Holiday Gift Guide 2013

Christmas comes but once a year, as does our holiday gift guide.  This year it is bigger and better because this year, there are four of us with unique tastes and experiences, and we've all got different recommendations for you all. We can't ever guarantee that you'll love our choices, but these games are our top picks. Quality is assured, so if the games line up with your tastes (or, I suppose, the tastes of the person you're buying gifts for), chances are these will be a hit.

You can also check out our previous years gift guides--2012 and then 2011, as well as a guide to stocking stuffers.

This year you'll note that we've provided direct links to Funagain.com when such links are available. You can buy from wherever you like, but purchasing from Funagain.com through our links will support our site with a portion of the proceeds from the sale.

Thanks, and happy holiday gaming!

FDQ: 'Tis the Season

Yes, it is indeed the most wonderful time of the year! However you celebrate, it will probably involve some parts family, food, fun, time-off, and hope. Of course, giving is a big part of the festivities. If you need some ideas in that department, be sure to check out our Holiday Gift Guide. Better yet, receiving is an additional benefit of the season! Sure, we all wish for peace and goodwill towards men. Luckily for those in our hobby, it just so happens that board games have been scientifically proven to foster both peace and goodwill.* So to that end, which title or two tops your wish list this year? Is it a chance to add that older classic you’ve always eyed for your collection? Maybe it’s an expansion that you’ve been reluctant to spend your own money for? Or are you aiming to reel in the latest hotness?

My two boys have asked for (and will receive…shhh…) Stone Age and The First World War. Cory, my laid-back budding Euro gamer, enjoys playing the former with me on Yucata and some time ago expressed the opinion that we must have a copy of our own (of which I agreed). Brendon, my military history buff, devours any war game and is particularly fascinated by World War I (again, I share similar sentiments). What about the old man? Well, I included Quarriors to appease our dice fixation; Summoner Wars: Master Set to meet our 2-player needs; and the classic Alhambra for those times when we’re looking for a more relaxed experience.

So, what are you hoping to unwrap?

*I’m sure I saw this study from some big German university once upon a time…

Stocking Stuffer Guide 2012

  "Children are grateful when Santa Claus puts in their stockings gifts of toys or sweets. Could I not be grateful to Santa Claus when he put in my stockings the gift of two miraculous legs?"
--G. K. Chesterton

There are likely as many stocking traditions as there are families who stuff stockings. I remember commercials from my youth suggesting that a diamond tennis bracelet--because it did not break the size constraint--was a suitable stocking stuffer. (If that's the case, make the stockings bigger--roughly the square, Fantasy Flight size game box.) In my family, "stocking stuffer" is a price range rather than a size limitation, and our stockings are often accompanied by bonus grocery sacks with things that are too big to fit in the stockings we have.

But for today's discussion of my recommendations for board game stocking stuffers, I'm offering two categories: one of small size, small cost games, and one of slightly larger games falling into a similar price range. Filler (stuffer?) games, if you will.

Here are my picks for 2012. Enjoy! (And if you're interested in larger games to give as gifts, check out our full 2012 gift guide.)

News Bits: 12/3/2012

Here is the news:

Protospiel design convention comes to Milwaukee [Link] A convention for game designers, and an extension of the annual Protospiel convention, will be held in Milwaukee in March. It seems like a great time to get seasoned feedback for your game. Check out more here.

It's a Christmas gift list!

Are you interested in trying some new board games but not sure where to start?  Looking for some good recommendations?  Well, ladies, gentlemen, and robots, you've come to the right place.  Here are my picks for great holiday board-gaming gifts for you or someone you love who also loves gaming.  I've limited it to my top 5 so as to not get overwhelming.