My opinion: fantasy is okay, but it doesn't seem to have the range of creativity of sci-fi or horror or other themes unburdened by realism. So many fantasy themed games (or books or movies or anything, really) are basically Tolkien with a bit of stuff changed around. I do love Tolkien though, so I can stomach most fantasy; I'd just prefer something more nonstandard.

I enjoy a classic fantasy theme in a game, especially if it is an adventure type game. My wife, however, tends to prefer more historically based games, so at times this will dictate my choices (hence we opted for Memoir 44 instead of Battlelore).

I still like classic fantasy, but elves, orcs, and dwarves are getting pretty old. I could do with some sword and sorcery.

Ah, this has to be one of my absolute favorite themes. Settlers of Catan does have a small civilization building aspect (it's debatable, I know, that's why I used the adjective "small"!), and from here I've graduated to and enjoyed other civilization type games, like Antike and Parthenon. Now I'm trying to decide whether Through the Ages will be too complex for my liking, and whether it will suit my tastes.

Also check out my Geeklist:
The ideal medium weight civilization game: a quest for economic, military and technological bliss
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/30588

For me it's the opposite. As soon as trains are involved in the theme, my interest plummets. You'd have to literally twist my arm to get me to play these. I thought that this was a common view, but judging from the popularity of these games, in particular the popularity of TtR as a gateway game, I was totally wrong.

Now, if someone made a retro-futuristic monorail game or a steampunk train game, those I might enjoy.

I agree with the original poster here - I think one of the reasons I enjoy Railroad Tycoon as much as I do is that it does have a civilization/development type theme. Does that necessarily mean I enjoy all train games? No.

This sums up my view pretty well.

When I first started playing these new boardgames I also thought that the train theme sucked ass.

After playing Railroad Tycoon, I'd definitely give any train game a try. Trains still bore me, train games, on the other hand, can be excellent.

I remember reading somewhere that Martin Wallace was like that too, once.

I would like pirate-themed games more if I could find one where 90% of the fun wasn't derived externally--that is, from the players arrrrr'ing and acting menacing. I'd like to get into the spirit of the game and not just the acting. (Otherwise, hold a pirate costume party.)

A pirate game should be fast and free-flowing. There should be strategic objectives with tactical opportunities, and not just random sacking of city after city hoping to pull the treasure chest chit. Luck is fine, even expected, but player decisions (short-term and long-term) should matter too.

EDIT: I just looked at Pirate's Cove and it might be what I'm looking for in a pirate game--not too long, with a balance of decisions and luck. Hmm...

I love Pirates

It's tragic that all the pirate games don't live up to the greatness of the theme. Somehow they always get tied up with random luck, or boring merchant economics.

Man O' War is pretty cool, but I wouldn't necessarily call it pirate themed.

I'm sooo wishing for a good pirate game. Pirate's Cove didn't scratch the itch for me.