I prefer rich theme and atmosphere, usually, but I enjoy these abstracts
Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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I'm always astonished when I find an abstract game I enjoy. True, I cut my teeth on chess back in the 1950s, but even then and ever since, I've always preferred games that immerse me in a story.
But I'm very fond of the abstracts I'm posting below, and will play them pretty much any time. If you also usually prefer theme, I'm curious if you also like these games, or if it's just me.
I'm allowing additions, but would prefer only people who also usually prefer atmosphere and theme to add their favorite abstracts.
I almost included some games such as En Garde or Würmeln, as they're pretty close to abstracts. But they feel like just enough of the themes (fencing and worm racing, respectively) to be disqualified. However, I *have* included some ostensibly themed games where the theme is just too thin to be believeable.
This may seem like a lot of abstract games for someone who professes not to like them, but as you'll see, they've been slowly added over many years.
They're not arranged in any particular order, BTW - just as they occurred to me.
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1.
Board Game: Ta Yü
[Average Rating:7.08 Overall Rank:466]
Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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Ta Yu captivated from the moment I first saw it. There's something about those classy tiles on the dark board that just drew me. When I found out how easy it is to switch between offense and defense - even doing both in the same move - I was hooked. I love this game, and have actually shaded in the circles on the backs of the tiles. This game actually has a theme, but it's so thinly pasted on as to count as a pure abstract.
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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I picked up Kaliko in the 1980s at Origins one year and have never regretted it. It's a beautiful game, and surprisingly fun for someone who wants theme. The play is easy and while it's harder to make skillful moves than in Ta Yu, it still rewards thoughtful play.
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3.
Board Game: YINSH
[Average Rating:7.68 Overall Rank:65]
Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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The only game in the GIPF project to grab me, Yinsh is a lot of fun to play. I'm always afraid it'll turn into a slow brain-burner, but that hasn't happened yet. Things get pretty wild pretty quickly, and you find yourself making strong attacks and desperate defenses frequently.
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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As I type this, I notice there are no good photos of Meander on BGG. Hopefully this will be rectified some day. Meander is a light, quick game - well, not literally light, since it weighs a lot! But it doesn't take long to play three rounds of Meander and it feels like a filler. I love to watch the marbles - something very satisfying about this. I would *love* to get hold of the Meander Expansion Set ( http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/17403) - if anyone has one for trade or sale, please contact me!
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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Another game that deserves a better photo. This one *is* a bit of a brain burner, so it doesn't come out very often. But once a year or so we pull it out and really enjoy it. It's a rare brain burner that makes us laugh heartily, but this one does. (It's aptly named: it's easy to make mistakes, and that's what we laugh at!)
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6.
Board Game: Blokus
[Average Rating:7.15 Overall Rank:200]
Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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A light, quick game that's easy to learn and fun to play. I actually like the three-player version the best, though I understand most BGGers don't care for it. I love planning ahead, knowing I'll get two turns in a row next time, making my break. Good stuff!
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7.
Board Game: Chase
[Average Rating:6.78 Overall Rank:1759]
Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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Another one I bought at Origins back in the 1980s, Chase has kept my interest. Simple concept, but hard to master. Strategies from other games just don't work in Chase - you have to adapt to the game.
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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I bought this one in the year of my first Gathering of Friends, 1994. One of my first Euro-abstracts. A good filler game, we still pull it out (over ten years after buying it) in between heavier games.
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9.
Board Game: Renju
[Average Rating:5.79 Overall Rank:5488]
Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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I learned Renju in high school from a Japanese exchange student. I confess I don't get to play it very often these days, but I have very fond memories of playing it for many years. I've never understood Go enough to be able to play it even in mediocrity, but I used to be pretty good at Renju.
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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I picked up Knockabout as a prize at an early Unity Games. Similar in some ways to Chase, it's not really an imitation. I like the rolling of the dice, something Chase lacks!
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11.
Board Game: Scoozie
[Average Rating:7.33 Unranked]
Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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I think I'm the only person on the planet who likes this game. I don't think I've ever played three games with the same opponent. I'm not even very good at it - I'm not sure why no one will play it with me. *sigh*
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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Car racing reduced to the abstract - ya gotta love it!
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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All right, there's a tiny bit of theme in this one - but barely. We love this game, probably because we've always played it wrong. It's our favorite two-player closer for the evening - I've played it well over a hundred times.
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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Like Ta Yu, Tom Tube has a theme but feels like an abstract game. I'm really lousy at this game - I think my record is something like 1-for-15 - but I love it. I think I try to bowb too much, and that's why I don't do well. I still enjoy it!
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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Pure abstract, but a great game. We frequently play it while eating dinner - it's all plastic so easy to clean if there's a mess!
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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Another game with a thin theme that doesn't convince. We only play with closed hands - way too cerebral for us with open hands. It's a light, fun filler played our way, though.
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17.
Board Game: Fjords
[Average Rating:6.70 Overall Rank:613]
Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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This is as close to Go as I can understand. Despite the pretty landscape tiles, this is a very abstract game, and an enjoyable one.
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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Another pretty game. Except for Muggins, this is as close to Dominoes as I enjoy playing. Good game, though - the ability to play three weeds is the perfect number.
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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Awale. I learned this game while a migrant worker in France in the early 1970s. I learned it from a fellow from Côte d'Ivoire (the Ivory Coast) and never even came close to getting half his score. I've never taken to the standard Mancala rules included in most sets sold in the USA, but still enjoy Awale, and have a review on my web site.
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Steffan O'Sullivan
United States
Plymouth
NH
"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
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The attempted theme here just gets in the way, IMO (both Bruno's original and SJG's). This is a great abstract game, and the only way I'll play chess anymore. It turns a long-term strategic, cerebral game into short-term tactical chaos where you have to react to your opponent's surprise move practically every turn. Try to be both offensive and defensive every move - I love it!
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21.
Board Game: Troke
[Average Rating:5.79 Overall Rank:5778]
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Here's an odd one I just played via email. (I need to upload my Gamebox for it.) A variant of Halma (Chinese Checkers) where you actually capture and carry your opponent's pieces! This game is long out of print, but it is worth a look as a change of pace, if nothing else.
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22.
Board Game: Yali
[Average Rating:5.24 Overall Rank:6958]
Bryan Jensen
United States
Layton
Utah
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If you get this away from the awfully-designed box this is a very attractive-looking abstract--in a 60s-era Star Trek kind of way. And weighty little steel chromed balls are very mesmerizing. The game is not so challenging once you figure out the puzzle, but still a fun little diversion.
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23.
Board Game: Hive
[Average Rating:7.37 Overall Rank:111]
Hector Irizarry
United States
Unspecified
Alabama
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How you could forget this one!
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Ray
United States
Carpentersville
Illinois
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I like this list so far. This has been my favorite abstract lately (ignore the pasted theme). With three ways to win (capture their king, capture 3 towers, or get rid of all your markers) the game lets you play more than one strategy at once.
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Matt Ruff
United States
Seattle
Washington
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I'd recommend regular poker as well, but this has the advantage of being a ton of fun even if you don't play for money.
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"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)
I'm lucky enough to have a dedicated gaming room with lots of shelves. It's right under Meander and Blokus!
