Board Games, Anyone?

We had such a great time posting the board games we were playing along with the books we were reading the past couple of years, we are going to do it again in 2026.

Board game recommendations are welcome just like book recommendations! If you are not familiar with it, I cannot recommend Board Game Geek's website (www.boardgamegeek.com) highly enough - it is a terrific resource!

Christmas games I received in 2025:

Suna Valo
CoLab
A Place for All My Books
Sanctuary

As always, if you are interested in any of the games and have questions, I am more than happy to help. Further information is always available on www.boardgamegeek.com.

Received and played Toy Battle for Christmas -- it's a fun, quick 2 player/team "Capture the Flag" with superpowers game themed with children's toys. Games play in 10-20 minutes. My Dad and I had fair amount of fun playing some of the alternate boards (there are 8 in total).

>3 NielsenGW: I have heard good things about Toy Battle although I have not had a chance to play it yet. Glad that you enjoyed it, Gerard!

No new games for me this Christmas, though my 7-year-old nephew got several (Outfoxed, Shut the Box, Suspend). We were working on craft projects instead (of which he also got several), so I didn't get to play any of the games with him. Maybe next visit.

I did play a few rounds of Bananagrams with Mom, which feels like it's been my only board gaming these past couple years. I'm always meaning to do more solo gaming, but somehow I haven't found the time yet.

My 10 year old niece showed up at Thanksgiving with the Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer version of Spot It, which we’ve been obsessed with ever since. It showed up in multiple stockings. It’s been hilarious explaining to the younger generation who didn’t grow up on the Christmas special what all the objects and characters are called.

>5 foggidawn: I have heard very good things about Outfoxed although I have never played it myself, not being the right age group for it :)

I am planning on making time for some solo gaming this year, Misti, as I have missed it playing so many games with Kerry these days - not that I am complaining about that! There are a lot of solo games available online at Board Game Arena and other online board gaming sites.

>6 AnneDC: It is funny what games you get obsessed with, isn't it, Anne? I am glad your family has found one!

We always get a new board game and a 1000 piece puzzle for Christmas. This year's game was Hues and Cues, which was very simple to learn and play but became surprisingly competitive.

>8 JayneCM: I enjoyed my plays of Hues and Cues. I am glad your family likes it too, Jayne!

Games purchased in the 50% off sale - Azul, Sushi Go Party, Ticket To Ride Europe and Bananagrams. I love Bananagrams but have always played it at my daughter's house. Time to get one for my house!

>10 JayneCM: Nice! I love all of those.

The other night, my husband and I played checkers, and he wiped the board with me. :-D I am out of practice!

>10 JayneCM: Congratulations on picking up some great games, Jayne!

This popped up on my screen the other day. I don't think I'm familiar with any of them though.

I’m a huge board games fan — here are the 7 best ones to help you survive January 2026" on SmartNews: https://l.smartnews.com/p-6UFxpkyI/DgaU9O

Click in the upper right corner where it says "Read Full Article"

>13 ronincats: The only one that I have played is Pandemic which, at one time, was my all-time favorite game.

Dear Husband and I have been playing "Ticket to Ride" and "Carcassonne" on his tablet. I bought "Pandora" for us to play on New Year's Eve, but we opted out and put together a small (300-piece) jigsaw instead. We are getting ready to move into a 130-year-old house. It will have a room dedicated to board games and a door to keep out the household beasts. We thought we would play it when we settled in.

>14 alcottacre:> I also only know Pandemic from this list. Funny thing about Pandemic—on March 14, 2020, my husband, daughter and I were supposed to go to the theater—but we learned that afternoon that the show was canceled as the city was basically shutting down. We decided to play Pandemic instead. It was one of our favorite games at the time and I think we also thought we were being funny, or defiant, or something. It’s actually the last time we ever played it—just haven’t had the appetite for it after the real thing.

>15 StarryRiver: Ticket to Ride is my husband's all-time favorite game. He loves it. Congratulations on the new house and the board gaming room!

>16 AnneDC: just haven’t had the appetite for it after the real thing. I completely understand that, Anne.

Board gaming for me since January 3rd (we did not play any new games in 2026 until then):

Vantage - my favorite game of 2025
Tales of the Arthurian Knights - Kerry's favorite game of 2025
Ticket to Ride: South Korea
Cartographers - I played this one solo on Board Game Arena
Quacks of Quedlinburg
My City - continuing the campaign with Beth and Catey on BGA
Seikatsu (x2) - played on BGA with Beth and Catey
Just One (x2) - played on BGA with Beth and Catey
A Wild Venture (x2) - played for just the first and second times
Quest for Ed Dorado
Space Base - played on BGA with Kerry
Guild of Merchant Explorers - played on BGA with Kerry

As always, if you are interested in any of the games and have questions, I am more than happy to help. Further information is always available on www.boardgamegeek.com.

