Photo from BoardGameGeek.com

I was fortunate to be gifted the 3D Collector's Catan a few years ago. It's an exquisitely crafted collector's edition of Catan, Cities & Knights of Catan. The hex tiles are beautifully painted, three-dimensional. The towns, cities, and knights are figurines. It is a bit hard to see the numbers on the hexes, but otherwise play is scarcely hampered by the conversion to 3d. A fine gift for a serious gamer.

"ChickyBoom" is a colorful dexterity game for 4-8 year olds. Parent's choice award. Another winner from Blue Orange Games.

Wits & Wagers -- "Bet on what your friends know"

This trivia game is brilliant. It takes a game genre - TRIVIA - and unwraps the mummy, puts on some sparkly makeup and makes something potentially "nyah nyah I'm smarter than you" into a frolicking Vegas-style gamble fest where it doesn't matter WHAT you know, but WHO you bet on. All trivia is answered with a number (what YEAR..., what PERCENT...  how MANY... etc) so if you don't have the foggiest idea, you can just write down any random number (or better yet: write something purposely absurd). Because you know you'll be betting on what your mom writes down anyway. Unless she KNOWS you'll be betting on her, in which case she writes a false answer to throw YOU off her scent, and bet on uncle Bob. And change her mind at the last minute so you don't follow her bet! The mind games here can get pretty intricate.

This game is described in the march 2010 issue of Disney Family Fun. The object of this cooperative game is to stack lightweight cans, boxes, even toys as a team using a hair elastic and strings, one string tied to the elastic pet player. Http://familyfun.go.com/magazine

When you're on the road, stopping at beaches in California, for example, and you need a light diversion ( you can't really think TOO hard when enjoying the..uh...scenery) Cathedral is a great game to have along. The travel edition is self contained in a wooden box that latches, and the pieces are magnetic on the bottom so they don't slide around when the beach-volleyball lands in a poof on the sand nearby. Travel Cathedral is, hands-down, my favorite beach game (for 2).

Dominion is a game of deck building. You use the powers and abilities of the cards in your hand to get more cards, and victory points. Hopefully in a balanced way so that you have the most victory points in your deck at the end of the game. Great replay value since you only use 10 types of cards at a time, from over 20 types provided. Every game is unique.

I'll admit, Cranium doesn't have the never-ending replay value of Scrabble. But it's a hoot to play "with the right people" and revisit after an extended hiatus. But some people don't like the semi-extrovert activities of this game and it can be a bit of a headache-ium...

"For 4 or more playersCranium is an amazing party game that brings friends and family together through 14 fun and riotous activities." -- Google Product Review

Diamond Ring
World Peace
Happiness
My Mind
My Bank Account
....

It all depends on who's interpreting the meaning of the green card.

Apples to Apples, one of the best party games. Ever.

I own a copy of Diplomacy. I've had it in my cupboard for over 3 years. However I've never played it. Why? Firstly, my husband doesn't game. Secondly, my kids are too young. Thirdly, my friends who have played this game say, "you don't want to play this game with me. We'll hate each other." This sentiment was puzzling to me until I saw an advertisement campaign for Diplomacy on the back of GAMES magazine that read, "Ruining Friendships for 50 Years". Maybe I'll pull it out at the next family reunion. We have nothing to lose.