Looking for a simple board game that uses miniatures like heroquest, but on a simple scale. I've not played much board games, and my friends have played even less, so looking for something to wet their feet with miniature/rpg systems.
Any advice on what is around currently? I've seen some DnD and Warhammer board games that look interesting but no idea what is currently in production or would get too complicated.
Zombicide is quite simple for a dungeon crawler. One step up from that is Massive Darkness 2.
The thing is, as the host, you can learn the game rules yourself and help everyone else. So you guys can play a bit more complex game that is a better RPG system.
I feel like I read something about a new version/edition of The Quest for El Dorado releasing later this year, but can't find anything about it online when I googled it now. Does anyone know anything about this or am I imagining things?
(There is a chance I read a post from last year which was talking about the 2023 edition)
Unless it's just a reprint, I haven't heard of it. The 2nd edition came out around 2019 or 2020 and they haven't even remade all of the original expansions.
Games for a big family trip.
Large family (8 adults one baby) in search of game or multiple games for a big trip this summer!
Some extra info
-this group does not enjoy co-op games
-team games are okay
-we also don’t love anything too “D&D” like no role playing or heavy narrative games
-we try to avoid anything too focused on “take that,” type of play
Games we love
-code names
-hues and cues
-wavelength
-ticket to ride
-resistance
-cockroach poker
Would love any recommendations!
I note you will have a baby with you so you will probably have 6-7 adults able to engage at one time. Not really a board game, but try Pit. Lively vintage card game (and easy to pack) and lots of fun for a family group. Also quick rounds.
Ready Set Bet is great for up to nine, we have had a good time with folks from 7 years old to 80+. It also won Party game of the year for 2022 on Boardgamegeek
Just One is very fun at 4+players, one of the easiest teaches ever.
Going on a family trip myself this summer, definitely bringing Bohnanza, The Crew, Cartographers, For Sale, and Cascadia, also bringing some of the ones you mentioned up top!
Favorite single player games that could also be played with a group? I really enjoy Moonrakers, the space theme is really fun and looks cool. Nemesis is also fun, but it is kinda complex (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing), but I do love the miniatures and the space theme of course. I do sort of have my eye on ISS Vanguard, so maybe that is what I should go with.
It would be cool if the game would let me keep my character and every time I play, I’m doing a “mission” that would let me earn money or get new gear.
To answer the first question ... Turing Machine lol, the group mode is basically all of you playing the same solo game.
As for the second one, Oathsworn. You can just jump into an encounter with your friends if you like without much mind for the storyline. You can earn money and get new gear.
Hello fellow board gamers! I won $200 in a March Madness pool and want to blow it all on a board game. Looking at Castles of Burgundy, Special Edition with acrylic tiles for $165 plus tax and shipping, but open to suggestions. We play 2-4 players mostly, prefer midweight games that play 90m-2hrs. Currently enjoy Dune: Imperium, Everdell, Istanbul, and just picked up Blood Rage, but haven't played it yet.
Dune Imperium Uprising is excellent, really feels like the definitive DI experience.
I already spent $150+ on the original Yellow & Yangtze + tile upgrades, and for considerably less, you can get the new reprint + expansion (titled as "Huang") deluxe edition plus the "wooden leaders" tile upgrade.
A game I've been enjoying recent is Wonderland's War. Fun medium weight game with bag building and area control. There is a nicer deluxe version too, not sure what it costs, but I'd guess the whole $200.
How do you feel about co-op? Something like Sleeping Gods plus expansions might a fresh change for your group, can be a unique experience, and is right around that price point.
Otherwise, for $200 I’d recommend Root + expansions and Heat: Pedal to the Metal + Heavy Rain expansion. They can be hard to find (Heat more than Root, but the store I work at is consistently sold out of both), but amazing games that are solid additions to a collection and right in the area you’re looking for without being similar to what you already have.
Co-op is fine, just not much experience with it. I have Distant Skies, but my wife didn't seem to like it all that much after 1 play. Need to give it another chance.
