Every year for the past four years or so I’ve put together a list of 40, then 60, then 80 and then 90+ games and things for the geek in your life that cost (mostly) $20 or less. This year is no exception! Except I’m not going to assign a number to it – I’m just putting together everything I’ve found that rates as both entertaining, a good value for the money and affordable. So here it is: The Meg-List for 2015.
As an added bonus, I’ve added a bunch of games, toys, books and movies that I very much enjoy, but which don’t fall into the under $20 or game categories.
These less expensive games tend to be smaller, making them easier to store and lug around. By way of disclosure, many of these are through amazon, and yes I get a small percentage of any sales. This goes directly in to keeping this site alive. Another trick, Amazon has free shipping for orders of $35 or more, but with Amazon prime, it’s free 2nd day shipping on many of these. Remember, if you’re a student, prime is free!
Items that have red prices cost over $20. Items that are green are 20 bucks or less. Click the images to go directly to Amazon and DriveThruRPG. All prices are subject to change at the unreadable whim of Amazon.com. PLEASE NOTE: I don’t control the pricing at Amazon, as much as I wish I did. These prices change constantly! They may be off by a dollar or two, or you may get really lucky and they may be $5-10 less.
If you have any suggestions you’d like to see on the list, feel free to let me know!
Now, in no particular order, a whole bunch of games and table top gifts costing mostly under $20.
Rhino Hero – $14.00
This one shot to the top of my list of amazingly fun games to play. The only game in my collection where card-bending is not only encouraged, but required. It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Super Rhino! No building too high, no street too dangerous for this caped crusader, as he scales buildings and patrols the city protecting the citizens. On his quest for safety, he must use caution as even the most solid buildings may start to sway and wobble. Can you help Super Rhino accomplish the challenge to build a skyscraper as tall and solid as can be? A heroic 3D-stacking game for 2-5 players ages 5+ and amazingly fun for adults.
Flip City – $16.00
Another good game from TMG, Flip City is a tiny little deck builder with everything you’ll need to play in the box – no extras, expansions or must-have add ons. The citizens of Flip City want you to expand and renovate their neighborhoods — but if you ask for too much in taxes all at once, they won’t be happy! To keep them at ease, you will play cards from the top of your deck (no hand!), push your luck, build your deck, and upgrade cards by flipping them.
Codenames – $19.99
This game was all the buzz during convention season this year. It was available in limited quantities until, well, now. Codenames is a social word game with a simple premise and challenging game play. Two rival spymasters know the secret identities of 25 agents. Their teammates know the agents only by their codenames. The teams compete to see who can make contact with all of their agents first.
7 Wonders Duel – $23.00
If you know someone or are someone who really loves 7 Wonders but would love a non-kludged together way to play it with only 2 people, well boy are you going to like this. 7 Wonders Duel takes the game play and excitement of the original and adapts it for one-on-one battles. Take control of your civilization and decide to invest in science, military or prestige. Two new ways to win will keep you on your toes and watching every move your opponent makes. If you fail to build defenses your capital city may be destroyed, but ignore technology and your people may be left in the dark ages.
Pairs – $9.00
Pairs is a super quick, extremely easy to teach press your luck card game. There’s only one loser each round and it can be played once in 5 minutes or for a good, solid hour while you and your opponents hurl insults at each other and twirl any mustaches you may have between you. Not that I’ve ever done that.
Welcome to the Dungeon – $16.00
Here’s a title that’s on my wishlist this year. Welcome to the Dungeon is a micro dungeon crawler by Masato Uesugi and Paul Mafayon for 2 to 4 players with push-your-luck elements and disappearing equipment. Dare your opponents to tackle the dungeon with less-and-less equipment to fend off the increasing horde of monsters. This push-your-luck dungeon delve tests your courage and shrewd choices. Beat the dungeon twice or be the last warrior standing to win the game.
Bat Man Love Letter – $9.00
If you look further down this list, you’ll see the original AEG version of Love Letter. Why include two versions? Because Bat Man! This game plays very similar to other Love Letters with the exception of the Bat Man offering extra points if he pinpoints a villain in an opponent’s hand. It’s a cheap price for a game this full, even with only 16 cards and a bunch of bat signal tokens.
