Games Played in 2003 by Andy Merritt Rating is: 5.0 The best game ever 4.5 One of my favourite 5-10 games 4.0 Favourite amongst many 3.5 Great game, but not quite a favourite 3.0 Good solid game, but not exceptional 2.5 Not bad but doesn't quite hit the mark 2.0 Adequate, but not one I'd choose to play 1.5 Really bad - I will refuse to play this 1.0 Bleacchhh! Burn It! The last 3 years (while gaming with regular games players) I have collected other peoples ratings of games I played with them. This should help you see whether I am just weird in liking / disliking something or if other people do to. This took quite a lot of effort - I'm not certain I would recommend doing it though I intend to keep it up! I also note down my old ratings to see if I am warming up / cooling down to particular games. As for this year, my ability to play a good selection was inhibited because I spent 4 months of 2003 working in Nepal rather a long way away from my games collection. Also while there the few games I did take got a lot of play (mainly 2 player), but it was hard to get to play many multi-player games as there was a curfew at 8pm, so going over to friends meant either staying the night or leaving before 8pm! In addition to this my daughter, Tinuviel is very demanding in the evenings (she is 4 early in 2004) which limits the opportunities Juliet and I get to play 2 player games, which once upon a time we did very regularly. On the other hand you will notice quite a few children's games creeping into the listing. Games Played in 2003 in descending order of times played this year (other years) Number of Times Played Ratings Others' Name 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 Total 2003 2002 Average Notes Magic: The Gathering 53 61 43 83 125 115 155 112 250 997 5 5 0 This is no. "sessions" D&D / AD&D 24 25 36 35 39 33 43 43 40 318 3 3 0 An ongoing campaign ... Take It Easy 12 7 12 8 3 8 2 52 4 4.5 3.8 No. sessions Backgammon 9 34 7 5 9 14 78 3.5 3.5 2.8 Sessions - inc on my Psion 5. Alles Im Eimer 7 7 3 3.3 Can't Stop 6 6 3 7 6 4 9 41 3.5 4 3.6 Cartagena 6 1 2 9 3.5 3 3.4 Was 3.5 Cafe Internationale Card Game 6 2 8 3 3 3 Lost Cities 5 4 5 4 10 28 3.5 3.5 3.4 Was 3.0, includes computer version Schotten Totten 5 11 4 5 2 27 3.5 3.5 3.6 Was 4.0 Bad / good draws _can_ prove decisive Odin's Raben 4 4 2.5 2.6 Polarity 4 4 3 2.9 The Bee Tree / Kerplunk 4 4 2 0 Children's