Board Games | Recommended Games

An ancient game, Skull is simple to learn, but dangerously difficult to win. Successfully bet and bluff to fool your opponents, while seeing through their deception to find the flowers. Be wary, though—if you reveal a skull, the consequences are dire!

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You are head of a family in an Italian city-state, a city run by a weak and corrupt court. You need to manipulate, bluff and bribe your way to power. Your object is to destroy the influence of all the other families, forcing them into exile. Only one family will survive... In Coup, you want to be the last player with influence in the game, with influence being represented by face-down character cards in your playing area. Each player starts the game with two coins and two influence – i.e., two face-down character cards; the fifteen card deck consists of three copies of five different characters, each with a unique set of powers: Duke: Take three coins from the treasury. Block someone from taking foreign aid. Assassin: Pay three coins and try to assassinate another player's character. Contessa: Block an assassination attempt against yourself. Captain: Take two coins from another player, or block someone from stealing coins from you. Ambassador: Draw two character cards from the Court (the deck), choose which (if any) to exchange with your face-down characters, then return two. Block someone from stealing coins from you. On your turn, you can take any of the actions listed above, regardless of which characters you actually have in front of you, or you can take one of three other actions: Income: Take one coin from the treasury. Foreign aid: Take two coins from the treasury. Coup: Pay seven coins and launch a coup against an opponent, forcing that player to lose an influence. (If you have ten coins or more, you must take this action.) When you take one of the character actions – whether actively on your turn, or defensively in response to someone else's action – that character's action automatically succeeds unless an opponent challenges you. In this case, if you can't (or don't) reveal the appropriate character, you lose an influence, turning one of your characters face-up. Face-up characters cannot be used, and if both of your characters are face-up, you're out of the game. If you do have the character in question and choose to reveal it, the opponent loses an influence, then you shuffle that character into the deck and draw a new one, perhaps getting the same character again and perhaps not. The last player to still have influence – that is, a face-down character – wins the game! A new & optional character called the Inquisitor has been added (currently, the only English edition with the Inquisitor included is the Kickstarter Version from Indie Boards & Cards. Copies in stores may not be the Kickstarter versions and may only be the base game). The Inquisitor character cards may be used to replace the Ambassador cards. Inquisitor: Draw one character card from the Court deck and choose whether or not to exchange it with one of your face-down characters. OR Force an opponent to show you one of their character cards (their choice which). If you wish it, you may then force them to draw a new card from the Court deck. They then shuffle the old card into the Court deck. Block someone from stealing coins from you.

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The Red Dragon Inn is one of those games that feels almost mandatory to have if you love board games. It's got really simple rules, a delightful theme, and most importantly, there's a ton of expansions that make this game even better. If you're looking for a party/party-adjacent game, you can't got wrong with this one.                                                                                     - May (Guild Service Representative)  In The Red Dragon Inn, you and your friends are a party of heroic, fantasy adventurers. You've raided the dungeon, killed the monsters, and taken their treasure. Now you're back, and what better way to celebrate your most recent victory than to spend an evening at the The Red Dragon Inn. You and your adventuring companions will spend the night drinking, gambling, and roughhousing. The last person who is both sober enough to remain conscious and shrewd enough to hold onto his Gold Coins wins the game. The four characters are Deirdre the Priestess, Fiona the Volatile, Gerki the Sneak, and Zot the Wizard.

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Rising Sun is, in my opinion, the perfect area control strategy board game! I love that alliances are built into the rules of the game and that it includes so many creatures and monsters from Japanese folklore/mythology.                                                                                     - Will (Marketing Manager) Warring clans struggle for control of provinces in Feudal Japan; however, a conflict is not only won on the battlefield. Diplomacy and alliances will play a large part in winning the war. In Rising Sun, from the acclaimed team that brought fans Blood Rage, you enter a fantastical version of Feudal Japan and control different Clans with unique abilities. You will engage in combat, make offerings to the Gods, and form and break treaties. After three hard fought seasons have passed, only the one who earned the most victory points will win.

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Citadels is a fantastic card game that combines strategy and deception to create a thrilling gameplay experience. Players take on the roles of various characters in a medieval city, each with unique abilities and goals. The game involves building a citadel and gathering resources while trying to thwart the plans of other players. One of the best things about Citadels is its replayability. With 18 different characters to choose from and a variety of strategies to explore, the game can be played over and over again without getting stale. It's also easy to learn, making it a great choice for both seasoned gamers and those new to the hobby - whether you're playing with friends or family, this game is sure to provide hours of entertainment.                                                                                     - Andrew (GSR - Tempe, AZ) The Kingdom is in need of a new Master Builder, and you are among those vying for the prestigious post. Recruit local citizens and use their unique expertise to outwit your rivals. Only the most majestic metropolis will earn its creator the coveted title of Master Builder! This revised edition of Citadels retains the signature bluffing and intrigue of Bruno Faidutti’s celebrated classic, condensing all the published content into a travel-friendly version at an unbeatable price. A game of intrigue awaits!

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Tiny Epic Kingdoms is the full 4X experience in a tiny package, and forgoes all the weighty setup and teardown of other games in the genre. The game’s main appeal is its lack of player down time. Every time a player takes an action on their turn, each other player has the choice to take one of two actions. This unique action economy adds a surprising amount of tactical depth, and eliminates one of the biggest problems that 4X games typically have, the wait time. The game is built to be incredibly easy to learn, and I would highly recommend it as an entry point into the 4X genre.                                                                                     - Pat (Guild Service Representative) You are a tiny kingdom with big ambition. You want to expand your population throughout the realms, learn powerful magic, build grand towers, and have your neighbors quiver at the mention of your name. The conflict? All of the other kingdoms want the same thing and there's not enough room for everyone to succeed... In Tiny Epic Kingdoms, a 4x fantasy game in a pocket-size package, each player starts with a unique faction (which has a unique technology tree) and a small territory. Throughout the game, players collect resources, explore other territories, battle each other, research magic, and work to build a great tower to protect their realm.

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