6 Nimmit – $17.00
You start with 10 cards, ranked between 1 and 104. Each round, you must add a card to one of 4 active rows. If you play the 6th card in a row, you must take the first 5 cards in that row. This is not a good thing! You get penalty points for each bull head on these cards. The player with the least bull heads wins.
Artifacts Inc. – $17.00
A game from Red Raven Games, where Ryan Laukat designs and illustrates everything. I’ve another of his games further down below and it’s my game of the year. Players roll dice, which represent their troop of adventurers and place them on cards in order to find artifacts, sell them to museums and purchase new cards representing their company assets. Players can choose to focus on making lots of money by selling artifacts, having museum majorities, creating the best combination of expeditions and buildings, or searching below the waves for lost cities and hidden treasures. The first player to reach 20 reputation triggers the end of the game and the player with the most total reputation wins.
Guilds of Cadwallon – $17.00
A tiny little miniatures game! In the Free City of Cadwallon, a constant shadowy struggle for power simmers just below the surface of the seemingly peaceful city. Mighty guilds constantly vie for power, influence, and control. Using your influence and instincts, can you turn the never ending struggle for power between the guilds to your advantage?
Machi Koro – $19.50
Here’s one I’ve not yet played but have heard great things about. Welcome to the city of Machi Koro, the Japanese card game that is sweeping the world. You’ve just been elected Mayor. Congrats! Unfortunately the citizens have some pretty big demands: jobs, a theme park, a couple of cheese factories and maybe even a radio tower. A tough proposition since the city currently consists of a wheat field, a bakery and a single die. Armed only with your trusty die and a dream, you must grow Machi Koro into the largest city in the region. I’ve also heard that the Harbor expansion changes it from a decent game to an excellent game.
Cthulhu Realms – $16.00
Cthulhu themed deck building! In Cthulhu Realms, each player tries to reduce their opponents to insanity or have more sanity than their opponents when the deck runs out. Each player starts the game with a small deck comprised of initiates, goons and followers. Five cards from the deck form a row of available cards on the table; with more than two players, place three available cards between each pair of players.
Empire Engine – $9.00
This little game has been on my shelf for a while now and I’m itching to get it to the table. During the game, players simultaneously choose actions to attack, defend, salvage, export, or collect resources (goods for export, soldiers to attack your opponents and inventions to score points). Players use their gears to rotate their engines, and in each round perform the actions on the top edges of their engines. The player who scores the most points for the goods, soldiers and inventions in their score pile at the end of the game is the winner!
Valley of the Kings – $20.00
I’ve not played this one yet but it’s another game on my personal wish list. A lot of people have been commenting on how well it works both mechanically and thematically! Also, while the price ranges from $18-$22, keep an eye on it. You should be able to get it for $20 or less. In Valley of the Kings, 2-4 players are Egyptian nobles at the time of the pharaohs, preparing for their death and burial in the Valley of the Kings. In the Egyptian religion, when you die you can take it with you! Egyptians therefore stocked their tombs with food, shabti (statuettes of servants who will work for them in the afterlife), canopic jars (to preserve their organs), statues of the gods, household items, and amulets.
The Builders – Medieval Age – $17.00
Recruit workers and create buildings to prove that you are the greatest builder. You’ll have to start small, with cottages and stables, but you’ll be building your name as you build your masterpieces and before long, you’ll complete the cathedral! Hire worker cards, pay them to build your buildings and balance your income with your expenses. You can’t do everything on your turn – but you’ll want to! From wells and shacks to castles and churches, use your resources to create structures that will stand the test of time.
Just Desserts – $12.00
A new game from Looney Labs, this happens to by my 10 year old’s pick for game of the year. It’s also interesting enough that I’m not sick of playing it. It’s a relatively simple card game of set collection where you as a dessert provider, must match your ingredients to your customers to create desserts that they’ll love. Once you have a match, you collect your customers – looking to collect three of a single suit or five of the available suits of customers. You can read my full review here.
Ninja Dice – $16.00
If you know me at all, you know my abiding love for Ninjas. That’s where Ninja Dice comes in! I saw the folks who publish this demoing it at Total Confusion and it looked like a great time. Ninja Dice is a fast-paced, push-your-luck dice game with a unique mechanic: it’s not just what you roll, where the dice land is important!
