Top games that aren't too complicated?

HungryHippos

HungryHippos

HungryHippos

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Joined
25 Mar 2004
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Fareham
Hi,

I really enjoy the occasional board game, and I own a few, but the people I play with aren't in to really complicated games or anything - not as much attention span as me.

Normal group size is 3-4 people.

Games that go down well are things like:

Alhambra
Carcassonne
Catan
Ticket to Ride
7 Wonders

I think it's fair to say the best games are ones where individual performance is key, with some opportunities to influence other players, but in a limited fashion that means you can't completely screw other people over.

We've played co-op games like Pandemic and Forbidden Island and they are alright, but they don't get played as much.

I was looking at Small World but it looks like it may be a bit too complicated to setup and play, also Sheriff of Nottingham looks decent but I am a terrible liar!
 
Marvel: Legendary might be something a little different for the group, its a relatively light deck building team game but depending on how you perform individually there is a single winner should you wish to score it.
 
Maharani: Mosaic Palace, Fresco, Evolution, Versailles, Bomarzo and Viticulture Essential Edition are all good games at 3-4. I've put them in roughly ascending order of complexity (Evolution is mechanically simpler than Fresco but has more strategic complexity).

Once you've got them hooked on those, it's time for The Gallerist. :D
 
I love board games and have a small collection but only really get to play the light ones - Mrs isn't huge on rules and have two teenage girls so attention span is limited.

However, our most successful game so far has been Colt Express. Towards the end of the first game everyone had a handle on the game mechanics.
 
Tunney said:
Lords of Waterdeep? Dixit?
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I actually have both of these games! To my shame I have not yet played Lords of Waterdeep - I think I will learn it and play it next!

JeditOjanen said:
Maharani: Mosaic Palace, Fresco, Evolution, Versailles, Bomarzo and Viticulture Essential Edition are all good games at 3-4. I've put them in roughly ascending order of complexity (Evolution is mechanically simpler than Fresco but has more strategic complexity).

Once you've got them hooked on those, it's time for The Gallerist. :D
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I took a look at most of these, Maharani seems a bit like Alhambra, the others didn't interest me as much, except for Viticulture! That looks like the kind of thing I'd enjoy, the Essential Edition is on my watch list.

Fubsy said:
Hungry Hippos?
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Hello, that's me!

swillsy said:
More Rules = More Fun
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Serious reply or not, I don't necessarily agree. Enough rules to keep it interesting, but not too many rules.

EddScott said:
I love board games and have a small collection but only really get to play the light ones - Mrs isn't huge on rules and have two teenage girls so attention span is limited.

However, our most successful game so far has been Colt Express. Towards the end of the first game everyone had a handle on the game mechanics.
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Colt Express actually does look good, and looks like like it could be fun, it's also on my watch list.
 
I played Takenoko for the first time last week and would say that it's slightly more complicated than Settlers but its a great game. One of the noobs I played with took quite a few turns to get up to speed and found it frustrating.
 
shorttricky said:
Do it - will take about 20 minutes to learn and 5 to teach. Really well set out game board means you're never reaching for the rule book.

Takenoko might fit the bill as well
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Thanks played it tonight with 3 people including me, and I agree really enjoyable so far once I learnt what the hell everything meant! Would play even better with 4 people I think.

I think one of these two might be my next purchase:

Viticulture EE (looks good, just need to find it for cheap enough)
Kingsburg (same as Viticulture, need to find it cheap enough)
 
^^^ Risk is a terrible game. Risk: Legacy, on the other hand, is not. It's designed to play much faster - 60 to 75 minutes - and the evolving gameboard keeps it fresh.

HungryHippos said:
Anyone played Caverna? I've heard it's kind of like a less harsh version of Agricola.
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I own it, and that assessment is pretty accurate. They're essentially the same game, but Caverna has a lot less "**** you" and many more paths to victory while Agricola rewards forward planning and has more tension.
 
JeditOjanen said:
^^^ Risk is a terrible game. Risk: Legacy, on the other hand, is not. It's designed to play much faster - 60 to 75 minutes - and the evolving gameboard keeps it fresh.



I own it, and that assessment is pretty accurate. They're essentially the same game, but Caverna has a lot less "**** you" and many more paths to victory while Agricola rewards forward planning and has more tension.
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LOL.
Everyone has their preferences. Even my 8 year old can play Risk, so it definitely fits the bill as simple. If you think it takes too long, just use your own victory conditions, e.g. whoever holds the most countries at the end of the round at xxx time wins. That's how I played my last game.
It's simply a question of personal preferences.
 
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