Minimal

Not long back, I waxed lyrical about Carcassonne, a great little board game. I considered it the perfect game for getting people back into board games, as it’s quick and simple to play, but with enough strategy to engage you properly. I’m starting to tire of it a little now, though, and I’ve got a new favourite. While it might sound like ass-kissing, given that its designer is a good friend, I can’t get enough of Border Reivers.

Although Reivers is a more strategic game than Carcassonne, I like it for the same sort of reason: it’s well balanced. There are many strategies that can lead to a win, so you never feel like you’re stuck in a losing position. Designed for 2, 3 or 4 players, it’s the 2-player game that’s my favourite — the straight fight. Even though such games normally last around 40 minutes, last night, a friend and I had a marathon battle that lasted over 2 hours. I normally hate long games, but this one was like reading a good book. I just couldn’t tear myself away.

Of course, I lost in the end. :)

Still, I enjoyed last night’s game more than I’ve enjoyed a board game for a long, long time. Credit to Jack — he’s put together a cracker.