The 10 Best 'Not as Common' Board Games and/or Card Games by Logan Watson

As I spent my Valentine’s Day playing board games with a bunch of dudes, basically cold brochillin’ on a nice winter’s night, a great list idea dawned on me for The Ten Things Blog: The Ten Best ‘Not As Common’ Board Games and/or Card Games:

1. Settlers of Catan

Settlers of Catan

Who doesn’t like pretending they’re Meriwether Lewis or William Clark or heck, even Sacagawea on a Friday night, exploring the mysterious, beautiful, unsettled land of Catan.

2. Ticket to Ride

Let’s face it, us board gamers were born in the wrong generation! Ticket to Ride helps us live out the glory days of passenger railroads dominating the United States transportation system, instead of this Federal Highway stuff.

3. Bang!

I seriously cannot stress enough the joy of pretending to be in a different era and location! “Bang!” takes you back to the Wild, Wild, West…or is it Italy? Who cares?! This game is a hit.

Pegs and Jokers

4. Pegs & Jokers

The fact that this game flies under the radar, (it’s not even mass produced) helps build up the true fun Pegs & Jokers brings. Finding its roots in the old game, Aggravation, you will want to play Pegs & Jokers again & again.

5. Carcassonne

Farms. Towns. Roads. The goal of the game is getting your meeples to maximize your points on these three things. Don’t understand? You’ll have to check it out for yourself!

6. Munchkin

Have you ever thought to yourself, “I really want to play Dungeons & Dragons” but you know, you don’t actually want to play Dungeons & Dragons? This is the game for you.

7. Dominoes

Whether it’s Mexican Train, Matador, Chicken Foot, Draw, or just the old-fashioned way of playing, Dominoes will always be a staple for a fun, rainy day.

8. Hand & Foot

There are many different ways to play this game, and I’ll admit, the way my folks and I play it is way more fun than any other variation I’ve seen, but again, the rainy days fly by when you play hand and foot. Disclaimer: you don’t even have to have all your hands and feet to play!

9. Monopoly Deal

A fun, new spin off a tried-and-true game.

10. Forbidden Island

Are you tired of everyone leaving your game nights mad at each other? Look no further! Everyone competes on a team in Forbidden Island against the board. Everyone leaves mad at the game, not each other!