C&C: A's precipitous drop out of my top 10 has everything to do with the fact that, despite liking the game and owning the first expansion, I still haven't managed to get past scenario 3 (of 50+).  And all the interesting stuff is towards the back.

( Ratings and Whatnot )

I continue to really enjoy The Princes of Florence, despite its steep learning curve and hideous box art.  Maroon.  Not my favorite color.

( Ratings and Analysis )

I've waxed eloquent about the GIPF project in general, and DVONN in particular, quite recently.  So let's just skip to the new rating system, shall we?

( Ratings and Analysis )

I'm growing less and less satisfied with Power Grid every time I play it.  It was one of the first euros I ever played, so maybe that's part of it.  Or maybe I'm playing with too many people at a time (i.e. more than 3).  I bought some new maps, and got some new power plant cards (whichI haven't gotten a chance to use yet), but they don't seem to ( Read more... )

So one thing I used to do in past game reviews was a little rating at the bottom of each review.  Eventually, I got lazy and stopped.  This was probably poor practice (despite the position of the editors of Play magazine), so I am re-instituting my rating system.  But before I do, I’m going to define my terms, for once.  Here we go:

( Definitions and Analysis )

Galaxy Trucker is a very unique game.  It plays in 2 parts.  In the first half, which is a speed/puzzle challenge, you race to build a spaceship out of a common pool of parts (engines, cargo, life support, guns, etc.).  In the second half, you fly your ships across the galaxy, collecting and delivering cargo.  Or, as more often happens, your ship ( Read more... )

Ticket to Ride (w. the 1910 expansion) is still my "gateway game" of choice.  Which means I play it quite a bit.  To the point where I'm getting more and more burnt out on it.  Thus, -10 slots.

So I haven't played YINSH in a goodly while, which means I'm getting over my burn-out.  Also, I introduced it to several new players, all of whom seemed to really enjoy it.  That makes it worth a +3 on the charts.

My first full review of the year will be of Dominion, the biggest “new hotness” of 2008-09, and winner of just about every game award it is possible to win.  It is the first game of a completely new genre: the deck-building game. (In other words, it is a card game in which you choose the cards to add to your personal deck during the game, and the ( Read more... )

Arkham Horror, I love you, but you have too many expansions and take too long to set up/put away.

PS - My boss's group loves you too, but I don't really play with them any more.
PPS - My wife hates you.  So does everyone else I play with regularly.
PPPS - I'll probably pick up your newest big-box expansion, anyway.  I can't help myself.