#40 Takenoko (2011)
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Synopsis
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Takenoko is a game where
players are gardeners in the Emperor of Japan’s garden. Life is easy until
the Emperor of China gifts a Panda to Japan and now you are tasked with
looking after the bamboo garden and a ravenous panda!
Theme aside, Takenoko is
a simple fun game where players determine weather (my favourite one is
lighting as the panda runs away and has to eat something to calm down) by
rolling a dice, expanding the garden and growing bamboo. Each player has
secret objectives and the winner is who completes (normally by preforming the
above action) the most lucrative ones.
The game is great
looking with the wooden bamboo, painted miniature panda and gardener and
artwork. It’s a great light game that does not overstay its welcome, good for
a relaxing Sunday afternoon or with guests.
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Number of
Players:
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2 to 4
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Recommended
Play Time
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45
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Minutes
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BGG Rating:
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7.3
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/10.0
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BGG Rank:
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217
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/91 000
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Complexity
Rating
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1.98
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/5.00
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#39 Grand Prix (2016)
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Synopsis
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There are plenty of
racing games out there (and plenty on my list). A lot of them tend to be
quite simply affairs, mainly rolling dice to move. That was until GMT (one of
the most prolific heavy strategy war gaming companies) released Thunder Alley
(a game based on US stock car racing). Thunder Alley, simple for GMT
standards, was a strategy game mixed with the racing genre. Normally simulation
racing game, had up to this point, been an exercise in mathematics. Not
Thunder Alley though, with its card driven system it required players to make
quick decisions, take risks and think ahead about positioning and pit stops.
The success of Thunder
Alley spawned a spin off game, Grand Prix. Very similar in gameplay and
production, Grand Prix emulated the world of open wheel/Formula 1 style
racing as good as Thunder Alley did with Stock Cars.
I really enjoy racing
games, something about a simple goal of being the fastest and finishing first
is easy to understand for all. What is great about Grand Prix (and Thunder
Alley) is that it requires almost no knowledge of the sport, a good decision
in the game leads to good decisions being made in the race, the game is so
intuitive that it creates the sport, rather than the sport creating the game.
Lastly, like all racing
games, I love Grand Prix because they are easy to play on my own. This year I
even made up a custom championship and played through it solo!
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Number of
Players:
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2 to 11
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Recommended
Play Time
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90
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Minutes
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BGG Rating:
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7.2
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/10.0
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BGG Rank:
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3 167
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/91 000
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Complexity
Rating
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2.29
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/5.00
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#38 Royals (2014)
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Synopsis
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When I first played the
game Ticket to Ride I could see how the game itself was so popular. It was
simple, had trains, quick to play but hard to master.
This led me to becoming
very interested in Royals. A game that has some similarities with Ticket to
Ride – you are collecting sets of cards to control the various nobles of
Europe to become the most prestigious dynasty (i.e. score the most points).
Royals therefore has all
the things that makes Ticket to Ride popular but a theme which I find more
intriguing and hopefully serves as a good way of getting others into heavier
games.
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Number of
Players:
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2 to 5
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Recommended
Play Time
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60
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Minutes
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BGG Rating:
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7.2
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/10.0
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BGG Rank:
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870
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/91 000
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Complexity
Rating
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2.26
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/5.00
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#37 Tesla vs. Edison: The War of
Currents (2015)
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Synopsis
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Unlike most games on my
list (and in fact most games made today), Tesla vs. Edison: The War of
Currents is a very unique game.
The game is set in the
late 1800’s and early 1900’s and players take control of companies, each
headed by a great luminary of the time (Tesla, Edison, Maxim, Thomson etc).
Your goal is to develop products and technology (back one of the power
systems – A/C or D/C – this adds a bit of a historical ‘what if’), win
contracts and projects and invest in other players lucrative projects.
The game looks fantastic
and really brings you into the period and theme.
Here is where I should
say how good the game is, well it’s not…not really. If you were to play this
game from a purely competitive stand point, you probably will have many
complaints (and it can get a little ‘math-y’). That is not what Tesla vs.
Edison is about though, if you play it for the experience, to enjoy the
wonderful setting and interesting historical facts you will have a great
time!
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Number of
Players:
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2 to 5
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Recommended
Play Time
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90
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Minutes
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BGG Rating:
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6.7
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/10.0
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BGG Rank:
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1 778
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/91 000
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Complexity
Rating
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3.24
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/5.00
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#36 Star Wars: X-Wing (2011)
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Synopsis
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This game just
slips in as a board game rather than a miniature game as it kind of comes
complete in a box.
Like other games before
it (about WW1 and WW2 aerial combat), Star Wars: X-Wing is a game about space
combat in the Star Wars Universe. The main feature of this game is the
pre-painted miniature ships – they are awesome for any fan!
The game is what you
would expect, you move distances using a ruler and dice for combat. All your
favourite ships and pilots (and astro droids) are here too.
For this type of game it
is not overly complex and pretty short. The base game also has a mission
booklet so you can also play through Star Wars inspired campaigns.
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Number of
Players:
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2
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Recommended
Play Time
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40
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Minutes
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BGG Rating:
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7.8
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/10.0
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BGG Rank:
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69
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/91 000
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Complexity
Rating
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2.48
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/5.00
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