Recommend a game to play with dad....
 

My dad and I have played chess together throughout life, and while it's enjoyable, I'd like work towards finding a new game to play that is intellectually stimulating, enjoyable, and ideal for two players.

He has mentioned playing Go, and while it seems like a fun game, it seems quite complex to score, and I admittedly haven't taken a shine to it the few times I have played.

Thus, I wanted to post a thread here in the hopes of getting a few recommendations. We're both reasonably intelligent individuals and would be looking for a game that can be played in one sitting, but also be complex enough to enjoy on a regular basis.

I'm open to all suggestions, but suspect we'd prefer a board game over a card game, and a "classic original" over a newer trendy one, like Killer Bunnies or Carcassonne. The most important requirement is that the game would be ideal for two players. There are games that can be played with two players and games that are created with only two players in mind. We'd be seeking the latter of the two.

If you have suggestions, please share them. I suspect non-computer gaming isn't as popular as it used to be, and having grown up in a video game heavy generation myself, I'd appreciate any and all responses and recommendations.

Go has survived for millennia. It is a game worth learning.

Carcassonne is fun and fairly easy to pick it.

How about Magic: The Gathering. It's still going strong, there's tons of cards to collect.

I would suggest a few "trendy" games in each case, just in case you wanna give it a go:

Lost Cities
Author: Reiner Knizia
For 2 players only
Lost Cities | Board Game | BoardGameGeek

Keltis
same author, almost same game, for multiple players

Try to get some help at the above site as well, they've got an enormous database for this.


cybermike: I was going to suggest something like Magic or the World of Warcraft cardgame. They're actually fun (I tend to like WoW cardgame better), but I'm not sure if it's the kind of game he's looking for, especially since the idea is to buy alot of cards and trade them. (the standard starter-decks are not quite as fun)

how about Squad Leader Squad Leader | Board Game | BoardGameGeek, or one of the other tactical board games from avalon hill or whoever is making them now. or Ace of Aces http://www.flyingbuffalo.com/ace.htm. they are for two players, require strategy, a bit of luck, you can play them in one setting, and it's war. nothing is more fun than war.

Anything wrong wrong with sports? Golf? Tennis?

boxing. you can fight each other. a classic struggle between a young man and a father. it doesn't even have to be oedipal (unless you are into that, which is cool, it makes it that much more interesting)

Funny. Boxing is out, as are sports. I'm young and physically active; dad is older and retired.

The trendy games are certainly fun and intriguing, but I suspect he won't be "into" them. I enjoy Settlers of Catan and Killer Bunnies, but I'm quite certain he wouldn't; even if they were ideal for two players.

He enjoys history, specifically Greek/Roman myths and literature, specifically Homer. I saw a game called "Hellas" listed at the BoardGameGeek site, as well as one called "Hera and Zeus" which could be of interest though I've not heard of either previously.

I'm continuing to look and browse the site. I have Magic cards, but don't think he'd be interested. Collecting, trading, and buying new cards is fun with the right crowd, but it's not his scene.

I suspect he won't be interested in the war-type, strategy games.

Lost Cities has potential. After reading the reviews and posts at the BoardGameGeek site, it seems like a fun game that requires some thinking, but isn't overly complex. If anyone has played it and could comment on their experiences, it would be appreciated.

Go seems like a very unique game, and I should make an effort to learn it better. I think the aspect of it that has turned me off is that I never fully learned it, nor grasped the proper way to score and determine a winner.

backgammon?

Spinners. It's a domino game that requires strategy and math skills. And it's a lot of fun. It can be played with 2 or more people. It's obviously a bit more bulky than a card-only game, but it's not much bigger than a lunchbox.

Of course if you really want something that will keep your dad sharp, you should both learn to play bridge.

When you say a domino game, do you mean you use a standard set of dominos to play, or that it's a totally independent game that uses domino-type pieces?

I've wanted to learn to play dominos in the past, but haven't yet.

He mentioned playing bridge in the past. I've never played, but would be open to learning.

I'll do some searches for information about bridge and backgammon. I've seen backgammon boards and was intrigued, but never learned the game. This seems to be a trend when it comes to board games and my involvement in them. :)

backgammon is a combination luck and skill and strategy. luck in the dice rolls, skills and strategy how you move your pieces. a really cool game.

I really like Blokus. It's designed for 4 people, but there's a Travel/Jr. version that is only for 2 people. That website has an online version if you want to try it out. It's about capturing space on a board with odd-shaped pieces.

The set I have is proprietary, but a standard set could probably be altered easily to work with a little model paint and a spare half hour.

I think chess is pretty much the best game

You can play blokus two player, just each pick two colors. I came here to suggest that, and also Quoridor. Actually, I like Quoridor better...it is a spectaculary chess-like (ie, themeless...no cute pigs or wheat) game, with deep strategy, but plays in about 10 minutes and has no setup. I can't say enough for how deep the strategy gets when you have two experienced players...it almost becomes a meta-game. I love games that let you play the opponent rather than the game.

http://gigamic.cl/images/QUORIDOR.jpg

Each person starts with one pawn (ignore that there are 4 shown, you can play 4 way but I've only ever played 2 player) and ten walls--the object is to get to the other side. On your turn you can either move, or place a blocking tile. Blocking tiles are stuck forever once you play them, so you eventually run out. The strategy comes from the rule that you aren't permitted to wall your opponent off completely from the other side, so it is a give-and-take between you trying to make a single (therefore unblockable) pathway for your own guy, and making a long contorted pathway for your opponent.

It's as if Chess, and Tower Defense bred and had a board game baby. Buy it, buy it now! I worked at a board game store, and used to sell 40 sets of Quoridor a week around Christmas time...always with a quick demo. As such, I've probably played 300+ games, more than half with staff of similar or equal experience, and it's still awesome to pull out and play!

Also: If you haven't discovered it already, boardgamegeek.com rules.

i suggest chess is one of the best games for you and your dad...

I have to support this choice. I've found backgammon to be quite engaging. It moves quickly, or at whatever speed you wish. Two players. And everything that squeeeb said.

I'm sure your old man has played it before as well.


As for magic cards, yes, your dad will definitely not be interested. My son's been caught up in this 'game' for several years now (since grade 7, he's in 2nd year univesity now) and I am so uninterested in it, my eyes glaze over just to look at the cards, and think about the amount of money he's poured into the decks over the years.

That's another thing about backgammon, It's a one time capital investment.

I just read a glowing review about Settlers of Catan on Wired Magazine. Well it was a couple of months ago. I haven't played it yet but seems very interesting.

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