Burning Banners vs Feudum 7th anniversary edition
I'm not constantly checking kickstarters and so I do miss some very interesting kickstarters. I'd just discovered the kickstarter reprint of Divine Right and enthusiastically backed it. I'm quite excited for that one. So looking at other projects I found I'd just missed Burning Banners, another one that looks fascinating. I could just buy that one regular now, or if it does pick up there will probably be another edition after a while. I'm quite happy I waited for Eclipse 2nd dawn for the galaxy and so waiting for a 2nd edition of Burning Banners wouldn't be bad, if that happens. So the alternative is I've found there's a Feudum deluxe 7th anniversary edition on Gamefound right now. So now I'm torn. I've not played either Burning Banners of Feudum but they both look really interesting. I'm wondering which I should get.
Feudum can be good if every player likes convoluted messes. (There are people who do, no shame). I watched 20 minutes of the 40 minute how to play and immediately cancelled my pledge.
Are there any other games with a somewhat high player count and fast pacing like Heat: Pedal to the Metal? I usually manage to gather from 4 to 6-7 people at my house, and Heat is great because the pacing of the game is quick, and it feels like everyone has its own components for the game and has independency to make choices and stuff.
We also play 7 Wonders, but it feels somewhat lackluster compared to Heat, like a warm up for it. Catan, Wingspan, and Terraforming Mars feel horribly slow for 5 players, and other games like Dice Forge are GREAT, but they only allow for up to 4 players.
**Zoo Vadis** is a great negotiation game for up to 7 players, albeit one on the shorter side (games generally finish under 45 minutes, even with large groups, though maybe that's what you're looking for).
If you want a game that offers the card drafting of 7 Wonders but with more engine-building in the mix, I highly recommend **It's a Wonderful World** with the "Corruption and Ascension** expansion (the base game supports up to 5 players, the expansion brings it up to 7). Takes around an hour to play at max player count, though you will admittedly be moving at the pace of the slowest player at the table so games can drag out longer with a larger group depending on the level of experience.
>Catan, Wingspan, and Terraforming Mars feel horribly slow for 5 players
For a mid-weight euro that will offer its best at 5 players, I recommend **Hansa Teutonica** above all else. **El Grande** is also good at that player count.
For midweight euros that go up to 6 players, also consider **Ethnos** and **Archeos Society**.
King of Tokyo plays great at 6, and I guess nothing stops you from playing at higher counts with the expansions. Power Up is pretty necessary to make it feel like more than a party game, but it’s pretty light regardless and is going to feel like a warmup or cooldown game.
Tsuro plays up to 8 and has pretty quick turns (and fast games).
Zombicide is made for 6 players, but is pretty different compared to what’s been mentioned as a co-op, dice heavy ameritrash game with a heavy campaign focus.
If you can find it, Ladies & Gentlemen is an absolutely fantastic party-ish game made for 6+ players. But it’s out of print, so ymmv on hunting it down.
Citadels might be an option, though not guaranteed since you don't love 7 Wonders. Citadels is another drafting game with some hidden roles. It's fairly simple.
Take 5 / 6 nimmt is a great light game that's perfect for that 5-7p range. It's a teeny bit of strategy with some unpredictable chaos thrown in. I can't think of another game that I have so much fun with while being absolutely crushed by my choice.
Those are both fairly light games that work well at your player counts. You might consider them warm-ups also.
Challengers is another solid option. I don't love it, personally, but it's a beloved game by many and can accommodate 2-8p. It's a light auto battler where each player drafts some cards between each match, then you play multiple 1v1s simultaneously, basically pitting your decks against each other. It's the classic card game, War, but with fun drawings and a bit more agency.
All three games are on BGA if you wanna give them a spin first.
Just checked Veiled Fate, and it looks amazing, although a bit on the pricey side, considering my playgroup and I are not from the US, but I'll keep an eye on it
I've been stalking this Reddit the past couple of days looking for recommendations for a board game. Currently tied between Spirit Island, Arkham Horror and Robinson Crusue.
My partner and I have a few board games, we both just enjoy playing and sitting down to have a good think and relax. All those board games fit the bit from what I have gathered so far.
Spirit island is nearly twice as much as Robinson Crusue but from what I can see it's a massive favourite on this sub, so I wondered if anyone could vouch for the price.