game which I play with my daughter Too Many Cooks 3 1 11 2 2 5 6 30 3.5 3.5 3.3 Self published by ME - copies for sale! Acquire 3 1 1 1 1 3 2 2 14 4 4 4.1 I'm an open holdings player Samarkand 3 2 6 2 13 3.5 3.5 3.5 Was 4.0, Wildlife Adventure 3 2 2 7 4 3.5 3.3 Cairo 3 2 5 3.5 3.5 3.1 Clans 3 1 4 3.5 3.5 3.4 Codebreaker 3 1 4 3.5 3 3.1 Amun Re 3 3 3.5 3.4 Buzzing Bee Game 3 3 1.5 0 Children's game - I play with my daughter Dragonland 3 3 3.5 3.4 aka Drachenland Tesco Shopping Game 3 3 1.5 0 Children's game I play with my daughter Settlers 2 1 2 2 5 8 6 6 32 4 4 3.9 Includes Seafarers(4.0) & Alexander (2.0) Cheops (4.0). Used to give it 4.5. Carrabande 2 1 1 1 4 8 5 22 3 3.5 2.9 Galopp Royale 2 2 2 6 2 6 2 22 4 4 3.4 (Was 4.5) Best with 5 players IMO. Ausgebremst 2 1 1 1 2 2 3 7 19 4 4 3.3 Was 3.5 Ra 2 3 2 4 8 19 3 3.5 3.5 Was 4.0 Showmanager 2 4 3 2 2 2 3 18 4 4 3.8 Elfenland 2 2 2 1 3 5 15 4.5 4.5 3.7 Was 4.0 IMO Best with less cards & no logs. Elfengold (3.0) Carrom 2 8 1 2 1 14 3 3 2.8 Carcassonne 2 4 6 1 13 3 3 3.3 I generally play with the river and some of the 1st expansion High Society 2 1 1 5 4 13 3.5 3.5 2.8 Was 4.0 Medici 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 13 4 4 3.4 Expedition 2 1 2 2 3 10 4.5 4 3.7 (was 4.5) Gnadenlos 2 5 3 10 4 4 3.5 Was 3.5 Hamster Rolle 2 1 7 10 3 3.5 3.3 Drahtseilacht 2 4 3 9 3.5 3 3.2 Was 3.5 Tichu 2 3 4 9 4 4 3.4 Was 3.5 Elements 2 1 1 3 1 8 4 4 3.6 (was 3.5 and 3.0 before that) Money 2 5 7 3 2.5 3 Die Fursten Von Florenz 2 1 2 1 6 4 3.5 3.7 Roborally 2 3 5 3 2 3.5 Pig Pong 2 2 4 2.5 2.5 0 Very silly indeed Puerto Rico 2 2 4 3 3.5 3.9 Starship Catan 2 2 4 4 3.5 3.9 Ad Acta 2 2 3 3.2 Cannes 2 2 1.5 2.2 Carcassonne H & G 2 2 3 3.3 Cave Troll 2 2 3.5 3.3 Favoriten 2 2 3 2.8 Jitters 2 2 3.5 3.5 Multiplay 2 2 3.5 3.3 Octo 2 2 3.5 3.2 From Reiner's Dice Games Book Ten Pin Bowling 2 2 3 3 From Gamut of Games Zahltag 2 2 3 2.4 Lost Worlds 1 4 5 9 29 39 87 3.5 3.5 3.3 Individual battles, inc. by email Bopit (+Extreme) 1 3 10 5 10 29 3 3 0 Ever tried 2 at once ? Foppen 1 2 1 2 1 4 9 20 3.5 3.5 3.1 Turf Horse Racing 1 3 2 1 2 6 3 18 3 3.5 2.9 I have a variant which helps Bausack 1 2 2 1 7 4 17 3 3.5 2.9 Was 3.0 Perudo/Liar's Dice 1 3 4 6 1 1 1 17 4 4 3.3 Bluff / Liar's Dice is better than Perudo Durch die Wuste 1 2 1 3 8 1 16 4.5 4.5 3.9 , 4.0 as a 2 or 5 player game Bohnanza 1 1 2 1 1 5 4 15 3.5 3.5 3.7 was 4.0 Inc La Isla