Journal #8651

Smallworld is a damn fine boardgame. I dislike games that feature chance as a core gameplay mechanic (dice rolls in particular), so it works well for me. It's more about strategy without being nearly as heavy or lengthy as something like Risk. It's also kinda funny. I really need to get one of my own.
I'll also shout out to Talisman, which is pretty fun. Smallworld is better (IMO) and doesn't run as long, though.
If video/board games are more your style, Armello is a neat little gem.

I backed the kickstarter for Exploding Kittens. I very excited to receive the game but was honestly underwhelmed =[. The cards are funny but it's tough to teach people the game the first time you play, most people lost interest after the first round and we usually defaulted back to Cards Against Humanity.

Speaking of CAH, My friend owns the largest set: The Bigger Blacker Box and the cards in that set are amazing. (Example: An alternate reality where boxes store things inside people) For Christmas, I bought that friend a set of similar cards: Crabs Adjust Humidity. They fit right into the mix and are a welcome addition to the cards we've gotten used to.

We have also played Superfight which is a game that actually requires some imagination. TL;DR of the rules: Two people pick a few cards, 1 is a super hero, 1 is a weapon, 1 is a setting. The two competing people argue who's superhero / weapon combination would win in a battle. The other people vote and the winner continues on. There are PLENTY of combinations and the arguments are always hilarious.

Most of these games are played with 4-6 people with a few beers and pizza. Good times.

I was also gonna suggest Cards against Humanity

I've not had a single game of it where I haven't been out of breathe for laughing.

I've played Cards against Humanity. It was funny, but not hysterical as some describe it. Maybe I'm not sufficiently infused into the English culture yet?

@Tetsu0: Superfight seems like a fun game to play actually! I'll look into it.

@Jessie: Thanks for the suggestions, if I'll go to some boardgame club I'll definitely have a try at Smallworld.

I played CAH online with Urby and the other SnC fellas a while ago, I just wasn't feeling it. It was amusing, but I didn't think it was all that great. Seems like it's the kind of thing you have to be drunk to play.

Spyfall, on the other hand, is really fun once you get the hang of it.

I feel like I should argue that CAH, while damn funny, isn't so much a board game as a card game. But whatever. My girlfriend has that larger set that Tet mentions, we play with some friends every now and then. Sometimes the cards just aren't lining up enough to be particularly funny, other times it's hysterical. Generally at least hilarious, though.

I'm not that fussed about CAH. I own the physical game which is good fun with booze, but Urby wants to play it online a lot and it's just never as good

I also backed Exploding Kittens' kickstarter and enjoyed it thoroughly for... about five games. The best part is the box that meows at you.

I'm majorly into Spyfall right now. So much fun & the replayability factor is huge. We play it on Tabletop Simulator every weekend, and the lulz are non-stop.

If you're looking for more immersive games, Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game and XCOM: The Board Game are both phenomenal.

Battlestar's trick is that the Cylon players don't know that they're Cylons until quite late in the game, and the treachery and backstabbing mimics the show wonderfully.
XCOM is completely coop and the joy comes from the sheer brutality of the companion app which ensures every game is suitably fresh and extremely challenging. 10/10 for both of them.