The Board Game Thread - What have you Played recently?

[3rik]

Please note that my experience is only with MD 1st edition. 2nd ed is supposedly a vast improvement.

I've no idea which one we own.

 

[Necrozius]

I've no idea which one we own.

The 2nd edition came out very recently. Has lots of angels and demons in it.

 

[3rik]

The 2nd edition came out very recently. Has lots of angels and demons in it.

Nah, I think we have 1E.

 

[AsenRG]

While I was on the summer camp, I played a game where we had cards with professions, two cards in our hand, but could lie about it. Didn't remember the name!

We also played another, which was Dungeon-something, but the story was "a D&D party has encountered treasure and now everyone wants it, so we're going to be killing each other". It was mostly cards-based.

I know, I'm really helpful...but I have no doubts that you people would manage to guess both!

 

[E-Rocker]

While I was visiting some out of town friends last weekend, they wanted to play Bunny Kingdom. As my friend was explaining the rules, I didn't say anything out loud, but was thinking, "I already hate this game."

But when we actually played it, it ended up being mildly enjoyable. Also, I won . It's not a game that I would ever choose, but I would play it again if others wanted to.

 

[AsenRG]

While I was on the summer camp, I played a game where we had cards with professions, two cards in our hand, but could lie about it. Didn't remember the name!

That one was Code Name, it turned out.

 

[3rik]

We played Eldritch Horror last weekend and had incredible bad luck on all our Influence rolls. Eventually we quit the game as it was just turning into an extremely dragged-out defeat.

I still like Arkham Horror way better.

 

[Sloth_in_a_bowl]

I got a copy of Adventure Island cheap 2nd hand recently and have started playing it. It contains a nice campaign of 5 connected exploration scenarios.
The only downside so far is the tight timing on the success/fail criteria, but adjusting the rules to give the players more time to explore the game is quite easy.

 

[Gabriel]

Dice Conquest

It's a fun little time waster/filler solo or co-op game. I've played it solo, 2p, and 3p, and it has been fun each time. You roll a set of polyhedral dice and draw monster cards to defeat by assigning dice to them as damage. There are different characters, each with special abilities. The goal is to defeat all the monsters in the card deck and then kill the end boss dragon at the end.

I recommend it if it would fill a niche for you (something to play while waiting for people to arrive or as a warm up for something else). The cards are attractive, and it's a good deal if you can get it on sale.


Combat Arena: Clash of Champions

Games Workshop has recycled the 40K minigame Combat Arena which was itself a recycling of the Age of Sigmar themed Gorechosen. In this particular iteration, players choose one of four champions and engage in gladiatorial combat on a small hexgrid. The last warrior standing wins. Who goes when and what they can do is regulated by cardplay.

Combat Arena is OK. It's not the greatest game. I think it's a bit clunky for what it is and games tend to play long enough to overstay their welcome. This particular installment has fewer choices for warriors than the previous versions, and three of the four options are basically space marines (Ultramarine, Blood Angel, and a Plague Marine). Warriors from the previous 40K Combat Arena are compatible, BUT their initiative cards have different backings than this set's deck, requiring the use of backing concealing sleeves to use their cards in a combined game. Also the critical wound and action decks have changed between version, and that could lead to distinctly different feels with the different sets of warriors.

Combat Arena is kind of meh. I'm not against playing it, but I think I'd be much more interested in hauling out and playing the much lighter and quicker playing Star Wars: Epic Duels. Or maybe I really need to try Unmatched: Battle of Legends.


Warhammer Quest: Lost Relics

Warhammer Quest returns. But not really. This is a new Age of Sigmar themed Warhammer Quest game like Silver Tower and Shadows Over Hammerhall. It bears some superficial similarity to those games but is really nothing like them and not compatible with them. Nor is it compatible with the 40K themed Blackstone Fortress or the Old World themed Cursed City. Lost Relics is it's own thing with a sort of superficial Age of Sigmar styled Warhammer Quest coat of paint on it.

