1754 Conquest
(2-4 players; 60 minutes; ages 10+)
1754 is one of a brilliant series of war games – all using the same base mechanic: Each round the turn order is revealed randomly. So this turn the British regulars may go first, but next round its the French colonists. Movement is governed by card play – one to four armies moving one to four regions. The fighting, is governed by dice rolls – with desertions coming back into play on later turns.
As if that was not enough, the map of 1754 and its sister games are among the most beautiful in all board gaming.
Are these games as good as Memoir ’44? Absolutely. If your child is struggling with addiction to violent computer games I’d recommend keeping the violence, but putting it into a historic board gaming conquest. My top three choices: Memoir ’44, 1754 and 878 Vikings – a sister game to 1754.
An abstract struggle with clunky chips and a draw bag.
Simultaneous play and no downtime.
Urbino
2019
MathPickle
Runner-Up Game of the Year
2 players
30 minutes
ages 9+
Urbino is a themed strategy game that has brought joy to my home for years. It is almost as elegant as the greatest abstract strategy games of all time: Dvonn and Go.
Patchwork
2019
MathPickle
Runner-Up Game of the Year
2 players
30 minutes
ages 7+
Patchwork is a tactical zero-luck game. It is challenging to look many moves into the future!
878 Vikings
2019
MathPickle
Game of the Year
2-4 players
60-90 minutes
ages 11+
"1754: Conquest – The French and Indian War" is a simpler game using the same wonderful mechanics.
"The Crew: Missions Deep Sea" is the even better sequel. Beware that cooperative games like these can be more stressful than competitive games because your failure can wreck the whole group.
Cartographers
2020
MathPickle
Game of the Year
1-100 players
30 minutes
ages 8+
My favourite pencil and paper game is mostly a solitaire experience. Place tetris-like shapes to score variable objectives. Just when things get relaxed your sheet gets sabotaged from an opponent.
Jon Perry's Air Land & Sea impressed me immediately with its inspired rule that allows players to withdraw from a battle at any time. The game improves with play as the first games will be slowed down because each card has critical text... however there are only 18 cards in total. This game is a gem for those with a limited budget.
Elizabeth Hargrave's Wingspan does not have the most innovative mechanisms, but it is infused with natural beauty like no other game I've played. Unlike all previous winners, the game did not "wow" me on the first play, but over many plays, I came to love the anticipation of each new bird entering play. It is a sumptuous game.
Ever dreamed of being James Bond? In Sniper Elite one player secretly sneaks around a top-secret WWII military base - attempting to sabotage the enemy without getting killed. Many parents will have issues with the theme. I do not let my children play violent computer games, but a violent strategic board game? That is different.
My City is a legacy game that is played 24 times. A legacy game is one in which permanent changes happen with each game. For example, if you win a game you might "win" a building that is difficult to construct for all future games. Only buy My City if you plan to play with the same people again and again.
Dune Imperium
2023
MathPickle
runner-up Game of the Year
2-4 players
2 hours
ages 12+
This is not an easy game. Choose a different game if you are new to board gaming, but if you are an experienced gamer AND enjoyed the 2021 movie Dune, then this is an immersive game experience with tense decisions.
Cat in the box
2023
MathPickle
Game of the Year
3-5 players
30 minutes
ages 10+
This card game is a logician's paradise. The suit of each card is not written on the cards. Instead, you declare the suit when it is played. Then you must live with the repercussions of your decisions. Do you decide to trump a hand by saying you have no yellow cards? Fine, but that means you cannot play another yellow card for that round. Continue until someone wins or there is a paradox!
Skull
2024
MathPickle
runner-up Game of the Year
3-6 players
15 minutes
ages 8+
Skull is a minimalist joyful experience that is a descendant of the dice game Perudo/Dudo/Liars Dice. While I prefer the dice game original for the classroom, the artwork on these coasters make this the most beautiful of all the bluffing games.
This game is brilliant and minimalistic. You start with a hand of wrestlers. At the start of a hand, the relative strength of the wrestlers is unknown. If a wrestler beats another wrestler, then it will always beat that wrestler for the rest of the hand. The rules are awkward to understand. Please watch this video: https://youtu.be/4a69YZ-oujY?si=3zLJeNw9A4lz_8_z&t=59