92Rr4VvM/s320/wits_and_wagers.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/wits-and-wagers-deluxe?_pos=2&_sid=f8866240c&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Wits and Wagers</a> / <a href="https://funagain.com/products/balderdash?_pos=1&_sid=b0aae14c6&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Balderdash</a>: Ages 8+, 4+ players<br />
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These are party trivia games where knowledge of trivia is not so important. The question is asked, and each player writes down an answer. These are revealed and players then bid on the answers they think are best. The winning answer, and the winning bids, all score points.<br />
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Wits and Wagers does this in the form of a poker game setting, while Balderdash requires you to make up funny possible answers. Both have won awards and acclaim as an order of magnitude better than you-know-which famous trivia game.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmjfc1X7N6fEKigbL0inYLYX15VhlP5e_lj5OvbNYhL7ok-M1pbFj95YcO3lPOaMkmPAUV4hjlB05TEQsCaHZbIqYQie6zYDnbQv6V5ArB1aQ6WBPmxTqmOKtvH3070-kkJc/s320/zooloretto.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://funagain.com/products/zooloretto?_pos=1&_sid=e827c1b53&_ss=r&affil=YEHU">Zooloretto</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 5 players<br />
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Winner of dozens of awards, Zooloretto is a cute game for kids and decent game for adults. Simply take the animals as they are revealed from the deck and try to fit them into your zoo without overcrowding.<br />
<br />
A few extra rules and some clever mechanisms makes the game enjoyable for all ages.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Enjoy,<br />
YehudaYehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-51925749519366985312019-03-08T16:40:00.001+02:002019-03-09T19:18:35.259+02:00No News is No NewsA year ago my manager at work started a game hour on Thursdays for our small group of 5. Between the 2 of us we brought in new games every week for several months that could be played for 5 non-gamers. My manager up and left us last week, but I hope to continue the gaming. Only now we are going to get between 7 and 10 each week. Which makes it more challenging, unless I just bring in 2 copies of Codenames (1 Hebrew and 1 English) each week. That will be the default option.<br />
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Meanwhile I haven't touched my book. But I went to South Africa and came back. Pictures on Facebook. I usually tell a travelogue on my blog, and I may still do that. I didn't play much on the trip.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtrYDb4DY-P7vaTai-oX-lIWG_YYTgXUHkclrUFLu7SIbj2cj3jwpFoCYGKBRm9haB74QNwAkLOVUsPPEZ5RprVHKSrgIBPnDi0E3FT22FuHqUV86odP62WHreCs1bf9NSEE/s1600/IMG_20190212_101607661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1593" data-original-width="1600" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtrYDb4DY-P7vaTai-oX-lIWG_YYTgXUHkclrUFLu7SIbj2cj3jwpFoCYGKBRm9haB74QNwAkLOVUsPPEZ5RprVHKSrgIBPnDi0E3FT22FuHqUV86odP62WHreCs1bf9NSEE/s320/IMG_20190212_101607661.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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There is something to say about my game It's Alive, which I will say when I can say it.</div>
Yehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-11129973824728565152019-01-18T16:14:00.000+02:002019-01-19T18:11:32.588+02:00StatusToo long without a post.<br />
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Hopefully this won't be the last post on the blog. I am still in draft three of a book, and don't seem to be getting much writing done or even seeing many movie. Distractions and all.<br />
<br />
I still have an unfinished story. An unfinished book of parsha shiurim. Several half-baked and nearly baked game designs on the shelf.<br />
<br />
However, I am still employed, having a social life, going on a vacation next month. My daughter is married and thriving, my son is thriving, too. Which is all good.<br />
<br />
Still have weekly game nights and still get new games occasionally. I just got Concordia, Sushi Go Party, and I am expecting Gentes Deluxe and Haithabu. I am expecting a few thousand new Magic cards soon.<br />
<br />
I and my boss have been playing games with three non-gamer coworkers at work every Thursday. It's been half a year, and, aside from Codenames, we have rarely repeated any games. Looks like we may start soon.<br />
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The magic of games, those little points, seem insignificant, but it's astonishing how they take a play activity and make people focus on a goal, a start, and an end. It's almost hard to understand why, but it must have something to do with: not only feeling great when you succeed, but wanting others to have a chance to feel great, too. If it didn't, the whole concept of multiplayer games would just fall apart. As long as we still play games together, I think humanity still has hope.<br />
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Peace.Yehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-89758613219452924522018-11-20T01:33:00.001+02:002021-06-01T15:51:55.833+03:002018 Holiday Gift Guide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ezKobKGNjZR4D_Z2ejqASWF6CGaNfFf7rq1mBKL_nKz7vp2vQ_FsQIEBB6Id7ep3_jj8AaQ9N0l-OudXLMuUl8e21Nt7AiK92yX_Swxz69sAObzQvx8ASLmfJNGn6cwpWwU/s1600/2018_holiday_gift_guide.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ezKobKGNjZR4D_Z2ejqASWF6CGaNfFf7rq1mBKL_nKz7vp2vQ_FsQIEBB6Id7ep3_jj8AaQ9N0l-OudXLMuUl8e21Nt7AiK92yX_Swxz69sAObzQvx8ASLmfJNGn6cwpWwU/s1600/2018_holiday_gift_guide.png" /></a></div>
This guide includes games for young and old, for every sex, generation, temperament, and culture.
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<br />
Whatever you do, and whatever you celebrate, there is no better way to spend a Christmas, Hanukkah, or what have you than together with friends, family, and neighbors with a warm cup of (fair trade) cocoa and a stack of casual board and/or card games.<br />
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Remember that the most valuable gift you can give is time. <i>Don't just give your loved ones a game; play it with them.</i> Find or start a local game group and join or form a community.<br />
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I hope you enjoy the guide. Remember: the holidays are not only for sharing the warmth with family and friends, but also for sharing with those who have no one else to share with them. Give to your local shelters, hospitals, and so on, because that's the gift that keeps on giving.<br />
<table border="1"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlH7ou9wzfJV_zIsNqsj2aHLVV6cunZj6dCRXg_wLqJ-gxOF3nMM8y8J3T9aEhRdp7qPkJhGm3fKc6M1XSLKmE8CtOqliopPze4ZykXFMWRakMmhdu975QntUtwJkCls1WEc/s320/antike_ii.jpg" width="320" />
</td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=032399&affil=YEHU">Antike II</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 6 players<br />
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Risk is a long game of laying low, with player elimination and just too much in the luck department; this game (and its predecessor but very rare and expensive Antike) is the perfect evolution to, and replacement for, Risk.<br />
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It plays quicker, there's dice-less conflict, no one gets to lay low watching while others fight, and - excepting truly poor play - everyone has a chance for most of the game. There's also a lot more to the game than just conflict, but the rules are short and elegant.<br />
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Other alternatives for the Risk players are <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=027086&affil=YEHU">Antike Duellum</a> (for two players) and <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=024632&affil=YEHU">Risk Legacy</a> (an odd game in which moves that you make in one game affect the next game).</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfML7hnX7-_fQlhai3amiNxU_rBmXxAr1h7qdr1qJCEVeuE1GncFhrHFD7OZqiQpRnhc_gLzVf_AnNgFEHJukKkd2p7fIc77wepNByujb5iBVE3E_jJ3FD3Q5RhRU5z-jCkGs/s320/azul_stained_glass.jpeg" width="320" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=043366&affil=YEHU">Azul</a> is a new game with gorgeous components and simple game play: take all of the tiles of one color from one mat or from the center and try to fit them into the right rows at the right time.<br />
<br />
Easy enough. The tricky part is scoring rows and columns of connected tiles. This new version, Azul Stained Glass, ups the fun by eliminating a few rules and adding a half dozen additional tactical options without adding much more complexity.<br />
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Simple to explain and easy to get going, and it looks so nice.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="473" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaRZMVgq2dK_qdeJJp4s8GfBmslk0CYAhi-6jVso-BJb8eNjhAoX9QD0j2CX8gaIQrCi2vjk-FWNL8_5b0xCZgHi3mAhPK5EVhJwco985ZxV8hzJQpeY__ZIyCnRXGGwqUPU/s320/backgammon.jpeg" width="287" /></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=015291&affil=YEHU">Backgammon</a>: Ages 6+, 2 players<br />
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Backgammon is a classic game that can be enjoyed by children and parents alike. While there is a large amount of luck in the game, there are also many meaningful decisions, which makes this a good stepping stone to future games with more challenge, such as Checkers or Chess.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNg0M79pjpQ7hqDXjPrGakBnY8pN4OdMjva22uNgTunAgelExg2NtXkxr3Z13I-d0HnFhr3SSt_sM-cWG68_qmik4X3z4q7ah6CWa7-aZ1V8JoioM5gWMCp8W-ckZUF8U3Xs/s1600/blokus.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNg0M79pjpQ7hqDXjPrGakBnY8pN4OdMjva22uNgTunAgelExg2NtXkxr3Z13I-d0HnFhr3SSt_sM-cWG68_qmik4X3z4q7ah6CWa7-aZ1V8JoioM5gWMCp8W-ckZUF8U3Xs/s320/blokus.jpg" /></a></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=021168&affil=YEHU">Blokus</a>, <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=021167&affil=YEHU">Blokus Trigon</a>, <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=020627&affil=YEHU">Blokus Duo</a>: Ages 8+, 4 players (Blokus), 2-4 players (Blokus Trigon), or 2 players (Blokus Duo)<br />
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Blokus, Blokus Trigon, and Blokus Duo are abstract games with very simple rules. Each round you take a piece and place it on the board such that it touches any previous pieces you have played, but only corner to corner. It can touch other players' pieces along corners or sides.<br />
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The rules are easy, the components are beautiful, and it's fun.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mv2QCHFoZU6JCwFSyxELpVCnGcaLrtt5yW1V9vx7ylOgi1O76AoeX3pLVR87hEPewG3O2kpKxcIJR08ZyfUJZtwsQu5_3QxtYoeHrigc7xbSzZzULz0avdQ_pS1wuAECZD8/s320/boggle.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=020644&affil=YEHU">Boggle</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 10 players<br />
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Boggle is a word game, whose simple rules - find all the words you can within three minutes - make it a game that is both fun and quick. Adults can play with kids by restricting the adults to have to find words of four or five letters.<br />
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The pictured version is a little quieter and less bulky than the old boxy version, and comes with a built-in electronic timer.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpl1TBzeq7qjz50A6xwtMFT-D6LiVdcwD2STYXDMmEGAXOQjdhrFv0ChM6ah4f-EfV9McjK4sE4_efZkjEa35cb8ck6gXE9ZuY6SQksmp0cg0ZJZYCcTLnTFqz2rvxLpzRwU/s320/candle_quest.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/candle-quest-the-hanukkah-game">Candle Quest</a>: Ages 6+, 2 to 4 players<br />
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A little plug for my own game. This is a simple set-collection auction game with a Hanukkah theme. It fits in well with the other games on the list: easy to learn, quick to play, lots of replayability. The theme makes it appropriate for all ages, and there's nothing overtly Jewish about it, other than that it's a menorah, so anyone should feel comfortable playing it.<br />
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Of course, I may be biased, since I designed it.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FIjOE-uZs22w_VKVj7GzAX2bKm_F737IQ-UZ2GPbFIosEBRSfeXUddWZlF7XeSBIRUxQ01Q7DbVd6EMzG_s_q7za-vKJgjJ6SeRlVkaSgo9sMvqtda6_8NS1kB5wl9MzKKE/s320/carcassonne.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=032346&affil=YEHU">Carcassonne</a>, variants, and expansions: Ages 10+, 2 to 5 players<br />
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Carcassonne is a bit more complex than some of the other games here, but the beautiful pieces and the fun game play are worth the time to learn. Pick a piece from the pile, rotate and place it so that it fits on the board (like dominoes), and then optionally place one of your pieces on that tile. There are several ways to score, some of which occur during the game and some of which only at the end of the game.<br />
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There are some more rules than that, but not too many more. The game play is engaging enough to make you want to play it more than once in a single sitting.<br />
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There are dozens of versions to the game, and some of the versions have several expansions.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVLuYNvux7A2BuU3M2DbmNIR-1tMP3g-5M6So9wK3Nzn2EGRyYEywNXCpY3PcU0fZgDGAIfCry4Khqip0SI8-5kWr2V9boqZJpUGpojR2Y2-_kec5vwmIWDz1heF0_OcLo2s/s320/catan.jpg" width="259" />
</td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=033238&affil=YEHU">Catan</a>: Ages 8+, 3 to 4 players<br />
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This game, formerly known as The Settlers of Catan, and Ticket to Ride, are the perfect adult games for beginning gamers.<br />
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All you need to do is collect ten points through building settlements and cities, connecting roads, adding developments and trading with your fellow players. A unique board that changes each time you play, constant interaction even when it's not your turn, and a great balance of luck versus strategy makes this The Game to acquire if you still think that board games are only for kids.</td></tr>
<tr><td><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD50PNV3pYAW2liBt1pwf5adPgeod80GxC7kvstyLusSfp0ShWL1S-HX1SnQs2RRow_91Nm9SEBVu7F-UMt2HGZnx7rpppnFElGmC0fqdKQv6C5lNVyGXrJSeAEto_509If8g/s320/chess.jpg" width="320" />
</td>
<td><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=031449&affil=YEHU">Chess </a>/ <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=028475&affil=YEHU">Xiangqi </a>/ <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=028476&affil=YEHU">Shogi</a>: Ages 6+, 2 players<br />
<br />
These three games, Chess, XiangQi (Chinese Chess), and Shogi (Japanese Chess), are all top-tier 2-player games that can occupy a curious mind for an entire lifetime. They also have wide followings, so learning the game is learning a language that will admit you to a culture of fellow players around the world.<br />
<br />
Board and piece prices range from inexpensive to very expensive, and Chess pieces come in many different themes.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmpMoRJO9uZk94hGjP077QZAvWvWGdQBS-qAglTv7pWB-yXVVHTgdOwcmNz8ZNV_j_hO448ZgEiTJS-8ReNDtUdEms7tTCzadm2hvCU5l1VsIdfIDJA1AFtGFvmWyFYzGA9M/s320/chinese_checkers.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=016308&affil=YEHU">Chinese Checkers</a>: Ages 6+, 2 to 6 players<br />
<br />
Another great abstract, and a pretty one if you find one with nice marbles. The rules are simple: move or jump your pieces from one side to the other. Finding chains of jumps is a thrill for all ages.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="594" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8R5_b_NTcPgDd6f3rU4MHv4sfoZSdc_ewuodtq5mYg8BQONBx0TvckJi9D49pgWCRJidm6Bszio7VUTvZqh73-sCK8raM-W-m4u3N4hNiz5wm7a3_U8rLQexeuNwXpzYfNg/s320/crokinole.jpeg" width="320" />
</td><td valign="top">Carrom / <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=026713&affil=YEHU">Crokinole</a> / Nok-Hockey / Air Hockey / Billiards / Foosball, etc.: Ages 6+, 2 players<br />