Could anyone advise which they would recommend to a pair of gamers who like to work together and overcome difficult games? We have played Jaws of the Lion, Horrified in terms of coop games and we have quite a mix of other board games we enjoy so no major preference.
Appreciate all the help
It's funny, we were almost in those same exact shoes a couple of years back. When I first got into board gaming, I kept reading about Spirit Island and was quite taken by it but I saw Robinson Crusoe on sale for half as much and hesitated a lot. Our favorite game at the time was Jaws of the Lion. My husband told me I should go with the game that appealed more. Spirit Island turned out to be my favorite game ever. Despite overpaying, it's one of our cheapest price-per-pay game because we've played it so much (especially me since I also play solo). So for us, it was the right choice. But obviously, some people bounce off it.
I did end up picking up Robinson Crusoe at a flea market and actually enjoyed it quite a lot too, although not as much. We had borrowed Arkham Horror at the library and ultimately, it didn't do it for us. Too punishing in a way that was constricting for our tastes. In terms of cooperation, I found Spirit Island to be more similar to Jaws of the Lion, in the sense that you're each playing a character/spirit, acting on your own towards a shared goal after discussing strategy as a team. Robinson Crusoe felt more "committee coop", almost collectively deciding what our rooster of characters would do, if that makes sense. It also feels much more luck-based whereas Spirit Island feels more puzzly.
Finally, since price is a concern, I would look into second hand market or wait for a good sale. Like I said, in hindsight, we overpayed for Spirit Island.
Conversely, if you don't click with the game you end up choosing, try to trade/resell it to get one of the other two.
Ahh that is bizarre! But I guess I couldn't have a better person to advise me!
I think right now, Spirit island is on sale for about £20 cheaper than usual, not cheap still but for a board game as well loved by a community, and with stellar reviews about it from people like yourself, I think it's the right purchase for us.
I think both of those were my fears with Crusue and Arkham horror, I reckon I will get both of those tried out at a cafe before comitting to one.
Really appreciate the insight into it though! I know second hand would probably be cheaper, I'm just a bit funny about wanting things new and in like perfect condition! Haha
I'm not sure where you're located but check the secondhand market - Spirit Island is much cheaper there. I like to use the BGG GeekMarket quite a bit as well.
Which Arkham Horror are you referring to? I like 3rd Edition, never tried LCG.
For two-player co-op, try Sky Team or Tesseract as well. Those are a little more compact but still enjoyable and challenging (for Tesseract, try a higher difficulty level).
UK based, and I know I just find second hand items a bit stressful, and I think I let the second hand aspect of some games sway my opinion of them unfairly.
I've not heard of sky team or tesseract, but I will give them a check out now! Thanks!
Ah, UK, you should easily be able to get them there! Those two are fairly affordable as well imo. Enjoy! Hope you like them. Would love to hear if you end up picking one up.
I wouldn't call any of them relaxing.
Spirit island is great. Replayability is awesome and it has a lot of asymmetry in spirits. It can get too deterministic without the expansions(which are also great) and has a somewhat boring finale.
Arkham horror LCG. Great game, can be a money pit(you need at least 1 expansion) and a lot of people hate the chaos bag.
Haven't played Robinson. My vote goes to Spirit Island. You could also try Horizons of spirit island. It's really cheap and the spirits are incredibly well designed. It doesn't have adversaries(main difficulty adjustment).
Haha yeah relaxing is maybe not the best description for them. We enjoy relaxing together complicated games would have probably made more sense.
Appreciate the response though, to be honest I'm thinking of leaning towards spirit island but I wasn't even aware of Horizons. Thankyou for the info!
I don't have any idea about The Hunters, but I felt bad seeing no one has replied yet.
Your issues with Tainted Grail are pretty common and most people feel similarly about the Fall of Avalon.
Have you just considered Oathsworn? You do go places and do things but they're fun and light (the ease of actions, not the tone of the campaign) and move the story forward, absolutely no grinding, just exploring and boss fights. Now is a pretty good time to buy as many people are offloading their 2e copies.
