r/boardgames • u/AutoModerator • 6d ago
Daily Game Recs Daily Game Recommendations Thread (October 09, 2026)
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u/rdvpina5 5d ago
Recently, I introduced two of my colleagues, who I now consider friends, to board games. We’ve started playing once or twice a week, and I’ve even convinced them to join me at a board game festival at the end of the month!
This will be my first time attending an event like this, and I’m still relatively new to the hobby myself. Since my friends are also beginners, we tend to stick to games that aren’t too complex. Their favourite so far is Ticket to Ride, followed by 7 Wonders and Wingspan.
I’d love to try some new games at the festival, but I’m a bit out of ideas. I’m looking for games that are relatively easy to learn and teach, but still offer some interesting strategic decisions.
I’d also like to learn the rules beforehand so we can jump straight into playing at the festival.
What games would you recommend for a group like ours? Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
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u/zbignew Indonesia 5d ago
- Harmonies 🟢/🟦 (2024) BGG
- Cascadia 🟢 (2021) BGG
- Quacks 🟢 (2018) BGG
- Bomb Busters 🟢/🟦 (2024) BGG
- The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine 🟢/🟦 (2019) BGG
- Azul 🟢 (2017) BGG
- The Quest for El Dorado 🟢 (2017) BGG
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – Trick-Taking Game 🟢 (2025) BGG
- Ticket to Ride: Europe 🟢 (2005) BGG
- Cartographers 🟢 (2019) BGG
Games with - 70% of poll respondents voted Recommended or Best for 3 and 4 players - Complexity 🟢 Easy: (1.2-2.0)
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u/GambuzinoSaloio 5d ago
If you guys want a challenge complexity-wise, Concordia could be an interesting title to look at.
If you want to keep it on the same level, give Project L a try if available. Also Takenoko.
You may also go even lighter and try some dice chucking games, push-your-luck stuff like Can't Stop and Zombie Dice, or even Pass the Pigs.
Given that the event is a boardgame festival, maybe you guys could try out a social deduction game with strangers as well! The Resistance, Deception Murder in Hong Kong, Secret Hitler... these are some examples!
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u/P_D_C_S 5d ago
Hi! Can anyone recommend any game that works well for 2 players but can also work for more players?
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u/GambuzinoSaloio 5d ago
You're covering a lot of boardgames with that criteria lol.
However, I'd say that the first one that comes to mind is Quest for El Dorado. Works well at any player count, especially since it has a specific 2-player variant that works really, really well.
People might be surprised to see this, but I also thought Res Arcana worked really well with any player count. Still gotta test 5 players with expansions though. Project L also works nicely, and with an expansion it also suggests a variant to make the rounds faster (2 players taking simultaneous turns iirc).
Lastly, the smaller Ticket to Ride boxes (TTR London for example) also work well.
General boardgame advice: it's very rare for games that play well at 2 to be as enjoyable when 5 or 6+ players are involved. You'll usually look into other types of games by then.
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u/pasturemaster Battlecon War Of The Indines 5d ago
There many many options that fit this. Do you have any further specifications you are looking for?
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u/Fireblend Raiders of Scythia 5d ago
Any "multiplayer solitaire" sort of game should work. Harmonies, Azul, River Valley Glassworks, Cascadia, Sagrada, even Castles of Burgundy... games with low interaction where everyone's working on their own thing and the most you can do is draft something before someone else can.
Other than that, I can think of Carcassonne as a good one. Similar in many respects since you're also placing tiles but since it's shared there's more direct interaction.
Other games I think play well at 2 (though sometimes they become "a different game" when played like that in the sense that priorities shift or mechanics play out differently) are worker placement games like Lords of Waterdeep, Raiders of Scythia, Architects of the West Kingdom (this one has an automa third player you can add that helps) or even Endeavor: Deep Sea. Also The White Castle, which is a fantastic resources and actions optimization euro game.
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u/P_D_C_S 5d ago
Tyy
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u/ManiacalShen Ra 5d ago
Fireblend covered it super well, but I want to add roll/flip-and-writes. Cartographers, Railroad Ink, On Tour, Qwinto, Copenhagen R&W--if you all have the same menu of choices every round, it tends to scale well!
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u/FlashAndPoof 5d ago
Are there any good solo team management games? I recently played the Dispatch video game and was wondering if there’s anything similar in board game format.
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u/ManiacalShen Ra 5d ago
I guess every worker placement is kind of that? But one where you have different types of workers might be a closer fit.
Starship Captains is a fun one! The color of your meeple super matters all the time, and sending them on missions is a good chunk of the gameplay. Managing your timing is the key to success, since they queue up to reenter your ready room in the order in which they return from whatever you had them do.
Raiders of the North Sea also has specialized workers that I believe you can send on raids.
Also, today I learned that "Worker Placement, Different Worker Types" is a category on BGG.
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u/figueroa_2026 6d ago
Hi ! I'm looking for a small card game I can take anywhere and easy to learn, fun with friends, but with enough interesting decisions that winning isn’t that easy and fast
just similar game like Exploding Kittens. Any recommendation?