>17 alcottacre: We have a collection of over 100 games. I can no longer go up and down stairs, so our current game room isn't available to me. Hence the reason for the move to the new to us house. My great pyrenees likes to "help" us play board games. My all-time favorite game is "Settlers of Catan"; we have one of the first English-language editions.

>19 StarryRiver: Yeah, my cats occasionally like to help us play board games too, lol. I hope the new house means you are going to get more board games played, especially classics like Catan.

My mom and her husband really love Wingspan so I got them the new game Undergrove for Christmas, which is very similar but with mushrooms instead of birds. We've played a few times and it's pretty fun! And the art is beautiful, just like Wingspan.

>21 norabelle414: I love Wingspan too, Nora. There is a new expansion coming out soon and I am excited for it: Wingspan: Americas Expansion (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/461932/wingspan-americas-expansion). I have already preordered a copy!

I played a ton of games at my mother's house, but these are the games I have played at home recently:

Colony
First Rat
Tenpenny Parks
The White Castle - we played this one on BGA
Empires of the North - solo
Vantage - solo
Witchstone
Istanbul
My City - played on BGA with Beth and Catey
Diced Veggies - played on BGA with Catey
Aquatica - we played this one on BGA
Zapotec
Endeavor: Deep Sea

As always, if you are interested in any of the games and have questions, I am more than happy to help. Further information is always available on www.boardgamegeek.com.

We had a game night at my house last week (wow it's been a week already!) but we only played two games. Betrayal at House on the Hill (I ended up the secret traitor, it was fun) and Clank! Legacy. Plans for follow-up board games this weekend were fouled by work plans and winter storms.

>24 elorin: I am very lucky in that my gaming 'group' consists of me and my husband :) We had a blast playing Clank! Legacy a few years back but have not gotten around to playing the second iteration of it. Are you playing the first or second, Robyn?

>25 alcottacre: I googled Clank! Legacy to make sure I was using the right terminology and I wasn't. I don't have the legacy game just the original Clank! with the game board. Now I'm excited about yet another Clank! to acquire.

>26 elorin: There are actually 2 Clank! Legacy games at this point, Robyn: Clank! Legacy - Acquisitions Incorporated (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/266507/clank-legacy-acquisitions-incorporated) and Clank! Legacy 2 - Acquisitions Incorporated - Darkest Magic (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/383010/clank-legacy-2-acquisitions-incorporated-darkest-m)

It has been far too long since I reported in here. We have played quite a few games in the meantime:

The Mandalorian Adventures
Wondrous Creatures
Chronicles of Avel
Mythwind - I play this one solo
Ark Nova - played on BGA with Catey
Witchstone x2
Istanbul x2
Aquatica x 2 - we have played this both on BGA and the physical copy recently
Diced Veggies - I played this one solo on BGA
Zapotec
Endeavor: Deep Sea x2
Roll Player - I played this one solo on Steam
My City - played on BGA with Beth and Catey
Seikatsu - played on BGA with Beth and Catey
After Us - Kerry and I played on BGA

As always, if you are interested in any of the games and have questions, I am more than happy to help. Further information is always available on www.boardgamegeek.com.

Game night at our house tonight. We played
Pushfight
Razzle
Pente
Pow!
Yahtzee
and had to give up on Train Ink because the dry erase markers wouldn't cooperate.

Recent games played at my house include:

Empires of the North - solo
Tales of the Arthurian Knights x2
Reforest - played on BGA with Beth and Catey
My City - played on BGA with Beth and Catey
Zapotec
Quacks of Quedlinburg
Fantastic Factories with the Manufactions expansion
Meadow
Pirates of Maracaibo - played on BGA with Kerry
Riverboat
Mythwind - solo

As always, if you are interested in any of the games and have questions, I am more than happy to help. Further information is always available on www.boardgamegeek.com.

We celebrated my wife's birthday today and played a few games.
Stack! is a stacking dice game which we may have played wrong, but is a lot of quick fun the way we played it. We played 4 rounds and scored it and will play again, I am sure.
Cthulhu Munchkin - my wife's first time playing Munchkin and it went okay. I have the Cthulhu 2 and Cthulhu 3 expansions for keeping it interesting the next time we play.

>31 elorin: Playing games wrong is just part of learning games, as far as I am concerned, Robyn. Sounds like you had a great time anyway!

>2 alcottacre: now I want a Place for All My Books!

I received a lovely Movie trivia card game for Christmas that i am gonna post as soon as I find it!

>33 Elanna76: It is a wonderful puzzly type game, Elanna. I crowdfunded the game so I received my copy early. I am not sure if it is available in retail yet or not.

Good luck finding your game!

