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Home >
Columns > Unplugged > #78: It's Time for Nickel and Dime
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by Dr. Matt Carlson
January 11, 2008
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A look at my most-played boardgames of 2007.
In what has become something of a tradition, boardgame fans on the internet take time at the start of each new year to look back on what games they played the most. The games are put into two main categories, the "dimes" or games that that have been played 10 or more times and "nickels" which have been played at least five times. While this will tend to favor shorter, lighter games (sometimes called "fillers" as they fill time between longer, deeper games) it can still give some insight into which games are liked well enough to be frequently brought to the table. This is particularly nice for the GamerDad Unplugged setting as many readers are more interested in games that are a good fit for family gaming or more casual gaming with friends.
It is also interesting to look back over recent years five and dime information to see if there are games that stand the test of time or are just a one-year flash in the pan. The first nickel and dime list posted on GamerDad was for 2005, feel free to read it in all its glory. I didn't post a public list in 2006, but I've included it below for reference. On to the lists!
In 2005:
Dimes: For Sale
Nickels: Dilbert, HeroScape, Bang!, Cartagena, Gloom, Heroes Incorporated, Memoir '44, Shadows over Camelot, Fist of Dragonstones.
While only one game was played 10+ times, none of the nickels are particularly short, meaning it was a pretty good year for medium-length games.
In 2006:
Dimes: No Thanks!, Bang!, Tsuro, Fairy Tale, For Sale, Puerto Rico
Nickels: Caylus, Poison, Bohnanza, Dancing Eggs, BattleLore, Dragons of Kir, Pepper, Zendo
With the exception of Puerto Rico (and possibly Bang!), this was the year of the fast-playing dimes. If you're looking for a fun game that can be finished in less than 30 minutes any of the dimes in this list are a good choice.
In 2007:
Dimes:Owner's Choice, Ca$h `n Gun$, No Thanks!, Ricochet Robots
Nickels: Wits & Wagers, Stonehenge, HeroScape, Bang!, Medici, To Court the King, Can't Stop, Ra, San Juan, Treehouse
No Thanks! finally dethrones For Sale as my go-to portable, fast-playing card game while Bang! loses some ground due to my extended absence from the local high school's gaming club (who like it enough to keep the local game stores out of stock on a regular basis.)
Dimes of 2007
- Owner's Choice
(Z-man Games) - This game of buying and selling stocks deserves special note. Reviewed a few columns ago, the game revolves around a set of special dice that determine the fate of four different companies. Players invest in the companies while whoever owns the most stock in a company has slightly more control over its destiny. This game came out in the fall but still managed to be my most played game of the year. Its simple mechanisms aren't all that far off of Monopoly (buying and selling things which sometimes give you income) so it is very easy to teach to non-gamers, but it only takes 15 to 30 minutes. This means we can squeeze it in during a break at the school gaming club or play it several times in succession so players can try out different strategies each time. While it isn't high on the hit list of the boardgame community, it falls in a perfect balance of risk, strategy, fast playing times, and player interaction for playing with the local high school group (and would work great as a family game as well.
- Ca$h `n Gun$
(Asmodee USA) - Another fun fall acquisition, Ca$h `n Gun$ is a great game to start an evening. Players are each given a deck of bullet cards and an orange Styrofoam gun. Banknotes are spread out in the middle of the table. Players place a bullet card face-down on the table and then simultaneously point their foam guns at each other. Players then play a game of chicken trying to decide who has loaded their gun with a live bullet card and who is packing a blank (players are limited to 3 live bullet cards per game). Players who bow out avoid getting shot and injured, and any uninjured players after cards are revealed are divide up the central spoils. Everyone then resets with a new bullet card and the game continues until the end of the 8th round when everyone's bullet cards are used up. With some strategy and plenty of fun, in-your-face bluffing this game can easily loosen up a somewhat reserved group of players. Again, it plays fast (in about 30 minutes or less) so can be taught and played with a minimum of fuss. A full review appeared on GamerDad Unplugged back in October 2007.
- No Thanks!
(Z-Man Games) - In this quick little card game, players either have to take a card or pay a chip onto the card to pass. If you take the card, you gain the points on the card but also get any chips on the card (which are worth negative points at the end of the game.) Players try to get the smallest score possible. Thus, as cards accumulate chips they become more attractive to players If you run out of chips, you are forced to take whatever card comes up (so players have to pick up a few cards at some point to replenish their chip supply.) Mentioned many times in this column (first reviewed back in June of 2006 No Thanks! continues to be my default portable game when I'm trying to coax a non-gamer into trying out a new game. A card game that can fit in my pocket (just barely) I take it when I travel to visit friends and relatives and there might be a possible chance to convince folks to take in a game.
- Ricochet Robots
(Rio Grande Games) - Almost more of a group puzzle than a game, this was a big hit in my gaming circle last spring and summer. Players attempt to find the quickest route to move a robot from its starting square to a revealed location. The robot has to move in a straight line until it hits something and then it can turn and go a new direction. To make things complicated, players can also move three other robots around on the board to try to help create the shortest route. Players bid on the minimum number of moves it requires to move the robot and the lowest bidder (ties go to anyone who is behind in points) gets to show the solution. This game can be played with any number of folks who can fit around the table and try to solve the game. Very popular with people who are good at spatial thinking and some logic puzzles (exercise that Tetris muscle, people!) A full review of the game was posted in June of 2007
Nickels of 2007
Many of the "nickels" of the past year are classics from previous years that hit the table with regularity, but not quite the passion of their initial release. Of particular note are Wits & Wagers by NorthStar Games (a party trivia game with betting) and To Court the King by Rio Grande Games (a sort of advanced Yahtzee with special powers) both of which managed 5+ plays despite being acquired in the early fall. Stonehenge (by Titanic Games) is an interesting game in that it is a collection of game components that five famous designers used to create five different games in one. More games developed by other players can be downloaded from the company's web site. Medici is a classic auction game that I only recently acquired, it is fairly simple but is challenging to play well. Can`t Stop is a fun little dice game of pushing one's luck and Ra is yet another auction game with a fun Egyptian theme but it also incorporates a strong portion of risk and luck-pushing. San Juan is a nice little card game that has similarities to the excellent Puerto Rico but doesn't take as long to play, and Treehouse is a quick little puzzle type game using the pieces of the game Zendo. Finally, Bang! is card game of an old-west shootout and Heroscape is an inexpensive miniatures wargame. Both are great for teens and I highly recommend them for that age group (particularly for males).
I had a great year of game playing in 2007 and look forward to more in 2008, I wish you luck in your past and upcoming gaming.
Want to play the game but can't find it in your local mega-mart or chain toy store? Most game specialty stores (stores that primarily sell games) will either stock the game or know how to obtain it for you.
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Columns > Unplugged > #78: It's Time for Nickel and Dime
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