11 underrated board games for all tastes
Games / / December 19, 2019
Anna Linnden
blog author lamp-copy.ru.
The stores table games usually offer the best driving position - "Activiti", "Imadzhinarium," "Carcassonne", "The Jackal", "Mafia", "Arkham Horror" and other hits. They also include a variety of ratings. Their shadows are lost no less worthy and exciting board game, which simply could not be as popular.
After talking with publishers, I have collected a list of underrated table games in different genres and for different companies. On most of them you may have never even heard of. But every game in this list is worthy of attention.
Something
- Age: 13+.
- Number of Players: 4-12.
- The duration of the party: 15-60 minutes.
Players who love the "Mafia", and know about the lack of nastolki. To spend an exciting game with lots of characters, you need a minimum of 7 players. "Something" will allow you to play "guess who's your enemy," even four.
In this game you - a search and rescue team that was sent to a mysterious island to find out what happened to the disappeared there by archaeologists. Already at the start, all players understand that one of them has gotten something. It remains only to find out someone. And to kill the enemy before he infected everyone.
The task of the person to whom the card has got something at the beginning of the game - to infect others. He will be hindered: declare quarantine, lock the doors. But everyone infected will fall to his side and help in the fight with the rest of the people. If all infected - something wins. If it was possible to calculate the enemy and kill him win survivors.
Who will approach the game
- Those who want to play in an unusual analogue of the "Mafia" in a small company.
- Those who often visit with a fondness for board games. In "Something" can play even 12 people - great for meeting with close friends, and for the party.
- Lovers nastolok whose purpose - to calculate the enemy among the other players.
Alchemist of Glastonbury
- Age: 6+.
- Number of players: 2-4.
- The duration of the party: 20-60 minutes.
If you start to look for a family board game for memory and attention, you will most likely be offered "Memo". Or, much less likely, "Chick-Ciric." But there are other exciting games that work for you, and "The Alchemist of Glastonbury" among them.
In this game you have to collect the same ingredients, or even brew - it depends on the difficulty level. The subtlety is that in the "Glastonbury" alchemists just throw all the ingredients in a pot of bubbling brew - and see what is out there floating around, no spell is no longer possible. You will not only carefully selected ingredients, but also to remember all of them, otherwise not be able to beat opponents.
The "Alchemist of Glastonbury" many other advantages in addition to the interesting mechanics. In this nastolki can play together, and the parties do not become less exciting that you can not say about every game. Here you need to think, to plan several moves ahead and take into account the actions of other players - perfect for those who love strategy. Beautiful arts add atmospheric game. Finally, many players are attracted very essence - collecting ingredients.
Who will approach the game
- Parents who help their children develop strategic thinking and memory. In "The Alchemist of Glastonbury" happy to play even doshkolyata!
- For those who love games on memory and attentiveness. Especially for advanced players there is complexity; version of the rules.
- Nastolok fans, in which there is no rivalry and conflicts between players.
- For those who prefer to hone skills, and not rely on the dice roll. The case play a role here, but not as important as in many other games.
Keskife
- Age: 8+.
- Number of players: 4-8.
- Length Party: 30 minutes.
Speaking of nastolki for noisy parties, usually remembered "Activiti", "500 malicious cards", "equivocation" and similar games. And about the "Keskife" few people know, but the fun in this game, no less.
Rules even a novice will understand in a few minutes. All players receive cards. Most of the job is the same: for example, to portray Michael Jackson, waltz, measure furniture or speak a fictional language. But someone is not lucky, he will pull out a card on which is written a bit annoying "You - a monkey." And all round (average 40 seconds), this player must ape - repeat after others, not realizing what they are doing. When the general madness ends, the players vote, trying to guess who this round was a monkey. So, if you want to win, pretend fancier!
Who will approach the game
- Fans of noisy parties.
- For those who love to fool around and do not hesitate to look stupid.
- Those who want to develop artistic skills.
- Parents who throw parties with children. In "Keskife" no vulgar humor or difficult words, so it is perfect mladsheklassnikov and adolescents.
Muse
- Age: 10+.
- Number of Players: 2-12.
- Length Party: 30 minutes.