The Grizzled – $17.50
A cooperative game that takes place during World War I. This game has gotten a lot of buzz from this year’s convention season and it’s another title on my personal wish list.Through what tragedies can friendship endure? The Grizzled is a fast paced, fully cooperative card game that takes place in the trences of World War I. Already a best seller in Europe, The Grizzled is an elegant game of avoiding threats and leading a team, and is regarded as one of the finest cooperative games ever made. Featuring beautiful art by French artist Tignous. The Grizzled’ s outstanding art is the perfect complement to its message of peaches and enduring friendship.
Dead Man’s Draw – $15.00
Based off of a popular app, Dead Man’s Draw is a push your luck card game. It comes with a number of colorful characters as well, which I personally suggest you set aside and never, ever use. The rest of the game however makes for a spectacular filler game, lasting 10-20 minutes and playing up to 4 players.
Harbour – $19.99
Harbour did quite well on Kickstarter and now it’s in stock everywhere! Harbour is a worker placement game where players move their worker from building to building, collecting and trading Fish, Livestock, Wood, and Stone; and cashing those resources in to purchase buildings (which are the worker placement spots) from the central pool. Once a building is purchased, it is replaced from the deck, and the central pool is a small subset of the deck, and is therefore different every game.
Star Wars Risk – $24.00
Yes, here I am recommending a Risk game. Star Wars Risk is a modern, slightly less hectic redo of the much sought after game The Queen’s Gambit. From everything I’ve heard, it’s a fantastic little game with a ton of plastic minis for under $25.
Epic – $14.00
From the folks who brought you Star Realms comes EPIC – another fast and furious deck smashing game. They’ve got a bunch of different ways to play, from each player grabs 30 cards and you go! To full on deck construction, sealed/open draft and what have you. A very fun game.
Snake Oil – $20.00
Another in the line of party games where you attempt to sell your concoction to the other players. In the Old West, the medicine “entrepreneur” had the amazing talent of getting even the most skeptical customer to buy his cure-all product. in Snake Oil, that’s exactly what players get to do!
Biblios – $20.00
Never before has working in medieval conditions copying books been so fun! As an abbot of a medieval monastery, you compete with other abbots to amass the greatest library of sacred books. To do so, you need to have both the workers and resources to run a well-functioning scriptorium. To acquire workers and resources, you use a limited supply of donated gold. In addition, you must be on good terms with the powerful bishop, who can help you in your quest.
Fidelitas – $20.00
Here’s a neat set collection game of medieval interest. It’s surprisingly deep for a little card game and really captured my wife’s interest – we’ve played a bunch of 2-3 player games and thoroughly enjoy it. In Fidelitas, players take on the role of faithful citizens in a medieval city who are exerting influence in order to gain the credibility needed to lead the charge against the corrupt crown. Players play character cards to various locations that make up the city in order to meet conditions of hidden objectives. Each type of character card is associated with a unique action that manipulates cards in the game
But Wait There’s More – $16.00
A party game that accommodates up to 10 players. Are you tired of seeing the same old pointless products being pitched by loud-mouthed guys on television? Do you yearn to hawk your own groovy gadgets? Well now you can! In But Wait, There’s More!, not 1, not 2, but up to 10 friends will pitch crazy contraptions in a hilarious fun-for-all contest to see who has what it takes to be the best TV pitchman!
Eminent Domain Microcosm – $10.00
A wonderful take on the larger Eminent Domain – this two player game of tiny galactic domination plays very fast. Do yourself a favor though, grab the updated copy of the rules (as a PDF) from Board Game Geek, which will make your first game a heck of a lot easier.
Star Wars Loopin’ Chewie – $19.99
Sneaking in at just under $20 is this re-theme of the classic kids (and in some places, adult drinking) game Loopin’ Louie. Loopin’ Chewie is a fast, dexterity game. Every time he flies by in his Millennium Falcon vehicle, he’ll be out to knock another Stormtrooper off. But if you can flip him out of the way with your paddle, he’ll go after someone else’s Stormtrooper! Be ready, though, because he’s got some super-dodgy moves!
