Carcassonne
Z-Man Games
Carcassonne is one of the classic tile laying board games. I has well established itself as a class with over 10 million games and expansions sold. I had know about it for some time but only recently had a chance to play it. Initially I found the game slightly complex but after a round or two the whole game clicked. I can easily say it has become one of my favorite strategy games. Easy to setup and play and offers a good depth of games play without being overwhelming.
Bonus: Watch Will Wheaton from geek and sundry's table top play Carcassonne
Codenames
Czech Games
Codenames is a social word game with a simple premise: Two rival spymasters know the secret identities of 25 agents. Their teammates know the agents only by their codenames. The teams compete to see who can make contact with all of their agents first. Spymasters give clues that point to multiple words on the table. Their teammates try to guess words of their color while avoiding those that belong to the opposing team.
Dead Of Winter
Plaid Hat Games
Dead of winter is a survival horror cooperative board game where you and your friends team up against the environment across several campaigns. Your people form the last hope for humanity and have pulled together a makeshift colony trying to survive in a post apocalyptic nightmare. You will face undead horrors, double crossings, starvation and more as you try to complete your objective. This is a beautiful game and a must have for cooperative board game players!
Bonus: Watch Will Wheaton from geek and sundry's table top play Dead Of Winter
Exploding Kittens
Exploding Kittens LLC
After an extremely successful kick starter launch, exploding kittens has arrived. The premise is simple: you want to do what ever you can to not pull the exploding kitten card, each player takes turns drawing cards and uses the various cards in their hand to defuse or pass on the exploding kitten to other players. With hilarious cards and great artwork (from the author of theoatmeal.com) exploding kittens is a lot of fun.
Lanterns
Renegade Game Studios
Lanterns is a brain teasing tile laying game set in imperial China. Where each player takes turns to lay tiles matching colors and then uses magic to claim honor points. A great strategy game suitable for all ages. The game is also Mensa approved, so you know it has to be good for your brain!
Bonus: Watch Will Wheaton from geek and sundry's table top play Lanterns
Quantum
Passport Game Studios
You command a fleet of ships across the galaxy powered by quantum probability itself. As you explore the Galaxy you make the choices are you a Destroyer, a tactician, an explorer? Use Technology and rally the remains of humanity for a final show down.
Sheriff of Nottingham
Arcane Wonders
Sheriff of Nottingham is a classic bluffing game where each player gets to be the Sheriff and the remaining players have to wheel and deal their goods past him or her. Through clever bluffing and logic deduction you may just come out on top!
Bonus: Watch Will Wheaton from geek and sundry's table top play Sheriff of Nottingham
Sushi Go!
Gamewright
We recently got a hold of Sushi Go and initially were surprised by how short the rules are. But after a few games we were hooked, this game is simple to begin but has some very clever game mechanics where you find yourself trying to double guess what your opponent has, to allow get ahead of them to collect all the tastiest sushi!
Bonus: Watch Will Wheaton from geek and sundry's table top play Sushi Go!
The Settlers of Catan
Mayfair Games
Settlers of Catan is a classic city building and resource management game. Its artwork looks a bit dated, but the game play is deep and offers a unique game every time.
Bonus: Watch Will Wheaton from geek and sundry's table top play The Settlers of Catan
Ticket To Ride
Days of Wonder
Ticket to ride is strategy game about who can see the most of america by train. Compete with your follow players and claim train routes to earn the most points. A fun and simple game for everyone to get into and is one of my recommendations for getting someone new into board gaming. Its a picturesque games that fun and simple fore everyone to enjoy.
Bonus: Watch Will Wheaton from geek and sundry's table top play Ticket To Ride
XCOM
Fantasy Flight Games
Being a big fan of the X-COM computers games for a long time I approached this with a bit of hesitation. A new release in 2015, XCOM the board game is a cooperative board game for up to four players. It certainly makes me think of pandemic but is still very different. To my surprise I thoroughly enjoyed playing this, the game also comes with nicely designed cards and detailed miniatures. The game play is challenging but a bit more laid back than pandemic.