For some reason, it seems that whenever one of these Games Workshop styled minigames has a dungeon crawler theme, they are billed as co-op dungeon crawlers but they're really not. With the lone exception of Space Marine Adventures: Labyrinth of the Necrons, all the other dungeon crawly games in this subline have been more about solo puzzlers (Crypt Hunters, Doomsday Clock). But at least this one isn't another recycle of Lost Patrol like those other two are.

While playing Lost Relics, I kept on feeling that this game was somehow cut down and cheaper feeling in it's components. The hero units are represented by 5 miniatures (4 Stormcast and a pet). The enemies are represented by pogs. The game is played on four tiles, and there are a small number of other tokens. Twelve dice are also supplied. Objectively, in terms of component types and count it compares well with all the other Barnes & Noble Minigames especially like Labyrinth of the Necrons and Rise of the Orcs. But for some reason I can't quite identify, the game feels sparse and cheap in terms of it's components in a way those others don't.

The game itself bills itself as a multiplayer co-op dungeon crawler, but it really plays more like a solo game where you have to puzzle out the optimal solution to the scenario. The first several scenarios feature enemies which revive after every player action, meaning if you aren't eliminating more than one each action then you're just causing more enemies to breed or spinning your wheels needlessly. It was a good primer onto the kind of gameplay the game offers and how it plays differently from other crawlers, but for me it was an unsatisfying intro and not really the kind of gameplay loop I wanted.

Lost Relics wasn't horrible, but it's definitely near the bottom of the barrel of the Barnes & Noble exclusive Games Workshop minigames. I legit have more fun with Crypt Hunters, and the main thing Lost Relics reminded me was that I really need to haul out Silver Tower and give it some more play. Not exactly the sign of a winner when all it does is make you think about other games you could be playing.


Zombicide 2nd Edition

I have heard about this game for years. People have told me I really need to play it, but I've just never been too big on the theme. But then I saw a fellow Pubber who had just received the Undead or Alive version of the game. The wild west theme of that game piqued my interest. Sadly, Undead or Alive wasn't available right then, so I ordered the base 2nd edition game. Then the following day Undead or Alive became available. Figures. Still, I don't have any other games with Zombicide's general theming, so I figured if it was cool then I'd still have this version and could then get the old west themed variant.

So, I played my first game of Zombicide with my partner and... it's pretty cool. I'll say that while the rulebook wasn't intimidating or even complex, it did feel like a lot to absorb to just get started. But, as we played, we realized the rules were pretty intuitive and natural. The rulebook was just being as explicit as possible. As the turns wore on, things quickly became second nature. The game flowed quickly. Zombies got shot. Zombies got hacked by an axe. Zombies got beaten by baseball bats. It was a good time. No wonder this game is so popular. It flows.

I think I'm sold on this one. I think I may end up ordering Undead or Alive and maybe even getting some expansions.

 

[Voros]

This monster, stuffed to the gills, just arrived. KS'ed it a while ago, hopefully it isn't so complex no one wants to play it with me!

 

[EmperorNorton]

Games I've gotten for Christmas/bought in Christmas sales (Barnes and Noble had 50% off their entire game section on 26/27)/bought with Christmas money from my grandparents (yeah I know, I still get money from my grandparents and I'm like 40. I would feel bad but they are seriously loaded, and I'm like lower middle class so yeah).

Flamecraft
I actually bought this one for myself, sort of. I bought it as a placeholder for if I couldn't find the game my wife really wanted for Christmas (Isle of Cats), because it is a good light weight game with amazingly cute dragon art. I ended up finding Isle of Cats anyway, so I just kept it as a game for me instead >_>.

It is also just a really fun game. The art is fantastic, and every single card has unique art. And the way it builds up from start to finish is neat. As you start, going to a location only gets you a few resources, but you are building up all the locations as you go, and they start producing more and more as the game goes on. Pretty easy going game too, really great for when you don't want to play cutthroat.

