Looking for a New Board Game
August 3, 2010 9:05 AM Subscribe
Every year on our family vacation my wife, step-son and mother in law all play board games into the night. Last year they really enjoyed Coda, but feel like they are all too predictable now. We're leaving for vacation soon and now my wife is scrambling to find a new game, similar in style to Coda.
They need something that is easy to learn, but complicated enough to keep them entertained. Age range is 15-62. They also need something suited for three players, rather than two. Thanks!
They need something that is easy to learn, but complicated enough to keep them entertained. Age range is 15-62. They also need something suited for three players, rather than two. Thanks!
Settlers of Catan is a classic, but I don't feel that it is best suited for only 3 players - too little competition for resources and space. Carcassone makes a good 3 player game.
Also, I think every residence should have a bag of Bannanagrams tiles on hand; easy to set up, easy to play, and it avoids direct conflicts between players - which is good for families that are cooped up on vacation together.
posted by Think_Long at 9:25 AM on August 3, 2010
Also, I think every residence should have a bag of Bannanagrams tiles on hand; easy to set up, easy to play, and it avoids direct conflicts between players - which is good for families that are cooped up on vacation together.
posted by Think_Long at 9:25 AM on August 3, 2010
Lord of the Rings is a fabulous game, doesn't take too long to figure out, and has a fairly high replayability factor. I'd highly recommend.
posted by liquado at 9:27 AM on August 3, 2010
posted by liquado at 9:27 AM on August 3, 2010
If you're looking for a deduction game, Mystery Express came out a few months ago and got reasonably good reviews. I haven't played it, though.
One game I quite enjoy that is easy to teach and play is Ra. It's a fun auction game with a lot of built-in tension as each round progresses. There are strategic elements, but it's not a game that requires you to think super hard. It can also be fun if people choose to theatrically invoke "RAAAA!"
Another relatively simple game that is easy to learn is Pandemic. This is a cooperative game, which means that everyone works together as a team to try to beat the game. Again, a good amount of tension as everyone scrambles around the board to try to treat diseases and find cures. If you're okay with the cooperative aspect, it's worth checking out.
Lastly, I'll recommend Dominion. This is a card game and doesn't sound like it has much in common with Coda. But it's an extremely popular game, lends itself to a lot of replayability because every game features different card combinations, and I can literally teach it to someone in about six minutes.
Also, all of these games should travel pretty easily. Dominion comes in a big box, but you can take the cards out and transport them in a tinier box if you want. Pandemic comes in a tiny box, and Ra is nothing more than a board and a bag of tiles.
Happy gaming!
posted by soonertbone at 9:28 AM on August 3, 2010
One game I quite enjoy that is easy to teach and play is Ra. It's a fun auction game with a lot of built-in tension as each round progresses. There are strategic elements, but it's not a game that requires you to think super hard. It can also be fun if people choose to theatrically invoke "RAAAA!"
Another relatively simple game that is easy to learn is Pandemic. This is a cooperative game, which means that everyone works together as a team to try to beat the game. Again, a good amount of tension as everyone scrambles around the board to try to treat diseases and find cures. If you're okay with the cooperative aspect, it's worth checking out.
Lastly, I'll recommend Dominion. This is a card game and doesn't sound like it has much in common with Coda. But it's an extremely popular game, lends itself to a lot of replayability because every game features different card combinations, and I can literally teach it to someone in about six minutes.
Also, all of these games should travel pretty easily. Dominion comes in a big box, but you can take the cards out and transport them in a tinier box if you want. Pandemic comes in a tiny box, and Ra is nothing more than a board and a bag of tiles.
Happy gaming!
posted by soonertbone at 9:28 AM on August 3, 2010
Thirding Carcassonne. The nature of the game--you lay a tile on each turn, so the players essentially build the board as they go along--makes it different every time, and the balance of luck and skill gives it just the right amount of unpredictability. Everyone I know (that plays games with me at all, anyway) seems to like it.
posted by AkzidenzGrotesk at 9:32 AM on August 3, 2010
posted by AkzidenzGrotesk at 9:32 AM on August 3, 2010
I recommend Agricola. It's not super easy to learn if you haven't played similar games, but watching this video is a great introduction, and you'll probably be able to get the hang of it after playing through once.
posted by backwards guitar at 9:34 AM on August 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by backwards guitar at 9:34 AM on August 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
Probe is a favorite of mine that sounds very similar to Coda.
posted by karminai at 9:35 AM on August 3, 2010
posted by karminai at 9:35 AM on August 3, 2010
we've been playing Ticket To Ride for years and are not tired of it yet.
posted by COD at 9:39 AM on August 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by COD at 9:39 AM on August 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
I second Dominion, Agricola, and nth Carcassonne. Each of these games are highly re-playable, as tiles/cards in play affect combined with differing strategies of players make each game unique. I'm not familiar with Coda, and none of these games seem to be like it (appears to be some kind of deduction / abstract strategy), but probably these game players are looking for something new.
Along the lines of abstract strategy, I've enjoyed playing the tile-placing game Ingenious, a camel-placing game Through the Desert, and another tile placing game Take it to the Limit.
And on preview, I second Ticket to Ride.
posted by indigo4963 at 10:01 AM on August 3, 2010
Along the lines of abstract strategy, I've enjoyed playing the tile-placing game Ingenious, a camel-placing game Through the Desert, and another tile placing game Take it to the Limit.
