Bang! was my gateway game into this hobby. A few years ago, I found the dice game that has different modules for play, and it's since then been one of my favorites to teach. Plus, it plays quickly where you can play just one game in 15 minutes, or play several games with minimal time for those who get eliminated. Here are my top three picks of games that play 5+: 1. Bang! The Dice Game 2. Skull 3. Tsuro: The Game of the Path
So Clover has been an absolute hit with us! One of my favorite things to do in a party game is to throw a random card in, the fact that So Clover already includes this as an added challenge is amazing!
Take 5, Kites, Scout. All so fun! Played Just One for the first time last week and that was fun too. I wanna try So Clover as well. I love word association games :)
Rolling realms was such a fun diversion during the pandemic and I loved seeing the iteration of the game in real time. The 7 wonders ambassadors basically picked my collection. There are two games on that list that I don't own. I will say that I am angry Decrypto didn't get it's own line on the list. It deserves it's own hyphen and space to breathe. Its just so good. I own the all of your honorable mentions except can't stop express. I own skull king but haven't played yet. Guess I gotta get it to the table!
My favorites for a higher player count are Saboteur (3-10 players), Codenames, the version with words (2-8) and definitely Dixit (3-8). All quick and easy to teach/play.
Haven't tried a ton of the high player light weight games but favorites for family and friends at our table are: Skull King, Bang Dice, Pit (hybrid with Spoons), Forgotten Waters, Fake Artist, and 7 Wonders Architects. Technically not high player count but recently played Cascadia with 8 people, we just didn't use the starting tiles and played until we ran out of tiles and it worked. Want to get and play Fantasy Realms/Marvel Remix, Between Two Castles/Cities, Rolling Realms, Citadels, etc. soon!
Awesome list and why is this the first time I'm hearing about Mysterium Park? I love Mysterium but I've always felt it was super clunky to set up for what it was. I may add that to my Christmas list... along with Red Rising :P Ones that go down well at mine are: 6 Nimmt (6 Takes) Point Salad Sushi Go Party Dobble
I agree with so many of these especially Just One and Fantasy Realms! Glad No Thanks and Incan Gold are on BGA, gonna try soon. Would add Coloretto, Bang! The Dice Game, Hues and Cues, and Decrypto
Wow, so I was *so bummed* that Bohnanza wasn't on your or the ambassadors' lists! :-) So I'll put that at #1: 1. Bohnanza, 2. 7 Wonders (for people who want something a bit heavier), 3. Codenames, just because almost everyone loves it. You did mention BGA once in this video so can I ask a slightly off-topic question: at SM Games, have you tried to gather data to see if putting a game on BGA (Viticulture, Tapestry) leads to more real-world sales?
I had Scotland Yard in the original 80's style box. Since no one in my family ever played it, I think I must've got rid of it at a garage sale or something, though I wish I hadn't. Such a cool looking game.
Love Skull King 🤘 Others that come to mind: Sushi Go Party (up to 8), Tsuro (Up to 8), Shikoku (Up to 6), Avalon (Up to 10), Spyfall (Up to 8). I'm also not usually huge on dexterity games but Stacked is a 5 player trick taking / stacking game and it's phenomenal. Everyone group we introduced it to someone looks into buying it for their family
My top 3 light games that play up to 5: Scout, Akropolis, and Horrified. I do really like No Thanks and 6 nimmt for those quick games with tons of people!
My top 3 games in this category would have to be, Cockroach Poker, No Thanks, and A Fake Artist goes to New York. I'm surprised to not see very many hidden role games popping up like the Avalon or Cheese Thief.
I managed to get at the thrift store for I think about five bucks. The metal box edition of Scotland Yard which included a real hat for Mr. X. Now another game that I would talk about and maybe recommend is a game called lifeboat and there's three expansions that go with it and it's kind of a fun game to play and it's for 4 to 6 players
Tsuro (2-8 players) Epic Spell Wars of the Battle Wizards (2-6 players) Carcassonne: Star Wars (2-5 players) From my own game collection and all under weight 2 in BGG ratings. ;)
Light and 5+ players: * Medieval Merchant - one of the few games I know of that plays just about as well at any number from 2-6, though it plays very differently at different numbers. * Citadels - best with 5 or more, IMO. The teach can be a bit slow, but the game flows quickly. * 6 Nimmt - 5 minute teach, probably best in the 4-6 player range, as when you get too many people, it becomes too random. * Ticket to Ride - obvious * Medici - Easy teach, quick play, possibly the best perceived-value auction game * Acquire - Can be a bit long, but it's a classic for a reason. * Alhambra - Clean and understandable. Not too long. * Parks - Interesting decisions, gorgeous presentation, not too confrontational. Doesn't play with _more_ than 5 players, but it works well with 5.