Magic: The Gathering – Arena of the Plainswalkers – $20.00-$25.99
Or… Heroscape reborn. Lots of folks go trawling eBay and thrift stores looking for the now out of print Heroquest game system. Arena of the Plainswalker’s is Hasboro/WotC answer to this by revamping and re-releasing the system based on their Magic: The Gathering IP. It comes with a bunch of decent plastic minis, a bit of minimal 3D terrain and a large game board. There’s quite a lot of game packed into this box for the price. The price has also be fluxuating wildly but I’ll bet you can get it for under $25 if you keep your eyes open.
Exploding Kittens – $20.00
Just about the highest grossing Kickstarter game in the history of ever. It’s a simple card game featuring lots of cats, explosions and artwork from the Oatmeal. In this highly-strategic, kitty-powered version of Russian Roulette, players draw cards until someone draws an Exploding Kitten, at which point they explode, they are dead, and they are out of the game — unless that player has a Defuse card, which can defuse the Kitten using things like laser pointers, belly rubs, and catnip sandwiches. All of the other cards in the deck are used to move, mitigate, or avoid the Exploding Kittens. Also comes in a NSFW/Adult version.
Tiny Epic Galaxies – $23.00
It’s not a big box but there’s a ton of game there! Interesting (sometimes really tough) decisions and plays 1-4 – that’s right, solo games! Tiny Epic Galaxies is driven by an exciting dice-rolling mechanic that rewards thoughtful programming of the results. Players control a home planet and a series of space ships within their own personal galaxy. As players upgrade their galaxies they gain access to more ships and more dice.
Doodle Quest – $17.00
Arts and crafts meet games! Dive below the deep blue sea where there’s fish to gobble, treasure to discover and divers to save! You will complete each quest with the power of your pen, drawing your way through underwater scenes on the quest cards. But it’s not that easy! Players draw on separate transparent sheets and must trust their eyes in order to meet targets and avoid obstacles. This unique drawing game includes 36 illustrations and two levels to master. The bait of the challenge hooks kids for hours of fun!
Antidote – $19.00
Antidote takes all of the fun things about a game like the original Clue and boils it down to a fast, changing, fun deduction game without all the random stuff! In Antidote, you are a laboratory scientist working for a giant chemical research conglomerate. When you and your lab are suddenly exposed to a deadly toxin, you must work quickly to share your research and discover the Antidote before it’s too late!
Camel Up – $26.00
It’s a betting and racing game featuring stackable camels and a unique, dice rolling pyramid. In Camel Up, up to eight players bet on five racing camels, trying to suss out which will place first and second in a quick race around a pyramid. The earlier you place your bet, the more you can win – should you guess correctly, of course. This is one that my family really enjoys.
Tides of Time – $17.00
I’ll admit, I don’t know a ton about this 2 player game, other than lots and lots of people have started recommending it to me. Play as an ancient civilization as they prosper and collapse through time. Build gigantic monuments, raise impenetrable fortifications, and amass vast knowledge as the ages pass. The greatest civilizations will leave their mark long after their collapse. From times long forgotten to times recently lost, civilizations will rise and fall as the tide of time carries them.
Summoner Wars – Starter Sets – $14-$19
There are several different Summoner Wars starter sets out there. I’ve highlighted the Phoenix Elves and Tundra Orcs though because it’s my favorite. Summoner Wars: Phoenix Elves vs. Tundra Orcs gives players everything they need to join the War for Itharia, as either of these great races. Will you play the Phoenix Elves, whose magic and ferocity burn as brightly as their anger? Or will you play the Tundra Orcs, and bury the world in a graveyard of ice? This Summoner Wars Starter Set provides two complete Faction decks, as well as all the materials needed to play games of Summoner Wars.
Lost Legacy – The Starship – $9.00
A bit like Love Letter, with some added mechanics – but plays just as fast and is in my opinion a slightly better game. In the distant past, a starship from a faraway world appeared in the sky. Damaged in battle, the craft broke apart and traced lines of fire across the horizon. These falling stars crashed to the surface and in the ages to come, became enshrined in legends as the Lost Legacy. Discover where the Lost Legacy can be found and win the game! Lost Legacy is a game of risk, deduction and luck. Like Love Letter, but a bit different.
