Top Five for Next Term (a)

First, five games we've all (mostly) played that I'd like to have another crack at — under-appreciated gems, perhaps? This doesn't preclude the fact that I also want to play some/all of the games we've mentioned as stand-outs of the last term — that goes without saying. These are games I can't quite give up the ghost on . . .

1. Endeavor

Doesn't get a HUGE amount of love, poor old Endeavor, but I like it. It has some screwage, but not so much that it's unpleasant. And it has a map. I could probably sell it a bit harder, but you know . . .

2. Cosmic Encounter

We gave this a shot one evening, played a couple of games, but didn't get as far as adding in all the crazy cards. It may not be a real tuesday night-er, more of a saturday night wind-up or wind-down game. Dunno. But it gets a lot of love on the geek. And a lot of hate.

3. Thunderstone

You knew this was coming, right? I just can't bring myself to give up on it. But maybe I'll just hold on until my girls and nephews are a bit older, and force them to play it.

4. Chicago Express

I never win this, and I don't understand it. And yet I'd be up for a few more goes of it. It may be little clinical, to pure an economic game. But it plays nice and quickly. Hmm, I'm talking myself out of this one.

5. De Vulgari Eloquentia

All I'm saying is don't rule it out. It's getting more and more positive feedback on the geek.

And there are games for all occasions — so when the occasion calls for a long, rambling wander round medieval Italy, muttering "Think I might go for Pope, what do you reckon?", this is the game.