By Christopher Sanchez

Reporter

Tabletop, board, and card games have reached a new golden age.  With so many games being produced, people might have a hard time figuring out what to play and what to buy.

Here’s a few game games that can help ease first time table toppers.

In order for you to get the fullest experience out of tabletop gaming, you have to be willing to suspend your disbelief.  Don’t immediately discount the game or the scene because you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed.

Second, enjoy the experience.  You’re playing a game, so enjoy it.  This is meant for you to have fun and take a break from reality.

“Oregon Trail the Card Game”

Based off the infamous computer game, up to six brave frontiersmen work together to survive the Oregon Trail.  Teamwork, communication, and lucky dice rolls will help keep you alive.

Your teams of two to six players have to solve “calamities” as they arrive.  If not, or too many build up, it can end game. Oregon Trail really makes you appreciate modern medicine and technology.

“In Ticket to Ride”

You’re a train baron trying to conquer North America at the turn of the century. Your opponents try to stop you from connecting cities and destinations while you’re building your empire.

Ticket to Ride is very simple to pick up play.  Average game times can last for two hours. Players have to complete “destination” tickets between two cities.  Points can be earned by length of routes and destination cards.

“Machi Koro”

Machi Koro is a quicker game.  Two to four players can have average game times under a hour.  Players earn money based on dice rolls that are associated with resources.

You’ve become the newly elected mayor of your town in.  You’re tasked with building your newly founded city. By collecting resources, you’re able to buy/build factories, restaurants, create industries, stores, and other luxuries that will generate income for your city.

Collect enough money to build required landmarks: station, shopping mall, amusement park, and radio tower.  When all four are constructed, that player wins the game.

“Cards against Humanity”

In the last year, Cards against Humanity has exploded in popularity.  Leave all judgments at the door and get ready to get uncomfortable with your gaming party.

Players take turns completing questions, statements, or fill in the blank scenarios with cards that contain offensive, raunchy, explicit, graphic, and politically incorrect statements.

Players take turns being “the judge.”  The judge reads a black card. Other players choose white cards from their hands to fulfill the statement read by the judge.  Whichever white card is chosen, that player wins the round.

The fun in this game lies in the white cards.  Players often choose white cards that are the funny, fulfill the question, or they think the judge will personally choose.

“Dungeons and Dragons”

Since Stranger Things came out, Dungeons and Dragons have entered pop culture again.  Adventurers build characters and try to complete quests and campaigns built by the dungeon master.  Fifth edition simplifies D&D in a way that’s fun to play, easy to start, and creates all the demogorgon like encounters one hopes for.

Before you start buying your monster manuals and player handbooks, consult your local game stores.  They usually have demo versions of the game that you can play for free.

Most game stores host game nights where you can meet new people and they can help explain any questions you might have.  This is really helpful before you start playing Dungeon and Dragons.

Prices range from $15 to $50.  Machi Koro and Oregon trail are the cheapest.  They can be found at any game retailer. D&D and Ticket to Ride are more expensive.  All these games can be found at your local games stores.