<br />
Carrom is the most played tabletop game in India. Like Billiards, the object is to knock pieces off the table area, which you do by flicking wooden disks with your fingers. Crokinole is another classic finger flicking game, as is a racing game called <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=014272&affil=YEHU">Pitchcar</a>. I finally picked up Crokinole for myself this year, and it is a constant hit with my nephews and their friends.<br />
<br />
All kinetic tabletop games, from snooker to billiards to foosball, are loved by players of all ages.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2KlHW4kH5fcwYEyraOvPmQYFMLwfO9WoewgokxFxzAHPVlCXkdPCX349qvc4iG7lvmwdxoKTvxNNYMu-cZesp0MgoN9pdDJwH60uS97tUyem708NWwc0Gqg7rIieARtU7x8/s320/playing_cards.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=014717&affil=YEHU">Cards</a>: Ages 3+, 1 to any number of players<br />
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Decks of cards, whether they are the well known Western type with 52 cards in 4 suits, or special European or Asian decks, are a great starting point for any number of wonderful games, including Bridge, Hearts, Skat, Cribbage, Pinochle, Oh Hell, Bullsh*t, Durak, President, Spades, Solitaire, and many others.<br />
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Check out <a href="http://www.pagat.com/">Pagat.com</a> for the rules to these games and to thousands of others.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3SfGZq2r32usiYjtQuGo3PzqsmE2Kr8ruO3q3M0helmdgHj5gSMENEM_kOq3dOR1DCfrYD1LMJvw0xAmkNTlpmbdPmw5FzPN-XITpiFJzfG5kupEuJLydxApHAozQJKJHnc/s320/codenames.jpg" width="222" />
</td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=033938&affil=YEHU">Codenames</a>: Ages 10+, 4-10 players<br />
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Codenames is a new, fun game that uses words in an unusual way. Two teams, the clue givers alternate trying to give one word clues that match as many of their team's cards as possible. You must find a word that matches multiple other words, but not any of your opponent's words or the assassin's word. It's mindbending, and the game is infinitely replayable.<br />
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A great game for non-gamers and gamers alike.<br />
Some people like the <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=036437&affil=YEHU">pictures version</a> or the new <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/224037/codenames-duet">two-player version</a>.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiym1X9rkse2MCi22kMaM3Pwi4eUSc3ouGrzjDeYdrS-Os71NKx8DDOFEu1t-eWMHQMRzJLzXv-gY0QmqM9rSTqAI3IjiAii33guBmeLrHVFXxKQPxskFM-wvtKrIfdkdUwP3g/s320/dixit.jpg" width="320" />
</td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=031865&affil=YEHU">Dixit</a>: Ages 10+, 3-6 (12) players<br />
<br />
Dixit is an incredible game, especially for non-gamers. It is loved as a creative exercise: pick a card and give a word, phrase, song, dance, or any other clue to describe it, but not too perfectly. The other players try to play cards that also match your clue. You only get points if some people guess which was your card and some people don't.<br />
<br />
The fun is in the creativity of the clues, and I've yet to see a game where even the most stodgy non-gamer doesn't have fun.<br />
<br />
There are now several expansions, which are all good. This game, like many others, was inspired by <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=019285&affil=YEHU">Apples to Apples</a>, another nifty game for the casual non-gamers who walk among us.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOJX68W9iNM3dx3nD4ctaqMxUSQK5nSk1cN29m81NmFkVpQ3sKRfvpGvRTPwwOLryyaZ2JKR4fsBn6vs2ZydAsXbkUHftjQiECVAd7zpuFLFETiS5r0E3s_Ow-yD5kbqcOK4/s320/froggy_boogie.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=017031&affil=YEHU">Froggy Boogie</a>: Ages 3-9, 2 to 4 players<br />
<br />
Froggy Boogie is a brilliant game to frustrate grownups and please younger children. All you have to do is remember where the picture of the fly is, under the left eye or the right eye? The dice have only colors - no counting necessary. It's a perfect first game.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-rHMAklHdgkYV2-ijw2mt5PD6Je4fusTH7KHce3vuE8YGjymuxsBUQTWj11QyjuzoQ1CSWce7FRNLHDd-5EBFEYsFH8PtbqCKw_TYiJXjR-9cybDDiqBqB8H9R2Mb4PxMeo/s320/go_board.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=013641&affil=YEHU">Go</a> / <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=015583&affil=YEHU">Pente</a>: Ages 6+, 2 players<br />
<br />
Beyond Chess, Checkers, or XiangQi is the absolute perfect game of Go (aka Weiqi); it's so popular, there are twenty-four hour television stations dedicated to it, an anime series based on it, and it's considered one of the four arts of the Chinese scholar.<br />
<br />
It really is that good, and the rules are easy, too. Best of all, a built-in handicap system allows two people of any skill levels to enjoy a challenging game against each other.<br />
<br />
You should play with the nicest board you can afford.<br />
<br />
Pente, a game of getting five stones in a row, can be played on the same board. The rules are just as easy as Go, and while the game has much less depth, it is also a little less intimidating to new players.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrdhCmynwc9zQF1vjpwXMrSMQCykbavHOopq5CpG21FlOfGfgeVmkJ76ACXCHlgznJVjV5fmjoFTck3WBZy3nnz-m-THoo34jgIe4L2_-TR-4z0vnY3-SRbMenFAEJxLnR6Y/s320/jungle_speed.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=021206&affil=YEHU">Jungle Speed</a>: Ages 8+, 3 to 8 players<br />
<br />
There are several games of speed reaction / pattern recognition on the market; I chose this one because of the components. Players flip cards in turn and grab for the totem in the middle as soon as two matching cards are revealed. Don't play with friends who have sharp nails or finger jewelry.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=035315&affil=YEHU">Magic the Gathering</a>: Ages 8+, 2 players<br />
<br />
After two decades, Magic is still The Bomb when it comes to collectible card games, although Yu-Gi-Oh sells more cards. These are not easy games to learn, but quick start guides can get you off the ground fairly quickly, and then you have months and years of challenging game play ahead of you.<br />
<br />
Don't get sucked into having to buy endless amounts of boosters; to play the game outside of a tournament, you only need a few hundred common cards which can be picked up for a penny each on various sites.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJWKB4Qiw8-cqvsiPC13vlEYtJ-EPsvyoAVhC67EmtUK3I350b5vzjLUd1FGHdov80jNiDsAZdrUI83HL_6inKXHTI4tvRRaSBtHCfNo6JemeaJY39MN1Bt_XyT5v2a8uuYY/s320/mancala.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=005905&affil=YEHU">Mancala</a>: Ages 5+, 2 players<br />
<br />
This is widely known around the world under various names (e.g. Oware), and the national game of many African countries.<br />
<br />
The rules are easy: pick up all the seeds in one of your bowls and place one in each bowl around the table. If you land on an empty space on your side, you win the seed and any seeds opposite.<br />
<br />
There are a few more rules, but that's about it. It takes a few games to get up to speed; early victories tend to be lopsided. Once you get the hang of it, you can play several, quick, challenging games in succession.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbBzo5D1HTqr5-ZVxTP5kN4fMK8eoorA1onQNxah977fhEwTQNIidflGFr_UkDspHr_eCSKcQp7kMnOJzXLJMq7P_qvAUi1jn5ZCOc8_43p2a2inuZMMahUYR9HB44wzVVcI/s1600/memory.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbBzo5D1HTqr5-ZVxTP5kN4fMK8eoorA1onQNxah977fhEwTQNIidflGFr_UkDspHr_eCSKcQp7kMnOJzXLJMq7P_qvAUi1jn5ZCOc8_43p2a2inuZMMahUYR9HB44wzVVcI/s320/memory.jpg" /></a></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=031406&affil=YEHU">Memory</a>: Ages 3 to 12, 2 to 5 players<br />
<br />
This is a first game for kids and adults, and a great game for it, because kids get the hang of it very quickly and adults find it a real challenge without having to pretend. All you need are one or two decks of cards, but an infinite number of these games are sold with various different pictures and themes.<br />
<br />
You can play with more than 5 players, but I wouldn't recommend it.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0eHGrb1XpBjT-R6iDnJD-VQi0zHsXI8Gg2c2k-RdpjodJNI8jCvVjo3_9JciMQ-DB7D8QSaA_jyjOzCIojOhIPXZuZjiRhnQ_UVESzlB_NvNkM1gxuwmEHEWRZf_xKB7v3s/s320/nefarious.jpg" width="313" />
</td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=033884&affil=YEHU">Nefarious</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 6 players<br />
<br />
This is a game of mad scientists that is great for 2 to 6 players, and doesn't sacrifice speed with more players. Each round, you select one of four actions. collect money from any neighbors who selected actions that your minions are invested in, perform your action, and then check to see if you won. The actions are: invest minions, play cards, take cards, or take money.<br />
<br />
The cards are fun and the game is quick and replayable, because, in each game, you play with some random twists that make that game's experience unique.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEjrTsxVAiJ4i8W2muA2MSQbJRwDJFHEZSlQHQS9L15CsOhF27uwM_4-ZxCNodhF3bz1GHS-STI8RjMLRd52aeqoGNiFRD_n3EbGDkLhIvLXGAvi0OlL4Alr91uwF1BUQp3g/s320/no_thanks.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=033910&affil=YEHU">No Thanks</a>: Ages 7+, 3 to 5 players<br />
<br />
This is an easy to learn and addictive little card game. A card is flipped up, and you either take the card and any tokens on it or place one of your tokens on it and pass it to the next player. Cards are bad, and tokens are good. But runs of cards only penalize you for the lowest valued card.<br />
<br />
A simple and fun game.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIad7MDFWhQeJkvVwE7gHtE1RsTZRlaoPANJR6cYj09JIGR2TRI-_WFsVYFjEZVAL-eGYLFk3z-dG4SCjqpoQtafztIFXF5jcOeM2HwLgToa5RmjbYBghQeyalSp5z9lNKzE/s320/pandemic.jpg" width="232" />
</td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=027313&affil=YEHU">Pandemic</a> / <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=032626&affil=YEHU">Pandemic Legacy</a><br />
<br />
Cooperative games used to be either very boring, very childish, or very hippy. A new breed of cooperative games are nail-bitingly challenging and fun.<br />
<br />
Pandemic is a cooperative game of saving the world from disease. Other cooperative games include <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=022644&affil=YEHU">Lord of the Rings</a>, <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=015117&affil=YEHU">Shadows Over Camelot</a>, and the much simpler <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=021921&affil=YEHU">Forbidden Island</a>.<br />
<br />
The new Pandemic Legacy (like Risk Legacy, mentioned above), is a version that plays out: each time you play the world is permanently changed with stickers and torn cards; after dozens of plays, the game is over.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=018435&affil=YEHU">Poker</a>: Ages 6+, 2 to any number of players<br />
<br />
Playing for money is not a good habit, but a nice set of poker chips and some decks of cards is a great way to spend an evening. There are countless poker games, too.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQV9GZBrR9rY2vv_DEY6gzi7wC21eB5WUGlXLGAjq0RUIys1UeIf-k8-SceQoDwlNPVdMyuaYboIZf0_DC7VcuHd392s3oIbytVfJKRGZuPkMEHDtKDtPM5h4TJ-aF1SIno1Y/s320/scrabble.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=031837&affil=YEHU">Scrabble</a>: Ages 8+, 2 (or 2 to 4) players.<br />
<br />
Scrabble purists will tell you that you should only play with 2 players and a Chess clock, but for casual purposes it can be played with up to four. It is The word game, and for a good reason.<br />
<br />
My favorite way to play is to ditch the board and just play Anagrams: turn over tiles, and first to call a word gets it. A similar, recommended game is <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=018941&affil=YEHU">Bananagrams</a>, where players race to create their own crossword boards.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSd7hGf4v7Ev7pSapju8oKEc6GN-Lii17iXhIy7WasTieSlzchE9E2-HYGDXO2i1Dd9Z9veYCT3uVxHPYsemMHLCZOmo8_Vsrm8O2amqEWtA0KGFYkm3-t9AqNFeFWlnyhGk/s320/set.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=001165&affil=YEHU">Set</a>: Ages 6+, 2 to 10 players<br />
<br />
Those who don't have it won't enjoy it. For those who do, it hits just the right spot in the brain. All you have to do is call out matches when you see them, but the matches have to match or not match in all four characteristics.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFuoTsC_WOyAhN8vYNHXMKYVW358JlRISZXQoY5amdjsDwaoW76F2ONo0Ejgpz7GAtfTjN3PqjlI9EYQAwat9Mo-KO8uc16z6wRgVAsHCGM001epJNpVmFcqrWMZMbSxUUt8/s320/stratego.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=034548&affil=YEHU">Stratego</a>: Ages 6 to 15, 2 players<br />
<br />
By the time I was in my teens, I had outgrown this, but it remains a seminal game for early players, a great introductory war game with all the basic elements: strategy, tactics, and bluffing. Avoid the electronic ones; they break and they're noisy.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="442" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_L79VM1SD6Lity7aVC9s-7u0xhO6deVB-oKiKrUSMmGUHjWqJ6rj_bEr0_xb7mo98Ehxd2SxbHkDeqmQ-Ly8EEm_2ifk5LDNftbLIsWndKq15K-SOcpCwcdlMnd0fkG_PSA/s320/splendor.jpg" width="208" />
</td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=029659&affil=YEHU">Splendor</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 5 players<br />
<br />
The new game on this list, this is a little resource management game of taking jewels and buying trade routes (i.e. cards). The components and decisions are few and pretty, and there are a few options for strategy, but they are well balanced, making this a tight game every time.<br />
<br />
Very simple to understand, challenging to win.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="437" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdqAz8VfhXRRvEvA6fzIFpTx4jYJZXBnPefU4dESblplhhuI56uqxYLKPHnXOomPQQSbxEtI1nvcrfYHTgdA8r9A3EEgQ2gWYpiI8wLnjKjmnywDuNpJlsBu4NNe7RvlIozk/s320/sushi_go_party.jpeg" width="244" />
</td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=036385&affil=YEHU">Sushi Go Party</a> - This is a lighter, friendlier version of a game I dropped from this list (<a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=023063&affil=YEHU">7 Wonders</a>).<br />
<br />
Sushi Go is a drafting game: everyone has a hand of cards. Pick one to play and pass the rest. Repeat until the game is over. At the end of each round and at the end of the game, score some of your cards based on the combinations you acquired and played during the round(s).<br />
<br />
The party box gives you enough decks to play thousands of times with different combinations, keeping the challenge ever fresh. 7 Wonders has more complex scoring, busier cards, and an historical theme, but it's pretty much the same concept.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRPJlv3FhcRvXkz7woq0R2-KpfWRxNY290iZsxGZ9lT9xW7Q-vROu5w4yWx9D6oGhd6FkZFVXrPXl5ZClaevW8SoOMfoJnsCf4z5AJBAPvgPjd485ZzJyVWPExvRay4vNS6w/s320/ticket_to_ride.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=015084&affil=YEHU">Ticket To Ride</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 5 players<br />
<br />
Many of my fellow bloggers think that this, rather than Catan, is The Game. I used to disagree, but I think I have come around. New players will find this a great intro game, with lots of choices and great game play.<br />
<br />
There are several editions of the game, and the <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=016145&affil=YEHU">1910 expansion</a> is recommended.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQh8NOZcstGhdBW8C_j8JIaxma_ktdnCNRGZVcCpKFN4FGFtGkjXpoKVcDHaImi0LdmIpDsl4QV4MFNR6kTjJWnMWbz5zKNnjXUtmISFWYF_SwbxrX7f9OktvQzhkqqjfHcw/s320/tichu.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=018020&affil=YEHU">Tichu</a>: Ages 8+, 4 players<br />
<br />
A partnership "ladder" game, similar to the game President (sometimes known by its crude name). It's similar, but the addition of a few special cards, a partnership, and passing elevate this to a perfect game for two couples. This is THE card game in gamer circles, and it's not at all complicated.