Longshot: The Dice Game
50% off at Barnes and Noble meant I got this one for $15. We played at 2, cause I wanted to get an idea of the game. It played well, but it 100% is a game that I think could have been way better at higher player counts. It can play up to 8, and I think even at that count it would be great.

It is basically a silly game about horse betting. Don't think too hard about why you can buy horses in the middle of the race, or place bets through most of it, or why the concession stands can give you an entire horse as a reward for eating there enough times. Also, don't think too hard about it being called "The Dice Game" when it is a reworking of Longshot and has... the same number of dice. 2. It barely qualifies to be a dice game, one less die and it would be Longshot the Die Game.

It's really more of a roll & write game than a dice game. It is VERY fun though.

Sniper Elite: The Board Game
I bought this with my money from my grandparents (thanks Mawmaw and Pawpaw), and man, there are two things I have to say after playing this. 1. It is a REALLY good streamlined hidden movement game and 2. I forget that playing 1v1 in direct confrontational games with my wife is a mistake cause she gets REALLY mad at me if she feels like she can't do anything about what I'm doing.

Anyway, it is based on the Sniper Elite video game series by Rebellion, and made by their tabletop division (which I didn't even know they had, they've released Sniper Elite the Board Game and an RPG called Tartarus Gate, and a variation of Dread based in the Judge Dredd universe hilariously and apparently called Dread: Dredd). One player plays an Allied WWII Sniper trying to secretly move around the map and complete objectives. 1-3 players play the Nazi soldiers in the base trying to stop him.

Base game comes with 2 maps and a decent bit of variety based on what objectives you draw + what enemy commanders the Nazis are using. Expansion (which I went ahead and bought, as it was a game that looked right up my alley and also very very popular right now so I was sure I could sell it with expansion if I didn't like it for about what I bought it for) adds 2 new maps, plus some more gear cards plus unique snipers with special powers for the Allied side.

It also has an interesting looking solo mode that I'll probably try out... cause I know I'm not playing it against my wife again anytime soon. or ever.

Planted
This is a fun little drafting game about getting house plants and giving them all the things they need like water sunlight fertilizer etc. My wife and I were at Target shopping for Christmas presents and my wife saw it. I'd heard good things in reviews, so I was like "want to get it" "no we aren't shopping for ourselves I don't want to buy something for me" "you aren't I'm buying something for you". So we bought it. All those reviews by the way: They are correct.

This game is kind of a turning point for me for the popularity of board games. It is a Target exclusive. By a good, well known designer (Phil Walker-Harding, who designed Sushi Go!/Sushi Go Party!, Barenpark, Gizmos, Silver & Gold, etc.), and the production is in the level of if you had told me it was a kickstarter that hit a few stretch goals I'd have believed it. Wooden screen printed pieces. Cloth bags for the various resources with the components that go in it printed on them. Oh and also it is just a $30 retail game. At Target. Blows my mind.

And it is FUN. It is legit a good game. easy to explain and play through. Does a good bit with a few rules. Definitely suggest it if you like drafting games and/or are a fan of houseplants or have a person in your life who likes games and houseplants.

Games I (or my wife) received between Christmas and now that still need to get to the table:
Marvel: Dice Throne, Azul, Blue Moon City, Wizard Kittens, Isle of Cats

 

[Bunch]

Games I've gotten for Christmas/bought in Christmas sales (Barnes and Noble had 50% off their entire game section on 26/27)/bought with Christmas money from my grandparents (yeah I know, I still get money from my grandparents and I'm like 40. I would feel bad but they are seriously loaded, and I'm like lower middle class so yeah).

Flamecraft
I actually bought this one for myself, sort of. I bought it as a placeholder for if I couldn't find the game my wife really wanted for Christmas (Isle of Cats), because it is a good light weight game with amazingly cute dragon art. I ended up finding Isle of Cats anyway, so I just kept it as a game for me instead >_>.

It is also just a really fun game. The art is fantastic, and every single card has unique art. And the way it builds up from start to finish is neat. As you start, going to a location only gets you a few resources, but you are building up all the locations as you go, and they start producing more and more as the game goes on. Pretty easy going game too, really great for when you don't want to play cutthroat.

