(but definitely not Monopoly)
Settlers of Catan: 4 players # 3-4 hours
The concept of this game may seem boring, but it’s not.
Picture this: you are a leader of settlers vying for resources on an island with three other tribes. You will trade and race to build up enough settlements and cities to earn the victory. There are a ton of great expansions to liven up the game after you’ve played it a number of times.
The real fun is when you trade with friends and form alliances. By the end of the game, you find out which player is beating everyone else. This revelation results in the rest of the players forming a trade embargo against the individual in attempt to make them lose.
Ultimate Werewolf: Up to 75 players # >2 hours
Werewolf is a game all about lying.
There are two teams: villagers and werewolves. Each night, the werewolves pick a villager to eat, and each day the villagers elect one person to be eliminated –who they hope is a werewolf.
As the total number of players dwindle down, the two teams’ only goal is to outlast the remaining competitors.
As players get elected to be taken out of the game, their pleas become increasingly frantic. The werewolves have to be cunning in who they accuse, and to be wary of anyone getting suspicious. It is a great party game that will get a lot people talking and laughing.
Sheriff of Nottingham: 3-5 players # 60 minutes.
This is another game of deceit.
A prince is coming to town, and the players want to make a quick profit by selling goods in the city, but first they must get their goods through the city gates.
During each round one player becomes the sheriff and is tasked with detecting and keeping out the contraband, unless of course, he wants to take a bribe.
As players try to smuggle goods through the sheriff, they may try to pay a bit extra to win some favors. Should you be an honest merchant? Or win by being a dishonest and filthy rich purveyor of precious stones? You decide.