</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oWrXsvWxmNdDZTCfcrGhKL-VhLks3FH0w-8LMJfPMdrqhnD8uIv48LF0HoinH2RzBbAaNIDOMjrZimBr7TL7yyfAP-7_XWv0n8ENNfKhwtiJlceO-5y1J_T2b-9fgdMKCOs/s320/times_up.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=019336&affil=YEHU">Time's Up</a>: Ages 8+, 4 to 10 players<br />
<br />
This consistently ranks as the number one party game on all of my fellow bloggers' lists. It's the number one ranked party game on Board Game Geek. Which says something.<br />
<br />
It plays a lot like the parlor game Celebrities. </td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ntEXheBY7lEaJJHeX9qa-vBNg-hiFwjw7WnHGNsup8lg-3rj2fI4W1zyc1G0THfaNx0SC13-JJcnoE6DlS7CyJEZz3gwF_Q_DedbSWAgx9DvQVfQIdTx_9VUvtoaQcp0qJw/s320/uno.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=019256&affil=YEHU">Uno</a>: Ages 6 to 12, 2 to 8 players<br />
<br />
This could be a child's second game, after Memory, and before moving on to real games. There's not much in the way of thinking involved, but its simple rules, portability, and quick play make it an ideal game for younger kids in almost any situation.<br />
<br />
Just be sure to move up to better games when the kids are ready.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIVicVtyssF-gsAdN1YHNn-443Llg_H2lTzhg2Rzin73tjQldwMtJXlsypppL12X6hMS_f6NQ-P2qpoCEvJ3WnMT7L_KoUQS0sp6hX4eVaYzIc6gkjhh0y6dIwnX92Rr4VvM/s320/wits_and_wagers.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=033410&affil=YEHU">Wits and Wagers</a> / <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=040086&affil=YEHU">Balderdash</a>: Ages 8+, 4+ players<br />
<br />
These are party trivia games where knowledge of trivia is not so important. The question is asked, and each player writes down an answer. These are revealed and players then bid on the answers they think are best. The winning answer, and the winning bids, all score points.<br />
<br />
Wits and Wagers does this in the form of a poker game setting, while Balderdash requires you to make up funny possible answers. Both have won awards and acclaim as an order of magnitude better than you-know-which famous trivia game.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmjfc1X7N6fEKigbL0inYLYX15VhlP5e_lj5OvbNYhL7ok-M1pbFj95YcO3lPOaMkmPAUV4hjlB05TEQsCaHZbIqYQie6zYDnbQv6V5ArB1aQ6WBPmxTqmOKtvH3070-kkJc/s320/zooloretto.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=030839&affil=YEHU">Zooloretto</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 5 players<br />
<br />
Winner of dozens of awards, Zooloretto is a cute game for kids and decent game for adults. Simply take the animals as they are revealed from the deck and try to fit them into your zoo without overcrowding.<br />
<br />
A few extra rules and some clever mechanisms makes the game enjoyable for all ages.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Enjoy,<br />
YehudaYehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-85672256927906772662018-08-16T10:39:00.004+03:002018-08-16T10:41:53.599+03:00My Memory of Us: A Polish Video Game About the Ghettos<a href="http://mymemoryofus.com/en/home/">My Memory of Us</a> is a game developed by <a href="https://www.jugglergames.com/o-nas/">Juggler Games</a> and soon to be published by <a href="http://imgn.pro/">IMGN.PRO</a>, both of them Polish companies.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/di18oL5oCic/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/di18oL5oCic?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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The game is set in a fantasy version of WWII, where two kids who are best friends are separated when an evil king (with robots) comes to power. They impose harsh restrictions on one of the kids (the girl) forcing them to wear certain clothing, mocking them, and creating dangerous situations. They only want to play together, and only by working together can the kids reveal their true power.<br />
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The game uses cute graphics against black and white dystopian steampunk backdrops of ghettos, garbage, and barbed wire. The story is narrated by Patrick Stewart.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrdr_p7zFfDeceiaWkoT0gv3SUfpb-lG4YaeSAT4JFA7A5k59cnqbidDPHgRky9hDc9myw9w3RPQza6tr1ecjbolGpcgL4zCSJG6bTASE3en4_nBBiWcSuDHaEhM28T1JG-0/s1600/My_Memory_of_Us_Screenshot_01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1516" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrdr_p7zFfDeceiaWkoT0gv3SUfpb-lG4YaeSAT4JFA7A5k59cnqbidDPHgRky9hDc9myw9w3RPQza6tr1ecjbolGpcgL4zCSJG6bTASE3en4_nBBiWcSuDHaEhM28T1JG-0/s320/My_Memory_of_Us_Screenshot_01.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm happy that they are not directly using Holocaust imagery, since this tends to end up in the hands of Nazis who enjoy watching Jews lose the game (like they enjoy watching Holocaust movies and rooting for the bad guys).<br />
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I don't know exactly how the story plays out. It might be an apologetic for Poland: the main characters are obviously the bad German regime and the two kids, Polish and Jewish, who work together and are both victims. Or it might not. You could gloss over that and simply enjoy the game. Apparently, the game was inspired by the real lives of some of the developers.<br />
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HT: <a href="https://www.engadget.com/2018/08/15/patrick-stewart-will-narrate-holocaust-game-my-memory-of-us/">Engadget</a> via <a href="https://boingboing.net/2018/08/15/patrick-stewart-signs-on-to-na.html">Boing Boing</a>Yehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-30763388287622722032017-12-12T23:38:00.001+02:002017-12-12T23:38:56.768+02:00MagicGate: Toxic Misogyny Invades Tabletop GamingTabletop gaming has always had its share of women-hate and male <a href="http://www.purplepawn.com/2008/10/the-con-anti-harassment-project/">toxicity</a>.<br />
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Sexes were historically separated from playing together for thousands of years in order to avoid licentiousness. This was simply an extension of the general separation between the sexes. By the 19th and early 20th century, at least in Europe and the US, the sexes had found ways to mingle by means of parlor games, many of which we would consider overly racy today (a great many of them involved kissing and/or groping, for example).<br />
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The last hundred years of tabletop games saw women relegated to "women's divisions" (in Chess, for example), <a href="http://womenyoushouldknow.net/what-shall-i-be-the-1960s-board-game-for-girls-that-would-fortunately-never-fly-today/">"girls" games</a> (aka pink and/or about makeup and jewelry), or even <a href="https://i.imgur.com/UXzAV40.jpg">the kitchen</a> in the belief that they don't have what it takes to play at a man's level. They often don't, if you exclude them from serious training opportunities, exclude them from playing against top players, diminish their desires, goals, and accomplishments, require them to deal with unchecked harassment, and require from them a fanatical devotion to play for endless hours with unwashed, excruciatingly rude, and sexist jerks. Despite this, there are always a few women who are able and willing to complete with many of the top men in any game.<br />
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I had hope that in our little corner of the world, harassment would get no worse than that, and hopefully better. While anyone of any sex might get killed playing Dominoes in a Jamaica coffee shop or throwing dice on the streets of Taiwan, tabletop games remain a relatively safe, family-friendly, and gender-mixing activity. Chess, Go, and Bridge have women's divisions, but the majority of their competitions are mixed and relatively safe. Wargaming is a men's club, but it's not toxic to women as far as I know. CCG and RPG events are/were known to attract mostly young male jerks, which <a href="http://beautilation.tumblr.com/post/33538802648">scared off</a> some women (see above) but I hadn't thought that these jerks' behavior rose to level of toxicity associated with Gamergate. Unfortunately, I was wrong.<br />
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Women are not only harassed, but <a href="http://latining.tumblr.com/post/141567276944/tabletop-gaming-has-a-white-male-terrorism-problem">sexually assaulted</a> at these conventions; the organizers and police are often unable or unwilling to help them. Apparently the CCG and RPG players who grew up in their little boys' club are now adult enough to feel entitled and powerful enough to join the ranks of the male toxics, white nationalists, and "pickup artists",<a href="https://www.vox.com/culture/2016/12/14/13576192/alt-right-sexism-recruitment"> just like the Gamergate folks</a>. And just as in Gamergate, <a href="http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/jeremy-hambly-magic-the-gathering-harassment-ban">douches post harassing videos</a> and posts claiming that woman who complain about harassment are lying for the attention, as a result of which teeming hordes of similarly minded jerks harass them more, and more seriously. And when called on it, of course, they post endlessly, harassing everyone with why they are right and everyone else is lying and "missing the point". Ho hum, how familiar.<br />
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Seems like this behavior is getting worse, not better, and I can think of a few reasons why. I just wish that they didn't infect my hobby.Yehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-80037387565166495112017-11-14T21:06:00.001+02:002018-01-03T01:10:12.772+02:002017 Holiday Gift Guide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3UBqKbu_VkJjzug1wP3Kul2c0YDOU5JuSCwnHTasKwO3PoCempCucSR7ydUEazsbXD3d3PJK_RR7PhgsU4VL7QDeCHyQ3rNyRAG_1qSAQO4QCCGnsnE7hxvmwUjZL77cd78/s1600/2017+HGG.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3UBqKbu_VkJjzug1wP3Kul2c0YDOU5JuSCwnHTasKwO3PoCempCucSR7ydUEazsbXD3d3PJK_RR7PhgsU4VL7QDeCHyQ3rNyRAG_1qSAQO4QCCGnsnE7hxvmwUjZL77cd78/s1600/2017+HGG.png" /></a></div>
This guide includes games for young and old, for every sex, generation, temperament, and culture.<br />
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Whatever you do, and whatever you celebrate, there is no better way to spend a Christmas, Hanukkah, or what have you than together with friends, family, and neighbors with a warm cup of <a href="http://amzn.to/2yC323x">(fair trade) cocoa</a> and a stack of casual board and/or card games.<br />
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Remember that the most valuable gift you can give is time. <i>Don't just give your loved ones a game; play it with them.</i> Find or start a local game group and join or form a community.<br />
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I hope you enjoy the guide. Remember: the holidays are not only for sharing the warmth with family and friends, but also for sharing with those who have no one else to share with them. Give to your local shelters, hospitals, and so on, because that's the gift that keeps on giving.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JKCH552/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00JKCH552&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20&linkId=SMA7L5FEEAQYI3FD" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIS08ee76wrNYSyAGrOK1d0wcb1QTdEy-vwrSW7RTCGrhwP2r5tlms-vmPaim61l9Ngqt82_ZqMdKXxAxaQ26E2S0g3O0HU3oFoGEyv87RA93-4RDjTW1i_h_EU-P0H8DlHI/s1600/samsung_galaxy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></td><td valign="top" width="70%"><b>Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10"</b><br />
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Tablets are perfect platforms for playing thousands of face to face games for two to four players. Because you don't need to buy the physical components, you can stack all your games in a teeny space, the games (if not the tablet) cost very little, and you don't have to cut down old trees to make them or use fossil fuels to ship them. Tablets have their own environmental impact in their making, so that's a trade off; but if you're getting one anyway, most of the games on this list are available electronically.<br />
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Nowadays, most games are also available on consoles, too. </td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="30%"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDfJcrOX0PsfMl9oepn4175qzLYc3qIfFVIji_5q0eEHilLAo6oDO-TYJ5QUJAEY66q80gEKYd_4m3DNHoU9Dqbux1S3-tmIOeSCHyPDWdUfH2ALIJ2_zvOJBvGlD-_PMSHM/s320/7_wonders.jpg" /></td><td valign="top" width="70%"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=023063&affil=YEHU">7 Wonders</a>: Ages 9+, 4 to 7 players<br />
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This is a game of drafting cards and building a wondrous city. You get a hand of cards; pick one and pass the rest. Everyone reveals the card they picked and puts it into their tableaux. Repeat. Done. Score points based on the combinations of cards you have at the end of all the passing.<br />
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The graphics are fantastic, the theme not so visible. It's easy to learn, provides great choices, with depth enough to spare.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlH7ou9wzfJV_zIsNqsj2aHLVV6cunZj6dCRXg_wLqJ-gxOF3nMM8y8J3T9aEhRdp7qPkJhGm3fKc6M1XSLKmE8CtOqliopPze4ZykXFMWRakMmhdu975QntUtwJkCls1WEc/s1600/antike_ii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlH7ou9wzfJV_zIsNqsj2aHLVV6cunZj6dCRXg_wLqJ-gxOF3nMM8y8J3T9aEhRdp7qPkJhGm3fKc6M1XSLKmE8CtOqliopPze4ZykXFMWRakMmhdu975QntUtwJkCls1WEc/s320/antike_ii.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=032399&affil=YEHU">Antike II</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 6 players<br />
