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the game scene
When most of us think of board games, old favorites like Monopoly, Clue, Risk and Trivial Pursuit immediately come to mind. But when asked to think of more recent game titles, most of us draw a big blank. Why? Probably because Hasbro dominates the board game business in America (they acquired Parker Brothers, Milton Bradley, and others) and this virtual "monopoly" (yes, they own that game, too) has resulted in creative stagnation.
Instead, serious game enthusiasts look across the Atlantic for their game fixes - German games, in particular, are widely considered to be the best in the world. The Germans are serious about their games - the games are created by professional designers or "authors," many of whom have their own loyal fans and followers. The boards and game pieces are also generally of higher quality. Look for winners of the prestigious Spiel des Jahres ("Game of the Year") or Deutscher SpielePreis ("German Games Prize") to find some of the year's best.
Here are some all-time favorites to get you started: Settlers of Catan (Spiel des Jahres and Deutscher SpielePreis 1995) and Ticket to Ride (Spiel des Jahres 2004) are two hugely popular picks. Also try TransAmerica, Elfenland, Metro, Lost Cities and Carcassonne. Popular card games include Bang! and Bohnanza. For kids, try Chicken Cha Cha Cha by Rio Grande.
price comparison site
Check out BoardGamePrices.com for a great price comparison search engine tool.