While the big video game publishers continue cranking out the same games year after year, we can look to the tabletop gaming industry to find all the innovation, new gameplay possibilities, and little plastic miniatures that you can ever ask for. If you're looking for a good game to purchase for the tabletop fan in your life, look no further- each of these games will offer hours upon hours of enjoyment.
Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Skull & Shackles- BUY IT HERE
The Pathfinder Rise of the Runelords Card Game showed that Paizo was somehow able to condense their massive, legendary adventure path into a card game and somehow not lose much in the process. Insanely playable, this co-op game was expanded with the rest of the . New mechanics in Skull & Shackles adds new classes, characters, play styles, and of course, a piratey swashbuckling theme. Fall in love with it and you can keep expanding it with more Adventure decks to continue your story.
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The Japanese Catan? While ostensibly it's a game that simply sees you rolling dice, collecting resources and constructing buildings, in reality it's so much more. Don't be put off by the cutesy look - this game is utterly addicting and infinitely replayable.
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The Witcher Adventure Game - BUY IT HERE
Also available digitally, nothing will tide you over till the release of The Witcher 3 like playing as Geralt and crew, travelling around the land fighting monsters and completing quests. In true Fantasy Flight Games style it will take forever to set up and figure it out, but once you do you’ll find a compelling, vast, customizable game.
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King of New York - BUY IT HERE
We played this right before it launched at the New York Comic Con this year and immediately fell in love. Designed by Richard Garfield (Magic: The Gathering), its predecessor King of Tokyo is an incredible game that’s easy to pick up and play in short bursts, but if you’re looking for a little more depth you’ll find it in King of New York. You just won't find Christopher Walken (sorry).
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We love party games like Apples to Apples and more irreverent adult party games such as Cards Against Humanity, so this is the obvious mashup. Hysterical and offensive and guaranteed to make your night- provided you have friends with messed-up senses of humor.
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Star Wars Imperial Assault- BUY IT HERE
Take Fantasy Flight Games' Descent: Journey’s In the Dark and change the theme to Star Wars and you're scratching the surface of what this game promises. Worth it just for the incredibly detailed miniatures of Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and an AT-ST!