Longshot: The Dice Game
50% off at Barnes and Noble meant I got this one for $15. We played at 2, cause I wanted to get an idea of the game. It played well, but it 100% is a game that I think could have been way better at higher player counts. It can play up to 8, and I think even at that count it would be great.

It is basically a silly game about horse betting. Don't think too hard about why you can buy horses in the middle of the race, or place bets through most of it, or why the concession stands can give you an entire horse as a reward for eating there enough times. Also, don't think too hard about it being called "The Dice Game" when it is a reworking of Longshot and has... the same number of dice. 2. It barely qualifies to be a dice game, one less die and it would be Longshot the Die Game.

It's really more of a roll & write game than a dice game. It is VERY fun though.

Sniper Elite: The Board Game
I bought this with my money from my grandparents (thanks Mawmaw and Pawpaw), and man, there are two things I have to say after playing this. 1. It is a REALLY good streamlined hidden movement game and 2. I forget that playing 1v1 in direct confrontational games with my wife is a mistake cause she gets REALLY mad at me if she feels like she can't do anything about what I'm doing.

Anyway, it is based on the Sniper Elite video game series by Rebellion, and made by their tabletop division (which I didn't even know they had, they've released Sniper Elite the Board Game and an RPG called Tartarus Gate, and a variation of Dread based in the Judge Dredd universe hilariously and apparently called Dread: Dredd). One player plays an Allied WWII Sniper trying to secretly move around the map and complete objectives. 1-3 players play the Nazi soldiers in the base trying to stop him.

Base game comes with 2 maps and a decent bit of variety based on what objectives you draw + what enemy commanders the Nazis are using. Expansion (which I went ahead and bought, as it was a game that looked right up my alley and also very very popular right now so I was sure I could sell it with expansion if I didn't like it for about what I bought it for) adds 2 new maps, plus some more gear cards plus unique snipers with special powers for the Allied side.

It also has an interesting looking solo mode that I'll probably try out... cause I know I'm not playing it against my wife again anytime soon. or ever.

Planted
This is a fun little drafting game about getting house plants and giving them all the things they need like water sunlight fertilizer etc. My wife and I were at Target shopping for Christmas presents and my wife saw it. I'd heard good things in reviews, so I was like "want to get it" "no we aren't shopping for ourselves I don't want to buy something for me" "you aren't I'm buying something for you". So we bought it. All those reviews by the way: They are correct.

This game is kind of a turning point for me for the popularity of board games. It is a Target exclusive. By a good, well known designer (Phil Walker-Harding, who designed Sushi Go!/Sushi Go Party!, Barenpark, Gizmos, Silver & Gold, etc.), and the production is in the level of if you had told me it was a kickstarter that hit a few stretch goals I'd have believed it. Wooden screen printed pieces. Cloth bags for the various resources with the components that go in it printed on them. Oh and also it is just a $30 retail game. At Target. Blows my mind.

And it is FUN. It is legit a good game. easy to explain and play through. Does a good bit with a few rules. Definitely suggest it if you like drafting games and/or are a fan of houseplants or have a person in your life who likes games and houseplants.

Games I (or my wife) received between Christmas and now that still need to get to the table:
Marvel: Dice Throne, Azul, Blue Moon City, Wizard Kittens, Isle of Cats

I got Dune but I haven't had a chance to play it.

 

[EmperorNorton]

I got Dune but I haven't had a chance to play it.

Dune Imperium? I've heard some fantastic things about it.

 

[chuckdee]

Azul

I love Azul. A lot of strategy, a different game each time, but easy to get into.

 

[Bunch]

Dune Imperium? I've heard some fantastic things about it.

No 2019 reimplement of the original Dune I believe.

 

[EmperorNorton]

I love Azul. A lot of strategy, a different game each time, but easy to get into.

