Min Players: 2

Euchre, Spades, or Hearts… trick taking games are classics for a reason, but what if they could be more? 10+, 2-6 players, 15-30 minutes

The city of Solara needs your help! 12+, 2-5 players, 30-45 minutes

It’s another busy day in your tea garden. 12+, 2-4 players, 90 minutes

When I first saw Elemystic from Wise Wizard Games, it was so small I thought it was an expansion, not an entire game. 12+, 2 players, 20-30 minutes

Phrases like ‘tactical strategy game” and “easy to teach” don’t usually go together, but thanks to its clever graphic design, that actually works in Tacta. 10+, 2-6 players, 20-30 minutes

Milkman, from Dice Hate Me Games, takes you to a time when people were more directly connected to the origins of their food, much like today’s “farm to fork” movement. 10+, 2-4 players, 40-60 minutes

Watching spring flowers begin to bloom outside feels deliciously appropriate since this month’s game focuses on flowers, gardens, blooms, and butterflies. 8+, 2-4 players, 30 minutes

In Tower Up from Monolith, two to four players take the roles of construction companies expanding the city’s downtown. 10+, 2-4 players, 40-60 minutes

When I first saw Star Trek: Star Realms from UVS Games and Wise Wizard Games, my mental sound effects library immediately pulled up the swoosh-squeak of the original Enterprise’s doors — and, of course,“Engage!” and “Fire!” heard in several actors’ voices. 14+, 2-4 players, 20 minutes

During my first visit to the Origins Game Fair many years ago, someone standing nearby suddenly yelled, “All hail King Torg!” at the top of their lungs. 8+, 2-8 players, 2 hours

In The Rich and the Good from Ares Games, you’re a commodities trader in the midst of the Second Industrial Revolution. 13+, 2-5 players, 45-60 minutes

Confession time: I’m not a big fan of rummy games. 8+, 2-4 players, 30 minutes

I hope you’re hungry, because we’re bringing a sushi restaurant to your table. 8+, 2-5 players, 30-75 minutes

There are luck games and pure strategy games. 8+, 2 players, 15 minutes

You stand in the knee-deep grass of a rolling prairie. 14+, 2-4 players, 3-4 hours

There’s a certain joy that comes from playing an elegantly designed game. 14+, 2-4 players, 40-80 minutes

After a millennia of waiting, Gaia is ready to be reborn — and you and your fellow Shapers are ready to make it happen. 14+, 2-3 players, 60-90 minutes

Andreas Seyfarth’s Puerto Rico has been reprinted and expanded over the years and even given the deluxe anniversary treatment. 12+, 2-5 players, 90 to 150 minutes

Broken and Beautiful, from Left Justified Studio, is a deceptively wicked little game. 12+, 2-4 players, 15 minutes

Anyone who ever read the rules of Galaxy Trucker from Czech Games Edition knows that truckers can add a lot of different pieces to their craft, and they should add as many of all of them as possible. 8+, 2-4 players, 30 minutes

Cats get into everything. 10+, 2 players, about 20 minutes

When we gaze across the variety of game systems, our eyes always linger on asymmetrical games. 14+, 2-5 players, 90 minutes

We’ve seen lots of companies take the characters from a movie or TV show, slap them haphazardly onto a game framework, and count on fans to buy their creation just because of the name. 12+, 2-5 players, 50 minutes

Everyone who loves roleplaying games handles their character sheets and game notes in different ways. 14+, 2-5 players, 90 minutes

If any piece of literature deserves to be enshrined in a Fluxx deck, Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland stories certainly qualify. 8+, 2-6 players, 2 to set up; 5-30 to play

When a company comes out with a new, updated version for one of their classic games, you can pretty much count on two things: the new one will cost more — sometimes a lot more — and it’ll add a bunch of complicated new features so it’s harder to learn and takes longer to play. 8+, 2-4 players, 5 to set up; 20-60 to play

When your new dungeon turns out to be nothing but an empty cave, it’s time to channel your inner dungeon builder and get to work. 10+, 2-4 players, 4 to set up, 45-60 to play

Every student at the school of magic knows the dueling rules. 10+, 2 players, 3 to set up, 30-45 to play

Dice love to race. 14+, 2-4 players, 10 to set up, 30-60 to play

It’s good to be a deity. 8+, 2-5 players, 5 to set up, 45-60 to play

I grew up listening to my dad’s stores stories about working for Pan Am as a mechanic and then a pilot, so when a board game with the Pan Am globe appeared on the scene, I knew we had to give it a try. 12+, 2-4 players, 5 to set up, 60 to play

Starting any hobby can feel daunting. 13+, 2-5 players, 60 minutes

Many game people — our family included — have a long-standing love for the Looney Labs pyramids games. 10+, 2 (Homeworlds), 2-10 (Nomids) players, 30-60 minutes (Homeworlds), 2-10 minutes (Nomids)

Gardening is calm and patient work that demands skill, planning, and an eye for color and design. 10+, 2-4 players, 45-60 minutes

