2013 Holiday Gift Guide—Gamers' Games
/Alright, here it is! It's our final list of gift suggestions for the 2013 Christmas season! These are games we suggest picking up for the tried and true gamer on your list. Many of these games we've played and reviewed, and others we're hoping to find under our tree in just under 2 weeks! So, here we go! Our list of gamers' games for 2013!
The Duke—In this 2-player abstract game, players maneuver their tiles in an attempt to capture their opponent’s Duke. Simple to learn, highly strategic, and there are plenty of expansions already available.
MSRP: $40 (Find it online)
Ages: 13 and up
Review: http://wp.me/p2hTk7-122
Suburbia—It’s like SimCity: The Board Game. I (Firestone) am completely enamored with this city-building tile game from Ted Bezier. And with a recently released expansion, this one gets better and better. The third printing will be available in January, but you might be able to preorder with your FLGS.
MSRP: $59.99 (Find it online)
Ages: 8 and up
Review: Coming soon!
Terra Mystica—This game is a beast. Lots going on. Lots of wood. Lots of variety in the various races. It’s a deep game where you’re trying to expand your race better than the others.
MSRP: $79.99 (Find it online)
Ages: 12 and up
Viticulture—An elegantly designed worker-placement game that has players taking on the roles of vineyard owners. Grow, crush, and bottle your way to success and become a master, vineyard...ist?
MSRP: $60 (Find it online)
Ages: 13 and up
Review: http://wp.me/p2hTk7-NA
Mage Wars—Okay, imagine Magic: The Gathering, except you pick your spells instead of drawing from a deck. That’s Mage Wars. You’re two mages battling each other, using spells and creatures and equipment, but you have all of your spells available at any time. It’s deep and fascinating and very, very good.
MSRP: $59.99 (Find it online)
Ages: 13 and up
Libertalia—This under-the-radar gem is a unique auction game where you’re a pirate captain trying to get the best treasure. You’ll play out your character cards and jockey for position.
MSRP: $49.99 (Find it online)
Ages: 14 and up
Bora Bora—The remarkable Stefan Feld came out with four games this year. And this was by far the best of the three I (Firestone) played. It’s a heavy Euro where you’re juggling 100 things in an effort to get VPs.
MSRP: $59.99 (Find it online)
Ages: 12 and up
Tzolk’in—This worker-placement game didn’t make our list last year because we hadn’t yet played it. Well, once we did we realized it’s one of the best ones out there. It’s innovative, tense, and so, so good.
MSRP: $59.99 (Find it online)
Ages: 13 and up
Review: http://wp.me/p2hTk7-u6
Thanks so much for reading, and have a great Christmas!