Vyacheslav Ratnikov, publishing GaGa Games."Muse" - is a fresh game of association, which by virtue of novelty you are unlikely to meet board games in each store. The authors have put into her soul, and critics and experts unanimously predict a great future and her popularity. We do not doubt that soon the "Muse" will be appreciated in Russia.
If you love "Imadzhinarium", "Dixie" and other board games that evoke the imagination, "Muse" you will surely enjoy. It is also a game of association, and it contains strange and mysterious, sometimes absolutely crazy pictures. For example, bandaged giant egg in a hospital bed, which makes pouring ketchup, or the sea, slashing into the room from the picture.
However, the similarity with "Dixit" and "Imadzhinariumom" ends and the differences begin. Firstly, the "Muse" in the first place team nastolki, although if desired it can be played together or three of them. The purpose - not only to help the Allies to get victory points, but also complicate the game opponents. Secondly, the "Muse" unusual gameplay. Let's look at it in detail.
Each round runs as follows: one team (minimum 2 persons) takes 6 cards masterpieces with illustrations and 2 maps inspiration - written on them, how to propose association. From this set of command selects one of the masterpieces of the map and inspiration, and gives them to opponent (party to the second team).
The task of the player - supporting their team, what is shown in the figure, in the manner described in the inspiration map. Then all the 6 cards with illustrations stirred and spread on the table, and the team whose participants were given a clue, trying to guess on what cards he pointed out. You guessed it - take the card itself. Do not guess - it will take the second team. The difficulty is that a player who thinks of the association, does not know what is shown on the remaining 5 cards. So, for example, he makes it clear that the right card animal. And then it turns out that the animals depicted on the 4 cards of 6 - and how can we guess?
The special charm of "Muses" is the inspiration cards, because they cause the imagination to work to its fullest. They are 32, and each puts players in the narrow framework: it is necessary to call Nonfictional holiday show still figure by hand or making faces. Imagine you need to tell your team what is shown on the third card (the one where the robot and a kitten), with the help of music. Just? Unlikely.
Who will approach the game
- For those who love the game of association. Thanks to the inspiration cards, each new party did not like the previous one - which means that there will always be interesting to play.
- Team player. "Muse" - a good option for a party, where all is not well known to each other. Several parties, and even shy people will be easier to communicate with others.
- Anyone who wants to develop unconventional thinking. If your life is not enough space for creativity and imagination, Muse will help to fix it.
- Beginners in the world nastolok. The rules are simple, the gameplay too - you without problems will understand what to do, even if the "Muse" will be your first board game.
Yes, the Dark Lord!
- Age: 12+.
- Number of players: 4-9.
- Length Party: 30 minutes.
"Yes, the Dark Lord" - one of those rare nastolok in which you need to win back the role. In this case, it is much easier to "Arkham Horror», Descent and other atmospheric table games.
Here you will play the role of Rigor Mortis, dark lord, or his faithful servant. The task of the servants - to explain to the owner why they failed another job at Princess kidnapping, search for artifacts or destruction of villages. hints Maps prompt hapless henchmen, what to say, and action cards will help to push the blame to another servant or interfere with his story.
The rules are dictated by the master. For a silly joke, irreverent treatment, inconsistencies in the stories and other failures he can throw a withering look at the servant. Three of view - and the servant found guilty of the failure of the task, if he fails to beg for mercy. Ideal for companies of players who know how to love to spin stories!
Who will approach the game
- Those who loves to invent and tell funny stories.
- Players who like to get used to the role.
- For those looking for a great new attraction for the company.
Gobbi
- Age: 6+.
- Number of players: 2-8.
- Length Party: 30 minutes.
Those who are looking for interesting board games on the reaction, usually offer "Dobbl" or "wild jungle". And here is a great game, "Cobb" from French publisher OldChap Editions in Russia is not as well known. However, it is not worse than the above nastolok, and in some ways even surpasses them.
The game is played cobra chameleon, a fly and a gorilla. The standard version of the rules of the food chain is as follows: cobra eat chameleons (but only their color), those in turn swallow flies, and slap a gorilla can do all. Each player in turn opens up the top card from the stack and, if he sees that can hunt the card contender, beats on her hand. But for the "victims" all is not lost if the time to notice the predator and quickly covered his palm cards, hunting goes wrong.