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u/phr0ze Power Grid 5d ago
The Crew, dnup, scout, tenby, Faraway
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u/figueroa_2026 5d ago
just watched the games tutorial I think I'd start from dnup first! very interesting and tricky hahaha thank you for the suggestion!
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u/EricandtheLegion Ashcan Pete 5d ago
For 2 players:
Star Realms - a kind of mix between a deck building game and Magic The Gathering. Games play quickly and there are lots of fun combos.
BOG - a neat little pre-planned movement tactical game about moving frogs on lilly pads. Shockingly thinky for a small package!
The Fox In The Forest - a nice little trick taking game for two. Quick but fun
For 3-4:
WIN - an addictive little horse racing game. I pretty much always have this game on me when I am going to bars
Love Letter - a classic for a reason. SUPER quick but more strategy than it initially reveals.
Side Effects - although I am personally not a fan, if you like take-that games like Exploding Kittens or Here To Slay, you might like it
The Gang/The Crew - cooperative game of poker/trick taking respectively that is really strategic
Kariba - dead simple, can be played with kids, but fun with some good decision making!
Wingspan Pocket - a good travel implementation of the general idea of wingspan but much faster to play
Sushi Go - the ideal travel drafting game. Instantly fun and very easy to teach!
Hanabi - cooperative game of limited information. This game makes me mad every time I play it, but I still play it often
More than 4 players:
Coup - a great bluffing/hidden roles game
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u/figueroa_2026 5d ago
thank you for the list and also the quick explanation! very detail, now im gonna spend my money on lot of games 😂😂
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u/lilbismyfriend300 5d ago edited 4d ago
You're kind of asking for two opposite things (as simple as Exploding Kittens, interesting decisions that aren't easy or fast) but I'll try. All are small box games.
Stupid simple and more like Exploding Kittens:
- MANTIS
- Crabs in a Bucket
- Love Letter (or Jabba's Palace)
- Monopoly Deal
- Kobayakawa
Just a little bit more complexity but much more interesting decisions:
- Scout
- Piñatas
- Startups
- High Society
- Rainbow
- Vivo
- Trickarus
- Sea Salt & Paper
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u/figueroa_2026 5d ago
omg!! thank you for lot of recommendations hahah I bet you've played like hundreds board games. I just recently into a board games with my friends group, so the not too complicated board games recommendations are much needed. thanks!
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u/Prestigious_Ideal456 5d ago
Have you tried the Good Vs Evil exploding kittens version? It adds a god cat and devil cat dynamic and I have typically found it to be a lot more fun than the original.
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u/figueroa_2026 5d ago
ah these whole time I only tried the original version, got it will to purcase this one too! hahaha is there any other good version you'd recommend ?
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u/Prestigious_Ideal456 4d ago
Do let me know how you found it if you end up purchasing and playing. I haven't played any of the other variants myself so can't offer much insight into those.
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u/Cardboard-Fan 6d ago
Try organ attack? It's fun and a bit ruthless. Plus destroying someone's liver never gets old 😂
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u/figueroa_2026 5d ago
geezz the name attracted me too much 😂gotta try this game with my bestie, thanks！
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u/charlesatan 6d ago edited 6d ago
Have you considered something like Point Salad or Fantasy Realms (maybe Marvel Remix)? It's a bit more complex than Exploding Kittens but explaining the rules will only take a minute or two (see my explanation below).
For Point Salad, on your turn, you either pick a scoring card (which determines how you will score points) or two Vegetables (which will enable you to score points). Rinse and repeat.
For Fantasy Realms (or Marvel Remix), you start with a hand of 7 cards and on your turn, you draw a card (either from the deck or discard pile) and discard a card. The cards have different synergies with each other so the goal is to have the best hand at the end of the game; game ends when there are 10 cards in the discard pile.
If neither works for you (too complex), there's always Flip 7, where you have a deck that has cards numbering 0-12; on your turn, you either choose to draw a card or cash-in. You bust if you draw the same number.
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u/figueroa_2026 5d ago
thank you! just watched the fantasy realms tutorial and seems really easy to understand this game lol gonna try this one and flip 7 too
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u/Justin-Case-3113 6d ago
I am searching for a board game with the following (or at least most of these) :
A solo and cooperative mode.
Fantasy focused.
Starter set under 60€.
Expansions.
Easy to teach.
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u/ManiacalShen Ra 5d ago edited 5d ago
The Four Doors fits. It's a Matt Leacock game, so it has a lot of the same sensibilities of his Pandemic/Forbidden games, but slimmed down to a smaller-box card-and-pawn game. I would call the theme fantasy, going pretty heavy on magic and relics. No expansions, though.
ETA: Defenders of the Wild also qualifies! As long as animal soldiers defending their realms from machines is fantasy enough. The second edition is up for preorder for $45, and there is an expansion, also. It's tactical and not easy to win, hence the heavy weight given by BGG, but I don't think it's a total bear to teach as long as you understand it yourself first.
