MY TOP 10 BOARD GAMES AS OF 2013

Lately, I've been playing and acquiring lots of board games and giving suggestions to friends and family about what to play. With the holidays just around the corner, you may be thinking of getting a game for someone and maybe you vaguely remember me mentioning something on some post. Well, I thought I would give you my top 10 games right here for you to find easily. If you click on the picture, it will take you to the Amazon page for that game. Let's just jump right in to it.

11. Tales of the Arabian Nights
This is an honorable mention. I just got this game a few days ago and don't have enough plays to warrant putting it in my top 10, but I have no doubt it will be there next year. Think of this as one of those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books on steroids! Awesome game, and it seems to be being distributed again which means that you might be able to buy it again.

10. King of Tokyo
Fun and easy to teach and play. Earn 20 victory points 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. Also, it is very affordable.

9. War of the Ring
With 205 miniatures and a GIGANTIC board, make sure the person you get this for has a big enough table. This game is considered THE GAME for Lord of the RIngs enthusiasts. Be forewarned... it is a very heavy game (in weight and depth of thought and strategy). It plays like modified Risk in a sense, using dice rolls and card play to figure out combat. I have link to Amazon on the picture, but you may consider checking your local Craigslist for this one. I've seen it go for as little as $20! But if you do, you want to make sure it is the second edition- this orange colored box.

8. Jamaica
Fun, simple, light-hearted, pirate themed racing game. It is fun for the whole family. The board is beautifully done and the components are great quality. Even the box insert to hold all the pieces is considered one of the best out there! If you can get your hands on a copy, don't hesitate. And don't be dissuaded by a first edition box (it doesn't have the colorful art on the box lid); everything within the box is the same as the better second edition box.

7. Legendary Marvel Deck Building Game
This game gives you all sorts of bang for your buck! The base set gives you 500 cards, a board, and a box insert with room for the great expansions that have come out for the game. With simple enough rules, players work together to defeat the bad guys before the board game itself wins. With all the different combinations that can be made, you will never play the same game twice!

6. Lords of Waterdeep
This is known as a worker placement game. You place your pieces around the board to gather resources to complete quests for victory points. Its simple mechanics are easily taught within minutes and you are underway. The theme in this one isn't as strong as others, but the interaction between the players is pretty high. Component quality is also very good. The expansion to this game, Scoundrels of Skullport, was recently released which added some welcomed depth to the gameplay as a whole.

AND NOW... FOR THE TOP 5!

Really quick, I should say that as I was compiling my list, I noticed something in common with my top 5 games which is a personal preference of mine. They all have a dynamic where the board game is out to beat the players. This typically shines through in cooperative games, which 4 of them are. But even that 5th one has this mechanic in it as well.

5. Lord of the Rings
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. This too may be a good candidate to find on Craigslist. I happened to find mine at a yard sale almost ten years ago for a dollar! Best deal in my collection for sure.

I may be a sucker for the deserted island theme, but this game is great!

4. Robinson Crusoe Adventures on the Cursed Island
This one may be difficult to get your hands on (I got my copy in a trade). It has been so long in coming to the US, but it should be seen in stores very soon. It is a fantastic game! It is difficult and heavy, but some of the best games are! Simply dripping with theme, the board looks great, there are lots of bits and pieces, there are several different scenarios to play through, there is so much 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! Most cooperative games can be played with one person by simply playing as several players, but this is the first one on my list that actually has solo play baked right into the rules.

3. The Adventurers: Pyramid of Horus
This competitive game 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 judgement. 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!

the tension mounts as your greed increases

ABSOLUTELY STUNNING BOARD, FANTASTIC GAMEPLAY, LEARN AS YOU PLAY, UNIQUE CHARACTER ABILITIES, ONLINE COMMUNITY SCENARIOS, BLANK CUSTOMIZABLE CONTENT AVAILABLE

2, Legends of Andor
Here's the deal folks, I've only gotten to play this a few times, so it may move up higher next year, but let me just say this. If you, or the person you are thinking of getting a gift for, is into the fantasy theme at all, THIS is the game to get. It just got reprinted, but I haven't seen too many copies out there, so don't wait too long. The component quality is excellent, the board is BEAUTIFUL and IT'S 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. 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! Not to mention any expansions that may be coming out. You get your money's worth and then some. GUSH GUSH GUSH. Ok... I will stop now, and move on to #1

1, Pandemic
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, you don't even need any of the two expansions to get a ton of value from this box. You will play it again and again. 

the 2nd edition is pictured here, but it still holds the #1 spot in my heart