In this game, we need not only lightning reaction, but care. Attack being wrong color - and the whole stack of cards played you go to the center of the table. However, it is possible to win back. If the board at the same time will fly three different colors, all you need to quickly slap his hand on the center stack of cards and shout out the word "Gobbo" to pick up the trophy.
Similar to other games on the reaction, right? But "Gobbita" has some interesting features:
- You can use both hands. Usually the reaction of the games is permitted to use only the left or the right - but not here. And if you remove the gorilla will be able to attack with both hands simultaneously. This allows the swat cards of two rivals!
- There are occasions when up card makes a player at the same time the victim and the predator. Then you do not have to choose - you need to play two hands at once, and to attack and defend.
- For advanced players there are several versions of complexity; rules that the food chain is changing at random, and the flies are starting to explode.
- Different levels of difficulty to adapt the game at almost any age.
Vyacheslav Ratnikov, GaGa Games.In the "Gobbo" even eliminated players to the end of the party retained interest in the game. They become ghosts that can attack any pair of cards, though it will not bring victory. This move always adds spice to the end the party and makes players vying for victory, act faster.
Who will approach the game
- For those who love the game on the reaction and attentiveness.
- Parents who want to develop these qualities in their children. "Gobbo" is so simple that play it as adults can even pre-schoolers.
- Gamblers who prefer noisy and funny nastolki.
suburbs
- Age: 8+.
- Number of players: 1-4.
- The duration of the party: 1-1.5 hours.
Good urban nastolok not so much. And those that do have to build the city, all units. There are, of course, the "Cité de Carcassonne", where you add the tiles to the general map and "Machi Koro", where you have to buy the building - but in a different way, what is expected of deliberate urban planning game.
Usually lack the ability to think and plan for infrastructure development properly, the effect of buildings at each other, changing the course of the game as the growth of the city, increasing the number of inhabitants and the formation of reputation. In the "suburbs" have all these elements.
At the beginning of the game, each player receives a tablet - the basis for the future of the town. You will buy the building and "attach" them to form the infrastructure. The impact of buildings on each other logically and clearly, for example, to build a better restaurant where people live, but the bustling city airport - away from this place. All of the available building can be purchased on the real estate market. This market is available to all players, which means that the right building you can buy someone else. Without prioritizing and faithful can not do a risk assessment!
The bigger the city, the harder it is to manage it. And you, too, will feel on itself: as population growth increases the level of complexity and maintenance costs city, so if you bet on the fastest growth, the risk to go bankrupt and lose reputation. To avoid this, it is necessary to think several moves ahead and soberly assess their strength.
Ivan Lachine, Development Specialist Cosmodrome Games projects.If you like a more aggressive interaction - do not worry: each tile construction can be used in several ways, which means that if you need money urgently, and that the airport wants to build your neighbor - there is nothing to prevent the project to sell, earn and leave the opponent without the influx passengers. Such an opportunity to actively engage in the game and makes more than look at other players and not just dig in his garden.
Another argument in favor of the "suburbs": this game It takes 96 th place in the world ranking BoardGameGeek. And this is the most authoritative and demanding community of fans of board games on the planet.
Who will approach the game
- Urban fans of board games.
- Those who appreciate a high replayability.
- Those who have already played in a simple board games and want to try something a little more complicated.
Abbey
- Age: 10+.
- Number of players: 2-4.
- Length Party: 30 minutes.
"Abbey" is a the top 50 family games according to BoardGameGeek - and this is a sign of quality and a reason to take a closer look at the game. In addition, advanced players will appreciate the unusual mechanics, in which the need to choose only one resource of all possible in each round is combined with gambling auction.
In this game you will become abbot of a medieval monastery. Your goal will be the collection of manuscripts and volumes: they can take a gift, buy, and play, hiring enumerators. In this case, you need to think through each step in detail: the accumulation of gold may be impaired, ejected volume - be the rarest and collected - overrated. And yet you can incur the wrath of the bishop. Just remember this.
Appreciate the charm of "Abbey" is possible only during the game. Therefore, if you decide to play this nastolki not shtudiruet rules over and over again - better to just read them and play once or twice.
Who will approach the game
- Those who want to try the board game a bit more complicated elementary patigeymov, but not too tricky.
- Nastolok fans who appreciate the unusual mechanics and "fine tuning", influencing the course of the party.
