Many board game enthusiasts have friends that have formed a game group to meet regularly to play.
If you enjoy gaming but do not have a group, there are many options available to you. If you look around, you may find that your place of employment, community library, or local game store has game groups that are eager to play games with someone just like you.
I have found board game groups to be very welcoming to new members, especially if they show up bringing snacks.
Some people have good luck finding a game group using Meetup or online forums such as those on Board Game Geek. As this hobby becomes more and more popular, there are more groups being formed all the time.
Different groups prefer different types of games. I recommend trying a variety of games to find ones that are just right for you and your friends.
Here are ten of my favorite games that would be great additions to try out in your game group. They are not as short and light as games aimed at the general population. They can be more complex and competitive, as they are played with other gamers.
Board Games for Game Groups
Smash Up (Card Combat) Zombie Kittens attacking Pirate Dinosaurs! Each player uses a deck created using two different themes to score the most points. Many expansion decks are available to keep the game fresh and entertaining.
Dominion (Deck Building) Build a deck of cards by using the coins in your current hand to go shopping. Those cards are then added to your deck to be shuffled and used to buy other cards in the future.
Mission Red Planet (Area Control) Blast off on spaceships to colonize Mars. If you have the most spacemen on a region, you can claim its resources as the game progresses.
Sentinels of the Multiverse (Cooperative Battle) Join a team of superheroes banding together to fight the villain and his minions. Use your cards to attack the bad guys or help your teammates.
Colt Express (Programming) It’s a train robbery, partner! Plan out your move along the 3D cardboard train to capture the most loot without getting punched or shot by your opponents.
The Shipwreck Arcana (Cooperative Deduction) What number token did your friend secretly draw from the bag? Work together to deduce the number from small hints they give.
Potion Explosion (Combination optimization) Bam! Pick the optimal marble to get the best explosion when marbles roll down and touch ones of the same color. Each marble is an ingredient you use to complete potions and score points.
Evolution (Strategy) Whose species will thrive and whose will starve? On each turn you have to feed your animals while planning ahead for the future and avoiding predators. For a meatier version, try Evolution Climate.
Letters from Whitechapel (Hidden Movement) Can you find Jack the Ripper before he attacks again? Work together to deduce where Jack MUST be hiding at this turn. Put your thinking cap on for this one.
Quarriors! (Dice Building) Roll your dice to see how much money you have to buy a new die and what monster will attack your opponents. Large amounts of clever, custom dice are the best part of this game.
Click here to see all of the games I recommend for your board game collection.
Bitzy the Bard
“Life is an adventure story and you are the star. Choose to play a hero!”
