Plays best with 2? 3? 4? 173? You tell me! Ultimate Optimum # of Players List (BGG Top 288)
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
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***FINAL UPDATE*** Aldie & friends have FINALLY added a # of players voting function to each game's page. So this list is FINALLY obsolete!!! Thank you to everyone who helped contribute to this list and helped show how useful the stats could be. Oh happy day! And there was much rejoicing...
***UPDATE*** Make sure you check out my companion geeklist: Ultimate Optimum # of Players List (BGG Top 288) RESULTS SO FAR...
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/18661
A little over a year ago I got fed up with having to wade through forums to find out if a game was "light enough" for my family or "heavy enough" to interest me. So, I created a geeklist "Is it Light? Is it Heavy? Is it Something Inbetween? You tell me!" http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/9628
Thanks to your input, within a week or two, Aldie & friends saw the use of such a weight rating system and implemented it! WOOHOO!
So now, I am again fed up. Fed up with wading through forums to find out how many players a game plays well with; the given player range doesn't seem to be very useful in many cases...
So I've created this list in order to compile everyone's "player #" ratings. Each night I will update the figures for each game. I hope that this too will one day be added to each game page, and as part of the advanced search function. If not, then at least the #'s in this list should be helpful.
Okay, this is how it will work:
For each game, I will list the player range. If you feel you have enough experience with a game to tell if it plays well with a certain number of players then you can indicate it with a  or a 
Give thumbs up to a # of players which a game plays "very, very well with" (i.e. you CAN give thumbs up to more than one # of players per game).
Give thumbs down when you don't think a game works well with that # of players (e.g. you would rather play something else at that # of people).
So there are FOUR rules to follow:
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********************* PLEASE READ RULES BEFORE POSTING ******************
************* YOUR POSTS WILL BE DELETED IF THEY DO NOT COMPLY **********
********************* OR SCROLL DOWN FOR A SUMMARY **********************
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1.) Stay within the stated player range (i.e. no "but I cooked up a great 1 player variant"). If the stated player range sucks or is inaccurate, I will not change it...that would be too much on my plate.
2.) You can either give a thumb up to a certain number, a thumb down, or leave it blank (especially if you have no experience with certain #'s of players). DO NOT take expansions into consideration, only the base game.
3.) Don't fall into "the more the merrier" synndrome. If a game range goes up high, to something like 7...don't get stuck with the mentality that it is only worth playing at the maximum # of players. You can still vote this way if you'd like, but try and be rational about it.
4.) Don't be a fanboy. This is not intended to be a place to rate the game as a whole, that's what game ratings are for. You CANNOT give thumbs up to every # of players for a game. But this does not mean you have to give any of them a thumb down either. Instead, you are allowed to give a thumb up to as many # of players for a game...MINUS ONE. Example: Puerto Rico's range is 2-5, if you really, honestly think it scales wonderfully, you can still only give thumbs up to 3 of the 4 #'s of players (e.g. thumbs up to 3, 4, 5...but not 2).
5.) Don't be a hater. This is not intended to be a place to rate the game as a whole, that's what game ratings are for. You CANNOT give only thumbs down to any or all of the #'s of players for a game. You MUST give at least one thumb up to a game. Example: You just played Puerto Rico with 2 players and didn't like it. You CANNOT give Puerto Rico a thumb down with 2 players UNLESS you give it at least one thumb up somewhere else.
A post I'm looking for would look something like this...Example: Puerto Rico, player range 2-5:
3, 4, 5
2
Also acceptable would be:
3, 4, 5
(notice that 2 is left blank...because you CANNOT give thumbs up to all options in the player range)
Unacceptable would be:
2, 3, 4, 5
(you CANNOT give thumbs up to all options)
2, 3, 4, 5
Neither would be:
3, 4, 5
Also no to:
2
(You MUST give thumbs up to at least one option)
Another example with Up Front, player range 2-3:
Acceptable would be:
3
or
2
or
2
3
or
3
2
None of the following would be acceptable:
2, 3
(You cannot give thumbs up to all options in a player range)
or
2, 3
or
2
or
3
(You MUST give thumbs up to at least one option in a player range)
That's everything. As I said, try and give with the number of players you think a game plays "very very well" with; this is independent of the quality of the game itself. We are trying to determine with which numbers of players each game plays best with (or very very well with). You can be as liberal or stingy with your thumbs as you prefer (within the rules of course).
That might be a lot of rules for this, but I tried to build in some anti-shill rules, so hopefully they prove useful.
================================================================================
************************** ESSENTIAL RULES BELOW *******************************
****************** POSTS WILL BE DELETED IF THEY DO NOT COMPLY *****************
================================================================================
So to sum up:
1.) give and to # of players within the stated range (you can also leave out some #'s of players, i.e. you do no need to rate all #'s of players in a range). when a # of players works "really really well" and when you would probably not want to play with that # of players. DO NOT include expansions into your thinking.