Bohnita (3.0), High Bohn (3.5) Kleine Fische 1 3 3 5 3 15 3 3 2.9 Was 3.5 Loopin' Louie 1 1 2 2 4 1 1 12 4 4 3.2 [No. Sessions] Auf Achse 1 1 3 1 1 4 11 3.5 4 3.3 Much improved with a house rule. Quirks 1 2 3 2 2 1 11 3 3.5 2.2 Some games are over too quick though! Rasant 1 1 2 7 11 3 3 2.8 (was 2.5) A broken rule needs fixing City 1 1 1 1 3 3 10 3 3.5 3.2 El Grande 1 1 1 2 2 3 10 4.5 4.5 4.1 (was 4.0) I like it best with 4 Euphrat & Tigris 1 2 2 3 2 10 4 4 3.8 Almost dropped to 3.5 after severe bad luck! World Cup Football 1 1 2 2 2 2 10 4 4 2.9 An Den Ufern Des Nils 1 1 1 1 3 2 9 3.5 3.5 3.4 Campanile 1 1 2 3 2 9 3.5 3.5 3.3 (was 3.0) Das Wustentruck 1 1 2 2 3 9 3 3.5 3 Was 3.0, Kohle, Kies & Knete 1 1 1 1 2 3 9 3.5 3.5 3.3 Was 4.0 Lord Of The Rings (Reiner Cooperative) 1 6 2 9 3.5 3.5 3.5 inc Friends & Foes and / or Sauron Pirat 1 1 2 1 4 9 3 3 2.8 Samurai 1 3 5 9 4 4 3.8 (was 3.5) Stimmt So 1 1 1 3 3 9 3.5 3.5 3.3 (was 4.0) , House Rules, Less good with 6. Halali (Kosmos) 1 1 6 8 2.5 2.5 2.7 (was 3.0) Men v Beasts v Birds - I made a 3 player variant Auf Heller & Pfennig 1 2 2 2 7 3.5 3.5 3.3 Was 4.0, aka Kingdoms (F.F.) Cape Horn 1 1 5 7 3.5 3.5 3 (Was 4.0) LotR TCG 1 6 7 3 3.5 3.4 McMulti 1 1 1 2 2 7 4 4 3.5 Shark 1 1 1 3 1 7 3 3.5 3.1 Was 3.0 Don't play with just 2 players! Sorceror's Cave 1 1 5 7 3 3 3.2 Wettstreit d.B. 1 1 1 1 1 2 7 3.5 4 3.2 (was 3.5) I use lots of variants for this Black Box 1 1 1 3 6 3 3.5 3.1 Was 3.0 Devil Take The Hindmost / Formel Fun 1 0 1 4 6 3.5 3.5 3.1 Was 4.0, use 1/2 decks each, Dinosaurs Of The Lost World 1 0 1 1 3 6 3 3 3.5 Medina 1 3 2 6 4 4 3.2 Was 3.0, then 3.5. I use some house rules to improve it. Mississippi 1 1 2 2 6 3 3 2.3 Mull & Money 1 3 2 6 3.5 3.5 3.3 Ole 1 2 3 6 3 3 2.9 Pisa (naf) 1 5 6 3 3 3 Dexterity game Ricochet Robot 1 1 2 2 6 3 3 2.9 Sleuth 1 1 3 1 6 3.5 3.5 3.3 Ursuppe 1 1 2 1 1 6 3.5 4 3.6 I play a limited gene pool variant. Wurmeln 1 1 1 3 6 2.5 2.5 0 The live version is very silly! (aka Blazing Camels) 5ive Straight 1 1 1 1 1 5 3.5 3 3.3 (was 3.5) Best IMO with 3 pairs Apples To Apples 1 2 1 1 5 2 3 3.3 (Was 2.5) I'm not a party game player Die Oster Insel 1 1 1 2 5 3 3 2.8 Dragon Delta 1 1 3 5 4 3.5 3.4 Might go up to 4.0 for me. Esels Rennen 1 1 1 2 5 2.5 2.5 2.1 Also known as Bunny Zick Zack (!) Evo 1 4 5 3 3 3.4 Needs my house rules for diceless combat Lowenherz 1 1 2 1 5 3.5 3.5 3.1 Schoko & Co 1 