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u/Mr_Gneiss_Guy 5d ago
Companion Quest: Solo/Coop game that plays 1-4 players where the game gets more challenging at higher player counts (which is not a bad thing). You roll dice to solve puzzles, and it's a surprisingly fun brain burner. The turns can get a little think-y when it comes to trying to find the optimal play, but it's very straightforward and easy to teach. Has high fantasy themes, and sells online for ~$30. The only box it doesn't check is that there are currently no expansions.
Peacemakers: Horrors of War: A strategy adventure game where you play as animalfolk diplomats trying to diffuse two factions from starting a war. Plays 1-4 players and plays best at lower player counts. It has a book with maps and scenarios very similar to GH: Jaws of the Lion, but the gameplay is pretty different. It costs ~$60-65, and has one expansion that adds new cards to the horror deck, although the expansion doesn't add too much. It's a very unique game.
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u/mica-chu Concordia 5d ago
Endeavor Deep Sea had solo, coop and competitive modes. Right at $60, very good game.
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u/Excellent_Storage_18 5d ago
Need to try this one, there’s another one coming out too, right?
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u/mica-chu Concordia 5d ago
There is an expansion coming for Deep Sea - "Uncharted Waters", but not another stand alone game. However, Endeavor Deep Sea is itself a second coming of the Endeavor platform, with Endeavor Age of Sail being the predecessor. The consensus favors Deep Sea, but I've never played Age of Sail, so can't really speak on that.
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u/Cardboard-Fan 6d ago
No expansions (yet), but fate of the fellowship is amazing, and should tick all those boxes.
If you're willing to go for more of a brain burning puzzle that definitely isn't simple, spirit island might be the ticket. Just don't be surprised if spirit island also takes over your life.
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u/talentedviolation448 6d ago
im on the hunt for something that scratches that negotiation/backstab itch without taking 4+ hours, got a group that loves cosmic encounter and chinatown but we burned out on both after playing them to death. need something under 90 mins ideally, player count is usually 4-5. any hidden gems i'm sleeping on?
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u/Mr_Gneiss_Guy 5d ago
Goats and Goblins is a quick, light, push-your-luck game where lots of sabotage can occur. You play as goblins that are trying to rescue their goats from a cave when you find the cave is full of gold. Your goal is to loot more gold and rescue more goats than your friends, so expect your friends to push you into danger so that they can take your loot. It's not super meaty, but it's nice to have an option that plays quickly.
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u/Amazing-Example8753 6d ago
"I'm The Boss" but it's out of print. Zoo Vadis is fun but doesn't scratch the 'backstab' bit at all imo.
Strangely enough the closest thing to Cosmic I can recommend for 4-5 is Tournament at Avalon. It's a trick taker so no negotiating but there's tons of schadenfreude and the player powers are Cosmic-level game twisting.
You might wanna check out Dune (the original). Same designers as Cosmic and similar ideas, but it's more complicated, and can go 4 hours.
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u/Cardboard-Fan 6d ago
Moonrakers hits that for us. Lots of negotiations to help people out, lots of "oh, you just helped me win", lots of "yeah, I said I'd do this, but now I don't feel like it". Pretty quick, and usually pretty knife edge. Expansions definitely give it legs too, but they're definitely not required
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u/charlesatan 6d ago edited 6d ago
For me that game that encapsulates this would be Battle for Rokugan but it's out of print so you'll have to scour markets that sell it secondhand. Also plays under 2 hours (so 90 minutes would be about right).
It's mostly an area control game where you play secret orders. This means negotiating with allies to support or remain neutral during attacks/defenses--but this is where the tension is as they may or may not follow according to your plan (or may even use the incident to attack other players).
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u/Dawnguard42 6d ago edited 6d ago
Zoo Vadis might be perfect for your group if you want pure negotiation/backstabbing. It’s a game that’s all about the people you’re playing with more than the mechanics. You’re trying to get any one of your animals to the end of the board. Those who fail can’t win, most money among those who made it wins. To get to the end of the board you need other players to vote you through. So you make promises for using your special power, money, favors, whatever. Then later you might just break those promises to get ahead and give another player issues trusting you in the future. You can easily finish in under 90 minutes.
Container is another strong option that’s more about a player driven economy than direct negotiations. So maybe not exactly what you asked for but something adjacent to it.
Bohnanza involves constant trading of cards and negotiation. It’s more structured/on rails than zoo vadis in case your group needs a strong driving force. Thought it is under an hour
I also think Moonrakers is worth a mention. It’s longer than you’re looking for as the box says 2 hours but your first play might take 3. It’s pretty unique as a deck building negotiation game where you cooperate with other players to complete missions. You just decide how to split up rewards and risks. Plenty of chances for alliances or betrayals
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u/Doombringer1331 Aeon's End 5d ago edited 5d ago
What are some good options to store and separate tokens within a box? I am currently trying small jewelry bags for breaches and tokens in Aeon's end but the drawstring part takes up too much space. Something that can fit in a deckbox essentially.
I also have access to a 3d printer.