backgammon

Mom started this with the kids over New Year's, and then David pulled out the game at home. I really like backgammon, at least the low key version David and I are playing. We end up hitting each other a lot, and no one's feelings get hurt.

Mastermind

It's interesting. I am not drawn to strategy games, and yet I love the straight out logic involved in Mastermind. I was helping Rose puzzle out "if this than not that" options.

Ticket to Ride

We play the very low key version where everyone politely asks what route you are building, so they don't get in your way. Still, there is the tension of taking on huge routes and worrying you might not finish. And the tension of Rose losing and getting pouting face. She's been struggling with that recently.

Muchkin

We gave a lot of games as holiday gifts this year. This one we gave to John. The kids and I actually had a delightful time hanging out in the totally geeky game store with the total geeks as they talked us through lots of game ideas. They suggested this one for people who used to play D&D, which describes one member of the family. I don't really like the art. I hadn't realized that would matter to me in a game, but it seems that it does. Otherwise, I'm doing ok with it. You get to do lots of things each turn--kick the door in, battle monsters, cooperate or not.

Dixit

We gave this game to John's parents and then we all played it. The art in this one is powerful and central to the game since you are supposed to make up words to describe the cards.

pictograms

Rose keeps asking for it and they hysterical laughter is starting to make it my new favorite game.