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Risk is a long game of laying low, with player elimination and just too much in the luck department; this game (and its predecessor but very rare and expensive Antike) is the perfect evolution to, and replacement for, Risk.<br />
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It plays quicker, there's dice-less conflict, no one gets to lay low watching while others fight, and - excepting truly poor play - everyone has a chance for most of the game. There's also a lot more to the game than just conflict, but the rules are short and elegant.<br />
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Other alternatives for the Risk player are <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=027086&affil=YEHU">Antike Duellum</a> (for two players) and <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=024632&affil=YEHU">Risk Legacy</a> (an odd game that moves in one game affect the next).</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NH0D9OE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00NH0D9OE&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20&linkId=JF4Y7X2RWRH3OC7J" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRRARGn_YKRo3o_ko3NvAu8yRh-ZnDoIcMPkvxHk7TmyvcoubG4bO5_d-9rfex8kvo_7p_JiQgGXPK0rb1ET59dh455riVWb4VlN2PrbxsCnOcWu50r1XbkdhIXiir0tLK6o/s1600/backgammon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=013119&affil=YEHU">Backgammon</a>: Ages 6+, 2 players<br />
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Backgammon is a classic game that can be enjoyed by children and parents alike. While there is a large amount of luck in the game, there are also many meaningful decisions, which makes this a good stepping stone to future games with more challenge, such as Checkers or Chess.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNg0M79pjpQ7hqDXjPrGakBnY8pN4OdMjva22uNgTunAgelExg2NtXkxr3Z13I-d0HnFhr3SSt_sM-cWG68_qmik4X3z4q7ah6CWa7-aZ1V8JoioM5gWMCp8W-ckZUF8U3Xs/s1600/blokus.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNg0M79pjpQ7hqDXjPrGakBnY8pN4OdMjva22uNgTunAgelExg2NtXkxr3Z13I-d0HnFhr3SSt_sM-cWG68_qmik4X3z4q7ah6CWa7-aZ1V8JoioM5gWMCp8W-ckZUF8U3Xs/s320/blokus.jpg" /></a></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=021168&affil=YEHU">Blokus</a>, <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=021167&affil=YEHU">Blokus Trigon</a>, <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=020627&affil=YEHU">Blokus Duo</a>: Ages 8+, 4 players (Blokus), 2-4 players (Blokus Trigon), or 2 players (Blokus Duo)<br />
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Blokus, Blokus Trigon, and Blokus Duo are abstract games with very simple rules. Each round you take a piece and place it on the board such that it touches any previous pieces you have played, but only corner to corner. It can touch other players' pieces along corners or sides.<br />
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The rules are easy, the components are beautiful, and it's fun.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mv2QCHFoZU6JCwFSyxELpVCnGcaLrtt5yW1V9vx7ylOgi1O76AoeX3pLVR87hEPewG3O2kpKxcIJR08ZyfUJZtwsQu5_3QxtYoeHrigc7xbSzZzULz0avdQ_pS1wuAECZD8/s320/boggle.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=020644&affil=YEHU">Boggle</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 10 players<br />
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Boggle is a word game, whose simple rules - find all the words you can within three minutes - make it a game that is both fun and quick. Adults can play with kids by restricting the adults to have to find words of four or five letters.<br />
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The pictured version is a little quieter and less bulky than the old boxy version, and comes with a built-in electronic timer.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpl1TBzeq7qjz50A6xwtMFT-D6LiVdcwD2STYXDMmEGAXOQjdhrFv0ChM6ah4f-EfV9McjK4sE4_efZkjEa35cb8ck6gXE9ZuY6SQksmp0cg0ZJZYCcTLnTFqz2rvxLpzRwU/s320/candle_quest.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/candle-quest-the-hanukkah-game">Candle Quest</a>: Ages 6+, 2 to 4 players<br />
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A little plug for my own game. This is a simple set-collection auction game with a Hanukkah theme. It fits in well with the other games on the list: easy to learn, quick to play, lots of replayability. The theme makes it appropriate for all ages, and there's nothing overtly Jewish about it, other than that it's a menorah, so anyone should feel comfortable playing it.<br />
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Of course, I may be biased, since I designed it.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FIjOE-uZs22w_VKVj7GzAX2bKm_F737IQ-UZ2GPbFIosEBRSfeXUddWZlF7XeSBIRUxQ01Q7DbVd6EMzG_s_q7za-vKJgjJ6SeRlVkaSgo9sMvqtda6_8NS1kB5wl9MzKKE/s320/carcassonne.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=032346&affil=YEHU">Carcassonne</a>, variants, and expansions: Ages 10+, 2 to 5 players<br />
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Carcassonne is a bit more complex than some of the other games here, but the beautiful pieces and the fun game play are worth the time to learn. Pick a piece from the pile, rotate and place it so that it fits on the board (like dominoes), and then optionally place one of your pieces on that tile. There are several ways to score, some of which occur during the game and some of which only at the end of the game.<br />
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There are some more rules than that, but not too many more. The game play is engaging enough to make you want to play it more than once in a single sitting.<br />
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There are dozens of versions to the game, and some of the versions have several expansions.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVLuYNvux7A2BuU3M2DbmNIR-1tMP3g-5M6So9wK3Nzn2EGRyYEywNXCpY3PcU0fZgDGAIfCry4Khqip0SI8-5kWr2V9boqZJpUGpojR2Y2-_kec5vwmIWDz1heF0_OcLo2s/s1600/catan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVLuYNvux7A2BuU3M2DbmNIR-1tMP3g-5M6So9wK3Nzn2EGRyYEywNXCpY3PcU0fZgDGAIfCry4Khqip0SI8-5kWr2V9boqZJpUGpojR2Y2-_kec5vwmIWDz1heF0_OcLo2s/s320/catan.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>
<br /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=033238&affil=YEHU">Catan</a>: Ages 8+, 3 to 4 players<br />
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This game, formerly known as The Settlers of Catan, and Ticket to Ride, are the perfect adult games for beginning gamers.<br />
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All you need to do is collect ten points through building settlements and cities, connecting roads, adding developments and trading with your fellow players. A unique board that changes each time you play, constant interaction even when it's not your turn, and a great balance of luck versus strategy makes this The Game to acquire if you still think that board games are only for kids.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD50PNV3pYAW2liBt1pwf5adPgeod80GxC7kvstyLusSfp0ShWL1S-HX1SnQs2RRow_91Nm9SEBVu7F-UMt2HGZnx7rpppnFElGmC0fqdKQv6C5lNVyGXrJSeAEto_509If8g/s1600/chess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD50PNV3pYAW2liBt1pwf5adPgeod80GxC7kvstyLusSfp0ShWL1S-HX1SnQs2RRow_91Nm9SEBVu7F-UMt2HGZnx7rpppnFElGmC0fqdKQv6C5lNVyGXrJSeAEto_509If8g/s320/chess.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<td><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=031449&affil=YEHU">Chess </a>/ <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=028475&affil=YEHU">Xiangqi </a>/ <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=028476&affil=YEHU">Shogi</a>: Ages 6+, 2 players<br />
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These three games, Chess, XiangQi (Chinese Chess), and Shogi (Japanese Chess), are all top-tier 2-player games that can occupy a curious mind for an entire lifetime. They also have wide followings, so learning the game is learning a language that will admit you to a culture of fellow players around the world.<br />
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Board and piece prices range from inexpensive to very expensive, and Chess pieces come in many different themes.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmpMoRJO9uZk94hGjP077QZAvWvWGdQBS-qAglTv7pWB-yXVVHTgdOwcmNz8ZNV_j_hO448ZgEiTJS-8ReNDtUdEms7tTCzadm2hvCU5l1VsIdfIDJA1AFtGFvmWyFYzGA9M/s320/chinese_checkers.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=016308&affil=YEHU">Chinese Checkers</a>: Ages 6+, 2 to 6 players<br />
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Another great abstract, and a pretty one if you find one with nice marbles. The rules are simple: move or jump your pieces from one side to the other. Finding chains of jumps is a thrill for all ages.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AqcJ9B8HgMx4ccX0LYO0EAmOLtAV8UI5BbhDUSqnP0yzZEsrSFOxPyRv8uUCAO0e3Cql2fE59OhZ7p5QQ7oaC4MT-Y8wA2_C_I9VkayudAvWhKuXYxGZznKqB1JemXnzJ34/s320/carrom.jpg" /></td><td valign="top">Carrom / <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=026713&affil=YEHU">Crokinole</a> / Nok-Hockey / Air Hockey / Billiards / Foosball, etc.: Ages 6+, 2 players<br />
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Carrom is the most played tabletop game in India. Like Billiards, the object is to knock pieces off the table area, which you do by flicking wooden disks with your fingers. Crokinole is another classic finger flicking game, as is a racing game called <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=014272&affil=YEHU">Pitchcar</a>. I finally picked up Crokinole for myself this year, and it is a constant hit with my nephews and their friends.<br />
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All kinetic tabletop games, from snooker to billiards to foosball, are loved by players of all ages.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2KlHW4kH5fcwYEyraOvPmQYFMLwfO9WoewgokxFxzAHPVlCXkdPCX349qvc4iG7lvmwdxoKTvxNNYMu-cZesp0MgoN9pdDJwH60uS97tUyem708NWwc0Gqg7rIieARtU7x8/s320/playing_cards.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=014717&affil=YEHU">Cards</a>: Ages 3+, 1 to any number of players<br />
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Decks of cards, whether they are the well known Western type with 52 cards in 4 suits, or special European or Asian decks, are a great starting point for any number of wonderful games, including Bridge, Hearts, Skat, Cribbage, Pinochle, Oh Hell, Bullsh*t, Durak, President, Spades, Solitaire, and many others.<br />
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Check out <a href="http://www.pagat.com/">Pagat.com</a> for the rules to these games and to thousands of others.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3SfGZq2r32usiYjtQuGo3PzqsmE2Kr8ruO3q3M0helmdgHj5gSMENEM_kOq3dOR1DCfrYD1LMJvw0xAmkNTlpmbdPmw5FzPN-XITpiFJzfG5kupEuJLydxApHAozQJKJHnc/s1600/codenames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3SfGZq2r32usiYjtQuGo3PzqsmE2Kr8ruO3q3M0helmdgHj5gSMENEM_kOq3dOR1DCfrYD1LMJvw0xAmkNTlpmbdPmw5FzPN-XITpiFJzfG5kupEuJLydxApHAozQJKJHnc/s320/codenames.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
</td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=033938&affil=YEHU">Codenames</a>: Ages 10+, 4-10 players<br />
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Codenames is a new, fun game that uses words in an unusual way. Two teams, the clue givers alternate trying to give one word clues that match as many of their team's cards as possible. You must find a word that matches multiple other words, but not any of your opponent's words or the assassin's word. It's mindbending, and the game is infinitely replayable.<br />
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A great game for non-gamers and gamers alike.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiym1X9rkse2MCi22kMaM3Pwi4eUSc3ouGrzjDeYdrS-Os71NKx8DDOFEu1t-eWMHQMRzJLzXv-gY0QmqM9rSTqAI3IjiAii33guBmeLrHVFXxKQPxskFM-wvtKrIfdkdUwP3g/s1600/dixit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiym1X9rkse2MCi22kMaM3Pwi4eUSc3ouGrzjDeYdrS-Os71NKx8DDOFEu1t-eWMHQMRzJLzXv-gY0QmqM9rSTqAI3IjiAii33guBmeLrHVFXxKQPxskFM-wvtKrIfdkdUwP3g/s320/dixit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=031865&affil=YEHU">Dixit</a>: Ages 10+, 3-6 (12) players<br />
<br />
Dixit is an incredible game, especially for non-gamers. It is loved as a creative exercise: pick a card and give a word, phrase, song, dance, or any other clue to describe it, but not too perfectly. The other players try to play cards that also match your clue. You only get points if some people guess which was your card and some people don't.<br />
<br />
The fun is in the creativity of the clues, and I've yet to see a game where even the most stodgy non-gamer doesn't have fun.<br />
<br />
There are now several expansions, which are all good. This game, like many others, was inspired by <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=019285&affil=YEHU">Apples to Apples</a>, another nifty game for the casual non-gamers who walk among us.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOJX68W9iNM3dx3nD4ctaqMxUSQK5nSk1cN29m81NmFkVpQ3sKRfvpGvRTPwwOLryyaZ2JKR4fsBn6vs2ZydAsXbkUHftjQiECVAd7zpuFLFETiS5r0E3s_Ow-yD5kbqcOK4/s320/froggy_boogie.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=017031&affil=YEHU">Froggy Boogie</a>: Ages 3-9, 2 to 4 players<br />
<br />