Hilariously when I bought Azul, I was thinking of Sagrada, which I have played, once, years ago. I picked it up mostly because it was 50% off in the Barnes and Noble sale and I knew it was a good lightweight game and I've been playing with a bunch of people who aren't super into board games lately.

 

[chuckdee]

Hilariously when I bought Azul, I was thinking of Sagrada, which I have played, once, years ago. I picked it up mostly because it was 50% off in the Barnes and Noble sale and I knew it was a good lightweight game and I've been playing with a bunch of people who aren't super into board games lately.

A local bar has a game night on Thursday, and I've been discovering (and buying) all sorts of games recently.

Azul is one of my favorites, along with Skull, Euphoria, Century, Chakra, Splendor, and two more I'm going to get Wavelength and Oceans.

In the fun, but I'm not going to pick it up category fall Greed, Tiny Towns, and this interesting game that I forget the name of - it's like a cleaned up Pandemic, but sin is the virus. You play prophets and go through the history of Israel trying to get rid of sin before God destroys Israel. It cleans up two of my least favorite things about Pandemic - first that there is no hidden knowledge, so you might as well be playing solo. And second that the resources you get are time limited so no matter what you do, you will get resources.

 

[EmperorNorton]

Century

I have both Century Spice Road and Century Golem (same game but with just different art, I like the Golem art better), fantastic game. Honestly need to get rid of Spice Road. I think I got it back when they said the sequel games that also work as like expansions for the original weren't going to be made for Golem edition, but they later did versions for golem edition too for the later games.

 

[chuckdee]

I have both Century Spice Road and Century Golem (same game but with just different art, I like the Golem art better), fantastic game. Honestly need to get rid of Spice Road. I think I got it back when they said the sequel games that also work as like expansions for the original weren't going to be made for Golem edition, but they later did versions for golem edition too for the later games.

Same here. I don't like the Endless editions, and the other editions are too close to each other to have more than one.

 

[Lofgeornost]

I forget that playing 1v1 in direct confrontational games with my wife is a mistake cause she gets REALLY mad at me if she feels like she can't do anything about what I'm doing.

I know what you mean. My wife and I are o.k. with openly adversarial games like chess, but what tends to stick in her craw are games where you can either advance your own position or screw another player over in a given move.

The result is that we have developed habits of play that would be a bit weird if we were playing with anyone else. For example, in Carcassonne, neither of us will plant a farmer in a place where it might score from the other player's cities, and in Thurn and Taxis we will often ask each other 'were you planning to take this city card?' from the display before claiming it.

 

[EmperorNorton]

I know what you mean. My wife and I are o.k. with openly adversarial games like chess, but what tends to stick in her craw are games where you can either advance your own position or screw another player over in a given move.

The result is that we have developed habits of play that would be a bit weird if we were playing with anyone else. For example, in Carcassonne, neither of us will plant a farmer in a place where it might score from the other player's cities, and in Thurn and Taxis we will often ask each other 'were you planning to take this city card?' from the display before claiming it.

The thing is, the only thing that ticks my wife off is when she feels like she can't accomplish anything. We can play most 2 player games, but if she feels like nothing she is doing is useful she starts getting mad.

Which I realize is a mistake when I decided to play a hidden movement game where the main thing she would be trying to do is identify where I am on the board. I tried to tell her at the end that she was VERY close to me the whole time, cause she was. And that several of the times she had almost caught me, but she was just mad because it felt like she managed nothing for the entire game, and that she didn't even know what she should be doing.

 

[Imaginos]

On my own end, I just sent the email to Noble Knight to see what they will offer for my Marvel United, X-Men United, Siege of the Citadel, Perseverance Castaway Chronicles, and Folklore the Affliction sets. So looking forward to getting these out of the house. I call these my lesson games - I learned my lesson and stopped backing board game kickstarters because of all of the extras.

Sometimes you just want a simple box set, not a huge number of extra boxes.

 

[Skywalker]

We played Clone Wars Pandemic. It’s a remarkably good game and though it uses the Pandemic system, it changes things up considerably. Loads of replayability too with 4 villains who play differently, much like in Horrified.

