Gameplay: Is it better to buy and trade cheap items as fast as possible? Or should you collect expensive goods for a bigger payday? There isn't a 'correct' way to go about things in Jaipur, and that flexibility helps the game stand out. You're expecting it to be exactly the same as 7 Wonders: Because certain features have been taken out or tweaked to accommodate fewer players (not to mention a lower run-time), Duel may disappoint if you're expecting the same breadth of options offered in the original game.

Being able to swap your letters around when you run out of space takes things up a notch. It really gives your gray matter a workout, and while that will understandably turn some people off, it's a thrill for those who love word games. We've never seen two games go the same way, for instance. Each factions' quirks (and the cards that can influence them) provide a wealth of options each turn, and while this is overwhelming at first, such flexibility makes Root truly compelling in the long-term. It's very replayable. Need new challenges? Join ranked games and meet new challenges! The best players rise through the ranks! The bottom line: Yes, The Legacy of Isla Nublar leans on ideas we've seen before - there are hidden mechanics and branching character upgrades, namely. But thanks to a wealth of extras scattered throughout the campaign (like its mini-games and the ability to create your own dinosaurs), it has a flavor all its own.The answer to this sort of question comes down to personal preference, but we'd say board games like Gloomhaven (which often feature customizable characters or branching storylines that react to your choices) would come up trumps. Besides keeping you busy for months on end with consequences that follow you from session to session, they allow you to take ownership of things in a way few competitors do. They're often a bit deeper too, with more layered gameplay that'll provide a satisfying challenge. How it works: As the name would suggest, Villainous revolves around classic baddies getting their way - Jafar wants to control Genie, Prince John is trying to amass a fortune, and so on. Think of it like a 'what if' scenario, where the antagonists finally get their way.

How it works: Much like the Redwall novels, each player commands a tribe of anthropomorphic creatures that must fight to control the forest's clearings (in practical terms, that means collecting 30 'Victory Points'). The base game gives you control of four factions: the 'Marquise de Cat' that must cement their rule by putting down rebellion, feudal birds who operate via espionage, an insurgency of 'peasant' animals (mice and hedgehogs) called the Woodland Alliance, and an adventuring racoon who sneaks around the board. Each one has its own unique playstyle, and although that's a lot to take in, it encourages you to think creatively and dream up wild strategies. The artwork, important to so many gamers, is very good, although each goods type has the same art. It is intricate and definitely in keeping with the cultural theme. Oh, did I mention that there is a Panda too?! Other components are very simple with chits forming the goods tokens each with the same pattern identifying the good type. Scoring is also a simple process. Players add up the VP values of each good sold and add on any bonuses that were collected. In addition, and often the deciding factor, is a 5VP reward for the player with the most camels. Scores are often close in each round and as a result we often add up the VPs from the goods and then reveal the bonus values one at a time for a bit of suspense during scoring! Take the goods you want from the market into your hand and exchange them with goods from your hand and/or your camel herd. You many never finish with more than seven cards in your hand. Some of these cards are worth a lot right away, others provide multipliers, and yet more require you to collect a set for bigger payouts.This means that there are multiple approaches you can take on your path to victory. (Just don't forgot about Puddings, which are only scored at the end of the game and may tip your score over the edge.)Each player may also have camel cards (their "herd") which is not considered part of their hand. Camel cards are placed in a pile face-up in front of each player.