CovertDad

One of the defining Euro games, this not only has great interaction, it’s incredibly tense. There is a high “screwage” factor for a game from a German. From outbidding on that coveted power plant, to stockpiling coal, few friendships are forged over Power Grid, and I’m sure a few have been broken.

FFG have learned from other DoaM games, and have produced a well-crafted, deep, engaging game.

Thunderstone owes much to Dominion, but adds a whole lot, too. With three types of currency instead of the one in Dominion, you get a lot more options. Add on top a tight solitaire game, and Thunderstone is a winner.

Yes, building your deck is core to Rune Age, but there is so much more to playing the game than just building your deck. You need to balance when to attack your enemies, or attack the scenario in order to win.

This game is nothing but brutal. Linear resource collection and limited card drawing make this really hard to establish yourself before the game starts pounding you into the dirt.

This is a great, deep game, offering great interaction in the multi-player game, and a strong, difficult puzzle in the solitaire game.

Dominion brought us a whole new genre of game and mechanic, but the expansions are just treading water, where other games are making intelligent use of the deck-building mechanic.

Easy-to-learn, non-threatening theme, bright and colorful. This is the prototypical gateway game.

Low-interaction deck building game like Dominion, but it is a much more tactical game, where Dominion is strategic in nature. Feels a lot less scripted because of this tactical nature.

I don’t see why everyone gushes over this math exercise disguised as a game. There is no soul to this game, and absolutely no interaction with any other players.

As usual, FFG makes great components, but the game play is what makes this game. Build your oil empire by skillfully exploring the territory and bidding better than your opponents for the rights to sell your oil for the most money.

Great, quick civ-building game with great push-your-luck thrills.

A civilization-building game with too much emphasis on military power, and too much down time between turns.