1 3 5 3 3.5 3.1 Was 3.0 Strand Cup 1 1 3 5 3 3 3 Around The World in 80 Days 1 1 1 1 4 3.5 3.5 2.8 Attila 1 2 1 4 3 3.5 3.2 Frisch Fisch 1 3 4 4 4 3.3 Goldener Drache 1 1 2 4 3 3.5 2.5 Holzwurm 1 1 2 4 3.5 3 3.5 Krieg & Frieden 1 1 2 4 3.5 4 3.4 We do use house rules though ... Nicht Die Bohne 1 1 1 1 4 2.5 2 2.6 Was 2.5 Suppenkasper 1 1 1 1 4 3 3 2.5 Tal der Konige 1 1 2 4 3.5 3.5 3.7 Traumfabrik 1 1 2 4 3 3.5 3.5 = Fabrik der Traume War & Sheep 1 3 4 3 3 2.9 Zoo Sim 1 3 4 4 3.5 3.3 Card Capers 1 1 1 3 3 3 2.9 Cash 1 2 3 3.5 3.5 2.8 Der Herr Der Ringe- Die Gefahrten - Cardgame 1 1 1 3 3 3 3 (Der Herr Der Ringe - Cardgame of the Film) Die Mauer 1 2 3 3 2.5 2.5 Energie Poker 1 1 1 3 3 4 3 Ensure you have the right translation! Erdgas 1 1 1 3 3 4 3.3 Was 3.5 Goldland 1 2 3 3 3 3.1 Hopfen & Malz 1 2 3 3.5 3.5 2.5 Kremlin 1 1 1 3 2.5 3 3.4 Mamma Mia 1 1 1 3 2 2 2.6 Was 2.5 Medieval Merchant 1 1 1 3 3 2.5 2.9 (was 3.0) Mysteries Of Old Peking 1 0 2 3 2.5 2.5 2.8 Nanuuk 1 2 3 2.5 2.5 2.7 Pueblo 1 2 3 4 3.5 3.3 Trainsport Austria / Switzerland 1 2 3 2.5 3.5 3 Trans America 1 2 3 2.5 3 2.6 Tycoon 1 1 1 3 4 3.5 3.6 Was 4.0 Viva Pamplona 1 1 1 3 3 2.5 3.4 Yukon Company 1 1 1 3 3 3 3.2 Black Vienna 1 1 2 3.5 3.5 3.8 Capitol 1 1 2 2 2.5 2.6 Captain Future 1 1 2 2.5 3 2.4 Caracalla 1 1 2 3 3 3.1 Carolus Magnus 1 1 2 3.5 3.5 3.3 Cloud 9 1 1 2 2.5 2.5 2.6 Colorado County 1 1 2 3 3 2.5 Combit 1 1 2 2.5 3 2.5 Das Kollier 1 1 2 3 3 2.6 Die Kaufleute von Amsterdam 1 0 1 2 3 3 3.1 Elixir 1 1 2 3.5 2.5 3.3 Ex & Hopp 1 1 2 2 2.5 2.7 Exxtra 1 1 2 2 2.5 2.3 Filthy Rich 1 1 2 2.5 2.5 2.8 Fische Fluppen Frikadellen 1 1 2 3 3 2.8 Im Schatten Des Sonnenkonigs 1 1 2 2 1.5 1.6 Aka Knights of the Rainbow Inkognito 1 1 2 3 3 3 Kathai 1 1 2 2 3 2.2 Mogul 1 1 2 3 3.5 2.8 Morgenland 1 1 2 3 3.5 3.7 = Aladdin's Dragons Rage 1 1 2 2.5 2.5 3.5 Nomination whist variant Safari (Mu) 1 1 2 1.5 1.5 0 Savannah Café 1 1 2 2 2.5 1.7 Schatz Des Pharaos 1 1 2 2 2.5 2.5 Scoop 1 1 2 3 3.5 3.4 Serrenissima 1 1 2 3.5 3.5 3.6 Sternenfahrer Von Catan. 1 1 2 3.5 3.5 3.8 Stortebeker 1 1 2 1.5 2.5 2.6 Um Kopf Und Kragen 1 1 2 1.5 2.5 2.1 Vernissage 1 1 2 1.5 2.5 1.6 Wu Hsing 1 1 2 3 3 2.9 Play simultaneously - ricochet robots style! Zauber Cocktail 1 1 2 3 3 2.6 Amoeba Wars 1 1 3 2.5 Auf Falsche Fahrte 1 1 2.5 3.5 Avalanche 1 1 2 2 Burn Rate 1 1 2 2.8 Calamity 1 1 2 2 Casanova 1 1 2.5 2.2 Cathedral 1 1 3 3.3 Compatibility 