Whether you want an easy to pick up party game for kids or a complex strategy game for the older crowd, board games new releases are overflowing with interesting choices. And it’s not just established series like Ticket to Ride getting the new treatment. There’s plenty of new board game ideas to try, from a re-imagined version of the classic horror game Betrayal at House on the Hill to a space-based game about building a galactic civilization.
Circus-building is a popular theme this year, with last year’s Tenpenny Park and this year’s light auction game Big Top joining the ranks of more traditional circus games such as Barnum & Bailey and 3 Ring Circus. 3 Ring Circus is a medium-complex title from a pair of Italian designers who specialize in creating family-friendly games with an edge of strategy. Players build up traveling circuses by putting on shows in cities, collecting income and points while the big dogs of Barnum & Bailey move around behind them.
Forest Shuffle is a beautiful new card-drafting area-control game from the designer of this year’s Wingspan, Christian Matinez. It may not be innovative but it looks like a solid addition to the genre, and if you’re looking for a new family game to enjoy, this could be the one.
Lastly, a restock of Ticket to Ride marks the release of its new expansion, Takenoko: Chibis, which has you growing bamboo and feeding hungry pandas in the imperial court. It’s a roll-and-write game that fits right in with the current trend for these types of titles, and it looks to be a lot of fun.