Classics
Each of these classic games holds priceless nostalgic value. Unfortunately the actual game-play has not aged as well as the memories have. In search of a spiritual successor to these childhood treasures I have stumbled upon games that capture the original essence while innovating on the design. They serve as a testament to how far board games have come and how much life a new coat of paint can breathe into a well designed object.
Bingo > Karuba
This is a tile-laying race game with players starting with boards that are identical, and one player drawing tiles that they all will use. They race to get their explorers to temples first and earn points. Along the way they can collect additional points by collecting items off the paths they create. The game ends when one player gets all of their explorers to their corresponding temples or whenever the last tile is drawn and placed. Most points wins.
Candy Land > Gravwell
In Gravwell, players command spaceships that have been pulled through a black hole, transporting them into a different dimension. With each ship lacking fuel to get home, players must use the gravity of the nearest object to propel them to the warp gate that will take them home!
Dominoes > Kingdomino
Each turn, players select a new domino to connect to their existing kingdom, making sure at least one of its sides connects to a matching terrain type already in play. The order of who picks first depends on which tile was previously chosen, with better tiles forcing players to pick later in the next round. The game ends when each player has completed a 5x5 grid (or failed to do so), and points are counted based on number of connecting tiles and crown fire symbols.
Guess Who > Spyfall
At the start of each round players receive cards showing the same location (casino, traveling circus, pirate ship) except one player receives a card that says "Spy" instead of the location. Players then ask each other questions trying to guess who among them is the spy.
At any time during a round, one player may accuse another of being a spy. If all other players agree with the accusation, the round ends and the accused player has to reveal their identity. If the spy is uncovered, all other players score points. However, the spy can end a round by guessing the secret location; if their guess is correct, only the spy scores points.
Monopoly > Lords of Vegas
Earn money and prestige by building the biggest and most profitable casinos on "The Strip". You start with nothing but parking lots and dreams, but from there you build, sprawl, reorganize and gamble your way to victory. Score the most points investing in the most profitable development companies and putting the best bosses in control of the richest casinos. Put your dollars on the line . . . it's time to roll!
Battleship > Captain Sonar
Control a state-of-the-art submarine while trying to locate an enemy team's submarine in order to blow it out of the water before they can do the same to you. Be organized and communicate because a captain is nothing without his crew: the Chief Mate, the Radio Operator, and the Engineer.
All the members of a team sit on one side of the table and each take a role on the submarine. Roles include: the Captain, who is responsible for moving the submarine and announcing some details of this movement; the Radio Operator listening to the opposing captain's orders and try to decipher where that sub might be in the water; the Engineer working in the munitions room to prepare torpedoes, mines and other combat devices.
Looks like you can only go up from here!
Classics
Each of these classic games holds priceless nostalgic value. Unfortunately the actual game-play has not aged as well as the memories have. In search of a spiritual successor to these childhood treasures I have stumbled upon games that capture the original essence while innovating on the design. They serve as a testament to how far board games have come and how much life a new coat of paint can breathe into a well designed object.
Bingo > Karuba
This is a tile-laying race game with players starting with boards that are identical, and one player drawing tiles that they all will use. They race to get their explorers to temples first and earn points. Along the way they can collect additional points by collecting items off the paths they create. The game ends when one player gets all of their explorers to their corresponding temples or whenever the last tile is drawn and placed. Most points wins.
Candy Land > Gravwell
In Gravwell, players command spaceships that have been pulled through a black hole, transporting them into a different dimension. With each ship lacking fuel to get home, players must use the gravity of the nearest object to propel them to the warp gate that will take them home!
Dominoes > Kingdomino
Each turn, players select a new domino to connect to their existing kingdom, making sure at least one of its sides connects to a matching terrain type already in play. The order of who picks first depends on which tile was previously chosen, with better tiles forcing players to pick later in the next round. The game ends when each player has completed a 5x5 grid (or failed to do so), and points are counted based on number of connecting tiles and crown fire symbols.