Wow, I did not realize how long it has been since I posted here! Since March 1st, we have played:

Ark Nova - once solo and once with my daughter, Catey, on BGA
Witchstone
Aquatica
Istanbul
Tales of the Arthurian Knights
Zapotec
Endeavor: Deep Sea
Vantage - solo
First Rat
The Chronicles of Avel
Mythwind - solo
Dungeons, Dice, and Danger
My City - played with Beth and Catey on BGA
Earth - played with Beth and Catey on BGA
Heroes of Tenefyr
Lorenzo il Magnifico
After Us
The Castles of Burgundy
Riverboat
Karuba x 2
Rise of Augustus
Horrified
Blue Moon City
The Red Cathedral

As always, if you are interested in any of the games and have questions, I am more than happy to help. Further information is always available on www.boardgamegeek.com.

I just want to mention that Jacob and Caroline went to Prague for five nights, hand luggage only and took four board games with them! Being as Jacob probably took at least three books (if not more) I’m not sure where their clothes went!

>36 SandDune: I love that! It sounds like the way I pack for a trip!

So, in the first two weeks of April we have played:

Above and Below
Sparks
Dungeons, Dice, and Danger
Lorenzo il Magnifico
Wingspan Asia
Lands of Galzyr x 2
Empires of the North - solo
Transmissions x 2
Life of the Amazonia x 2
My City - played on BGA with Beth and Catey
7 Wonders Architects - played on BGA with Beth and Catey
Just One - played on BGA with Beth and Catey
Orleans x 2
Quadropolis x 2
Lord of the Rings
Altiplano
Sanctuary
Diceathlon - solo on BGA
Ark Nova - played on BGA with Catey
Earth - played on BGA with Catey
Cozy Stickerville x 2

As always, if you are interested in any of the games and have questions, I am more than happy to help. Further information is always available on www.boardgamegeek.com.

We got together with a friend and played Zombie Dice and Trogdor the Burninator

>39 elorin: Sounds fun! I hope you had a great time, Robyn!

So in the past week we have played:

Altiplano x2
Lord of the Rings
Vantage - solo
Cozy Stickerville x4
Lands of Galzyr
Life of the Amazonia
Transmissions
Orleans
Mythwind - solo
Quadropolis

As always, if you are interested in any of the games and have questions, I am more than happy to help. Further information is always available on www.boardgamegeek.com.

Since the last time I checked in here, we have played:

Endeavor: Deep Sea
Cozy Stickerville x5
The Red Cathedral
Transmissions
Life of the Amazonia
Altiplano
Ancient Terrible Things
Red Rising

As always, if you are interested in any of the games and have questions, I am more than happy to help. Further information is always available on www.boardgamegeek.com.

Since last week, Kerry and I have played:

Land of Galzyr
Cozy Stickerville x9 - we finished the second campaign yesterday
Harry Potter: Hogwart's Battle x2 - we have now embarked on a campaign of this one
Life of the Amazonia
Transmissions
Orleans

As always, if you are interested in any of the games and have questions, I am more than happy to help. Further information is always available on www.boardgamegeek.com.

Lots of game playing at my house since last week:

Life of the Amazonia - I gave this one a try solo while Kerry was out of town
Mythwind - solo
Harry Potter: Hogwart's Battle x2 - continuing our campaign
Altiplano
My City - played with Beth and Catey on BGA
Isle of Cats - played with Beth and Catey on BGA
Ark Nova - played with Catey on BGA
Earth - played with Catey on BGA
Vantage - solo
Transmissions

A lot more solo gaming than normal as Kerry was out of town for several days.

As always, if you are interested in any of the games and have questions, I am more than happy to help. Further information is always available on www.boardgamegeek.com.

Games played since last Friday:

Orleans
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle x 3 - it took us 3 tries to finally win game 7
Altiplano
Lands of Galzyr
Just One x2 - played on BGA with Beth and Catey
Tales of the Arthurian Knights
Orleans: Invasion - the cooperative version of Orleans
Guild of Merchant Explorers
Karuba x 2

As always, if you are interested in any of the games and have questions, I am more than happy to help. Further information is always available on www.boardgamegeek.com.

Jacob’s girlfriend is vey excited about a Bluey version of Catan. Can’t quite see how that one will work to be honest!

>46 SandDune: Can’t quite see how that one will work to be honest! Neither can I, Rhian! Lol

Wow, I cannot believe how long it has been since I posted here. I am just going to list the games we have played for the past week:

Finca x2
Cape May
Rats of Wistar x2
Discoveries: The Journals of Lewis and Clark
Isle of Cats - played on BGA with Beth and Catey
Just One x2 - played on BGA with Beth and Catey
Order of the Gilded Compass
Ark Nova - played on BGA with Catey
Rebuilding Seattle
Elder Sign
River Valley Glassworks

I played a ton of games in June when I visited my mother. However, I have done no solo gaming lately and I really need to get back to it!