Froggy Boogie is a brilliant game to frustrate grownups and please younger children. All you have to do is remember where the picture of the fly is, under the left eye or the right eye? The dice have only colors - no counting necessary. It's a perfect first game.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-rHMAklHdgkYV2-ijw2mt5PD6Je4fusTH7KHce3vuE8YGjymuxsBUQTWj11QyjuzoQ1CSWce7FRNLHDd-5EBFEYsFH8PtbqCKw_TYiJXjR-9cybDDiqBqB8H9R2Mb4PxMeo/s320/go_board.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=013641&affil=YEHU">Go</a> / <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=015583&affil=YEHU">Pente</a>: Ages 6+, 2 players<br />
<br />
Beyond Chess, Checkers, or XiangQi is the absolute perfect game of Go (aka Weiqi); it's so popular, there are twenty-four hour television stations dedicated to it, an anime series based on it, and it's considered one of the four arts of the Chinese scholar.<br />
<br />
It really is that good, and the rules are easy, too. Best of all, a built-in handicap system allows two people of any skill levels to enjoy a challenging game against each other.<br />
<br />
You should play with the nicest board you can afford.<br />
<br />
Pente, a game of getting five stones in a row, can be played on the same board. The rules are just as easy as Go, and while the game has much less depth, it is also a little less intimidating to new players.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrdhCmynwc9zQF1vjpwXMrSMQCykbavHOopq5CpG21FlOfGfgeVmkJ76ACXCHlgznJVjV5fmjoFTck3WBZy3nnz-m-THoo34jgIe4L2_-TR-4z0vnY3-SRbMenFAEJxLnR6Y/s320/jungle_speed.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=021206&affil=YEHU">Jungle Speed</a>: Ages 8+, 3 to 8 players<br />
<br />
There are several games of speed reaction / pattern recognition on the market; I chose this one because of the components. Players flip cards in turn and grab for the totem in the middle as soon as two matching cards are revealed. Don't play with friends who have sharp nails or finger jewelry.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AGJ4HC2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00AGJ4HC2&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20&linkId=T5HMVJGLIASNGZVN" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQ5gXV5XxMi-8hZNsrp5XAY8JtwgbB7m663rZ0Py6j9rc4t23Y2m0ygH_eHWVHT4IhDfABKI_QkqVHy9l286BJL8CjsHVlOPa29n_p0dS3PgmQ47Zy_wlUtNXJfbP_XlXIAE/s1600/love_letter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=027097&affil=YEHU">Love Letter</a>: Age 8+, 2-4 players<br />
<br />
This game has just 16 cards, but it packs a full, replayable deduction, bluffing game into 10 minutes. It's a top seller, takes 30 seconds to learn, and is challenging to play.<br />
<br />
It's not my type of game, but I'm in the minority.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L75VHWM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00L75VHWM&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20&linkId=5H5BGJHZZYONJ7FA" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9eGrUSOq_Qak8yxwa9GsqEYqHyI-1LP4ROloiiWJOq3d8d0td6-7N9rAMK-xNj-mX6duRjz1dEBd3NfgYVTJqFedb3XDzN1GG5H_Gadc7r6GMpzwJ3T3AL-Du5lKJqVhoR0/s1600/magic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=035315&affil=YEHU">Magic the Gathering</a>: Ages 8+, 2 players<br />
<br />
After two decades, Magic is still The Bomb when it comes to collectible card games, although Yu-Gi-Oh sells more cards. These are not easy games to learn, but quick start guides can get you off the ground fairly quickly, and then you have months and years of challenging game play ahead of you.<br />
<br />
Don't get sucked into having to buy endless amounts of boosters; to play the game outside of a tournament, you only need a few hundred common cards which can be picked up for a penny each on various sites.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJWKB4Qiw8-cqvsiPC13vlEYtJ-EPsvyoAVhC67EmtUK3I350b5vzjLUd1FGHdov80jNiDsAZdrUI83HL_6inKXHTI4tvRRaSBtHCfNo6JemeaJY39MN1Bt_XyT5v2a8uuYY/s320/mancala.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=005905&affil=YEHU">Mancala</a>: Ages 5+, 2 players<br />
<br />
This is widely known around the world under various names (e.g. Oware), and the national game of many African countries.<br />
<br />
The rules are easy: pick up all the seeds in one of your bowls and place one in each bowl around the table. If you land on an empty space on your side, you win the seed and any seeds opposite.<br />
<br />
There are a few more rules, but that's about it. It takes a few games to get up to speed; early victories tend to be lopsided. Once you get the hang of it, you can play several, quick, challenging games in succession.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbBzo5D1HTqr5-ZVxTP5kN4fMK8eoorA1onQNxah977fhEwTQNIidflGFr_UkDspHr_eCSKcQp7kMnOJzXLJMq7P_qvAUi1jn5ZCOc8_43p2a2inuZMMahUYR9HB44wzVVcI/s1600/memory.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbBzo5D1HTqr5-ZVxTP5kN4fMK8eoorA1onQNxah977fhEwTQNIidflGFr_UkDspHr_eCSKcQp7kMnOJzXLJMq7P_qvAUi1jn5ZCOc8_43p2a2inuZMMahUYR9HB44wzVVcI/s320/memory.jpg" /></a></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=031406&affil=YEHU">Memory</a>: Ages 3 to 12, 2 to 5 players<br />
<br />
This is a first game for kids and adults, and a great game for it, because kids get the hang of it very quickly and adults find it a real challenge without having to pretend. All you need are one or two decks of cards, but an infinite number of these games are sold with various different pictures and themes.<br />
<br />
You can play with more than 5 players, but I wouldn't recommend it.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0eHGrb1XpBjT-R6iDnJD-VQi0zHsXI8Gg2c2k-RdpjodJNI8jCvVjo3_9JciMQ-DB7D8QSaA_jyjOzCIojOhIPXZuZjiRhnQ_UVESzlB_NvNkM1gxuwmEHEWRZf_xKB7v3s/s1600/nefarious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0eHGrb1XpBjT-R6iDnJD-VQi0zHsXI8Gg2c2k-RdpjodJNI8jCvVjo3_9JciMQ-DB7D8QSaA_jyjOzCIojOhIPXZuZjiRhnQ_UVESzlB_NvNkM1gxuwmEHEWRZf_xKB7v3s/s320/nefarious.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
</td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=033884&affil=YEHU">Nefarious</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 6 players<br />
<br />
This is a game of mad scientists that is great for 2 to 6 players, and doesn't sacrifice speed with more players. Each round, you select one of four actions. collect money from any neighbors who selected actions that your minions are invested in, perform your action, and then check to see if you won. The actions are: invest minions, play cards, take cards, or take money.<br />
<br />
The cards are fun and the game is quick and replayable, because, in each game, you play with some random twists that make that game's experience unique.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEjrTsxVAiJ4i8W2muA2MSQbJRwDJFHEZSlQHQS9L15CsOhF27uwM_4-ZxCNodhF3bz1GHS-STI8RjMLRd52aeqoGNiFRD_n3EbGDkLhIvLXGAvi0OlL4Alr91uwF1BUQp3g/s320/no_thanks.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=033910&affil=YEHU">No Thanks</a>: Ages 7+, 3 to 5 players<br />
<br />
This is an easy to learn and addictive little card game. A card is flipped up, and you either take the card and any tokens on it or place one of your tokens on it and pass it to the next player. Cards are bad, and tokens are good. But runs of cards only penalize you for the lowest valued card.<br />
<br />
A simple and fun game.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIad7MDFWhQeJkvVwE7gHtE1RsTZRlaoPANJR6cYj09JIGR2TRI-_WFsVYFjEZVAL-eGYLFk3z-dG4SCjqpoQtafztIFXF5jcOeM2HwLgToa5RmjbYBghQeyalSp5z9lNKzE/s1600/pandemic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIad7MDFWhQeJkvVwE7gHtE1RsTZRlaoPANJR6cYj09JIGR2TRI-_WFsVYFjEZVAL-eGYLFk3z-dG4SCjqpoQtafztIFXF5jcOeM2HwLgToa5RmjbYBghQeyalSp5z9lNKzE/s320/pandemic.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<br /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=027313&affil=YEHU">Pandemic</a> / <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=032626&affil=YEHU">Pandemic Legacy</a><br />
<br />
Cooperative games used to be either very boring, very childish, or very hippy. A new breed of cooperative games are nail-bitingly challenging and fun.<br />
<br />
Pandemic is a cooperative game of saving the world from disease. Other cooperative games include <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=022644&affil=YEHU">Lord of the Rings</a>, <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=015117&affil=YEHU">Shadows Over Camelot</a>, and the much simpler <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=021921&affil=YEHU">Forbidden Island</a>.<br />
<br />
The new Pandemic Legacy (like Risk Legacy, mentioned above), is a version that plays out: each time you play the world is permanently changed with stickers and torn cards; after dozens of plays, the game is over.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0028K2YAO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0028K2YAO&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20&linkId=B3KW4O632LXMGFUQ" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlKepybN2HWx3IaHQhVMgKT-vBtz_L1eSXR8ZkzxHvdlYtHXHu9gwnaEi4ABktBKq79x6SrW_XmZqkyxSKp6pTSfdNrh9tqy8oSKv75X9qgF34inVeXh758pGHTpV8gAadkU/s1600/poker.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=018435&affil=YEHU">Poker</a>: Ages 6+, 2 to any number of players<br />
<br />
Playing for money is not a good habit, but a nice set of poker chips and some decks of cards is a great way to spend an evening. There are countless poker games, too.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQV9GZBrR9rY2vv_DEY6gzi7wC21eB5WUGlXLGAjq0RUIys1UeIf-k8-SceQoDwlNPVdMyuaYboIZf0_DC7VcuHd392s3oIbytVfJKRGZuPkMEHDtKDtPM5h4TJ-aF1SIno1Y/s320/scrabble.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=031837&affil=YEHU">Scrabble</a>: Ages 8+, 2 (or 2 to 4) players.<br />
<br />
Scrabble purists will tell you that you should only play with 2 players and a Chess clock, but for casual purposes it can be played with up to four. It is The word game, and for a good reason.<br />
<br />
My favorite way to play is to ditch the board and just play Anagrams: turn over tiles, and first to call a word gets it. A similar, recommended game is <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=018941&affil=YEHU">Bananagrams</a>, where players race to create their own crossword boards.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSd7hGf4v7Ev7pSapju8oKEc6GN-Lii17iXhIy7WasTieSlzchE9E2-HYGDXO2i1Dd9Z9veYCT3uVxHPYsemMHLCZOmo8_Vsrm8O2amqEWtA0KGFYkm3-t9AqNFeFWlnyhGk/s320/set.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=001165&affil=YEHU">Set</a>: Ages 6+, 2 to 10 players<br />
<br />
Those who don't have it won't enjoy it. For those who do, it hits just the right spot in the brain. All you have to do is call out matches when you see them, but the matches have to match or not match in all four characteristics.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFuoTsC_WOyAhN8vYNHXMKYVW358JlRISZXQoY5amdjsDwaoW76F2ONo0Ejgpz7GAtfTjN3PqjlI9EYQAwat9Mo-KO8uc16z6wRgVAsHCGM001epJNpVmFcqrWMZMbSxUUt8/s320/stratego.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=034548&affil=YEHU">Stratego</a>: Ages 6 to 15, 2 players<br />
<br />
By the time I was in my teens, I had outgrown this, but it remains a seminal game for early players, a great introductory war game with all the basic elements: strategy, tactics, and bluffing. Avoid the electronic ones; they break and they're noisy.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_L79VM1SD6Lity7aVC9s-7u0xhO6deVB-oKiKrUSMmGUHjWqJ6rj_bEr0_xb7mo98Ehxd2SxbHkDeqmQ-Ly8EEm_2ifk5LDNftbLIsWndKq15K-SOcpCwcdlMnd0fkG_PSA/s1600/splendor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="442" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_L79VM1SD6Lity7aVC9s-7u0xhO6deVB-oKiKrUSMmGUHjWqJ6rj_bEr0_xb7mo98Ehxd2SxbHkDeqmQ-Ly8EEm_2ifk5LDNftbLIsWndKq15K-SOcpCwcdlMnd0fkG_PSA/s320/splendor.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<br /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=029659&affil=YEHU">Splendor</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 5 players<br />
<br />
The new game on this list, this is a little resource management game of taking jewels and buying trade routes (i.e. cards). The components and decisions are few and pretty, and there are a few options for strategy, but they are well balanced, making this a tight game every time.<br />
<br />
Very simple to understand, challenging to win.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRPJlv3FhcRvXkz7woq0R2-KpfWRxNY290iZsxGZ9lT9xW7Q-vROu5w4yWx9D6oGhd6FkZFVXrPXl5ZClaevW8SoOMfoJnsCf4z5AJBAPvgPjd485ZzJyVWPExvRay4vNS6w/s320/ticket_to_ride.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=015084&affil=YEHU">Ticket To Ride</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 5 players<br />
<br />
Many of my fellow bloggers think that this, rather than Catan, is The Game. I used to disagree, but I think I have come around. New players will find this a great intro game, with lots of choices and great game play.<br />
<br />
There are several editions of the game, and the <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=016145&affil=YEHU">1910 expansion</a> is recommended.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQh8NOZcstGhdBW8C_j8JIaxma_ktdnCNRGZVcCpKFN4FGFtGkjXpoKVcDHaImi0LdmIpDsl4QV4MFNR6kTjJWnMWbz5zKNnjXUtmISFWYF_SwbxrX7f9OktvQzhkqqjfHcw/s320/tichu.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=018020&affil=YEHU">Tichu</a>: Ages 8+, 4 players<br />
<br />
A partnership "ladder" game, similar to the game President (sometimes known by its crude name). It's similar, but the addition of a few special cards, a partnership, and passing elevate this to a perfect game for two couples. This is THE card game in gamer circles, and it's not at all complicated.