2.) You CANNOT give thumbs up to all #'s of players in a range. You have to leave at least one blank (or give at least one thumb down).
3.) You CANNOT give thumbs down without giving at least one thumb up.
Well that's it. Have fun everybody 
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Having trouble finding the game you clicked this for? Here is the list of games. If you press the "ctrl" button on your keyboard, hold it, and press "F", and then enter the name of the game you're looking for to see what page it is on. You can do the same thing to quickly find the game on that page as well.
Games in BOLD have few votes and need more votes!!! (but you can always vote on any game you wish)
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PAGE 1
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Puerto Rico
Caylus
Tigris & Euphrates
Power Grid
El Grande
Princes of Florence
Ra
Die Macher
Age of Steam
War of the Ring
Goa
Wallenstein
Memoir '44
Railroad Tycoon
Settlers of Catan
Modern Art
Taj Mahal
Samurai
Ticket to Ride Europe
Struggle of Empires
Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition
Ticket to Ride
Up Front
Ticket to Ride - Marklin Edition
Amun-Re
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PAGE 2
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San Juan
Crokinole
Tichu
Game of Thrones
Reef Encounter
Through the Desert
Europe Engulfed
Acquire
Carcassonne
Maharaja: Palace Building in India
Dune
Roads and Boats
Traders of Genoa
Ingenious
Hollywood Blockbuster
Carcassonne - The City
Tikal
Louis XIV
La Citta
Union Pacific
Santiago
Blokus
Web of Power
RoboRally
Friedrich
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PAGE 3
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Thurn and Taxis
Princes of the Renaissance
Torres
1830
Shadows over Camelot
Antike
Republic of Rome
Civilization
Carcassonne - Hunters and Gatherers
Keythedral
For Sale
Citadels
St. Petersburg
Medici
Antiquity
Time's Up
Attika
Space Hulk
Descent: Journeys in the Dark
Vinci
San Marco
PitchCar
Warmachine
China
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PAGE 4
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Bohnanza
Fury of Dracula
HeroScape
Lowenherz
Arkham Horror
Indonesia
Primordial Soup
Scepter of Zavandor
Ys
Liberte
Mykerinos
Blue Moon City
Zendo
Alhambra
Werewolf
Hacienda
Mu and Mehr
Star Wars - The Queen's Gambit
Warrior Knights
Runebound Second Edition
Hansa
Colossal Arena
Meuterer
Razzia!
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PAGE 5
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Vegas Showdown
Here I Stand
In the Shadow of the Emperor
Conquest of the Empire
Stephenson's Rocket
Daytona 500
Lord of the Rings
Diplomacy
Winner's Circle
Showmanager
Ark of the Covenant
Edel, Stein & Reich
Britannia
Chinatown
Hey! That's My Fish!
Cosmic Encounter
Titan
A Gamut of Games
Funkenschlag
Liar's Dice
Axis & Allies: Revised
Atlantic Star
Formula De
Aladdin's Dragons
1870
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PAGE 6
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High Society
Revolution: The Dutch Revolt
1856
Elasund: The First City of Catan
Medina
Kremlin
Java
Manila
Capitol
History of the World
Oltremare - Merchants of Venice
Wyatt Earp
Tales of the Arabian Knights
Battlestations
Rumis
Nexus Ops
Mexica
No Thanks!
Tempus
Ave Caesar
Evo
Mystery Rummy: Jack the Ripper
Fury of Dracula
Ricochet Robot
Ta Yu
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Page 7
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I'm the Boss
Empires in Arms
Can't Stop
Carolus Magnus
Bang!
Napoleon
Fairy Tale
Doom: The Boardgame
Category 5
Pueblo
Survive!
Siedler von Nurnberg
Die Handler
Shogun/Samurai Swords
7 Ages
Tower of Babel
Um Reifenbreite
Fearsome Floors
Middle Earth CCG
Lost Valley
Sticheln
Settlers of Catan - Travel Edition
Starfarers of Catan
Leonardo da Vinci
Warhammer Quest
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PAGE 8
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Cleopatra and the Society of Architects
Cribbage
Loopin' Louie
Big City
Canal Mania
Expedition
Wings of War - Famous Aces
Sleuth
Himalaya
Downfall of Pompeii
Settlers of Canaan
Downtown: Air War Over Hanoi
Elfenland
Sieben Siegel
Full Metal Planete
Wizard Kings
Merchant of Venus
Kreta
Age of Renaissance
Settlers of the Stone Age
Sword of Rome: The Conquest of Italy
End of the Triumvirate
Strat-o-Matic Baseball
Bausack
Tahuantinsuyu
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PAGE 9
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Die Saulen der Erde
Imperial
Shogun
Yspahan
Through the Ages: A Story of Civilization
Great Battles of Alexander: Deluxe Edition
Wits & Wagers
Oasis
Wings of War - Watch Your Back!
