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This year I decided to revamp and double my "Top 10" from last year. "Why?" Because I had the time and the inclination. And it was fun to think about. As another new edition, I am categorizing each by: Cost: Low < $20, Mid $20-$45, High > $45 Complexity: Low, Medium, High Components: Little, Bunch, Whoa Chrono (how long it takes to play): about 30mins, 30-60mins, 60ish, 60+ If you're looking for a gift for someone or a game to bring to a holiday get-together, give one of these a whirl. You can find most of these on Amazon, and some you can find in your big name stores. But let me encourage you to seek out a local game shop and see if they have them there. OFF LIST MentionsThese two games I didn't feel like I should add to the list in general. They are fine games and I would suggest you find out more about them for yourself.
Honorable MentionsThese two games have recently come out and are fun smaller games that just missed the list. I haven't played them enough to know where they would go, but they come with my stamp of approval.
 20. Bang the Dice Game Cost: Low Complexity: Low Components: Little Chrono: about 30 mins Built around the Yahtzee mechanism, you roll dice 3 times keeping what you want and rerolling what you don't. Each side of the die has something different to offer, so choose wisely. Take a character at the beginning of the game and then you are given a secret role- Sheriff (who isn't so secret), Deputy, Outlaw, or Renegade. Try to kill off the appropriate people while the indians attack to be the victor in this spin on a spaghetti western (there's even Italian printed on the cards)! You need at least 4 people for this one, and it really shines at 5 or 6 people.  19. Guillotine Cost: Low Complexity: Low Components: Little Chrono: about 30 mins This is a great little card game that has been around for quite some time. At the beginning of a round, set up 12 nobles to have their heads cut off. Rearrange the order of the line using one of the action cards in your hand. Then collect the noble at the front of the line at the end of your turn. The person with the most points after 3 rounds wins.  18. No Thanks Cost: Low Complexity: Low Components: Little Chrono: about 30 mins Another fun little card game that is roughly about set collection and getting piles of numbers in order. The goal is to have the lowest score possible. If you don't want the face up card, put one of your chips on it. If it comes back around to you after everyone has put a chip on it themselves, either put on another one or take them all for yourself- because each chip will subtract 1 point from your total score when the game is over. Don't have any more chips? Well then, you're stuck and you have to take the card.  17. Last Word Cost: Low Complexity: Low Components: Little Chrono: 30-60 mins A rather raucous word game where everyone plays at the same time. Reveal a letter card, race to throw down one of your topics, smash the start button on the randomized timer, and everyone starts trying to get the last word in before time runs out.  16. Citadels Cost: Low Complexity: Medium Components: Little Chrono: 30-60 mins This is a "drafted roll selection" game where each turn you choose a roll that allows you to have a specific type of action. Then you either draw city cards or draw money. Then you build part of your city. The first person with 8 parts of their city built, triggers the end of the game. Each part of your city is worth as many points as the gold it took to build it. You've got the most points? You're the winner. Look for the edition with a little purple icon in the bottom left corner of the slim edition box. That edition comes prepackaged with an expansion inside. This is another one that is better with 6-8 people. **House Rule: Only play to 7 parts of a city, you'll thank me.  15. King of Tokyo Cost: Mid $20-$40 Complexity: Low Components: Little Chrono: 30-60 mins Fun, easy to teach, and play. Earn 20 victory points by rolling dice or standing in Tokyo, or be the last monster standing! If you can play Yahtzee, you can play King of Tokyo and you get to be a gigantic monster in the process.  14. A to Z Cost: Electric Low Complexity: Low Components: Little Chrono: 30-60 mins This word game is great at parties, and we Ritzes always play it Men vs Women. In 15 or 30 second increments, yell out words related to a topic. Cover up the letter of the alphabet those words started with. Cover up all the letters and you win. (the board game version of this game is now out of print, but you can get the electric handheld version now- kind of a cheat, I know, but I couldn't leave it off the list)  13. Ticket to Ride Cost: Mid $20-$45 Complexity: Low Components: Little Chrono: 60ish mins Ticket to Ride has become THE gateway game for people entering into the hobby. You can find it just about anywhere. Get tickets with destinations, acquire sets of color coded cards, play your trains, and secretly earn points. Very straight forward, beautiful artwork, and a blast to play. Make sure to get the 1910 expansion set to get normal sized cards. Also, they just came out with an anniversary edition that is more expensive, totally swank, but is much larger than the original game- taking up a HUGE amount of table space.  12. Jamaica Cost: Mid $20-$45 Complexity: Low Components: Bunch Chrono: 30-60mins This is a pirate themed racing game. The artwork is quite delightful and it is really easy to teach and play. Card play drives movement, and gunpowder and dice rolling drive combat. Making it around the island the fastest though doesn't necessarily make you the winner. You need the doubloons too.  11. Darkest Night Cost: High > $45 Complexity: Mid Components: Bunch Chrono: 60+ mins Fight back the fantasy darkness that has already conquered the land in this cooperative game from Victory Point Games. This company produces all their games right here in the USA (good ole CA). I love playing this game solo, but it works just as well with other people. From your list of actions, you only get to do one thing per turn, which keeps play lively and quick. This game definitely starts you off in a hole that you need to work your way out of. I would also recommend getting "With an Inner Light" expansion as well. It adds some depth to the game's mechanics by adding quests.
