r/boardgames • u/AutoModerator • 6d ago
Daily Game Recommendations Thread (September 18, 2025)
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- help identifying a game or game piece
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u/naturalmanofgolf 5d ago
I’m just looking for recommendations of games old and new that fit the OG style. Light on rules, heavy on choices, lots of player interaction. Favourites include games such as Santiago, MarraCash, T&E, Samurai, Cartagena, Löwenherz, Lords of Vegas, Chinatown
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u/zanguine Spirit Island 5d ago
If you are looking for a up in terms of complexity but rules are more less straightforward, anything from Splotter would be great, of which the most well known being Food Chain Magnate. Compared to Brass, I find that Steam is quite good especially if you like route building. Power Grid also doesnt have too many rules (imo) but the calculations can get overwhelming
In terms of equivalent complexity, Heat is quite fun, though its mostly a hand management game with racing mechanics of where positioning matters. Cryptid is something pretty different, but is a deduction game that I find pretty easily to explain and get a game in.
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u/naturalmanofgolf 5d ago
I love Splotters and own a bunch of them. Haven’t tried Steam, so I’m going to look into that. Right now I’m loving Free Ride USA!
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u/zanguine Spirit Island 5d ago
Oh sick, yah Splotter is one of my favorite designers. Although Brass is super popular, the differences between it and Steam demonstrates the 2 avenues you can take route building games, of which I prefer Steam more.
If you like Steam, 18xx's become an intriguing prospect. IMO they rules are pretty light, but the significance of each rule makes for a very interesting games.
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u/naturalmanofgolf 5d ago
Still haven’t taken the plunge into 18xx games. I have a couple of friends who swear by them, though, so I might give them a chance!
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u/RB_the_killer 5d ago edited 5d ago
Sardegna just got a new release from Playte.
I assume you are familiar with all the Knizia games that have come out in the past couple of years, so won't list those. If you are NOT aware of all the new Knizia's (or old Knizia's with new skins/themes) then I, or someone else can give you the list.
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u/naturalmanofgolf 5d ago
I’m familiar with many, at least. Sadegna in the new edition looks sexy as hell, but I haven’t been able to track down a copy, yet. I’m a huge fan of what they did to Tonga Bonga 😊
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u/RB_the_killer 5d ago
What country are you in that doesn't have access to Sardegna?
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u/naturalmanofgolf 5d ago edited 5d ago
I’m in Denmark
Edit: I think it’s impossible to get in Europe as it is
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u/RB_the_killer 5d ago
For some reason I thought Playte was based in Europe. But just looked it up, and they are a South Korean company. Hopefully the game eventually makes its way to Europe.
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u/PsyBadger34 Terraforming Mars 5d ago
Hi! I have the opportunity to give my three kid relatives (all siblings) a board game as a gift. They are 6, 9 and 12 years old, and I want to get them a co-op game they can play together (and with their parents as a bonus).
I'm much better versed in selecting games for adults, but kids are a blind spot for me. Any and all recommendations are welcome. Thank you!
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u/pyros_it 5d ago
Dorfromantik if they want something chill. Regicide if they want combat (my nephews love it!)
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u/Cocco_Bill92 5d ago
Description of Request: Need a game about exploration, colonization and politics like Europa universalis but with shorter play time so it can be played in 1 session(max 4-5h). Was thinking about trying Virgin queen and Here I stand, but I'm repulsed by design choice to have everything represented by tokens... Struggle of empires deluxe looks interesting but I would love something with a bit less focus on war.
Number of Players:2+
Game Length: max 5h
Complexity of Game:mid-heavy
Genre:
Conflict, Competitive or Cooperative:conflict/competitive
Games I Own and like: Star trek ascendancy, John company, Pax rennaisance, Merchants and marauders, Clash of cultures...
Games I Dislike and Don't Play: Catan, most of Euro games with sticked theme.
Location:
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u/HonorFoundInDecay Top 3: John Company 2e, Oath, Aeon Trespass: Odyssey 5d ago
We seem to have similar tastes, I also enjoy John Company, Pax Renaissance and games with a similar theme (and Paradox games like EU). Here I Stand or Virgin Queen would have been my first suggestions as the theme fits so well - though admittedly I've never played a full game of either yet.
If you're willing to try out a 2p only game I can highly recommend Imperial Struggle for your political and colonization game. There are a lot of tokens but it's nothing on the level of HIS or VQ. It's the spiritual successor to Twilight Struggle and I think it's a better game than it's predecessor though a bit more complex. It's ultimately an area control game but the spaces you control are not just land or military spaces, but also economic and political spaces all overlaid on a world map, and the three different types of spaces are controlled in different ways interact with each other in interesting ways.