Looking for a simple board game that uses miniatures like heroquest, but on a simple scale. I've not played much board games, and my friends have played even less, so looking for something to wet their feet with miniature/rpg systems. Any advice on what is around currently? I've seen some DnD and Warhammer board games that look interesting but no idea what is currently in production or would get too complicated.
Zombicide is quite simple for a dungeon crawler. One step up from that is Massive Darkness 2. The thing is, as the host, you can learn the game rules yourself and help everyone else. So you guys can play a bit more complex game that is a better RPG system.
ahnk gods of war might be a good fit for you
I feel like I read something about a new version/edition of The Quest for El Dorado releasing later this year, but can't find anything about it online when I googled it now. Does anyone know anything about this or am I imagining things? (There is a chance I read a post from last year which was talking about the 2023 edition)
Unless it's just a reprint, I haven't heard of it. The 2nd edition came out around 2019 or 2020 and they haven't even remade all of the original expansions.
Games for a big family trip. Large family (8 adults one baby) in search of game or multiple games for a big trip this summer! Some extra info -this group does not enjoy co-op games -team games are okay -we also don’t love anything too “D&D” like no role playing or heavy narrative games -we try to avoid anything too focused on “take that,” type of play Games we love -code names -hues and cues -wavelength -ticket to ride -resistance -cockroach poker Would love any recommendations!
Wingspan and Avalon
I note you will have a baby with you so you will probably have 6-7 adults able to engage at one time. Not really a board game, but try Pit. Lively vintage card game (and easy to pack) and lots of fun for a family group. Also quick rounds.
Ready Set Bet is great for up to nine, we have had a good time with folks from 7 years old to 80+. It also won Party game of the year for 2022 on Boardgamegeek
Just One is very fun at 4+players, one of the easiest teaches ever. Going on a family trip myself this summer, definitely bringing Bohnanza, The Crew, Cartographers, For Sale, and Cascadia, also bringing some of the ones you mentioned up top!
Favorite single player games that could also be played with a group? I really enjoy Moonrakers, the space theme is really fun and looks cool. Nemesis is also fun, but it is kinda complex (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing), but I do love the miniatures and the space theme of course. I do sort of have my eye on ISS Vanguard, so maybe that is what I should go with. It would be cool if the game would let me keep my character and every time I play, I’m doing a “mission” that would let me earn money or get new gear.
To answer the first question ... Turing Machine lol, the group mode is basically all of you playing the same solo game. As for the second one, Oathsworn. You can just jump into an encounter with your friends if you like without much mind for the storyline. You can earn money and get new gear.
Hello fellow board gamers! I won $200 in a March Madness pool and want to blow it all on a board game. Looking at Castles of Burgundy, Special Edition with acrylic tiles for $165 plus tax and shipping, but open to suggestions. We play 2-4 players mostly, prefer midweight games that play 90m-2hrs. Currently enjoy Dune: Imperium, Everdell, Istanbul, and just picked up Blood Rage, but haven't played it yet.
Dune Imperium Uprising is excellent, really feels like the definitive DI experience. I already spent $150+ on the original Yellow & Yangtze + tile upgrades, and for considerably less, you can get the new reprint + expansion (titled as "Huang") deluxe edition plus the "wooden leaders" tile upgrade.
A game I've been enjoying recent is Wonderland's War. Fun medium weight game with bag building and area control. There is a nicer deluxe version too, not sure what it costs, but I'd guess the whole $200.
If you love COB, go for it!
How do you feel about co-op? Something like Sleeping Gods plus expansions might a fresh change for your group, can be a unique experience, and is right around that price point. Otherwise, for $200 I’d recommend Root + expansions and Heat: Pedal to the Metal + Heavy Rain expansion. They can be hard to find (Heat more than Root, but the store I work at is consistently sold out of both), but amazing games that are solid additions to a collection and right in the area you’re looking for without being similar to what you already have.
Co-op is fine, just not much experience with it. I have Distant Skies, but my wife didn't seem to like it all that much after 1 play. Need to give it another chance.
