Introduction
Cyberiad is a shared account used by several persons.
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A series of whimsical commentaries on the state of the world, culture, music, technology, fiction, travels, games, film, art, and more.
Stanislaw Lem
Italo Calvino
Jorge Luis Borges
Salman Rushdie
Enterprise
Business Week
Fortune
Forbes
Bloomberg
Information
Technology
MIT Technology Review
Red Herring
Upside
PC Magazine
PC World
Internet World
Byte
CNET
ZDNet
Wired
Mondo 2000
2600
Science and
Technology
Discover
Hardware
Tom's Hardware Guide
Bill's Workshop
The Firing Squad
Hardware Zone
Military
Jane's
Naval Institute
Air Power Online
Music
Elements
A Different Drum
Isolation Tank
Al Crawford's Reviews
Music Labels
Hypnotic / Cleopatra
Mute
October
4AD
Wargames
Decision Games
Avalon Hill
3W
The Gamers
Roleplaying Games
Warhammer
GURPS
Call of Cthulhu
Runequest
RPG Companies
Steve Jackson Games
Chaosium
White Wolf
Hogshead
Games Workshop
Wizards of the Coast
Search Engine
Northern Light
Board Game Ratings and Commentary
The mind at play. Perspectives.
Here are my ratings. I have included some public domain games and basic games as a gauge. A yardstick if you will. On another note, I have not included the ratings of the older games I played. In addition, I have included the ratings made from November 2002. I have also included older ratings made about 4-8 years ago which I had forgotten about. Remarkably, they are very similar to my current ratings. It does seem that I do know what I enjoy and what I like.
| Title of Board Game | Rating | Commentary |
| Modern Art | 9.0 | The
strategic depth in this game and the variety allowed in tactical play
makes this a masterpiece. One of the best German Designer boardgames
ever. A classic. |
| Aladdin's Dragons | 9.0 | A
simple concept but the strategic possibilities are endless. The advanced
games add some wild cards in the form of spells and artifacts that
can upset previously held balances of power and plans. |
| San Marco | 7.0 | An
innovative card distribution concept distinguishes this game from
others. |
| Carcassonne | 7.5 | Innovative
tile laying game where co-operating can often be the key to achieving
victory. In that sense, Carcassonne is uncommon among competitive
games. A most welcome game amidst the others. |
| Chez Geek | 5.0 | A
simple game that involves scoring points by throwing cards and sabotaging
others through playing certain cards. Not very much strategy involved. |
| Mexica | 6.0 | |
| Pueblo | 6.5 | |
| Taj Mahal | 6.0 | |
| Zombies | 2.0 | A
most sorry game. This could hardly be described as a game being merely
a set of untested rules for play. Planning? Why bother? Thinking?
No, just roll the dice. |
| Princes of Florence | 9.0 | A
classic game of bidding and building despite its deceptive lack of
direct player interaction. A clever player can seek to play denial
tactics on others. So many decisions and so few actions. Management
of actions is paramount and adaptation to changing situations is another
essence. |
| Munchkin | 1.0 | One
dimensional game. More an attempt at humour than a real game. Sorry
excuse for a game. Humour sells and it spawned an expansion and a
related SF-based game. |
| La Citta | 7.0 | |
| History of the World | 6.5 | |
| Citadels | 7.0 | One
of the few light games that works well when there are six or more
players. Highly playable. A set of hidden roles are allocated and
will determine victory depending on usage. |
| A Dog's Life | 6.0 | |
| Goldland | 6.5 | |
| Kingdoms | 6.5 | |
| Odysseus | 7.0 | Somehow,
Odysseus feels like a simpler version of Der fliegende Holländer.
However, the strength of this game is its brevity. |
| Traders of Genoa | 8.5 | Frenetic game of bidding |
| Santa Fe Rails | 8.0 | |
| Medici | 8.0 | This
game feels like a less-refined Modern Art (possibly a predecessor)
but it does have its nuances. It shares the same strategic depth as
Modern Art but the tactical play is more limited. |
| Rheinlander | 7.0 | A
game of strategic positioning. Like Meridian, a certain level of luck
governs play. However, like Meridian, prioritising of positions is
important. |
| Traumfabrik | 9.0 | Clever
auction mechanics where the currency used is recycled among
the losers of that auction. Game has strategic depth. Tactical shrewdness
is needed during bidding phase.
