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Christmas Suggestions 2013

It's that time of year again, when we see what has changed on the games scene in preparation for the Christmas purchases. The most obvious change for us is the move closer to the town centre, with a resultant need to top up on the classics such as chess and backgammon due to increased interest. Children's games are also on the up - there is a definite effort being made by more and more parents to encourage their children to spend time away from the computer or TV screen, and the children invariably enjoy board and card games once they realise that they exist. A good children's game also makes a good lightweight adult game, and Pick-a-Pig (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7502)/Pick-a-Dog (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7501), Dobble (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=5582), The Big Fat Tomato Game (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7618), Cockroach Poker (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7365), Loot (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=4689) and Jungle Speed Safari (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7842) come into that category, Ravensburger's Labyrinth (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=805) and Enchanted Forest (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=4503) still hold their own after all these years.


What other trends stand out? Well, the overall situation is much as described in Phil's 2012 Christmas Suggestions, but with the welcome return of Incan Gold (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=4466), Hey! That's my Fish! (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=2873) and Galaxy Trucker (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7199) (expensive, but so much fun!). And it a great relief that Carcassonne (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7104) and its many expansions are back after being between manufacturers for a while, it is hard to think of another game that so suits so many people. Of course there have been some new games that have become established over the past year; Forbidden Desert (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7533), Banjooli Xeet (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7598), Kemet (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7431), Keyflower (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7364), Pax Porfiriana (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7122), Suburbia (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7134) - the Crossroads (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7661) expansion for Kingdom Builder (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=5926) has gone very well, and Pathfinder: Rise of the Runelords Adventure Game (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7730) has been a huge hit, very much a card game as well as an adventure game and so appealing to the more serious players.  Mice and Mystics (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7168) has been the other popular adventure game, a rodential variant of a classic dice-rolling dungeon bash. But there have been a lot of new players who, having done a bit of research, have opted to get the established games first - there is a positive avalanche of games from new designers and for every new classic there are a dozen that leave a bit to be desired. There was never a better time for a bit of personal advice from an established games shop...


So what's interesting of the brand new stuff? Ascension Apprentice Edition (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7883) is one, Ascension (http://spiritgames.co.uk/results.php?search=ascension&menu=2) was always the most approachable of the deck-building games so this ultra-cheap starter could get many more involved. The new Pillbug (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7932) expansion has renewed interest in the classic two-player game Hive, and our new favourite quick fun game is Walk the Plank (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7939). Nosferatu (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7900) is a vampired-themed version of Resistance (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7262), and Dungeon Raiders (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7901) is a rather neat card-based dungeon bash. Dungeon Roll (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7873) has a similar concept but is dice-based; not having so much player interaction it is more each player against the game, and as such works well as a solo game. This brings me to SOS Titanic (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7825), a very nicely dressed up patience rummy which can be played solo or as a co-operative game - I think it may well find a niche in the right company. A possible dark horse on the family games front is Mauna Kea (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7890), too simple for the serious players and too new for much feedback. Also still finding its feet is Caverna (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=7895) - as the putative successor to Agricloa (http://spiritgames.co.uk/single.php?menu=2⊂=4&game=3964) it is bound to be a big one, but will it steal Agricola's crown? Too soon to say, but it is certainly a good game. And will Eldritch Horror succeed as Arkham Horror Mark II? The Arkham (http://spiritgames.co.uk/results.php?search=arkham&menu=2) enthusiasts can't help but be tempted and initial impressions from a pre-release copy are pretty favourable.


If you can't decide what to take a punt on for the gamer who already has everything obviously desirable, have a look at the e-Raptor dice towers, boxes and general game-pimping bits (http://spiritgames.co.uk/results.php?search=e-raptor&menu=2). Their stands for Eclipse and Agricola have been especially admired in these part, proving practical as well as pretty.


So there you have it. Have a look back at last year's suggestions (http://www.spiritgames.co.uk/articles.php?menu=10&arti=130), and the Value for Money (http://www.spiritgames.co.uk/articles.php?menu=10&arti=134) article too. If you still can't make up your mind, give us a call!