Settlers of Catan is now called simply “Catan” :) It is an old favorite!
=> BoardGameGeek
=> Rules (Longer annotated with Tips and Variations / Condensed Version)
How To Play:
Catan (Settlers of)
Machi Koro
=> BoardGameGeek
=> Rules (From Publisher / From Essen Spiel)
=> Len’s 1 page rules summary (v2) (cut off bottom to fit into box)
How To Play:
Bohnanza
=> BoardGameGeek
=> Rules
How To Play (REMEMBER: you can DONATE a card to someone IF they accept it):
Blokus
2-4 players (best with 4) // 20 mins // Easy
The main game board actually has slight ridges to separate the squares in it’s grid, making it easy to play your piece plus make it safe when a table is slightly bumped. Simply play a piece of your color to connect to the corner of any of your pieces on the board… yes, you only connect diagonally, not edge to edge!
Reminds me a bit of the cycle battle in Tron:)
=> BoardGameGeek
=> Rules
=> Variants for 2 or 3 players
How to play in 1 minute:
Codenames Duet
For 2 players (but can also play as two teams)! It’s a family game (ie, not at my house, but I can get it here).
=> BoardGameGeek
=> Rules
=> Quick Guide (2pgs – not Len’s)
=> Len’s 1 page Rules Summary (v1)
Nice overview from Game Like A Mother:
Foundations of Rome (Maximus edition)
One of the most beautiful games yet the complexity is under 2.00 plus there is a cooperative mode. NOTE: 3 or 4 players is the optimal player count! (plus if using objective cards, private is preferred to reduce “cut-throat” aspects)
=> BoardGameGeek
=> Kickstarter (for 2nd printing) / Kickstarter (original 1st edition)
=> Official Website
=> Rules (from Kickstarter) / Rules (from BGG)
=> Len’s 1 page Rules Summary v3 (base game only)
=> Len’s 1 page Rules Summary v1 (base game with Monuments)
=> Len’s 2 page Coop Rules Summary v2
=> BGG Notes for Cooperative Mode (Will of the Consul)
=> BGG Forum discussion mistakes / errata etc
=> BGG Forum discussion mistakes / errata etc
Overview from Game Boy Geek (his game of the year):
Hanabi (coop)
A card deck game similar to The Mind, The Game and eve a bit like The Crew… but with a twist!
=> BoardGameGeek
=> Rules
How To Play:
Forbidden Desert (coop)
Scrabble Up
This is a real time game in that it has a “timer” … which is the gimmick :) It is a small marble that rolls down the zig zag track – when it hits the bottom your turn is over:) While I DON’T like “timer” based games, I saw this game for $5 and got it just for the fun of it:) And you can play the whole game in about TEN MINUTES as well!
Interesting … he explains the rules clearly (they are simple) but then does not FOLLOW the rules himself! (smile). He was supposed to make a word that started with the letter N … so he used the word PEN. Umm… that starts with a P :)
Play Heavenly Games 