|
| Tikal | 7.5 | |
| The Settlers of Catan | 8.5 | Despite
the high element of luck, the game rewards clever tactical play, strategic
foresight and good positioning. The Settlers of Catan is a flawed
classic. There will be many circumstances when a kingmaker role will
arise. |
| Meridian | 7.5 | Abstract
game of positioning resources and hedging your control markers. |
| Nautilus | 5.5 | The
key to this game is clever positioning of all three submarines and
an early race to explore. It lacks the interactivity and excitement
of other games. |
| Drunter & Drüber | 7.5 | |
| Der fliegende Holländer | 8.5 | |
| Pizarro & Co (Magellan) | 8.5 | |
| Drakon | 6.0 | |
| Drakon Expansion 1 | 4.5 | |
| Castle | 7.0 | Simple
card laying game which is dependent on card properties. High
element of chance. Ideal game to introduce to beginners. There will
be many circumstances when a kingmaker role will arise. |
| Carcassonne: Expansion | 6.5 | Expansion
cleans up some of the rules in the original. The additional tiles
add a higher level of risk and reward to the game. A worthwhile addition. |
| Drahtseiakt | 5.5 | A
high element of luck is the main flaw of this game. Beyond that, there
is very little to recommend it. |
| Fossil | 5.5 | Bland
and colourless. The abstraction lend itself to little excitement. |
| Dungeonquest | 5.0 | |
| Evo | 8.5 | |
| Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers | 7.5 | |
| Gnadenlos | 7.0 | Convoluted
mechanics. This is actually a very clever game. It takes a lot of
thought to do well in it. |
| Lost Cities | 7.0 | Fast
moving and attractive game with a very high element of chance which
is its main failing. It bears a strong resemblance or feel to some
gambling games, and there lies its attraction. |
| Puerto Rico | 9.0 | The
mechanics of this game is unique. Incredible depth of play. |
| Quoridor | 5.0 | Colourless
game. |
| Sleuth | 5.0 | A
multiplayer 'Mastermind'. There is little decision-making beyond drawing
cards and deducing from the questions asked by people. It is not much
of a name than a clever puzzle. |
| Pit | 5.0 | Some
strategies abound but there is little decision-making here. The mechanics
make this a good party game but who plays games during parties? Really? |
| Galaxy: The Dark Ages | 6.0 | |
| Urland | 7.5 | |
| Vinci | 7.0 | |
| Stephenson’s Rocket |
7.0 | |
| Down in Flames: Rise of the Luftwaffe | 7.0 | |
| Down in Flames: Eighth Air Force | 7.0 | |
| Down in Flames: Zero! | 7.0 | |
| Groo: The Game | 6.5 | |
| Union Pacific | 8.0 | |
| Der Garten des Sonnenkönigs | 5.0 | |
| King’s Gate | 7.0 | Tile
laying game with many exceptions in the rules. Not the most elegant
of games. The tiles are well-rendered. |
| Modern Zeiten | 8.5 | The
elegant simplicity of the mechanics of this game masks a depth that
is apparent upon play. Games are of an indeterminate length and end
very suddenly. |
| Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation | 8.0 | |
| Eurorails | 8.5 | |
| Bohnanza | 7.0 | |
| Mississippi Queen | 7.0 | A
straight forward race game where the random component comes in the
form of newly laid river tiles. |
| Amun-Re | 8.5 | The
strategic element of this game where one builds upon the previous,
elevates above the normal building and bidding game. A clever second
bid that determines income allows greater variety in play. |
| Clans | 7.0 | Colourless
game despite colourful pieces. |
| Condottiere | 8.0 | Upon
initial glance, the game appears very straight forward. However, the
human element plays a large part. Bluff is called for. Luck is a significant
component. |
| Transamerica | 8.0 | Clever
and elegant game with more than meets the eye. While luck in the form
of cards is a significant factor, the coincidence of purposes is a
greater factor. Denial or facilitation? |
| Paris Paris | 8.0 | A surprisingly
clever game where one builds upon routes to the detriment of others. |
| Station Manager | 6.5 | The
parallels with Poker are uncanny. This would appear to be a Poker
variant. The luck component in this game is high. |
| Mamma Mia | 7.5 | This
is by no means merely a memory game, it requires tactical and strategic
level thinking in determining courses of action. A surprise package! |
| Frank's Zoo | 5.0 | A game of collecting suits. |
| Democrazy | 7.0 | |
| Fantasy Business | 7.0 | |
