2008 has seen a large number of great games once again. As this list is focused on the Gift Board Games for 2008, I am focusing on games that have been released for sale at this time, thus excluding some games that have had a lot of buzz but yet to be released. To be eligible, the game either has to be relatively new (i.e. released in 2008 or late 2007).

On that note, here’s our list:

(1) Agricola
Spiel Des Jahres 2008 winner and the no.1 game on BoardGameGeek, Agricola is the most talked about game of the year. With the game selling out faster than retailers can keep stock in, you will be hard pressed to find this game of farming, but if you can, you will make one happy gamer. Agricola is a fast playing, resource management game with multiple levels of complexity (and rules) that can be solo-played. An incredible combination for any game, and one that has been done extremely well.

(2) Stone Age

Stone Age is a light development game that uses an interesting mix of dice to allow players to push their luck and their strategy in developing their individual tribes. Players will need to roll dice to see what resources are available and then using their tools, adjust the dice roll to gain resources for that turn. Stone Age is fast playing, light and easy to teach and is overall a well designed and balanced game.

(3) Galaxy Trucker

Galaxy Trucker is a hilarious racing game with an amusing theme and a unique design. Players are truckers who are attempting to firstly, build their space ships and secondly, safely fly them to their final destination. Using a timer, players must draw and place tiles on their ship, building a ship as best they can in a limited time. Take too long and you'll start out behind the other players, trying to catch up to them. But look out - the journey is filled with meteors, abandoned space stations, war zones and pirates. This is a game that can be taught in minutes but will provide hours of enjoyment.

(4) Pandemic

The co-operative board game of the year, Pandemic places players as members of the United States Center for Disease Control. You will need to race around the world, working together to cure four virulent diseases before they wipe out the world population. A definite game for groups that do not like conflict and are looking for a unique theme.

(5) Witch's Brew

Spiel des Jahres Game of the Year. Games Magazine Family Games Nominee for 2007. Fifth place winner for the Deutscher Spiel Pries. This great game is fun, fast and entirely family friendly. All you have to do is build up your zoo in this game, collecting rare animals and their children. Just be careful not to overcrowd them or else you’ll lose points.

(6) Kingsburg

Kingsburg has been the sleeper board game hit of the year, with a growing following among gamers. Easy to teach and learn, the combination of a development game and dice rolling, players have to take turns influencing the Royal Court in an attempt to gain resources to develop and strengthen their provinces against attack. Using dice to control which advisors are influenced, Kingsburg is a light to mid-level strategy game that appeals to families and serious gamers.

(6) Manoeuvre








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