I thought that every few weeks I would talk about two or three games that aren’t very well publicized, but are actually great games. Usually, these aren’t found on your local Target’s shelves, but they can be found online for similar prices. This week, I have two games I’ll introduce (or maybe you already know of them).

Viking Game (Hnefatafl, King’s Table)

If you are into games like chess, checkers, or other strategy games, I would highly recommend this game. It is a two player game emphasizing strategic planning and contingent action. You can play as the defending side (ivory pieces) or the attacking side (ebony pieces). As the defender, you must get your king to one of the corner squares before he is surrounded by attackers. Attackers must kill the king for victory by surrounding him on four sides, either with attackers or a combination of boundaries and attackers. Pieces other than the king can be defeated by “sandwiching” them between two pieces. The game is fairly fast paced allowing for two to three rounds in an hour. The best part is that each side calls for a different strategy making it slightly more interesting than chess at times.

The game is usually played on a cloth board. However, there are some wooded versions. Pieces include 12 defenders, one king, and 24 attackers. The cloth version typically sells for $30 used and a wooded version for about $25 to $40 used depending on the quality. It is tough to find, but not impossible.

TransAmerica

If you are interested in simple-but-competitive games, this one might be up your alley. This game can be played with two to six players, and one round only takes about a half hour. The objective is simple; connect all your cities with pieces of rail. However, there are mountains, rivers, and other players that stand in your way to victory. Use other players’ railroads that are already in place to get to your destination a little quicker. This game would be beneficial to school age children in learning geography.

A similar game called TransEuropa is identical except for the board layout. Both games provide plenty of entertainment for multiple players. You can also purchase an expansion pack called Vexation to put a twist on the game by using colored pieces as private rails that can only be used by the person who laid them (i.e. if you are the red player you will get three red rails to play on your turn that only you can use forcing other players to find alternative routes).

This game can be purchased for $18 to $25. The Vexation expansion costs about five dollars. It is worth picking up if you’re into board games. It is simple to learn and can provide entertainment for a small group.

 Hopefully you can find a good deal on one or both of these games. Whether you’re into two player or multiplayer games, one of these should fit your needs.

Rx by,

 Dr. M. CLK