| Mare Nostrum | 8.0 | |
| Royal Turf | 5.5 | On
paper, the rules appear simple enough with potential. However, during
play, the game lacks an ability to engage players. Strategy is suddenly
rather minimal. |
| Fische Fluppen Frikadellen | 8.5 | Clever
package. Actions taken will induce other actions. |
| Balloon Cup | 8.5 | Fast
moving game that has similarities to Lost Cities. This one has
greater strategic depth. |
| Atlantic Star | 7.5 | |
| Fluxx | 5.0 | A
game that is similar to Democrazy but the meta-rules can easily destroy
the play. |
| King's Breakfast | 7.5 | Delightful
light game. Fast with a minor reliance on memory work. |
| Loco! | 7.5 | Short
light game with a razor sharp endgame. |
| Age of Steam | 7.0 | |
| Eschnapur | 7.0 | Strange game with a mechanism that attempts to allow the last placed player to |
| Pick Picnic | 5.0 | Colourless game with a large measure of luck. |
| Landlord | 7.5 | |
| Chrononauts | 7.5 | A strong theme carries this game despite a |
| Edel, Stein & Reich | 8.5 | Clever bartering system elevates this game above other trade and negotiation-based games. |
| Caesar and Cleopatra | 8.5 | |
| Alhambra | 8.5 | |
| Mammoth Hunters | 8.0 | |
| Guillotine | 6.0 | Overrated game. At the end of the game, a large part is luck-dependent. Undistinguished average game. |
| King of the Elves | 8.0 | |
| Chinatown | 6.5 | |
| Metro | 8.0 | |
| EastFront | 8.5 | |
| Industrial Waste | 7.0 | Humourless game. Dry. |
| 6 Nimmt! | 8.0 | Light game with surprising depth. |
| Manhattan | 7.0 | Light game. |
| Mystery of the Abbey | 6.0 | |
| Lord of the Rings: The Duel | 6.0 | |
| Fist of the Dragonstones | 7.5 | |
| Wallenstein | Unique mechnical mechanism for deciding combat. | |
| Victory in the Pacific | ||
| Rome: Circus Maximus | 6.0 | Undistinguished race game. |
| Spellmaker | 8.0 | A
classic game of mushrooms, frogs, knights, trolls (if I recall correctly)
and a princess. |
| Talisman 2nd edition | 7.0 | |
| Squad Leader | 9.0 | The
foremost Squad level wargame for its time till the advent of Advanced
Squad Leader which sought to clean up the rules addition from the
gamettes. Fast and simple. It allows one to simulate the majority
of the squad level battles, up to battalion in size in the Second
World War. It incorporates difficult decision-making and terrific
game play, this is one of the best wargames ever, let alone game ever. |
| Cross of Iron | 8.0 | |
| Up Front | 9.5 | |
| Monopoly | 1.0 | Tedium
is the name of the game and like most games, a certain level of strategy
and sometimes deal-making are necessary. |
| Careers | 2.5 | |
| Axis and Allies | 3.0 | A
step up above Risk. Highly overrated but the strategy decisions in
some aspects do mirror that of the Second World War surprisingly for
a party game. |
| Risk | 2.0 | Dice-rolling
contest. A most bland affair. |
| Scrabble | 3.0 | Memorising
and tile laying anyone? |
| Talisman Timescape | 6.0 | The
board adds little, however, it does provide an avenue for players
to avoid the predations of others. Similarly, the four characters
added were not very useful. |
| Talisman City | 6.0 | Colourful
expansion with overly powerful characters. |
| Talisman the Dungeon | 5.0 | A
colourless expansion. |
| Talisman the Adventure | 6.5 | Cards
and characters expansion adds to variety, flavour and options to the
basic game. |
| Talisman the Expansion | 6.5 | Cards
and characters expansion adds to variety, flavour and options to the
basic game. |
| Chess | 6.0 | |
| Chinese Chess | 6.0 | |
| Backgammon | 1.0 | |
| Tic Tac Toe | 1.0 | |
| Bingo | 1.0 | |
| Bridge | 7.0 |
Cyberiad. This term has nought to do with the current Cyberspace phenomena, instead, it is the title of a 1974 fabulist tract, 'The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age', a masterpiece written by the iconoclastic Stanislaw Lem. This magical work consisting of short fables, written during the stifling Communist era in Poland, when the Warsaw Pact was close to its nadir under the leadership of Brehne. 'Cyberiad' describes the two constructors who in trying to out-invent each other conjuring the most bizarre and hilarious of situations and creations, including dragons of improbability, electronic bards and so forth. 'The Cyberiad' is a delightful collection of fables. Heavily recommended.