Nuts! – $12.00
Squirrels. They love nuts. They’d do anything to get their hands on nuts. They sometimes mess with each other to get their hands on each others’ nuts. In the end, for a squirrel, it really is all about the nuts. As a squirrel, it’s a matter of pride to see who has the biggest and baddest nuts in the park.
Diamonsters – $12.00
From the folks who brought you Machi Koro. Diamonsters, is a fast-paced monster collecting card game! In Diamonsters, each player begins the game with the same hand, and the first player to collect three identical monsters or five diamonds wins. But it’s not so simple, some monsters are more valuable than others, and some will eat the diamonds you fought so hard for!
Poo – $9.00
Sometimes, being an ape ain’t so bad. It’s been a tough day in the monkey cage and something in the food tonight wasn’t quite right. In monkey world, there’s only one thing that can be done about it – fling poo. It doesn’t matter who started it in this fast and furious game of monkey see, monkey doo. It only matters who has what it takes to be king of the cage.
Pocket Battles – Orcs vs Elves – $14.00
There are a bunch of games in the Pocket Battles series, all under $20 and all being compact, fun little wargames. Pocket Battles is a wargame that easy to learn, inexpensive, fast, portable and requires minimum table space! It is also compatible with other Pocket Battle games in the series!
Age of War – $12.00
Can you unite the clans amidst the tumult of war? Age of War is a fast-paced dice game for two to six players by world renowned game designer Reiner Knizia. You and your fellow players assume the roles of daimyos competing to unite the warring clans of feudal Japan and assume control of the nation. During play, you muster troops by rolling seven custom dice, and you use. these troops to lay siege to one of fourteen different castles, each of which requires you to assemble a unique combination of troops in order to conquer it. Castles grant points towards your victory, and you can gain more points by uniting an entire clan. The daimyo with the most support at the game’s end is the victor!
Blokus – $16.00
Stake your claim and protect your territory with Blokus game! There’s just one rule: each piece you play must touch at least one other piece of the same color, but only at the corners! It takes less than a minute to learn but has depth to challenge your whole family.
Iota – $8.50
Iota is a tiny little game that packs a lot of punch. I’ve tried it out several times and there really is a game in this here little box. The only thing I don’t like about it is the use of a piece of scratch paper for scoring – if that doesn’t bother you though, you can’t go wrong with this one.
Red7 – $12.00
The rules of Red are simple: Highest card wins! But Red is only one of seven games you’ll be playing. Red7 is a quick and easy to learn card game that you can teach and play in five minutes. You must be in the lead at the end of your turn, or you’re out. Play from your hand to improve your palette, or discard to the rules canvas to change the game! Red7 uses a deck of 49 cards, numbered 1-7 in suits of the seven rainbow colors.
Loot – $9.50
Arrrrr! The Plundering Pirate Card Game. Yo-Ho-Ho and a barrel of fun! Set sail for an exciting adventure of strategy and skullduggery in this captivating card game. Storm your opponents’ merchant ships and seize valuable treasure. But watch your back, matey — plundering pirates are out to capture your ships as well, the player with the most loot rules the high seas.
Boss Monster – $19.00
Remember all those 8-Bit games I used to play. No? Well here’s a chance for you to live my childhood. Boss Monster is a dungeon building game of chaos and, well, boss monsters. It pits 2-4 players in a competition to build the ultimate side-scrolling dungeon. Players compete to lure and destroy hapless adventurers, racing to outbid one another to see who can build the most enticing, treasure-filled dungeon.
We Didn’t Playtest This At All – $12.50
The most aptly named game ever! In this exceptionally silly and awesome game, your objective is to win! Simple enough. Sadly, all of your opponents have the same simple goal, and they’re trying to make you lose. Between Rock Paper Scissors battles, being eaten by a random Dragon, or saved by a Kitten Ambush, there are many hazards to avoid. Games last between 30 seconds and 5 minutes, and are lots of fun. Any number can play, though we recommend between 2 and 15.