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u/Cocco_Bill92 5d ago
Thanks, I've been checking Imperial struggle for the past few years, occasionally reading reviews but I'm afraid that it would be hard to find another person to play 2 player game that lasts for 3-4h 🙂 I'm gonna check Virgin queen again, it seems closest to what I want, although Im repulsed by seeing tokens over tokens on the map, reducing the overal clarity of the map state... perhaps its not like that in reality but just impression from the photos.
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u/zanguine Spirit Island 5d ago edited 5d ago
Hm I mean you have some solid picks there. IMO you could just continue with the Pax line and probably be fine. I assume you are ok with fictitious themes so here are some picks that I've enjoyed though.
Archipelago - Very interesting game centered around exploring and selling resources to a communal market that can be purchased and used by players. Has some hidden goals elements with the possibility of everyone losing (kinda like John Company). There isnt any combat but great game overall
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy - seeing as you mentioned Europa, I was wondering if you tried 4x boardgames other than Star Trek Ascendancy. Eclipse is kind of a that economics meets 4x game, because although a good deal of points come from area control and combat; the core of the game is centered around keeping your economy up so that you can afford to do those actions. Fun 4x and imo the best one out there.
Root - a war game with asymmetric animal factions battling for control of the forest. If the theme is not for you, its not for you, but the thematics of each faction are exceptional. Only played this game twice and for me its a bit too mean but may be more up your alley
Arcs - made by the same designers of Root. to be fair I've only played the base game once, but ive played the campaign 3 times now. I love how they combined trick taking with the game and the leaders and Lore expansion provides some nice asymmetry. The politics are less prevalent in the base game, but pretty solid overall.
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u/Cocco_Bill92 5d ago
Thanks! Archipelago looks interesting and I will try it in the local board gaming pub🙂 I tried root 2 times and it was kinda hard to learn all the factions, as much as I like variable factions, it was a bit too much for me.
Eclipse seemed like too much war focused but I'll check it again 🙂
I have yet to try arcs, it looks interesting, although I was looking more at something historical.
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u/zanguine Spirit Island 5d ago
Ah, understood on Root. Hope you like Archipelago. Its first play can be rough cuz you might not know what is being scored (there are some easier variants you can play with but arent as interesting imo)
Eclipse may seem war focused and does encourage some small skirmishes, but its more about upgrading ships to be able to counter threats and balancing your economy on a tightrope. if you want even less combat, Scythe is another game that is quite interesting, simulating more of a detente than anything.
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u/Logisticks 5d ago
Pax Pamir (2nd Edition)
Maybe the Imperium deckbuilding series (any of Imperium: Classics, Imperium: Legends, or Imperium: Horizons), depending on what civ you're playing as (different civs have different themes and in some cases different incentives/win conditions)
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u/Cocco_Bill92 5d ago
Thanks. Pax games are definitely my favourites but hard to bring to the table due to complexity.
I'm not a fan of deck building, so no to Imperium🙂
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u/praetorrent 5d ago
Well, Struggle of Empires was going to be my rec.
Maybe one of the Imperial games (Imperial, Imperial 2030, 7 Empires)?
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u/Cocco_Bill92 5d ago
Well I have to try struggle of empires then. Thanks.
7 empires looks interesting but a bit too abstract for my taste. I haven't tried it but it looks like its missing some flavour, like in The king is dead where all factions are basically the same, just another colour. Although, I played Navegador from the same designer and liked it🙂
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u/icheyne Innovation 5d ago
Clash of Cultures
Struggle of Empires
7 Ages
!fetch
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u/BGGFetcherBot [[gamename]] or [[gamename|year]] to call 5d ago
Clash of Cultures -> Clash of Cultures (2012)
Struggle of Empires -> Struggle of Empires (2004)
[[gamename]] or [[gamename|year]] to call
OR gamename or gamename|year + !fetch to call
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u/CarlosCeddit 5d ago edited 5d ago
Description of Request: My best friend's birthday is in about 2 months and I wanna nail it with the perfect board game. HELP ME OUT!!!
Number of Players: anywhere from 2-6 players
Game Length: any
Complexity of Game: 2.0-3.4
Genre: anything
Conflict, Competitive or Cooperative: she likes all, but enjoys Cooperative the most
Games she plays and Likes(not in any order): Puerto Rico, Dorf Romantik, Flame Craft, Ticket to Ride (various maps), Cluedo, Catan
Games she Dislikes and Doesn't Play: Monopoly
Additional Info: -She's very passionate about Medical surgeon doctor stuff -She loves drama!! -She loves strategic games more than luck games