1 1 2.5 3.1 Connect 1 1 2 1.8 Das Storrishces Muli 1 1 3 2.5 Daumen Drauf 1 1 2 1.8 Der Herr Der Ringe - Die Zwei Turme Kartenspiel 1 1 3 2.9 Die Monstermacher 1 1 2 2.6 Die Safeknacker 1 1 3 2.9 Fette Autos 1 1 2.5 1.9 Finito 1 1 1.5 2.2 Gold Am Yukon 1 1 3 2.8 Heave Ho 1 1 2 2 Kosmos Hekla 1 1 2.5 2.9 Holzinsel Hellas 1 1 3.5 3.5 Kosmos Hexenstich 1 1 2 2.3 Hick Hack In Gackelwack 1 1 2 3 Similar to Razzia Horse Stakes 1 1 1.5 1.5 Hotel 1 1 1.5 1.6 Inspector Higgins 1 1 2.5 2.3 Kalahen 1 1 2.5 2.7 Konig Laurin 1 1 3 2.9 La Citta 1 1 3 3.5 Lap 1 1 3.5 3.3 From Gamut of Games book Luxor 1 1 3 3 Magellan 1 1 2 2.8 Maginor 1 1 3 3.2 Message To The Czar 1 1 2.5 2.6 Metro 1 1 3 3.3 Midnight Party 1 1 2 2.6 Noughts And Crosses 1 1 1.5 0 Played with my daughter Paris Paris 1 1 2.5 2.8 Plank 1 1 2.5 2.3 From Gamut of Games Pompeji 1 1 2.5 2.5 Adlung Prairie Railroads 1 1 2.5 2.8 Sahara 1 1 3 2.8 Sante Fe Rails 1 1 3.5 3.6 Scarab Lords 1 1 3 3 Schraumeln 1 1 1.5 0 Schuss & Tor 1 1 2.5 2.5 Shove Ha'penny 1 1 2.5 1.8 Shut The Box 1 1 3 2.6 I have a variant which adds a little skill Spy Ring 1 1 2.5 2.2 Stockmarket 1 1 3 2.8 Jordans The Hobbit 1 1 1.5 1.9 Not the Queen game Titus 1 1 2.5 2.5 Tweenies Beetle Drive 1 1 1 0 My daughter's game ... Waldschattenspiel 1 1 2 2.4 Warlock 1 1 2.5 2.3 Zauberberg 1 1 2 2 Total for the year 416 424 447 460 682 584 536 354 391 No. Different Games 229 198 221 215 284 223 196 96 42 Note that the totals for previous years are not a sum of the columns above, but totals from previous years' spreadsheets! Total number of different games played over all these years: 925 Best New Discoveries of 2003 (rated 3.0 or higher) - ie. not played in any previous year Name Times Rating Others' Ratings Notes Amun Re 3 3.5 3.4 Dragonland 3 3.5 3.4 aka Drachenland Cave Troll 2 3.5 3.3 Jitters 2 3.5 3.5 Multiplay 2 3.5 3.3 Octo 2 3.5 3.2 From Reiner's Dice Games Book Hellas 1 3.5 3.5 Kosmos Lap 1 3.5 3.3 From Gamut of Games book Sante Fe Rails 1 3.5 3.6 Alles Im Eimer 7 3 3.3 Polarity 4 3 2.9 Ad Acta 2 3 3.2 Carcassonne H & G 2 3 3.3 Favoriten 2 3 2.8 Ten Pin Bowling 2 3 3 From Gamut of Games Zahltag 2 3 2.4 Amoeba Wars 1 3 2.5 Cathedral 1 3 3.3 Das Storrishces Muli 1 3 2.5 Der Herr Der Ringe - Die Zwei Turme Kartenspiel 1 3 2.9 Die Safeknacker 1 3 2.9 Gold Am Yukon 1 3 2.8 Konig Laurin 1 3 2.9 La Citta 1 3 3.5 Luxor 1 3 3 Maginor 1 3 3.2 Metro 1 3 3.3 Sahara 1 