To wrap up 2018 I bring you twelve game recommendations in four categories: Heavy/Hardcore, Casual, Family, and Personal. Personal recommendations are games I simply liked, thought were clever, and think others should look into. Casual games take a minimum of set up and rules research and are good for a quick game game. Family games could be played with multiple age groups. Heavy/Hardcore games are crunchy, may require more than fifteen minutes to set up and longer to read the rules, and are often unforgiving.
Heavy/Hardcore Game Recommendations
Dragonfire
The jump in difficulty from the Hogwarts Battle deck building game to Dragonfire is, to say the least, intense. Our gaming group was blindsided by how brutal and unforgiving the game is. The first level is essentially unbeatable, and grinding on sidequests in the game is effectively required. While not for our group, another set of friends absolutely love Dragonfire and its expansions (of which there are plenty). If you are looking for a game that will not let up and make you earn every bloody experience point, this would be worth the investment.
Black Orchestra
With a small but devoted following, Black Orchestra is an intrigue laden game of trying to kill Hitler before the end of World War II. Playing the part of historical figures you and your co-conspirators try to enact your schemes to bring down the Fuhrer. The game is difficult. Expect not to win every time, and don’t put all your eggs in one basket!
Rising Sun
Rising Sun, by CMON, is a political game set in a mythical Japan where gods are real and can intervene on your behalf. It has some aspects of Risk, where military might is needed to conquer provinces. However, alliances can break and be forged anew each season. Gains made in the spring can be lost in the summer, and your friend across the table from you can wipe away your army the next. It’s a game that I do not particularly enjoy, but if vaguely asymmetric factions and double dealing sounds like a good time, then this would be for you.
Games for Casual Gamers
Space Base
I played Space Base initially as a means of killing time, waiting for a round of Test of Honor. I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked it, accidentally playing this simple game that has a lot of depth. Considering the games on my Hardcore recommendations list, Space Base is easy to learn and doesn’t take a long time to set up. The strategy can be as deep as the ships you purchase. There are always actions to take and as the game progresses the passive turns can lead to bigger gains than the active turns.
Splendor
While not new, Splendor is a game that is also easy to learn and teach, while involving solid strategy. I first learned how to play from a ‘travel’ version. A friend had packed up the tokens and cards into little plastic bags. Since there is no board, and she could explain how to play so we didn’t need the rule booklet, the game easily travels and can be set up anywhere with enough space. It is a wonderful entry game for people not yet deeply immersed in the increasingly complex world of tabletop games.
Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle
Hogwarts Battle was my first exposure to deck building games. The rules are very well written and easy to follow. The board helps newer players keep track of the action. While the game play itself isn’t terribly innovative, the IP keeps you invested. The foundational concepts and strategies are present here, making Hogwarts Battle a great gateway to other deck builders like Aeon’s End or Clank!. It’s a world most people are familiar with and have an instant investment in.
Games for the Family
Tokaido
I bought Tokaido earlier this year because of last year’s Nerd Union recommendations. I stand by recommending it again because I was able to play it with my parents who don’t play modern board games. They liked it enough they asked me to set it up to play again the next day. The art of the game is stunning and near everything a player does earns points. There are also expansions available for Tokaido to change up the base game.
Azul
I got to play Azul recently, and it ticks a lot good boxes. It’s easy to set up. The rules are fairly straight forward. There is potential depth for strategy, but enough that isn’t required to get the mechanics right away. It’s also a visually appealing game. The conceit is that players are drafting tiles to create frescos. The tiles are satisfying to work with and the counting mechanic follows a Scrabble-esque pattern, so it should be recognizable for everyone.
Inoka
Inoka cleverly variates on the rock-paper-scissors mechanic to bring a game with some surprising depthy given the pieces. Players draft a hand of five cards with Attack, Taunt, and Defense options of various levels. The goal is to with a sacred stone either in the middle or at the end of the round. I played this with a friend and her daughter, who is under ten. It played well with the three of us! While not yet on the shelves, I’d highly recommend this indie game by a Chicago based team once it is released for general purchase (the Kickstarter successfully funded earlier this year).
Personal Recommendations
Clank!
Clank! is a pvp deck builder with a video game aesthetic. Created by a digital games company, it was Dire Wolf’s first foray into analog games. And as it should be noted, a successful foray. Clank! now has a number of expansions and base games (Clank! and Clank! In Space!). The game also isn’t hard to teach. I’ve introduced it to a number of my friends who all also enjoy it. There are two sides to the base game board so you do not have to play the same paths all the time. After several games we still haven’t seen all the available cards. There is always a little more dungeon to go.
Aeon’s End
At GenCon this year I got a copy of Aeon’s End: War Eternal. Upon playing, my first thought was to the elegance of the game. It’s a smooth deck builder, plenty of depth depending on the boss and supporting cast, and the portal manipulation for casting is a fun touch. It’s much more complex than Hogwarts Battle, but not as unforgiving as Dragonfire. There are plenty of expansions that do not change the core mechanics. The game has variation and replay-ability. It has a bit more of a learning curve, but once everyone understands what goes into a turn it runs quickly.
One Deck Dungeon
I’m a sucker for cooperative games. I prefer working with a friend(s) to solve problems, rather than be pitted against each other. I’ve played now a few games of One Deck Dungeon and it’s one of my favorites. It doesn’t quite pass the ‘bar’ test (while it packs up nicely it takes up a surprising amount of space) for playing in public, but it sits well between a couple beers at home. The dice rolling and covering mechanic is really interesting and the game is appropriately difficult given the dungeon and boss you are trying to defeat. There are two versions of the game. Each plays 1-2 people separately, and up to 4 with the combined sets.
Ross Blythe is a Chicago based gamer interested in all things tabletop. He enjoys reading history as well as fiction, and so has a soft spot for historical wargames like Pike & Shotte. For the campaigns he runs as a DM he often looks to history for inspiration, for the lessons of the past to challenge the players at his table.
https://www.nerdunion.us/2018/11/21/smuggles-n-snuggles-game-review-and-special-offer/
https://www.nerdunion.us/2018/11/12/authentic-agility-games-how-do-you-see-the-world-review/
https://www.nerdunion.us/2018/10/18/academy-games-gaming-through-history/
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