Seven7s – $13.00
Here’s a fun set collection game based on the magic number 7. I’ve played it a few times and am looking forward to getting it back to the table. The magic number 7 holds meanings powers and coincidences dating back to the dawn of time. In Seven7s you have the powers of 7 of the most famous 7s in history. Use these powers carefully to defeat your opponents. Use the Powers of the 7 Ages of Man the 7 Colors of the Rainbow The 7 Deadly Sins the 7 Holy Virtues the 7 Lucky Gods the 7 Seas and the 7 Wonders of the World to collect the most points.
BraveRats – $10.00
In the Highlands of Medieval Scotland, an epic battle is taking place underfoot! Rivaling rat clans clash in a bid for the throne in this fast take on the card game War. Both players have a hand of eight cards, numbered 0 to 7, with each character on the card possessing a special power. In a calculated duel, both players reveal a card. The victory goes to the higher number, unless the special power overrules. The first player to win four rounds claims the kingdom for their clan. This minimalist wonder plays in just minutes but packs rich game play and plenty of suspense.
Robot Turtles – $19.00
Robot Turtles took in a decent amount of money on Kickstarter last year and now it’s just about everywhere. From what I understand, it’s with good cause too. If you’re looking to get kids as young as 4 years old interested in the concepts of modern programming – this is the game do to it with. Two words: Robot Turtles. This game teaches kids 4+ the ins and outs of programming in a fun, tactile game. Perfect for 2-5 players, this game has levels of increasing difficulty, introducing obstacles and more complex Code Cards. Beginner to Advanced levels will make it a family favorite for many years!
Sellswords – $20.00
Draft your Guild, Plan your Attack, and Seize Victory! Take to the field of battle in this intense head-to-head contest of wits and strategy. Use the diverse assortment of mercenaries at your disposal to capture strategic terrain and exploit your enemy’s weaknesses. With 50 different sellswords to compose your guild, no two battles will be the same!
Marvel Dice Masters: The Uncanny X-Men – $14.95
At first, extremely hard to come by, the Dice Masters system is now coming into stock and lots and lots of people are loving it. Showcasing fan-favorites like Wolverine, Magneto, Cyclops, Iceman, Psylocke, and the Sentinels, Marvel Dice Masters: The Uncanny X-Men features X-citing game-play that supports two players in epic dice battles! Featuring more than 30 new characters (and their respective dice), Marvel Dice Masters: The Uncanny X-Men brings X-cellent action to your next Dice Masters game! This series is offered in 60-count gravity feeds of individual foil packs containing two cards and two dice, as well as 2-Player Starter Sets comprised of 44 custom dice, 38 cards, two dice bags, and the complete Dice Masters Core Rulebook – everything two players need to play Marvel Dice Masters.
Castles of Burgundy – $26.00
A wonderful introduction to the world of Euro-style games. The Castles of Burgundy is a detailed strategy game set in the Loire Valley of France during medieval times. Players assume the role of princes trying to build the greatest estates in the land by becoming more prosperous than their competitors. Over the course of five rounds, players collect points by trading, livestock farming, city building and scientific research. They must buy and sell goods or labor and use action tiles for building, shipping, mining, livestock and knowledge across two game boards.
Just about any game from Button Shy Games – $10.00
Button Shy Games have a bunch of games in their Wallet Series which are little card games that come self contained in their own plastic wallets. They’re entertaining, offer a bunch of replay value as good filler games and are fairly unique in their presentation. Check them out!
Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition Starter Set – $12.00
The Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set is your gateway to action-packed stories of the imagination. This box contains the essential rules of the game plus everything you need to play heroic characters on perilous adventures in worlds of fantasy. It’s not your grandfather’s D&D! Or is it? 5th edition purports to take all the good stuff from previous editions, distilled down to the essentials. This starter set is just that – a quick start to a whole new world.
Jaipur – $18.68
My kingdom for a camel. Work hard, earn more than your opponent and become the official merchant of the Maharaja. At the beginning of the game, three camel cards and two merchandise cards are on the table between the players, who already have five cards in hand. On your turn, you can take some cards or sell some. Each time that you take cards, you can take one or more, however if you decide to take more, then you will have to trade in the same amount of cards from your hand that you take. If you decide to take all camel cards, then they can be used later to trade.