The first time I played so clover my group got so hooked we played for three to four hours till all cards were used once. And on other occasions I played several rounds. The only downside of it, it is not language independent, so not usable for not native speakers to well😅
Hey Jamie, what’s the jacket from? Great list! The most recent game added to this category in our collection is Marvel Remix. Really fun reimplementation of fantasy realms!
I'd say it's a toss up for me between Bohnanza and Saboteur. I have the 25th Anniversary Bohnanza so I'm not sure what the player count on the base game is but I think it can handle 5 still.
@ Thanks, I’m about to take that up to play with my family for Christmas. It’s been sitting on my shelf for a while now and I kind of figured that was gonna be the best configuration but I’ve heard you talk about it a lot so I wanted to tap into your experience with it. I think I might take dice town up as well.
I'm curious about your decision to make Rolling Realms 1-6 players. It seems like the kind of game where going to 8 might not push the price point up too much? Whereas a game like On Tour I would assume each additional player pushes that cost too much? My favorites in this category: Escape: Curse of the Temple, Tsuro, Fantasy Realms, Codenames, Just One, Guillotine, Welcome To, Rolling Realms. I also like standard deck card games like Sheepshead (5p) and pitch (which can be played 2x3 or 3x2 teams).
Yeah, we had a big discussion about it, and our data indicated that playing in groups of more than 6 was very rare. It isn't an expensive game, so if people wanted to combine two copies, they could easily do so.
To be honest, I never have 5 players to play, so my list is 'make believe' - if I did, I'd like to pull out: Liar's Dice Serengeti (=Templari) Circus Flohcati Subastral
Bang! was my gateway game into this hobby. A few years ago, I found the dice game that has different modules for play, and it's since then been one of my favorites to teach. Plus, it plays quickly where you can play just one game in 15 minutes, or play several games with minimal time for those who get eliminated. Here are my top three picks of games that play 5+:
1. Bang! The Dice Game
2. Skull
3. Tsuro: The Game of the Path
So Clover has been an absolute hit with us! One of my favorite things to do in a party game is to throw a random card in, the fact that So Clover already includes this as an added challenge is amazing!
Take 5, Kites, Scout. All so fun! Played Just One for the first time last week and that was fun too. I wanna try So Clover as well. I love word association games :)
Rolling realms was such a fun diversion during the pandemic and I loved seeing the iteration of the game in real time.
The 7 wonders ambassadors basically picked my collection. There are two games on that list that I don't own. I will say that I am angry Decrypto didn't get it's own line on the list. It deserves it's own hyphen and space to breathe. Its just so good.
I own the all of your honorable mentions except can't stop express.
I own skull king but haven't played yet. Guess I gotta get it to the table!
My number one is The Great Dalmuti. Whenever we have a group of 5 to 7 at the house, it's the game we all love to play.
That was the one we used to default to for big groups in my game group in Egypt, too. Good stuff.
My favorites for a higher player count are Saboteur (3-10 players), Codenames, the version with words (2-8) and definitely Dixit (3-8). All quick and easy to teach/play.
Haven't tried a ton of the high player light weight games but favorites for family and friends at our table are:
Skull King, Bang Dice, Pit (hybrid with Spoons), Forgotten Waters, Fake Artist, and 7 Wonders Architects.
Technically not high player count but recently played Cascadia with 8 people, we just didn't use the starting tiles and played until we ran out of tiles and it worked.
Want to get and play Fantasy Realms/Marvel Remix, Between Two Castles/Cities, Rolling Realms, Citadels, etc. soon!
Awesome list and why is this the first time I'm hearing about Mysterium Park? I love Mysterium but I've always felt it was super clunky to set up for what it was. I may add that to my Christmas list... along with Red Rising :P
Ones that go down well at mine are:
6 Nimmt (6 Takes)
Point Salad
Sushi Go Party
Dobble
I agree with so many of these especially Just One and Fantasy Realms! Glad No Thanks and Incan Gold are on BGA, gonna try soon.
Would add Coloretto, Bang! The Dice Game, Hues and Cues, and Decrypto
Colt express has been a great lighter game at our table, and I found it at its chaotic best at 5-6 players!
Wow, so I was *so bummed* that Bohnanza wasn't on your or the ambassadors' lists! :-) So I'll put that at #1: 1. Bohnanza, 2. 7 Wonders (for people who want something a bit heavier), 3. Codenames, just because almost everyone loves it.
You did mention BGA once in this video so can I ask a slightly off-topic question: at SM Games, have you tried to gather data to see if putting a game on BGA (Viticulture, Tapestry) leads to more real-world sales?
I think this recent article I wrote may address your question, Rob: stonemaiergames.com/do-digital-board-games-outsell-their-tabletop-counterparts/
I had Scotland Yard in the original 80's style box. Since no one in my family ever played it, I think I must've got rid of it at a garage sale or something, though I wish I hadn't. Such a cool looking game.
