51st State: Master Set is one of the newest games from Portal Games and a remake of the old 51st State with all expansions and revised rules. It practically brings Imperial Settlers back to the post-apocalyptic world of 51st State. I really like it. The asymmetry of the factions is not as pronounced as in Imperial Settlers (there by the own card stacks), but the game is much smoother and feels faster and more interactive. And the solo game is easier to play. Overall, I really like it, especially for the solo game even better than Imperial Settlers (although I still have to try the nation-specific AI and the campaign there).
Archive October 2016
Codenames: Pictures is the sister game of the Game of the Year - only with pictures instead of words. Tried it with Juliana using the two-player rules, and it works surprisingly well. Of course, nothing you would constantly play with two people, but it was just a practice round for the next game night anyway. It will definitely be tried out in the group there.
Red7 is a small and fast game for in between. Ideal for waiting for the food or even on the plane, as it only needs minimal space. And despite simple rules and fast gameplay, it does provide something to think about. Additionally, the game is modular in the rules and can be adjusted in complexity. All in all, a really nice game that will certainly come to our table more often.