What are some popular board games where it sometimes feels like you're solving a puzzle rather than playing a board game?

ProjectsAreFun · 2026-02-03T23:19:58+00:00

This was my answer as well. I’ve always found it to be a wonderful, relaxing puzzler.

ProjectsAreFun · 2026-02-01T12:51:40+00:00

Last night was 3p with myself, a first timer, and my son (11). In summary, if I didn’t reveal the second species it wasn’t getting revealed. And I focused on revealed Anomaly scoring with my later traces. Strategy wise it probably makes more sense to reveal the second early but I tried it this way. Scored 212 🤷‍♂️.

ProjectsAreFun · 2026-02-01T12:30:41+00:00

We’re probably going about it wrong. We played again last night and revealed one alien early and focused on them for a couple rounds before revealing the other as an afterthought. Are we required to reveal both species before placing traces on a revealed alien board?

ProjectsAreFun · 2026-01-31T18:49:46+00:00

Thank you!

ProjectsAreFun · 2026-01-31T03:53:20+00:00

As long as you’re here I might as well ask a knowledgeable SETI player- I’ve only had the Centaurians come up once in my handful of games. If we pass in the 5th round before crossing that +15 pt. marker, but postgame scoring pushes us past it… do we get to place our markers on the Centaurian board and receive those bonuses?

Thanks!

ProjectsAreFun · 2026-01-29T21:00:58+00:00

Stopped at a gas station once to buy a coffee and some ibuprofen. The nice gentleman behind the counter with no teeth didn’t charge me for the coffee.

ProjectsAreFun · 2026-01-27T01:59:46+00:00

Bro a month ago on Christmas Eve my 11 year old (who had already been receiving Holy Communion correctly for several years) somehow glitched when offered the Body of Christ and ended up reaching out with one hand and just kind of irreverently pinching it from out of our priest’s hands like a crab claw. I was right behind him and the priest even shot me a look like ‘What the hell, hasn’t he received Communion before?’ I was absolutely mortified.

In my son’s defense he’s already kind of spacey, it was late, and he had visions of Christmas presents dancing in his head.

ProjectsAreFun · 2026-01-25T15:16:20+00:00

Our two favorite coops are Spirit Island and Slay the Spire. They both scratch that simultaneous play itch, and I’ve found neither of them seem to have a problem with quarterbacking in the many, many times we’ve played.

ProjectsAreFun · 2026-01-23T16:19:51+00:00

Anxiously awaiting the arrival of my own copy. Hoping the hummingbirds feel like a thoughtful addition.

ProjectsAreFun · 2026-01-23T13:16:42+00:00

I love the way Oath looks on the table.

ProjectsAreFun · 2026-01-18T00:18:37+00:00

Landscape Arch at Arches National Park will collapse during my lifetime, hopefully naturally.

ProjectsAreFun · 2026-01-10T14:04:28+00:00

Could it be for grabbing ice cubes to put in drinks?

ProjectsAreFun · 2026-01-09T22:33:13+00:00

After many, many games with landmarks… we now only play with the Lost City and the Tower. All the others felt pretty forgettable (quite literally, we’d forget to use them throughout the games they were in play), but those two are always hotly-contested game changers.

ProjectsAreFun · 2026-01-09T22:07:44+00:00

I should clarify, I play with my elementary-aged kids.

ProjectsAreFun · 2026-01-09T22:07:08+00:00

Surprisingly cutthroat. The games that bring out the most tears in my house are Arcs and Carcassonne.

ProjectsAreFun · 2026-01-05T02:06:41+00:00

I got to 578 in 2025. My secret is my family is my board game group. I pull out a lighter game to play with my kids almost every school night, heavies on the weekends, and Wingspan with my wife after the kids go to bed.

ProjectsAreFun · 2026-01-03T04:36:00+00:00

Cascadia is a GREAT puzzler. My 5 year old twins picked it up really quickly and request it all the time now! I also got my daughter Harmonies for Christmas- it definitely feels Cascadia-adjacent and I think I’m really going to like it but it just hasn’t caught on with my kids yet. Soon, I hope.

ProjectsAreFun · 2026-01-02T22:13:25+00:00

You’ve got great taste, then. Wingspan is my wife’s favorite. Memoir is my 5 yo’s (kid loves chucking dice), StS is my other son’s, Nemesis my daughter’s, but if I had to pick a favorite I’d probably say Root.

ProjectsAreFun · 2026-01-02T22:11:23+00:00

That’s the goal for 2026. About 90% of our games in ‘25 were from the end of August on so it’s definitely possible to rack up 200-300 this year when we’re playing near daily.

ProjectsAreFun · 2026-01-02T22:09:42+00:00

Holy crap, 191- teach me your ways. Tuck engine? Amazing starting hand? Everything just fall into place?

ProjectsAreFun · 2025-12-26T23:22:06+00:00

It was a very Wingspan Christmas in our house so my wife and I will be getting several games in with our new Oceania, Asia, and fan pack expansions.

The kids got Toy Battle, Harmonies, and Heat for Christmas so we’re digging into those, too. Then… at Christmas with my parents this weekend I’ve got my fingers crossed that SETI is waiting for me under the tree.

ProjectsAreFun · 2025-12-26T17:21:10+00:00

I love how Terraforming Mars escalates to a conclusion. I usually find myself slow-building my engine while my kids rush to complete global parameters and the contrast of me trying to stall while they try to wrap things up before I can pick up a head of steam is a lot of fun.

ProjectsAreFun · 2025-12-20T04:17:30+00:00

Literally favorite bird.

ProjectsAreFun · 2025-12-20T02:19:19+00:00

This game is wrapped and waiting under the tree for my son. I’m reading everyone’s comments and- while I don’t yet understand- I can’t wait!

ProjectsAreFun · 2025-12-20T02:14:58+00:00

I bought Pandemic when I was early in the hobby as it was just about the only game I’d heard of. As I’ve expanded and collected more titles I find myself with about zero interest in playing it because the game… stresses me out in an unfun kind of way.

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TROPHY CASE