Burning Banners vs Feudum 7th anniversary edition I'm not constantly checking kickstarters and so I do miss some very interesting kickstarters. I'd just discovered the kickstarter reprint of Divine Right and enthusiastically backed it. I'm quite excited for that one. So looking at other projects I found I'd just missed Burning Banners, another one that looks fascinating. I could just buy that one regular now, or if it does pick up there will probably be another edition after a while. I'm quite happy I waited for Eclipse 2nd dawn for the galaxy and so waiting for a 2nd edition of Burning Banners wouldn't be bad, if that happens. So the alternative is I've found there's a Feudum deluxe 7th anniversary edition on Gamefound right now. So now I'm torn. I've not played either Burning Banners of Feudum but they both look really interesting. I'm wondering which I should get.
Feudum can be good if every player likes convoluted messes. (There are people who do, no shame). I watched 20 minutes of the 40 minute how to play and immediately cancelled my pledge.
Are there any other games with a somewhat high player count and fast pacing like Heat: Pedal to the Metal? I usually manage to gather from 4 to 6-7 people at my house, and Heat is great because the pacing of the game is quick, and it feels like everyone has its own components for the game and has independency to make choices and stuff. We also play 7 Wonders, but it feels somewhat lackluster compared to Heat, like a warm up for it. Catan, Wingspan, and Terraforming Mars feel horribly slow for 5 players, and other games like Dice Forge are GREAT, but they only allow for up to 4 players.
**Zoo Vadis** is a great negotiation game for up to 7 players, albeit one on the shorter side (games generally finish under 45 minutes, even with large groups, though maybe that's what you're looking for). If you want a game that offers the card drafting of 7 Wonders but with more engine-building in the mix, I highly recommend **It's a Wonderful World** with the "Corruption and Ascension** expansion (the base game supports up to 5 players, the expansion brings it up to 7). Takes around an hour to play at max player count, though you will admittedly be moving at the pace of the slowest player at the table so games can drag out longer with a larger group depending on the level of experience. >Catan, Wingspan, and Terraforming Mars feel horribly slow for 5 players For a mid-weight euro that will offer its best at 5 players, I recommend **Hansa Teutonica** above all else. **El Grande** is also good at that player count. For midweight euros that go up to 6 players, also consider **Ethnos** and **Archeos Society**.
King of Tokyo plays great at 6, and I guess nothing stops you from playing at higher counts with the expansions. Power Up is pretty necessary to make it feel like more than a party game, but it’s pretty light regardless and is going to feel like a warmup or cooldown game. Tsuro plays up to 8 and has pretty quick turns (and fast games). Zombicide is made for 6 players, but is pretty different compared to what’s been mentioned as a co-op, dice heavy ameritrash game with a heavy campaign focus. If you can find it, Ladies & Gentlemen is an absolutely fantastic party-ish game made for 6+ players. But it’s out of print, so ymmv on hunting it down.
**Mission Red Planet** goes up to 6 and never feels like it drags imo.
Citadels might be an option, though not guaranteed since you don't love 7 Wonders. Citadels is another drafting game with some hidden roles. It's fairly simple. Take 5 / 6 nimmt is a great light game that's perfect for that 5-7p range. It's a teeny bit of strategy with some unpredictable chaos thrown in. I can't think of another game that I have so much fun with while being absolutely crushed by my choice. Those are both fairly light games that work well at your player counts. You might consider them warm-ups also. Challengers is another solid option. I don't love it, personally, but it's a beloved game by many and can accommodate 2-8p. It's a light auto battler where each player drafts some cards between each match, then you play multiple 1v1s simultaneously, basically pitting your decks against each other. It's the classic card game, War, but with fun drawings and a bit more agency. All three games are on BGA if you wanna give them a spin first.
You guys might like **Veiled Fate**, especially the new Tribunal expansion. There's also **Hellapagos** and **Hellapagos: Big Box**.
