Board and card game reviews and recommendations

If you like dice games you might like Frakle.  

Codenames is simple and teams don’t even have to be even. People can flux in and out .

Snorta is a fun one for all ages and I think up to 8 or maybe 10 can play. Super easy to learn.

Doodle Dice, again, all ages, several people can play and it is easy to learn.

UNO No Mercy is fun! Last year it was hard to find, but I snagged us a deck without buying from a reseller. We also just got a "Catchables" game of Exploding Kittens, which just cracks us up.

Oh! Battleship Shots is good, too, but you'll be chasing balls a lot.

Splendor was our most-played board game until we found Century and its sequels.  (We played the “Century Golem Edition line - same game as just “Century” but with more colorful art and graphics.)  Splendor is great, Century Golem and Century Golem Edition Eastern Mountains are even better!!

And for dice games, Farkle is our stand-out go to for quick and fun.  It’s really easy to learn and moves quick around even a big table of family!!

I have played Cascadia (it's in my post on this thread) and Ark Nova.  Ark Nova is really fun, but it's a long game (3 hours) no matter how many people are playing so it doesn't get played as often.  

Zombie Dice is the game I always reach for when dealing with board game muggles. It teaches in about 30 seconds, works for groups of almost any size and age, is nigh indestructible and easy to carry. Honorable mentions to Liar's Dice, Sushi Go and Kingdomino.

I just bought Uno no mercy at Target. Glad to hear it’s fun. I need to pull out Exploding Kittens.

We had a gaming day last month for a family birthday. It was great fun! These are our current favourites:

Ransom Notes - you have about 50-70 magnetic words (like fridge poetry) and use them to answer a writing prompt. Examples - describe the sleeping arrangements to your new cell mate, the best things about being single. For adults!

Colour Brain - questions are identifying colours - e.g. the colours of the Domino's logo, the Olympic rings, Super Mario's shoes, etc. Each team has the same number of colour cards, and submits the ones they think answers the question. Incredibly easy to learn, fun to play and suitable for all ages.

Shit Happens - this was really interesting and lead to lots of discussion. 200 different situations are graded in awfulness, and you have to decide where each card fits in to the situations you already have. Example - is watching a porn movie with your parents worse than or better than bed bugs, or having the wrong limb amputated? Very easy to learn, definitely for adults. 

Soundlicious - opposing members have to guess what word you have on you card, based solely on you trying to replicate the sound it makes. Easy when it’s a cow, less easy when it’s a hand blender. Works for all ages. 

Tension - each person/team has to name 10 items in a category, but it has to be the same 10 as are on the card read by the opponent. So Girls' Names beginning with S might have Sarah, and Sheila, but not Sylvia or Simone. There is a timer if you choose to use it. Highly frustrating, but great fun! 

Ransom Notes…SO funny. Described above.

Ravine…more cooperative. Good for 4 or more. You are survivors of a plane crash and have to survive until rescued. You work together to build shelter, keep your fire lit, stay fed, etc.

Cover Your Assets…card game where you make pairs of items, try and protect them from being stolen and try and steal others items.

Bohnanza…another card game. You plant rows of beans. It sounds so lame and odd, but it’s SO MUCH FUN. I played it at a friends and came home and bought it right after. You do need 3+ to play.

In my cart are Cracklist and That Sound Game. I always buy a game for each of my immediate family members for Christmas I need two more…off to check some of your suggestions.

Left, Right, Center is a fun game.
Pit is also fun but an older game also Tripoly both older games.

Phase 10
Five Crowns
Uzzle
Dominoes