</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oWrXsvWxmNdDZTCfcrGhKL-VhLks3FH0w-8LMJfPMdrqhnD8uIv48LF0HoinH2RzBbAaNIDOMjrZimBr7TL7yyfAP-7_XWv0n8ENNfKhwtiJlceO-5y1J_T2b-9fgdMKCOs/s320/times_up.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=019336&affil=YEHU">Time's Up</a>: Ages 8+, 4 to 10 players<br />
<br />
This consistently ranks as the number one party game on all of my fellow bloggers' lists. It's the number one ranked party game on Board Game Geek. Which says something.<br />
<br />
It plays a lot like the parlor game Celebrities. </td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ntEXheBY7lEaJJHeX9qa-vBNg-hiFwjw7WnHGNsup8lg-3rj2fI4W1zyc1G0THfaNx0SC13-JJcnoE6DlS7CyJEZz3gwF_Q_DedbSWAgx9DvQVfQIdTx_9VUvtoaQcp0qJw/s320/uno.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=019256&affil=YEHU">Uno</a>: Ages 6 to 12, 2 to 8 players<br />
<br />
This could be a child's second game, after Memory, and before moving on to real games. There's not much in the way of thinking involved, but its simple rules, portability, and quick play make it an ideal game for younger kids in almost any situation.<br />
<br />
Just be sure to move up to better games when the kids are ready.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIVicVtyssF-gsAdN1YHNn-443Llg_H2lTzhg2Rzin73tjQldwMtJXlsypppL12X6hMS_f6NQ-P2qpoCEvJ3WnMT7L_KoUQS0sp6hX4eVaYzIc6gkjhh0y6dIwnX92Rr4VvM/s320/wits_and_wagers.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=033410&affil=YEHU">Wits and Wagers</a> / <a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=040086&affil=YEHU">Balderdash</a>: Ages 8+, 4+ players<br />
<br />
These are party trivia games where knowledge of trivia is not so important. The question is asked, and each player writes down an answer. These are revealed and players then bid on the answers they think are best. The winning answer, and the winning bids, all score points.<br />
<br />
Wits and Wagers does this in the form of a poker game setting, while Balderdash requires you to make up funny possible answers. Both have won awards and acclaim as an order of magnitude better than you-know-which famous trivia game.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmjfc1X7N6fEKigbL0inYLYX15VhlP5e_lj5OvbNYhL7ok-M1pbFj95YcO3lPOaMkmPAUV4hjlB05TEQsCaHZbIqYQie6zYDnbQv6V5ArB1aQ6WBPmxTqmOKtvH3070-kkJc/s320/zooloretto.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="https://www.funagain.com/control/product?product_id=030839&affil=YEHU">Zooloretto</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 5 players<br />
<br />
Winner of dozens of awards, Zooloretto is a cute game for kids and decent game for adults. Simply take the animals as they are revealed from the deck and try to fit them into your zoo without overcrowding.<br />
<br />
A few extra rules and some clever mechanisms makes the game enjoyable for all ages.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Enjoy,<br />
YehudaYehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-30774772427648718592017-11-12T23:46:00.001+02:002017-11-12T23:46:36.111+02:00Get Candle Quest From The Game Crafter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I think I forgot to mention this: you can <a href="https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/candle-quest-the-hanukkah-game">get my game Candle Quest</a>, the one and only good Hanukkah game, from The Game Crafter, a publish on demand game site. Thanks to Nadine for some redevelopment that made this possible.<br />
<br />
It's the same game with slightly different sized cards and coins, and reworded rules.<br />
<br />
Order in time for Hanukkah.Yehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-25620048556235387492017-10-26T23:53:00.002+03:002018-01-03T01:12:46.740+02:00Bulls & Bears Board Game on Kickstarter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vhUP-5SG7iM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vhUP-5SG7iM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<br />
<a href="https://bullsandbearsonline.com/">Bulls and Bears</a> is a financial board game from 1988. The first version of the game sold over 10,000 copies. I have talked with the designer on a few occasions and I may be helping him to turn the game into something more Euro-style. In the meantime, they are <a href="http://kck.st/2kEigTd">kickstarting a new version</a> of the original game, called Trumponomics vs. Bernienomics (yeah, okay).<br />
<br />
It has the usual roll-and-move mechanics, with a few clever additions that make it better than other games of its type.<br />
<br />
For one thing, trivia questions are informative about stock market topics, but rather than simply answer them, you react to events by putting your money down or taking actions, after which the result of the event (what went up or down in the world as a result of the event) is revealed, and you gain or lose by it. As such, the mechanics of learning about the stock market are integrated right into the play, which makes for both better learning and a better play experience.<br />
<br />
Unlike Monopoly, the game ends and is won when someone reaches $200k, which means less direct competition and a game that doesn't drag on. There is already a Euroish feel in that you are building a kind of economic engine through your investments.<br />
<br />
Topics include financial markets, commodities, insurance, housing, mortgage, retirement, and so forth. The designer has a PhD and worked at the world bank for many years. <a href="https://bullsandbearsonline.com/">Their website</a> includes online play and guidebooks for educators.<br />
<br />
This new edition is a roll and move game, like the original, which is what it is. But if you like non-gamer games, and you actually want to learn real financial information with a game that's actually fun to play, this may be your thing.Yehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-50657227755784709512017-06-05T01:10:00.001+03:002017-06-05T01:10:19.498+03:00The Period Game: Finally A Board Game About Menstruation?<a href="https://jergames.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-york-times-on-aids-and-sex.html">In 2006 I lamented</a> that there were no board games about menstruation. In 2010, <a href="http://www.purplepawn.com/2010/11/menstruation-board-games/">I reported on two very limited games</a> by public health services on the topic.<br />
<br />
Now two designers, Daniela Gilsanz and Ryan Murphy, have produced a nifty-looking prototype for a game they call <a href="http://www.periodgame.com/">The Period Game</a>: Bleed to Succeed. While the game looks pretty and has received a fair amount of press, the web site indicates that they are still looking for a publisher to bring the game to the masses.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AFfUfjxg_r8/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AFfUfjxg_r8?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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On your turn, twist an ovary and one of four marbles comes out: three are clear and one is red. Clear means move one space and maybe collect a tampon or pad to protect you from a period space; red means jump to the next period space. You also get to read informational material in the small booklets that come with the game.Yehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-21955575194819312112017-06-05T00:31:00.000+03:002017-06-05T00:31:06.581+03:00Hamas Has a Board Game: Reaching Jerusalem<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwgzS2eIK-cLbHMXDd_r4nQPGeiZeTgpjuCC7RvEi7N0WAY8F2m0Qm6arsbCTgNqeOEF5_vC6DqXEKYmN1KkyFE7kIOj6eAIPlaktTahT8GPhD2CNuChHAEvt6y7-mSeeTU4/s1600/Snakes1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1200" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwgzS2eIK-cLbHMXDd_r4nQPGeiZeTgpjuCC7RvEi7N0WAY8F2m0Qm6arsbCTgNqeOEF5_vC6DqXEKYmN1KkyFE7kIOj6eAIPlaktTahT8GPhD2CNuChHAEvt6y7-mSeeTU4/s400/Snakes1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="tab-stops: 177.2pt;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><i>Via MEMRI: The board of the "Reaching Jerusalem" game (image: </i><i>Facebook.com/MaAmriti, April 4, 2017)</i></span></span></td></tr>
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According to <a href="https://www.memri.org/reports/gazan-version-snakes-and-ladders-board-game-players-proceed-towards-jerusalem-using-tunnels">MEMRI</a> (Middle East Media Research Institute), Hamas has published a board game called "Reaching Jerusalem". The game is based on Snakes and Ladders. Snakes are Israeli military equipment, ladders are secret tunnels and Hamas rockets.<br />
<br />
According to the designer, who works at the Hamas Interior Ministry, the game is aimed at "strengthening children's military culture and love of jihad."<br />
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MEMRI got the information from a Facebook site which does not appear to be accessible, at least not by me.<span style="tab-stops: 177.2pt;"><i> </i></span>Yehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-46307206837644861802017-04-24T14:42:00.000+03:002017-04-24T14:42:19.626+03:00Amazon deals on gamesAmazon has a more extensive than usual list of <a href="http://amzn.to/2oDnV9q">deals on games</a> today.Yehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-15408164434905627162017-04-24T13:02:00.002+03:002017-04-24T13:02:23.958+03:00Theora Design: From The Holocaust to a Game Company Success StoryMichelle Spelman, writing for Mary Couzin's Chitag magazine, profiles Ora and Theo Coster, <a href="http://www.chitag.com/single-post/2017/04/14/Theora-Design---A-Story-of-Survival-Leads-to-Joy-for-Generations-of-Children?utm_campaign=Israeli%2BLegends%2C%2BU.K.%2BLicensors%2Band%2BU.S.%2BNerds&utm_content=HTML&utm_medium=email&utm_source=phplist265">the couple behind the successful Israeli game company Theora Design</a> (Guess Who, Zingo, Elefun, others). Worth a look.<br />
<br />Yehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-40401754231982259452017-02-21T23:11:00.000+02:002017-02-22T11:03:20.060+02:00Games I Have Recently AcquiredI went on a shopping/trading spree recently, selling or trading away dozens of games and getting slightly less back. Recent acquisitions include:<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/2l58qFN">Age of Industry</a>: A dry game of money management and planning, with a little route building. I find it to be elegant, with a lot of game play and many interesting choices. So far my group has responded less enthusiastically, since turns take a bit of time the first time you play and there is nothing to do until it is your turn again. I think the dryness may keep people away from it.</li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/2kIKlsg">Amerigo</a>: A colorful game with a nifty cube tower action mechanism. The downside is that they number actions you get each turn, and which ones, are kind of random. The upsides are that it's a freakin' cube tower. The gameplay is also reasonable, if not brilliant or perfect or polished. There are many paths to take as long as you don't get totally stuck on the wrong side of the board with no places left to build. This should continue to hit the table every once in a while.</li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/2l557yl">Among the Stars</a>: A drafting game of building a spaceship, by which I mean placing tiles of five colors into your play space, trying to maximize points. It plays quickly enough, so it doesn't bother me that it is not a brain burner. But, again, some of the people who have played it found it not very interesting. This could be because they were expecting something deeper.</li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/2m5giuZ">Bruges</a>: I played this at a game convention, and it was fairly good (I like many of Stefan Feld's games). I haven't tried it in the group yet.</li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/2l59aL5">Codenames</a>: This is an excellent puzzle game using words and teams, good for both gamers and non-gamers. It shot up the charts on BoardGameGeek and it deserves it. We play it often in the group, and I also play it with guests.</li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/2mj7I7R">Coloretto</a>: A very light very quick game. I like Zooloretto more, but this one was available so I picked it up. I haven't played it in the group yet.</li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/2lDw4vW">La Granja</a>: My secret santa game, which I didn't even put on my wish list. But my elf (Nadine) suggested it to my santa because she had played it at a convention. Looks good but complex. The more complex the game, the trickier it becomes to get everything working well. I haven't played it yet.</li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/2lDJato">The Grizzled</a>: The other game I received from secret santa. A coop game themed with WWI that also wasn't on my wish list. It was a nice thought - the game has good reviews - but I'm really not a fan of coop games, generally.</li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/2kWFdMt">Myrmes</a>: The opportunity presented itself so I picked this one up while I was picking up something else. Looks cool. I haven't played it yet.</li>
<li><a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/161750/producer">Producer</a>: Acquired as a gift from the designer who was passing through. Comes packed in a VHS box. I haven't played it yet.</li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/2lDqium">Seasons</a>: The opportunity presented itself. Another version of acquiring actions from a pool of dice. I haven't played it yet.</li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/2l57Esl">Suburbia</a>: A city building game. Some luck determines if the tile you need is available - at all, or at a time you can acquire it - but it's mostly about planning and managing your money. Should feel drier, but I find it to be fun. It has received mixed reviews in the group, but at least some of them are willing to play it again.</li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/2lDv5vX">Trajan</a>: A very complex Euro that I brought after it was on my wishlist for a long time. I have only played it once, but it seemed to work very well (although we made some rules mistakes). Nadine has already played it half a dozen times. I hope to play it again. Everyone else has liked it, I think.</li>
</ul>
Yehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-54731923673897648542017-01-02T18:41:00.000+02:002017-01-02T18:41:14.352+02:00The Clock Face Routing PuzzleThere is a clock face lying on my table, upon which I have placed cheese on all of the numbers, one through twelve. I have trained a mouse to start by eating all of the cheese from whichever number it pleases, and then to eat all of the cheese of any other number, so long as the new number still has cheese and is either a multiple of, or a divisor of, the number from which it has just come. The mouse continues to run to new numbers with the same restriction. It can never go back to the same number (no cheese there).<br />
<br />
My mouse is now smart enough to eat the maximum number of pieces of cheese that it can. How many pieces is that, and what is the order it takes (there are a few solutions for the maximum, not counting just flipping the entire route).Yehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9319479.post-54077271680230358982016-11-07T22:32:00.000+02:002016-11-07T22:33:44.476+02:002016 Holiday Gift Guide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtutDoYRrjQCALDCFvo0MeT8HW6TmvS0npfCQbXOkEVBTgf8Kzsp5vzN2Knw7Ukthwr4uIBha_xMDKhuG9lyplCJm0lWHRyPnv6P9cD2DJvNu3xseaORH1SeiCnwtVx0wpZ4k/s1600/2016+Holiday+Gift+Guide.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtutDoYRrjQCALDCFvo0MeT8HW6TmvS0npfCQbXOkEVBTgf8Kzsp5vzN2Knw7Ukthwr4uIBha_xMDKhuG9lyplCJm0lWHRyPnv6P9cD2DJvNu3xseaORH1SeiCnwtVx0wpZ4k/s1600/2016+Holiday+Gift+Guide.png" /></a></div>
This guide includes games for young and old, for every sex, generation, temperament, and culture.<br />
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Whatever you do, and whatever you celebrate, there is no better way to spend a Christmas, Hanukkah, or what have you than together with friends, family, and neighbors with a warm cup of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001VNFHLC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001VNFHLC&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">(fair trade) cocoa</a> and a stack of casual board and/or card games.<br />
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Remember that the most valuable gift you can give is time. <i>Don't just give your loved ones a game; play it with them.</i> Find or start a local game group and join or form a community.<br />
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I hope you enjoy the guide. Remember: the holidays are not only for sharing the warmth with family and friends, but also for sharing with those who have no one else to share with them. Give to your local shelters, hospitals, and so on, because that's the gift that keeps on giving.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JKCH552/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00JKCH552&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20&linkId=SMA7L5FEEAQYI3FD" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIS08ee76wrNYSyAGrOK1d0wcb1QTdEy-vwrSW7RTCGrhwP2r5tlms-vmPaim61l9Ngqt82_ZqMdKXxAxaQ26E2S0g3O0HU3oFoGEyv87RA93-4RDjTW1i_h_EU-P0H8DlHI/s1600/samsung_galaxy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></td><td valign="top" width="70%"><a href="http://amzn.to/2eGpdOL">Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10"</a><br />
