Cracked LCD 13.8: The 10 Games Everyone Should Own
It's time for a list! This week Michael breaks down 10 boardgames everyone should have on the shelf.
Date: Thursday, March 04, 2010
Author: Michael Barnes
9. TWILIGHT STRUGGLE
TWILIGHT STRUGGLE is an amazing design, not only for how it deftly brings together American, European, and wargame design styles into comprehensive and utterly compelling package, but also because it demonstrates that games can describe things other than the ongoing war between elves and orcs or rutabaga farming in the Middle Ages. TWILIGHT STRUGGLE is about the Cold War, and the mechanics incredibly depict the ideologies, strategies, and concepts of this particular era of history. The game is filled to bursting with great period photographs, historical information, and incredible gameplay. Every game I’ve ever played has ended with a long discussion about events in the game, how things would have turned out if things had gone differently, and real-world politics. It’s a great way for two people to spend an evening gaming. I think it’s a better game than even vaunted card-driven wargames such as HANNIBAL: ROME VERSUS CARTHAGE or WE THE PEOPLE- and that’s saying a lot given the quality of those titles. Any of the three are well worth owning, but TWILIGHT STRUGGLE is the one that I think is the most important entry in a hobby gamer’s library.
10. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Cooperative games have been popular over the past couple of years and I think all gamers should have a good one on hand- co-op games give players a chance to work together toward a common goal and the good ones throw in psychological elements like suspicion and paranoia. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA is the best co-op game ever published, and whether or not you like the theme, the gameplay and its larger themes are completely universal and appealing to a wide audience. That being said, the game is second only to mighty DUNE in terms of demonstrating how a game can be completely designed around a licensed property and speak completely to all of the same themes and story concepts present in the source material. I’d almost be willing to argue that BATTLESTAR GALACTICA is likely the best board game published since SETTLERS OF CATAN. The only excuse for not owning this one is if you have some kind of aversion to seeing Edward James Olmos’ weathered face staring at you from the box graphics.
Questions or comments for Michael? Have your own Top 10 List? Send them along to wabner@gameshark.com.