 

[chuckdee]

We played Clone Wars Pandemic. It’s a remarkably good game and though it uses the Pandemic system, it changes things up considerably. Loads of replayability too with 4 villains who play differently, much like in Horrified. View attachment 53751

Do you have hidden knowledge in this one? And do you get resources automatically with time? If they fix those two, this looks like it might be a good grab.

And the one I played that's like Pandemic but with sin as the virus is Kings of Israel.

 

[Skywalker]

Do you have hidden knowledge in this one? And do you get resources automatically with time? If they fix those two, this looks like it might be a good grab.

Players play open handed so there is no hidden knowledge. You don’t know what’s coming up in the card decks if that counts, though you can somewhat predict the planets coming out as per normal Pandemic as the discard pile gets placed on top of the deck once a planet is out under siege.

You have to take an action to gain resources in the form of squad cards. So it’s not automatic like in normal Pandemic, it’s a question of how many actions you choose to spend.

 

[chuckdee]

Players play open handed so there is no hidden knowledge. You don’t know what’s coming up in the card decks if that counts, though you can somewhat predict the planets coming out as per normal Pandemic as the discard pile gets placed on top of the deck once a planet is out under siege.

You have to take an action to gain resources in the form of squad cards. So it’s not automatic like in normal Pandemic, it’s a question of how many actions you choose to spend.

In that Kings of Israel, you have to take an action to get a resource, you can't trade them to other players without having an ability or being in the same location, and you can't tell the other players what resources you have in your hand- you can give the numbers of types of resources in your hands, but not the exact resources. It really changes the game.

 

[hawkeyefan]

I got the Adventures of Robin Hood for Christmas. Played the first two missions with my wife last night. It’s definitely interesting.

The board is beautiful. No actual spaces, you move around it by laying playing pieces end to end to determine how far you move. There are advent calendar style tiles on the board that you can uncover, which then reveal nee information about the story.

You dive right in; the game teaches you as you go, with the first mission serving as a bit of a tutorial. Then things expand for the second mission, which was much tougher.

A lot of fun. I’d recommend it to anyone. My only concern would be replayability.

 

[Sloth_in_a_bowl]

The thing is, the only thing that ticks my wife off is when she feels like she can't accomplish anything. We can play most 2 player games, but if she feels like nothing she is doing is useful she starts getting mad.

Which I realize is a mistake when I decided to play a hidden movement game where the main thing she would be trying to do is identify where I am on the board. I tried to tell her at the end that she was VERY close to me the whole time, cause she was. And that several of the times she had almost caught me, but she was just mad because it felt like she managed nothing for the entire game, and that she didn't even know what she should be doing.

I good two player game with Hidden movement is Jaws. The first half of the game is the shark trying to stay hidden while eating swimmers. The second half is a fight to kill the shark or have the boat or hunters eaten by the shark.
You get better options in the 2nd half if you do well in the first, but even a bad first half play has a chance.

 

[Skywalker]

In that Kings of Israel, you have to take an action to get a resource, you can't trade them to other players without having an ability or being in the same location, and you can't tell the other players what resources you have in your hand- you can give the numbers of types of resources in your hands, but not the exact resources. It really changes the game.

There is no trading resources in Clone Wars Pandemic. Players cooperate to achieve missions together instead. It quite a change from Pandemic in that regard.

 

[EmperorNorton]

I decided to start a 10x10 (Pick 10 games, play them each 10 times in the year) for 2023. I've always wanted to do one, but never got around to it.

I'm recording it on a BGG geeklist, if anyone is interested in keeping up with how I do, or what games I picked. I also added a 10x1 of just games that I haven't played that I own, to just get to the table in some way this year. And then a bonus 1x1 for War of the Ring, cause I'll probably fail that one but I wanted to at least put it on there.