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I'm starting with this unusual choice for a board game list, because tablets are perfect platforms for playing thousands of face to face games for two to four players. Because you don't need to buy the physical components, you can stack all your games in a teeny space, the games (if not the tablet) cost very little, and you don't have to cut down old trees to make them or use fossil fuels to ship them. Tablets have their own environmental impact in their making, so that's a trade off; but if you're getting one anyway, most of the games on this list are available electronically.<br />
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Nowadays, most games are also available on consoles, too. </td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top" width="30%"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDfJcrOX0PsfMl9oepn4175qzLYc3qIfFVIji_5q0eEHilLAo6oDO-TYJ5QUJAEY66q80gEKYd_4m3DNHoU9Dqbux1S3-tmIOeSCHyPDWdUfH2ALIJ2_zvOJBvGlD-_PMSHM/s320/7_wonders.jpg" /></td><td valign="top" width="70%"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0043KJW5M/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0043KJW5M&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">7 Wonders</a>: Ages 9+, 4 to 7 players<br />
<br />
This is a game of drafting cards and building a wondrous city. You get a hand of cards; pick one and pass the rest. Everyone reveals the card they picked and puts it into their tableaux. Repeat. Done. Score points based on the combinations of cards you have at the end of all the passing.<br />
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The graphics are fantastic, the theme not so visible. It's easy to learn, provides great choices, with depth enough to spare.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlH7ou9wzfJV_zIsNqsj2aHLVV6cunZj6dCRXg_wLqJ-gxOF3nMM8y8J3T9aEhRdp7qPkJhGm3fKc6M1XSLKmE8CtOqliopPze4ZykXFMWRakMmhdu975QntUtwJkCls1WEc/s1600/antike_ii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlH7ou9wzfJV_zIsNqsj2aHLVV6cunZj6dCRXg_wLqJ-gxOF3nMM8y8J3T9aEhRdp7qPkJhGm3fKc6M1XSLKmE8CtOqliopPze4ZykXFMWRakMmhdu975QntUtwJkCls1WEc/s320/antike_ii.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://amzn.to/1IpFEnU">Antike II</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 6 players<br />
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Risk is a long game of laying low, with player elimination and just too much in the luck department; this game (and its predecessor but very rare and expensive <a href="http://amzn.to/1IpFMUt">Antike</a>) is the perfect evolution to, and replacement for, Risk.<br />
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It plays quicker, there's dice-less conflict, no one gets to lay low watching while others fight, and - excepting truly poor play - everyone has a chance for most of the game. There's also a lot more to the game than just conflict, but the rules are short and elegant.<br />
<br />
Other alternatives for the Risk player are <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AR9FX7Y/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00AR9FX7Y&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Antike Duellum</a> (for two players) and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005J146MI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005J146MI&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Risk Legacy</a> (an odd game that moves in one game affect the next).</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NH0D9OE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00NH0D9OE&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20&linkId=JF4Y7X2RWRH3OC7J" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRRARGn_YKRo3o_ko3NvAu8yRh-ZnDoIcMPkvxHk7TmyvcoubG4bO5_d-9rfex8kvo_7p_JiQgGXPK0rb1ET59dh455riVWb4VlN2PrbxsCnOcWu50r1XbkdhIXiir0tLK6o/s1600/backgammon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NH0D9OE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00NH0D9OE&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20&linkId=JF4Y7X2RWRH3OC7J">Backgammon</a>: Ages 6+, 2 players<br />
<br />
Backgammon is a classic game that can be enjoyed by children and parents alike. While there is a large amount of luck in the game, there are also many meaningful decisions, which makes this a good stepping stone to future games with more challenge, such as Checkers or Chess.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNg0M79pjpQ7hqDXjPrGakBnY8pN4OdMjva22uNgTunAgelExg2NtXkxr3Z13I-d0HnFhr3SSt_sM-cWG68_qmik4X3z4q7ah6CWa7-aZ1V8JoioM5gWMCp8W-ckZUF8U3Xs/s1600/blokus.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNg0M79pjpQ7hqDXjPrGakBnY8pN4OdMjva22uNgTunAgelExg2NtXkxr3Z13I-d0HnFhr3SSt_sM-cWG68_qmik4X3z4q7ah6CWa7-aZ1V8JoioM5gWMCp8W-ckZUF8U3Xs/s320/blokus.jpg" /></a></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://amzn.to/2eGfjN4">Blokus</a>, <a href="http://amzn.to/2fUIlu9">Blokus Trigon</a>, <a href="http://amzn.to/2fhNsAW">Blokus Duo</a>: Ages 8+, 4 players (Blokus), 2-4 players (Blokus Trigon), or 2 players (Blokus Duo)<br />
<br />
Blokus, Blokus Trigon, and Blokus Duo are abstract games with very simple rules. Each round you take a piece and place it on the board such that it touches any previous pieces you have played, but only corner to corner. It can touch other players' pieces along corners or sides.<br />
<br />
The rules are easy, the components are beautiful, and it's fun.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mv2QCHFoZU6JCwFSyxELpVCnGcaLrtt5yW1V9vx7ylOgi1O76AoeX3pLVR87hEPewG3O2kpKxcIJR08ZyfUJZtwsQu5_3QxtYoeHrigc7xbSzZzULz0avdQ_pS1wuAECZD8/s320/boggle.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001MV7DQA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001MV7DQA&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Boggle</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 10 players<br />
<br />
Boggle is a word game, whose simple rules - find all the words you can within three minutes - make it a game that is both fun and quick. Adults can play with kids by restricting the adults to have to find words of four or five letters.<br />
<br />
The pictured version is a little quieter and less bulky than the old boxy version, and comes with a built-in electronic timer.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpl1TBzeq7qjz50A6xwtMFT-D6LiVdcwD2STYXDMmEGAXOQjdhrFv0ChM6ah4f-EfV9McjK4sE4_efZkjEa35cb8ck6gXE9ZuY6SQksmp0cg0ZJZYCcTLnTFqz2rvxLpzRwU/s320/candle_quest.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FAT75K4/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00FAT75K4&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Candle Quest</a>: Ages 6+, 2 to 4 players<br />
<br />
A little plug for my own game. This is a simple set-collection auction game with a Hanukkah theme. It fits in well with the other games on the list: easy to learn, quick to play, lots of replayability. The theme makes it appropriate for all ages, and there's nothing overtly Jewish about it, other than that it's a menorah, so anyone should feel comfortable playing it.<br />
<br />
Of course, I may be biased, since I designed it. This game was published by Victory Point Games.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FIjOE-uZs22w_VKVj7GzAX2bKm_F737IQ-UZ2GPbFIosEBRSfeXUddWZlF7XeSBIRUxQ01Q7DbVd6EMzG_s_q7za-vKJgjJ6SeRlVkaSgo9sMvqtda6_8NS1kB5wl9MzKKE/s320/carcassonne.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008ULAMSG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008ULAMSG&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Carcassonne</a>, variants, and expansions: Ages 10+, 2 to 5 players<br />
<br />
Carcassonne is a bit more complex than some of the other games here, but the beautiful pieces and the fun game play are worth the time to learn. Pick a piece from the pile, rotate and place it so that it fits on the board (like dominoes), and then optionally place one of your pieces on that tile. There are several ways to score, some of which occur during the game and some of which only at the end of the game.<br />
<br />
There are some more rules than that, but not too many more. The game play is engaging enough to make you want to play it more than once in a single sitting.<br />
<br />
There are dozens of versions to the game, and some of the versions have several expansions.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVLuYNvux7A2BuU3M2DbmNIR-1tMP3g-5M6So9wK3Nzn2EGRyYEywNXCpY3PcU0fZgDGAIfCry4Khqip0SI8-5kWr2V9boqZJpUGpojR2Y2-_kec5vwmIWDz1heF0_OcLo2s/s1600/catan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVLuYNvux7A2BuU3M2DbmNIR-1tMP3g-5M6So9wK3Nzn2EGRyYEywNXCpY3PcU0fZgDGAIfCry4Khqip0SI8-5kWr2V9boqZJpUGpojR2Y2-_kec5vwmIWDz1heF0_OcLo2s/s320/catan.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>
<br /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://amzn.to/2eGjWqp">Catan</a>: Ages 8+, 3 to 4 players<br />
<br />
This game, formerly known as The Settlers of Catan, and Ticket to Ride, are the perfect adult games for beginning gamers.<br />
<br />
All you need to do is collect ten points through building settlements and cities, connecting roads, adding developments and trading with your fellow players. A unique board that changes each time you play, constant interaction even when it's not your turn, and a great balance of luck versus strategy makes this The Game to acquire if you still think that board games are only for kids.</td></tr>
<tr><td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD50PNV3pYAW2liBt1pwf5adPgeod80GxC7kvstyLusSfp0ShWL1S-HX1SnQs2RRow_91Nm9SEBVu7F-UMt2HGZnx7rpppnFElGmC0fqdKQv6C5lNVyGXrJSeAEto_509If8g/s1600/chess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD50PNV3pYAW2liBt1pwf5adPgeod80GxC7kvstyLusSfp0ShWL1S-HX1SnQs2RRow_91Nm9SEBVu7F-UMt2HGZnx7rpppnFElGmC0fqdKQv6C5lNVyGXrJSeAEto_509If8g/s320/chess.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></td>
<td><a href="http://amzn.to/1IpGfpv">Chess </a>/ <a href="http://amzn.to/1IpGdOD">Xiangqi </a>/ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009RJ4RHC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B009RJ4RHC&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20&linkId=SD3JYJ7XMNP4KWY2">Shogi</a>: Ages 6+, 2 players<br />
<br />
These three games, Chess, XiangQi (Chinese Chess), and Shogi (Japanese Chess), are all top-tier 2-player games that can occupy a curious mind for an entire lifetime. They also have wide followings, so learning the game is learning a language that will admit you to a culture of fellow players around the world.<br />
<br />
Board and piece prices range from inexpensive to very expensive, and Chess pieces come in many different themes.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmpMoRJO9uZk94hGjP077QZAvWvWGdQBS-qAglTv7pWB-yXVVHTgdOwcmNz8ZNV_j_hO448ZgEiTJS-8ReNDtUdEms7tTCzadm2hvCU5l1VsIdfIDJA1AFtGFvmWyFYzGA9M/s320/chinese_checkers.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VH00VY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002VH00VY&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Chinese Checkers</a>: Ages 6+, 2 to 6 players<br />
<br />
Another great abstract, and a pretty one if you find one with nice marbles. The rules are simple: move or jump your pieces from one side to the other. Finding chains of jumps is a thrill for all ages.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AqcJ9B8HgMx4ccX0LYO0EAmOLtAV8UI5BbhDUSqnP0yzZEsrSFOxPyRv8uUCAO0e3Cql2fE59OhZ7p5QQ7oaC4MT-Y8wA2_C_I9VkayudAvWhKuXYxGZznKqB1JemXnzJ34/s320/carrom.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00003G4JR/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00003G4JR&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Carrom</a> / <a href="http://amzn.to/2eGiOCZ">Crokinole</a> / <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00003G1U1/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00003G1U1&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Nok-Hockey</a> / <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002T5FPE0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002T5FPE0&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Air Hockey</a> / <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CCJ73Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001CCJ73Q&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Billiards</a> / <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0081YWO3S/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0081YWO3S&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Foosball</a>, etc.: Ages 6+, 2 players<br />
<br />
Carrom is the most played tabletop game in India. Like Billiards, the object is to knock pieces off the table area, which you do by flicking wooden disks with your fingers. Crokinole is another classic finger flicking game, as is a racing game called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YTMMG0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002YTMMG0&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Pitchcar</a>. All kinetic tabletop games, from snooker to billiards to foosball, are loved by players of all ages.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2KlHW4kH5fcwYEyraOvPmQYFMLwfO9WoewgokxFxzAHPVlCXkdPCX349qvc4iG7lvmwdxoKTvxNNYMu-cZesp0MgoN9pdDJwH60uS97tUyem708NWwc0Gqg7rIieARtU7x8/s320/playing_cards.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GQ3VHG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001GQ3VHG&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Cards</a>: Ages 3+, 1 to any number of players<br />
<br />
Decks of cards, whether they are the well known Western type with 52 cards in 4 suits, or special European or Asian decks, are a great starting point for any number of wonderful games, including Bridge, Hearts, Skat, Cribbage, Pinochle, Oh Hell, Bullsh*t, Durak, President, Spades, Solitaire, and many others.<br />
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Check out <a href="http://www.pagat.com/">Pagat.com</a> for the rules to these games and to thousands of others.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3SfGZq2r32usiYjtQuGo3PzqsmE2Kr8ruO3q3M0helmdgHj5gSMENEM_kOq3dOR1DCfrYD1LMJvw0xAmkNTlpmbdPmw5FzPN-XITpiFJzfG5kupEuJLydxApHAozQJKJHnc/s1600/codenames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3SfGZq2r32usiYjtQuGo3PzqsmE2Kr8ruO3q3M0helmdgHj5gSMENEM_kOq3dOR1DCfrYD1LMJvw0xAmkNTlpmbdPmw5FzPN-XITpiFJzfG5kupEuJLydxApHAozQJKJHnc/s320/codenames.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
</td><td valign="top"><a href="http://amzn.to/2fMrtGG">Codenames</a>: Ages 10+, 4-10 players<br />
<br />
Codenames is a new, fun game that uses words in an unusual way. Two teams, the clue givers alternate trying to give one word clues that match as many of their team's cards as possible. You must find a word that matches multiple other words, but not any of your opponent's words or the assassin's word. It's mindbending, and the game is infinitely replayable.<br />
<br />
A great game for non-gamers and gamers alike.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiym1X9rkse2MCi22kMaM3Pwi4eUSc3ouGrzjDeYdrS-Os71NKx8DDOFEu1t-eWMHQMRzJLzXv-gY0QmqM9rSTqAI3IjiAii33guBmeLrHVFXxKQPxskFM-wvtKrIfdkdUwP3g/s1600/dixit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiym1X9rkse2MCi22kMaM3Pwi4eUSc3ouGrzjDeYdrS-Os71NKx8DDOFEu1t-eWMHQMRzJLzXv-gY0QmqM9rSTqAI3IjiAii33guBmeLrHVFXxKQPxskFM-wvtKrIfdkdUwP3g/s320/dixit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://amzn.to/1NUySZ6">Dixit</a>: Ages 10+, 3-6 (12) players<br />
<br />
Dixit is an incredible game, especially for non-gamers. It is loved as a creative exercise: pick a card and give a word, phrase, song, dance, or any other clue to describe it, but not too perfectly. The other players try to play cards that also match your clue. You only get points if some people guess which was your card and some people don't.<br />
<br />
The fun is in the creativity of the clues, and I've yet to see a game where even the most stodgy non-gamer doesn't have fun.<br />
<br />
There are now several expansions, which are all good. This game, like many others, was inspired by <a href="http://amzn.to/1IpGxNk">Apples to Apples</a>, another nifty game for the casual non-gamers who walk among us.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOJX68W9iNM3dx3nD4ctaqMxUSQK5nSk1cN29m81NmFkVpQ3sKRfvpGvRTPwwOLryyaZ2JKR4fsBn6vs2ZydAsXbkUHftjQiECVAd7zpuFLFETiS5r0E3s_Ow-yD5kbqcOK4/s320/froggy_boogie.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NE3EYW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000NE3EYW&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Froggy Boogie</a>: Ages 3-9, 2 to 4 players<br />
<br />
Froggy Boogie is a brilliant game to frustrate grownups and please younger children. All you have to do is remember where the picture of the fly is, under the left eye or the right eye? The dice have only colors - no counting necessary. It's a perfect first game.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-rHMAklHdgkYV2-ijw2mt5PD6Je4fusTH7KHce3vuE8YGjymuxsBUQTWj11QyjuzoQ1CSWce7FRNLHDd-5EBFEYsFH8PtbqCKw_TYiJXjR-9cybDDiqBqB8H9R2Mb4PxMeo/s320/go_board.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ZIVLDC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000ZIVLDC&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Go</a> / <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J0EAGG0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00J0EAGG0&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20&linkId=7TPVLLJXL7NUXC5R">Pente</a>: Ages 6+, 2 players<br />
<br />
Beyond Chess, Checkers, or XiangQi is the absolute perfect game of Go (aka Weiqi); it's so popular, there are twenty-four hour television stations dedicated to it, an anime series based on it, and it's considered one of the four arts of the Chinese scholar.<br />
<br />