Hive Pocket Edition – $19.00
Hive pocket is the very same wonderful game we all love, but in a compact version. With all its pieces in a portable small cloth bag, this game can provide fun just about anywhere.
Cypher – $10.50
Faced with constant hacker attacks, the corporations created an artificial intelligence that could learn from the hackers themselves. The AI, codenamed Cypher, evolved faster than its creators could have imagined. It gained sentience, went rogue and became the ultimate hacker. Now Cypher is fighting the corporations themselves for control of the nexus. Players take on the role of factions gathering characters from all spheres of influence, from corporate overseers to street level hackers, in order to dominate Cypher and seize control of the nexus. The player with the most influence at the end of the game wins!
Ca$h ‘n Guns (2nd Ed.) – $28.00
The big heist may have been a success, but it all goes wrong when every crook wants a bigger cut. With this much money on the table, bullets speak louder than words! In Cash ‘n Guns, players will point foam pistols at each other and try to intimidate their opponents into letting them have the largest share. The bravest crooks enjoy the most money – but only if they live long enough to spend it!
Star Realms – $15.00
Last year this was a bit hard to track down, now though it’s in stock and available. Star Realms is possibly one of the best deck building games I’ve played recently. Compact, fast, very fun! Star Realms is a spaceship combat deck building game designed by Magic Pro Tour Champions and Hall of Famers Darwin Kastle and Rob Dougherty (developer and cofounder of the Ascension Deck building Game). Star Realms offers all the thrills of traditional trading card game style combat, combined with the fun of a deck building game. Play powerful ships, destroy enemy bases or blast your opponent directly on your way to victory!
The Lord of the Rings Confrontation – $26.00
Designed by the celebrated and prolific Reiner Knizia, players can expect the level of elegant simplicity and strategic depth that he’s known for. Between its stunning artwork and its faithful recreation of the race between the Fellowship and Sauron, you’ll find Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation to be uniquely immersive, so you can enjoy a perilous adventure in Middle-earth.
OGRE – Pocket Edition – $2.95
The classic game that I bought back in the 80’s is back, for exactly the same price! The giant tank rumbles toward its target . . . its guns are destroyed, its movement crippled, but only a few defenders are left. Will they stop the robot juggernaut, or will it crush the Command Post beneath its gigantic treads?
Diamonds – $18.95
This game was an instant classic with me. It’s a trick-taking game (like Hearts) but with a trick of it’s own. Real faux diamonds! What makes the game of Diamonds different from other trick-taking card games is that when you cannot follow suit you get a “Suit Action” based on what suit you do play. Suit Actions are also taken by the winner of each trick, as well as at the end of a full Round of play. Suit Actions will enable players to take Diamond Crystals from the Supply, moving them to their Showroom (where they may score 1 point) or to their Vault (where they will score 2 points). The Vault is a secure area, but the Showroom is vulnerable to theft by the other players. Whoever has the most points in Diamond Crystals at the end of the game wins!
Any X-Wing Miniature – $11.00 – $20.00
If you know someone who’s played the X-Wing Miniatures game, or who’s a huge fan of Star Wars, then you’ll probably be all right getting them one of the many X-Wing Miniatures expansions that contains a ship. You’ll be getting a nicely scaled, hand painted miniature of a freaking Star Wars spaceship, many of which are available on Amazon for well below their $14.95 suggested retail price. It looks beautiful even if it’ll never be used in the game. Just don’t be tricked into paying more than $15 for one of the smaller models. For the larger ships, check back if they’re not around $20, because they often fall to that price. The link I provided points to the Z-95 Headhunter but other models can be quickly found by looking at the Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought… area.
One Night Ultimate Werewolf – $19.00
One Night Ultimate Werewolf is a fast-paced game where everyone gets to be a different role. In the course of only one night and the following morning, the players will determine who among them is a werewolf…hopefully. One Night Ultimate Werewolf is a micro game of the party game Ultimate Werewolf that doesn’t need a moderator. There’s no elimination and each game lasts about 10 minutes.