 9. Lord of the Rings Cost: Mid $20-$45 Complexity: High Components: Whoa Chrono: 60+ mins This game has some of the most gorgeous boards I've seen in a game. This cooperative romp through Middle Earth has the players as the hobbits trying to use card management to work through all the significant scenarios through the books. I happened to find mine at a yard sale ten years ago for a dollar! Best deal in my collection for sure. If you're only playing with two people, be sure to work as Frodo and Sam and only go to the scenarios that they went to.  8. Dead of Winter Cost: High > $45 Complexity: Mid-High Components: Whoa Chrono: 60+ mins This is easily one of this year's smash hits. This is a semi-cooperative zombie game where someone might be a betrayer. You will get to control lots of unique characters and make really tough decisions. I've only gotten to play this twice and I am most intrigued. It's so popular right now that it is difficult to find. I really appreciate several things, three of which are: a) the art work is not overly gross, b) this game is part of a new system Plaid Hat Games is implementing called Crossroads (where you make tough decisions). They were wise enough to put a little icon on the bottom of some of the cards that note which aren't appropriate for younger players. Nice Move Plaid Hat! and c) They give long and short versions of the scenarios to play through. *House Rule: If playing with more than 3 people, don't use the long scenarios, especially with new players. Again, you'll thank me.  7. Tales of the Arabian Nights Cost: High > $45 Complexity: Mid Components: Bunch Chrono: 60+ mins Think of this as the largest Choose Your Own Adventure Book as a board game that you have ever come across. This game will leave you laughing and telling stories long after it's over. Parents should note that some of the content is a little more on the mature side (PG for sure) but nothing explicit in nature. Choose your own victory condition too (some combination of story and destiny points) and get out there and have an adventure. *House Rule: The rules state to play for 20 points and then head back to Bagdad. Play to 15 and don't go back to Bagdad. Just claim your victory (this saves 30-40 mins of gameplay and leaves people wanting to come back for more).  6. Survive, Escape from Atlantis Cost: Mid $20-$45 Complexity: Low Components: Bunch Chrono: 30-60 mins There are cooperative games on this list. There are competitive games on this list. This game is CUTTHROAT. With great wooden and plastic pieces, try to get your survivors off the island while simultaneously trying to kill off other players' survivors. This is another game that is easy to teach and quickly understand the concepts. It's great fun if the people at the table like to dig into each other a little bit... ok more than a little bit. AND now, On to My Top 5!!! 5. Adventurers The Pyramid of Horus Cost: Mid $20-$45 Complexity: Mid Components: Bunch Chrono: 30-60 mins This game has become quite the staple over here at the Ritz household and it probably would be disingenuous of me to leave it out of my top five. It pits the players (treasure hunters and tomb raiders) against each other AND the board to race in, snatch artifacts, and get out before the falling boulders trap you in with the mummies... FOREVER! Lots of push your luck with this game and the tension only mounts as your competitive nature and greed take over your better judgment. All the bits are sturdy grey plastic and the pieces come with colored bases to snap on so you can tell them apart, but I would really suggest getting these painted miniatures to replace them, or better yet... paint them yourselves! This was the second game in the series. The first was Adventurers The Temple of Chac. That one has a more Raiders of the Lost Ark feel, compared to the Tomb Raider/Mummy feel of Pyramid of Horus.  4. Hoplomachus Cost: High > -$45 Complexity: Mid-High Components: Whoa Chrono: 30-60 mins This is where I'm going to have to get a little bit Hipster on you. Even most gamers "probably have never heard of it." As the name of the company, Chip Theory Games, implies... the pieces in this gladiator style game are poker chip style pieces and the arena your units play on is a thick mousepad material that is very well designed. Each of the different cultures has it's own unique abilities, as well as some standard abilities that are found throughout each of the cultures. Earn special bonus tactics and gladiators by giving the crowd what it wants. If you are ever here at our house, just ask. I'm always willing to pull out this game that's nicknamed, "My 12 pounder." And be sure to check them out over at Chiptheorygames.com  3. Legends of Andor Cost: Mid $20-$45 Complexity: Mid Components: Whoa Chrono: 60ish mins Play as a dwarf, wizard, warrior, or archer. Help stop the oncoming hoard of evil that is invading the land. Work through all the scenarios to complete the rich story that is woven through each legend of Andor. Component quality is excellent, the BEAUTIFUL board is DOUBLE SIDED! It is a cooperative game that teaches you how to play while you play (I love that in a game). There are different scenarios to play through and more are available online (but regrettably, most are still only available in German). Some reviewers have complained about the puzzley nature of Legends of Andor; that it would hamper replay-ability. I say, "Bologna!" This game is a great value with tons of replay within the box! Last year, I thought this would move up on my list, but unfortunately I have to say that the lack of expansion support from a company that is expansion crazy, for a game that won a major gaming award, is crazy in itself and a little disappointing. Still though... GREAT GAME!  2. Pandemic Cost: Mid < $45 Complexity: Mid Components: Bunch Chrono: 30-60 mins You and all the rest of the players assume unique roles and are racing around the globe trying to find the cures to deadly diseases that have threatened humanity to the brink of extinction! Great cooperative game, easy to teach, and readily available in Target stores (if you just want to walk in and grab up a copy today). There is a second expansion that just came out that adds a level of complexity to the game (as if it wasn't already difficult enough). It is such a solid game though, you don't even need any of the expansions to get a ton of value from the base box. You will play it again and again.  1. Robinson Crusoe
Cost: High > $45 Complexity: High Components: Whoa Chrono: 60ish mins This is a fantastic game! It is difficult and heavy, and you will lose more than you win! Set your workers to work hunting beasts, gathering resources, building necessary tools, exploring the island, and more. Depending how you go about accomplishing those things, you may not succeed, but it will only make you more determined. Use your special powers by spending determination tokens to get a slight edge toward achieving your goals. Robinson Crusoe is simply dripping with theme! The board looks great and there are lots of bits and pieces. There are several different scenarios to play through and so many cards to setup with that the replay-ability is extremely high. And best of all... the creator has released a blank scenario so you can write your own if you wish! This has become by far and away my favorite game.
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