Sun, sand, shopping, and relaxing. 14+, 2-4 players, 5 minutes

Unicorns capture the imagination. 8+, 2-4 players, 3 to set up, 30-45 to play

A furtive glance and an almost imperceptible nod. 8+, 2-6 players, 5 to set up, 20-50 to play

Cooperative play, the challenge of balancing conservation with development, plus possibly the cutest meeples ever seen on a game board—all of that adds up to The Aquicorn Cove Board Game experience from Renegade Game Studios. 10+, 2-4 players, 5 to set up, 45-60 minutes to play

Almost anybody in pop culture fandom immediately recognizes a Funko Pop! 10+, 2-4 players, 5 to set up, 20-60 minutes to play

You don’t need to dig (well, scratch) very deeply to find cat ladies everywhere you look. 8+, 2-4 players, 5 to set up, 30 minutes to play

Welcome to Copenhagen’s historic Nyhavn ( or “New Harbor”) district. 8+, 2-4 players, 5 to set up, 30-60 minutes to play

Let’s start with the basics: In Volcanic Isle from Arcane Wonders, the island you’re on will sink. 13+, 2-4 players, 5 to set up, 45-60 minutes to play

“Tycoon.” For players who know and love it, that one word instantly defines the key parts of a whole genre of world-building games. 8+, 2-5 players, 5 to set up, 45-90 minutes to play

The dream of the Scorpius system started with such hope, but it turned dark over the years. 14+, 2-4 players, 5 minutes to set up, 45-60 minutes to play

Some years ago, legendary game designer Richard Garfield had a wild idea for a card game. 14+, 2 players, 2-3 minutes to set up, 45 minutes to play

The stage is set for chivalrous battle. 14+, 2 or 4 players, 4 to set up, 25-60 to play

Illustration ideas: Shield Maiden, High Noon, Honorable Combat, Priest of Anubis 14+, 2+ players, 4 to set up, 45 to play

Gazing across a garden of sculpted plants known as topiary brings joy to most any heart. 10+, 2-4 players, 4 to set up, 10-20 to play

If the artwork in Sentient from Renegade Games is accurate, we look forward to a future filled with shiny intelligent robots and fascinating strategic decisions. 12+, 2-4 players, 4 to set up, 30-60 to play

The story started simply enough, just like they always do: A beautiful French resort filled with beautiful people, beautiful paintings, and ugly secrets. 8+, 2-11 players, 1 to set up, 5-10 to play

Let’s get this out of the way up front: One of us watched more Doctor Who than the other one. 8+, 2-6 players, 1 to set up, 5-40 to play

Congratulations, Mayor! 8+, 2-4 players, 5 to set up, 30-60 to play

Ah, the intrigue of a royal court! 14+, 2-6 players, 5 to set up, 30-60 to play

It’s a bold land, filled with opportunity. 14+, 2-4 players, 5 to set up, 30-60 to play

If you love pizza and games — and really, who doesn’t love those things — then you need New York Slice from Bezier Games. 8+, 2-6 players, 5 to set up, 20-30 to play

City parks, theme parks, amusement parks, butterfly parks — but bear parks? 8+, 2-4 players, 5 to set up, 20-30 to play

You love Ticket to Ride. 10+, 2-5 players, 5 to set up, 60-120 to play

Trying to make a useful “beginner” version of anything takes some guts, especially if the topic at hand is more complex than explaining Dots and Boxes or successfully walking your dog. 13+, 2-7 players, 5-30 to set up, 30-60 minutes to play

The druids of Gaia face untold challenges, dangers, and opportunities in Mystic Vale: Vale of Magic, the new expansion for AEG’s Mystic Vale. 14+, 2-4 players, 5 to set up, 40-60 to play

Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time — back you were all in the pub, swapping tales of bravado over ales. 12+, 2-4 players, 10 to set up, 30-60 to play

When you open the 75th Anniversary Edition of Escape from Colditz by Osprey Games, you immediately realize this is no ordinary modern board game. 14+, 2-6 players, 5 to set up, 90-150 to play

Plenty of folks came to town looking to make their fortunes in gold, but not you — your vision looked different. 12+, 2-4 players, 5 to set up, 30-60 to play

Everybody loves wizards. 14+, 2-4 players, 10 to set up, 30-45 to play

Hop aboard your trusty ship to find adventure and fame in Islebound, the latest title from Red Raven Games. 13+, 2-4 players, 5 to set up, 90 to play

Oh, to have seen the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893! 10+, 2-4 players, 10 to set up, 30-40 to play

City planning must feel like designing a massive jigsaw puzzle — at least that’s what it looks like from the outside. 8+, 2-4 players, 5 to set up, 30-60 to play

Confession time: I always wanted to run an amusement park. 8+, 2-4 players, 10 to set up, 45-60 to play

If your lake cottage gaming crew longs for something light and fast to pump up the fun on summer nights, then try Flip the Bird, a new card game by Renegade Game Studios. 6+, 2-10 players, 10 to set up, 30-60 to play