Serenissima
Diamant
Gulo Gulo
World of Warcraft
Man O War
O Zoo le Mio
Risk 2210 A.D.
Masons
Cartagena
Space Dealer
Breaking Away
Junta
Turn the Tide
Volldampf
Industrial Waste
Goldland
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Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Puerto Rico (2-5)
Best with: 4
Good with: 3, 4, 5
2 - 40%
3 - 91%
4 - 100%
5 - 61%
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-
2.
Board Game: Caylus
[Average Rating:7.97 Overall Rank:11]
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Caylus (2-5)
Best with: 3
Good with: 2, 3, 4
2 - 85%
3 - 93%
4 - 79%
5 - 16%
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-
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Tigris & Euphrates (2-4)
Best with: 4
Good with: 3, 4
2 - 33%
3 - 87%
4 - 98%
-
-
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Power Grid (2-6)
Best with: 4
Good with: 3, 4, 5
2 - 18%
3 - 62%
4 - 98%
5 - 95%
6 - 47%
-
-
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
El Grande (2-5)
Best with: 5
Good with: 4, 5
2 - 0%
3 - 26%
4 - 96%
5 - 100%
-
-
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Princes of Florence (2-5)
Best with: 5
Good with: 4, 5
2 - 7%
3 - 13%
4 - 86%
5 - 94%
-
-
7.
Board Game: Ra
[Average Rating:7.60 Overall Rank:48]
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Ra (3-5)
Best with: 4
Good with: 3, 4
3 - 93%
4 - 94%
5 - 33%
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-
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Die Macher (3-5)
Best with: 5
Good with: 4, 5
3 - 0%
4 - 83%
5 - 100%
-
-
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Age of Steam (3-6)
Best with: 4
Good with: 4, 5
3 - 29%
4 - 100%
5 - 95%
6 - 30%
-
-
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
War of the Ring (2-4)
Best with: 2
Good with: 2
2 - 100%
3 - 0%
4 - 16%
-
-
11.
Board Game: Goa
[Average Rating:7.75 Overall Rank:28]
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Goa (2-4)
Best with: 2
Good with: 2, 3, 4
2 - 89%
3 - 71%
4 - 86%
-
-
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Wallenstein (3-5)
Best with: 5
Good with: 4, 5
3 - 11%
4 - 92%
5 - 100%
-
-
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Memoir '44 (2-8)
***VOTING CLOSED***
BGG Player range has been changed to (2-2), with a separate BGG entry for Overlord scenarios.
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Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Railroad Tycoon (2-6)
Best with: 5
Good with: 4, 5, 6
2 - 23%
3 - 25%
4 - 93%
5 - 100%
6 - 100%
-
-
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Settlers of Catan (3-4)
Best with: 4
Good with: 4
3 - 48%
4 - 88%
-
-
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Modern Art (3-5)
Best with: 5
Good with: 4, 5
3 - 0%
4 - 93%
5 - 100%
-
-
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Taj Mahal (3-5)
Best with: 4
Good with: 4
3 - 25%
4 - 100%
5 - 50%
-
-
18.
Board Game: Samurai
[Average Rating:7.49 Overall Rank:76]
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Samurai (2-4)
Best with: 2
Good with: 2, 3
2 - 94%
3 - 86%
4 - 44%
-
-
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Ticket to Ride Europe (2-5)
Best with: 4
Good with: 3, 4, 5
2 - 24%
3 - 84%
4 - 91%
5 - 73%
-
-
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Struggle of Empires (2-7)
Best with: 5, 6
Good with: 4, 5, 6, 7
2 - 20%
3 - 10%
4 - 100%
5 - 100%
6 - 100%
7 - 100%
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Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition (3-6)
Best with: 4
Good with: 4, 5, 6
3 - 27%
4 - 86%
5 - 75%
6 - 75%
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Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Ticket to Ride (2-5)
Best with: 4
Good with: 3, 4, 5
2 - 26%
3 - 81%
4 - 89%
5 - 75%
-
-
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Up Front (2-3)
Best with: 2
Good with: 2
2 - 100%
3 - 0%
-
-
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Ticket to Ride Marklin Edition (2-5)
Best with: 3
Good with: 3, 4, 5
2 - 30%
3 - 92%
4 - 75%
5 - 90%
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25.
Board Game: Amun-Re
[Average Rating:7.45 Overall Rank:97]
Kevin H
China
Xiangtan
Hunan
-
Amun-Re (3-5)
Best with: 5
Good with: 4, 5
3 - 0%
4 - 68%
5 - 100%
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