And on preview, I second Ticket to Ride.
posted by indigo4963 at 10:01 AM on August 3, 2010
The other suggestions so far are fine games (well some of them at least) but none are particularly in line with being similar to Coda. It seems people are just throwing out games they like in general that have next to nothing in common with Coda besides them all being games. (sorry if I sound snarky, I'm not trying to be)
I'm assuming what you're looking for is the deductive style of gameplay...
Depending on your actual date of departure, Code 777 would be a great choice for something different yet very similar and playable by up to 4. It's just being re-released in a new version but it won't be out for another week or two at least.
If you want something much heavier, Fury of Dracula is a great game. One player is Dracula running around Europe in secrecy while the other players (up to 4 more) are trying to follow the trail he's left behind and figure out where he must be in order to catch him.
Nuns on the Run is a similar though much simpler version of the concept in FoD, one player is the two nuns while everyone else is running around trying to get some items without getting caught.
Scotland Yard is a classic in the genre, with one player being chased around London by the others. Bonus points here is that it ought to be much more widely available than any of the others.
Unfortunately, some of the best deduction games are two player only. Mr. Jack and Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation are amazing and highly recommended.
I'd say my top picks would be Nuns on the Run or Scotland Yard for what you're looking for.
posted by teishu at 10:01 AM on August 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
I'm assuming what you're looking for is the deductive style of gameplay...
Depending on your actual date of departure, Code 777 would be a great choice for something different yet very similar and playable by up to 4. It's just being re-released in a new version but it won't be out for another week or two at least.
If you want something much heavier, Fury of Dracula is a great game. One player is Dracula running around Europe in secrecy while the other players (up to 4 more) are trying to follow the trail he's left behind and figure out where he must be in order to catch him.
Nuns on the Run is a similar though much simpler version of the concept in FoD, one player is the two nuns while everyone else is running around trying to get some items without getting caught.
Scotland Yard is a classic in the genre, with one player being chased around London by the others. Bonus points here is that it ought to be much more widely available than any of the others.
Unfortunately, some of the best deduction games are two player only. Mr. Jack and Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation are amazing and highly recommended.
I'd say my top picks would be Nuns on the Run or Scotland Yard for what you're looking for.
posted by teishu at 10:01 AM on August 3, 2010 [2 favorites]
I just favourited some—I came to recommend Carcassonne, Settlers, and Ticket to Ride.
posted by synecdoche at 10:03 AM on August 3, 2010
posted by synecdoche at 10:03 AM on August 3, 2010
I came in to recommend Ticket to Ride as well.
I also love, in a different vein, Blokus, which works well for two and fine for three and is a quicker game.
posted by dpx.mfx at 10:32 AM on August 3, 2010
I also love, in a different vein, Blokus, which works well for two and fine for three and is a quicker game.
posted by dpx.mfx at 10:32 AM on August 3, 2010
Zendo - It's a game of inductive reasoning where you try to figure out the rule by which arrangements of colorful little plastic pyramids do or do not have the Buddha nature. Incredibly fun.
Also, I'd second Dominion - it doesn't have that same logic feel to it, but it really is surprisingly entertaining and easy for lots of people to pick up quickly.
posted by Eshkol at 11:06 AM on August 3, 2010
Also, I'd second Dominion - it doesn't have that same logic feel to it, but it really is surprisingly entertaining and easy for lots of people to pick up quickly.
posted by Eshkol at 11:06 AM on August 3, 2010
I'm surprised no one's mentioned Puerto Rico yet. The game is awesome. Arkham Horror's pretty good too, although quite long.
posted by JHarris at 11:15 AM on August 3, 2010
posted by JHarris at 11:15 AM on August 3, 2010
Here are some puzzle-y games that my family and I have really enjoyed:
Seconding Zendo. I cannot recommend this game highly enough -- I have spent hours playing it with my family and it's one of those games we just keep coming back to. It's simple enough for children to learn easily yet equally intriguing for adults. One player comes up with a rule about which arrangements of pieces are "good" and which are "bad" and the other players try to guess the rule.
The box-set edition of the game is out of print but you can find the rules here and buy the plastic pyramid pieces here. Seriously, Zendo is awesome.
You've probably already heard of Set, but if not, I highly recommend it as well. It's a card game which involves picking out "sets" of interrelated cards and is one of the simplest yet most brilliantly designed games I've ever seen. Again, it is accessible to pretty much anyone of any age.
posted by mekily at 2:08 AM on August 4, 2010
Seconding Zendo. I cannot recommend this game highly enough -- I have spent hours playing it with my family and it's one of those games we just keep coming back to. It's simple enough for children to learn easily yet equally intriguing for adults. One player comes up with a rule about which arrangements of pieces are "good" and which are "bad" and the other players try to guess the rule.
The box-set edition of the game is out of print but you can find the rules here and buy the plastic pyramid pieces here. Seriously, Zendo is awesome.
You've probably already heard of Set, but if not, I highly recommend it as well. It's a card game which involves picking out "sets" of interrelated cards and is one of the simplest yet most brilliantly designed games I've ever seen. Again, it is accessible to pretty much anyone of any age.
posted by mekily at 2:08 AM on August 4, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by aabbbiee at 9:12 AM on August 3, 2010 [2 favorites]