Board games that don't leave you bored!

[Ttaskmaster]

I rather suspect there are three or four shops in each country in Europe that claim that crown... Notoriously competitive, game shops

In EG's case, it's more their reputation among customers and players, really. I haven't been there lately, but at one stage they had three whole floors of private gaming rooms to rent!

Open til 11pm, too!!

[Lucio]

Flash Point is surprisingly good fun, game based on putting out house fires, but you do need several sets to really get into it.

Blood Bowl by Games Workshop is an enjoyable 2 player game, and unlike their other properties, just the basic boxed set is good fun, or you can pick up extra teams at a sensible price.

[ik9000]

Pandemic - really good, and the android app is worth getting
Infiltration - really enjoy this, if anyone finds a computer version do let me know. Hacking and data extracting from the evil corporation. Should pique a few techy interests...
Settlers of Catan (particularly Cities and Knights) - a bit 2008 these days maybe, but still playable. CatanOnlineWorld can rot in hell however.
Race for the Galaxy - card based game derived from (and IMO much better than) Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico - enjoyable strategy game good for the family
Dominion
And the classic mah-jong meets rummy card game that is, and ever will be, Mhing
Oh and scrabble/super scrabble (obviously)

[Kanoe]

Me and my mates buy so many it's impossible list them all.

Some notable favourites:

Small World
Champions of Midgard - Worker Placement
Star Wars Carcassone - Great twist on a classic, intro's a bit of conflict as you can capture some things someone else has already claimed
Space Hulk
Fury of Dracula - Co-op and versus in one (takes a good few hours though)
Tsuro - tile placing game
Sentinels of the Multiverse - co-op super hero game, very very good, hell of a lot of expansions tho

One to avoid though is Legendary:Marvel, most expensive game i ever bought (dropped 70 notes on it) and no one enjoys playing it, not even me!

I tend to try and watch some people playing them first before buying but end up buying a lot cause i see people play them. If you want to find some good games check out the TableTop series on Geek and Sundry on you tube. Found many a good game from there.

[shaithis]

+1 for cards against humanity - riotous once people get the gist

Recently purchased Zombicide which I am quite enjoying 1-6 players!

[Galant]

+1 for Settlers of Catan. I've introduced a lot of people to the game, just the basic version, and no one yet has disliked it. The expansions are worth looking at too if you like it.

Milles Bornes is decent if you like a simpler card game that people can learn quickly. My copy is currently being borrowed by a friend.

Taking a different angle, on the 'party game' front Cranium is a decent amalgam (rip off?) of all the classic party games that show up - pictionary, trivia quizzes, charades, etc. If you're after less strategy and more involvement from a group, that's a decent one to have around.

[Dashers]

I've got Settlers of Catan but it's still sealed as it's a 3 player game. Has anybody played with unofficial 2 player rules, and is it any good?

[Ttaskmaster]

Most board-gamers will probably suggest Carcassonne, Settlers and Ticket To Ride... I just found them boring, especially once you get over the "I've got wood for sheep" jokes. Kinda like playing Cards Against Humanity for the second time.

Wil Wheaton used to host a pretty decent YouTube show where he and some friends played through different games, to give you an idea of what they're like.

[ik9000]

I've got Settlers of Catan but it's still sealed as it's a 3 player game. Has anybody played with unofficial 2 player rules, and is it any good?

the 2 player rules are official, and contained in one of the expansions. It plays ok, not quite as much fun as 3+ but it still works. You create one/two neutral players and each turn you alternate at who gets to add some stuff to their roads etc so there's a tactical element to the ghost players. Google will find the rules (look for the Traders & Barbarians rule pack). I can send you a pdf of them (from the official site) if you can't locate them anymore.

[Dashers]

Most board-gamers will probably suggest Carcassonne, Settlers and Ticket To Ride... I just found them boring, especially once you get over the "I've got wood for sheep" jokes. Kinda like playing Cards Against Humanity for the second time.

Wil Wheaton used to host a pretty decent YouTube show where he and some friends played through different games, to give you an idea of what they're like.

Any suggestions from your own experience?

[Ttaskmaster]

Any suggestions from your own experience?

I'm more into the older ones, like Hnefetafl. Most modern ones all seem like variations on a theme, really.

We did get a fair bit of repeat games and playtime out of something called Citadels. Not so much a board game, as just a deck of cards, but pretty good. It takes a fair few games until you figure out how people play when they draw each character, and the whole thing is a different challenge when you bring in someone new.

Apples to Apples can be good, especially as an ice-breaker, but only if you have some witty players.

[Dashers]

Citadels looks quite interesting, might pick that one up sometime.

[Zak33]

although not a board game I suggest DOBBLE and UNO for card games

Dobble after a few bottles of something stronger than tea, with your mates, is a total riot

simple as hell but mind meltingly hard to win over and over

[MaddAussie]

I really like Lords of Waterdeep for a good worker placement game, and I love A Small World

[Ravens Nest]

although not a board game I suggest DOBBLE and UNO for card games

Dobble after a few bottles of something stronger than tea, with your mates, is a total riot

simple as hell but mind meltingly hard to win over and over

I love UNO and Forbidden island i still enjoy a game of Monopoly or Payday though.

[Zak33]

there are LOADS of quality games oyut there, aren't there?

makes me smile