3 2.8 Scarab Lords 1 3 3 Shut The Box 1 3 2.6 Stockmarket 1 3 2.8 Jordans My All-Time Favourites (rated 4.0 or higher) Number of Times Played Ratings Others' Name 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 Total 2003 2002 Average Notes Magic: The Gathering 53 61 43 83 125 115 155 112 250 997 5 5 0 This is no. "sessions" Durch die Wuste 1 2 1 3 8 1 16 4.5 4.5 3.9 4.0 as a 2 or 5 player game Elfenland 2 2 2 1 3 5 15 4.5 4.5 3.7 Was 4.0 IMO Best with less cards & no logs. Elfengold (3.0) El Grande 1 1 1 2 2 3 10 4.5 4.5 4.1 (was 4.0) I like it best with 4 Expedition 2 1 2 2 3 10 4.5 4 3.7 (was 4.5) Metropolis 1 2 1 1 5 4.5 4.5 3.1 Was only 2.5 b4 I had the rules sorted, then 4.0 Take It Easy 12 7 12 8 3 8 2 52 4 4.5 3.8 No. sessions Settlers 2 1 2 2 5 8 6 6 32 4 4 3.9 Includes Seafarers(4.0) & Alexander (2.0) Cheops (4.0). Used to give it 4.5. Galopp Royale 2 2 2 6 2 6 2 22 4 4 3.4 (Was 4.5) Best with 5 players IMO. Ausgebremst 2 1 1 1 2 2 3 7 19 4 4 3.3 Was 3.5 Showmanager 2 4 3 2 2 2 3 18 4 4 3.8 Perudo/Liar's Dice 1 3 4 6 1 1 1 17 4 4 3.3 Bluff / Liar's Dice is better than Perudo Manhattan 2 1 1 2 2 3 5 16 4 4 3.4 Acquire 3 1 1 1 1 3 2 2 14 4 4 4.1 I'm an open holdings player Gone Bananas 3 8 2 13 4 4 0 (was 3.5) Medici 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 13 4 4 3.4 Loopin' Louie 1 1 2 2 4 1 1 12 4 4 3.2 [No. Sessions] Euphrat & Tigris 1 2 2 3 2 10 4 4 3.8 Almost dropped to 3.5 after severe bad luck! Gnadenlos 2 5 3 10 4 4 3.5 Was 3.5 World Cup Football 1 1 2 2 2 2 10 4 4 2.9 Samurai 1 3 5 9 4 4 3.8 (was 3.5) Tichu 2 3 4 9 4 4 3.4 Was 3.5 Vinci 2 1 6 9 4 4 3.7 Was 4.5 I enjoy it best with 2, 2 civs each Arabana Ikibiti 1 1 3 3 8 4 4 3.8 = Kahuna Elements 2 1 1 3 1 8 4 4 3.6 (was 3.5 and 3.0 before that) Merchant of Venus 1 2 1 3 1 8 4 4 0 McMulti 1 1 1 2 2 7 4 4 3.5 Wildlife Adventure 3 2 2 7 4 3.5 3.3 Die Fursten Von Florenz 2 1 2 1 6 4 3.5 3.7 Medina 1 3 2 6 4 4 3.2 Was 3.0, then 3.5. I use some house rules to improve it. Dragon Delta 1 1 3 5 4 3.5 3.4 Might go up to 4.0 for me. Lancashire Rails 2 3 5 4 4 0 (was 3.5) Frisch Fisch 1 3 4 4 4 3.3 Starship Catan 2 2 4 4 3.5 3.9 Zoo Sim 1 3 4 4 3.5 3.3 Baron Munchausen 2 1 3 4 4 4 Castle of Magic 3 3 4 4 3.6 Pueblo 1 2 3 4 3.5 3.3 Tycoon 1 1 1 3 4 3.5 3.6 Was 4.0 Age Of Steam 2 2 4 4 3.7 Kanaloa 1 1 2 4 4 3.7 Was 3.5 Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective 0 1 1 2 4 4 0