Travel back to the dawn of mankind in this latest installment of the seemingly endless Settlers of Catan series.

Pushing papers in a government bureaucracy has never been so much fun!  This limited edition release from Bewitched Games is quite fun and challenging.

Designer Martin Wallace takes the system pioneered in Lancashire Rails and Volldampf to new heights with this excellent rail building and shipping game.

Herr Knizia revisits the land of ancient Egypt in this welcome return to his "meatier" side.

Set in a fantasy realm, the excitement is unfortunately lacking in this card game from M.E.K. Games.

Take a journey through a Middle-Eastern bazaar in this tense game of bartering for riches. 

Head to the Big Top for a fun game of managing circus performers and collecting gate receipts.   

Travel back in time to the days prior to the medieval city of Carcassonne, when man was scurrying about in search of berries and wild beasts.

Wait a minute?  Is this Hasbro releasing a decent strategy game?  You bet!

Marrying some elements of Taj Mahal and Ohne Furcht und Adel, this Reiner Stockhausen release is quite the fantasy journey.

Finstere Flure continues the story began in Fische, Fluppen & Frikadellen.  After finding the three fetishes, you rush to France to free the imprisoned fairy from the clutches of the evil Furst Fieso.  You must make your way through his sinister fortress and avoid his evil monster.  Run for your lives!

Friedemann Friese's fascinating, yet previously hard to obtain tile placement game is now back in print in a professional package from Plenary Games. 

Global Powers is NOT your average German-style game.  It actually bears much more in common with games released by American companies such as Avalon Hill.  The game is filled with negotiations, deal-making, voting and cut-throat actions.  Not exactly the “family friendly” atmosphere that most European games attempt to capture.  Indeed, even the opening sentence in the game’s description warns of its nature:  “A politically incorrect game including tactics, agitation …“

Globopolis provides us with a look into the world of the future.  Sadly, the gaming world still revolves around Monopoly. 

Mice in your attic!  Ravenous creatures race across the attic in pursuit of cheese in this entertaining game aimed squarely at children.

The theme is rather bizarre: You and your opponents are engineers in Hades delivering

souls of the damned to their proper Circles of Hell.  As engineers, you have a wide variety of tasks assigned to you, including the building of the actual rail lines, the loading of these damned souls and the successful delivery of your cargo to the proper circles of Hell.  Players must be efficient, lest they incur the wrath of their infernal boss, who is notorious for his lack of mercy! 

Logistico is a mentally challenging game, requiring careful planning, good decisions and optimal coordination and execution.  It is another winner from the gaming Dutchman.

Explore the western wilderness in search of fabulous riches ... gold, that is!  This exploration game from Roland and Tobias Goslar has some drawbacks, but is still an entertaining romp.

Is this really a 2-hour version of Civilization?  Sadly, no ... but the game is worth playing anyway.

Sure, the theme may be off-putting to some, but do yourself a favor and get past it.  The game underneath the “cutesy” theme is quite good.

Brother Adelmo is dead and foul play is suspected.  You are charged with the task of discovering which of the resident monks in this formerly quiet and peaceful abbey is responsible for this evil deed. 

Every so often a game is released that contains a mechanism that is so unique that it elicits a collective “Wow!” from most folks in the gaming community.  I’m always a bit skeptical to authoritatively declare such mechanisms as original creations since they might have been utilized in some obscure game released in the past of which I am completely unaware.  Be that as it may, I do feel that designers Alan Moon and Aaron Weissblum have invented such an original and thoroughly brilliant mechanism in their new release, New England.

Head to the seas in search of treasure and booty in this fun romp dripping with pirate atmosphere.

Travel back to the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, building the town before the eventual eruption of Mt. Vesuvius puts an end to this highly challening and entertaining game.

Can you defeat the evil Black Guard and rescue the Princess in this Avalon Hill release?

Set in a fantasy world (like a thousand other games!), Saga relives the struggle for power to control a kingdom in turmoil.  Kindoms change hands quickly, so proper planning and timing is required.

A game centered on the enchanting Italian hill town of San Gimignano was certainly a "must buy" for me.  But was the purchase worth it?

Based on the immensely popular Settlers of Catan, Inspiration Games' Settlers of Zarahemla integrates a theme based on the Mormon religion.

Ticket to Ride seems destined to be another Moon gem.  It seems to be an eclectic marriage of systems merged from Santa Fe, Union Pacific and TransAmerica.  Unlike most celebrity marriages, however, this one works … and will likely have considerable longevity. 

Step into the world of Versace, Gucci and the super models as you attempt to establish the latest trend in the world of high fashion.

For folks who enjoy trick-taking games, Victory & Honor is simply superb.  It is quite likely the pinnacle of the genre.