Rise of Augustus – $25.00
This is a fun one – utilizing a (yes, really) bingo mechanic to great satisfaction. The full retail price is around $40 but for quite some time the game has been available for under $20. Serving the 1st Roman Emperor, Augustus, you will need to mobilize your legions to control provinces of the Empire and its senators to ultimately obtain the title of Consul. The aim of the game is to earn as many points as possible before any players has taken control of seven objectives. Throughout the game play, players must strategize so as to manage the risk of claiming the rewards that are available to them in order to maximize the points gained. Players also have the opportunity to wreak havoc with their opponents by causing them to lose some of their legions or objectives, thus foiling their plans on becoming the next Consul.
Niya – $12.07
Niya is a pattern matching strategy game, one that I haven’t played yet but it’s high up on my want list! In Japan’s Imperial Garden, courtly manners and nature’s beauty veil a dark political conspiracy among two influential clans. On each turn, players replace a garden tile with one of their clan tokens. The next player can only exchange a token for a garden tile that has an element in common with the previously chosen tile. The first to position their clan in a row, square, or blockade will win control of the garden. And power at court! A simple yet sophisticated abstract strategy game, Niya captivates players young and old.
Oddball Aeronauts – $18.00
oddball Aeronauts is a play in the hand – no surface required – card game and so can be played anywhere 2 people can get together. In a car, on a train, on a plane, in the school yard, in a waiting room and so on. Each player takes charge of the officers, crew and bots of an airship and goes head to head in a dirigible duel in the skies of an oddball fantasy, steampunk-esque world. Contents – 81 cards, 1 token, 1 rulebook. Includes bonus cards for customising your deck before facing off against your opponent.
Roll For It – $14.00
This is a very quick to learn game that plays in about 15-20 minutes. Another great quick game for a game night opener or a family game night. Roll for it! is everything you want in a game. It’s fun! It’s easy! It’s fast! And it has lots of dice with cards to boot! At its heart, Roll for it! is a resource management game that blends the luck of the die roll with a decision making process that will bring smiles and laughter to everyone at the table.
Friday – $15.00
Something a little different here, a solo board game! One that I’ve finally, FINALLY won! It took me about six games to conquer the lowest setting. You are helping Robinson, who came ashore on your island, fight against many hazards. At the beginning, Robinson is not very skillful. With each fight he wins you will improve his abilities, but defeats are also helping to get rid off of his worse habits. However, life on the island is energy-sapping, so that Robinson not only gains experiences during his time there, but also starts aging and tends to get clumsy.
Forbidden Desert – $19.00
Much like it’s younger cousin, Forbidden Island, Forbidden Desert is a cooperative game of survival. You and the other players must survive a ravaging desert storm long enough to find the four parts needed to rejuvinate an ancient flying machine and then high tail it to safety! It’s made for a slightly older audience and is a lot of fun with kids and adults. Gear up for a thrilling adventure to recover a legendary flying machine buried deep in the ruins of an ancient desert city. You’ll need to coordinate with your teammates and use every available resource if you hope to survive the scorching heat and relentless sandstorm.
Splendor – $32.00
This is one of those rare gems (no pun intended) of a game that plays very, very well with 2, 3 or 4 players. Once you’ve played it a few times, you’ll get it down to 30 minutes a game and it’s a heck of a lot of fun. This could be my pick for best game of 2014. As a wealthy Renaissance merchant, acquire mines and transportation, hire artisans and woo the nobility. Create the most fantastic jewelry to become the best-known merchant of them all! Acquire precious stones to trade them for development cards. Use development cards to acquire more gem stones. Use your gems and gold to create the most fantastic jewelry, and appeal to the nobles to gain the prestige you need to win.
Got ‘Em! – $18.99
We got this game for our Extra Life event and my whole family enjoys it. A quick, simple wall building, pawn trapping game. Seize and capture your friends’ pawns in this delightful game with two unique ways to play. Brainy got them offers the strategic challenge of outsmarting and cornering your opponents with deliberately placed walls, while the tricky yet fun for all ages, Bright got them has the same goal of trapping your opponents, plus colorful surprises that will keep you on your toes. Surround yourself with friends and family and get ready to enjoy 2 great games that hold more fun than any four walls can contain.
Suspense – $4.00<