Love Skull King 🤘
Others that come to mind:
Sushi Go Party (up to 8), Tsuro (Up to 8), Shikoku (Up to 6), Avalon (Up to 10), Spyfall (Up to 8).
I'm also not usually huge on dexterity games but Stacked is a 5 player trick taking / stacking game and it's phenomenal. Everyone group we introduced it to someone looks into buying it for their family
Great picks!
My top 3 light games that play up to 5: Scout, Akropolis, and Horrified. I do really like No Thanks and 6 nimmt for those quick games with tons of people!
My top 3 (that I own) are Coup, Codenames, and Skull King
My 1st thought immediately was cash n guns, then also I would add NO Thanks and finally SUSHI GO PARTY
My top 3 games in this category would have to be, Cockroach Poker, No Thanks, and A Fake Artist goes to New York. I'm surprised to not see very many hidden role games popping up like the Avalon or Cheese Thief.
I managed to get at the thrift store for I think about five bucks. The metal box edition of Scotland Yard which included a real hat for Mr. X. Now another game that I would talk about and maybe recommend is a game called lifeboat and there's three expansions that go with it and it's kind of a fun game to play and it's for 4 to 6 players
Tsuro (2-8 players)
Epic Spell Wars of the Battle Wizards (2-6 players)
Carcassonne: Star Wars (2-5 players)
From my own game collection and all under weight 2 in BGG ratings. ;)
Green Team Wins, Las Vegas Royale, Ready Set Bet.
Light and 5+ players:
* Medieval Merchant - one of the few games I know of that plays just about as well at any number from 2-6, though it plays very differently at different numbers.
* Citadels - best with 5 or more, IMO. The teach can be a bit slow, but the game flows quickly.
* 6 Nimmt - 5 minute teach, probably best in the 4-6 player range, as when you get too many people, it becomes too random.
* Ticket to Ride - obvious
* Medici - Easy teach, quick play, possibly the best perceived-value auction game
* Acquire - Can be a bit long, but it's a classic for a reason.
* Alhambra - Clean and understandable. Not too long.
* Parks - Interesting decisions, gorgeous presentation, not too confrontational. Doesn't play with _more_ than 5 players, but it works well with 5.
I'll have to look into Medieval Merchant--I haven't heard of that one.
The first time I played so clover my group got so hooked we played for three to four hours till all cards were used once.
And on other occasions I played several rounds.
The only downside of it, it is not language independent, so not usable for not native speakers to well😅
Hey Jamie, what’s the jacket from?
Great list! The most recent game added to this category in our collection is Marvel Remix. Really fun reimplementation of fantasy realms!
I've enjoyed a few recent plays of Marvel Remix too. :) It's a Wrexham warmup jacket.
I'd say it's a toss up for me between Bohnanza and Saboteur. I have the 25th Anniversary Bohnanza so I'm not sure what the player count on the base game is but I think it can handle 5 still.
Do you play with the mermaids and the coins? What’s your favorite way you like to play?
For Skull King? I play with the special cards, just not the special character abilities.
@ Thanks, I’m about to take that up to play with my family for Christmas. It’s been sitting on my shelf for a while now and I kind of figured that was gonna be the best configuration but I’ve heard you talk about it a lot so I wanted to tap into your experience with it. I think I might take dice town up as well.
My favourite 5+ player game is Port Royal. Then probably Just one
I'm curious about your decision to make Rolling Realms 1-6 players. It seems like the kind of game where going to 8 might not push the price point up too much? Whereas a game like On Tour I would assume each additional player pushes that cost too much?
My favorites in this category: Escape: Curse of the Temple, Tsuro, Fantasy Realms, Codenames, Just One, Guillotine, Welcome To, Rolling Realms. I also like standard deck card games like Sheepshead (5p) and pitch (which can be played 2x3 or 3x2 teams).
Yeah, we had a big discussion about it, and our data indicated that playing in groups of more than 6 was very rare. It isn't an expensive game, so if people wanted to combine two copies, they could easily do so.
To be honest, I never have 5 players to play, so my list is 'make believe' - if I did, I'd like to pull out:
Liar's Dice
Serengeti (=Templari)
Circus Flohcati
Subastral
Oh wow! For some reason I thought Subastral was only for 2 players. I guess I’ll have to bring it out sometime.
@@Poiuytrew.Q You may be thinking of Stellar, which is 2P.
@@tonycork2pa469 nope. I definitely own subastral, but stellar came out around the same time so I assumed it was 2-player.
My top three would be Sushi Roll. Tokaido or Namiji, an Draftosaurus.
I love Sushi Roll!
So clover
Just one
Elfenland
Dixit
Concept
Trails of Tucana
Second chance
Tetrix/mosaix
Cartographers
Let's make a bus route/American version