It really is that good, and the rules are easy, too. Best of all, a built-in handicap system allows two people of any skill levels to enjoy a challenging game against each other.<br />
<br />
You should play with the nicest board you can afford.<br />
<br />
Pente, a game of getting five stones in a row, can be played on the same board. The rules are just as easy as Go, and while the game has much less depth, it is also a little less intimidating to new players.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrdhCmynwc9zQF1vjpwXMrSMQCykbavHOopq5CpG21FlOfGfgeVmkJ76ACXCHlgznJVjV5fmjoFTck3WBZy3nnz-m-THoo34jgIe4L2_-TR-4z0vnY3-SRbMenFAEJxLnR6Y/s320/jungle_speed.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://amzn.to/2eGimEE">Jungle Speed</a>: Ages 8+, 3 to 8 players<br />
<br />
There are several games of speed reaction / pattern recognition on the market; I chose this one because of the components. Players flip cards in turn and grab for the totem in the middle as soon as two matching cards are revealed. Don't play with friends who have sharp nails or finger jewelry.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AGJ4HC2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00AGJ4HC2&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20&linkId=T5HMVJGLIASNGZVN" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQ5gXV5XxMi-8hZNsrp5XAY8JtwgbB7m663rZ0Py6j9rc4t23Y2m0ygH_eHWVHT4IhDfABKI_QkqVHy9l286BJL8CjsHVlOPa29n_p0dS3PgmQ47Zy_wlUtNXJfbP_XlXIAE/s1600/love_letter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AGJ4HC2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00AGJ4HC2&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20&linkId=T5HMVJGLIASNGZVN">Love Letter</a>: Age 8+, 2-4 players<br />
<br />
This game has just 16 cards, but it packs a full, replayable deduction, bluffing game into 10 minutes. It's a top seller, takes 30 seconds to learn, and is challenging to play.<br />
<br />
It's not my type of game, but I'm in the minority.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L75VHWM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00L75VHWM&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20&linkId=5H5BGJHZZYONJ7FA" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9eGrUSOq_Qak8yxwa9GsqEYqHyI-1LP4ROloiiWJOq3d8d0td6-7N9rAMK-xNj-mX6duRjz1dEBd3NfgYVTJqFedb3XDzN1GG5H_Gadc7r6GMpzwJ3T3AL-Du5lKJqVhoR0/s1600/magic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L75VHWM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00L75VHWM&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20&linkId=5H5BGJHZZYONJ7FA">Magic the Gathering</a>: Ages 8+, 2 players<br />
<br />
After two decades, Magic is still The Bomb when it comes to collectible card games, although Yu-Gi-Oh sells more cards. These are not easy games to learn, but quick start guides can get you off the ground fairly quickly, and then you have months and years of challenging game play ahead of you.<br />
<br />
Don't get sucked into having to buy endless amounts of boosters; to play the game outside of a tournament, you only need a few hundred common cards which can be picked up for a penny each on various sites.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJWKB4Qiw8-cqvsiPC13vlEYtJ-EPsvyoAVhC67EmtUK3I350b5vzjLUd1FGHdov80jNiDsAZdrUI83HL_6inKXHTI4tvRRaSBtHCfNo6JemeaJY39MN1Bt_XyT5v2a8uuYY/s320/mancala.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004T76D/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00004T76D&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Mancala</a>: Ages 5+, 2 players<br />
<br />
This is widely known around the world under various names (e.g. Oware), and the national game of many African countries.<br />
<br />
The rules are easy: pick up all the seeds in one of your bowls and place one in each bowl around the table. If you land on an empty space on your side, you win the seed and any seeds opposite.<br />
<br />
There are a few more rules, but that's about it. It takes a few games to get up to speed; early victories tend to be lopsided. Once you get the hang of it, you can play several, quick, challenging games in succession.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbBzo5D1HTqr5-ZVxTP5kN4fMK8eoorA1onQNxah977fhEwTQNIidflGFr_UkDspHr_eCSKcQp7kMnOJzXLJMq7P_qvAUi1jn5ZCOc8_43p2a2inuZMMahUYR9HB44wzVVcI/s1600/memory.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbBzo5D1HTqr5-ZVxTP5kN4fMK8eoorA1onQNxah977fhEwTQNIidflGFr_UkDspHr_eCSKcQp7kMnOJzXLJMq7P_qvAUi1jn5ZCOc8_43p2a2inuZMMahUYR9HB44wzVVcI/s320/memory.jpg" /></a></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000IWDD/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00000IWDD&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Memory</a>: Ages 3 to 12, 2 to 5 players<br />
<br />
This is a first game for kids and adults, and a great game for it, because kids get the hang of it very quickly and adults find it a real challenge without having to pretend. All you need are one or two decks of cards, but an infinite number of these games are sold with various different pictures and themes.<br />
<br />
You can play with more than 5 players, but I wouldn't recommend it.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0eHGrb1XpBjT-R6iDnJD-VQi0zHsXI8Gg2c2k-RdpjodJNI8jCvVjo3_9JciMQ-DB7D8QSaA_jyjOzCIojOhIPXZuZjiRhnQ_UVESzlB_NvNkM1gxuwmEHEWRZf_xKB7v3s/s1600/nefarious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0eHGrb1XpBjT-R6iDnJD-VQi0zHsXI8Gg2c2k-RdpjodJNI8jCvVjo3_9JciMQ-DB7D8QSaA_jyjOzCIojOhIPXZuZjiRhnQ_UVESzlB_NvNkM1gxuwmEHEWRZf_xKB7v3s/s320/nefarious.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
</td><td valign="top"><a href="http://amzn.to/1IpII3b">Nefarious</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 6 players<br />
<br />
This is a game of mad scientists that is great for 2 to 6 players, and doesn't sacrifice speed with more players. Each round, you select one of four actions. collect money from any neighbors who selected actions that your minions are invested in, perform your action, and then check to see if you won. The actions are: invest minions, play cards, take cards, or take money.<br />
<br />
The cards are fun and the game is quick and replayable, because, in each game, you play with some random twists that make that game's experience unique.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEjrTsxVAiJ4i8W2muA2MSQbJRwDJFHEZSlQHQS9L15CsOhF27uwM_4-ZxCNodhF3bz1GHS-STI8RjMLRd52aeqoGNiFRD_n3EbGDkLhIvLXGAvi0OlL4Alr91uwF1BUQp3g/s320/no_thanks.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TQ4UU6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000TQ4UU6&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">No Thanks</a>: Ages 7+, 3 to 5 players<br />
<br />
This is an easy to learn and addictive little card game. A card is flipped up, and you either take the card and any tokens on it or place one of your tokens on it and pass it to the next player. Cards are bad, and tokens are good. But runs of cards only penalize you for the lowest valued card.<br />
<br />
A simple and fun game.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIad7MDFWhQeJkvVwE7gHtE1RsTZRlaoPANJR6cYj09JIGR2TRI-_WFsVYFjEZVAL-eGYLFk3z-dG4SCjqpoQtafztIFXF5jcOeM2HwLgToa5RmjbYBghQeyalSp5z9lNKzE/s1600/pandemic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIad7MDFWhQeJkvVwE7gHtE1RsTZRlaoPANJR6cYj09JIGR2TRI-_WFsVYFjEZVAL-eGYLFk3z-dG4SCjqpoQtafztIFXF5jcOeM2HwLgToa5RmjbYBghQeyalSp5z9lNKzE/s320/pandemic.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<br /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://amzn.to/2eGlxfD">Pandemic</a> / <a href="http://amzn.to/2eGozR8">Pandemic Legacy</a><br />
<br />
Cooperative games used to be either very boring, very childish, or very hippy. A new breed of cooperative games are nail-bitingly challenging and fun.<br />
<br />
Pandemic is a cooperative game of saving the world from disease. Other cooperative games include <a href="http://amzn.to/2ex1tcn">Lord of the Rings</a>, <a href="http://amzn.to/2ft4wED">Shadows Over Camelot</a>, and <a href="http://amzn.to/2ft50L7">Forbidden Island</a>.<br />
<br />
The new Pandemic Legacy (like Risk Legacy, mentioned above), is a version that plays out: each time you play the world is permanently changed with stickers and torn cards; after dozens of plays, the game is over.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-kvbCLfdmVVX9VNbeix1gfDUnHiw8tut8_ZBHAcDDgnjCuMe6ABD5kpSIzUj7lEmtwbtfjb-0xNpcjwnUtChiWA2Axk36p8jIs6UDjL0OmwQM_MdJUG-AvHd6Oc9QJOlGKw/s320/parade.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E0JSMGG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00E0JSMGG&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-2">Parade</a>: Ages 7+, 3 to 5 players<br />
<br />
Another easy to learn and addictive little card game. Add cards to the end of the "parade", taking cards from the parade into your pile based on a few simple rules. Points are bad ... usually.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPE10WQiwtdnWDpkZlNrXFSsN5IUJ3HB88fkxAoGCqCrcf1DMNV_Mlotxg2aMBtjskEuGX2CL0i_SwXnr8chMf5VQsIOt3LKMIw-UsgHDY9wU63pScsMeErwMCe-O0_T00sf0/s320/pit.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000DMBD/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00000DMBD&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Pit</a>: Ages 7+, 4 to 10 players<br />
<br />
I don't know if you can play up to 10 players with the original game, but you should. This is a loud trading game. The cards are dealt out, someone says go, and everyone shouts for what they need. The first player to collect a full set wins.<br />
<br />
Raucous and fun. The deluxe version comes with it's own bell to signal the start of trading.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0028K2YAO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0028K2YAO&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20&linkId=B3KW4O632LXMGFUQ" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlKepybN2HWx3IaHQhVMgKT-vBtz_L1eSXR8ZkzxHvdlYtHXHu9gwnaEi4ABktBKq79x6SrW_XmZqkyxSKp6pTSfdNrh9tqy8oSKv75X9qgF34inVeXh758pGHTpV8gAadkU/s1600/poker.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0028K2YAO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0028K2YAO&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20&linkId=B3KW4O632LXMGFUQ">Poker</a>: Ages 6+, 2 to any number of players<br />
<br />
Playing for money is not a good habit, but a nice set of poker chips and some decks of cards is a great way to spend an evening. There are countless poker games, too.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQV9GZBrR9rY2vv_DEY6gzi7wC21eB5WUGlXLGAjq0RUIys1UeIf-k8-SceQoDwlNPVdMyuaYboIZf0_DC7VcuHd392s3oIbytVfJKRGZuPkMEHDtKDtPM5h4TJ-aF1SIno1Y/s320/scrabble.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004BHWFUG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004BHWFUG&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Scrabble</a>: Ages 8+, 2 (or 2 to 4) players.<br />
<br />
Scrabble purists will tell you that you should only play with 2 players and a Chess clock, but for casual purposes it can be played with up to four. It is The word game, and for a good reason.<br />
<br />
My favorite way to play is to ditch the board and just play Anagrams: turn over tiles, and first to call a word gets it. A similar, recommended game is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1932188126/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1932188126&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Bananagrams</a>, where players race to create their own crossword boards.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSd7hGf4v7Ev7pSapju8oKEc6GN-Lii17iXhIy7WasTieSlzchE9E2-HYGDXO2i1Dd9Z9veYCT3uVxHPYsemMHLCZOmo8_Vsrm8O2amqEWtA0KGFYkm3-t9AqNFeFWlnyhGk/s320/set.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000IV34/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00000IV34&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Set</a>: Ages 6+, 2 to 10 players<br />
<br />
Those who don't have it won't enjoy it. For those who do, it hits just the right spot in the brain. All you have to do is call out matches when you see them, but the matches have to match or not match in all four characteristics.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFuoTsC_WOyAhN8vYNHXMKYVW358JlRISZXQoY5amdjsDwaoW76F2ONo0Ejgpz7GAtfTjN3PqjlI9EYQAwat9Mo-KO8uc16z6wRgVAsHCGM001epJNpVmFcqrWMZMbSxUUt8/s320/stratego.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0045OV9IO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0045OV9IO&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Stratego</a>: Ages 6 to 15, 2 players<br />
<br />
By the time I was in my teens, I had outgrown this, but it remains a seminal game for early players, a great introductory war game with all the basic elements: strategy, tactics, and bluffing. Avoid the electronic ones; they break and they're noisy.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRPJlv3FhcRvXkz7woq0R2-KpfWRxNY290iZsxGZ9lT9xW7Q-vROu5w4yWx9D6oGhd6FkZFVXrPXl5ZClaevW8SoOMfoJnsCf4z5AJBAPvgPjd485ZzJyVWPExvRay4vNS6w/s320/ticket_to_ride.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0975277324/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0975277324&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Ticket To Ride</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 5 players<br />
<br />
Many of my fellow bloggers think that this, rather than Catan, is The Game. I used to disagree, but I think I have come around. New players will find this a great intro game, with lots of choices and great game play.<br />
<br />
There are several editions of the game, and the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000K8FYAS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000K8FYAS&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">1910 expansion</a> is recommended.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQh8NOZcstGhdBW8C_j8JIaxma_ktdnCNRGZVcCpKFN4FGFtGkjXpoKVcDHaImi0LdmIpDsl4QV4MFNR6kTjJWnMWbz5zKNnjXUtmISFWYF_SwbxrX7f9OktvQzhkqqjfHcw/s320/tichu.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001C8CO26/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001C8CO26&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Tichu</a>: Ages 8+, 4 players<br />
<br />
A partnership "ladder" game, similar to the game President (sometimes known by its crude name). It's similar, but the addition of a few special cards, a partnership, and passing elevate this to a perfect game for two couples. This is THE card game in gamer circles, and it's not at all complicated.
</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oWrXsvWxmNdDZTCfcrGhKL-VhLks3FH0w-8LMJfPMdrqhnD8uIv48LF0HoinH2RzBbAaNIDOMjrZimBr7TL7yyfAP-7_XWv0n8ENNfKhwtiJlceO-5y1J_T2b-9fgdMKCOs/s320/times_up.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ECKJJ0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001ECKJJ0&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Time's Up</a>: Ages 8+, 4 to 10 players<br />
<br />
This consistently ranks as the number one party game on all of my fellow bloggers' lists. It's the number one ranked party game on Board Game Geek. Which says something.<br />
<br />
It plays a lot like the parlor game Celebrities. </td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ntEXheBY7lEaJJHeX9qa-vBNg-hiFwjw7WnHGNsup8lg-3rj2fI4W1zyc1G0THfaNx0SC13-JJcnoE6DlS7CyJEZz3gwF_Q_DedbSWAgx9DvQVfQIdTx_9VUvtoaQcp0qJw/s320/uno.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004TZY8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00004TZY8&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Uno</a>: Ages 6 to 12, 2 to 8 players<br />
<br />
This could be a child's second game, after Memory, and before moving on to real games. There's not much in the way of thinking involved, but its simple rules, portability, and quick play make it an ideal game for younger kids in almost any situation.<br />
<br />
Just be sure to move up to better games when the kids are ready.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIVicVtyssF-gsAdN1YHNn-443Llg_H2lTzhg2Rzin73tjQldwMtJXlsypppL12X6hMS_f6NQ-P2qpoCEvJ3WnMT7L_KoUQS0sp6hX4eVaYzIc6gkjhh0y6dIwnX92Rr4VvM/s320/wits_and_wagers.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://amzn.to/2fyzg64">Wits and Wagers</a> / <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003GXF6FW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003GXF6FW&linkCode=as2&tag=yehuda-20">Balderdash</a>: Ages 8+, 4+ players<br />
<br />
These are party trivia games where knowledge of trivia is not so important. The question is asked, and each player writes down an answer. These are revealed and players then bid on the answers they think are best. The winning answer, and the winning bids, all score points.<br />
<br />
Wits and Wagers does this in the form of a poker game setting, while Balderdash requires you to make up funny possible answers. Both have won awards and acclaim as an order of magnitude better than you-know-which famous trivia game.</td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmjfc1X7N6fEKigbL0inYLYX15VhlP5e_lj5OvbNYhL7ok-M1pbFj95YcO3lPOaMkmPAUV4hjlB05TEQsCaHZbIqYQie6zYDnbQv6V5ArB1aQ6WBPmxTqmOKtvH3070-kkJc/s320/zooloretto.jpg" /></td><td valign="top"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000S0PY2G/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creat">Zooloretto</a>: Ages 8+, 2 to 5 players<br />
<br />
Winner of dozens of awards, Zooloretto is a cute game for kids and decent game for adults. Simply take the animals as they are revealed from the deck and try to fit them into your zoo without overcrowding.<br />
<br />
A few extra rules and some clever mechanisms makes the game enjoyable for all ages.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Enjoy,<br />
YehudaYehuda Berlingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16038826060312027387noreply@blogger.com0