Top 10 Card Games of 2011
The best card games of 2011 include a games based on J.R.R. Tolkien's classic The Lord of the Rings trilogy, a fantasy battle game, a clever game from the designer of Dominion, a football-themed game (sort of), and many more.
From BoardGameGeek.com: "The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game is a cooperative adventure game in which the players attempt to complete a scenario, each with three heroes of their choice and a deck of allies, events and attachments to support them. Each round, players send their heroes and allies to quest or to fight with enemies that engage them. However, as the heroes and allies exhaust after questing, defending, or attacking, the players' options are typically insufficient to deal with everything at once. Therefore, players need to determine whether it is more urgent to quest and make progress in the scenario while the enemy forces gain power, or to take down enemies while making no progress, not knowing what will come next."
From BoardGameGeek.com: "Your genius could have been such a boon to humanity. Your death ray had wonderful pest control applications, and your volcano activator was perfect for fighting global warming. But the fools at the institute, they wouldn't listen. They called you mad! You built a monster to rend them limb from limb, which your minions assured you was the very worst way to be rended. When it became clear that the only hope for the world was your own benign leadership, you took control of TV to announce this fact. But your broadcast was interrupted by someone else taking control of TV and announcing his own plan for world domination – and then that broadcast was interrupted by yet another interloper. So. Competition. Well, the world will never be as scared of these upstarts as it will be of you. Archimedes once said, "Give me a long enough lever and a place to stand, and I will move the world." You will be the most terrifying lever the world has ever seen."
From BoardGameGeek.com: "Blood Bowl: Team Manager - The Card Game is a bone-breaking, breathtaking standalone card game of violence and outright cheating for two to four players. Chaos, Dwarf, Wood Elf, Human, Orc, and Skaven teams compete against each other over the course of a brutal season. Customize your team by drafting Star Players, hiring staff, upgrading facilities, and cheating like mad. Lead your gang of misfits and miscreants to glory over your rivals all to become Spike! Magazine's Manager of the Year!"
From BoardGameGeek.com: "Thunderstone returns with Dragonspire! Featuring all-new art for every card (even Militia and Daggers), experience point tokens (not cards!), and the all new "Setting" cards which alter the game on a global scale. Dragonspire includes 18 new village cards, 11 new heroes, and 8 new monster sets. With enough cards to play the game right out of the box, this is a great Thunderstone addition for those just getting into the game."
For 2 to 5 players, ages 12 and up. Designed by David Gregg, published by Alderac Entertainment Group
A number of related games and expansions are available for Nightfall, including Nightfall: Martial Law (a standalone game that can also expand the original) and Nightfall: Blood Country (an expansion which requires the original or Martial Law to play). Nightfall: The Coldest War (a standalone game that can also expand the original) is due out in .
1. The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game
For 1 to 2 players, ages 13 and up. Designed by Nate French, published by Fantasy Flight GamesFrom BoardGameGeek.com: "The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game is a cooperative adventure game in which the players attempt to complete a scenario, each with three heroes of their choice and a deck of allies, events and attachments to support them. Each round, players send their heroes and allies to quest or to fight with enemies that engage them. However, as the heroes and allies exhaust after questing, defending, or attacking, the players' options are typically insufficient to deal with everything at once. Therefore, players need to determine whether it is more urgent to quest and make progress in the scenario while the enemy forces gain power, or to take down enemies while making no progress, not knowing what will come next."
2. Summoner Wars: Master Set
For 2 to 4 players, ages 9 and up. Designed by Colby Dauch, published by Plaid Hat Games
3. Nefarious
For 2 to 6 players, ages 8 and up. Designed by Donald X. Vaccarino, published by Ascora GamesFrom BoardGameGeek.com: "Your genius could have been such a boon to humanity. Your death ray had wonderful pest control applications, and your volcano activator was perfect for fighting global warming. But the fools at the institute, they wouldn't listen. They called you mad! You built a monster to rend them limb from limb, which your minions assured you was the very worst way to be rended. When it became clear that the only hope for the world was your own benign leadership, you took control of TV to announce this fact. But your broadcast was interrupted by someone else taking control of TV and announcing his own plan for world domination – and then that broadcast was interrupted by yet another interloper. So. Competition. Well, the world will never be as scared of these upstarts as it will be of you. Archimedes once said, "Give me a long enough lever and a place to stand, and I will move the world." You will be the most terrifying lever the world has ever seen."
4. Blood Bowl: Team Manager
For 2 to 4 players, ages 14 and up. Designed by Jason Little, published by Fantasy Flight GamesFrom BoardGameGeek.com: "Blood Bowl: Team Manager - The Card Game is a bone-breaking, breathtaking standalone card game of violence and outright cheating for two to four players. Chaos, Dwarf, Wood Elf, Human, Orc, and Skaven teams compete against each other over the course of a brutal season. Customize your team by drafting Star Players, hiring staff, upgrading facilities, and cheating like mad. Lead your gang of misfits and miscreants to glory over your rivals all to become Spike! Magazine's Manager of the Year!"
5. Thunderstone: Dragonspire
For 2 to 5 players, ages 12 and up. Designed by Mike Elliott and Brent Keith, published by Alderac Entertainment GroupFrom BoardGameGeek.com: "Thunderstone returns with Dragonspire! Featuring all-new art for every card (even Militia and Daggers), experience point tokens (not cards!), and the all new "Setting" cards which alter the game on a global scale. Dragonspire includes 18 new village cards, 11 new heroes, and 8 new monster sets. With enough cards to play the game right out of the box, this is a great Thunderstone addition for those just getting into the game."
6. Nightfall
For 2 to 5 players, ages 12 and up. Designed by David Gregg, published by Alderac Entertainment Group
A number of related games and expansions are available for Nightfall, including Nightfall: Martial Law (a standalone game that can also expand the original) and Nightfall: Blood Country (an expansion which requires the original or Martial Law to play). Nightfall: The Coldest War (a standalone game that can also expand the original) is due out in .
7. Dominion: Cornucopia and Dominion: Hinterlands
For 2 to 4 players, ages 10 and up. Designed by Donald X. Vaccarino, published by Rio Grande Games8. Last Will
For 2 to 5 players, ages 11 and up. Designed by Vladimír Suchý, published by Czech Games Edition and Rio Grande Games9. Saboteur 2
For 2 to 12 players, ages 8 and up. Designed by Frederic Moyersoen, published by Z-Man Games.
10. Gubs
For 2 to 6 players, ages 10 and up. Designed by Alex Medeiros and Cole Medeiros, published by Gamewright
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