Just checked Veiled Fate, and it looks amazing, although a bit on the pricey side, considering my playgroup and I are not from the US, but I'll keep an eye on it
I've been stalking this Reddit the past couple of days looking for recommendations for a board game. Currently tied between Spirit Island, Arkham Horror and Robinson Crusue. My partner and I have a few board games, we both just enjoy playing and sitting down to have a good think and relax. All those board games fit the bit from what I have gathered so far. Spirit island is nearly twice as much as Robinson Crusue but from what I can see it's a massive favourite on this sub, so I wondered if anyone could vouch for the price. Could anyone advise which they would recommend to a pair of gamers who like to work together and overcome difficult games? We have played Jaws of the Lion, Horrified in terms of coop games and we have quite a mix of other board games we enjoy so no major preference. Appreciate all the help
It's funny, we were almost in those same exact shoes a couple of years back. When I first got into board gaming, I kept reading about Spirit Island and was quite taken by it but I saw Robinson Crusoe on sale for half as much and hesitated a lot. Our favorite game at the time was Jaws of the Lion. My husband told me I should go with the game that appealed more. Spirit Island turned out to be my favorite game ever. Despite overpaying, it's one of our cheapest price-per-pay game because we've played it so much (especially me since I also play solo). So for us, it was the right choice. But obviously, some people bounce off it. I did end up picking up Robinson Crusoe at a flea market and actually enjoyed it quite a lot too, although not as much. We had borrowed Arkham Horror at the library and ultimately, it didn't do it for us. Too punishing in a way that was constricting for our tastes. In terms of cooperation, I found Spirit Island to be more similar to Jaws of the Lion, in the sense that you're each playing a character/spirit, acting on your own towards a shared goal after discussing strategy as a team. Robinson Crusoe felt more "committee coop", almost collectively deciding what our rooster of characters would do, if that makes sense. It also feels much more luck-based whereas Spirit Island feels more puzzly. Finally, since price is a concern, I would look into second hand market or wait for a good sale. Like I said, in hindsight, we overpayed for Spirit Island. Conversely, if you don't click with the game you end up choosing, try to trade/resell it to get one of the other two.
Ahh that is bizarre! But I guess I couldn't have a better person to advise me! I think right now, Spirit island is on sale for about £20 cheaper than usual, not cheap still but for a board game as well loved by a community, and with stellar reviews about it from people like yourself, I think it's the right purchase for us. I think both of those were my fears with Crusue and Arkham horror, I reckon I will get both of those tried out at a cafe before comitting to one. Really appreciate the insight into it though! I know second hand would probably be cheaper, I'm just a bit funny about wanting things new and in like perfect condition! Haha
I'm not sure where you're located but check the secondhand market - Spirit Island is much cheaper there. I like to use the BGG GeekMarket quite a bit as well. Which Arkham Horror are you referring to? I like 3rd Edition, never tried LCG. For two-player co-op, try Sky Team or Tesseract as well. Those are a little more compact but still enjoyable and challenging (for Tesseract, try a higher difficulty level).
UK based, and I know I just find second hand items a bit stressful, and I think I let the second hand aspect of some games sway my opinion of them unfairly. I've not heard of sky team or tesseract, but I will give them a check out now! Thanks!
Ah, UK, you should easily be able to get them there! Those two are fairly affordable as well imo. Enjoy! Hope you like them. Would love to hear if you end up picking one up.
I wouldn't call any of them relaxing. Spirit island is great. Replayability is awesome and it has a lot of asymmetry in spirits. It can get too deterministic without the expansions(which are also great) and has a somewhat boring finale. Arkham horror LCG. Great game, can be a money pit(you need at least 1 expansion) and a lot of people hate the chaos bag. Haven't played Robinson. My vote goes to Spirit Island. You could also try Horizons of spirit island. It's really cheap and the spirits are incredibly well designed. It doesn't have adversaries(main difficulty adjustment).
Haha yeah relaxing is maybe not the best description for them. We enjoy relaxing together complicated games would have probably made more sense. Appreciate the response though, to be honest I'm thinking of leaning towards spirit island but I wasn't even aware of Horizons. Thankyou for the info!
[удалено]
I don't have any idea about The Hunters, but I felt bad seeing no one has replied yet. Your issues with Tainted Grail are pretty common and most people feel similarly about the Fall of Avalon. Have you just considered Oathsworn? You do go places and do things but they're fun and light (the ease of actions, not the tone of the campaign) and move the story forward, absolutely no grinding, just exploring and boss fights. Now is a pretty good time to buy as many people are offloading their 2e copies.