Board Games to Try This Summer
Games & Quizzes
Board games are no longer about making smart words or seeing who can collect the most property while avoiding jail. There are several awesome games out there, and the summer is the ideal time to try some out. Board game whiz Mohan Krishnamoorthy has some recommendations for you.
Invite your friends
and enjoy a shared experience
Summer, for me, is a time to reflect on what holidays used to mean in a world that was perhaps less frenetic than it appears today. In an attempt to recreate a simpler time in today’s very different world, I often seek the refuge of Board Games. Here are five super games for you, based on summer in a way.
Relive the nostalgia of summer train journeys with Ticket To Ride (TTR)
TTR is one of the most popular games out there - where you compete to build a railway network across the country! Alan Moon, the designer of TTR used a combination of train carriages, a board with route possibilities and cards and a simple game mechanic to create the iPod of boardgames - Today, there are nearly 15 expansions of the basic game which is based on the US. Pick up an expansion and go on imaginary-travel through the UK, India, Asia, Germany or Switzerland!
Buy: Physical board | Android | iOS
Pay homeage to God of the Sun with Ra
Summer, for most of us might have involved getting burnt in the sun, playing cricket or football (some better than others!). Recreate that memory this game, which is one of legendary boardgame-maker Reiner Knizia’s best works. It combines an auction mechanism with set-collection (games where you need to collect stuff) and has a wonderful Egyptian theme to it. Players purchase tiles with their bidding tiles (their suns). It's super easy to learn and play, and ideal for summer afternoons indoors.
Buy: Physical board
Go on a Euro-trip with Ten Days In Europe!
Summer is also invariably about travel. And if you can't actually fly to Europe, no problem! This simple, quick, easy game will have you making your own tour, including modes of transport between chosen cities. During each player's turn, players try to make their tour 'feasible', and the first person to have all ten tiles satisfy the travel connection requirements wins. Fun!
Buy: Physical board
Indulge in watersport with Niagara!
What's summer without splashing around? Imagine rushing down rapids on a canoe in order to bring back previous jewels that are hidden along accessible embankments. What's more, the speed of the river changes, depending on the decisions of all the players and the weather (also in control of the players!). So other players may sabotage your well-laid plans and you may actually end up tipping over the edge and down the waterfall! What is also exciting about this game is the 3D setting that includes the imaginary river and the real (water)fall!
Buy: Physical board
Grow summer crops with Santiago
Summer is when most plants need irrigation the most. Imagine that dry day when a thunderstorm creates an aroma; that petrichor; that fresh, invigorating and sweet fragrance of rain against ground. And re-create that sense by playing this game - it's all about maintaining, cultivating and watering fields/paddocks. Bid for various types of plantation types in an auction, pick up the tiles (paddocks) you won, lay them, and manage the yield from the tile. You also get to be (or bribe) the canal overseer who decides where a canal will be built in that round. The more the bribe, the more the chances your paddocks will get irrigated! Depending on this, a tiles’ production/yield either increases or decreases or even becomes fallow. This is a really easy, wonderful, fun game with an easy game mechanic that integrates tightly to the overall concept.
Buy: Physical board
And finally, chill with Summer Resort!
But this time, you own the resort - this game is all about building the best resort to cater to all sorts of travellers. You can build cheap cottages, luxury rooms, and luxury suites. The more expensive buildings cost more and attract the quite demanding higher value guests. But the low-end all-weather guests are less demanding. This game includes a nice and simple worker placement mechanism that is quite easy and fun-filled.
Buy: Physical board
So, make the most of summer. Even if you're at home - you can get onto a train, a Eurotrip, canoe, or build a resort or a farm!
About Author
Mohan Krishnamoorthy is a board games nut who has three cupboards full of games! He loves classical music, the Himalayas, puns and mathematics. Catch him on Twitter here.