- For those who prefer strategy games.
In a certain kingdom
- Age: 8+.
- Number of players: 2-6.
- The duration of the party: 20-40 minutes.
"In a certain kingdom" - a wonderful family nastolki in which adults and children can play on equal terms. However, sometimes children even easier, because the goal of the game - to come up with beautiful, exciting story. Who will be her hero and where the action will occur, it depends on the cards in the hands of storytellers. cards also prompt what items should appear in the story, and what events - occur.
Playing this nastolki, you will certainly sharpen the talent of the narrator. After all of the inconsistencies in the story, lengthy and uninteresting narrative absurdity and a long silence you will be punished - the course will have to complete and pass to another player. Students also need to be careful, because at any time it may be possible to intercept the thread of history and to become a storyteller.
Who will approach the game
- Those looking for nastolki to play with children.
- Players who prefer entertainment without conflicts and hard competition.
- Dreamers and anyone who wants to develop imagination.
- Those who need nastolki to play the tour. Many places will not take it!
Istanbul
- Age: 10+.
- Number of players: 2-5.
- The duration of the party: 40-60 minutes.
"Istanbul" - it's about the ability to think strategically and plan their actions a few steps forward. For beginners, this option is hardly suitable board games in the world, but experienced players who are looking for something new and interesting, will appreciate.
In this game you become a merchant in possession of 4 associates, relatives and cart. You can trade, including on the black market, sending relatives of other merchants in jail for a fee, receive rubies in the palace of the Sultan or the shop dealer gems, as well contact the webmaster to increase capacity carts. The goal - to collect the first 5 rubies (or 6, if you play together). And believe me, this is not an easy task.
Who will approach the game
- Fans of strategic nastolok.
- Fans of thoughtful games long games.
- Those who appreciates replayability. The "Istanbul" has a different layout options for gaming tablet with locations - in fact, it is several levels of difficulty. Just go from one to another, and the game does not get tired of you a very long time.
Dominion
- Age: 8+.
- Number of players: 2-4.
- Length Party: 30 minutes.
In Germany, the "Dominion" was recognized the best game of 2009. In Russia, this nastolki yet not too popular, and many players are simply unknown. It's time to fix it.
One of the features of "Dominion" - design-game pack. That is, here you pick the stocks are not before the beginning of the party, such as the "war of magicians", and during the game.
At the beginning of the game the players agree a set of kingdom cards they will use. Several presets, and each of 10 types of cards - for example, a workshop, a mine, a village library, the throne room, and others. Moreover, you yourself can create a deck of cards from any kingdom, and it will add even more diversity. kingdom cards spread on the table - during the game players will be able to buy them for copper, silver and gold. Also on the table lay the estates map, provinces and duchies - that they help determine the winner at the final scoring.
Each kingdom has its pluses card that can be used in the drawing of a hand. For example, a smithy allows to reach 3 card shop - get a card worth up to 4 coins, and the woodcutter - to make additional purchase. In addition, there is an attack card that serve to attack other players, and militias - to protect.
At the start, each player is dealt 7 cards copper (they come in handy if you want to buy something) and 3 place the card, shuffles them face down and puts gaining 5 cards. For pennies on your turn you can buy a map of the kingdom or the estate - the main thing to have enough money. If money is not enough, you can fill up the coffers by taking another card copper, moreover, free of charge. You can also play one card from his hand to get a bonus or attack their opponents. At the end of the course all the cards from your hand, including purchased, go to the personal relief. The player again gets 5 cards from his deck and turn passes to the next party member.
At a time when the player can not get 5 cards, he shuffles all cards from his discharge, and so form a new deck. With each round the deck will be gradually acquired is updated with maps. But when the final calculation of its size will not play a role - at the expense of the estates are only the cards that the player had to buy.
If the gameplay seemed difficult for you - believe me, after a 1-2 party you change your mind!
Who will approach the game
- Everyone who appreciates replayability. Here it is at altitude.
- Lovers of unusual game mechanics.
- Fans of strategic nastolok.
- Experienced players who prefer a thoughtful game "motor".
see also
- In that play with your family or friends: 10 fascinating nastolok →
- 8 classic board game, developing intelligence →
- Why board games - a useful tool for a writer →