Touchfuzzy's 2023 10x10 + 10x1

I've wanted to do a 10x10 for years now, and this is the year. I also added a second list of 10 games on my shelves that I've not played yet that I want to get to the table at least once as an extra challenge.

boardgamegeek.com

 

[Bunch]

I decided to start a 10x10 (Pick 10 games, play them each 10 times in the year) for 2023. I've always wanted to do one, but never got around to it.

I'm recording it on a BGG geeklist, if anyone is interested in keeping up with how I do, or what games I picked. I also added a 10x1 of just games that I haven't played that I own, to just get to the table in some way this year. And then a bonus 1x1 for War of the Ring, cause I'll probably fail that one but I wanted to at least put it on there.

Touchfuzzy's 2023 10x10 + 10x1

I've wanted to do a 10x10 for years now, and this is the year. I also added a second list of 10 games on my shelves that I've not played yet that I want to get to the table at least once as an extra challenge.

boardgamegeek.com

Root Is the only one on your list I have probably played 10+ times. Good game. Castles of the Mad King is probably the one I've played 2nd most on your list. Good game.

 

[EmperorNorton]

I've played the predecessor for Root (Vast) and while it was good, it felt very fiddly. Root on the other hand feels very very clean in comparison.

 

[Bunch]

I've played the predecessor for Root (Vast) and while it was good, it felt very fiddly. Root on the other hand feels very very clean in comparison.

Roots biggest challenge for my group is everyone remembering not only how they need to act to win but what they need to do to slow every other faction.
The guy in the group who owns Root went all in and has all the expansions/factions. It's a lot of very asymmetrical ways to win.

 

[Skywalker]

I've played the predecessor for Root (Vast) and while it was good, it felt very fiddly. Root on the other hand feels very very clean in comparison.

Though a predecessor, they are designed by different people and Root is much cleaner in design IMO.

 

[Skywalker]

I'm recording it on a BGG geeklist, if anyone is interested in keeping up with how I do, or what games I picked. I also added a 10x1 of just games that I haven't played that I own, to just get to the table in some way this year. And then a bonus 1x1 for War of the Ring, cause I'll probably fail that one but I wanted to at least put it on there.

Great list. Lots on there which I love also.

Marvel United is great and you should be able to knock out 10 plays in a few session.

Call to Adventure is fun, though it can get very same-y unless you have the latest expansion Epic Origins, which also adds in a cool resettable campaign.

Batman GCC is a massively overlooked gem. I adore both it and Conan. Even though adventure mode is my preference, I have found that the versus mode has been useful in getting the game to the table more often and my wife and I will often play 2 games back to back, flipping sides.

Root is also a favourite of mine and shines with more plays, especially with a consistent group of 4 player of you can manage it.

Of the other games you list, we played through Jaws of the Lion (Gloomhaven) and found it frustratingly punishing. Spirit Island was a good game, but ended up not being for us. We ultimately preferred Root with its roots in dudes on a map gameplay, where as Spirit Island has its roots in heavy Euro games.

 

[Klibbix!]

My friend and fellow rpg group member finally managed to corral a bunch of us into playing the Memoir '44 scenario Sword of Stalingrad. With a board nearly 5 feet long and 8 players, it took some work to plan out but we played through it in around 4.5 - 5 hours. I've played smaller games of Memoir before, but this one was by far the most entertaining. It was a close call, but the Russians won after a last minute reclaiming of the central hill region.

The picture below doesn't really do the board justice, it's enormous!

 

[Skywalker]

I have played a couple of Overlord scenarios for Memoir 44 and they have all been fantastic. I would love to play the massive DDay scenario which is three times bigger again, but the logistics are insane.

 

[Skywalker]

Not a game that I played, but after 30 odd years I finally put my board game collection out on shelves.

 

[Bunch]

Not a game that I played, but after 30 odd years I finally put my board game collection out on shelves.
View attachment 54007

I envy your Conan collection.

 

[Skywalker]

I envy your Conan collection.

Thanks. The three brown boxes to the right are all Conan as well

The three toolboxes are for Marvel United Seasons 1 and 2.