Guess Who > Spyfall
At the start of each round players receive cards showing the same location (casino, traveling circus, pirate ship) except one player receives a card that says "Spy" instead of the location. Players then ask each other questions trying to guess who among them is the spy.
At any time during a round, one player may accuse another of being a spy. If all other players agree with the accusation, the round ends and the accused player has to reveal their identity. If the spy is uncovered, all other players score points. However, the spy can end a round by guessing the secret location; if their guess is correct, only the spy scores points.
Monopoly > Lords of Vegas
Earn money and prestige by building the biggest and most profitable casinos on "The Strip". You start with nothing but parking lots and dreams, but from there you build, sprawl, reorganize and gamble your way to victory. Score the most points investing in the most profitable development companies and putting the best bosses in control of the richest casinos. Put your dollars on the line . . . it's time to roll!
Battleship > Captain Sonar
Control a state-of-the-art submarine while trying to locate an enemy team's submarine in order to blow it out of the water before they can do the same to you. Be organized and communicate because a captain is nothing without his crew: the Chief Mate, the Radio Operator, and the Engineer.
All the members of a team sit on one side of the table and each take a role on the submarine. Roles include: the Captain, who is responsible for moving the submarine and announcing some details of this movement; the Radio Operator listening to the opposing captain's orders and try to decipher where that sub might be in the water; the Engineer working in the munitions room to prepare torpedoes, mines and other combat devices.
Looks like you can only go up from here!
Classics
Each of these classic games holds priceless nostalgic value. Unfortunately the actual game-play has not aged as well as the memories have. In search of a spiritual successor to these childhood treasures I have stumbled upon games that capture the original essence while innovating on the design. They serve as a testament to how far board games have come and how much life a new coat of paint can breathe into a well designed object.
Bingo > Karuba
This is a tile-laying race game with players starting with boards that are identical, and one player drawing tiles that they all will use. They race to get their explorers to temples first and earn points. Along the way they can collect additional points by collecting items off the paths they create. The game ends when one player gets all of their explorers to their corresponding temples or whenever the last tile is drawn and placed. Most points wins.
Candy Land > Gravwell
In Gravwell, players command spaceships that have been pulled through a black hole, transporting them into a different dimension. With each ship lacking fuel to get home, players must use the gravity of the nearest object to propel them to the warp gate that will take them home!
Dominoes > Kingdomino
Each turn, players select a new domino to connect to their existing kingdom, making sure at least one of its sides connects to a matching terrain type already in play. The order of who picks first depends on which tile was previously chosen, with better tiles forcing players to pick later in the next round. The game ends when each player has completed a 5x5 grid (or failed to do so), and points are counted based on number of connecting tiles and crown fire symbols.
Guess Who > Spyfall
At the start of each round players receive cards showing the same location (casino, traveling circus, pirate ship) except one player receives a card that says "Spy" instead of the location. Players then ask each other questions trying to guess who among them is the spy.
At any time during a round, one player may accuse another of being a spy. If all other players agree with the accusation, the round ends and the accused player has to reveal their identity. If the spy is uncovered, all other players score points. However, the spy can end a round by guessing the secret location; if their guess is correct, only the spy scores points.
Monopoly > Lords of Vegas
Earn money and prestige by building the biggest and most profitable casinos on "The Strip". You start with nothing but parking lots and dreams, but from there you build, sprawl, reorganize and gamble your way to victory. Score the most points investing in the most profitable development companies and putting the best bosses in control of the richest casinos. Put your dollars on the line . . . it's time to roll!
Battleship > Captain Sonar
Control a state-of-the-art submarine while trying to locate an enemy team's submarine in order to blow it out of the water before they can do the same to you. Be organized and communicate because a captain is nothing without his crew: the Chief Mate, the Radio Operator, and the Engineer.
All the members of a team sit on one side of the table and each take a role on the submarine. Roles include: the Captain, who is responsible for moving the submarine and announcing some details of this movement; the Radio Operator listening to the opposing captain's orders and try to decipher where that sub might be in the water; the Engineer working in the munitions room to prepare torpedoes, mines and other combat devices.
Looks like you can only go up from here!